Battle for the Array Eyes: Breaking the Black Mist

The Obsidian floor of the Star Dou Arena was still trembling from the clash of Soul Power. When Dai Mubai fully unleashed his White Tiger True Body, every spectator held their breath. The towering white tiger stood amidst the black mist, its fur gleaming with a cold moonlit sheen. Every step of its tiger claws shattered the corrosion marks on the ground, while the king-shaped mark on its brow shone with Golden Light, forcing even the surrounding black mist back three feet under its pressure. This was the first time he had fully released his White Tiger True Body after breaking through Level 38. It looked even more ferocious than before, and its Soul Power Fluctuation had reached the strength of a Soul Ancestor.

"Yan, I'm your opponent!" Dai Mubai's roar carried the deafening force of a tiger's howl as he lunged at Yan. His White Tiger Claw tore through the air and struck directly at the Flame Barrier. Yan hastily Activated Volcanic Eruption, raising a crimson wall of fire once more. Yet under the White Tiger Claw's blow, it gave a crisp crack. Dense fissures spread across the fire wall, and the corrosive effect of the purple-black flames was suppressed by the White Tiger True Body's righteous Soul Power, no longer able to cling to the tiger claws.

"How is that possible? How can your true body restrain my flames?" Yan's face instantly turned pale. He could clearly sense a trace of pure Life Origin within Dai Mubai's Soul Power—it was the residual energy from Jiang Zhu's Seven-Colored Spirit Healing: Nirvana. This energy naturally countered the sinister properties of Soul Devouring Spider Poison and black mist, even weakening the purple-black flames fused with the black mist by thirty percent.

Dai Mubai did not answer, responding only with a relentless barrage of attacks. White Tiger Light Splitting Waves streaked out like golden lightning, piercing the walls of fire again and again. White Tiger Meteor Showers descended from above, compressing Yan's movements to less than two zhang. Like a hunting tiger, he held Yan tightly in check, giving him no chance to support the other array eyes. "Want to leave? Take my White Tiger Soul Suppressing Roar first!"

Golden sound waves erupted from Dai Mubai's mouth. The black mist churned violently beneath them, even showing signs of briefly dispersing. Yan's Blood and Qi Surged from the impact, his Soul Power fell into disarray, and he could no longer maintain the Flame Barrier. Forced back five steps, he was completely reduced to passive defense. This was exactly the effect Lin Che Wanted—using Dai Mubai's overwhelming restraint to buy crucial time for the three teams breaking the array.

"Move according to plan!" Lin Che's voice pierced through the chaos of the battlefield. He Raised His Hand and tossed three Array Breaking Talismans to Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and himself. "Tang San and Oscar, take the eastern array eye. Wrap the talisman in Anti-Soul Erosion Poison Blue Silver Grass and don't let the black mist corrode it. Ma Hongjun and Jiang Zhu, take the southern array eye. Phoenix Fire must fully ignite the Sun Flame Grass. Don't leave behind any black mist. Rongrong and I will take the northern array eye. Rongrong, keep the dual amplifications up. Ghost Douluo will most likely be lying in wait there."

"Don't worry!" Tang San caught the Array Breaking Talisman and immediately wrapped it around the roots of his Blue Silver Grass. Nourished by Life Origin, the Blue Silver Grass had completely lost its emerald color and now glimmered with a faint gold-red hue. The patterns on its leaves were tightly packed like armor. Black mist could only leave shallow corrosion marks when it landed on them and could no longer penetrate the grass stems. "Oscar, Followed behind me. Use Recovery Sausages to replenish my Soul Power. Don't let the black mist drain too much."

Oscar immediately nodded, stuffing the last few Recovery Sausages he had made into his clothes before closely Following behind Tang San. "I'll watch your Soul Power Fluctuation. The moment you run low, I'll stuff a sausage into your mouth!" Seizing the opening created by Dai Mubai restraining Yan, the two swiftly headed for the eastern array eye. Blue Silver Grass cleared the way ahead, tearing open a temporary passage through the black mist.

Ma Hongjun carried the not-yet-fully-recovered Jiang Zhu on his back. Phoenix Fire gathered beneath his feet into a platform of flames, avoiding the corroded areas of the ground. "Jiang Zhu, hold on a little longer. Once we ignite the Sun Flame Grass and the black mist disperses, you can get some proper rest." Jiang Zhu leaned weakly against his back and smiled, pouring her last bit of Soul Power into Ma Hongjun's flames. "My Poison and Heal Dual Ability can still purify black mist in a small area. Just focus on guiding the fire." Strengthened by her Soul Power, the flame platform gave off a faint seven-colored glow. The moment the black mist approached, it was purified into harmless vapor.

