The Unscathed Armor
Soon, Dongfang Yao was eliminated.
In the end, only the Light-Dark Holy Tiger from the Star Luo Royal Team was left, getting ganged up on.
The outcome, of course, goes without saying.
The Heaven Dou Royal Team wins.
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Below the stage, the members of the already eliminated Sea God Island Team silently watched the entire intense duel between the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire. Sea Spear Douluo's expression was solemn as he rapidly assessed the difference in strength between the two teams and their Sea God Island Team.
Despite his reluctance to admit it, a chilling truth lay before him: even with the blessing of the divine trial rewards, the young people of Sea God Island would likely still struggle to defeat these two elite imperial forces in terms of both fundamental strength and tactical coordination.
Of course, what made Sea Spear Douluo and all the members of Sea God Island even more anxious at this moment was not the difference in strength, but the unresolved fate of those far overseas.
They eagerly awaited the High Priest Bo Saixi's decision regarding their defeat and breach of oath.
Sea God Island, Sea God Temple.
Holding the secret message from Sea Spear Douluo, Bo Saixi stood silently alone in the solemn and majestic Sea God Temple for a long time. Her magnificent long dress trailed on the ground, and an unyielding sorrow shrouded her beautiful face.
The letter stated that the children had made a vow in the name of the Sea God but failed to fulfill it, and now they were caught in a dilemma. These were the future hope of Sea God Island, the prospective successors of the Seven Sacred Pillars. If they were all abandoned or severely punished because of this, it would be tantamount to breaking the wings of Sea God Island. How could she not feel heartbroken?
Finally, she slowly knelt before the statue of the Sea God, closed her eyes, and with the utmost devotion, concentrated all her mind and faith, praying and asking the gods in the darkness, seeking divine guidance.
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The Divine Realm, the Sea God Temple.
In the vast and boundless Divine Realm, Poseidon, the Sea God, naturally already knew everything that had happened in the mortal world. His attention to his chosen successor, Doria, also allowed him to gain a clear understanding of the situation that had occurred with the Sea God Island Team.
At this moment, this First-Level God who governs the ocean was rubbing his temples with a rather troubled expression.
"These little rascals... they really know how to give me a hard time," he muttered to himself. The vows his followers made to him inherently contained powerful causal and religious constraints. If he were to easily say, "It's alright, come back," because of their defeat, what would become of his dignity as the Sea God? Which believer would truly revere the vows of a deity in the future?
Divine grace is as vast as the sea, divine power as deep as a prison; only by combining grace and power can one achieve lasting success.
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The Sea God, seated on his throne, had his face shrouded in endless divine light, revealing neither joy nor anger. In his long divine life, he had seen Ruheng, and a few Sea Soul Master with Black Level Assessment qualifications were indeed not worth his attention.
Even someone as exceptionally talented as Bo Saixi, who devoted her entire life to faith and loyalty to him, could only receive the highest level of recognition from him: the eighth level of the Red Examination.
Bo Saixi's ultimate mission was to pave the way for his chosen true successor, becoming the cornerstone for the new god's ascension. If even Bo Saixi faced such a fate, what chance did those "little geniuses" who hadn't even triggered the highest level of trials have?
If it weren't for the fact that his chosen successor, Doria, on whom he placed high hopes, was also among them, he wouldn't have needed to be so "confused." A cold divine decree would have been issued, ordering him to deal with the matter according to the island's rules. Violating the oath to the Sea God would have its price.
However, the existence of Doria forced him to be cautious. This girl, who possessed a mermaid martial Martial Soul and was exceptionally talented, was a crucial part of his plan and could not be easily ruined by such a "trivial matter."
and...
The Sea God's gaze seemed to pierce through layers of spatial barriers, landing on the vast continent below. He could clearly sense that on the Douluo Continent, undercurrents were surging and storms were gathering.
The Spirit Hall's ambitions are now blatantly obvious; the successor of the Rakshasa God has appeared and begun to stir up trouble...
The lower realm is no longer peaceful.
But this "unease" did not worry the gods of the Divine Realm; on the contrary, it suited their wishes even better. For the high and mighty gods, the turmoil and strife in the mortal realm were the best testing grounds to hone their chosen successors. Only those who emerged victorious from blood and fire, intrigue and betrayal, and who stepped over the corpses of countless opponents, were truly qualified to inherit their divine positions and possess the capital to stand firm in the Divine Realm.
After a brief deliberation, the Sea God made his decision. As First-Level God who ruled the sea, he was well aware of the importance of balance. The majesty of the gods could not be profaned, and oaths were not to be taken lightly; but the gods also needed to show mercy, especially when dealing with believers who still had value.
