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As the Elite Competition of Advanced Soul Master Academies of the Entire Continent progressed, the competition was gradually drawing to a close, and the battles were becoming increasingly fierce and intense. All the teams that made it to the third round were elites who had survived the brutal elimination rounds, and every team member was an outstanding young Spirit Master.
After a day of short rest, the third round of the competition finally kicked off amidst widespread anticipation. The elites from various academies were eager to compete, and the air was filled with a tense, belligerent atmosphere. The stands were packed with people, all holding their breath, waiting to witness this peak showdown belonging to young geniuses.
Sun Buyu slowly walked back to the waiting area with the lot. His gaze fell on the slip of paper in his hand, and he announced in a steady, clear voice: "Your opponent for the third round is—Thunder Academy!"
Upon hearing this, the Huang Dou Battle Team members all showed intriguing expressions.
"Interesting." Yu Feng muttered in a low voice, his peripheral vision secretly glancing at Feng Xiao not far away. He secretly thought to himself: Is Feng Xiao perhaps naturally at odds with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Every time he encounters someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he always manages to cause some trouble.
Dugu Yan keenly caught Yu Feng's small movement, her red lips slightly curved: "What? Has our 'chatterbox bird' turned mute today?"
Yu Feng awkwardly shrank his neck, but still couldn't resist glancing at Feng Xiao again. Feng Xiao was nonchalantly tidying his cuffs, but that slightly raised corner of his mouth, no matter how one looked at it, carried a hint of malicious intent.
"Heh, indeed, enemies often meet." Poison Douluo narrowed his slender eyes and said in a chilling tone: "Boy, beat those Thunder Academy people to death for me. If I see you hold back even a little," he snorted coldly.
Feng Xiao's lips curved into a meaningful arc, and he bowed respectfully: "Senior, rest assured, I was just looking for this opportunity…" As he looked up, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes, "to conduct a good experiment."
The Red-robed Referee stepped onto the stage and loudly announced: "The third round of the Elite Competition of Advanced Soul Master Academies of the Entire Continent, Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Spirit Master Academy versus Thunder Advanced Spirit Master Academy."
The Red-robed Referee's booming voice echoed over the arena. The two teams of Spirit Masters slowly ascended the stage under everyone's gaze, their heavy footsteps seemingly striking everyone's heart.
The Thunder Academy members looked solemn, their gazes unanimously fixed on Feng Xiao. Yu Tianheng, who was leading them, frowned tightly, and a blue-purple electric light flickered between his fingers. Lei Dong, beside him, said in a low voice: "Captain, that Feng Xiao…"
"I know." Yu Tianheng interrupted in a deep voice, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes, "Everyone stay alert, his methods… are very strange."
Feng Xiao seemed to sense something, looked up to meet the gazes of the Thunder Academy members, and a half-smile played on his lips. He unhurriedly straightened his clothes, every subtle movement making his opponents' nerves tighten.
Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, his amber eyes filled with a playful expression, and a faint smile lingered on his lips: "Captain Yu, I didn't expect… the dignified Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, when did he switch to playing support?"
As soon as these words came out, the Huang Dou Battle Team members all trembled. Yu Feng gasped, instinctively shrinking half a step behind Dugu Yan. Although they had Poison Douluo backing them, Feng Xiao's words were practically trampling the dignity of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan into the mud.
In the Shrek waiting area, Yu Tianheng's face instantly darkened, his knuckles turning white. Yu Xiaogang's brows were tightly furrowed, the theoretical notes in his hand crumpled into deep wrinkles—in his eyes, that was nothing more than tactical cooperation.
"You!" Yu Tianheng was furious, and a dazzling lightning bolt suddenly burst from his body, blue-purple electric snakes frantically darting through his hair. Although what Feng Xiao said was true, to him, who regarded the Sect's honor as his life, this was undoubtedly a blatant insult.
"Tianheng, don't lose your head!" The Thunder Academy members hurriedly stopped the enraged Yu Tianheng. Lei Tian held his shoulder tightly: "He's provoking you!"
