Douluo: Opening the Great Secrets of the Human Body, Becoming a Heavenly Demon — Chapter 48

Without that sense of conviction, no matter how talented he was, Shrek would not focus on nurturing him.

What was more, Bai Xu had joined the Spirit Pagoda.

The Spirit Pagoda had accumulated countless riches over the past few years and had grown increasingly mysterious. Beneath the calm sea lurked undercurrents; no one knew where the waves they formed would crash.

Elder Cai snorted coldly. "Kid, this trip to Star Luo is your last chance. If you still refuse to change your mind, then leave after graduating from the outer court."

Those in high positions had great tolerance for geniuses. Ever since Wu Changkong had spoken with Bai Xu last time, Bai Xu had continued doing as he pleased without changing in the slightest. Elder Cai was even willing to give him another chance by letting him participate in the Star Luo trip, though she would certainly arrange some discussions along the way.

Bai Xu was thinking, When should I leave?

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Song Lin, the homeroom teacher of Class One, Grade Three, closed her eyes and let out a long breath. Then she said solemnly to Elder Cai on the stage, "Elder Cai, we forfeit the team battle. We concede."

"Why, Teacher Song?" Li Qiankun asked anxiously. As the strongest member of Class One, Grade Three, a First Rank Battle Armor Master, was it really over before he even got to fight?

Song Lin gave him a bitter smile and shook her head. "Look at your companions. We have no chance in the team battle."

Li Qiankun froze. His gaze first landed on Mo Jue, who had regained consciousness but sat at the edge of the arena like a walking corpse. Then he looked at Ye Wu, whose eyes were dull as he stared at Tang Wulin on the stage, seeming to swallow nervously.

On the stage, the siblings Li Mengyang and Li Mengtian clung to each other, their eyes clearly filled with fear.

As for the other companions who had yet to fight, they all lowered their heads without exception.

Their confidence had completely collapsed. It had been shattered by the Grade One and Grade Two joint team in the previous five matches.

"Teacher Song, I want to fight this match. Even if it's one against seven, even if I'm the only one left, I still want to fight." Li Qiankun clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

But Song Lin shook her head. "I don't want you to end up like Mo Jue. I've already decided."

Ye Xinglan had pierced through Mo Jue's Battle Armor and, with her own strength, overturned the overwhelming advantage a First Rank Battle Armor Master had over ordinary soul masters. Her pride was gone.

Class One, Grade Three had lost. In front of all six outer court grades, they had lost completely and utterly. They had lost without even holding the final seven-versus-seven match.

Ye Xinglan's resolve was admirable. Their perseverance was shocking, and their strength inspired awe.

On the competition stage, Tang Wulin stood at the front, with his six companions beside him: Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Xie, Xu Lizhi, Yuanen Yehui, and Yue Zhengyu. The seven youthful boys and girls stood there with flames burning in their eyes and unwavering belief in victory.

"Alright, since it's over, it's time for the next round."

Elder Cai stood and announced, "Class One, Grade Three has forfeited the team match. The Grade One and Grade Two joint team wins. Next will be the round-robin matches and team battle between Bai Xu and the Grade One and Grade Two joint team. Both sides may rest briefly!"

Bai Xu rose to his feet, instantly drawing the attention of the entire venue. He met Li Qiankun's eyes, and the two brushed past each other. How ironic—the homeroom teacher would not allow Li Qiankun to face seven opponents alone, yet Bai Xu could.

The Saint Spirit Douluo continuously healed Tang Wulin and the others, restoring their injuries, stamina, and Soul Power. Bai Xu slowly walked onto the arena and stopped there, like an immortal monument. His black robe fluttered in the wind, suffocating everyone with pressure.

The youths' eyes burned with passion. They wanted to defeat this powerful enemy and wash away their past humiliation. This youth who revered individual strength truly stood unmatched beneath the heavens, but their team was more united and stronger.