A clear divine thought traversed the endless void and precisely landed in Bo Saixi's mind within the Sea God Temple of Poseidon:
"Divine might is like a prison, and oaths cannot be easily broken. However, divine grace is also as vast as the sea. Considering this is his first offense and his sincerity is evident, a glimmer of hope is granted."
"Those who break their oath will remain on the mainland temporarily to atone for their sins through meritorious service. As conflict erupts on the mainland, they will be tasked with finding the 'secret treasure of the deep sea' or performing 'three meritorious deeds recognized by the Sea God ' amidst the chaos. Only then can their oath be lifted and they may return to Sea God Island. This is their path to redemption, and also a new test of their character and abilities."
"If this fails, then one shall never set foot on Sea God Island again, and its name shall be removed from the Sea God faith."
As a support-type Soul Master, it would be quite difficult for Doria to obtain the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud from the Heaven Dou Royal Family. Let these guys serve as her helpers to atone for her sins.
After issuing the divine decree, the Sea God began to plan Doria's divine test.
There was no other way; for support-type Soul Master participating in the Sea God's Nine Trials, the previously designed assessment content naturally needed to be adjusted.
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Sea God Island, Sea God Temple.
The arrival of this divine decree caused even the usually aloof and composed Bo Saixi to reveal a clear hint of surprise on her exquisite face.
Since she took over as high priestess and became the Sea God's representative on earth, she has received only a handful of direct responses from the Sea God over the long years. Most of the time, she coldly carried out everything according to the rules and mission left by the Sea God.
This time, however, she had only offered a routine prayer without much expectation, yet the Sea God had actually sent down such a specific and... somewhat "flexible" divine message?
"What's so special about this time?" Bo Saixi frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in her heart. The "deep-sea treasure" and "three merits" mentioned in the oracle were quite vague, leaving a lot of room for maneuver, which was unlike the Sea God's usual strict style.
For some reason, even though she knew that the divine decree had given Luochuan and the others a way out, an indescribable sense of unease quietly spread in Bo Saixi's heart.
She always felt that behind this seemingly benevolent divine decree lay a deeper cause and effect, as if the gaze of the Sea God was watching through these young disciples, observing certain whirlpools on the continent that she had not yet seen clearly.
She slowly stood up, her magnificent long dress sweeping across the cold ground like ocean waves. Her gaze returned to the distant continent, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Luochuan, Doria... perhaps letting you stay on the mainland isn't entirely a blessing." She murmured softly, a lingering unease in her heart.
She will convey this command according to the divine decree.
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In the Pope Palace in Spirit City.
After several days of intense and even brutal elimination rounds, the two teams that will ultimately stand on the final stage have been determined. The atmosphere of the entire competition has reached its climax.
The Spirit Hall Academy Team will face off against the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team!
This ultimate showdown, symbolizing the highest level of the younger generation in mainland China, is of a completely different scale from previous competitions.
To ensure safety and order, and also to signify that the level of this competition has been raised, ordinary people and low-level Soul Master have been restricted to watching from a more distant area, no longer able to experience the Soul Power fluctuations of the arena up close.
The stands surrounding the massive arena were packed, but the attendees were no ordinary people. They were all representatives from various factions, their auras composed and their gazes sharp.
The main seat on the high platform naturally belonged to Pope Qian Xunji, flanked by the Titled Douluo elders of the Spirit Hall, such Yue Guan and Gui Mei, exuding an imposing aura.
On the left side of the VIP seats were Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire, along with Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Bone Douluo Gu Rong. Their eyes were fixed on the Heaven Dou Team on the arena, especially Ning Fengzhi, whose eyes were filled with concern and expectation as he looked at Ning Rongrong in the arena.
On the right side of the VIP seats were Prince Dai Weisi, the eldest prince of the Star Luo Empire, and a group of nobles and powerful figures from the Star Luo Empire. Although Dai Weisi's team had been defeated, he still needed to attend to observe the strength of the final opponent. At the same time, his expression was not good, after all, if the Heaven Dou Team that defeated him were to win the championship again, it would be another blow to the reputation of the Star Luo Empire.
In other areas, there were representatives from the Lower Four Sects, envoys from various kingdoms and duchies, and observers from some hidden sects or Soul Grandmaster families. Even the defeated Sea God Island members, led by Sea Spear Douluo, were allowed to watch the battle in a specific area.
On the arena, both teams had already lined up.
The Spirit Hall First Team, led by Qian Renxue and Xiang Yu, consisted of seven people who, like unsheathed swords, exuded a suffocating light and a sense of oppression. Their strength had long been deeply ingrained in people's minds.