Feng Xiao, however, still stood calmly in place, even leisurely dusting off non-existent dust from his sleeve. His composed posture formed a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere of the Thunder Academy on the opposite side.
At this moment, even the Red-robed Referee on stage couldn't help but cast a look of admiration at Feng Xiao—after all, on this continent, there were not many people who dared to provoke the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in such a way, and those lightning-attribute Spirit Masters known for their violent nature were never easy to deal with.
Yu Tianheng's eyes were bloodshot, his teeth grinding, and the lightning around him surged: "Feng Xiao! If you have the guts, let them all step down, and we'll settle it one-on-one!"
"Pfft—" Dugu Yan immediately burst into a radiant smile upon hearing this, her purple short hair swaying slightly with her trembling shoulders, and she understood: "Indeed… the people of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, every single one of them, are not very bright." A playful glint flickered in her purple eyes as she meaningfully glanced towards the Shrek team.
Feng Xiao's lips held a faint smile, and he casually looked at the Red-robed Referee not far away, raising an eyebrow: "Referee, I wonder if this suggestion… complies with the competition rules?"
The Red-robed Referee's expression was solemn, his hands clasped behind his back, and his voice was neither hurried nor slow: "This referee is only responsible for maintaining order in the competition. I will not comment on your personal grievances, but if you wish to treat the rules set by Spirit Hall as child's play…" He paused meaningfully, his gaze like a torch sweeping over both sides, "then don't blame me for acting according to the rules."
"What a pity, Brother Yu." Feng Xiao shook his head, feigning regret.
At this moment, Yu Tianheng's boiling blood gradually cooled down. He stared deeply at Feng Xiao, the anger in his eyes replaced by a complex emotion—it was a hint of imperceptible relief.
If the team battle was lost, it could still be attributed to overall coordination and tactical arrangements; but if he were to truly compete against Feng Xiao one-on-one… He secretly clenched his fists, his knuckles slightly white. Even as proud as he was, he dared not assert that he could steadily defeat this unfathomable opponent.
What was even more terrifying was that if he were to lose a one-on-one battle in front of a large crowd, that would be even more embarrassing than Yu Tianheng's situation. At least, that cousin had won the match fair and square. This thought was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing his impulsive anger.
The Red-robed Referee raised his right arm, his powerful voice, amplified by spirit power, resounded throughout the arena: "If both sides have no objections—the match, begins!"
As his arm suddenly swung down, this signal, symbolizing the official start of the match, instantly tightened the atmosphere of the entire arena to the extreme.
A sharp glint flashed in Feng Xiao's eyes, and a spirit ring had already lit up beneath his feet; on the opposite side, Yu Tianheng was also enveloped in lightning, blue electric light flowing over his body. The spirit power fluctuations of the fourteen Spirit Masters from the two teams collided in the field, stirring up ripples of energy.
"Sister Yan." Feng Xiao called softly, giving Dugu Yan a meaningful look.
A hint of understanding flashed in Dugu Yan's purple eyes, and a dangerous curve appeared on her lips. She raised her slender hand, and Bi Lin Snake Venom instantly gushed out, the thick poisonous mist spreading like a living thing across the arena, instantly isolating the Huang Dou Battle Team and Thunder Academy.
Yu Tianheng frowned tightly and sternly said: "Lei Tian, go investigate the situation!"
"Understood!" Lei Tian's Thunder Eagle wings suddenly spread behind him, and with a clear eagle cry, he soared into the sky. However, when he pierced through the poisonous mist and looked down, he was astonished to find that the Huang Dou Battle Team members were still maintaining their initial formation, standing motionless in place, as if waiting for something.
This abnormal sight made Lei Tian's alarm bells ring, and he hurriedly flapped his wings, wanting to turn back and warn them, but then he saw Feng Xiao looking up, a chilling smile on his face.
"You don't need to attack in this match." Feng Xiao said with a smile on his lips, his slender fingers gently stroking the Fuxi Zither strings, "Sister Yan's poisonous mist is enough."
