Chapter 120: When Moral Blackmail Has No Place
"Now, you have one minute to activate your Spirit. After one minute, the battle officially begins."
After Gui Mei finished speaking, his figure flickered, dissolving into a silent black shadow, and he returned to Qian Xunji's side on the high platform.
In the arena, Qin Xuan and Tang Hao exchanged glances, a silent declaration of war passing between them. Both raised their right hands simultaneously.
In Tang Hao's hand, a violent black light surged. The air crackled with oppressive lightning as a colossal black great hammer, fully two meters long and covered in dark, swirling patterns, materialized with a deafening hum.
In Qin Xuan's hand, a brilliant golden light shimmered. A noble, golden longsword formed, its blade pulsing with the sacred fire of the Vermillion Bird, while sinister white bat patterns—the mark of the Slaughter God Domain—swirled near the hilt.
Seven Spirit Rings slowly rose from both of them at the same time.
The difference was that Tang Hao's Spirit Ring configuration was two yellow, two purple, and three black—a powerful, optimal, but expected configuration for a genius of a top-tier sect.
As for Qin Xuan, although he used his Spirit's disguise ability, his Spirit Ring configuration was still terrifying. His first six rings were a standard, powerful set, but his seventh Spirit Ring was a deep, soul-shaking, 100,000-year red. It pulsed with a light that seemed to drain the color from the very air around it, a halo of power that almost only appeared in ancient legends.
"It really is a 100,000-year Spirit Ring." Tang Hao tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer, his expression growing exceptionally solemn.
He was a proud man, but not a fool. That single red ring represented a power, a set of Spirit Abilities, and a Spirit Bone that he could not take lightly.
Not to mention him, even among the majority of people present who had already seen Qin Xuan's 100,000-year Spirit Ring, a fresh uproar erupted. This was different from seeing it in the city; this was seeing it unveiled for combat.
In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's resting area, Gu Rong shot Qin Xuan a venomous, one-eyed glance. He leaned towards his Sect Master and transmitted his Spirit Power, his voice a low growl, "Sect Master, this is what you said—"
"Shh!" Ning Fengzhi made a sharp shushing gesture, his own face pale.
No one could guarantee whether Jingni Douluo was in the arena or watching from the shadows. He was already completely traumatized.
Gu Rong understood upon hearing this. He swallowed hard, his anger choked by fear. He changed the subject, saying, "Sect Master, then who do you think will win between them?"
"Tang Hao will definitely lose."
Before Ning Fengzhi could speak, Sword Douluo had already reached a conclusion. He looked at Qin Xuan with an incredibly solemn expression, his brows tightly furrowed.
Recalling the other party's arrogant words from yesterday, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking, This young man... perhaps he really can fight me at the Spirit Saint stage.
At the center of the 500-meter diameter giant arena, Qin Xuan and Tang Hao simultaneously released their Spirits.
Perhaps influenced by the turn-based combat of this World, Spirit Masters often liked to release their Spirit pressure before a battle, intending to strike at their opponent's morale.
However, Tang Hao also incorporated his Slaughter God Domain into his Spirit pressure. A cold, bloody mist instantly spread from his body, rolling across the arena floor.
At this moment, Tang Hao's eyes were covered with a hint of blood-red. He said coldly, "Before we start, there's a question I want to ask you. If I defeat you here and you get injured, will Jingni Douluo disregard her status and pursue me, or even trouble my Clear Sky Sect?"
This was a provocation, also known as moral blackmail.
In this World, for talented Spirit Masters like them who have powerful backing, when facing seniors stronger than themselves, this tactic was common.
If you make a move, they will say you are disregarding your status and bullying a junior, thereby making the opponent hesitate and hold back. This tactic is always effective.
This is also the origin of the so-called 'dignity of the strong.'
Tang Hao said this to create an image of Qin Xuan being a "kept man," thereby provoking him, and even morally blackmailing him, so that Jingni Douluo would not trouble his Clear Sky Sect afterward.
Unfortunately, Qin Xuan, and even Jingni, had no morals to be blackmailed.
"When fighting others, do you always like to talk so much nonsense? Or is this the once-in-a-century genius of the Clear Sky Sect? Only capable of verbal sparring?"