Their world was small. Shrek Academy was their entire world. In the end, one person could not stand against the whole world.

"Why can he do it while I can't?" Li Qiankun's eyes reddened. Filled with confusion and fury, he ran into the distance and left.

Fifteen minutes later.

"First match, the one-on-one contestants, take the stage!"

At Wu Changkong's announcement, Bai Xu assumed his stance. His expression did not change as he steadied his breath and calmed his mind.

"We meet again on the arena, Bai Xu," Tang Wulin greeted him gently.

Bai Xu instead asked, "Mm. Are you confident you can beat me now?"

"Of course!"

"Then let's begin!"

Whoosh!

Both sides unleashed their full auras. Golden light flooded the arena. On one side, it seemed as if a Golden Dragon coiled around Tang Wulin's body, accompanied by waves of dragon roars and boundless majesty. Bai Xu's golden light, however, was somewhat plain. It spread across the surrounding floor, flowing slowly along his arms with exceptional control. The unadorned golden radiance blocked the oppressive force outside, and the clashing auras created gusts of air that howled across the arena.

Tang Wulin reversed the flow of his blood and qi. His right foot slammed fiercely into the ground, and an impassioned dragon roar echoed throughout the venue. Eight dragon-shaped streams of air surged toward Bai Xu from Tang Wulin's body as though they had eyes.

Bai Xu countered each move in kind. Golden light likewise gathered into eight dragon forms and collided head-on with Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Earthshaker.

Though the soul skills were tremendously imposing, both attacks ultimately dissipated into the air.

What was the Golden Dragon King's fighting style?

Brute force!

In the Golden Dragon Shocking the Heavens state, Tang Wulin slashed out five claw shadows. The Golden Dragon Claw had already reached Bai Xu, but Bai Xu gathered golden light in both hands and met it head-on, forcing Tang Wulin back once again.

Seeing that the golden scales on his Golden Dragon Claw had dimmed somewhat, Tang Wulin frowned deeply. Bai Xu's strength seemed to have grown even greater. Then he suddenly withdrew his martial soul and smiled. "I still can't beat you. I concede!"

Then, amid everyone's astonished gazes, he jumped off the stage.

Tang Wulin knew that Bai Xu did not fear the Golden Dragon King's pressure. If he could not overpower Bai Xu in raw strength, his chances of winning were extremely slim. He also could not recklessly clash with Bai Xu; he had to save his remaining strength for the team battle.

Wu Changkong had also told him that temporary victory or defeat meant nothing. His Golden Dragon King Bloodline had immense potential for growth. Perhaps he could not defeat Bai Xu now, but the future remained unknown.

"One-on-one, Xie Xie forfeits!"

"Two-on-two, Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan forfeit!"

"Both sides will enter the team battle!"

Looking at the seven people before him, Bai Xu felt his blood boil for the first time. This damned arena format was simply the greatest flaw!

Tang Wulin stood at the very front with his companions and said, "Bai Xu, perhaps I can't defeat you alone, but our Grade One and Grade Two joint team is the best. More than a year of accumulation, the crushing defeat in the last team competition—today, we'll win it all back!"

Bai Xu swept his gaze across the arena, his eyes slowly passing over the seven. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Lizhi, Yuanen Yehui, Yue Zhengyu, Gu Yue, and Xu Xiaoyan were all opponents he had defeated.

He spoke domineeringly, his tone beyond question. "Those defeated by me have never been worthy of being called my opponents. I will give you time to catch up, until I am far beyond your sight!"

The entire venue fell silent. Shrek's students had never seen such invincibility. One person standing against a team, seeming to stand against the whole world—his dominance was overwhelming enough to eclipse mountains and rivers.

The match began amid that silence.

Tang Wulin and the others had planned well. Bai Xu's speed and strength were indeed unmatched—even Tang Wulin could not suppress him—but his defense had weaknesses. They only needed to make good use of the absolute control granted by Xu Xiaoyan's evolved martial soul. Even Bai Xu could not escape that kind of absolute effect.

