The Curtain Falls

"Creak, creak—"

The Empress was so furious her teeth ground together, her hate-filled eyes staring straight at Dai Yao. Her beautiful face had turned twisted and frightening.

At first, Fifth Elder had still been delighted by Dai Yao's performance. Once this Self-Created Soul Skill was unleashed, Dai Yao had a chance to win. Give him a little more time, and wouldn't he have a chance to win the struggle for the throne? If a genius like this became Star Luo's emperor, he would surely be able to take the empire to new heights.

But when he noticed the Empress's expression, his own mood also turned dark and heavy.

"Hmph! That woman is definitely up to no good. If she wants to harm Dai Yao, she'll have to see whether I, the Bloodthirsty Demon Tiger, agree." In his youth, Fifth Elder had roamed the continent. He was powerful and hot-tempered, so busybodies had given him the nickname Bloodthirsty Demon Tiger.

The situation in the arena changed in an instant.

Dai Mubai naturally saw the strange phenomenon caused by Dai Yao's Spirit Skill. Dai Yao had already surprised him too many times; this Self-Created Soul Skill could no longer shock him.

"So my previous offensive left him no chance to use this Spirit Skill. Now that I changed formation, I actually gave him the opportunity to use it." Thinking of this, Dai Mubai was filled with regret.

"Is this your Self-Created Soul Skill?"

"Yes," Dai Yao replied as he continued gathering power.

Without Green Lotus, there would have been no Eight Extremes Collapse. But without Dai Yao's accidental discovery, there would not have been Eight Extremes Collapse either. Saying it was Dai Yao's own creation was not an exaggeration at all.

"Then let me see just how powerful this Spirit Skill of yours really is." Dai Mubai was not afraid either. He was going to clash head-on with Dai Yao.

"Fine," Dai Yao replied.

Dai Mubai tensed his entire body like a bow drawn to its limit, then released it, blasting toward Dai Yao with his greatest strength.

At the same time, Eight Extremes Collapse finished charging.

The two collided like Fire Star striking the earth.

A white barrier covered Dai Mubai's body, and Dai Mubai revealed an expression of success. They were both using Spirit Skills, but Dai Yao's was for attacking, while his was for defense.

As long as White Tiger Body Barrier blocked Dai Yao's attack, his fully charged punch would land directly on Dai Yao. This time, Dai Yao had no chance to use White Tiger Body Barrier.

Dai Yao could not use his First Spirit Skill while also unleashing Eight Extremes Collapse. A One-Ring Soul Master simply did not have the ability to use two Spirit Skills at the same time.

Eight Extremes Collapse slammed into the barrier, and the body barrier cracked like a spiderweb. In the end, however, it still did not break.

With the power of Eight Extremes Collapse, it could even shatter the water shield used by a seven-hundred-year Mystic Water Turtle. Yet now it could not break Dai Mubai's White Tiger Body Barrier. One could imagine just how much effort Dai Mubai had put into his First Spirit Skill.

The instant the body barrier failed to break, Dai Yao realized how dangerous the situation was.

Dai Mubai showed an unsurprised smile and swung his huge tiger paw with unstoppable force, striking out the final palm that would declare Dai Yao's defeat.

"Danger!!!" Dai Yao's heartbeat sped up, and the scene before his eyes grew a little blurry.

"Explosive Step!" He poured Soul Power into both legs and unleashed his second Self-Created Soul Skill. Fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and the burden on his body was enormous, but he still held on with a fierce expression.

Dai Mubai's vision suddenly blurred. Dai Yao's figure vanished, and the punch he had been certain would land struck empty air instead. His stunned expression froze on his face, completely unaware of what had just happened.

Dai Yao, who had used Explosive Step, was extremely fast. Before Dai Mubai's missed strike had even landed, he had already closed in.

"Eight Extremes Collapse!" Dai Yao struck Dai Mubai in the abdomen with his palm.

This Eight Extremes Collapse did not use much Soul Power, so there had not been much of a charging process.

Dai Mubai's stunned expression instantly turned to pain. A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out, and his body flew backward like a cannonball.

With a thud, Dai Mubai's body was embedded in the wall beneath the stands. Then he slid limply to the ground, unable to get up again.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Most of the spectators had not even seen clearly what had happened before the Third Prince was sent flying and fell to the ground.

All the spectators fell silent, as if they had been muted. A few seconds later, fierce cheers erupted. Of course, some cheered while others were disappointed. They sighed and left the venue.

Some people leapt down from the stands and came to the Martial Arts Stage, joyfully tossing Dai Yao into the air. At this moment, they had no prejudice, only the same bloodline.

Dai Mubai, lying on the ground, tilted his head slightly and looked at Dai Yao with eyes full of envy. He had originally been certain of victory. As long as he kept draining Dai Yao's Soul Power until it was exhausted, he would naturally win.

However, because of his mother's instructions, he had wanted to finish Dai Yao cleanly and efficiently. In the end, that gave Dai Yao the opening to use his Self-Created Soul Skill, and that was why he lost.

Thinking of this, he felt extremely unwilling.

On the high platform, Bishop Ferdinand and Fifth Elder looked at each other. Even they had never seen anything like the scene before them. A kid who had just obtained a Spirit Ring had actually defeated a level seventeen Soul Master.

"This kid actually pulled off an upset," Fifth Elder said with a gratified expression.

Bishop Ferdinand smiled at the Empress, but the smile was clearly malicious. "Your Majesty, this Fourth Prince truly has extraordinary talent. In a few more years, perhaps even the First Prince won't be his match."

The bishop was clearly trying to sow discord with the Empress, urging her to take action against Dai Yao.

The Empress's full, rounded chest rose and fell nonstop, clearly furious. She was utterly disappointed in Dai Mubai. She had come to watch a clear and satisfying victory, not a humiliating defeat.

Not only had she failed to vent the hatred in her heart, she had also lost face in the process.

She lifted her skirt and took one last look at Dai Mubai lying on the ground. There was no emotion in her eyes, as if she were looking at a stranger. Then she strode out of the Martial Arts Arena as though fleeing. The group of Palace Maids behind her also left with her.

Fifth Elder stopped Bishop Ferdinand.

"What are you trying to do?" Fifth Elder's tone was icy. The golden hair on his head burned like flames, and a powerful aura surged out, as if he would attack the moment the bishop said one wrong word.

He understood the bishop's sinister intentions. The man simply did not want Dai Yao to live.

"N-nothing. I was just joking." A trace of cold sweat slid down Bishop Ferdinand's fat face.

He had heard of the Bloodthirsty Demon Tiger's reputation. This man was a lunatic with no scruples. Unless absolutely necessary, he must not be provoked.

Although he was a bishop of Spirit Hall, he had been in the wrong first. If the other party retaliated, it would be understandable.

"I hope it truly is as you said." Fifth Elder gave a cold snort.

"Dai Yao wins this duel!" the referee declared the result of the match.

From that moment on, everyone knew the Third Prince had already lost the right to compete for the throne. From then on, Dai Mubai's fate could only await judgment after the next Great Emperor ascended the throne.

In contrast to Dai Mubai, the Fourth Prince, Dai Yao, had already become a dazzling new star, though he still could not compare with the First Prince and the Second Prince.

After the crowd set him down, Dai Yao went over to Dai Mubai and pulled him up.

In truth, he rather admired Dai Mubai. In battle, he was open and honorable, but because of their positions, the two of them were destined never to become friends.

Dai Mubai gave Dai Yao a complicated look, then turned and left with the Empress.