Yan's Provocation

The sunlight on Final Day seemed even more blazing than usual. The plaza before the Pope's Palace was already packed shoulder to shoulder, with cheers soaring into the sky. The Champion Trophy, symbolizing Spirit Hall's highest honor, gleamed brilliantly beneath the sun as it waited for its master.

The Imperial Fighting Team and the Martial Soul Hall Academy Team emerged from the passageways on either side and stepped onto the final stage.

On one side was Zhang Bufan's team, dressed in Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniforms. Though facing formidable opponents, Zhang Bufan's lazy presence made the entire team seem remarkably relaxed. Yu Feng was even secretly waving toward a spot in the Audience Seats.

On the other side stood Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, led by Xie Yue. The three wore dazzling golden uniforms, their expressions stern and their gazes sharp. Surging Soul Power fluctuations spread from them without restraint, carrying Spirit Hall's pride and oppressive presence. Hu Liena's breathtaking beauty left countless spectators dazed. The Moon Blade Xie Yue toyed with in his hand flashed with cold light, while Yan was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, his blazing battle intent mixed with dissatisfaction toward someone as he stared fixedly at Zhang Bufan.

Host Doudou introduced the members of both teams in an excited, somewhat shrill voice. Every name she announced drew thunderous cheers, especially when she called out "Nine Cauldrons Douluo Zhang Bufan" and "Golden Generation," sending the atmosphere to its peak.

"The final match: Imperial Fighting Team versus Martial Soul Hall Academy Team! The match... is about to begin! Contestants, prepare yourselves!"

The referee was a Soul Douluo-level Red Robe Cardinal. Floating in midair, his booming voice, imbued with Soul Power, suppressed the uproar of the entire venue.

The members of both teams stood facing each other at the center of the arena. Invisible sparks seemed to crackle through the air.

Xie Yue took a step forward. As captain, he needed to conduct the customary pre-match exchange. He looked at Zhang Bufan, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Zhang Bufan, your strength has earned my respect. But today, victory will belong to Spirit Hall."

Zhang Bufan yawned and rubbed his eyes as though he had just woken up. "Oh, got it. Are you done talking nonsense? I've got a date to get to after this." As he spoke, he openly winked at Huo Wu, who was nervously watching from the Imperial Fighting Team's resting area.

Seeing him act so unseriously, Huo Wu was both annoyed and amused. Much of her tension dissipated, and she glared at him with a faint blush on her pretty face.

This completely enraged Yan, who had already been brooding over Zhang Bufan and Huo Wu's relationship.

"Bastard!" Yan suddenly strode forward. Violent fiery Soul Power burst out of control, scorching the stone slabs beneath his feet until they cracked. Pointing at Zhang Bufan, he roared, "Zhang Bufan! What the hell are you? Just some country bumpkin who got lucky! What makes you worthy of acting arrogant here?!"

His gaze shifted toward Huo Wu, his tone full of contempt and disdain. "And that woman from Blazing Fire Academy! She's only got a pretty face, yet trash like you treats her like a treasure! She must be blind to fall for someone like you..."

"Yan!" Hu Liena frowned and sharply stopped him, feeling that his words were far too vulgar and disgraceful.

But it was already too late.

The laziness and mockery on Zhang Bufan's face receded like the tide. He slowly turned his head, and for the first time, his gaze truly fell upon Yan.

That gaze was calm, without anger or killing intent, yet it carried an absolute chill, as though it were ancient ice that had existed since time immemorial. Under that gaze, Yan felt as if the flames around him were about to freeze. The rest of his insults toward Huo Wu caught in his throat, and a chill rising from the depths of his soul made every hair on his body stand on end!

The noisy plaza seemed to fall abruptly quieter under the sudden change in Zhang Bufan's aura.

"You..." Yan forced down that inexplicable fear and tried to say something else despite his outward bravado.

Zhang Bufan spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, carrying unquestionable coldness and authority.

"What the hell are you?"

He repeated Yan's words one syllable at a time, but the target had been completely reversed.

"And you think..." Zhang Bufan's gaze swept across Yan's face like the sharpest blade, "...you're worthy of saying her name?"

(Iconic moment: Triggering the reverse scale!)

Boom—!

An indescribably terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Zhang Bufan! It was not the pressure of Soul Power, but something more fundamental and more elevated, like the primal majesty of chaos from when heaven and earth first began! Though it lasted only an instant, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, Yan, and even the referee in the air, all of whom were closest to him, felt as though an invisible hand had seized their hearts, nearly suffocating them!

Yan bore the brunt of it. His face instantly turned paper-white, and he staggered back three steps before barely managing to steady himself. When he looked at Zhang Bufan again, his eyes were filled with terror and disbelief!

He could not understand how a single sentence and a single look could bring such horrifying pressure!

Zhang Bufan no longer looked at him, as if one more glance would soil his eyes. He turned toward the referee in the air, who had been similarly stunned, and said blandly, "Can we begin now?"

Only then did the Red Robe Cardinal referee come back to his senses. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he took a deep breath and raised his right hand. "The match... begins!"

Zhang Bufan: I was planning to play with you a little longer and give the tournament some face. Too bad you chose to court death, entertaining thoughts you shouldn't have and saying things you shouldn't have said. Is my woman someone you can slander?

Huo Wu: He... the way he looked just now... was so frightening, but... why does my heart feel so warm? Was he... angry because of me?

Hu Liena: This Zhang Bufan... that aura just now... he's definitely not a Soul Ancestor! He's not even an ordinary Titled Douluo! That idiot Yan has caused a huge problem!

(Spectator A: Holy shit! What just happened? I nearly pissed myself!)

(Spectator B: Nine Cauldrons Douluo got angry! Was it because Yan mentioned Miss Huo Wu? A beautiful woman truly brings disaster! But... that was so cool!)

The match officially began amid an extraordinarily strange and tense atmosphere! And Yan's provocation had already set an irreconcilable, life-or-death tone for this final!