Chapter 185: In the Eyes of the Strong, There Is No Place for the Weak

"You're really something, telling Tang San the truth about what happened back then. Aren't you worried that once he knows everything, he'll turn around and kill you?"

Xue Qinghe sat by the campfire, casually chatting with Ye Hao. He had been hiding in the shadows earlier, listening in on their conversation without missing a word.

"Not at all." Ye Hao dismissed the idea, clearly not taking Tang San seriously.

"Even if Tang San learns the truth, so what? He would never suspect that today was the very first time he met his mother—or perhaps, the last time."

"Besides, if I didn't tell him, Tang Hao would sooner or later. People say Tang San is a genius—let's see if he can comprehend what's truly happening."

Ye Hao handed a freshly roasted Soft-Bone Rabbit to Xue Qinghe before taking another for himself and tearing into it without hesitation.

"Honestly, I really hope Tang San tries to attack me now." Ye Hao swallowed a mouthful of rabbit meat, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

"Why?" Xue Qinghe took a small bite of the tender meat, his eyes lighting up. Young Soft-Bone Rabbit really had the best flavor.

"If Tang San attacks me, he'll immediately be disqualified from the tournament. And once he's eliminated, I won't have any reason to hold back." Ye Hao continued eating as he spoke.

"That guy will be our enemy sooner or later. Letting an enemy grow unchecked is just foolish."

"Brother Xue, make sure to keep the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud safe. If it's lost, or worse, falls into someone else's hands, we might just end up with an unexpected Sea God in the future."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe nodded. "Understood, understood."

"Actually, I have an idea. I could have someone quietly take it out and hand it over to you for safekeeping," Xue Qinghe whispered close to Ye Hao's ear.

"No! Absolutely not!" Ye Hao shook his head like a rattling drum.

"I have zero interest in inheriting the Sea God's position. I already had a little run-in with that so-called god when I was dealing with the Evil Tiger Orca at sea. If I take his position now, wouldn't that be exactly what he wants? No way. Not happening."

Seeing Ye Hao's adamant refusal, Xue Qinghe didn't insist. "Alright, alright, I won't force you."

"It's getting late—you should get some rest, Brother Hao."

With that, Xue Qinghe stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Brother Xue, do you remember the promise we made back then?" Ye Hao asked deliberately.

"Promise?" Xue Qinghe's expression immediately soured. He glared at Ye Hao.

Sister and brother?

"You bastard! Do you want a beating?!" Xue Qinghe raised a hand as if to strike.

Ye Hao laughed, leaning his face forward daringly.

Faced with this shameless little brother of his, Xue Qinghe had no choice but to give up.

"Go back to sleep already. Don't you have a match tomorrow?" Xue Qinghe said, practically kicking him away.

"Of course, I do! But there's still time, and I'd love to bond more with my dear Brother Xue. The night is beautiful, and staying alone in that big tent is boring. So why don't we—"

Ye Hao's mischievous grin was met with a darkening expression from Xue Qinghe.

"Get lost!" Xue Qinghe waved him off in disgust. "Men shouldn't be too close. Stay far away from me!"

"Just make sure to win tomorrow. Don't lose."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Qinghe turned and left, disappearing into the night at a rapid pace.

Watching him go, Ye Hao sighed and muttered, "Sister, oh, sister… I won't be calling you that for much longer."

The next day at the Royal Hunting Grounds. A new round of battles erupted as fifteen teams gathered for a chance to advance to the knockout stage. Each academy was fighting tooth and nail for the limited remaining spots, making the competition more intense than ever.

On the arena stage, Ye Hao stood confidently, a smirk on his lips.

His opponent was Thunderclap Academy, one of the Four Elemental Academies. Their captain, Yu Tianxin, was a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, cousin to Yu Tianheng, and the nephew of Liu Erlong, vice-dean of Shrek Academy.

Today, Ye Hao was going to accomplish something spectacular—defeating the entire team single-handedly!

