The black light on the Clear Sky Hammer continued to accumulate and deepen as it gathered power, becoming heavier and heavier, as if the surrounding light was being absorbed into the hammer.
Tang San gave the Elephant Armor Formation no chance to adjust.
He pushed off with his right foot, charging towards the left flank of the Elephant Armor formation, not the front, but the side, carrying the hammer.
The first blow was Huyan Li; it was a test, and also a demonstration. The second blow was never intended for Huyan Li from the beginning.
The two Elephant Armor members standing on the left side of the formation saw Tang San charging over and immediately poured their Soul Power into their defensive layer.
The phantoms of the Diamond Mammoth overlapped behind the two, and the earthy yellow light condensed into a shield.
Although their defenses are not as strong as Huyan Li's, the combined strength of the two of them, along with the overall support of their formation, is enough to withstand most attacks.
Unfortunately for them, they were facing the Clear Sky Hammer.
The sound of the hammer striking the defensive layer was completely different from the first strike. The first strike was a dull thud, like hitting an iron plate. The second strike was a cracking sound, like it had pierced through something.
The tan defensive layer began to crack from the point where the hammer struck, and the cracks spread like a spider web across the entire left flank of the formation in an instant.
The two Elephant Armor team members didn't even have a chance to retreat; they were directly thrown away by the shockwave, crashing heavily to the ground and sliding several meters before coming to a stop.
The formation of the Elephant Armor Academy has been broken.
An uproar erupted in the stands. The defensive formation of the seven Diamond Mammoth had never been breached head-on since the first match of the qualifiers.
Godwind Academy Elephant Armor bypassed the defenses by using Feng Lingtian's speed to weave through them; Skywater Academy froze the flow of Soul Power with Shui Bing'er's Ultimate Ice; Thunder Academy broke through from above with Lei Dong's explosive power—but none of them broke through head-on.
"One hammer blow breaks the formation!" Someone stood up in the Thunder Academy rest area.
"As expected of the Clear Sky Hammer, renowned for its offensive power," Huo Wushuang murmured. Huo Wu beside him didn't reply, her eyes fixed on Tang San on the field.
Huyan Li, on the field, had no time to pay attention to the commotion in the stands. He glanced back at his two teammates who were lying on the ground, and seeing that they could still get up, he turned back with relief. However, after turning back, Huyan Li's eyes changed.
It's not fear. It's the kind of ruthlessness that comes when you're backed into a corner and know there's no way to retreat.
He is the direct disciple of the Elephant Armor Sect and the inheritor of the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul. He cannot lose. At least, he cannot lose like this.
" Elephant Armor!" Huyan Li roared.
These are the tactical commands agreed upon within the Elephant Armor Academy. They have been practicing them since the first day the team was formed, so that when they encounter a strong opponent one day, they can fight with all their might without reservation.
The other six teammates looked at him simultaneously and nodded in unison. There was no communication, nor was there any need for it. This was a last resort they had practiced countless times but had never used in a match.
The Soul Bone on Huyan Li's forehead lit up again, but this time it wasn't for defense—he concentrated all his Soul Power at his feet.
The seven Diamond Mammoth no longer guarded their respective areas, but instead all merged into Huyan Li Li's body. His size did not increase, but with each step he took on the floor, the stone slabs beneath his feet shattered into powder.
The other teammates followed behind Huyan Li, the seven of them forming a triangle, with Huyan Li at the very front. The entire formation resembled a cannonball, hurtling towards Tang San.
"This is--!" Huo Wushuang from the Blazing Fire Academy subconsciously took a step forward.
Before the gasps from the audience could even escape, the seven Elephant Armor warriors had already reached Tang San.
Tang San did not dodge.
The third strike of the Clear Sky Hammer met the attack head-on.
The hammer and the combined Huyan Li of seven people collided head-on. In that instant, all sound in the arena vanished—not silence, but a sonic boom.
The shockwave from the collision of the two Soul Power exploded across the arena, pushing the spectators in the front row backward. Powder from the rubble flew through the air, obscuring everyone's vision.
A few seconds later, the dust settled.
Huyan Li knelt on the ground. The light from the Soul Bone on his forehead had gone out, not dimmed, but completely extinguished. The phantom of the Diamond Mammoth slowly dissipated behind him, like a collapsing stone statue.
He was panting heavily, the blood at the corner of his mouth thicker than before, and his arms supporting his knees were trembling—he was holding on, not wanting to collapse.
The six teammates behind them were in even worse condition. The two who took the brunt of the shockwave had already passed out and were only kept from collapsing to the ground by being supported by the other two teammates.
The two men carrying the body weren't in much better shape; one was clutching his ribs, and the other's left arm was hanging limply, unable to support him, but at least they were still standing.