The Heaven Dou Royal Team, with Li Bai and Kai as its core, may have a significantly lower overall Soul Power Level, but they have won everyone's respect by defeating strong opponents time and time again through their exquisite teamwork, unwavering will, and unexpected tactics.
Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shimmered with light, Ye Lingling's Nine-Heart Begonia was budding, Bai Chenxiang 'Yufeng eyes were sharp, she was poised to unleash her power, and Xiao Qiao gripped her fan tightly, her gaze resolute.
The referee, a Soul Douluo- level expert from the Spirit Hall, sensed the impending storm in the room, took a deep breath, and announced in a loud voice imbued with Soul Power:
"The Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academy, Final Round--"
"The Spirit Hall Academy Team versus the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team!"
"Both sides prepare--!"
In an instant, all the spectators unconsciously held their breath.
The battle for the championship is about to begin!
Chapter 238 The Unharmed Armor
"The match begins!"
The moment the referee finished speaking, even before the echoes of his words still lingered in the air, a golden streak of light swept across the arena as if tearing through space, its target being Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling behind the Heaven Dou Royal Team!
It was Dongfang Jing from the Martial Soul Hall Team who launched the deadly attack with his extreme speed and spatial attribute mirror displacement!
The speed was too fast and too sudden! Just as predicted before the race, almost no one could stop it in time.
Even Kai, who possesses the teleportation skill, is finding it difficult to intercept him at this moment. It's not that his teleportation isn't fast enough; in terms of pure spatial displacement, his skill is even stronger.
However, the difference between the two lies in reaction and agility. Kai's strength and defense are unparalleled, but in the face of this lightning-fast assassination, he appears somewhat "clumsy," starting a beat too slow!
"Don't even think about it!"
Bai Chenxiang, who had been on edge the whole time, moved almost the instant the referee spoke! Remembering the tactic, she suddenly spread her pure white wings, grabbed Ning Rongrong's waist, and soared into the sky with all her might!
"Laugh!"
The mirror image of Dongfang Jing narrowly missed them, its sharp aura severing a few strands of Ning Rongrong's hair.
However, Yufeng, who was responsible for protecting Ye Lingling, was ultimately inferior to Bai Chenxiang in speed. He had just grabbed Ye Lingling's arm and had not yet taken off when the golden image was already following him like a shadow!
"Boom!"
The moment the mirror image made contact with the two, it didn't use any weapons, but instead suddenly unleashed a domain! Countless intricate and magnificent golden patterns instantly appeared on the arena centered on it, enveloping Yufeng and Ye Lingling within it!
Before Yufeng and Ye Lingling could even utter a cry of alarm, their bodies trembled violently in the dazzling yet deadly golden light, and they instantly lost consciousness, being eliminated from the competition!
In the very first breath, the Heaven Dou Team lost two players! A key agility-type Soul Master and, most importantly, a healing-type Soul Master!
At the very moment Dongfang Jing succeeded, the Spirit Hall's true killing move was fully revealed.
"Martial Soul Avatar!"
Qian Renxue and Xiang Yu's icy voices rang out almost simultaneously!
Two enormous, holy, and majestic Six-Winged Angel phantoms suddenly descended upon the arena!
The sacred golden light, almost tangible, illuminated the entire plaza in the Pope Palace, and the terrifying pressure made the air thick and sticky! Two Six-Winged Angel at the Soul Saint level simultaneously unleashed their Martial Soul Avatar, a sight resembling gods descending to earth. Wielding Holy Sword condensed from light, they carried an aura of judgment and destruction, about to unleash divine punishment upon the Heaven Dou Team!
Despite this disheartening start, the Heaven Dou Team remained calm.
Xiao Qiao's eyes were resolute; she had already prepared herself mentally. With a sharp cry, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and a highly unstable, violently trembling sphere of light, interwoven with pure light and dark energy, rapidly condensed and was then precisely hurled towards the center of the Spirit Hall's camp!
High in the sky, Li Bai stood on his sword, his silver hair flying. He took a big gulp of strong liquor, his eyes filled with sword intent that soared to the heavens.
The overwhelming sword energy fused with the intoxication, transforming into a gigantic, budding blue lotus phantom, its incomparably sharp sword intent locking onto what lay below...
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As Bai Chenxiang carried her into the sky, Ning Rongrong faced her desperate situation with a resolute glint in her eyes. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand erupted with unprecedented brilliance, and her four Soul Ring flashed violently at an unprecedented speed!
Ning Rongrong's clear and firm voice resounded throughout the arena, carrying a do-or-die determination:
"Nine Treasures Turn Into Glazed Glass..."