Seeing that their opponent was Ye Hao, Thunderclap Academy immediately grew alert. They steadied themselves and sent out Lei Dong, a Soul Ancestor with a Thunder Spider Martial Soul, at Rank 43, specialized in control-type combat.

The moment both teams were ready, the referee announced:

"Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Second Team versus Thunderclap Academy—battle start!"

As soon as the words fell, crackling sounds filled the air. Eight thunder-infused spider legs extended from Lei Dong's back, bearing a striking resemblance to Tang San's Eight Spider Lances. Four glowing soul rings emerged beneath his feet.

Thunderclap Academy was clearly strategizing for endurance. They sent out their vice-captain first, aiming to wear Ye Hao down before taking him out. Even if they couldn't win against Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, eliminating Ye Hao would be a massive victory.

Right from the start, Lei Dong showcased his power. Lightning surged and intertwined, forming a massive web descending from the sky, intending to trap Ye Hao.

Ye Hao smirked. Too familiar.

Just last night, Tang San had used Blue Silver Grass to do the exact same thing. First it was a grass net, now a lightning web—between the two, Ye Hao preferred the latter.

The electric web fell, surrounding Ye Hao in an inescapable trap. At the same time, Lei Dong's arms transformed into lightning-charged spider spears, while the eight spider legs on his back shimmered menacingly. He wasn't holding back—Ye Hao was clearly considered the number one threat in this tournament.

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The Shrek team watched the match with serious expressions. All of them were hoping Ye Hao would lose—especially Xiao Wu, whose hostility toward him had skyrocketed after seeing that Soft-Bone Rabbit yesterday.

Tang San, however, sat deep in thought, barely paying attention to the battle.

Last night, he had been unable to sleep, continuously analyzing the "story" Ye Hao had told him.

Ye Hao definitely has an ulterior motive… but what is it?

He was convinced that the abnormal reaction from his Blue Silver Grass that night was caused by Ye Hao's golden-veined Blue Silver Grass.

If only I could attack him right now…

Tang San clenched his fists. His Clear Sky Hammer already had four soul rings. He was confident—if he fought Ye Hao, he could crush him.

But, unfortunately, Shrek Academy and Heaven Dou Imperial Academy wouldn't face each other until the final day of the tournament.

Because the most exciting match was always saved for last.

And at that very moment…

That man appeared once again.

Grandmaster was pale and gaunt, his backside wrapped in thick white bandages, as he was pushed into the scene.

"Xiaogang, why are you here?" Flender hurried forward.

But before Flender could get close, Grandmaster's eyes widened in horror. As if seeing a demon, he quickly gestured for the medical staff to take him away.

Watching Grandmaster retreat with a face full of wariness, Flender scratched his head, utterly speechless. "Am I really that scary?"

Tang San's lips twitched violently at the sight. It was clear that whatever Flender had done to his teacher that day had left a serious mental scar. His reaction was entirely understandable.

Meanwhile, the electric web created by Lei Dong's lightning-powered spider martial soul rapidly descended toward Ye Hao's head.

Facing this attack, Ye Hao remained expressionless. His arms transformed into Demonic Scythes, which he swung effortlessly, slicing the lightning web into countless fragments.

In a flash, Lei Dong had already closed the distance. His gaze was sharp, and his right arm, transformed into a lightning-clad spider spear, flickered with an ominous glow. Laced with a faint trace of killing intent, it shot straight toward Ye Hao's chest.

"Fourth Soul Skill—Thorned Spider Armor."

The moment Ye Hao spoke, his entire body was suddenly encased in a layer of spiked armor.

Lei Dong's spider spear struck the armor, but instead of piercing through, a shower of sparks erupted upon impact, shocking him.

"W-What is this?!" Lei Dong stammered in disbelief.

Ye Hao remained calm, explaining leisurely, "For a so-called elite academy like Thunderclap Academy, I expected better. How do you not recognize my fourth soul skill? Your attacks are useless against me. Today…"

"I, Ye Hao, will defeat all seven of you!"