Lin Che and Ning Rongrong advanced toward the northern array eye. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had regained some of its radiance. She first enveloped Lin Che in the halos of Defense Amplification and Speed Amplification. "Captain, my amplification can last three minutes. After that, I'll need ten breaths to recover. You must make good use of the time." Her gaze vigilantly swept over the surrounding black mist. "Ghost Douluo's Ghostly Shadow Walk can hide within the black mist. We need to watch out for his ambush."

Lin Che nodded. The Azure Water Sword lay across his chest, while the Universe Cauldron slowly rotated above his Head Top. Four streaks of Golden Light lit up on its inscriptions. This was the strongest defensive form he could maintain. It could suppress the black mist and also respond to sudden attacks at any time. "I'll use Cauldron Suppression to sense the surrounding Soul Power Fluctuation. If anything seems wrong, immediately increase the Speed Amplification. We retreat first, then counterattack."

As the three groups advanced at once, Bibi Dong in the VIP area finally lost all patience. She stared fiercely at the three array eyes in the Star Dou Arena, her nails digging deeply into her palms. "What is Ghost Douluo doing? Why hasn't he stopped them yet?" The maid beside her answered shakily, "His Majesty the Pope, Lord Chen Xin's Sword Qi has been locked onto the northern array eye all this time. Lord Ghost Douluo does not dare reveal himself carelessly..."

"Useless trash!" Bibi Dong smashed her teacup to the ground, scattering fragments everywhere. "Tell him to ignore Chen Xin's Sword Qi. Even if he has to die with them, he must destroy one array eye! If the Cauldron Sword Team breaks the black mist, Spirit Hall will be utterly humiliated!"

Deep within the black mist at the northern array eye, Ghost Douluo hid behind the most heavily corroded rock. He could clearly sense Chen Xin's Sword Qi locking onto him, but he understood even better that Bibi Dong's command could not be defied. When Lin Che and Ning Rongrong came within ten zhang of the array eye, his figure suddenly faded into the black mist like a drop of ink merging into dark water. Even his Soul Power Fluctuation completely disappeared. This was the ultimate form of Ghostly Shadow Walk, allowing him to hide completely in sinister environments, beyond the detection of even a Soul Douluo.

"Watch out!" Lin Che's Universe Cauldron suddenly trembled violently, its inscriptions lighting up with Dazzling red light. This was a warning that it had sensed a lethal threat. He tried to protect Ning Rongrong behind him, but a pitch-black claw shadow suddenly Appeared from the black mist, pointing directly at Ning Rongrong's back! Ghost Douluo had actually abandoned his attack on Lin Che, the main attacker, and instead ambushed Ning Rongrong, whose defenses were weakest. He wanted to break their dual amplifications by capturing the leader first.

"Full Speed Amplification!" Ning Rongrong reacted with extreme speed. Almost the instant the claw shadow appeared, she poured all her Remaining Soul Power into the Speed Amplification layer of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. The pale-purple halo surged, and Lin Che felt his body grow light as his speed Instantly Increased twofold. Acting almost on instinct, he Pushed Away Ning Rongrong and held the Azure Water Sword horizontally behind him.

Clang! The pitch-black claw shadow collided with the sword blade, producing a piercing metallic ring. Ghost Douluo's figure briefly appeared in the black mist. He wore a Black Robe, his face completely hidden beneath his hood, revealing only a pair of green-glowing eyes. His voice carried a sinister mockery. "Your reaction was quite fast. Unfortunately, you were still one step too slow." Black Soul Power gathered in his other hand as he clawed at Lin Che's chest again. The Soul Power carried dense Soul Devouring Spider Poison; once it touched skin, it would immediately invade the meridians.

Sword Momentum Force Dissipation! Lin Che sharply twisted his wrist, and the Azure Water Sword traced a perfect arc. Azure Sword Qi followed the claw shadow's path, guiding Ghost Douluo's attacking Soul Power to the side. Thirty percent of its force was reflected back, striking a nearby rock and blasting it into fragments. At the same time, Lin Che stomped the ground and used the Speed Amplification to retreat, widening the distance between himself and Ghost Douluo. "Rongrong, raise the Defense Amplification by another thirty percent!"

Ning Rongrong immediately did as he said, and a Pale Golden defensive halo enveloped Lin Che's entire body. Ghost Douluo's third attack struck the halo, leaving only a shallow mark and failing to Break Through the defense. His gaze turned grave. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's dual amplification really is troublesome. No wonder Bibi Dong wanted to eliminate you first." He Raised His Hand and waved it. The surrounding black mist suddenly condensed into ten Black Shadows, which pounced on Lin Che and Ning Rongrong like clones. "Unfortunately, you will both die here today."

