Chapter 110: Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo to the Rescue
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The journey from Heaven Dou City to Spirit Hall takes nearly twenty days. The finals of the tournament are relatively short since it follows a pure knockout format. With a total of thirty-three teams, the entire competition takes less than ten days to determine a winner.
Spirit Hall places great importance on this final round. While the qualifying matches are still ongoing, they have already designated a special venue in Spirit City for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. Additionally, Spirit Hall has issued a decree: during the tournament, unauthorized personnel are forbidden from entering the city. Anyone wishing to watch the matches—whether a spirit master or a noble—must pay an entry fee of five hundred gold spirit coins per person, a price dozens of times higher than that of Heaven Dou's Great Spirit Arena.
This exorbitant fee disgusts factions across the continent, viewing Spirit Hall's greed as excessive. If not for the fact that Spirit Hall provides the championship prize, the two great empires would never have allowed them to profit so blatantly.
A procession of over a thousand people sets out in grand fashion. Although each academy operates independently, they all represent the Heaven Dou Empire. Compared to the tension during the preliminaries and qualifiers, the competitive atmosphere has eased considerably. Some academies with closer relationships even travel together.
The most eye-catching group is undoubtedly the teams from Divine Wind Academy and the Four Elemental Academies. Feng Xiaotian, in particular, is the center of attention. No matter where he walks, all eyes follow him. To ensure his safety, several Heaven Dou Royal Knights accompany him, guarding this prodigious young talent who is considered one of the empire's strongest contenders for the championship.
In stark contrast, Shrek Academy receives the coldest treatment. No other academy is willing to associate with them. Due to Dai Mubai's shameless remarks, he has provoked widespread resentment, causing Shrek Academy to be completely ostracized. Their reputation has plummeted.
Inside one of the carriages sit six Shrek members, four substitutes, two external reinforcements from the Clear Sky Sect, and the Golden Iron Triangle.
Bibi Dong remains at Shrek Academy, as she dares not go to Spirit City. It is not just because ordinary people lack the qualifications to enter but also because she finds Spirit Hall utterly repulsive.
Xiao Wu also stays behind at Shrek Academy. It takes Tang San countless efforts and persuasive arguments, particularly with Liu Erlong, to convince everyone to let her remain.
The journey proceeds smoothly, and within a few days, they have already traveled a quarter of the way to Spirit City.
Nightfall
The moon hangs like a silver plate in the sky, accompanied by a vast expanse of twinkling stars.
Between two great canyons along the route to Spirit City, the thousand-strong Heaven Dou convoy, weary from long hours on the road, takes a break. The academy students rest inside their carriages.
Near Divine Wind Academy's resting spot, Feng Xiaotian groggily steps out of his carriage.
"Feng Xiaotian, where are you going?"
Hearing the movement, a nearby Heaven Dou Royal Knight on guard duty immediately turns and asks.
Scratching the back of his head, Feng Xiaotian replies, "Ah, soldier brother, I just need to relieve myself."
"Don't wander too far."
Two soldiers follow him for protection as he heads toward a dead-end corner within the canyon. They stop at the entrance, waiting as Feng Xiaotian prepares to do his business.
Just as he is about to undo his belt, his drowsy eyes suddenly snap open, widening in shock. Under the moonlight, he notices an enormous shadow appearing over his own on the ground. The sheer size of the figure is far beyond that of the two soldiers accompanying him.
Without hesitation, he activates his martial soul, and his third spirit ring lights up. A pair of azure wings emerge behind him. However, just as he is about to take flight, an overwhelming force of pressure crashes down on him, completely immobilizing him. He can't even move a single finger.
"Quick reflexes. You are indeed a genius."
A deep and domineering voice sounds behind Feng Xiaotian. The newcomer is none other than Tang Hao.
"If you hadn't been so ostentatious, and if you hadn't planned to join Spirit Hall, I wouldn't have bothered dealing with you."
Tang Hao's voice is calm, almost indifferent. Even though Feng Xiaotian had developed Gale Demon Wolf Slash to defeat the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique, Tang Hao hadn't considered him worth the trouble. Once Tang San fully masters the Clear Sky techniques, he can easily crush Feng Xiaotian in the future. However, if Feng Xiaotian joins Spirit Hall, his status would make it difficult to act against him. Therefore, before he can become a part of Spirit Hall, he must be eliminated.
"You're from the Clear Sky Sect?!" Feng Xiaotian exclaims in rage, finally realizing the truth.
Tang Hao pauses slightly, surprised that Feng Xiaotian managed to deduce his identity from just a few words.
"Yes, and no. This space has already been sealed by me. Your voice won't reach anyone. Now, it's time for you to depart."
Tang Hao raised the Clear Sky Hammer and swung it horizontally toward Feng Xiaotian's forehead, intending to crush his skull. This way, no one would suspect that he had died at the hands of a blunt weapon and, in turn, link the act to the Clear Sky Sect.
At the critical moment, a pitch-black hand suddenly emerged from beneath Feng Xiaotian's feet, grabbing him and dragging him underground.
"What?!"
Tang Hao was startled. He immediately swept the area with his spiritual sense and looked up toward the cliff above. Two figures had appeared there at some point.
One of them was dressed in black, his lean frame exuding a suffocating sense of danger. His face was obscured, making it difficult to discern his exact features. The other wore golden armor adorned with clawed gauntlets. Their appearance was androgynous, with skin as smooth as a newborn's. If not for the visible Adam's apple, one might have mistaken them for a woman.
They were none other than Ghost Douluo Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, sent by Qian Renxue to protect Feng Xiaotian.
"Hahaha! You didn't expect this, did you, Tang Hao?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked down at Tang Hao, his effeminate voice amplified by soul power, echoing for thousands of meters. The words rang clear in the ears of the entire Heaven Dou convoy.
"The mighty Clear Sky Douluo, resorting to assassinating a mere junior like Feng Xiaotian—how utterly disgraceful. You've completely tarnished the prestige of your title!"
---
"Enemy attack!"
The captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Knights roared, jolting the thirty-three academy teams awake. Upon hearing the names Tang Hao and Clear Sky Douluo, they were momentarily stunned.
Meanwhile, at Divine Wind Academy's encampment, the same black hand that had dragged Feng Xiaotian away now resurfaced from the ground, returning him to his team.
"Xiaotian, are you alright?"
Huo Wu was the first to rush over, her voice filled with concern.
Feng Xiaotian's expression was grim. He turned to the deputy headmaster of Divine Wind Academy and said in a deep voice, "Teacher, someone just tried to kill me while I was relieving myself. That person claimed to be from the Clear Sky Sect... but also said he wasn't. If not for a senior expert's intervention, I'd already be dead."
"Tang Hao! It must be Tang Hao! 'From the Clear Sky Sect but not from the Clear Sky Sect'—who else could it be but him?!"
The deputy headmaster of Divine Wind Academy cursed furiously.
"A dignified Clear Sky Douluo, stooping so low as to assassinate a junior? What a despicable coward!"
---
Hearing the accusations from a distance, Tang Hao knew his reputation—along with that of the Clear Sky Sect—was about to hit rock bottom. He looked up at Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, who stood on the cliff with amused expressions, their eyes filled with mockery.
A murderous glint flashed in Tang Hao's eyes as his soul rings surged to life—two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red. The Clear Sky Hammer in his grip swelled rapidly, expanding to the size of a massive water tank.
He shot into the air, hammer aimed at the two, and coldly sneered, "A chrysanthemum and a little ghost... Wait, what the hell—both of you are already at Rank 96?!"
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(End of Chapter)