His declaration was so loud that it sent ripples through the audience.

For a moment, everyone was stunned. But soon, Tang San scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Ye Hao, don't sprain your tongue talking big. You think you can take on all seven of them alone?"

Defeating an entire team single-handedly was the greatest humiliation an opponent could suffer.

Realizing that Ye Hao was here to humiliate them, Yu Tianxin, the captain of Thunderclap Academy, frowned.

He had originally planned to have a decisive battle with his cousin, Yu Tianheng, proving himself as an equal successor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

But now, Ye Hao had stolen the spotlight, blatantly challenging all academies at once.

In an instant, the audience's collective gaze turned icy as they all locked onto Ye Hao.

Their eyes seemed to ask: What makes you think you can defeat an entire team? What gives you the right?!

The weight of becoming everyone's enemy would have unnerved most people.

Yet Ye Hao remained indifferent, never even sparing these so-called "geniuses" a second glance.

"In the eyes of the strong, there is no place for the weak."

The moment these words left Ye Hao's lips, the crowd froze.

Then, fury erupted.

"What an arrogant bastard!"

"I can't stand him! Lei Dong, get him! Beat him to a pulp!"

"Yeah, crush him!"

"Make him regret ever looking down on us!"

"Thunderclap Academy will teach him a lesson!"

"Shrek Academy too!"

"Skywater Academy!"

"Blazing Academy!"

"Divine Wind Academy!"

One by one, all the competing academies voiced their outrage.

Ye Hao had just insulted every single participant in the tournament.

Every student here had fought through brutal competition to reach this stage. They prided themselves as the elite, the chosen ones.

And yet, Ye Hao had dismissed them as weaklings.

"Stupid little brother, you've made quite the mess now."

Xue Qinghe shook his head with a bitter smile. He wasn't worried about Ye Hao's safety.

He was her brother, after all.

Xue Qinghe had high hopes for Ye Hao.

And deep down, she wanted to witness it herself—Ye Hao crushing these so-called "prodigies" beneath his feet.

"What arrogance!"

Even Sword Douluo couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"What boldness!"

Bone Douluo echoed in admiration.

"Perhaps… Ye Hao really can do it."

Ning Fengzhi spoke with confidence.

Everyone knew Ning Fengzhi had a keen eye for talent.

If even he thought Ye Hao could succeed, then the odds were in his favor.

And indeed, Thunderclap Academy was one of the strongest contenders.

Their entire team had lightning attributes, and their captain possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, known as the world's strongest beast martial soul.

This match was bound to be spectacular.

Back on the arena, Lei Dong sneered.

"Let's see if you can back up your big talk."

Though he felt immense pressure from Ye Hao, retreat was not an option.

Ye Hao merely chuckled.

"I'll show you with my actions. Thunderclap Academy… is nothing special."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Hao kicked Lei Dong to the ground.

Immediately after, his third soul ring lit up.

"Third Soul Skill—Spider Prison."

The ground trembled as sharp spider spikes erupted, encircling the fallen Lei Dong.

Pinned to the ground, Lei Dong's eyes widened in horror.

The gleaming Demonic Scythe loomed over him.

He clenched his teeth, his body trembling as he forced out a reluctant answer:

"I… surrender."

The entire arena fell silent.

Lei Dong had admitted defeat.

The impact was immense—an instant uproar erupted among the Thunderclap Academy members.

Their vice-captain had surrendered so easily?

Yu Tianxin's face darkened. With a flick of his eyes, he gestured for the next teammate to take the stage.

The new challenger stepped forward.

"You want to take on all seven of us? I'll grant you your wish."

Without hesitation, Thunderclap Academy's next fighter launched an all-out attack, giving Ye Hao no time to rest.

The sky darkened, thick clouds rolling in. Thunderbolts as thick as a baby's arm rained down from above, creating an electrified battlefield.

Ye Hao's trial had just begun.

Upon seeing this scene, Ye Hao was no longer surprised. In the past, when he had fought one-on-one against Yu Tianheng, he had already encountered such soul abilities.

