At this moment, Tang San couldn't understand why Huo Wushuang was able to break free from the Earth Dragon Roar soul bone skill's control in such a short time.
Before the competition began, in order to fully understand the effect of this soul bone skill, he had specifically tested it with the teachers at the academy.
Although when used against Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji, who were all Seven-Ring Battle Soul Saints, the Earth Dragon Roar soul bone skill had almost no effect—after all, it wasn't a single-target control skill but a large-area crowd control skill, making it less effective against individual targets—its results were quite different when used on Teacher Lu Qibin, a Control-Type Soul Emperor at level 66.
Against Lu Qibin, the stun duration of the Earth Dragon Roar soul bone skill was significantly extended, enough for him to execute this battle strategy and even have some extra time.
Yet, unexpectedly, Huo Wushuang managed to break free from the stun control so quickly. In other words, was Huo Wushuang's spiritual power even stronger than Teacher Lu Qibin, who was at level 66?
Had he refined a rare head soul bone, or was it that, like himself, Huo Wushuang had also cultivated a secret technique that enhanced spiritual power?
"You have four rings, I have five rings. You can't control me for long when fighting against someone stronger—isn't that normal?"
Huo Wushuang stated matter-of-factly.
If Tang San was shocked at this moment, then Huo Wushuang was secretly feeling relieved.
Luckily, he had never slacked off in cultivating the Lunar Refining Spirit technique, and his spiritual power was strong. Breaking free from the stun effect one second earlier allowed him to respond correctly. Otherwise, even if he had regained consciousness before hitting the ground, he most likely wouldn't have had time to react properly.
Indeed, his little cousin was right—there's always someone stronger out there. If he didn't want to suffer defeat, he had to remain cautious against any opponent. Otherwise, even seemingly harmless, non-threatening foes might end up giving him an unexpected big surprise.
Just like his little cousin Muyang, who appeared to be a weak Food-Type Soul Master but actually had terrifying combat strength—ordinary newly-advanced Soul Saints at the Seven-Ring level couldn't withstand even a single glance from him.
Hearing this, Tang San was momentarily stunned before showing a helpless expression.
Although his Blue Silver Grass martial soul seemed a bit weak, in his heart, he always believed that he wouldn't lose to any soul master of the same level.
He could indeed surpass soul masters of the same rank, but there was a limit to that superiority. At the very least, he couldn't possibly overcome a gap of more than ten levels and defeat someone like Huo Wushuang, who was also capable of challenging opponents above his rank.
Perhaps in a battle of equal levels, he could defeat Huo Wushuang with his Tang Sect techniques, but with a soul power gap of over ten levels, it was only natural that he lost this time.
Thinking this way, Tang San regained his confidence.
Once I, Tang San, reach the Five-Ring level or even match your level, who will win then? That remains to be seen!
Huo Wushuang: You're at five rings? I've already reached six rings!
Tang San: A single-martial-soul soul master like you is nothing. Once I, Buddha Tang, become a Title Douluo and start adding rings to my second martial soul, you won't even be able to keep up with me!
At this moment, the referee announced the match result:
"Advancement Round, Third Match—Blazing Academy versus Shrek Academy! Blazing Academy wins!"
"How do you feel?"
After returning victorious, Huo Wushuang was greeted by Muyang's question.
"You mean Tang San?"
Huo Wushuang asked.
Muyang nodded slightly.
"He's a cunning opponent, but his strength is lacking. Otherwise, I really could have lost today."
Rubbing his chin, Huo Wushuang replied.
After a moment of thought, Muyang gave a serious warning to Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu:
"If you encounter him outside the competition in the future, make sure to be extremely careful."
Huo Wushuang had nearly been eliminated earlier, not just because of Tang San's special tactics catching him off guard, but also because the tournament's rules prohibited the use of external objects, which greatly limited Tang San's combat effectiveness.
Moreover, the essence of hidden weapons lay in their hidden nature.
If Tang San were to secretly use a high-level hidden weapon against Huo Wushuang, even as his elder cousin, Muyang couldn't guarantee that Huo Wushuang wouldn't fall into his hands.