Cauldron Suppression! Suppress! Lin Che stopped defending passively and poured all his Soul Power into the Universe Cauldron. The cauldron expanded to two zhang tall. Its Pale Golden Soul Power field was like an inverted golden bell, shattering every Black Shadow and forcibly suppressing the black mist pouring from the northern array eye. The inscriptions beneath the cauldron resonated with the patterns on the ground around the array eye. Golden Light spread along those patterns, and the black mist melted away like snow beneath sunlight, gradually revealing the black ceramic jar at the array eye—the container holding the Soul Devouring Spider Eggs. This was the core of the northern array eye.

"Array Breaking Talisman!" Lin Che pulled the talisman from In His Embrace and, using the opening created by Cauldron Suppression holding down the black mist, stuck it onto the ceramic jar. The instant the talisman touched the jar, it erupted with Dazzling red light. The Sun Flame Grass's energy spread through the talisman's patterns and began burning the Soul Devouring Spider Eggs inside. Seeing this, Ghost Douluo anxiously tried to rush forward and stop him, but he was blocked by Cauldron Suppression's Golden Light. Every charge was reflected back, making it impossible for him to approach the array eye.

"The eastern array eye has run into trouble!" Tang San's urgent voice suddenly came through the Glazed Jade Token. "Spirit Hall left five Soul Masters guarding the array eye. Their Soul Power can draw upon the black mist, and the Blue Silver Grass's defense is about to fail!"

Lin Che's heart Tightened, but he had no way to split himself off to help. "Oscar, use your sausages to create chaos. Tang San, use the chance to stick on the Array Breaking Talisman! Once the Sun Flame Grass is ignited, the black mist will be Dispelled, and their Soul Power will be useless!" While dealing with Ghost Douluo's attacks, he kept watch over the other two array eyes. "Ma Hongjun, how is the southern array eye?"

"Almost there!" Ma Hongjun's voice came amid heavy breathing. "Phoenix Fire has already Activated the Sun Flame Grass, but the black mist's counterattack is fierce. Jiang Zhu is using Poison and Heal Dual Ability to purify it for me. Give me another ten breaths, and I can fully ignite it!"

The situation in the Star Dou Arena instantly became tense. At the eastern array eye, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had been corroded by the black mist until only the main stems remained. The five Spirit Hall Soul Masters' Black Mist Soul Lock was forcing him and Oscar into a corner, while the Array Breaking Talisman had yet to be attached to the core. At the southern array eye, Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire intertwined with the Sun Flame Grass's flames, yet the black mist repeatedly suppressed them. Jiang Zhu's Soul Power had been completely exhausted, and she could only maintain purification through sheer willpower. At the northern array eye, although Lin Che had suppressed Ghost Douluo, his arm had been wounded by the opponent's Ghostly Claw. Black poison slowly spread from the wound. If not for the Golden Light of Cauldron Suppression holding it down, it would have flared up long ago.

"Break!" Dai Mubai suddenly let out a furious roar. Seeing his teammates' plight, he forcibly Activated the forbidden Soul Skill of the White Tiger True Body—White Tiger Soul Shattering Strike. Golden Soul Power condensed into a sphere in his mouth before he violently fired it out. This strike was no longer aimed at Yan, but Blasted Towards the eastern array eye. The Golden Light Sphere passed through the black mist and struck the Soul Power barrier of the five Spirit Hall Soul Masters, throwing their Soul Power into disorder and temporarily robbing them of the ability to attack.

"Now!" Tang San seized the opportunity and poured his final trace of Soul Power into the Blue Silver Grass. The grass stem, carrying the Array Breaking Talisman, shot toward the array eye's core like an arrow. The talisman precisely stuck to the black ceramic jar. Its red light echoed the Golden Light from the northern array eye from afar, and the black mist at the eastern array eye instantly began to dissipate, revealing the array patterns beneath, covered in Sun Flame Grass.

"The southern array eye is ignited!" Ma Hongjun's jubilant cry followed immediately. As the black mist at the eastern array eye dispersed, the southern array eye's counterattack weakened dramatically. Phoenix Fire and the Sun Flame Grass's flames finally suppressed the black mist, forming a golden pillar of fire that soared into the sky. Wherever the fire pillar spread, the black mist retreated like a tide, and the sky above the Star Dou Arena gradually cleared, revealing its original blue.

"No—!" Ghost Douluo let out an unwilling howl. With all three array eyes ignited at once, the Soul Erosion Array's core had been destroyed. His connection to the black mist was completely severed, and he could no longer maintain the form of Ghostly Shadow Walk, forcing him to reveal his full body. Looking at the Azure Water Sword in Lin Che's hand and then at the gradually fading black mist, he knew the situation was hopeless. If he remained, Chen Xin's Sword Qi would lock onto him. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Cauldron Sword Team, just wait! Spirit Hall will not let you off!"

