Seeing Yin Zhang's display, Gu Rong could not help but frown.
"Not bad at all. Then let me test you properly."
As he spoke, Gu Rong began releasing his spirit power pressure, starting from the level of a Spirit Saint.
The moment the Spirit Saint–level pressure descended, Yin Zhang felt his body sink slightly, but otherwise showed no obvious reaction.
He merely chuckled softly, his fingers brushing the keystone embedded at the center of the gold bead chain around his neck.
If he truly couldn't hold on later, he could always trigger Mega Evolution and see what Charizard would look like after evolving.
Gu Rong's brows knit together as he muttered under his breath.
"No reaction at all? Then let's keep going."
Ning Fengzhi, Dugu Bo, Chen Xin, and Qiangu Yunying were all closely observing the battle. Among them, the two Titled Douluo sensed the changes in Gu Rong's pressure most clearly.
Starting from the pressure of a level seventy-one Spirit Saint, it steadily increased.
In the end, it reached the level of a full Titled Douluo.
Yin Zhang was now visibly struggling. Most Spirit Masters in this world could not withstand the unrestrained pressure of a Titled Douluo. The fact that he was still standing was due entirely to the uniqueness of his Spirit and the items he carried.
The Overlord Reboot and the Holy Grail were operating at full capacity.
The Overlord Reboot reinforced Yin Zhang's physical body, while the Holy Grail continuously supported his spirit power.
Yin Zhang's spirit power was being consumed rapidly, yet the Holy Grail replenished it just as quickly.
At this point, more than one-third of the incense stick had already burned away, and Gu Rong's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.
Looking at Yin Zhang, drenched in sweat, Gu Rong muttered inwardly:
"I didn't expect this kid to be this monstrous. Why does he have to be from Spirit Hall? Hmph… there isn't much time left. If I really let him hold on, where am I supposed to put my old face?"
With a cold snort, Gu Rong withdrew the Titled Douluo pressure he had been exerting.
Yin Zhang, soaked through with sweat, finally let out a long breath of relief. He bent forward slightly, hands on his knees, gasping for air.
Even with the support of the Overlord Reboot and the Holy Grail, the burden on his body had been terrifying. His Spirit was even showing faint signs of instability.
Yin Zhang silently urged both treasures to accelerate the recovery of his body and spirit power, already preparing himself for Gu Rong's next move.
At the same time, Gu Rong seemed to deliberately give Yin Zhang a moment to recover. Otherwise, he feared the looks of disdain he might receive from Dugu Bo and Qiangu Yunying.
Even without them present, Gu Rong worried that once the incense stick burned out, he would be mocked by that old sword fanatic.
He refused to be that kind of laughingstock.
Qiangu Yunying, meanwhile, was extremely tense. Her fists were clenched tightly, palms slick with sweat, her heart silently praying.
"Xiao Zhang… you must hold on."
Although she didn't understand why Yin Zhang had suddenly chosen to challenge Gu Rong, she supported him unconditionally and hoped everything would go smoothly.
Dugu Bo felt the same, but his shock was even greater.
The pressure Gu Rong released toward the end had been oppressive even to him.
And yet Yin Zhang—who wasn't even twelve years old and only at the Spirit Ancestor level—had endured it.
When Gu Rong saw that Yin Zhang's condition had recovered considerably, his Spirit Rings appeared once more, and his first Spirit Ring flared with light.
"Kid, since you're ready, then here I come!"
Gu Rong let out a cold snort.
"First Spirit Ability—Bone Spike!"
Though it was only a First Spirit Ability, from Yin Zhang's perspective in midair, two massive bone spikes—each as thick as a load-bearing pillar—suddenly burst from the ground and shot straight toward him.
Boom!
Their speed was so extreme that they even produced a sonic boom.
Yin Zhang's pupils shrank.
You old man—using your first ability to pin me down and then turning it into a full-power surprise attack?
He swallowed hard and immediately activated his Fourth Spirit Ability.
The instant the bone spike pierced through the Azure Flame Shield, Yin Zhang shot upward to evade, simultaneously unleashing three slashes accompanied by a thunderous dragon roar as they flew toward Gu Rong.
Gu Rong's expression shifted slightly. After dodging, he realized that the three slashes were still tracking him. He extended his right hand, forming bone armor, and forcibly blocked all three attacks.
"Good kid—you can even counterattack!"
"Second Spirit Ability—Bone Spike Array!"
Gu Rong clenched his right hand in midair. In the next instant, bone spikes surged upward in a trap-like formation, stabbing toward Yin Zhang from all directions.
This attack was far more difficult to deal with than before, yet Yin Zhang chose not to dodge.
Instead, he unleashed Solar Beam, blasting the bone spikes apart one by one.
Watching Yin Zhang flap his wings to maneuver while instantly firing Solar Beam to shatter the spikes, it seemed he had suffered little damage.
At this moment, less than one-third of the incense stick remained.
Seeing this, Gu Rong grew visibly anxious. He snorted coldly and said,
"I'll use one final move. If you can endure it, this spar will count as your victory!"
Yin Zhang had only just breathed a sigh of relief when Gu Rong's fourth purple Spirit Ring suddenly flashed brightly.
"Fourth Spirit Ability—Bone Defense!"
Almost at the same time, within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace—
Xue Qinghe tore the mask from his face, revealing a strikingly beautiful visage.
Staring at the slightly haggard reflection in the mirror, she sighed softly.
"Finally got rid of Xue Luochuan. It won't be long before Xue Ye appoints me Crown Prince. This position truly wasn't easy to obtain."
Her gaze sharpened.
"As for the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng… should I eliminate him as well? Forget it. He looks like a wastrel. Even if he's pretending, he's still useless. Killing him would only increase suspicion. I'll let him be."
"Still, Xue Ye seems to be planning to have more children…"
Her lips curved faintly.
"Have the imperial physician check later. If it's a girl, fine. If it's a boy—make sure he dies in the womb."
Years of undercover life had long since hardened Qian Renxue's heart, especially where the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was concerned.
"And then there's Yin Zhang…"
"What kind of deal did he strike with Ning Fengzhi? The informant didn't give details—only that the two stayed alone in a room for an entire afternoon. What is he plotting?"
"I'll have to ask Tang Yuehua for the specifics later."
Qian Renxue never believed that Yin Zhang was colluding with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. She simply sensed that he had his own hidden agenda.
At that moment, a voice sounded behind her.
"Your Highness, the message has been sent. Xue Ye suspects that you orchestrated Xue Luochuan's assassination and are now eliminating potential threats. Should we—"
Qian Renxue nodded calmly.
"Proceed according to the original plan. Even if Xue Ye suspects me, without evidence he won't dare act."
She let out a soft, cold laugh.
"After all, does he really want that piece of trash, Xue Beng, to inherit the Heaven Dou Empire?"
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