Tang San stood in front of Huyan Li. The Clear Sky Hammer slammed into the floor at Tang San's feet, the hammer shaft sinking halfway into the ground—not because Tang San smashed it in, but because he couldn't hold it anymore.
Without the support of Soul Ring, the weight of the Clear Sky Hammer caused each strike to deplete his physical strength and Soul Power.
After three strikes, his Soul Power was almost depleted. His right hand trembled slightly as it hung at his side, and he had to lean against the hammer handle to keep from falling.
He glanced down at Huyan Li, then straightened up, supporting himself with the hammer handle, and turned to walk towards his teammates. His steps were slow, but each one was steady.
The referee was stunned for a second before he reacted.
Shrek Academy wins!
Cheers erupted.
Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long landed back on the ground one after another, their transparent wings retracting and dissipating after landing.
Oscar was the last to land, panting heavily as he folded his wings, still clutching the Flying Mushroom Sausage he hadn't had time to throw.
" Third Brother, could you please tell me before you hit me next time?" Oscar gasped for breath, his tone a mix of complaint and relief. "I almost didn't realize what was happening."
Tang San glanced at him, his lips twitched slightly, but he didn't say anything.
Dai Mubai walked up to Tang San, without congratulating him or saying "Well done." He simply raised his hand and patted Tang San's shoulder heavily.
Tang San nodded slightly.
On the other side of the field, Huyan Li was helped to his feet by his teammates. He pushed his teammates' hands away and stood up on his own.
His competition uniform was torn in several places, and the light from the Soul Bone on his forehead had completely gone out, but his eyes had regained their calm.
He glanced at Tang San's retreating figure, then at the broken stone slabs on the ground, before turning around and leading his teammates off the field.
" Huyan Li." The teacher leading the team from the Elephant Armor Academy came forward, about to say something, but was interrupted by Huyan Li raising his hand.
"A loss is a loss," he said hoarsely. "There's nothing more to say."
As he walked towards the passage, he brushed past Shrek's team. He paused for a moment, but without turning his head, he merely tilted his head slightly and his lips moved.
Then I walked into the passageway.
The discussions in the stands began the moment the match ended, and as soon as the Elephant Armor team left, the murmurs became uncontrollable.
" Tang San... he possesses Twin Martial Souls Martial Soul! He can use both the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer!"
" The Clear Sky Hammer? Wasn't the Clear Sky Sect supposed to be in seclusion? Tang Hao has been missing for so many years, how could someone be showing up in Heaven Dou City with the Clear Sky Hammer?"
"Are you stupid?! He's Tang Hao's son! The son of Clear Sky Douluo!"
"The son of Clear Sky Douluo... No wonder!"
In the VIP section, Salas sat back in his chair. His expression returned to calm, but his posture changed—he leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands in front of his abdomen, and tapped his fingers rhythmically on the back of his hands.
A deacon from the Spirit Hall leaned over as if to say something, Salas raised a hand. The deacon immediately shut up.
"After the preliminaries are over," Salas's voice was very soft, so soft that only those around him could hear, "Compile all the information on this Tang San. Everything."
The deacon bowed his head. "Yes."
In the rest area of the Godwind Academy, Feng Lingtian leaned against the railing, observing everything. He saw the audience's reactions, Salas's expression, and the commotion at the Blazing Fire Academy. He noticed every detail.
" Salas is intent on killing," Feng Lingtian said.
Feng Xiaotian stood beside him and nodded.
"Many people on the continent know about the old feud between Clear Sky Douluo and the Spirit Hall. Salas couldn't possibly be unaware of it. Now that Clear Sky Douluo's son is right under his nose, it would be strange if he didn't do something."
"But he doesn't dare to move now," Feng Xiaotian said. " Heaven Dou City is not Spirit City. It has Xue Ye, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and two Titled Douluo who don't belong to any sect."
Feng Lingtian glanced at his brother. Feng Xiaotian spoke these words in a very calm tone, as if stating a fact that did not need to be discussed.
Feng Lingtian didn't say anything more, and the two brothers turned and left the rest area.
In the passageway, the other members of the Godwind Academy hadn't left yet. Su Mei'er leaned against the wall, while Lu Hanxiao and Ji Ning were arguing about something, their voices low but their pace rapid. Zhong Yue and Bai Yu stood side by side, speaking in hushed tones. Everyone was waiting for them.
Feng Xiaotian walked over, and the team members naturally made way for him, then followed him out.
No one asked what had just happened, nor did anyone mention the Clear Sky Hammer or Tang San —not because they weren't curious, but because neither the captain nor the vice-captain spoke, which meant that the matter was temporarily none of their concern.
Feng Lingtian followed his brother, glancing back before stepping into the passage. The direction Salas had gone was now deserted.
Then Feng Lingtian turned around and followed the group into the passage.