At the plaza in front of the Pope's Hall!
The Golden Generation made their first move. Huli Liena and Xie Yue displayed their terrifying power through a formidable Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang fell outside the arena, blood spraying wildly, their breathing shallow, clearly gravely injured.
Except for Feng Xiaotian, who anxiously ran toward them, lifting Huo Wu and supporting Huo Wushuang, all eyes in the arena were focused on the Martial Soul Hall team, especially on the Golden Generation.
At this moment, the Golden Generation,Huli Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan,were all staring at Wang Li, radiating intense battle intent from head to toe.
Two years ago, they had already heard of Wang Li and his exploits. At twelve years old, as a Soul Master, they had been pushed to double their training because of him, tortured to the brink of death over those two years.
But now, looking at him, the Soul Master of two years ago had become a Soul King. Their goal was clear…
Defeat Wang Li. Beat him decisively!
Xie Yue, standing 1.9 meters tall with neat short hair, looked at Wang Li, smiled coldly, and made a throat-slitting gesture, a blatant provocation.
Wang Li remained completely calm. Unbothered by the provocation, he even clapped and loudly praised:
"Not bad. A very impressive Martial Soul Fusion Technique. You have the right to be my opponent. I thought this year's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition would be as boring as before."
As he spoke, the faces of the Golden Generation changed. They had seriously provoked him, but Wang Li's indifferent reaction clearly showed he did not take them seriously.
Yan, with the Flame Lord Martial Soul, dark red hair, and crimson eyes, could not help but want to shout in anger.
But Huli Liena waved her hand, and he was immediately calmed, remaining quiet without further comment.
Huli Liena shared some resemblance with Xie Yue,her appearance not exactly stunning but with a distinct allure. Her beautiful eyes shone, and she smiled lightly:
"Thank you for the compliment. I look forward to an exciting final battle with you tomorrow!"
Wang Li's expression remained unchanged. Huli Liena had tried to seduce him, likely hoping to embarrass him, but even the sharpest steel could not pierce his iron-clad body.
He smiled and said:
"I look forward to it too!"
Not many had fully understood the earlier clash.
Meanwhile, in the VIP seats:
Ning Fengzhi said with admiration:
"Bilin, this child you have trained is exceptional. Facing three Soul Kings of the Golden Generation, he remains unafraid and unwavering."
Dugu Bo smiled and replied:
"This boy has never really feared me. Three Soul Kings of the Golden Generation? How could he be afraid? Only by confronting true strength can one achieve fearlessness."
After speaking, Dugu Bo leaped down and strode toward Wang Li and Dugu Yan with the Tian Dou Royal Team.
Standing there, Ning Fengzhi looked thoughtful, as did his guardian, Chen Xin.
After a long while, Ning Fengzhi exhaled:
"Uncle Jian, Bilin is truly a master to cultivate someone like Wang Li. To see through the essence of cultivation… if you haven't faced true strength, how can you become strong?"
Chen Xin nodded in agreement:
"Exactly. Since reaching this realm in cultivation, I have never experienced a real battle or faced an opponent stronger than me. No wonder my strength has not improved."
"The master… this old rascal carries a unique aura. He may soon break into my realm as well."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, thinking that the original plan remains unchanged, and even further investment is needed. This weakest titled Douluo is no longer the weakest.
Elsewhere, Dugu Bo protected Wang Li and Dugu Yan as the Tian Dou Royal Team left the plaza.
The next day!
Wang Li woke from training, not to adjust his state but to cultivate his soul power.
Looking at his panel, he was at level fifty-nine, just 5% away from breaking through to level sixty.
He thought:
"Hopefully, the final battle brings some pressure, so I can successfully break through my soul power. Then after winning the championship, I can directly go to the Star Dou Forest to find the soul beast needed for the sixth soul ring."
After rising, he washed, ate, and joined the Tian Dou team heading to the plaza in front of the Pope's Hall.
