The location of the Seven Great Sects Tournament was set on the Lima Plain, because all participants were at least of the Soul Douluo level or higher. Ordinary arenas simply could not withstand battles of that magnitude.
They directly moved the competition to the vast Lima Plain, enclosing a ten-kilometer radius as the battlefield.
The grand tournament began under the personal supervision of His Majesty the Eternal Emperor of the Spirit Empire, Oscar, who delivered the opening address.
Countless sects and forces attended,the Angel Temple, Sword Sect, Clear Sky Sect, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Wind God Valley, Godfire Gate, Tang Sect, Shrek Royal Academy, Spirit Empire Royal Academy, the White Tiger Villa under the White Tiger Duke's Estate, the Botanical Academy, and many others.
Each sect sent three powerful representatives. The strongest, such as the Sword Sect, Angel Temple, and Clear Sky Sect, sent three Title Douluo each. Even the weaker sects sent at least Soul Douluo-level fighters.
As the competition began, the most eye-catching battles were naturally those between Title Douluo. Ordinary people could never hope to see such legendary powerhouses clash in their lifetimes, but now they could enjoy it all at once.
However, the aftershocks from battles between Title Douluo were terrifying. Ordinary people without spirit power had to stay tens of kilometers away and watch through soul tool projection screens, under the protection of imperial soul masters.
Even so, it was an experience they would boast about for life.
Tens of millions of people,and even some soul beasts,gathered across the Lima Plain to witness the event on enormous projection screens.
With such an enormous crowd, countless merchants made fortunes from the occasion.
On the main viewing platform, the Eternal Emperor Oscar appeared in ceremonial attire, seated at the center.
Elders Bai He, the Agility Douluo, and Niu Gao, the Defense Douluo, served as referees.
After the founding of the Spirit Empire, the Sword Sect had divided its departments among imperial offices. In the future, as its name implied, the Sword Sect would only accept sword-spirited soul masters.
To ensure the Sword Sect achieved excellent results in this tournament, Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi fought as their representatives.
Both Bai He and Niu Gao were now Title Douluo possessing hundred-thousand-year ninth spirit rings, more than qualified to act as referees.
They were chosen because one specialized in unmatched speed,so fast that even Rank 99 Limit Douluo would be hard-pressed to match,and the other specialized in peerless defense, able to contend with Rank 97–98 Super Douluo in that regard. As referees, they were unlikely to be accidentally harmed.
Bai He, with white hair but a youthful face, announced the competition rules and precautions.
Next came the draw to determine opponents. Each sect would face all the others, and the final scores would decide the Seven Great Sects.
Afterward, the seven selected sects would battle again to determine their ranking among the seven.
The competition proceeded in an orderly manner, with several clashes taking place each day.
After two months, the Seven Great Sects were finally determined:
Spirit Empire Royal Academy, Angel Temple, Sword Sect, Clear Sky Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Shrek Royal Academy.
The Spirit Empire Royal Academy, whose honorary dean was the Eternal Emperor Oscar, was directly placed as the top sect without even competing,not through favoritism, but because Oscar's power was overwhelming. Even if everyone joined forces, they could not withstand a single blow from him.
Allowing the Academy to compete was simple politics,the Spirit Empire Royal Academy was under imperial control, representing the Empire's face.
Just as the Emperor ruled unchallenged in court, the spirit master world, too, had to be firmly under imperial control.
No one dared to object.
The inclusion of Shrek Royal Academy surprised everyone the most, since they possessed two Title Douluo, both with hundred-thousand-year spirit rings.
Godfire Gate and Wind God Valley each had only one Title Douluo. Though confident they could secure a place, they ended up empty-handed.
Aside from the Spirit Empire Royal Academy, the strongest was naturally the Angel Temple. Qian Daoliu, a Rank 99 Limit Douluo, stood at its peak. The Golden Crocodile Douluo was Rank 98, and the Azure Luan Douluo Rank 97,almost guaranteed to take second place.
