Yet as Wang Dong watched Xie Huanyue's brimming confidence, a disdainful smile curled his lips. When had he ever said the Eight-Stage Throw was all he had?
He turned to glance at Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao, control the whole field. Xiao Xiao, keep harassing them."
Both nodded. Huo Yuhao released his Spiritual Eyes Martial Soul again, and Spiritual Detection Sharing covered the entire arena.
Xiao Xiao used a Soul Skill through the Nine Phoenix Comes to the Ceremony Flute, keeping the other two opponents occupied.
Meanwhile, the Clear Sky Hammer appeared out of thin air in Wang Dong's hand. Hammer in hand, he sprang forward and charged straight at Xie Huanyue.
Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer! Activate!
You really think I'm helpless without the Eight-Stage Throw? Strong defense, huh? Let's see how many hits you can take.
The first hammer strike landed, and Xie Huanyue did not budge. He grinned. "That's it?"
The second strike, the third, the fourth... Wang Dong's hammer swung faster and faster, each blow heavier than the last, every strike landing precisely on the same spot on Xie Huanyue's body.
Xie Huanyue's smile gradually froze. He could feel that force climbing at a terrifying rate.
Are you kidding me? What kind of strength does this guy have? It feels like it's already exceeded ten thousand jin!
Yan Shaozhe stood at the edge of the arena, watching Wang Dong's hammer technique flow like drifting clouds and running water. His pupils contracted slightly.
"The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer... That's the Clear Sky Sect's signature technique! Paired with that freakish strength of his, what kind of combination is this?"
As dean of the Martial Soul Department, he naturally understood all kinds of Martial Souls, including the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer of the Clear Sky Sect, whose legacy stretched back to ancient times!
Hiss! An ordinary Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer might be impressive, but it would only go so far. The problem is that Wang Dong was born with divine strength, too!
He sucked in a cold breath. "As expected of the number-one sect from ten thousand years ago... Even within the Clear Sky Sect, probably only a handful could master this hammer technique to such a degree."
Xuan Zi sat in the stands. At some point, he had put down the chicken drumstick in his hand.
He watched the pink-and-blue-haired boy in the arena, a peculiar gleam flashing through his cloudy old eyes.
This kid... Not only does he have an excellent Martial Soul and keen combat instincts, he's even mastered the Clear Sky Sect's signature technique so thoroughly. He suddenly felt an urge to take on a disciple.
What I lack is exactly such a fine disciple to inherit my mantle!
In the arena, the hammer strikes had already stacked up to sixty. Xie Huanyue finally could not hold on anymore. He felt as though his defenses were being peeled away layer by layer, every blow landing directly on his bones and making him bare his teeth in pain.
No longer caring about saving face, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "I surrender! I surrender!"
He would not survive another few blows. Suffering a serious injury would not be worth it-he had no desire to end up like Dai Huabin.
Wang Dong halted his hammer and caught his breath. Seeing Xie Huanyue's miserable state, he grinned. "Thanks for the match."
Xie Huanyue slumped to the ground, trembling all over. He stared at Wang Dong as though he were a monster.
When his two teammates saw Wang Dong striding toward them with the Clear Sky Hammer in hand, looking positively menacing, they immediately raised their hands and surrendered without another word.
How the hell are we supposed to fight this? Even Xie Huanyue's defense couldn't withstand him. Wouldn't we just be serving ourselves up on a platter?
The competition soon continued. When the draw for the round of sixteen was announced, another uproar swept through the stands.
Wang Dong had drawn another strong team. What kind of luck was this? He had already drawn all three Soul Elder teams in the earlier rounds.
Team Wang Dong versus Team Ning Tian.
Ning Tian was a support-type Soul Elder, one of only three Soul Elders among this year's freshmen.
Although she herself was a support-type, her two teammates were both genuine power-attack specialists, one at rank twenty-eight and the other at rank twenty-seven. Their coordination was seamless, and their combat strength was considerable.
Many thought that even if Team Ning Tian could not beat Team Wang Dong, they could at least put up an exciting fight.
Yet once the match began, everyone fell silent.
Wielding the Clear Sky Hammer, Wang Dong sent Ning Tian's two teammates flying out of the arena with one clean, decisive strike apiece.
