Chapter 39 Not Ten Thousand Years, Yet Better Than Ten Thousand Years! The Elephant Armor Sect's "Purge" War
Heavenly Battle Arena, VIP Seats.
As the All-Star team swiftly defeated the Heaven Dou Royal Second Team in just one minute, the cheers throughout the Great Soul Arena continued to be deafening. However, beneath this seemingly frenzied atmosphere, the atmosphere in the VIP seats at the highest vantage point was strangely heavy.
Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall, stared intently at Ye Feng as he left, his scepter creaking in his hand. "A ten-thousand-year third spirit ring… This is impossible! A spirit master's physical limits are fixed; absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring at level thirty would inevitably result in death by explosion. Does this kid possess twin spirit rings? Or is he using some kind of illusion?"
"Bishop Salas, please calm down." A calm yet sharp voice rang out. The speaker was the white-robed elder who had been sitting next to Ning Fengzhi—the Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Chen Xin's eyes, which seemed to contain endless sword intent, narrowed slightly. His gaze pierced through the noisy crowd and landed precisely on Ye Feng's third soul ring, which had not yet been fully retrieved. "That is not a true ten-thousand-year soul ring."
"What?" Salas and Emperor Xueye both looked at Chenxin at the same time.
"Although the color is as black as ink, seemingly ten thousand years old, if you look closely, there is a very deep and dark purple tinge at the edge of the black," Chen Xin pointed out incisively. "This means that the age of this soul ring has not reached the threshold of ten thousand years, which is a qualitative change. According to my observation, it should be around seven thousand years."
"Seven thousand years?" Salas breathed a sigh of relief, then sneered, "Hmph, I knew it. How could anyone break the ironclad rule? It was just a deep purple thousand-year soul ring, just to scare people."
"Trying to scare people?" Ning Fengzhi smiled elegantly and shook his head. "Bishop Salas, you may have misjudged him. A third ring of seven thousand years, while not ten thousand, has already surpassed the limit of a typical Soul Master's fourth ring (five thousand years). Moreover..."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze deepened: "Did you notice? The aura emanating from that spirit ring was filled with extreme metallic properties and a sense of tearing. If I'm not mistaken, this is not only absorption beyond one's level, but also the hunting of an extremely top-tier spirit beast—the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear."
"A Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear?!" This time, even Emperor Xue Ye was moved. That terrifying soul beast, known as the destroyer of the land, capable of tearing through the defenses of a Title Douluo upon reaching adulthood? A seven-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's true combat power definitely surpasses that of an ordinary ten-thousand-year-old soul beast! And absorbing its soul ring is even ten times more difficult than absorbing a ten-thousand-year-old Soft Bone Rabbit!
"This child is not only exceptionally talented, but also possesses great perseverance and fortuitous opportunities." Ning Fengzhi gave him a very high evaluation. "If he is allowed to grow, he is likely to be awarded a title in the future."
Sitting on Ning Fengzhi's other side, the usually gentle and refined Crown Prince Xue Qinghe (in disguise as Qian Renxue) also had a subtle glint in his eyes.
"The full-time team... Ye Feng? It seems the Spirit Hall will soon have another name on their kill list. Or perhaps... a recruitment target?"
Exit of the contestant passage.
As Ye Feng and his team of all-star warriors stepped out of the Great Soul Arena, they bumped into a group of people. Leading them was a man in a pristine white robe, holding a scepter, his demeanor gentle and refined—Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Beside him were Sword Douluo Chen Xin and a handsome young man with a scholarly air—Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
"Captain Ye Feng, please wait a moment." Ning Fengzhi spoke with a smile, his words as gentle as a spring breeze.
The entire All-Round Team stopped in their tracks. Ye Shaotian was about to launch into his usual trash-talking mode when Leng Qianqian stomped on his foot. Seeing Sword Douluo's sharp gaze, he instantly transformed into a docile child.
