Xu: Enough, Kneel Before Me!!!

Although Gu Yue had been struck by Xu Yue's Cliffbreaker Sword, she had not suffered much injury; even her dress was barely damaged.

Feeling the strength in Xu Yue's arms, Gu Yue's cheeks flushed slightly. With a twist of her slender waist, she landed lightly on the ground and huffed.

"Hmph! Got it!"

With that, Gu Yue turned and walked toward the edge of the arena, while Tang Wulin, who had been sent flying by Xu Yue, rose from the ground.

"No, we haven't lost yet!"

As he spoke, Tang Wulin grabbed another forging hammer and charged at Xu Yue once more.

But this time, the outcome remained unchanged.

The Vortex Vanquisher, far heavier than the forging hammer, merely tapped its spearhead lightly against the hammerhead, and the overwhelming force sent him staggering back.

Feeling the numbness in both arms, the anxiety in Tang Wulin's heart reached its peak at that moment.

Gu Yue had already left the field.

Under Wei Xiaofeng's suppression, Xie Xie had also sustained considerable injuries. The only reason he had not yet lost was that he was gritting his teeth and holding on.

"Old Tang, what should I do?"

Tang Wulin called out in his heart, his tone full of helplessness. "Xu Yue is just too strong."

He could feel that after breaking the first seal, his strength had become far greater than before.

Yet even so, before Xu Yue, he was still as powerless as an ant trying to shake a tree.

"..." Tang San fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Stay calm. It's not the final moment yet. Don't give up so easily."

"Do you remember his battle with Guang Biao a few days ago?"

"Of course I remember!" Tang Wulin nodded.

"His shield may be sturdy, but it actually doesn't last long. As long as you can strike when his shield disappears..."

"No!" Tang Wulin refused without hesitation. "How could I do that?"

Hearing that answer, Tang San's divine sense grew irritated.

"What exactly had Tang Ziran and Lang Yue taught Wulin? In this world, only the result matters."

How powerful had Spirit Hall been back then? But what about twenty thousand years later?

It had long since been nailed to the pillar of shame, while only the Sea God's radiance shone brilliantly.

How advanced had Bright Virtue Hall's soul tool technology been back then? But what about now? Which faction dared claim to surpass the Tang Sect in soul tools?

Did such results not explain everything?

"Fine, I won't force you." Tang San sighed softly. "But do you remember what you promised?"

Tang San's words landed heavily in Tang Wulin's heart.

What had he promised? He had promised Wu Zhangkong that he would win the promotion tournament championship.

After a brief silence, Tang Wulin spoke again.

"But... can I do it?"

"Believe in yourself!" Tang San's tone was gentle and persuasive. "And believe in the... dragon within your body."

"..."

Xu Yue glanced at Tang Wulin, who was lying on the ground, but did not linger on him. Only after seeing Wei Xiaofeng defeat Xie Xie did he nod.

He turned toward Long Hengxu outside the arena and gave him a slight nod.

At this point, there was no meaning in continuing the match.

With that thought, the surging soul power around Xu Yue instantly withdrew. After flickering a few times, the Jade Shield shattered and vanished.

Xu Xiaoyan smiled sweetly, while Wei Xiaofeng wore a pleased expression.

A smile also appeared on Long Hengxu's face. He was raising his right hand, ready to announce the winner of the match.

However, at that moment, an unexpected change occurred!

Tang Wulin, lying several meters behind Xu Yue, suddenly sprang up. His gaze was resolute as he shot forward like a cannonball, his right arm drawn back.

In an instant, golden dragon scales surged out from beneath his flesh, gleaming with dazzling, blinding light.

Golden Dragon Claw!

A terrifying dragon's might erupted outward at that moment.

Seeing this scene—

Mu Xi, Ouyang Zixin, Xu Xiaoyan, and the others all changed expression and shouted at Xu Yue.

"Yue! Watch out!"

Long Hengxu also roared, "Stop!"

Gu Yue, who had just reached the edge of the arena, suddenly turned her head back as well.

Her originally cold black eyes abruptly transformed into purple vertical pupils, fixed firmly upon the golden scales emerging from Tang Wulin's arm.

"This is... his power?! How could it be inside a human?! Impossible!!"

"Could he be dead? What exactly happened in the God Realm?"

The resonance hidden deep within her bloodline forced Gu Yue to consider the worst possibility.

At that thought, astonishing killing intent suddenly erupted from her violet dragon pupils.

"The Dragon Clan's power shall never be defiled by outsiders!!"

Xu Yue also sensed the fierce wind coming from behind him. That terrifying dragon might carried an aura of annihilation as it struck toward his back.

But the distance was simply too close, leaving him little time to react.

Within his sea of consciousness, Rock Spear Intent erupted as well.

His spiritual power condensed into one, sweeping outward like a torrent of rock forced out by the crushing pressure of tectonic plates.

In an instant, it formed a flood of spiritual force that crashed into Tang Wulin's sea of consciousness, leaving his awareness hazy.

Yet the Golden Dragon Claw had already reached him.

The power of annihilation instantly pierced through Xu Yue's school uniform and slammed into the firm muscles of his side.

A sharp pain shot through him in an instant.

All this time, protected by the Jade Shield, Xu Yue had rarely been injured in actual combat. Even under Leng Yaozhu and Yang Xiong's instruction, that had remained true.

But today, through a moment of carelessness, he felt pain.

At that moment, anger suddenly rose in Xu Yue's heart.

He had not taken this battle seriously at all.

After all, it was only a class promotion match. As long as his opponents recognized the gap between them, he could not be bothered to use his full strength.

Just like Gu Yue—although Cliffbreaker Sword had not inflicted much damage, she understood that Xu Yue had already held back.

In a daze, Xu Yue seemed to hear an enraged dragon's roar within his heart, as an incomparably intense desire for destruction continuously swept through his body and mind.

Almost at the same time, Eden's Star appeared at his side.

Black-red energy flowed across his body, forming a reverse gravity field. Combined with his spear intent, it violently blasted Tang Wulin away.

Boom!

Tang Wulin was flung through the air, crashing heavily onto the metal ground dozens of meters away.

The Golden Dragon Claw carved deep streaks across everything it passed.

Xu Yue lowered his head and looked at his wound.

The disparity in strength between them was too great. Even the Golden Dragon Claw's crushing effect had not caused much damage.

Still, that strike was enough to break through his defenses.

Drop after drop of blood seeped out, staining the nearby fabric of his school uniform red.

At the sight of that scarlet blood, the destructive intent stirred by the Golden Dragon King within Xu Yue grew increasingly intense.

A faint red glow even rose in his eyes.

Black-red gravity continuously gathered, transforming into bolts of lightning that lifted Xu Yue's body into the air.

Wu Zhangkong's expression changed drastically at the sight. Without a second thought, he rushed toward the arena.

In the distance, Tang Wulin was likewise stimulated by the dragon's roar within Xu Yue. The Golden Dragon King bloodline also began to stir.

Golden dragon scales continuously spread over his arm, supporting Tang Wulin's injured body as he gradually rose to his feet.

Under the stimulation of the spear intent, Tang Wulin's consciousness was blurred. He remembered only his agreement with Wu Zhangkong and Old Tang's teachings.

"The class promotion match... hold on... I can't lose..."

But before Tang Wulin could fully stand, a voice filled with fury and destruction exploded across the entire field.

It was as though the heavens had been enraged and the world was collapsing!

"Enough. Kneel before me!!!"