As for the technique displayed by the Thunderclap Academy student before him, Ye Hao shook his head in disappointment.

"You… What do you mean by that?" The student's heartbeat quickened—this man before him was no pushover.

Ye Hao sighed and remarked, "I thought Thunderclap Academy had some unique tricks, but now it seems rather underwhelming."

These words instantly darkened the expressions of the Thunderclap Academy team. They stared at Ye Hao with resentment and hostility, especially their captain, Yu Tianxin, whose mood worsened considerably.

"You underestimate me too much!" The student facing Ye Hao flew into a rage and summoned a thundercloud, striking toward Ye Hao.

Just as the lightning was about to land, Ye Hao swiftly sidestepped, appearing behind his opponent in an instant. With a subtle movement of his foot, the student nearly lost his balance.

By the time he realized what had happened, a cold, gleaming scythe was already pressed against his neck.

"Surrender. There's no shame in surrendering. But if I knock you out of the match myself, that would be truly humiliating." Ye Hao advised softly.

"I… I surrender…"

After an intense internal struggle, the student could no longer withstand the pressure. Ye Hao's aura was simply too oppressive—especially with that terrifying scythe against his throat, making him feel as if his head could be severed at any moment.

Seeing this, Tang San, from Shrek Academy, sneered, "A bunch of nobodies. No wonder you're getting swept. You might as well all surrender now. If Ye Hao really beats all seven of you, you'll be the laughingstock of the tournament."

"Tang San!" Yu Tianxin pointed at him, his long-suppressed anger finally erupting.

"What are you running your mouth for? If you've got guts, step up yourself! I don't think Shrek Academy is that great either. Not long ago, your teacher suffered a loss, and recently, Shrek Academy's reputation hasn't been all that good. Maybe you should worry about yourselves first."

Hearing this, Tang San's fury ignited instantly. His teacher was his bottom line—having someone insult them publicly was absolutely intolerable.

"Yu Tianxin, do you dare face me outside for a life-or-death duel?" Tang San's eyes turned blood-red, and his voice grew heavy.

Yu Tianxin was momentarily stunned before sneering, "Tang San, if you start a fight now, aren't you afraid the tournament committee will disqualify you?"

At that moment, the referee suddenly called out, "Thunderclap Academy, please send your next participant immediately, or it will be considered a forfeit."

The referee's words instantly interrupted the escalating tension between the two academies.

Yu Tianxin clenched his teeth, memorizing Tang San's name with deep resentment. There would be a day for settling this score.

"Everyone, take turns fighting him! We'll wear him down with consecutive battles. I refuse to believe we can't exhaust just one Ye Hao!" Yu Tianxin decided on the spot. As the captain, he would fight last, letting the others deplete Ye Hao's stamina and soul power before delivering the final blow himself.

Even if they lost, Thunderclap Academy wouldn't be completely humiliated. At the very least, they could avoid being completely swept. That way, they could still salvage some dignity for their academy.

"Ye Hao, prepare to die!"

The next student rushed forward, his body covered in lightning that wriggled like electric worms as he charged straight at Ye Hao.

"Sigh—"

Ye Hao sighed helplessly.

Holding his scythe across his chest, he took a deep breath and steadied himself.

In a split second, a streak of purple light flashed.

Ye Hao appeared behind his opponent the very next moment—their positions had swapped.

"How dull." Ye Hao shook his head.

With a thunderous crash, the student collapsed to the ground.

"Is this all Thunderclap Academy has to offer? You're completely worthless. Yu Tianxin, you should just step up now. At least you might put up a better fight."

Ye Hao's open provocation forced Yu Tianxin to suppress the fury building inside him. It was clear—Thunderclap Academy was doomed to lose today.

With three members already eliminated, if things continued like this, their entire team would be taken down by Ye Hao alone.

Just as Yu Tianxin was about to surrender, he caught sight of Tang San's mocking gaze.

In that instant, Yu Tianxin made a decision…