In the arena, the Clear Sky Hammer's heavy winds swept in every direction as the full power of Titan's Hammer erupted, compressing the surrounding air until it warped. Tang San's eyes were bloodshot as he poured out all his soul power, determined to break through Lin Chen's Emperor Grass Ice Vines and turn the battle around.
He knew perfectly well that this was his only chance to defeat Lin Chen. If even the Clear Sky Hammer could not stand against him, he would lose this final without a doubt!
"Break!"
Tang San roared, bringing the Clear Sky Hammer down hard on the incoming Emperor Grass Ice Vines, his black fourth soul ring blazing with dazzling light.
But in the next instant, a sight that shocked the entire crowd unfolded!
Lin Chen's gaze remained indifferent. With a slight shift of his intent, the Emperor Grass Ice Vines instantly split into countless slender tendrils. Like nimble, slithering snakes, they avoided the Clear Sky Hammer's crushing force and coiled around Tang San from every direction. At the same time, Ice Heart Chill spread wildly through the vines, striking straight at the major acupoints across his body.
"Life Emperor Might, suppress!"
Lin Chen gave a low shout, and the power of his domain locked onto Tang San completely. The bloodline pressure originating from Primordial Emperor Grass poured down on Tang San without restraint.
Tang San's body abruptly stiffened. The circulation of soul power inside him suddenly stalled, and the Clear Sky Hammer's assault stopped dead. His hands could barely hold onto the hammer's haft. His blue silver grass martial soul wilted completely, cowering inside his body without daring to stir.
Both his martial souls had been suppressed!
"This... what kind of power is this?!" Disbelief filled Tang San's face as the last shred of pride in his heart shattered completely. He finally understood that the gulf between him and Lin Chen was already as vast as heaven and earth. Whether in talent, fortunate encounters, or martial soul quality, he was utterly outmatched.
In scarcely an instant, the Emperor Grass Ice Vines bound Tang San tight, encasing him in layer after layer of ice and pinning him in place. He could not move, and the soul power within him was completely sealed.
Without Tang San's control, the Shrek Seven Devils' offensive immediately fell into disarray. The Heaven Dou Royal Team easily blocked Dai Mubai's and Ma Hongjun's fierce attacks, Su Qingyuan kept Zhu Zhuqing completely occupied, and even Oscar's and Ning Rongrong's support could no longer turn the tide.
"Everyone, attack! End the match!"
At Lin Chen's command, every member of the Heaven Dou Royal Team unleashed their full strength. With Yue Huaxi's amplification pushed to its limit, they released their soul skills together, instantly breaking through the Shrek Seven Devils' defenses and forcing them all beyond the arena's boundaries. Only the icebound Tang San remained standing at its center.
The outcome was decided!
The crowd fell utterly silent, then erupted in deafening cheers that rolled across the entire Arena Square like thunder!
"They won! The Heaven Dou Royal Team won!"
"Lin Chen is invincible! The Emperor Grass Inheritor is invincible!"
Hundreds of thousands of spectators shouted in unison, their cheers soaring into the clouds. Everyone celebrated the victor of this clash at the summit. Lin Chen's name resounded throughout Heaven Dou City, and he became the undisputed king of this year's Soul Master Tournament.
On the raised platform, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire rose with delight written across his face and applauded vigorously. The members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also looked impressed, their gazes toward Lin Chen filled with even greater admiration.
The referee trembled all over with excitement. Raising the command flag in his hand, he announced at the top of his lungs, "I declare that the champion of this year's Continental Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament is—the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team!"
As the announcement ended, Lin Chen waved his hand, withdrawing the Emperor Grass Ice Vines and his domain to release Tang San.
Tang San staggered before steadying himself, his face deathly pale. His gaze toward Lin Chen held a complicated mix of reluctance, awe, and a trace of acceptance. After a long silence, he finally bowed slightly to Lin Chen. "I lost. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."
He had lost fair and square. Though he had regrets, he would never make excuses.
Lin Chen nodded slightly without saying much. The outcome was settled; there was nothing more to say.