It all happened too quickly for anyone to react. From the referee announcing the start to the end of the battle, not even ten seconds had passed.
Ning Tian stood in the arena, looking at her two teammates sprawled outside it and howling in pain. Then she looked at the boy opposite her, who had the Clear Sky Hammer resting on his shoulder and was smiling at her. After a moment of silence, she slowly raised her hand.
"I surrender."
A support-type Soul Elder's greatest reliance was her teammates. With both of them gone, what could she do as a support-type? Surely she could not go up and trade hammer blows with Wang Dong?
How the hell am I supposed to keep playing? Just surrender.
Yet Ning Tian's eyes, clear as autumn waters, remained fixed on Wang Dong's retreating back as she pondered something.
So handsome, and so strong... If...
As she thought about it, Ning Tian's face reddened slightly.
The next two matches were even more devoid of suspense. Their quarterfinal opponents had no Soul Elder, and neither did their semifinal opponents.
Wang Dong barely even had to act. Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing, combined with Xiao Xiao's Soul Power chains, locked their opponents down completely. Then Wang Dong walked up, delivered one hammer strike to each, and ended the match.
Team Wang Dong successfully advanced to the final!
Their opponents in the final were an obscure team of three Soul Grandmasters, without a single Soul Elder among them.
The match itself offered little worth mentioning. Wang Dong did not even use the Clear Sky Hammer. With only the Soft-Boned Charm Rabbit's Instantaneous Shift and Eight-Stage Throw, he tossed all three opponents around until they were utterly dazed, forcing them to surrender outright.
The moment the referee announced Team Wang Dong as the champions, Xiao Xiao leaped into the air.
"We won! We won! We're the champions!"
Her face flushed with excitement, and she spread her arms to throw herself at Wang Dong.
But halfway through her lunge, a pair of hands stopped her. Huo Yuhao discreetly stepped in front of Wang Dong, letting Xiao Xiao hug him instead.
"Yuhao! We won!" Xiao Xiao hugged Huo Yuhao, bouncing with excitement. "I didn't do anything, and we still won! Getting carried feels amazing!"
Held in her embrace, Huo Yuhao was a little overwhelmed with excitement too, his eyes reddening slightly. He nodded firmly, his voice trembling. "Yeah... We're the champions."
As he spoke, he stole a glance at Wang Dong. Wang Dong stood to one side with a faint smile, looking utterly relaxed, as though winning this championship were simply a matter of course.
In truth, Wang Dong really did not think this championship was anything to get excited about. In the end, the Freshman Assessment was only a low-level match.
He had not transmigrated into this world just to develop step by step at Shrek Academy. He remembered clearly how the Sun Moon Empire watched like a tiger eyeing its prey, while the Holy Spirit Cult stirred restlessly. Tragedy after tragedy from the original story flashed through his mind.
He had to grow stronger-strong enough to change those tragedies.
Huo Yuhao's breakthrough to two Soul Rings was crucial. Once he awakened the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap.
And he himself needed to reach three Soul Rings as soon as possible. He planned to visit the Star Dou Great Forest, try his luck, and see whether he could find a suitable Soul Ring.
He also needed to visit another treasure land: the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. That place might well mark the beginning of a turn in fate.
The earlier Immortal Herbs were consumed, the more benefits they offered. It was not only Huo Yuhao who needed Immortal Herbs to rise-he needed them too.
One of those Immortal Herbs, suitable for tempering the body, would suit him perfectly... It was called the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, which could purify bloodlines, was also a good choice.
However, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was somewhat dangerous in this era. He would have to find a way to get there.
The awards ceremony soon began. Team Wang Dong stood atop the highest podium, receiving the gazes and applause of the entire audience.
The other two teams, who had lucked into their places, stood beside them, grinning from ear to ear.
They had never expected it themselves. They had entered the competition thinking participation was what mattered, only to pick up easy opportunities all the way through and somehow wind up in second and third place.
P.S. A question suddenly occurred to me: the Emperor Auspicious Beast has Wang Dong's soul...
If she were to fall in love, how would that work...
Dating himself?
Before you continue