Chapter 168: The Extreme Style
The Evil-Eyed White Tiger roared skyward as Dai Mubai activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation, charging directly into the Heaven Dou team and causing chaos.
From the very start, the Shrek Team held an overwhelming advantage.
Within a minute, the arena echoed with screams and bone-crunching sounds.
Dugu Feng looked around in appreciation.
This spirit arena was quite modern, equipped with speakers that amplified every punch and impact throughout the venue.
The ferocious sound waves sent adrenaline surging through the spectators.
The entire crowd erupted in wild cheers.
The Heaven Dou Second Team admitted defeat—utterly and completely.
It was a devastating loss.
Dai Mubai, Tang San, Huang Yuan, and Tai Long were all ruthless fighters.
Opponent after opponent lay bloody and broken, bones shattered, tendons torn.
The bloody scenes left a much deeper impression than the Shrek Team's actual power.
Discussion exploded throughout the stands.
In the VIP box, both Qian Renxue and Salas wore contemplative expressions.
Tang San's leadership had truly impressed them; the Shrek Team had left a deep mark on everyone present.
Tang San was indeed remarkable.
With the first match concluded, only one battle was held that day—Dugu Feng and his team prepared to depart.
As they left, they encountered Ning Fengzhi.
Just as expected, Ning Fengzhi came searching for Tang San—acting on Qian Renxue's request to arrange a meeting.
Dugu Feng wore a knowing smile. With his strong recommendation, Qian Renxue had finally turned her attention to Tang San.
That was as it should be!
Now that the Haotian Sect's power was fully exposed, they were a genuine threat to Spirit Hall.
He was eager to see how Qian Renxue would deal with Tang San.
It would be best if Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue, and the Haotian Sect clashed spectacularly.
"You're smiling so slyly—what's going on in that head of yours?"
Ning Rongrong, arm locked with Dugu Feng's, nudged him.
"Really? Was it that obvious?"
Did he really smile so clearly? He tried never to show it.
"It wasn't obvious, but I noticed your lips twitch. That's how I know!" Ning Rongrong said proudly.
No one knew Dugu Feng better than she did.
Dugu Feng mused that things had gone so smoothly lately he'd become careless, showing too much in front of her.
He'd have to be more vigilant.
The next day, it was Gem Academy's turn for their first battle.
Dugu Feng sat beside Ning Rongrong in the stands, keeping her company—she wouldn't be fighting this round.
Shi Nian also continued to conceal the team's full strength.
This time, Dugu Mo, Zhang Jingyang, Dong Heguang, and four Soul Elders took the stage.
Dong Heguang was also a Soul Ancestor, with spirit power at level forty-one.
Their opponent was Purple Star Academy.
According to Shi Nian's scouting, the enemy team was weak, with only a single Soul Ancestor.
Fielding three Soul Ancestors was being cautious—against any team other than the Four Elemental Academies, this would be the standard lineup.
Sitting on Dugu Feng's left was Little Snake.
"If it were me out there—I could finish it alone. Seven Jade Phosphor fingers and the whole lot would be poisoned and down!" Little Snake muttered darkly.
Dugu Feng ignored him, his attention fixed on the adjacent battles.
The main arena was accompanied by several smaller ones for concurrent matches from other academies.
His focus was on the Four Elemental Academies.
Thunder, Blazing, Godwind, and Tianshui Academies—all specialized, pure-style schools.
Once, the Elephant Armored Academy was the fifth member of the alliance; now, only four remained.
"In essence, Gem Academy's path is the same as the Elemental Academies: maximizing the limits of a single martial spirit—a true representation of the extreme style," Dugu Feng commented.
"So why not let Gem Academy join the Four Elements Alliance and fill the spot left by the Elephant Armored Academy? This could become a unique feature of the Heaven Dou Empire, unlike the more 'balanced' approach favored by Star Luo and Spirit Hall," Ning Rongrong suggested offhandedly.
Dugu Feng's eyes lit up. Maybe that was worth considering.
To be honest, he agreed with the focus on extremes.
Balanced strategy only worked for lower-level soul master fights.
Balance had two meanings: team balance, with a mix of roles and soul skills; and individual balance, using a variety of rings for attack, defense, and control across different elements.
Once at the high ranks, however, differences in power grew massive—even between soul masters of the same level.
To him, only by perfecting one attribute and achieving true mastery could one attain the peak of strength.
Yang Wudi, for example, added only offensive soul rings.
Dugu Feng's own rings were all attack-oriented as well—pushing poison to its ultimate perfection, embodying the extreme path.
He suddenly realized that these two approaches—extreme and balanced—weren't about which was better, but about their respective strengths.
The extreme path produced the boldest, most formidable cultivators—prodigies who could challenge even higher ranks and break through limits; perfect for those with great talent.
The balanced path, by contrast, gave more options to ordinary practitioners, useful for those unlikely to reach the top but who still needed to survive and adapt.
It was like learning: one approach lets you become a top expert in a narrow field; the other gives you average results across the board—a safer but lower ceiling.
The Dugu Clan's poison lineage was the ultimate extreme path—a family ready to risk extinction for the chance to produce a true game-changer.
Thus, the Dugu Clan and the Four Elements Alliance were very much alike.
With Thunder Academy's close ties to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, Gem Academy joining would eventually shift the alliance's balance of power. Could that spark conflict with the Blue Lightning family?
Dugu Feng gave a cold little smile.
He wasn't afraid of them. With Old Snake now a Soul Douluo and Old Nine surely not far behind, the Dugu Clan soon would have three Soul Douluos and the intimidating Dugu Bo as well.
He truly had nothing to fear.
Glancing at the stage, Dugu Feng saw that none of the first-round matches were high drama.
The Four Elemental Academies and Gem Academy all faced weak opponents.
As he mused, the results were settled in moments.
The all-female Tianshui Academy drew the most cheers—half their opponents lost before the fight even began, simply from nerves.
Godwind Academy's seven team members flew overhead like eagles, attacking with spectacular style.
Thunder Academy unleashed a frenzied onslaught of lightning—when the whole team used their ultimate skill together, the opposition surrendered.
Blazing Academy's fiery attacks swept the field, leaving their opponents burned and bald.
The Four Elemental Academies whipped up one dazzling storm after another—a stunning spectacle for all.
(END CHAPTER)
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