"If I remember correctly, you should be saying these words to those Titled Douluo who are 70 or 80 years old. But my wife is not even 25, and you are already 34, right? Are you not ashamed to say she disregards her status?"
"Are you going to say something like 'ambition doesn't depend on age, a lack of ambition means living a hundred years in vain' next?"
Qin Xuan was quite speechless, and his gaze towards Tang Hao was like looking at an idiot.
"You—" Tang Hao was speechless. For the first time in his life, he was stunned by someone's retort. Even his Slaughter God Domain paused momentarily at this instant, the bloody mist faltering.
"Alright, alright, all you're saying is to have your cake and eat it too. You're afraid of my wife but don't dare to say it directly. It seems you also don't dare to fight with all your might."
"For the sake of your so-called 'fairness,' I, Qin Xuan, at the age of less than 21, accept your challenge, Tang Hao, this 'junior' of 34. Moreover, I solemnly promise here that if you can defeat me, even if you beat me to death or cripple me, my wife will not seek revenge on your Clear Sky Sect. Is this fair enough?"
Qin Xuan did not deliberately suppress his voice; in fact, he even used his Spirit Power to transmit his voice into the ears of every Spirit Master present.
At this moment, the audience, who had initially suspected Qin Xuan of being a kept man because of Tang Hao's words, suddenly realized.
Recalling the ages of Qin Xuan and even Jingni Douluo, they then discovered that Tang Hao, this so-called once-in-a-century genius of the Clear Sky Sect, seemed to be nothing special. In fact, he looked like a bully trying to use his age and status, only to have it thrown back in his face.
Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, showed a bitter smile and couldn't help but sigh softly.
Trying to take advantage of that bastard Qin Xuan was harder than ascending to heaven. However, since Qin Xuan had said so, it would be great if Tang Hao could really kill that bastard. Even injuring or crippling him would be fine.
Preferably, he would end up like Uncle Gu Rong.
Amidst his thoughts, Qin Xuan had already lost the patience to waste time with Tang Hao. With a flick of his longsword in his right hand, a white light was released, turning colorless.
Suddenly, an even more powerful Slaughter God Domain than Tang Hao's erupted from his body. It was a cold, pure, white-red aura, cleansed by the Vermillion Bird's flame. It instantly dispersed Tang Hao's own bloody, chaotic domain.
"This is the Slaughter God Domain… and it's even stronger than mine!" Tang Hao was both shocked and enraged. He finally became serious and no longer dared to underestimate Qin Xuan.
"Battle begins!"
With the referee's command, Qin Xuan's figure moved. With a single stride, he crossed the distance and was already in front of Tang Hao, delivering a powerful, heavy sword strike.
Tang Hao's expression hardened, and he raised his Clear Sky Hammer to block.
Clang—!
Tang Hao's expression changed drastically. He was sent flying back more than ten meters like a cannonball, his arms numb. He, who was known for his strength, had for the first time in his life lost to another person at the same level in a contest of pure power.
Qin Xuan did not give him a chance to breathe. His figure flickered, attacking again.
Tang Hao was no ordinary person either. He leaned back, his belt snapping, narrowly dodging Qin Xuan's sword strike aimed at his waist. But at this moment, it was too late to use a Spirit Ability. He braced himself with his left hand, performing a hawk flip to regain his footing.
The Clear Sky Hammer, covered by the Slaughter God Domain, erupted with dazzling lightning, striking towards Qin Xuan.
The first move was the 'Break' character ability from the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes.
Qin Xuan had no interest in playing turn-based combat with Tang Hao or clashing head-on. He used his sword art, employing skillful force to dissipate the powerful force from the Clear Sky Hammer.
The two exchanged several more blows in an instant, sparks flying in the air like a furious forge.
In the fifth move, Tang Hao, growing desperate, used the 'Shake' character ability. He deliberately revealed a flaw in his defense, choosing to collide head-on with the Clear Sky Hammer, baiting Qin Xuan. The Changming Sword in Qin Xuan's hand was shaken loose.
"Good opportunity!"
Although he didn't know why Qin Xuan didn't use Spirit Abilities and chose the close-quarters combat that the Clear Sky Sect was most proficient in, at this moment, almost everyone present felt the scales of victory tip towards Tang Hao.
Some were gloating, such as Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Qian Xunji.
Others were worried, such as Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and Bibi Dong.
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