Chapter 241: Shock—The Seven Monsters' Fusion Technique
"Damn it!" Dai Mubai slammed his fist on the table, cursing. "That Dai Yao, he actually had his entire team forfeit? Isn't he doing this just to block us?"
The other members of Shrek shared his frustration. With Auckland's entire team surrendering, they were now forced into the loser's bracket, where they'd inevitably have to face Auckland again. In both the qualifiers and the promotion matches, Shrek had never been able to defeat Auckland.
Even Ning Rongrong pouted in annoyance, feeling that Dai Yao's decision was unfair.
Tang San sneered. "Don't let it get to you, everyone. We've got an unbeatable ace up our sleeve. Dai Yao's surrender was likely his 'entry fee' to join Spirit Hall." His voice held a cold edge. "If he wants to use us as his stepping stone, let's give him a surprise he won't forget."
With this, everyone's frustration turned into sly grins. Ma Hongjun smirked. "Just wait till Dai Yao gets defeated—let's see his face then! I've had enough of his arrogant act; he's worse than Boss Dai."
Xiao Wu couldn't help but tease, "I think you're just jealous of how much luck he has with the ladies."
Ma Hongjun's face went stiff, hastily denying it.
Meanwhile, back in Auckland's resting area, the team members were curious about Dai Yao's reasons for surrendering, but Feng Qianli intervened.
"Dai Yao must have his reasons," Feng Qianli told them. "When he's ready, he'll explain. For now, let him focus on recovering his soul power."
Dai Yao nodded gratefully. Their trust warmed his heart, and he quickly sat down, taking a deep breath to stabilize his breathing and begin his recovery. His soul power was critically low, barely at half its usual capacity. Though he couldn't fully replenish it in just an afternoon, any amount of recovery would help.
Dai Yao was fully aware of Shrek's trump card: their Seven-in-One Fusion Technique, followed by the formidable Clear Sky Avatar. Not even Spirit Hall's team could easily counter it. But he couldn't mention this, of course. How would he explain his knowledge? He certainly couldn't say he'd "read the original story."
So, Shrek would be his responsibility to handle alone.
Calming his mind, he began to draw in energy from the surroundings, his depleted soul power visibly beginning to replenish.
Watching from above, Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brows as he observed Dai Yao's meditation. "Dai Yao's soul power is far from full. With just one afternoon, he won't be able to completely recover. Do you think this gives Rongrong and her team a chance?"
Dustblade Douluo Chenxin adjusted his posture slightly, then replied, "Even with Dai Yao's depleted strength, his team is still fresh and full of soul power. Auckland holds the advantage."
Ning Fengzhi pondered this, shaking his head in disappointment. "Even if Shrek has a hidden card, would it be enough to bridge such a gap? It's unfortunate that Rongrong's journey in the competition seems near its end. Still, at her age, the next tournament could truly be her time to shine."
"With such achievements at this age," Chenxin mused, "Rongrong's done quite well. Still… don't forget, Fengzhi, Dai Yao is even younger."
At the mention of Dai Yao's near-legendary accomplishments, Ning Fengzhi could only shake his head and chuckle. "With a bit more experience, Dai Yao won't even need a team—he'll singlehandedly conquer one."
The two fell into thoughtful silence, but then Chenxin's eyes narrowed with concern. "Fengzhi, have you noticed? Rongrong seems unwell. She's been coughing these past few days."
"Yes," Ning Fengzhi's tone grew serious. "She keeps brushing it off, saying she'll wait until after the competition to let me examine her. I'll make sure she has a proper checkup today."
Chenxin nodded. "Good idea—she's at a foundational stage in her cultivation. We can't afford to be careless."
As the sun began to dip, the Cardinal and senior spectators resumed their seats before the Pope's Hall. Five Titled Douluo and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan leader sat upon their golden chairs.
Meanwhile, a shabby, gray-robed man lifted his head, his unkempt beard visible beneath his hood. He set down his teacup, stood, and began walking toward the Pope's Hall…
On the stage, Shrek and Auckland stood facing each other, locked in an intense stare-off. Shrek's team wore knowing smiles, leaving Auckland somewhat confused.