Black Soul Power gathered beneath Ghost Douluo's feet. He Turned into a Black Shadow and swiftly fled the Star Dou Arena, vanishing into the mist of Heaven Dou City. Lin Che did not pursue him. His arm still ached faintly, and although the black poison was suppressed, it still required Jiang Zhu's Poison and Heal Dual Ability to Completely Clear it. He looked toward the other two array eyes, where Tang San and Ma Hongjun were each checking their array eye to ensure no black mist remained. At last, the weight in his heart lifted.

"The black mist is gone! The Cauldron Sword Team broke the Soul Erosion Array!" Earthshaking cheers erupted from the stands. The earlier worry and tension became wild joy. People waved Cauldron Sword Team banners, and some were so excited that tears streamed down their faces. "Incredible! They didn't just win the match—they also broke Spirit Hall's sinister array!"

In the VIP area, Emperor Xue Beng let out a long breath, and his tense body finally relaxed. "Excellent! The Cauldron Sword Team has not disappointed me!" He looked at Bibi Dong, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "His Majesty the Pope, it seems your array did not accomplish much."

Bibi Dong's face turned ashen, but she could not say a word. She abruptly rose to her feet. Her black papal robe stirred despite the lack of wind as she angrily left with the people of Spirit Hall, not even bothering with the final formalities. In this match, Spirit Hall had not only lost the fight for the array eyes but also lost all face. Staying any longer would only invite further ridicule.

Ning Fengzhi watched Bibi Dong's departing back, a faint smile touching his lips. "Old Sword Douluo, we have you to thank for restraining Ghost Douluo. Otherwise, Lin and the others might not have broken the array so smoothly."

Chen Xin slowly sheathed his sword, a trace of approval in his eyes. "The main reason was the Cauldron Sword Team's own strength, especially Dai Mubai's restraint and Jiang Zhu's healing. Neither could have been absent. This generation of young people has more resilience than we did Back Then."

On the Star Dou Arena, the seven members of the Cauldron Sword Team finally gathered together again. Dai Mubai had dismissed his White Tiger True Body. He leaned against Tang San, his Soul Power severely depleted and his face pale. Ma Hongjun sat on the ground, Phoenix Fire completely extinguished, without even the strength to Raise His Hand. Oscar supported Jiang Zhu, whose breath was weak, yet she was still concerned about her teammates' Injuries. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had completely dimmed. Leaning against Lin Che, she barely had the strength to speak.

Looking at his exhausted yet resolute teammates, warmth welled up in Lin Che's heart. He shrank the Universe Cauldron and placed it in the center. The cauldron's Golden Light Enveloped the entire team, slowly healing everyone's Injuries. "Everyone has worked hard. The black mist is gone. Next comes the final confrontation with Spirit Hall's Golden Generation." He looked at Dai Mubai and Jiang Zhu. "You rest first. Tang San, Hongjun, and I will handle Hu Liena and the others. Once you recover, we'll switch."

"No!" Dai Mubai immediately refused. He forced himself to stand. "I'm the front-line tank. How can I let you fight alone? I can still hold on!" Jiang Zhu nodded as well. "Although my Poison and Heal Dual Ability can't be used for major techniques anymore, I can still heal and detoxify within a small range. I can help treat everyone's Injuries."

Tang San looked at everyone, determination flashing through his eyes. "We are a team. If we win, we win together. If we lose, we lose together. In the next battle, all seven of us go together!"

Hu Liena's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the team's warm atmosphere. She stood on the other side of the Star Dou Arena, with Xie Yue and Yan gathered at her side once more. Although all three had suffered damage to their Soul Power after the black mist dispersed, they still maintained fighting stances. "Cauldron Sword Team, don't think breaking the array means you can win. The real match starts now!" The fox mark on her Brow Center lit up again. There was no pink mist this time, but the Soul Power Fluctuation it gave off was even stronger. She was about to use her final trump card and fight the Cauldron Sword Team to the death.

Lin Che tightened his grip on the Azure Water Sword. The Universe Cauldron's Golden Light rose once more, Enveloping the entire team. "Then come! Our Cauldron Sword Team has never feared a final battle!"

Sunlight pierced through the dispersing black mist and fell across the Star Dou Arena, illuminating the seven figures standing shoulder to shoulder. The pale purple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Golden Light of the White Tiger, the orange-red of Phoenix Fire, the emerald green of Blue Silver Grass, the warm yellow of sausages, the flowing light of the Seven-Colored Sacred Staff, the azure of the Azure Water Sword, and the golden-yellow of the Universe Cauldron intertwined into a Dazzling curtain of light, welcoming the final showdown.

Cheers rose from the stands once again. Everyone stood, waving their arms and shouting, "Cauldron Sword Must Win!" After enduring the Charm Domain, Black Mist Devour, and the battle for the array eyes, this continental finals match had finally reached its most thrilling ultimate showdown.