As long as they could immobilize Bai Xu for one second, all of them would pour every bit of their strength into unleashing their ranged attacks at him. No one could withstand such an assault.

But ideals were beautiful.

"Begin!"

Whoosh!

The instant Wu Changkong announced the start, Gu Yue teleported herself and the nearest Xu Xiaoyan to the side. The next moment, to Tang Wulin's astonishment, everyone except Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, and himself collapsed.

"Did Na'er not tell you that even a Soul King can't withstand my Spirit Shock?"

Tang Wulin froze, revealing an opening. In an instant, a fist struck him from behind. He endured the pain as he flew backward, only to be saved by Gu Yue's teleportation.

"With the enhancement of my First Soul Skill, my spiritual power has already reached the Spirit Abyss Realm."

"Then why didn't you use it on me?" Tang Wulin rose to his feet again and asked.

"There is a reason."

Gu Yue was equally puzzled. Bai Xu's Spirit Shock was too sinister. Even she would suffer splitting headaches if hit by it, let alone Xie Xie and the others. She had only managed to save Xu Xiaoyan, who was beside her.

"Third Soul Skill, Radiant Starlight! First Soul Skill, Star Wheel Chain!" Xu Xiaoyan went all out. She shouted, "Captain, Gu Yue! Strike now! I can only hold Bai Xu for one second!"

Seeing Bai Xu bound by chains, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue no longer hesitated. Seven Elements Fission, Golden Dragon Earthshaker, and other ranged soul skills erupted once more. A violent explosion swept across the entire arena.

Both the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon were deeply shaken, fine beads of sweat covering their foreheads. The pressure of fighting Bai Xu was simply too great. Without Xu Xiaoyan, they would not have had any chance to counterattack.

"Careful, he's still there!" Gu Yue warned, keeping a vigilant eye on the thick black smoke.

Sizzle!

A faint sound rang out. Gu Yue instantly teleported away with Xu Xiaoyan. In the next moment, Bai Xu, still wreathed in black smoke, appeared where they had just been standing.

"Before my strength surpasses that of the plane, am I still unable to avoid this absolute effect?"

"Yes," the Spirit of the Plane answered.

"His aura has dropped significantly. Captain, now!" Gu Yue shouted. Based on her experience fighting Bai Xu, she knew that he had only used the Metal Element for defense. After all, there were outsiders watching this time, so he had not used the other four elements.

"The two Dragon Kings' attacks really are powerful. There's only a trace of the Metal Element left. I hope Five Elements Flow restores it quickly," Bai Xu thought. The one-meter Geng Metal Sword appeared in his hand, its killing intent filling the air.

As Tang Wulin charged at him again with the Golden Dragon Claw, Bai Xu raised his sword and hacked down with all his strength, sending Tang Wulin flying. The scales in the claw's palm were torn apart, and blood flowed for the first time.

The Golden Dragon Claw was no longer indestructible. Even the claws of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had failed to break through the Golden Dragon scales' defense, yet Bai Xu had shattered it today.

Amid flashing blades and shadows, Tang Wulin had already been knocked off the stage.

If he could not defend against the sword, his attacks meant nothing.

Seeing this, Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged a glance and surrendered.

"We concede!"

Gu Yue knew that Bai Xu's Essence of Metal was nearly depleted, but she also knew he had not used the other four elements. If they continued fighting, perhaps they could win, but... it would still be meaningless.

"The victor is Bai Xu!" Elder Cai rose to her feet, her expression grim as she spoke. From the start of the battle until now, the venue had been frozen in silence. It was as though the audience had left their voices at home.

His black robe fluttered in the wind. Due to the massive explosion, Bai Xu's long hair had come loose and danced freely in the breeze. In everyone's eyes, his figure gradually grew taller, like a mountain that overshadowed the brilliance of his entire generation.