"What's wrong with them?" Dai Yuanyi muttered. "They're about to lose, and they're grinning?"
"They've lost their minds!" he continued with a sneer. "Let's make sure they know who's stronger today!"
The Auckland members nodded, but Dai Yao motioned for them to stand down, his gaze detached as he instructed, "Stay put. Don't move, no matter what happens."
Dai Yuanyi looked frustrated, clearly tired of Dai Yao's unexplained decisions, but at a glance into Dai Yao's icy stare, he fell silent. "Fine, Dai Yao. But afterward, you'd better explain this to us."
Dai Yao nodded. "You have my word."
He knew that his constant unilateral decisions were wearing down his team's trust. But once the match was over, he believed they'd understand his intentions.
Taking a deep breath, he could feel his soul power, restored to about half strength, which he knew would be enough to handle Shrek. Just as Tang San stepped forward, his expression cold and taunting.
"Dai Yao, don't think you've already won!" Tang San's voice was filled with scorn.
But Dai Yao simply smirked, a glint of indifference in his gaze, as if Shrek's Seven Devils were nothing more than trivial opponents. That subtle expression of disdain stoked Shrek's anger, but Tang San held his teammates back with a raised hand.
Tang San sneered, eager to see Dai Yao's surprise once they unleashed their Seven-in-One Fusion. "No need to argue. Let's settle this in battle."
The tension between the two teams thickened as the red-robed Cardinal signaled the start of the match.
To everyone's surprise, Shrek's Seven Devils moved into an entirely new formation, quickly forming a circle around Ning Rongrong and Oscar. While no spirits had been released yet, a surge of powerful energy radiated from them, converging rapidly at the circle's center.
"What is this?" murmured several astonished spectators, including Pope Bibi Dong and the assembled Titled Douluo, all watching with piqued interest. Even with their vast knowledge, they couldn't fully discern Shrek's strategy.
"What are they doing? Should we try to stop them?" Feng Qianli asked Dai Yao warily, his eyes fixed on the Shrek team.
To his surprise, Dai Yao looked calm, as if he had anticipated this. "No need," Dai Yao answered, his voice composed. "It's too late. Look closely—they're retreating quickly while using blocking techniques to prevent us from intervening."
Feng Qianli's eyes lit up. Dai Yao must have had a plan all along to counter Shrek's strategy.
Tang San, noticing Auckland's inactivity, felt puzzled. It was as if they were waiting for something. But after careful thought, he dismissed the idea that Dai Yao could know their intentions. With a confident smirk, he shouted:
"Transform!"
At his command, the Seven Devils instantly shifted into a line formation, with Tang San at the front and Oscar at the rear. Oscar pressed his hands against Ning Rongrong's back, channeling all his soul power into her.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda rose in Ning Rongrong's hands, her four soul rings lighting up. As her rings shone, the pagoda emitted four beams of solid light that shot into Zhu Zhuqing's body, initiating a chain reaction as the power of all seven concentrated in Tang San.
As the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique surged, Tang San's aura grew overwhelmingly powerful, astonishing everyone. The cardinals, their faces filled with shock, turned their questioning gazes toward Yu Xiaogang. Even the Titled Douluo, Ning Fengzhi, and Pope Bibi Dong were surprised.
The Seven-in-One Fusion Technique—something that could shake the entire continent.
Yu Xiaogang watched the Shrek Seven with pride. The Seven-in-One Fusion was his creation, and seeing it in action on such a grand stage, he knew his name would soon be known throughout the continent. Still, he couldn't help feeling a touch of regret: with the Fusion Technique used now to defeat Auckland, they'd have no trump card left for Spirit Hall.
Beside him, Liu Erlong looked at Yu Xiaogang with admiration. Though his martial spirit was weak, his intellect was transforming the soul master world.
Tang San glared coldly at Dai Yao, his blood boiling with thoughts of vengeance for Xiao Wu and his unresolved grudge against Dai Yao. Stretching out his left hand, he summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, the dark weapon radiating an intense, dark-gold aura.
"Clear Sky Avatar!"