"So it's Sect Leader Ning, and His Highness the Crown Prince." Ye Feng bowed slightly, neither obsequious nor distant. "May I ask what brings you here?"
"The match just now was very exciting," Ning Fengzhi praised. "Defeating the Royal Second Team in one minute, you guys gave everyone a pleasant surprise. Especially Captain Ye's almost black third spirit ring, if I'm not mistaken, it should come from the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, right?"
Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. As expected of the world's number one support, his judgment was indeed sharp. "Sect Master Ning has a good eye. It is indeed a seven-thousand-year-old bear. We were lucky to find a bargain. It is not a true ten-thousand-year-old one. Please forgive our poor observation."
"A seven-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is far more valuable than an ordinary ten-thousand-year-old one," Ning Fengzhi said meaningfully. "Captain Ye, would you be interested in visiting my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? A talent like you, if you could receive the assistance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, would surely stand at the pinnacle of the continent in the future."
This was blatant recruitment. Xue Qinghe, standing to the side, also smiled and said, "Father also greatly appreciates Captain Ye. If Captain Ye is willing, the doors of the Imperial Treasury are always open for you."
Faced with the olive branches extended by these two powerful forces, both Hu Yanli and Ye Shaotian felt their hearts race. Those were top-tier sects and the royal family!
Ye Feng simply smiled faintly and lightly tapped the ground with the Thousand Chance Umbrella in his hand.
"Thank you for your kindness, Sect Leader Ning and His Highness the Crown Prince. However..." Ye Feng turned to the side and pointed to his teammates behind him. "We are a full-time team, used to being free and undisciplined, and we can't stand being restrained. Moreover, we are now representing Tianshui Academy. Teacher Mingyue has been kind to me, and although I, Ye Feng, am not a big shot, I don't want to do anything that would betray my promise."
A polite refusal. A very tactful yet firm refusal.
A hint of regret flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes, but more so, admiration: "What a loyal and righteous person. Since that's the case, I won't force you. However, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's doors will always be open for you. If you encounter any trouble in the competition, or need any resources, just let me know."
Thank you.
After watching Ning Fengzhi and the others leave, Leng Qianqian finally breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest: "That scared me to death! That old man in white (Sword Douluo) had such terrifying eyes. I felt like I would turn into sashimi if he looked at me."
"That's Sword Douluo, a level 96 Title Douluo, with the strongest attack power in the world." Mingyue walked over, her expression solemn. "Ye Feng, your rejection of them may not be a good thing, but it may not be a bad thing either. At least for now, we are still free."
"Freedom is the most precious thing." Ye Feng smiled. "Let's go back and rest. The list of opponents for tomorrow should be out by now, right?"
...
The schedule was released the following day.
When Hu Yanli saw the name of his opponent, he, who was gnawing on a pig's trotter, suddenly trembled and dropped the trotter to the ground.
Second round opponent: Xiangjia Academy.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat somber.
Everyone looked at Huyan Li.
The Elephant Armor Sect, one of the four lower sects, is renowned for its defense. Hu Yanli was once the sect's most prized young master, the grandson of Hu Yanzhen. However, three years ago, because of Ye Feng, he chose to betray the sect, a decision considered a great disgrace by Hu Yanzhen, who even issued a kill order.
"Old Hu," Ye Feng patted Hu Yanli's broad shoulder, "If you don't want to fight, you can rest this match."
"No! Boss!" Huyan Li suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with an unprecedented determination and rage. "I must participate in this match! And I must be the first one to go!" He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white: "Three years ago, that old bastard tried to kill me for his own gain. Three years have passed, and I'll show him that without his Elephant Armor Sect, without his corrupt rules, I, Huyan Li... can live even better! Stronger!"
"Alright." Ye Feng's lips curled up. "Then let them see what the real strongest defense is."
On the day of the competition, at the Heavenly Battle Arena.
