The Tournament Begins! The First Resonance of Light and Dark

Heaven Dou Great Spirit Fighting Arena, exclusive lounge.

Although the first battle was a victory, there was no excessive celebration in the World Burial Team lounge. For this group of team members who had undergone Yu Tianyu's "devilish special training," bullying a few small fry was just a basic operation.

"Tianyu, someone is coming."

Shi Mo, who was in charge of keeping watch, said in a low voice.

The door was pushed open.

A gentle yet grand wave of spirit power surged in first, and immediately after, two figures walked in.

The person in the lead had a face like polished jade and a scholarly temperament, wearing a snow-white, spotless sect master's robe, and leaning on a scepter in his hand. It was none other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master, Ning Fengzhi.

And behind him, the withered old man with deep-set eyes was one of the two guardian Douluo of the sect, Bone Douluo Gu Rong.

"Daddy! Grandpa Bone!"

Ning Rongrong, who was drinking water, called out in surprise and threw herself into Ning Fengzhi's arms like a young swallow.

"Rongrong!" Ning Fengzhi hugged his daughter dotingly, but his gaze immediately crossed her shoulder and landed on the black-clad youth sitting in the center of the sofa.

At this moment, Yu Tianyu did not rise to greet them despite the arrival of the sect master of one of the Upper Three Sects.

He remained leaning lazily on the sofa, toying with a gold spirit coin in his hand, his heterochromatic eyes carrying a hint of playfulness.

"Greetings, Sect Master Ning."

Yu Tianyu only nodded slightly, acknowledging their presence. "I wonder what brings Sect Master Ning here? Is it for your beloved daughter? Or for... that tower?"

Bone Douluo frowned, his aura condensing slightly. "Kid, aren't you being a bit too arrogant in front of the Sect Master?"

"Uncle Gu." Ning Fengzhi raised a hand to stop Gu Rong, a gentle smile still on his face.

"Heroes have emerged from the youth since ancient times. Nephew Yu Tianyu is truly extraordinary."

Ning Fengzhi released Ning Rongrong and walked over to sit opposite Yu Tianyu, his eyes becoming sharp. "Since you are straightforward, I will be direct as well. Is Rongrong's martial soul evolution because of you?"

"Yes." Yu Tianyu admitted it readily.

"I want to know, what method did you use?" Ning Fengzhi leaned forward, his breathing slightly rapid. "If it is a medicine, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to pay any price to purchase it! Gold spirit coins, spirit bones, or even... the full support of the sect."

The weight of this statement was immense.

The reason the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was called "Seven Treasure" was because it could only accommodate seven spirit rings. This had plagued the family for thousands of years. If this problem could be solved, they would not hesitate even if it meant bankrupting the sect.

Everyone in the room focused their gaze on Yu Tianyu.

Yu Tianyu smiled.

He flicked the gold spirit coin in his hand, sending it tracing a golden parabola through the air.

"Sect Master Ning, there are some things in this world that are priceless."

"It was a celestial herb called the 'Tulip of Romance'. I regret to tell you that there is only one such herb in this world, and Rongrong has already consumed it."

The light in Ning Fengzhi's eyes dimmed instantly, revealing deep disappointment.

"However..."

Yu Tianyu changed the subject. "Although I cannot mass-produce the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, I have other things in my possession that might interest you, Sect Master."

"For example, a Spirit Gathering Array that can triple a spirit master's cultivation speed."

"For example, a true assassination technique that ignores level gaps."

"And for another example..." Yu Tianyu pointed at Ning Rongrong, "a future god."

"I am not short on money, nor am I short on power. I only need the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to stand on my side at some point in the future."

"Not as a subordinate, but as... an ally."

Ning Fengzhi looked deeply at the youth before him.

At this moment, he felt that he was not facing a teenager, but a dragon that was awakening. That confidence and sense of control made even a sect master who had seen countless people feel a chill.

After a long silence.

Ning Fengzhi stood up and extended his hand.

"Very well. As long as Rongrong can grow up safely by your side, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to be your friend."

This was a handshake of power.

It was also the beginning of Yu Tianyu completely binding one of the Upper Three Sects to his war chariot.

The next day, the second round of the preliminaries.

There were more spectators today than yesterday, because everyone wanted to see if the "World Burial Team" that had stunned the entire arena could maintain that crushing posture when facing a truly formidable enemy.

Their opponents were one of the Five Great Elemental Academies—the Elephant Armor Academy.

Inside the lounge.

A group of burly men with physiques like small hills were warming up. Every time they took a step, the ground would tremble.

