Chapter 195: Zhu Zhuyun Strikes
Across from Zhu Zhuyun, the trio of Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena stood in formation—their expressions far graver than usual.
Facing the Star Luo Royal Team in the third round had been a calculated choice. Their motives were twofold: to assert Spirit Hall's dominance early and to eliminate the single most threatening rival before the finals.
After all, one name haunted even the proud Golden Generation—Dugu Feng.
His growing renown and mysterious strength placed immense pressure on them, making even Spirit Hall's prodigies tread carefully.
And now, with Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi wielding their team's famed Martial Soul Fusion Skill—the Netherworld White Tiger—they posed a credible danger.
If the finals came down to three teams, Spirit Hall risked being forced into a coordinated onslaught from both Gemstone Academy and Star Luo.
Though unlikely, even a "small accident" could doom them.
Thus, they opted for the most cautious strategy—take Star Luo out first, and prepare for Dugu Feng later.
"Both sides, release your martial souls!"
At the referee's command, spirit rings lit the arena aflame with color.
Four Spirit Kings, their black rings gleaming, unleashed immense waves of pressure.
The Golden Generation displayed flawless formations—Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue each bore the optimal configuration of two yellow, two purple, and one black ring. The four remaining members, all Spirit Ancestors, formed a powerful seven-man team.
The combined brilliance of their rings rolled across the arena like a tidal wave, pressing heavily upon the Star Luo team.
"Begin!"
The referee's shout fired like a gunshot.
On Spirit Hall's side, crimson radiance flared from Hu Liena's form. Scarlet mist spread outward, blanketing the entire platform.
Her spirit rings flashed; her figure shimmered alluringly as the air filled with intoxicating charm.
At her side, Xie Yue raised both hands. The twin crimson scimitars materialized and extended as he stepped forward—merging instantly with Hu Liena.
They activated their ultimate move from the start—Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Demonic Enchantment.
The crimson mist condensed into a massive veil of light that swallowed the entire stage.
The spectators lost sight of them completely; even those watching from the VIP stands could only see an unsettling red curtain billowing in the arena.
Within the curtain, waves of spirit power rippled with an intensity beyond that of ordinary Spirit Kings.
Spirit Hall's pair clearly intended to crush their opponents.
On the other side, a dark energy surged upward—a thick black beam tore through the mist.
Inside it, a colossal white tiger took form. Transparent, its massive body shimmered with silver fur and black streaks, its twin purple eyes gleaming fiercely.
The Netherworld White Tiger had appeared.
But from the outside, none could see it; the crimson mist was both a stimulant and a barrier, distorting perception and blocking spirit sense.
Dugu Feng, watching from the rest area, recognized immediately that this mist was Hu Liena's doing—a deliberate attempt to conceal their true strength.
To everyone else, the battlefield was a storm of flashes and roars; only the thunderous crashes reached their ears.
For Dugu Feng, however, the disguise mattered little.
In fact, a strange excitement stirred within him.
He now controlled eight power cores—his "spirit pearls."
Three of them were on this very stage.
Hu Liena, Yan, and Zhu Zhuyun—all carried his spirit pearls within their bodies.
He could sense everything—every heartbeat, every movement—and if he wished, he could interfere at any moment.
That was his plan all along.
"If the Star Luo crown prince were to die by Spirit Hall's hands," he thought coldly, "how entertaining that would be."
Inside the mist, Xie Yue took the lead, controlling their fusion. His eyes locked onto the ghostly tiger charging ahead.
The famous technique of the Dai and Zhu clans—of course he knew it well.
He also recalled the shocking battle in Heaven Dou City when Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had used the same fusion to fatal effect against Yu Tianxin.
Back then, they had been only Spirit Ancestor and Spirit Elder—yet even that had slain a foe.
Now their counterparts were a Spirit King and high-level Spirit Ancestor.
Xie Yue harbored no arrogance toward them; this was exactly why he and Hu Liena began with their fusion skill.
Against Heaven Dou's team, they hadn't needed it—those opponents were far too weak.
But against Star Luo's royals, caution was essential.
Full-power Demonic Enchantment reduced enemies' perception, spirit power, and reaction speed—all by half.
Though lacking the amplifying effect of a domain, it surpassed most domains in suppression.
Within it, the enemy could barely move.
Two Spirit Kings channeling that force together reached near–Spirit Emperor intensity.
To Xie Yue, that should have decided the battle.
"Zhu Zhuyun—another supposed prodigy.
Netherworld White Tiger, a powerful fusion indeed—but unfortunately, you met us."
His voice dripped with cool arrogance.
Within his sight, the white tiger's eyes flickered hazily; its advance slowed.
The enchantment was working perfectly.
Then, in the blink of an eye, his pupils shrank.
A flash of light—and the tiger was gone.
No—not gone. It had moved faster than his eyes could follow, slipping from his perception entirely.
Before he could react, the tiger's massive paw swung down like a stormcloud.
It struck Yan head-on.
Yan had just unleashed his fourth spirit skill, Lava Inferno, capitalizing on what he thought was his opponent's sluggish reaction. Under the Enchantment's debuff, area attacks should've wiped them out.
But the Netherworld White Tiger proved immune to his assumptions.
How could it possibly break free from Demonic Enchantment?
The colossal beast, five meters tall and ten meters long, towered over the field—each claw alone as large as a man.
Crack!
The paw slammed down.
Yan's body smashed into the granite floor of the platform, embedding deep within it.
Even his Spirit King's defense couldn't fully endure—the sound of cracking bones echoed across the arena.
He lay motionless, blood seeping beneath him.
Then, invisibly, the tiny spirit pearl embedded within him spun, leeching part of his spirit energy and life force away.
Yan's condition worsened instantly.
The Netherworld White Tiger's glowing eyes gleamed with eerie intelligence.
It wasn't Dai Weisi controlling it—it was Zhu Zhuyun.
Her spirit power was greater; the control naturally fell to her.
"This pearl truly is miraculous," Zhu Zhuyun thought, exhilarated. "A heat surged through me just now—it snapped me out of their charm!"
She was thrilled.
She didn't expect to win the championship—how could she?
With Dugu Feng's spirit pearl inside her, her victory or defeat rested entirely in his hands.
If he willed her to win, she would win. If not, she would lose.
But for now, she would savor this moment—
—The moment she, not Dai Weisi, struck the first blow that stunned all of Spirit Hall.
(END CHAPTER)
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