There were even more spectators today than yesterday, because everyone wanted to see if the all-star team that created a miracle yesterday could continue their glory. Moreover, the sect leader of the Elephant Armor Sect, the level 87 Soul Douluo Huyan Zhen, was actually seated in the VIP section!
His massive body was like a mountain of flesh, and his gloomy eyes were fixed on the entrance.
"All-star team, enter!"
This time, the full-time team did not launch an all-out attack like they did yesterday.
Standing at the very front was still Ye Feng.
Beside him, only Hu Yanli stood tall and proud, while the rest of his teammates stood behind him.
On the opposite side, the Elephant Armor Academy team takes the stage.
They were all giants, each over two meters tall and weighing over three hundred kilograms. The leader was Hu Yanli's cousin, Hu Yanba, a level 42 defensive-type Battle Soul Master.
"Hey, isn't this our 'runaway young master'?"
Huyanba looked at Huyanli with a mocking expression. "What? You couldn't make it outside, so you've run off to a bunch of women to cower like a coward? Grandpa's watching from up there. Today I'm going to clean house for the sect, break your legs, and drag you back to apologize!"
"Huyanba, you still talk too much nonsense." Huyanli didn't fly into a rage; his eyes were surprisingly calm. "You want to break my legs? With your half-baked Diamond Mammoth?"
"You're courting death!" Huyanba roared. "Brothers, activate your Martial Souls! Let them see the Elephant Armor Sect's impregnable defenses!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Seven disciples of the Elephant Armor Sect simultaneously released their Martial Souls. Diamond Mammoth Possession! The skin of the seven instantly turned into a grayish-white keratin layer, their defensive power stacked, forming an indestructible wall of flesh.
"Full-time team, get ready," Ye Feng said calmly.
"Activate your Martial Soul!"
This time, the All-Round Team chose the most aggressive lineup: Ye Feng (all-rounder), Hu Yanli (tank), Ye Shaotian (strong attacker), Shui Bing'er (controller), Shui Yue'er89ohpaj'j, Bai Xiaochun (healer), and Leng Qianqian (agility attacker).
"Huyanli, go. That's your battlefield." Ye Feng pushed Huyanli.
"Roar—!!!" Hu Yanli roared to the sky, his pent-up grievances and anger of the past three years finally erupting at this moment. He didn't use any fancy techniques, but charged directly at the seven-person formation of the Elephant Armor Sect.
"Arrogant! One person wants to ram into the seven of us?" Huyan Ba sneered. "Mammoth Charge!" Three Soul Venerables from the Elephant Armor Sect rushed out at the same time, trying to attack Huyan Li from both sides.
"Get out of my way!!!"
A dazzling golden light suddenly erupted from Huyan Li's body. It wasn't the greyish-white of Diamond Mammoth, but a pure, noble dark gold! Fourth Soul Skill: Golden Mammoth Transformation!
His body swelled again, reaching nearly three meters in height, and the keratin layer on his body turned into golden scales, as if he were wearing a layer of golden armor. An ancient pressure, imbued with the aura of a dragon, swept across the entire area.
"boom!!!"
The most primal collision. A clash between gold and gray.
A jaw-dropping scene unfolded. The Elephant Armor Sect's proud three-man encirclement crumbled like building blocks under Huyan Li's impact! The three burly men, each weighing 300 pounds, were sent flying, spitting blood in mid-air.
"What?!" In the VIP section, Hu Yanzhen suddenly stood up, his originally gloomy face filled with shock. "What kind of martial soul is that?! A golden mammoth?! How is this possible?!" That's the legendary martial soul evolution path of the Elephant Armor Sect—the Golden Mammoth! A miracle that can only occur by absorbing a top-tier earth-type dragon soul ring or a divine herb!
"That rebellious son... he actually evolved?!"
On the arena, Hu Yanli, having landed a successful blow, did not stop. Like a tyrannical dragon charging into a flock of sheep, he grabbed the leg of an Elephant Armor Sect disciple and used it as a weapon, sweeping across the battlefield.
