Mantis VS True Dragon (3)

The battle on the stage continued. Yu Tianheng, forced into increasing agitation by Xing Tian's rapid-fire strikes, abruptly surged his soul power. His body swelled slightly, and the lightning surrounding him coalesced into a barrier, forcefully repelling Xing Tian's blows.

He immediately followed up by driving his left elbow, wreathed in explosive lightning, toward Xing Tian's shoulder.

At such close range, and with Xing Tian's Mantis Fist not yet fully mastered, he had no time to defend. Yu Tianheng's strike connected, sending him flying back over ten meters.

Yet, Yu Tianheng noticed that Xing Tian did not seem to have sustained any serious injury.

This strike had contained his full brute force; even a Soul Elder might not have been able to stand back up, yet Xing Tian hadn't even suffered a pulled muscle or broken bone.

This was the terrifying nature of the Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art.

Every time he returned from the brink of death, his physical constitution improved at least tenfold, bringing Xing Tian's physical strength to the level of a Soul Elder even then.

Now that Xing Tian was a two-ring Soul Grand Master, combined with his Martial Soul Possession, his physical body was approaching that of a Soul King.

Had Yu Tianheng's previous strike landed as a soul skill, Xing Tian's left shoulder and arm would indeed have been rendered immobile.

Even if his body isn't injured, the lightning attack and the resulting paralysis should be enough for me to turn the tables.

Yu Tianheng had been envisioning his path to victory, but the scene before him slapped him hard in the face. Black mist began to permeate Xing Tian's left shoulder, and under the devouring effect of the mist, the lightning simply vanished.

His dark attribute is actually this tyrannical—it can devour my thunder!

"You dare to be distracted while facing me? A mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

Xing Tian roared, launching himself forward. His arms bent into sickle-like shapes, and with an unstoppable momentum, he slashed fiercely toward Yu Tianheng's dragon claws.

Yu Tianheng felt a massive force travel through his claws; the lightning was torn apart, and his dragon claws began to buckle.

The "Mantis Breaks the Chariot" technique possessed immense power; its sickle-bridge could snap iron and sever gold, breaking joints with ease.

However, this set of Mantis Fist was originally meant to be paired with a cultivation method called "Ice and Fire Seven Heavens" to reach its maximum potential. Xing Tian did not possess this method, and his practice of the Mantis Fist in this life was not yet perfected; otherwise, this strike would have been enough to shatter Yu Tianheng's arms.

Xing Tian suddenly shifted his stance, executing another move: Mantis Asks the Heart Circle.

His nimble hands drew a circle, applying a clever force that instantly deflected Yu Tianheng's dragon claws. He seized the opening, his fingers hooking like talons to strike directly at Yu Tianheng's throat.

The transition between these moves displayed the cunning and ruthlessness of the Mantis Fist.

"Oh no!"

Yu Tianheng was a genius, after all; he narrowly dodged by tilting his head, but his neck was still grazed, leaving a bloody streak.

The blood trickling down his neck helped him regain his focus.

Before Yu Tianheng could react further, Xing Tian leveraged the momentum of that strike to launch seven consecutive, lightning-fast finger strikes.

Waves of intense pain surged through Yu Tianheng's body. His soul power instantly fell into chaos, and his thunderous energy, now beyond his control, began to harm him from within.

This move, known as "Tricky Seven Star Strike," was designed to target and ravage vital acupuncture points.

However, since the Three Education Commissioners had ordered that no one be maimed, Xing Tian had only disrupted Yu Tianheng's soul power, causing his lightning to spiral out of control and leaving his body stiff and sluggish.

"It's over!"

Xing Tian had already created distance, and his first Soul Ring suddenly flared with light. His right arm and the right foreleg of his Dark Evil Spirit Mantis Martial Soul turned pitch black.

"Night Fierce Light—"

With a shout from Xing Tian, his right arm and the Dark Evil Spirit Mantis's foreleg swung in unison, sending a crescent-shaped black blade of light slashing toward Yu Tianheng.