After excluding the predetermined first place, the remaining six sects would face one another in one-on-one matches, their total scores determining rank. Win or lose, the results stood,no tricks or hidden rules.
On the first day of the ranking tournament, the Clear Sky Sect faced the Angel Temple, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect faced Shrek Royal Academy, and the Sword Sect faced the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The three Title Douluo representing the Clear Sky Sect were Sect Master Tang Xiao, Martial Spirit: Clear Sky Hammer, Rank 97 Super Douluo, Title: Howling Sky.
His younger brother Tang Hao, Martial Spirit: Clear Sky Hammer, Rank 96 Super Douluo, Title: Clear Sky.
The brothers' reappearance had made the twin stars of the Clear Sky Sect famous across the continent once again.
The third member was Second Elder Tang Kun, Martial Spirit: Clear Sky Hammer, Rank 94 Title Douluo, Title: Rock Splitter.
The three from the Angel Temple were Pope Qian Daoliu, Martial Spirit: Six-Winged Angel, Rank 99 Limit Douluo, Title: Angel.
Second Worship Golden Crocodile, Martial Spirit: Golden Crocodile King, Rank 98 Super Douluo, Title: Golden Crocodile.
Third Worship Lin Qingfeng, Martial Spirit: Azure Luan Divine Bird, Rank 97 Super Douluo, Title: Azure Luan.
Each side decided their lineup internally. Battles were one-on-one; the winner stayed, and the loser withdrew, until all three from one side were defeated.
In the first round of the Seven Great Sects Ranking Tournament, the opening match was Clear Sky Sect versus Angel Temple. The first combatants: Tang Hao and Golden Crocodile.
At this time, they had never fought seriously before. Meeting now, they naturally wanted to test each other.
Oscar, however, thought Tang Hao's chances of victory were slim. In the original story, Tang Hao had forced the Golden Crocodile Douluo to a standstill with three strikes using Rank 97 strength, but that was because the elder had been caught off guard and holding back his power.
Now, Tang Hao was only Rank 96, while the Golden Crocodile was fighting at full strength with no restraints. The outcome seemed clear.
Still, Tang Hao possessed the ring-explosion divine technique; the power of detonating all nine rings might yet let him fight evenly.
Even among Title Douluo, a single rank difference was like the gap between heaven and earth,but geniuses like Tang Hao defied such norms.
At Bai He's announcement, the two stood a hundred meters apart on the battlefield.
Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted. "Boy, your strength has indeed surpassed many of the older generation, but before me, you are still too green. I advise you to surrender and save your spirit power. Your Clear Sky Sect can still aim for third or fourth."
His tone was arrogant, as if second place was already his by right.
No one thought him wrong,Qian Daoliu himself was an unshakable mountain. Even without him, the Golden Crocodile Douluo was nearly unbeatable, the strongest at Rank 98 aside from Qian Daoliu.
Tang Hao understood this, but he would not yield so easily. His grudge against the Spirit Hall ran deep. Although the Emperor had mediated between them, this was a rare chance to prove himself.
He could not defeat Qian Daoliu, but a Rank 98 Golden Crocodile Douluo,he could try.
If he could defeat such a powerhouse with only Rank 96 strength, even losing afterward would still uphold the Clear Sky Sect's honor.
Tang Hao coldly replied, "Ambition does not depend on age. Without spirit, even a hundred years of life are wasted. If you want to rely on seniority, step aside now."
Golden Crocodile's face twisted. "Arrogant!"
At once, two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red spirit ring rose around him. His body was covered in shining golden scales as he transformed into a colossal, radiant beast.
The top-tier martial spirit Golden Crocodile King possessed him, and his Rank 98 power erupted. Even other Title Douluo several kilometers away felt the pressure.
Tang Hao unleashed his own Rank 96 power. The Clear Sky Hammer, massive as a water tank, rested on his shoulder as two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red ring shone around him.
