Chapter King's Throne, Judgment
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo stepped forward at the same time.
They did not enter the area where Martial Soul Team and Shrek Team were competing.
But the moment they stepped forward, all the eyes focused on Qian Renyu shifted to Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluo.
The tension flared in an instant.
"Your Holiness the Pope, isn't your hall's conduct a little unfair? The Spirit Master Tournament is meant to be a fair and impartial competition."
"Your Holiness, isn't granting your subordinates such an ability a little like bullying the weak?"
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. He glanced at Ning Rongrong beside Tang San, then at Tang San, and spoke in a low, firm voice.
Even though a Soul Saint might spend his entire life unable to break through to Soul Douluo, let alone become a Titled Douluo,
no one dared look down on Ning Fengzhi.
As the current sect master of one of the Soul Master World's three upper sects, his status already placed him far above countless Soul Masters.
Qian Renyu looked at Ning Fengzhi indifferently and said calmly, "Sect Master Ning, you think this is bullying the weak? By your logic, does that mean Spirit Hall isn't allowed to send anyone stronger than a member of Shrek Academy Team?"
"Would that be the only way for you to consider this a fair and impartial match, Sect Master Ning?!"
Ning Fengzhi was rendered speechless.
He met Qian Renyu's gaze.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Strictly speaking, Yan wasn't actually breaking the rules by sitting atop the Throne Projection.
They had all seen Qian Renyu summon the Divine Throne of Doom and Slaughter.
There was a huge difference between Qian Renyu's Divine Throne of Doom and Slaughter and the projection of the Divine Throne of Doom and Slaughter that Yan was sitting on now.
Qian Renyu's was the real thing, while Yan's was only a projection.
It was within the rules and entirely reasonable!
Seeing Ning Fengzhi fall silent, Qian Renyu continued:
"Ning Fengzhi, I know your daughter is a member of Shrek Academy!"
"If you intend to interfere with the Spirit Master Tournament for that reason, then I'll gladly discuss the matter with you at length!"
"I can order Yan to stop using the Throne Projection. But if he does, your daughter will have to face the real Throne!"
"I'm still officially registered with Martial Soul Academy, so I remain eligible under the Spirit Master Tournament's rules!"
Ning Fengzhi remained speechless.
Listening to Qian Renyu now, he couldn't think of anything to say in the first place, and the Pope's words left him even more thoroughly silenced.
Qian Renyu's words were like steel knives, carving into his heart.
If Ning Rongrong weren't at Shrek Academy, and if Tang San weren't a promising young man he valued so highly, Ning Fengzhi was certain he wouldn't have said a word, no matter how badly Martial Soul Team defeated them.
Truthfully, he was the one breaking the rules.
"Sect Master Ning, I advise you to leave the competition area. If you insist on having your own way—"
"Then I won't hesitate to enter the match myself. I make no guarantees about what will happen after that!"
"Sect Master Ning, do you want to see me enter the arena?!"
Qian Renyu continued.
His calm voice carried to everyone present.
When everyone heard his words, the many people watching in shock finally realized something important.
Qian Renyu, the newly appointed Pope of Spirit Hall, was only twenty-three years old.
He was barely into his twenties, yet had already reached the level of a Titled Douluo.
Such talent was terrifying!
Ning Fengzhi was in a difficult position. He could neither advance nor retreat, so he stood there in silence.
He had stepped forward to show his support for Tang San.
But his intervention had yet to achieve anything, and simply backing down now would be entirely inappropriate.
"Uncle Ning, thank you for your kindness!"
"Even if Spirit Hall has a trump card like this, we won't let them claim the championship!"
"No matter what tricks Martial Soul Team has up their sleeves, we'll defeat them without mercy!"
Tang San's voice rang out.
Yan sitting atop the Throne Projection had already exceeded their expectations by far.
Tang San didn't want to let Ning Fengzhi keep interfering. If Qian Renyu entered the arena himself, then the outcome would be completely beyond doubt.
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. He looked at Tang San, then at Ning Rongrong, and seized the opportunity to step down with a solemn sigh.
"Tang San, Rongrong, be careful!"
"Although what Yan is sitting on isn't the Pope's true Martial Soul, it's certainly no ordinary ability!"
"Don't underestimate it!"
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi looked toward Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. The three of them furrowed their brows and withdrew from the competition area.
Tang San said nothing. He looked toward Ning Rongrong and the others.
"Use the same move we used against Godwind Academy!"
"Yan is the one we really need to worry about. We have to take him out first!"
"Right now, the only trump card we have is Seven-in-One. We have to make sure it's effective this time!"
Tang San's voice was low.
In his mind, the weakened version of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Seven-in-One—that they had used against Godwind Academy appeared again.
Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong, and the others all understood what Tang San meant and moved to stand behind him.
In an instant, the auras of all seven began to blend into one.
Feeling his teammates' fighting spirit, Tang San stopped holding back and released his Second Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, without hesitation.
Gripping the handle of the Clear Sky Hammer with both hands, Tang San looked up at Yan sitting on the Throne Projection.
"Borrowing someone else's power is nothing but a cheap trick!"
"No matter how troublesome you are, we'll defeat you!"
"You won't stop us from claiming the championship!"
Tang San gave a sharp shout.
The instant his words fell, the Soul Power of Dai Mubai and the others burst forth.
A golden light, much dimmer than the one from the Throne Projection, blazed to life. The Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's hands began to turn gold as well.
"Seven-in-One, Martial Soul Avatar!"
Tang San shouted. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hands grew many times larger, and he swung it straight at Yan in the sky, forcing his way through the might pouring down from the Throne Projection.
Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and the other four members of Martial Soul Team were no longer even part of their calculations.
Hu Liena was displeased at being ignored, but Yan had seized absolute control of the situation. Though she was deeply unhappy, she didn't dare show it.
She glared coldly at Yan in the sky, a contemptuous snort escaping her nostrils.
Yan paid no attention to any of it. He sat regally atop the Throne Projection.
He raised one hand lightly, then pressed it down.
In an instant, streams of orange-red light fell from the enormous orange-red sword behind the Throne Projection.
At the same time, the golden figures kneeling on one knee before the Throne Projection all shot through the air toward the golden Clear Sky Hammer.
Yan's voice rang out at that moment: "Throne, Judgment!"
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