Wherever the black light passed, it left a deep trench in the arena floor. The air was torn asunder and eroded by darkness, and the surrounding light was rapidly swallowed.

"No!" Yu Tianheng roared in terror, desperately surging his soul power to reform his lightning barrier. But having been struck by the Tricky Seven Star Strike, he could not gather his power so easily and was forced to cross his arms in defense.

"First Soul Skill: Heaven Star Barrier."

Suddenly, a golden furnace adorned with seven shimmering silver stars descended from the sky, forming a dreamlike, azure barrier that resembled the starry night. It perfectly blocked the black light, and Yu Tianheng, standing behind it, did not feel a single impact; not even the hem of his clothes fluttered.

Xing Tian looked toward the edge of the arena. Sure enough, it was Commissioner Bai Baoshan who had intervened.

Bai Baoshan's Martial Soul was the Heaven Star Furnace, a top-tier defensive tool-type Martial Soul. Combined with his cultivation as a Title Douluo, even a Title Douluo would find it difficult to break through his defense with brute force alone.

Bai Baoshan looked at Yu Tianheng and said, "The result is clear, isn't it?"

Yu Tianheng deactivated his Martial Soul Possession. He looked as if he had lost all his strength, his eyes unfocused. "Thank you, Commissioner."

Had Bai Baoshan not intervened, he would have undoubtedly lost and suffered severe injuries, leaving him bedridden for at least a month. But such injuries would not constitute being maimed, so Xing Tian would not have violated the rules.

Bai Baoshan nodded in satisfaction and announced loudly, "The match is over. Xing Tian wins!"

"I told you Little Tian would win!" Dugu Yan said triumphantly.

Osler let out a long breath. "Indeed. But Little Tian is freakishly strong. Is he really only eight years old?"

Yu Feng added, "Perhaps this is the gap between a genius and an ordinary person."

Only after Bai Baoshan announced the result did the other students watching the match snap out of their shock.

"He actually won."

"The number one beast Martial Soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, has actually been defeated—defeated by an insect Martial Soul."

"It wasn't just a defeat; it was a total rout. Close-quarters combat ability, physical strength, elemental attributes, soul skill power—he was thoroughly outclassed in every category."

"The prestige of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is going to take a massive hit after this!"

"This Xing Tian is absurdly strong; he managed to win against Yu Tianheng despite a five-level gap."

"What was that strange fist technique of his? Did anyone understand it? Could it be a Self-Created Soul Skill?"

"He's only eight years old, and he already knows a Self-Created Soul Skill? Impossible!"

"It's rumored that he has a close relationship with Poison Douluo. Could it be that Poison Douluo taught him?"

"That is possible, but regardless of the truth, he is a peerless genius. It's just a pity..."

Compared to the male students who were mostly focused on Xing Tian's talent, abilities, and his connection to Dugu Bo, the female students were much simpler and more direct.

"Ah—Lord Xing Tian—"

"Xing Tian! I want to have your babies!"

"Xing Tian, do you have a girlfriend? I'm willing!"

Dugu Yan had originally been happy about Xing Tian's victory, but upon hearing the shrieks of these noblewomen, her expression darkened instantly, and she fixed them with a death stare.

These noblewomen were wary of Dugu Bo, but since they were acting on their own personal interests and not offending him in any way, they weren't afraid of Dugu Yan at all; instead, they looked back at her with haughty defiance.

Their eyes conveyed only one thing—may the best woman win.

Ye Lingling did not speak, simply summoning her Nine-Heart Begonia to heal Xing Tian.

The students were thinking about simple matters, but the Three Education Commissioners had much more to consider.

Although they had already finalized the match between the two, Yu Tianheng was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and even the Emperor had to show deference to a Title Douluo.

If Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen were to truly put pressure on them, they would have to find every possible way to hold their ground and protect Xing Tian.