Chapter 196: Ah, Someone Died Again!
The Netherworld White Tiger could maintain its attack for only two or three strikes before draining the spirit power of both hosts.
Zhu Zhuyun's gaze flickered briefly toward the Gemstone Academy's rest area.
"This is my repayment for your spirit pearl. With Yan crippled, he won't be able to appear in the finals.
As for Xie Yue and Hu Liena, I'll give it my all—perhaps I can injure them too."
As her power grew, Zhu Zhuyun had come to understand the miraculous nature of the pearl within her.
By now, she couldn't live without it.
She prayed Dugu Feng wouldn't change his mind and reclaim it.
The massive Netherworld White Tiger slammed its claws into the ground and leapt again, launching itself straight at Xie Yue.
By now, Xie Yue was furious.
He realized he had been deceived.
Just moments before, the tiger's eyes had been clouded by confusion, yet it had shaken off the enchantment faster than he could react, its speed beyond imagination.
Yan lay crushed into the stone arena—his injuries so severe that even under Xie Yue's psychic perception, several months of healing wouldn't suffice.
Some fractures might even ruin his future cultivation.
The sight filled Xie Yue with cold killing intent.
"You dare injure Yan so gravely? You must have a death wish!"
He brandished his weapons. His twin crescent blades expanded to twice their normal size, glowing blood-red.
In an instant, the air burst with red light as the blades spun violently, then shot forth like lightning bolts.
He stood motionless, eyes hard and murderous, awaiting the charging white tiger.
"Die!"
A deafening crack echoed as claw and blade collided midair.
Sparks hissed and shrieked.
For a heartbeat, they seemed evenly matched…
…but only for a heartbeat.
Xie Yue's moon blades suddenly overpowered it, slicing clean through the tiger's massive claw and plunging into its torso.
He did not stop there.
A moment later, the second blade flashed—striking across the beast's neck, a crimson arc tearing through the air.
The enormous Netherworld White Tiger staggered backward, its fusion breaking apart under the dual blows.
With a heavy impact, it slammed into the arena's edge.
Two figures tumbled to the ground.
Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi lay side by side, their bodies limp.
Zhu Zhuyun's face turned ashen. Even after exhausting all her spirit power, she hadn't been able to fully block the power of Xie Yue's moon blades.
The white tiger's formidable defense had spared them from being obliterated, but both were gravely wounded.
Xie Yue, however, showed no mercy.
Zhu Zhuyun could only guide the fading tiger to slam forward one final time before they were forced from the Scarlet Mist.
When the Martial Soul Fusion ended, the spirit pearl within her had surged once more, releasing a burst of power that barely shielded her from death.
Dai Weisi wasn't so lucky.
Every drop of his power had been spent maintaining the fusion.
When the blades struck, he had no strength left to defend himself.
Zhu Zhuyun turned to look beside her—his body lay twisted like a broken doll, lifeless.
From outside, all the spectators saw was one Star Luo team member after another hurled from the crimson mist.
At last, two figures and a shard of moonlight emerged—
One body barely resisting the slash; the other, not at all.
When the mist dissolved and the scene became clear, the entire audience fell silent.
Someone was dead.
Dead.
The realization rippled through the stadium like thunder.
"What—someone actually died!?"
"Dead—he's really dead!"
"What the—!"
"Damn, that's brutal!"
A wave of shocked exclamations erupted through the arena, the air filled with curses and disbelief.
In the VIP seats, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and even Dugu Bo all froze in astonishment.
At the Star Luo delegation's side, the White Tiger Clan Master, Dai Tianqing—a Contra of level eighty-eight—rose to his feet, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
Spirit Hall had killed the crown prince of Star Luo.
Had they lost their minds?
"Elder Chrysanthemum!" he roared. "Does Spirit Hall intend to start a war with the Star Luo Empire?
This was a tournament match! How dare your people murder His Highness right before us!?"
His booming voice echoed across the stands, his aura flaring with fury.
Even Chrysanthemum Douluo was taken aback. Seeing Yan's shattered body lying within the mist, however, he quickly pieced it together—Xie Yue must have retaliated without restraint.
Indeed, the wounds were grave.
"Clan Chief Dai," Chrysanthemum Douluo said smoothly, regaining composure, "our Golden Generation's Yan was also gravely injured. His recovery will take at least half a year—his life itself hangs by a thread.
As for His Highness Dai Weisi, he was the weaker one in this exchange. If his strength failed him, that is no fault of ours."
Now that blood had been spilled, Chrysanthemum Douluo showed not a shred of guilt.
A crown prince?
What was a prince compared to Spirit Hall's chosen prodigies?
Yan's near-death alone warranted an equivalent price.
It was only "fair."
"Elder Chrysanthemum," Ning Fengzhi interjected, his tone sharp, "this violates the tournament's rules. Killing is forbidden!
That Xie Yue showed no restraint in his finishing move—this was deliberate murder."
"Humph!" Chrysanthemum Douluo countered coldly. "And is maiming an opponent not also forbidden? Yet look at our Yan—crippled by them first! This was an honest battle.
You expect restraint in a final-round match? Should we have toyed with them instead?
That Netherworld White Tiger was immensely strong—do you suggest Xie Yue chip away slowly to test their limits?
Need I remind you, Ning Sect Master, that during Heaven Dou's qualifiers, wasn't Tang San responsible for Yu Tianxin's death?
You were part of that organizing committee. How was he punished then?"
His rebuttal struck like a blade—undeniable logic twisted by arrogance.
Ning Fengzhi fell silent, unable to respond. After all, Tang San had gone unpunished.
Seeing his ally falter, Dai Tianqing realized the argument was lost.
"Elder Chrysanthemum," he said through clenched teeth, "I will report this directly to His Majesty."
He stormed down the stands toward the arena, rage burning in his eyes.
Dai Weisi had been Star Luo's brightest prince, his potential to become a future Titled Douluo nearly assured—and now he was gone.
Thankfully, Zhu Zhuyun lived; otherwise, the Zhu and Dai clans alike would have gone mad.
Dugu Feng's eyes gleamed.
"Well, well… another one dead. How ruthless, Xie Yue—killing Star Luo's crown prince, no less."
He widened his eyes theatrically in mock shock.
Beside him, Old Snake and Shi Nian frowned deeply.
Spirit Hall's cruelty knew no bounds. They hadn't hesitated in the slightest.
The rest of the teams paled, though many couldn't hide their morbid excitement.
Something enormous had just happened.
The victim wasn't an ordinary competitor—it was the Star Luo Empire's heir, its future emperor.
Shock moments later gave way to gossiping whispers bursting from every mouth.
Across the arena, spirit masters traded wide-eyed stares, minds already spinning with scandal.
The audience, once solemn, had come alive with feverish chatter.
After all—this was true spectacle.
In Douluo Continent… as long as the dead one wasn't you, it was entertainment.
(END CHAPTER)
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