The captain, Huyan Li, was over two point five meters tall, his face covered in flesh, his eyes fierce. He was the eldest grandson of Huyan Zhen, the sect master of the Elephant Armor Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects, and was also recognized as one of the strongest defenders in this tournament.

"Hmph, Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Huyan Li looked at Yu Tianyu and the others chatting and laughing not far away, spitting on the ground with disdain, "Just a bunch of pretty boys and broads."

"I heard they won beautifully yesterday? That's only because their opponents were too weak."

"In the face of absolute strength and defense, those flashy techniques are nothing more than tickles!"

Beside him, a member of the Elephant Armor Sect laughed lewdly, "Captain, those chicks on the other side are really something. Especially that cat girl in black, that figure... tsk tsk. When we get on the stage later, let's use the Meat Bomb Chariot to pin them underneath us and let them truly feel the weight of a man!"

"Hahahaha!"

Vulgar laughter echoed through the rest area.

And in the shadows not far away.

Yu Tianyu's eyes turned cold in an instant.

"Zhuqing."

"I'm here." Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, cold light flickering in her eyes.

"Did you hear what those swine said?"

Yu Tianyu adjusted his cuffs, "I won't make a move this match. The command is yours."

"I want you to smash their prideful turtle shells to pieces, one by one."

"Let them know what true despair is."

"Understood." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her sharp claws extending with a crisp metallic hum.

"The match begins!"

Following the referee's command.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The seven members of the Elephant Armor Academy summoned their spirits simultaneously—the Diamond Mammoth!

The seven men instantly expanded, transforming into seven mountains of flesh. Each person was covered in a thick layer of horny tissue that shimmered with a metallic luster.

"Form up!"

Huyan Li roared.

The seven quickly took their positions, forming an airtight human wall as they advanced toward the World Burial Team.

This was the famous tactic of the Elephant Armor Sect—the Copper Wall and Iron Bastion.

As long as one was forced into a dead end by this wall or struck by them, even a Spirit Ancestor would suffer broken bones and shattered tendons.

"My god! How can they fight this?"

A gasp erupted from the spectator stands, "These are basically seven tanks!"

"Those delicate girls are going to suffer!"

In the VIP seats, Bishop Salas revealed a cold sneer and looked at Ning Fengzhi, "Sect Master Ning, it seems your daughter's team is in trouble this match. The defense of the Elephant Armor Sect is almost unsolvable among those of the same rank."

Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly and said nothing, merely watching the arena.

On the stage.

Facing the mountain-like array of flesh pressing down like a tidal wave.

Zhu Zhuqing stood at the very front of the team, with Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong behind her.

Her slender figure appeared so tiny in front of the massive mammoths.

"The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda turns."

Ning Rongrong's crisp voice rang out, "First: Power! Second: Speed! Fourth: Attack!"

Three amplification auras landed on Zhu Zhuqing simultaneously.

Immediately after.

Zhu Zhuqing moved.

She did not dodge, nor did she flank, but instead performed an action that shocked the entire arena—

She charged head-on toward that wall of flesh!

"Seeking death!"

Huyan Li grinned hideously, "Third Spirit Skill: Crushing Kill!"

His massive body leaped up violently, like a meteorite, intending to crush Zhu Zhuqing into a meat patty.

Just as the two were about to collide.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes instantly turned into vertical pupils.

Nether Civet innate skill: Nether Slash!

But this was not just an ordinary Nether Slash.

Under the transformation of the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, her body's flexibility and explosive power had reached their limit. With the amplification of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her attack power had doubled.

More importantly, her claws were coated with a faint, flowing black light.

That was what Yu Tianyu had taught her—Armament Haki (Modified Version: high-density spirit power hardening).

"Riiip----!!"

A teeth-grinding sound of tearing silk rang out.

There was no dull thud of impact.

There was only the smooth sound of a sharp blade slicing through butter.

Under the incredulous gaze of eighty thousand pairs of eyes in the arena.

Huyan Li's Diamond Mammoth defense, which claimed to be impervious to blades and spears, was like paper in front of those slender, sharp claws!

Blood splattered!

Zhu Zhuqing's figure was like a bolt of black lightning, passing directly through Huyan Li's chest!

"Ah!!!"

Huyan Li let out a shrill, miserable scream.

The inch-thick horny layer on his chest was sliced open cleanly, three claw marks deep enough to reveal bone spanned his torso, and blood sprayed out wildly.

But this was only the beginning.

After passing through Huyan Li, Zhu Zhuqing did not stop.

Using the momentum, she performed an extremely bizarre turn in mid-air.

Nether Hundred Claws!

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

The sky was filled with claw shadows, like a black storm of death, instantly enveloping the remaining six members of the Elephant Armor Sect.

"Crack! Crack!"

