Chapter 108: The Imitation Overshadows the Original, Tang Hao's Killing Intent

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Feng Xiaotian had regained his composure. He stepped forward and asked, "Respected referee, I have only one question—has Tang San died?" 

The referee hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Tang San, who lay motionless on the ground. Though Tang San's face was indeed severely injured, he was still breathing. He wasn't dead. 

Feng Xiaotian continued, "May I ask if my act of dodging the Clear Sky Hammer violated any rules? Is there any regulation in the Soul Master Tournament that states one must take an opponent's attack head-on and that dodging is considered a violation?" 

The referee shook his head again. One's legs were their own, and how they moved was up to them. If participants were truly required to charge headfirst without evasion, then why bother building a circular arena? A straight path would suffice—it'd even save materials and money. 

"Shrek Academy, I did nothing that violated the rules. Do you have anything else to say?" Feng Xiaotian asked. 

The members of Shrek Academy looked frustrated. Dai Mubai sneered, "So what if you won, Feng Xiaotian? You're nothing but a coward. You talked about a true man's one-on-one duel with Xiao San, yet at the critical moment, you chose to dodge. You don't deserve to be Xiao San's opponent, let alone call yourself a man!" 

Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Dai Mubai, are you sure you're thinking straight?" 

"What did you say?! Do you really think I'd be afraid of you just because you're a Soul King?" Dai Mubai erupted in anger. 

Feng Xiaotian remained indifferent. "As everyone knows, Soul Masters are categorized into five types: Power Attack, Agility Attack, Control, Support, and Defense. Each type has its own battle style. Power Attack Soul Masters specialize in head-on combat, while Agility Attack Soul Masters rely on speed and evasion to win." 

"By your logic, an opponent's attack must always be met head-on. Then why did your team dodge the Thunder Academy's attacks in previous battles? Why did you use speed to avoid their lightning and drain their energy? Was that not an act of cowardice as well?" 

"That was our strategy!" Dai Mubai retorted. 

Feng Xiaotian frowned, his expression turning cold. "Then dodging Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer was my strategy. Why does that make me a coward? Or is it that when Shrek Academy evades attacks, it's a reasonable tactic, but when we do it, we're cowards?" 

"That's right!" 

"Exactly!" 

"Shrek Academy, have some shame!" 

The Four Element Academies stood in solidarity, forming a united front against Shrek Academy. Other academies also found Feng Xiaotian's words reasonable and began criticizing Shrek. Thunder Academy, in particular, was the most vocal in their condemnation, still bitter over their teammate Lei Dong being intentionally injured by Dai Mubai. 

Thunder Academy's captain, Yu Tianxin, crossed his arms and scoffed, "Dai Mubai, if you can't handle losing, then leave. Who do you think you are, spouting nonsense here? If you want a fight, I'll take you on. I'll even give you a handicap and fight with one hand." 

"Yu Tianxin, you—!" 

Dai Mubai's face twisted with frustration. Without the effects of the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, he was only at rank 42, while Yu Tianxin was at rank 43 and possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. With such an advantage, Yu Tianxin could easily overpower him, just like Yu Tianheng had done in the Great Spirit Arena of Soto City. 

"Boss Dai, let it go. Let's just leave." 

At that moment, a weak voice rang out—Tang San had spoken. With the healing effects of his Red Pearl and the Wildfire Burns Unending, Spring Wind Blows Again ability from his Blue Silver Emperor's Right Leg Bone, his facial injuries had mostly recovered. In truth, he had regained consciousness long ago but had been unwilling to show his disfigured face. However, he had clearly heard the voices berating Shrek Academy from all around. 

"Xiao San!" 

The Shrek team snapped out of their frustration and turned toward Tang San, who was struggling to stand with Xiao Wu's support. 

At this moment, the referee also recovered from his thoughts and announced loudly, "Round Sixteen—Godwind Academy defeats Shrek Academy with a perfect victory!" 

Tang San slowly raised his head, his ordinary-looking face still smeared with traces of blood. His deep, black eyes swept across the surrounding soul master academies and students who had ridiculed Shrek Academy, as if engraving their faces into his memory. 

"Tang San." 

Feng Xiaotian called out to him just as he was about to leave.

"You've won. What else do you want?"

Tang San turned his head slightly, his face and voice eerily calm. However, deep inside, humiliation, rage, and a murderous intent had already reached their peak. 

Feng Xiaotian responded indifferently, "You look down on my Storm Demon Wolf Forty-Five Consecutive Strikes, but in reality, its practical effectiveness far surpasses your Random Cloak Hammer Technique." 

"While your Random Cloak Hammer Technique is indeed more powerful than my Storm Demon Wolf Strikes, you have to stand in place to charge up. Against a winged Soul Master like me, even if you build up your technique to its strongest Eighty-One Strikes, capable of devastating destruction, it's useless if I choose to keep my distance and avoid it entirely. No matter how powerful your Clear Sky Hammer is, it won't be able to touch me." 

Tang San sneered, his tone filled with disdain. "Are you saying that the self-created soul skill you developed by imitating the Random Cloak Hammer Technique is superior to the original? Feng Xiaotian, your arrogance knows no bounds!" 

Feng Xiaotian replied calmly, "Didn't the fact that you lost to my self-created technique prove it? If this had been a battle to the death instead of a competition, at the moment you lost your Clear Sky Hammer, had I unleashed even a slightly restrained version of my Storm Demon Wolf Forty-Five Consecutive Strikes on you, do you even need to guess the outcome?" 

"Don't underestimate a so-called imitation. My 'imitation' is built upon your Random Cloak Hammer Technique and further enhanced. At first, my Storm Demon Wolf Strikes only had thirty-six attacks. Through arduous training, I upgraded it to forty-five, and it still has room for further improvement. One day, it may very well surpass your Random Cloak Hammer Technique." 

Hearing this blatant copycat boast so arrogantly—claiming he would surpass the Random Cloak Hammer Technique and declaring yet again that Tang San had been defeated—Tang San was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. Without another word, he turned and left in fury, unwilling to stay another moment. He had no face left to attend the upcoming award ceremony. Xiao Wu followed closely behind him. 

"Fengzhi, Feng Xiaotian is as good as dead," Sword Douluo said through voice transmission. 

Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement. Feng Xiaotian was far too reckless. He failed to understand the simple truth that excessive arrogance leads to downfall. To openly expose the weaknesses of the Cloak Hammer Technique and even claim his technique would surpass it—knowing the temperament of the Clear Sky Sect—he was as good as doomed. 

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo's predictions were not wrong. 

In the shadows, Tang Hao watched Feng Xiaotian basking in his moment of glory. His eyes were filled with murderous intent. 

Feng Xiaotian's arrogant declaration just now, along with his earlier intention of joining the Spirit Hall, had thoroughly crossed Tang Hao's bottom line. 

For the sake of the Clear Sky Sect's reputation—and to eliminate a potential threat to Tang San's future—Feng Xiaotian had to die. 

(End of Chapter)