A wave of gasps rippled through the audience as Tang San invoked the Clear Sky Avatar, the spirit manifestation usually accessible only to those at the Soul Sage level. The hammer's power, pent up like a breaking dam, seemed ready to obliterate everything in its path.
The last time the Clear Sky Hammer made such a powerful appearance was in Tang Hao's duel with the former Pope, Qian Xunji. Now, here it was again, in this very semifinals match.
Even the members of Spirit Hall looked relieved. If they had faced Shrek's Clear Sky Avatar unprepared, they'd have surely suffered a significant defeat.
"Dai Yao," Tang San sneered, "I warned you that you'd pay for your arrogance."
Tang San and the Shrek Seven watched Auckland with condescension, anticipating the moment Dai Yao would finally show fear. Only Ning Rongrong's expression hinted at some hidden complexity.
But to their surprise, Dai Yao's face remained composed.
"Maybe he's frozen with fear," Ma Hongjun muttered.
"Tang San… do you really think the Clear Sky Avatar alone can defeat us?" Dai Yao slowly lifted his gaze, a cold smile tugging at his lips.
An ominous feeling crept over Tang San as he rushed to bring down the hammer with all his strength.
Dai Yao's eyes glinted with mockery as he raised his hand, releasing a faint yet powerful aura that seemed to freeze the entire arena in place.
"Second Martial Spirit, Fourth Soul Skill—Temporal Stasis!"
Every soul skill from Dai Yao's Primal Chaos Green Lotus martial spirit was uniquely formidable. His first skill, God-Slaying Spear, his second, Lotus Mirage, his third, Spatial Shift, and now his fourth, Temporal Stasis. This skill momentarily froze time and space, albeit at a massive cost to his soul power.
But within this brief moment, Dai Yao could accomplish plenty—like severing Shrek's Seven-in-One Fusion Technique.
In the original story, Feng Xiaotian had noticed the technique's weak point: its reliance on the two auxiliary soul masters, Oscar and Ning Rongrong. Disrupting either of them would collapse the technique.
Back then, Feng Xiaotian lacked the strength to get past Tang San's defense, but Dai Yao was different. His teleportation skill allowed him to bypass Shrek's defenses entirely.
A soft hum filled the arena as Ning Rongrong staggered. In an instant, the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique collapsed.
Tang San clenched his teeth in frustration, veins bulging as he watched the Clear Sky Hammer dissolve into specks of light before his eyes.
The Shrek Seven stared in shock, dumbfounded, as the chaotic energy surged through them, wreaking havoc. Pain shot through their bodies as they coughed up blood.
Not only were they stunned, but Yu Xiaogang, the creator of the technique, stood there in shock, muttering, "Impossible… impossible!"
The Titled Douluo looked on, frowning, but not at the broken fusion. Instead, their heightened senses detected a subtle change on the arena floor.
"Old Ghost," Moonflower Douluo murmured to Ghost Douluo, "did you feel that?"
Ghost Douluo looked surprised. "So you sensed it too, Old Chrysanthemum?"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin, however, seemed to sense it most acutely. His gaze turned to Dai Yao, his instincts telling him that the young soul master was somehow responsible for the disruption of the Seven-in-One Fusion.
For experts of their caliber, intuition often drew close to the truth.
Noticing the expressions on the faces of the Titled Douluo, Ning Fengzhi turned to Sword Douluo. "Sword Uncle, what's going on?"
Chen Xin shook his head slowly. "I can't fully explain it, Fengzhi. But there's something mysterious at play."
Turning to Bibi Dong, he added, "Your Holiness, you may understand this more clearly than we do."
Propping her head on her hand, Bibi Dong glanced coolly at Chen Xin. "Sword Douluo, I'm not so much more powerful than you that I'd sense everything clearly. But I suspect Dai Yao used a soul bone skill."
Though she said this, a deeper, knowing look flashed across her gaze as she observed Dai Yao.
"In my field of vision, everything seemed unchanged, yet there was something… uncanny. For a moment, I even felt a sense of helplessness."
"This isn't just any soul bone ability… Dai Yao, just what secrets are you hiding? Zhu Zhuqing's spirit evolution, Feng Wutong's spirit evolution… it seems all connected to you somehow…"
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10