The sounds of bones shattering rang out in succession.

This group of elephants, who focused only on defense and were incredibly cumbersome, were the perfect living targets in front of a full-speed Zhu Zhuqing.

Tendons, ligaments, joints...

Zhu Zhuqing was like a cold-blooded surgeon, precisely severing all their ability to move.

In less than ten seconds.

Rumble!

Seven mountains of flesh all collapsed.

The arena was a river of blood.

All seven members of Elephant Armor Academy lay in pools of blood, wailing, each of them covered in wounds deep enough to see bone.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, she landed elegantly, her black clothes not even stained by a single drop of blood.

She shook the blood droplets from her hands and looked coldly at Huyan Li beneath her feet.

"Is this your so-called absolute defense?"

"Too brittle."

Dead silence.

The entire arena fell into a deathly silence once again.

Immediately following, even more frantic cheering erupted!

Too strong!

The visual impact was simply explosive!

In the VIP seats.

"Clack!"

The teacup in the hand of Salas was crushed. His expression was so gloomy that water could practically drip from it. The Elephant Armor Sect was a force supported by Spirit Hall; how could they lose so miserably? They couldn't even withstand a single move?

"Good! A truly excellent way to break a formation by focusing on a single point!"

Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but applaud, "That young girl's attack power is likely already approaching the level of a Spirit King! Coupled with Rongrong's support, it is truly a match made in heaven!"

And in the corner.

The faces of the Shrek team turned even paler.

"How... how could she be this strong?"

Dai Mubai clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh. The speed and attack power Zhu Zhuqing had just displayed were things he could never block, even if he used his White Tiger Vajra Transformation!

If it were in the past, she should have been his support, his partner for their Spirit Fusion Skill!

Now, it was all gone!

"No... we haven't lost yet."

Tang San whispered from the shadows, his eyes flickering with a near-pathological obsession.

"They rely on brute force and natural talent."

"We still have the Tang Sect techniques. As long as we use them properly, we can win just the same."

The next match was Shrek's turn to take the stage.

Their opponents were a plant-type team that was by no means weak.

For the sake of victory, and to vent the frustration in his heart.

In this match, Tang San did not use any flashy Spirit Skills.

He used Crane-Controlling Dragon-Capturing to throw his opponents out of the ring; he used the technique of Bat Wing Reincarnation to launch Blue Silver Grass seeds into his opponents' acupoints.

Although he won.

It was an ugly, underhanded victory.

"Boo--!!"

A chorus of boos erupted from the spectator stands.

"Is this even a match? Isn't this just cheating?"

"That kid in green is too devious!"

Listening to the jeers filling the air, Tang San stood on the arena, his face livid. He didn't understand: why was it that when Yu Tianyu won, there were cheers, but when he won, there were boos?

This wasn't fair!

The match ended.

Inside the World Burial Team's lounge (which also served as a locker room).

Because she had just experienced a "slaughter," Zhu Zhuqing wasn't stained with blood, but her body was drenched in fragrant sweat from the intense exertion.

Her tight black leather suit clung to her body, outlining her breathtaking S-shaped curves.

Yu Tianyu dismissed the others, leaving only Zhu Zhuqing behind.

"Well done."

Yu Tianyu sat on a bench, watching the cat-eared girl standing before him.

"That claw strike was very precise."

"It is thanks to the Captain's guidance." Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, her breathing slightly rapid. She didn't know if it was because of the battle just now, or the atmosphere of being alone with him.

"Come here."

Yu Tianyu patted his thigh.

Zhu Zhuqing did not hesitate; she even walked over obediently with a hint of anticipation.

She didn't sit beside him, but instead knelt naturally on the carpet between Yu Tianyu's legs, resting her head gently against his knees.

It was a posture of extreme attachment and submission.

"Are you tired?"

Yu Tianyu's large hand stroked her smooth black hair, his fingers gently kneading that pair of furry cat ears.

"Mmm..."

As her sensitive spot was touched, Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled slightly, and a sound like a kitten's purr escaped her throat.

"Not tired... As long as I can help my master... Zhuqing is willing to do anything."

The girl she was now was no longer the stubborn teenager who had traveled thousands of miles to find her fiancé.

During that night of "special training" and the time they spent together afterward, she had been completely conquered by Yu Tianyu. Not just her body, but her soul as well.

Yu Tianyu was her light, her god, and the master who had rescued her from the nightmare named Dai Mubai.

"Very good."

Yu Tianyu's fingers slid down her cheek and lifted her chin.

In those cold, clear eyes, there was only this face at this moment.

"When we go back tonight, I will teach you new moves."

"Moves on... how to eat your fill in this cruel world."