"How is this possible... How can your defense be so strong?!" Hu Yanba was blasted back five steps by Hu Yanli's punch, feeling like his arm was about to break. His diamond defense was simply a joke compared to the gold defense.
"Because my defense is for protection!" Huyanli roared, "while your defense is only for taking a beating!"
"Old man, stop playing around and finish this quickly." Behind them, Ye Feng moved. The Thousand Manifestations Umbrella in his hand clicked and clattered, instantly transforming into its chilling form—the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella: Heavy Sword Form!
The two-meter-long, door-wide, dark gold heavy sword was dragged on the ground with one hand by Ye Feng, leaving a trail of sparks. He activated his third soul skill (the seven-thousand-year-old dark gold dinosaur claw bear soul ring), and dark gold light covered his entire body.
"The Elephant Armor Sect is known for its invincible defense?" Ye Feng leaped high into the air, raising his heavy sword above his head like a god of judgment.
"Then I'll show you what it means to overcome all techniques with sheer force!"
"Third Soul Skill: Heavy Sword - Mountain-Shattering Earth-Splitting Slash!"
Boom! ...
The heavy sword slammed down onto the tortoise-shell formation formed by the remaining four members of the Elephant Armor Sect. There was no technique, only pure power, and the extreme tearing attribute of the Dark Gold Terror Claw.
Crack! A crisp shattering sound rang out. The diamond defense, touted as invincible among its peers, crumbled instantly. The terrifying shockwave shattered the entire arena floor, and Hu Yanba and the others screamed as they were blasted off the stage, foaming at the mouth, with several bones broken in their bodies.
The dust settled. Only Hu Yanli and the rest of the Full-Time Team remained on the arena. Hu Yanli stood at the very front, his body gleaming with golden light, like a god of war. He raised his head, his gaze fixed on Hu Yanzhen in the VIP seats. He didn't speak, but simply raised a thumb, and then—pointed it sharply downwards.
"You unfilial son! You unfilial son!!!" Hu Yanzhen smashed the railing in front of him with a slap, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. He had not only lost the competition, but also the honor of the Elephant Armor Sect, and even... he had personally forced away a peerless genius who had awakened a golden mammoth!
"All-Star Team, Victory!"
The entire venue erupted in cheers once again.
If yesterday was a swift annihilation, then today was a head-on crushing defeat! Not only was the attack power off the charts, but the defense also completely overwhelmed the Elephant Armor Sect, which was known for its defensive prowess!
"Too strong..." In a corner of the audience, Feng Xiaotian (Shenfeng Academy) stroked his chin, his expression solemn. "That big guy is a golden mammoth, and Ye Feng can break through defenses with a heavy sword... Just how many more trump cards does this team have up their sleeve?"
"No matter how many trump cards they have, if they encounter our Blazing Fire Academy, I will burn them to death!" Although Huo Wu spoke toughly, she couldn't hide the fear in her eyes.
After the match, the full-time team did not linger and went straight back to the hotel.
As soon as Huyan Li entered, this towering man suddenly collapsed to the ground, covering his face and his shoulders shaking. "Boss... I won... I really won..." Those were tears of joy. The knot in his heart that had been tied for three years was finally untied in this battle.
"It's good that you won." Ye Feng tossed him a bottle of wine. "Stop crying, it's embarrassing. You're the MVP today, this wine is for you."
"Hehe, thanks, boss!" Hu Yanli wiped away his tears and downed the whole bottle of wine in one go.
"However, don't be too happy yet." Ye Feng looked out the window, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We've slapped the Elephant Armor Sect in the face, and that old guy Huyan Zhen definitely won't let it go. Besides..." "In the next match, our opponents won't be these clumsy targets."
"Who is it?" Ye Shaotian asked.
Ye Feng picked up the schedule and pointed to a name. "Canghui Academy." "That team with the Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill... the Sly Team."