A Classic Betting Match

Seeing the Soul Ring configuration rising beneath Chen Ling's feet and feeling that terrifying pressure, not only were the Tiandou group dumbfounded, but even Dugu Yan's little face was blank with confusion.

"C-Chen Ling... you're actually a Titled Douluo?" Dugu Yan's voice trembled noticeably, filled with disbelief.

Chen Ling ignored the uproar and shock throughout the arena. All his attention was fixed on Yu Xiaogang in the distance.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes were wide open, his eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets. His face was filled with stunned disbelief that overturned everything he knew, and he was completely dazed.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! How could you be a Titled Douluo?!" Yu Xiaogang had completely gone mad, frantically rubbing his crew cut with both hands like an enraged nut that would explode at the slightest touch.

"It must be an illusion! Die!" Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot and savage energy surged from him. After a furious roar, he raised his hand to unleash his Soul Power and launch a fierce attack.

"Xiaogang, stop!" Flender, trapped within the formation, was utterly shaken and instantly panicked.

Gangzi was a madman too. Flender already had a dreadful premonition: if that attack landed, it would become a fight to the death.

"This is bad."

The three education committee members from Tiandou Academy also went pale, their hearts jolted by shock.

They had clearly seen the three gleaming Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings beneath Chen Ling, and their hearts had long since been overwhelmed by turbulent waves.

If they completely antagonized such a supreme expert, it would not only bring disaster upon everyone present—he would drag the entire Heaven Dou Empire into an abyss.

"Too noisy."

As those two indifferent words fell, Chen Ling casually raised his hand. The Qingming Sword at his waist flew from its sheath, splitting into several sword phantoms that hovered around him and spun at high speed.

A distinct gash appeared in the protective barrier formed by the Golden Iron Triangle, then continued expanding before Chen Ling's eyes until it became a massive cross-section.

Chen Ling pointed forward with one finger, circulating his Soul Power slightly. The swords floating around him shot through the air, piercing forward with fierce Sword Intent.

A sharp, grating sound like shattering glass abruptly rang out. The protective golden light the Golden Iron Triangle relied upon exploded apart, turning into countless motes of light that vanished into nothingness.

"How could this be..." Yu Xiaogang's voice was filled with utter despair and disbelief.

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw the sword precisely pierce through his soul power center, leaving only a thin bloody trail in the air.

Agonizing pain and terror instantly swept through Yu Xiaogang's body. He stiffly raised his head and watched the phantom of the Golden Saint Dragon slowly disperse in the sky, his entire body turning cold.

"My Soul Power... my Martial Soul..."

He could clearly sense the Soul Power within him rapidly draining away, while the power of the Martial Soul rooted deep in his soul continued to collapse.

As though sensing her master's decline, Luo Sanpao cast Yu Xiaogang one final, lingering look before turning into specks of flowing light and completely dispersing in the wind.

Sister Sanpao, was it really worth it?

For some reason, that sentence popped into Chen Ling's mind.

Yu Xiaogang reached toward the direction where Luo Sanpao had vanished, but in the end, nothing remained.

The Soul Power in his body drained as rapidly as floodwater through opened gates, though there had not been much water to begin with.

Very soon, Gangzi, who could originally still be considered middle-aged, visibly withered before everyone's eyes. In the end, he became an old woman in her sixties.

After all, without that thing, Gangzi could not maintain even a trace of masculine vigor.

"Xiaogang." Flender hurried forward and supported Yu Xiaogang as he collapsed limply.

"Your Excellency..."

The three education committee members stood trembling off to the side, barely daring to breathe.

They knew perfectly well that they absolutely could not step forward to plead for mercy. They could only silently restrain their Soul Power and retreat far away, afraid of being caught in the fire.

Chen Ling paid them no attention. Those three were insignificant to begin with, and he had never intended to join Tiandou's side.

Keeping all his Soul Rings activated, he walked through the crowd step by step toward Yu Xiaogang.