Just as the Heaven Dou Royal Team embraced in celebration and the entire crowd basked in the joy of their championship victory, disaster struck!
"Lin Chen, your life ends here!"
Three bone-chilling voices suddenly rang out. On the raised platform, three Titled Douluos from Spirit Hall sprang into action at once. The black Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings around them blazed with light, and their terrifying Titled Douluo pressure swept over the crowd, instantly breaking through the Arena Defensive Formation. Three deadly soul skills hurtled straight toward Lin Chen at the center of the arena!
Ghost Douluo's Ghost Claw, Chrysanthemum Douluo's Golden Stamen Blossoms, and Dark Demon Flame from another Titled Douluo elder of Spirit Hall—the combined all-out strike of three Titled Douluos carried enough power to destroy heaven and earth, more than enough to grind Lin Chen to ashes in an instant!
Everyone's expression changed drastically. The cheers stopped abruptly, and the sudden assassination attempt left the entire crowd dumbstruck. No one had imagined Spirit Hall would be so brazen as to openly send three Titled Douluos to kill Lin Chen before the imperial families of the Two Great Empires and the assembled sects!
"You scoundrels of Spirit Hall! How dare you!"
The Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire flew into a rage and shouted a furious rebuke. The Soul Douluos serving as Imperial Consecrations rushed into action, but it was already too late to stop the attack.
"Lin Chen!"
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi turned deathly pale and cried out, desperately trying to throw themselves in front of Lin Chen and shield him from the attacks.
Tang San and the Shrek Seven Devils also blanched. Instinctively, they tried to help, but the Titled Douluos' pressure pinned them down, leaving them unable to move.
With his life hanging by a thread, Lin Chen's gaze suddenly turned cold. Without the slightest panic, he unleashed his three-colored soul power. The Life Emperor Pendant in his palm blazed with light as the power of Star Dou's myriad beasts and the Emperor Grass Origin poured out in full!
"Emperor Grass Heavenly Defense, Ice Heart Ten Thousand Shields!"
Countless Seven-Colored Emperor Grass Vines shot skyward, gathering in overlapping layers before Lin Chen to form an immensely thick defensive barrier. Ice Heart Chill pushed to its utmost froze the surrounding space, creating a wall of spatial ice to meet the three Titled Douluos' lethal strike head-on!
BOOM—!
The three soul skills slammed into the ice shield with a heaven-shaking crash. The entire Arena Square shook violently, and the defensive formation shattered completely. Shock waves swept over the crowd, sending dust flying through the spectator stands and knocking countless people to the ground.
Lin Chen's body jolted violently, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. His legs sank deep into the ground, but he endured the strike head-on. Cracks covered the ice shield, yet it still had not shattered!
"Hmm? You actually withstood a combined strike from the three of us?" A flicker of surprise crossed Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes before he gave a chilling laugh. "But this is only the beginning. Even if you sprouted wings, you wouldn't escape today!"
The three Titled Douluos' gazes darkened as they prepared to unleash their soul skills again and finish Lin Chen off.
Just then, a terrifying pressure far surpassing that of an ordinary Titled Douluo suddenly descended from the sky!
Dark clouds gathered, and black mist churned. An exquisitely beautiful figure clad in a Pope's Robe stood suspended in the air, nine soul rings circling her body. Her red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring shone with especially piercing brilliance. She was none other than the Spirit Hall Pope—Bibi Dong!
"A pack of useless fools. Wasting this much time killing a mere junior." Bibi Dong's voice was cold, yet carried supreme authority. Her icy gaze locked onto Lin Chen. "Lin Chen, hand over the origin of your Life Blue Silver Emperor Grass, and I will leave your corpse intact."
Bibi Dong had appeared in person!
The entire crowd fell deathly silent. Everyone was cowed by this towering figure at the pinnacle of the soul master world, not daring even to breathe heavily.
Lin Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood tall, his emperor's might undiminished. He looked straight at Bibi Dong in the air, his gaze sharp and utterly fearless.
"You want the Emperor Grass Origin? You alone aren't worthy!"
The ultimate confrontation over the emperor grass inheritance and the balance of power in the soul master world had officially begun!
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