The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition had truly reached its final stage. The finals, the ultimate battle, drew massive attention. By the time they arrived, the arena was packed.
Everyone took their positions, waiting. Pope Bibi Dong appeared on the Pope's Hall, signaling the start of the match.
Indeed, a red-clad cardinal stepped onto the arena as a judge, scanning left and right, then loudly announced:
"The final match: Martial Soul Hall Team versus Tian Dou Royal Team. Both teams, enter the arena!"
In the Tian Dou Royal Team's rest area, Wang Li looked at Dugu Yan, who smiled back. She then looked at Ye Lingling and softly said:
"Lingling, sorry for troubling you."
Ye Lingling shook her head, unconcerned:
"The enemy is strong. The Golden Generation has three Soul Kings. You need extra strength."
Soon, Wang Li, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, Osro, Yufeng, Shimo, and Shimu, seven in total, stepped onto the arena, abandoning auxiliary soul masters. Though technically, Wang Li was also an auxiliary soul master.
Opposing them, the Martial Soul Hall team, led by the Golden Generation,Huli Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan,also stepped onto the arena.
Even before battle began, the air smelled of impending smoke and tension.
The red-clad cardinal said gravely:
"The rules remain the same. Prepare, and now release your Martial Souls!"
Moments later, whispers spread throughout the arena.
The Martial Soul Hall team, led by the three Soul Kings of the Golden Generation, also included four Soul Masters.
The Tian Dou Royal Team, besides Wang Li, surprisingly had a Soul King,Dugu Yan, her Martial Soul awakened. Her five soul rings,yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black,glowed one by one, exuding cold and majestic power.
Other teams, not expecting it, like the Xingluo Royal Team, with Davis and Zhu Zhuyun, looked displeased.
Previously dominated by the Tian Dou Royal Team, they now faced defeat with only one Soul King on the opposing team. This would likely cause internal dissatisfaction at home, though their status would remain. They would need more time to prove themselves as heirs of the empire.
On the Tian Dou Empire side, Shen Feng, Chihuo, Leiting, Tianshui… even a Shrek, all had mixed feelings. Considering the strength of Wang Li and Dugu Yan, and comparing it to their own, they were left gasping for breath.
Back on the arena!
Huli Liena and Xie Yue activated their Martial Soul Fusion again, while Yan struck first to buy them time:
"Hellfire Magma Rush!"
As a top-tier dual fire-earth beast Martial Soul, Flame Lord Yan's power was indeed formidable. With his Soul King-level energy, his first soul skill caused the air to sizzle with heat.
A pillar of fiery red magma shot toward the Tian Dou Royal Team. Even with Shimo and Shimu's defenses, it could not be fully blocked.
But Dugu Yan acted. Her black soul ring flashed. Terrifying soul power condensed, and a massive devouring serpent emerged, swallowing the magma pillar. The seven-to-eight-meter serpent coiled around her.
As her innate soul skill, the Devouring Serpent could absorb any energy attack before reaching its limit.
It could neutralize energy repeatedly, though not absolute defense, it was almost unbeatable at the same rank.
Yan's expression changed slightly. Though it was only his first soul skill, its power was considerable. The serpent swallowing his Hellfire Magma Rush would not dissipate. He quickly realized it was a soul skill capable of sustained energy absorption.
Meanwhile, Huli Liena and Xie Yue completed their Martial Soul Fusion. Blood-red mist began to spread.
Wang Li told Dugu Yan:
"Yan Yan, take care of the outside. I'll break their Martial Soul Fusion, dealing with Huli Liena and Xie Yue."
Dugu Yan, confident in Wang Li's strength, replied:
"We'll handle the others."
Wang Li then walked into the blood-red mist, while others quickly scattered.
Once Wang Li vanished into the mist:
Dugu Yan said:
"Yu Tianheng, I'll handle that Soul King. You deal with the four high-level Soul Masters from the Martial Soul Hall. Osro, Yufeng, your targets are the Soul Master with the golden staff. Don't let them gain continuous enhancement."