Take something like the Yama's Invitation or the Soul-Chasing Life-Taking Courage—those hidden weapons Tang San could currently craft. If Huo Wushuang didn't have time to put on his battle armor, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand them.
"Aren't you the one who said Tang San is the son of the Clear Sky Douluo? We wouldn't dare to provoke him."
Huo Wushuang quickly shook his head.
Tang Hao's infamous reputation was well known, and not long ago, he had even smashed the Martial Soul Hall's branch in Heaven Dou City. He was utterly unrestrained, not putting Martial Soul Hall in his eyes at all.
With such a ruthless father backing Tang San, the two siblings wouldn't dare provoke him. Otherwise, if they made an enemy of him, the Clear Sky Douluo might just drop a hammer from the sky and turn them into pancakes.
"Exactly, exactly!"
Even the usually proud Huo Wu nodded in agreement.
The image of that hammer-wielding figure, standing like a god or demon under the night sky of Heaven Dou City, had left a deep impression on her.
A figure like that was best left unprovoked if possible.
"Good. Tang San is an extremely dangerous person. From now on, keep your distance from him."
Seeing their reaction, Muyang nodded in satisfaction.
Getting too close to Buddha Tang was highly dangerous.
For one, if Tang San found them unpleasant, he could easily mark them with You have a death wish.
Secondly, Tang San's enemies were not only powerful but also domineering. If they got too close, those enemies might just decide to pull the weeds along with the roots and eliminate them as well. In that case, they would inevitably get caught in the bloodshed.
Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu: "..."
Meanwhile, in Star Dou Forest…
In the inner region, deep within the forest, beside the corpse of a massive tiger, a golden-haired youth was fusing with a soul ring and advancing in rank.
After some time, a surge of soul power erupted from his body, breaking through his limits—he had advanced to the Five-Ring Soul King level, and not just at the standard level 51, but directly to level 52.
"Not bad, A fifth soul ring of about seventeen thousand years and reaching level 52—when you and Zhuyun unleash your Nether White Tiger, this year's Soul Master Tournament championship will undoubtedly be yours!"
Watching Davis successfully advance to the Five-Ring Soul King level, a golden-haired elder who had been leading the hunt smiled.
Although reports indicated that this year's tournament had multiple Five-Ring Soul Kings, including three from Martial Soul Hall's Golden Generation and several from Heaven Dou Empire…
A Five-Ring Soul King was not the same as another Five-Ring Soul King. With Davis at level 52 and Zhu Zhuyun at level 48, their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Nether White Tiger, would have no equal.
Not even an ordinary Six-Ring Soul Emperor could stand against them!
As for whether their opponents had their own Martial Soul Fusion Skills?
That was simply impossible!
The empire's statistics had shown that Martial Soul Fusion Skills were rare and often appeared in talented but not necessarily top-tier soul masters.
After all, for a fusion skill to emerge, both martial souls needed to complement each other, covering each other's weaknesses.
And the stronger a martial soul was, the fewer its weaknesses. This was why top-tier martial souls like the Six-Winged Angel and the Clear Sky Hammer had never produced any fusion skills.
Thus, in the golden-haired elder's view, Martial Soul Hall's Golden Generation and the few Five-Ring Soul Kings from Heaven Dou Empire definitely lacked such a trump card.
"Grand Elder, you praise me too much. But this year's Soul Master Tournament championship will definitely belong to Star Luo Royal Academy!"
Glancing at Zhu Zhuyun, who was looking at him with admiration, Davis spoke with confidence.
"Very good!"
The golden-haired elder nodded in satisfaction, then said:
"Weiss, after the tournament ends, bring Mubai back. As a prince of the empire, running off to Heaven Dou like that is unacceptable."
"Mubai truly disappointed Father."
A sharp glint flashed in Davis' eyes as he nodded.
My dear brother, you've had enough fun all these years—it's time to come back and witness your big brother's ascension as Crown Prince!
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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