Feeling Tang San's gaze on him, Lin Chuan wore a strange expression.
Why does this kid look so much like Little Scumbag?
That can't be right!
Lin Chuan looked at the ordinary-looking, black-haired child, who kept staring at him and Bibi Dong, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Why did that boy with his chin raised higher than anything look so much like Tang San?
He recalled how dumbfounded he had been when he first saw Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.
Could it be that the world I've transmigrated into has undergone some subtle changes?
But until he had an answer, he didn't dare jump to conclusions.
Some of his plans might have to be brought forward.
He needed to claim the resources in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud as soon as possible.
He was determined to obtain both.
Whether or not he could activate the Sea God Inheritance, he couldn't let Tang San get it.
Beside him, Bibi Dong saw that Lin Chuan had been staring at the little Tang boy across from them and couldn't help thinking he was nervous.
Bibi Dong chuckled. "Don't worry, junior brother. I'm here, so there's no need to be nervous."
After absorbing the two demon spiders, Bibi Dong had reached level nineteen in Soul Power, so she was naturally brimming with confidence!
She had just surveyed the members of the Clear Sky Sect.
As far as she could see, none of the disciples of her generation could beat her.
As for her junior brother, what did it matter how well he could fight? He was a healing-type Soul Master.
Although her junior brother had been training constantly lately, she didn't think he would actually take the stage.
Hearing Bibi Dong show off again, Lin Chuan said:
"I'm worried that if someone gets hurt, I'll have to treat them properly."
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes. "As if I'd believe you."
Qian Xunji turned around helplessly and glared at Bibi Dong, signaling for them to be quiet.
On the raised platform, Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen had already taken their seats.
The Clear Sky Sect's many Titled Douluo, several of Spirit Hall's consecrators, including Golden Crocodile Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo, and a number of promising Soul Douluo, such as Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei, were also watching from the platform.
Qian Xunji spoke up:
"Since both sides are ready and your people are all here, Sect Master Tang, let us begin the sparring matches."
After entering the arena, the referee wasted no words and announced the rules.
"The sparring contest will be divided into three rounds."
"The first will be for the backbone forces, young adults and above. The second will be for the sects' new blood. The third will be for the reserves who awakened their Martial Souls within the past three years."
"Stop once a victor is clear. Do not take any lives."
Tang Wei looked at Tang Xiao.
"Xiao'er, you will anchor the first round. Do not tarnish the mighty name of our Clear Sky Sect."
Tang Xiao replied confidently, "I will not disappoint everyone."
At twenty-seven years old, he had already become a Soul Emperor.
More importantly, he was the type who accumulated strength steadily before making a breakthrough.
In the sect's sparring matches, practically no one of his generation could defeat him.
He had also seen what Spirit Hall's disciples of his generation could do, and every one of them had been a match for him.
On the raised platform, Qian Daoliu surveyed the people present.
Spirit Hall's younger generation was decent enough, neither outstanding nor poor, but none could shoulder the main burden.
Only Xiong Tian, a junior under the fourth consecrator, Mighty Lion Douluo, was fairly good.
Qian Xunji held out no hope for this contest between the young adults either.
At their age, the improvement brought by Whale Rubber was no longer decisive, and the increase in combat power it could provide in a short time was small.
There were three matches in the young adult group's contest.
In the first, both sides tested the waters, each sending out a veteran Soul King. They fought until both were nearly crippled, with the Clear Sky Sect coming out slightly ahead.
Spirit Hall won the second match by a narrow margin, tying the score at one apiece.
As the hosts, the people of Spirit Hall regained a little face.
Yet everyone knew the main event was the third match: Tang Xiao against Xiong Tian.
Xiong Tian was powerfully built, with a mane of wild red hair.
He was related to the fourth consecrator, Mighty Lion Douluo, and had inherited the Blazing Lion Martial Soul.
He strode onto the stage and said:
"Spirit Hall's Xiong Tian, a level sixty-one Soul Emperor. Please enlighten me."
Tang Xiao gave a light step and landed in the middle of the training ground.
"Clear Sky Sect's Tang Xiao, a level sixty-three Soul Emperor. Please enlighten me."
Tang Xiao then revealed his Soul Ring Configuration: two yellow, two purple, and two black.
Xiong Tian's was the same.
Their configurations matched, but Tang Xiao was at a higher level.
More importantly, Tang Xiao was slightly younger than Xiong Tian, and his Martial Soul was also slightly superior.
The hearts of Spirit Hall's people sank.
But they still held on to a sliver of hope. What if Xiong Tian won?
Lin Chuan, however, shook his head.
In his view, in this era, Tang Xiao's configuration was indeed worthy of the title of one of the Clear Sky Twin Stars.
But he had seen the heaven-defying talents in the second and third parts of Douluo Continent. Now, he felt that if Tang Xiao couldn't become a Titled Douluo at his age, he was only so-so.
Tang Xiao was already twenty-seven years old.
In the Legend of the Dragon King era, twenty thousand years later, the foremost example of talent was Yun Ming: a Titled Douluo at twenty-three, a Super Douluo at twenty-six, and a Limit Douluo at thirty-one.
Although in the Douluo I world, resources and cultivation techniques were not as advanced as they would be ten thousand years later,
with his foreknowledge and the effects of the Wishing Angel, Lin Chuan's goal was to surpass Yun Ming.
Even if he couldn't surpass him, he should at least not fall too far behind, right?
The battle's outcome soon became clear.
After a few exchanges, Xiong Tian, using Blazing Lion Martial Soul Possession, unleashed his strongest move, his sixth Soul Skill, Blazing Flames Burn the Heavens.
The phantom of a giant lion, wreathed in terrifying flames, pounced fiercely at Tang Xiao.
Faced with this devastating blow, Tang Xiao did not use a Soul Skill. Instead, he wielded the Clear Sky Hammer and used the Clear Sky Sect's secret technique, the Shock Character Art.
Boom!
The raging crimson flames were smashed back, and the Soul Power of Xiong Tian's possession shattered.
The terrifying force sent him flying out of the arena, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Seeing this, Lin Chuan sighed and sent his first Soul Skill over to treat Xiong Tian.
The Spirit Hall side fell silent at once.
The Clear Sky Sect's side erupted in thunderous cheers, their momentum reaching its peak.
"Glory to Tang Xiao! Glory to Clear Sky!"
Tang Xiao withdrew the Clear Sky Hammer. Though slightly out of breath, he stood straight and saluted the crowd before withdrawing.
On the raised platform, Tang Chen smiled and said:
"Brother Qian, it seems our Clear Sky Sect has the edge in the younger generation."
Qian Daoliu smiled and said:
"Tang Chen, the sparring has only just begun. Don't celebrate too soon."
The referee in the arena announced:
"First round, two to one. The Clear Sky Sect wins."
"The second round begins."
As soon as the words fell, Tang Wei gave a signal, and the unruly Tang Hao planted one foot and appeared in the center of the training ground in an instant.
Tang Hao grinned and said:
"Tang Hao, a level thirty-three Soul Elder. Please enlighten me."
"But there's no need for three matches."
"I'll challenge two of you by myself."
"Jin Kuang, Qiangu Feiyun, come on."