Simultaneously, Dugu Yan used her first and second soul skills,Excitation Poison and Paralysis Poison,to enhance the attack and defense of Yu Tianheng, Osro, Yufeng, Shimo, and Shimu.
As a poison-based control soul master, Dugu Yan had to be precise,poison affected all. From her first to fourth soul skills, timing had to be exact to avoid buffing enemies or harming allies.
Yu Tianheng clenched his fists, entering a state of excitement, ignoring pain and fatigue:
"Shimo, Shimu, Osro, Yufeng, follow me. First, take out the four Soul Masters!"
Lightning flashed. Yu Tianheng's arms transformed into dragons entwined with electricity, charging forward.
Behind him, Shimo and Shimu followed closely. Osro and Yufeng targeted the golden-staffed auxiliary Soul Master, following Dugu Yan's plan.
Yan did not stop them. She trusted her team. Her job was to neutralize Yan.
The Devouring Serpent coiling around her prevented Yan's energy attacks, but Yan's beast Martial Soul had more than just energy skills.
After Martial Soul possession, Yan resembled a fiery rock giant, striding toward Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes. As a control soul master, she lacked offensive soul skills, but with proper timing, she could neutralize Yan.
"Third soul skill, Bilin Purple Poison!"
She released a purple poisonous mist in front of her.
Yan remained calm, activating his second skill, Granite Rock, forming a rocky armor. Heavy and mountainous.
He tried to push through the poison mist. The strong corrosion caused him to groan, but he held his breath, forcing through it.
Yet waiting for him was Dugu Yan's fourth soul skill, Bilin Confusing Array. The toxic smoke had no lethal force but was terrifying.
Yan instantly lost all five senses,sight, hearing, smell,facing overwhelming fear. He frantically released soul power, striking blindly around.
"Ah… ahhh…"
Dugu Yan coldly dodged like a phantom serpent, waiting for Yan to exhaust himself. Then she could freely control him.
In the center of the arena, inside the blood-red mist, Wang Li faced the mist trying to corrode his body, cloud his senses, suppress his soul power, and slow his actions.
Activating his domain expelled the abnormal energy, restoring him to peak condition.
From the mist came intertwined male and female voices:
"Wang Li, your strength is formidable, but once inside the blood-red mist, you can never escape!"
Wang Li chuckled:
"I never intended to escape. If your Martial Soul Fusion is only this, I am truly disappointed."
"Hmph!"
A cold snort rang out. Inside the mist, a masked figure wielding twin moon blades silently swung at Wang Li.
No overwhelming force was released, but the deadly chill was enough to terrify any normal Soul King and command the attention of a Soul Emperor.
But Wang Li was not normal.
He activated his soul power. Golden light spread through his body. With a rapid glance, he struck first, intercepting the blades with his bare hands, confronting the demon-like figure, smiling:
"Got you!"
Before finishing his sentence, he punched the masked figure in the face. Bang! Both Xie Yue and Huli Liena felt their brains shaken, even their consciousness briefly faltering.
Wang Li pushed off the ground, instantly leaping.
Instant Step!
A knee strike hit the demon figure's chest. A muffled grunt of pain escaped, and the figure was sent flying.
Wang Li never touched the ground, using the air for leverage, leaping forward.
Heavy Foot!
He caught up with the demon figure, striking with a leg whip. Crack! Crack! The figure's right arm twisted unnaturally, losing grip of the moon blade, which clattered to the ground.
Wang Li landed lightly, while the demon figure slammed heavily onto the ground.
Wang Li had the courage. As a Soul King, he absorbed thirty-thousand-year soul rings; as a Soul Emperor, fifty-thousand-year soul rings.
His advantage came from a strong and tough body. His passive talent, "Tenacity," combined with cultivation and immortal herbs, soul ring attachments, and upgrades, allowed him to defeat Soul Kings and Soul Emperors with raw strength alone, without using his Martial Soul.
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