This left the referee on the field in a tight spot. The protective barrier he had created began to crack all over the instant the two auras collided, and it looked ready to shatter. Jiang Tianhai and Fang Wei could no longer sit still. Jiang Tianhai quickly flew onto the arena and said something to the referee. The referee wore a bitter expression, grumbled under his breath, and withdrew from the field.
Jiang Tianhai formed a hand seal, and a far sturdier protective barrier appeared over the arena. Fang Wei was busy, too. He went down to the foot of the competition platform and raised a protective barrier in front of the audience.
Jiang Tianhai's voice rang out from the platform. "Due to special circumstances, I will personally referee this match."
"These two brats actually made God of War step in himself." The other principals in the team waiting area shook their heads with rueful smiles.
Meanwhile, at Shancheng Martial University's team waiting area:
Wang Meng: "That's my Great God Lin for you! Damn, I admire him so much."
Lei Yunfan: "What kind of monster is he? Damn, a Lightning elemental ability user actually comprehended an intent."
Xia Qiuling: "Great God Lin is so handsome! Oh my, I'm practically drooling."
Jiang Weiwei and Su Xiaorui were both staring blankly at the platform. "Is this the Battle Skill Lin Hao came up with over the past two months?"
"That dummy can use a spear, too. Looks like I'll have to ask him for some pointers later." Fang Yao's little mouth hung open.
"Hahaha, Brother Lin, well done! I, Duan Yue, knew I wasn't wrong about you. Now let's have a good, hard fight!" Duan Yue roared with laughter. The stronger his opponent, the fiercer the Battle Intent he had comprehended became.
Neither man wasted words. They quickly rose and charged forward, their spears colliding in midair with a series of explosive cracks. They fought back and forth for dozens of exchanges, neither gaining the upper hand. Lin Hao was thoroughly enjoying himself. Having an evenly matched opponent was exactly what he had hoped for.
After dozens of exchanges, both men were breathing slightly hard.
The audience's cheers now reached a height never heard before. Even the students and principals from the various Wu Universities were shouting their approval.
Suddenly, Po Jun Spear blazed in Duan Yue's hands. He bent low and swept his spear across. Battle Skill: Sweeping Thousand Armies! The golden spear aura surged toward Lin Hao with unstoppable force. Lin Hao was not about to back down. He swung Thunder Prison Sky Splitting Spear rapidly, its tip wreathed in Power of lightning and crackling with explosive thunder.
Thunder Prison Nine Spears, First Spear: Stabilize the Three Armies.
Lin Hao held the spear in one hand, its tip wrapped in Black Lightning as he crashed into the golden spear aura Duan Yue had unleashed. A deafening explosion rang out across the arena, shaking the entire competition platform—and the whole venue with it.
"Holy crap, are these two freaks trying to destroy the place?" The principals and team members were all incredibly glad God of War had stepped in. Otherwise, that last clash alone would have sent them all flying.
Inside the arena, the dust had yet to settle, but the sounds of battle continued to ring out.
After dozens more furious exchanges, Lin Hao, suspended in midair, struck first.
Thunder Prison Nine Spears, Second Spear: Break the Mountain.
Black Light blazed across the whole body of Thunder Prison Sky Splitting Spear, while Black Thunder surged around Lin Hao. In an instant, all the Power of lightning gathered on the spear. Lin Hao gripped it and brought it slashing down diagonally, sending a half-moon spear aura wrapped in Black Light toward Duan Yue with the force to cleave through mountains.
Duan Yue refused to yield. Battle Intent surged around him as he gathered all his strength into the spear and took aim to throw. Battle Skill: Sky Breaking Shadow Hunter! Po Jun Spear hurtled forward with unstoppable force and collided with Lin Hao's half-moon spear aura. Another explosion rang out across the platform. The entire competition platform began to collapse, and a violent tremor shook the area outside it.
Before Duan Yue could react, Lin Hao had already unleashed the third spear of Thunder Prison Nine Spears.
Thunder Prison Nine Spears, Third Spear: Divide the Rivers.
Suddenly, the sky above the entire competition platform began to change. Endless Black Thunder appeared overhead. Lin Hao raised Thunder Prison Sky Splitting Spear and began gathering power. At that very moment, a bolt of Black Lightning struck the tip, and the spear began to shudder violently. Lin Hao took aim at Duan Yue and hurled it without hesitation.
"Hahaha, Brother Lin, that move was exhilarating!" Under the influence of his Battle Intent, Duan Yue had entered a frenzied state. He held Po Jun Spear behind him, his body slightly bent, and poured all his Spiritual Power and Battle Intent into the spear.
Battle Skill: Dragon's Roar Shakes the Heavens!
This was the strongest attack Duan Yue could manage. The entire spear blazed with golden light, and the sound of dragons roaring rang from within it. Once he had finished gathering power, Duan Yue hurled Po Jun Spear forward. Black and yellow beams of light collided in midair. Time seemed to stop in that instant—but only for a moment. The entire competition platform turned to dust. Jiang Tianhai's face darkened, and he reinforced the protective barrier even more.
All anyone could see was dust filling the sky above the platform; the two men were nowhere to be seen.
"What happened?" the audience wondered.
Xing Tianhe and the other principals gaped. That last attack could have killed a Platinum rank fierce beast outright. "Honestly, those two are monsters."
A minute later, the dust inside the barrier settled. Jiang Tianhai then withdrew it.
Everyone looked toward the arena. There was no sign of the competition platform. A pit nearly five meters deep had been left where it had stood. Jiang Tianhai was holding the unconscious Duan Yue in his arms, while Lin Hao stood nearby, panting heavily.
"Wait, where's the competition platform?"
"The two of them blew the whole thing to pieces!"
"Holy crap, what kind of destructive power is that?"
The audience and the Wu University teams alike were left marveling. Jiang Tianhai gave a bitter smile. Those two brats had destroyed the competition platform. What were they supposed to do with the rest of the matches? He promptly announced, "I declare that Shancheng Martial University has won the first semifinal of the Hundred Schools League against Longcheng Martial University. They advance to the finals."
The entire venue fell silent once more. No one knew how much time passed before applause and shouts like a crashing tide thundered across the stadium.
"That was so damn satisfying to watch!"
That ticket to the match was worth every penny.
Cheers of approval rang out from every corner of the stands.
Everyone from Shancheng Martial University and Longcheng Martial University hurried over to Jiang Tianhai to check on their respective teammates.
"Don't worry. Duan Yue has only exhausted his Spiritual Power. He'll be fine," Jiang Tianhai said. Han Bantian finally relaxed a little at that. Looking at the unconscious Duan Yue, Han Bantian gave a rueful smile. If they hadn't run into that monster Lin Hao this year, the championship would probably have been theirs again.
"Lin Hao!" Everyone from Shancheng Martial University rushed over to him, too. Jiang Tianhai looked at Jiang Weiwei's worried expression and let out a sigh.
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