As his words fell, Feng Xiao's hand lightly brushed the Fuxi Zither strings. The strings vibrated but made no sound, and Feng Xiao's spirit rings lit up one by one, glowing with a cold light in the poisonous mist.
Lei Tian, in mid-air, suddenly felt his hair stand on end, and a fatal sense of crisis swept over his entire body. He looked around frantically but could not find any trace of an attack. "What's going on? Where will this crisis come from…"
Before he finished speaking, a piercing pain suddenly struck from under his arm. Lei Tian groaned, his Thunder Eagle wings instantly lost control, and he fell from the sky like a kite with a broken string.
"Be careful! His attacks are invisible!" Lei Tian endured the severe pain and warned loudly.
Feng Xiao lightly plucked the Fuxi Zither strings, murmuring like the wind: "The strings move, but the shadow does not." In the poisonous mist, his smiling figure flickered in and out of sight, like a ghost coming for a life.
A sharp glint flashed in Chen Xin's eyes on the viewing platform, and he rarely showed a look of admiration: "Wonderful! Formless and phaseless, traceless, this child is truly a heaven-sent genius."
Ning Fengzhi's teacup paused slightly in his hand, and a puzzled expression appeared on his gentle, jade-like face: "Uncle Jian, what do you mean?"
Chen Xin turned his gaze to Gu Rong beside him and said faintly: "Let the old bones explain it to you, his perception is more accurate."
Gu Rong's withered fingers lightly tapped the armrest, and his hoarse voice carried a hint of astonishment: "That kid's attainments in the art of the Fuxi Zither are probably unmatched in the entire Douluo Continent. You can't hear the Fuxi Zither music, right?" He narrowed his cloudy eyes, "But that doesn't mean the Fuxi Zither music doesn't exist. I also only managed to capture that faint fluctuation through spatial sensing—he used some special technique to play a melody that normal ears cannot perceive."
"Since you can't even hear it…" Gu Rong paused meaningfully, "Naturally, there's no way to guard against his attacks. I can only sense the ripples the Fuxi Zither music creates in space."
Just as the strong individuals were conversing, the situation on the field had already changed dramatically.
Specks of crimson blood bloomed strangely on the bodies of the Thunder Academy members, as if invisible blades were wantonly cutting. A bloodstain suddenly appeared on Yu Tianheng's arm, a burst of blood mist inexplicably exploded on Lei Dong's shoulder, and other team members also successively appeared with inexplicable wounds.
"What… what kind of evil method is this?!" A Thunder Academy member looked at the sudden wound on his chest in horror, his voice distorted.
Fear spread like a plague through the Thunder Fighting Team. They formed a defensive formation back-to-back, but still couldn't block the elusive attacks. Blood continuously splattered from nothingness, staining the arena floor a dazzling red.
The audience on the stands was in an uproar, many involuntarily stood up, wanting to see this bizarre scene clearly.
Feng Xiao still sat calmly in the center of the poisonous mist, his slender fingers gently plucking and strumming the Fuxi Zither strings. Each tremor of his fingertips was accompanied by the blooming of a blood flower somewhere in the arena, as if he were playing an invisible symphony of slaughter.
"Everyone, use lightning protection and break through this poisonous mist!" Yu Tianheng roared sternly, his voice filled with suppressed shock and anger. The lightning around him surged, blue-purple electric snakes frantically flowing over his body, attempting to resist the invisible attacks.
The Thunder Academy members, however, were startled, and hesitation appeared on their faces. They looked at each other, their eyes full of fear—what kind of terrifying murderous intent was hidden behind that swirling green poisonous mist?
"Ca-Captain…" A team member's voice trembled, "We don't even know where the enemy is…"
"Shut up!" Yu Tianheng's eyes widened in anger, and his Thunder power erupted, "Are we going to sit here and wait to die?!"