Hundred-thousand-year spirit rings were no longer rare,Tang Hao, Golden Crocodile, Sword Sect's Gai Yue, Yang Wudi, Shrek's Flender and Zhao Wuji all had them,but their might remained terrifying.
The two were equal in martial spirit, spirit ring configuration, and spirit bones; only their power levels differed.
Golden Crocodile was seventy years older,without that age advantage, he might not surpass Tang Hao.
But this was the world of spirit masters. Talent meant nothing without power. To defy heaven, one needed strength.
As their soul power clashed, the sky twisted and the earth trembled. Even the ground seemed about to crack.
Oscar waved his hand lightly, isolating the surrounding ten kilometers with space power to prevent collateral damage.
This casual display of power stunned many experts, once again reminding them of the Eternal Emperor's terrifying might.
Once Bai He confirmed that both had released their spirits, he shouted for the match to begin and vanished into the air.
Tang Hao activated his True Spirit Form, his hammer growing even larger as he swung it down toward Golden Crocodile Douluo.
At the Title Douluo level, ordinary skills meant little.
Golden Crocodile Douluo likewise activated his True Spirit Form, transforming into a hundred-meter-long golden crocodile charging forward.
"Boy, let me teach you how to behave!" he roared, his sixth spirit ring lighting up. "Sixth Spirit Skill: Ferocious Golden Crocodile!"
Tang Hao snorted. "Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique!"
Hammer in hand, Tang Hao clashed head-on with the giant crocodile.
His path was one of absolute strength, crushing all technique with sheer power.
Golden Crocodile's martial spirit was both offensive and defensive, much like the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear,peerless in both attack and defense.
The Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique met the Golden Crocodile's sixth skill blow for blow. By the eighty-first strike, Tang Hao's power rivaled the elder's technique.
Feeling confidence surge, Tang Hao roared, "Again!"
Golden Crocodile's eighth ring flared. "Eighth Spirit Skill: Radiant Golden Tide,Crocodile Dragon Rampage!"
A golden aura spread around him,his ultimate domain, the Domain of Gold. Within it, his eighth skill's power doubled. Eight blood-eyed golden crocodile dragons appeared, their gaze locked on Tang Hao.
They charged in unison with the giant crocodile body, their combined might shaking heaven and earth.
Yet Tang Hao remained calm. His eyes flashed with killing intent as a gray-white aura erupted around him.
"God of Slaughter Domain!"
Within the domain, Tang Hao's strength rose by 120%, while his opponent's fell by 20%. Even if the Domain of Gold offset the suppression, his self-amplification remained.
Raising his hammer high, Tang Hao's body shone with dazzling light.
"Hao Tian Nine Absolutes!"
"Gathering power, strike to break,Break Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Swift as light, vanish in an instant,Flash Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Crushing mountains, unstoppable,Collapse Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Coiling force, twisting flow,Coil Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Stillness and motion united,Pierce Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Continuous flow, motion unbroken,Link Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Tight as a drawn bow,Seal Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Echo through empty valleys,Void Formula!"
"Boom!"
"Borrow force, rebound with shock,Shock Formula!"
"Boom!"
The Hao Tian Nine Absolutes, the Clear Sky Sect's secret technique, had reached perfection in Tang Hao's hands. Each strike shattered a golden dragon.
The final hammer even forced the massive crocodile back several steps.
Without using any spirit skills, Tang Hao's Nine Absolutes shattered the eighth skill's attack. Gathering his remaining power and spirit energy, he condensed it all into the colossal Clear Sky Hammer.
It grew again, vast enough to blot out the sky, descending with unstoppable might.
"Great Sumeru Hammer!"
Even a Rank 97 Super Douluo would not dare meet it head-on, yet Golden Crocodile did not retreat.
"Golden Crocodile King Torso Bone Skill,Divine Crocodile Ascension!"
Brilliant golden light burst from his hundred-meter form as he swelled even larger, charging straight into the falling hammer.
With nothing holding him back, Golden Crocodile Douluo unleashed his full strength, intent on teaching the younger generation a lesson.
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