Three dazzling Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings hung high behind him. Their overwhelming pressure filled everyone present with awe, making them instinctively retreat half a step and unable to meet his gaze.

Only one person in the entire arena remained completely unmoved, standing straight where he was. It was Tang San.

After Dugu Bo released the restriction on his Soul Power, Tang San had stood there with his neck stiffly raised, wearing the stubborn expression of someone who would rather die than yield and forcibly putting on an air of unbending integrity.

When he noticed Chen Ling's gaze fall upon him, Tang San not only refused to retreat but straightened his chest even further, assuming a fearless stance.

"Chen Ling, how about you and I make a bet?"

Tang San's voice was unusually calm, though his tone carried a hint of deep-seated arrogance, as though he possessed absolute confidence and victory was already in his grasp.

But the instant those words left his mouth, Dugu Bo's pressure descended again and slammed Tang San directly to the ground.

"Is His Excellency's name something you can address so casually?" Dugu Bo's face was frosty. He was an exceedingly loyal subject.

Who did you think you were, daring to bet against my master?

"Hey, old poisoner, let's hear him out." Chen Ling waved his hand, signaling Dugu Bo to stop.

Chen Ling did not truly want to hear Tang San's bet. He was simply afraid that if Dugu Bo pressed down any harder, the External Soul Bone would completely fuse, and it could still be cut off now.

Tang San hurriedly climbed to his feet, still shaken. There was even a hint of false gratitude in his gaze as he looked at Chen Ling, and he respectfully changed his form of address. "Your Excellency."

Chen Ling found his two-faced manner especially amusing.

This kid appeared respectful and polite on the surface, but who knew what he was thinking inside. It was probably the path to self-destruction.

"Go on, then. How do you want to bet?"

Chen Ling looked at Tang San with interest. This was one of Douluo Continent's great signature features, so naturally he had to sample it.

Seeing Chen Ling agree, a flash of delight immediately passed through Tang San's eyes. He subconsciously glanced at Xiao Wu in the distance, and blazing fighting spirit instantly rose in his heart.

Xiao Wu, I'll definitely save you.

But when he thought about what to wager, he found himself at a loss.

His Mysterious Heaven Skill was completely restrained, and his cultivation was utterly crushed. Before Chen Ling, he was like the child being toyed with in an old man teasing a child—he had no chance of winning.

It seemed he could only use the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer of the Clear Sky Hammer.

Tang San pondered for a moment before quickly making his decision.

He had long learned from Yu Xiaogang that the Clear Sky Hammer was the number one tool Martial Soul in the world. Even without a single Soul Ring attached at the moment, as long as he set restrictions that stripped Chen Ling of his advantages in Soul Skills and Soul Power, the other side could never defeat him.

This round, the advantage was mine.

A confident curve rose at the corner of Tang San's mouth. He lifted his eyes to meet Chen Ling's gaze and slowly said, "Senior's Martial Soul is a top-tier Sword Martial Soul. This junior also happens to possess Twin Martial Souls, one of which is called the Clear Sky Hammer."

Tang San raised his other hand. Black light suddenly flashed, and the moment the Clear Sky Hammer appeared, dense black radiance burst forth.

"The Clear Sky Hammer?!" The people in the distance cried out in alarm and even began whispering among themselves, as though someone were explaining its significance.

"Senior, we both possess top-tier tool Martial Souls. Let us not use Soul Skills or Soul Power and compete solely with our Martial Souls. If I win, you release Xiao Wu. If I lose, I'll submit to your disposal. What do you say?"

Chen Ling's expression became incomparably strange. Was this guy trying to turn him into Sea Dragon Douluo?

[If you don't blow up fish and I don't blow up fish, when will the fish ever grow up? Detected that the fish the host previously blew up has grown up. Please blow it up once more. Reward: Demon-Breaking Domain.]

Good, good, good. Now he had really become Sea Dragon Douluo.