He was the first to charge into the poisonous mist, and the violent lightning tore open a path in front of him. Seeing this, the other team members had no choice but to follow, their faces filled with unease and fear. Amidst the flashing lightning, their figures gradually disappeared into the deadly green, like moths drawn to an unknown flame.
In the waiting area, Poison Douluo narrowed his snake eyes, watching the strange battle in the arena, and couldn't help but smack his lips: "Goodness, this kid's methods are even more sinister than mine."
A light of both surprise and appreciation flickered in Poison Douluo's eyes. As an expert in poison, he had to admit at this moment that Feng Xiao's formless and phaseless Fuxi Zither music of killing made even him feel a chill down his spine.
"These kids are really bold, daring to rush into Sister Yan's poisonous mist even with injuries." Poison Douluo shook his head and sighed, but there was clearly a hint of schadenfreude in his sigh, "I'm afraid the organizers will have to prepare stretchers later."
He stroked his beard, and a gleam of delight flickered in his narrowed snake eyes. As an expert in poison, he knew too well what kind of tragic scene was unfolding in the poisonous mist at this moment—the Bi Lin Snake Venom seeping into the bloodstream through the wounds, that taste…
In the arena, heart-wrenching screams pierced through the poisonous mist, echoing around the stadium. Each wail was like an invisible claw, scratching at the nerves of the spectating teams, making their hair stand on end. Many students unconsciously took a step back, their faces pale.
In the Spirit Hall Academy team's waiting area, even Xie Yue unconsciously straightened his back and swallowed. Even Yan, who was usually arrogant, felt a chill creep up his spine at this moment.
"What… what kind of evil attack method is this?" The Golden Generation members looked at each other, all seeing undisguised fear and confusion in each other's eyes.
As the poisonous mist gradually dissipated, the scene in the arena made everyone present gasp—the Thunder Academy members were lying scattered in pools of blood, each of them covered in wounds, their blood mixed with the green poison, a shocking sight.
"I protest! Heaven Dou Royal Academy is maliciously fouling! Harming the contestants!" The Thunder Academy's team leader instantly appeared on the stage, roaring with rage.
Feng Xiao unhurriedly cradled the Fuxi Zither, a calm, faint smile on his lips: "Please rest assured, I deliberately avoided all vital points. It's just…" He glanced meaningfully at Yu Tianheng, who was still twitching, "They were too persistent in using lightning protection, which led to more bleeding from the wounds than expected."
At the same time, Ye Lingling elegantly squatted down, her slender hands gently hovering over the Thunder Academy members' wounds. The green poisonous mist seeped out of the wounds like living things, obediently returning to her palm. She looked up, gave a faint smile, and said in a clear, cold voice: "Don't worry, there won't be any scars." Her tone was as bland as if discussing the weather.
"Our Heaven Dou Royal Academy has always provided thorough service." Feng Xiao smiled, his demeanor as gentle as jade, yet it sent shivers down the spines of the Thunder Academy teachers and students, "Lingling, it's your turn to act."
Ye Lingling moved with light steps, and the Nine Hearted Sea棠 bloomed in her palm. Pink and white petals drifted with the wind, and wherever they passed, those gruesome wounds healed at a visible rate. She looked up, smiled faintly, and said in a clear voice: "Don't worry, there won't be any scars."
Feng Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, adding thoughtfully: "Everyone, please rest assured and recover from your injuries, it definitely won't delay your…" He deliberately paused, a playful arc on his lips, "trip back to Heaven Dou City."
These words were spoken politely, but they made the Thunder Academy members' faces turn even uglier. Yu Tianheng struggled to his feet, staring intently at Feng Xiao, his eyes filled with both anger and an unspeakable hint of apprehension.
The Red-robed Referee's figure flashed, and he had already appeared in the center of the arena. There was no need for further inspection now, and he announced in a loud voice: "The winner of this match is—Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Spirit Master Academy!"
As the verdict fell, the entire audience was in an uproar. The Red-robed Referee gave a meaningful look at Feng Xiao, who was holding the ancient Fuxi Zither.