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It was clear that neither Ning Fengzhi, Bonde Douluo, Emperor Xue Ye, nor Bishop Salas thought Tang San could hold his ground against Huo Wu's Huo Wu Yao Yang, a technique powered by the combined soul force of two level thirty-nine Spirit Elders. But Ning Tian shook his head. "Does the Clear Sky Hammer really mess with people's heads?"
"What do you mean?" Ning Rongrong asked, her curiosity piqued.
Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, Zhu Qing, and the rest of the New Heaven Dou Battle Team turned to him, equally interested.
"Just keep watching. You'll figure it out," Ning Tian replied, offering no further explanation, only a nudge to focus on the match.
As Huo Wu built up her energy, Tang San planted his feet firmly. He gripped the Clear Sky Hammer with both hands, swinging it in the steady rhythm of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique. "Mubai, Xiao Wu, get behind me!" he called out to Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu didn't hesitate. She wasn't fussed about winning or losing and darted to the edge of the stage behind Tang San, putting on a show of worry. Dai Mubai, though, paused to say something heartfelt before joining her.
By the time Tang San reached his thirty-third swing, Huo Wu was ready. A huge white fireball launched toward him under her command.
Tang San sped through two more swings, then brought the hammer down hard, meeting the fireball dead-on.
With the thirty-sixth swing, his feet dug into the stage floor. He shouted, "Clear Sky Hammer, Disorder Splitting Wind: thirty-sixth hammer!"
Boom!
The fireball slammed into the Clear Sky Hammer, the two forces tearing at each other. The fireball faded, while the hammer turned red-hot from the clash.
In the end, the Clear Sky Hammer, boosted by two thousand-year power Soul Rings and thirty-six layered swings, won out. The fireball broke apart, its sparks scattering into nothing.
"You… you stopped my Huo Wu Yao Yang?" Huo Wu's expression sank, her energy spent. She and the two fire-support Soul Masters had thrown nearly all their soul power into that move, yet Tang San still came out on top. Was the world's top tool spirit really that strong? Even a three-person fusion attack couldn't beat it.
Xiao Wu and Dai Mubai stepped up beside Tang San. He glanced at them, then gave Huo Wu a confident smile. "So, want to keep going?"
"We… give up," Huo Wu forced out, her voice tight with frustration.
Her brother Huo Wushuang was already down, and she and the two support Soul Masters were running on fumes. The remaining pair of level thirty-nine Fire Crane Spirit Elders and the level thirty-eight Fire Leopard Spirit Elder had no hope against Tang San's trio of Spirit Ancestors.
Huo Wu shot Tang San a bitter look, her resentment stronger than when she'd lost to Ning Tian. Losing to Ning Tian hurt because of his low innate soul power, but losing to Tang San, this filthy, unkempt nobody hit her pride harder. She looked close to tears.
The crowd exploded, shouts of shock and anger filling the air. Shrek beating Blazing Academy meant the so-called "Feces Team" would sail through to the next round. Even if they lost their upcoming matches against the New Heaven Dou Battle Team, Tianshui Academy, Thunder Academy, and Divine Wind Academy, they'd still qualify.
"He actually blocked it? Is the Clear Sky Hammer that powerful?" the New Heaven Dou Battle Team muttered among themselves, impressed by the hammer's strength. With just two thousand-year Soul Rings, Tang San had pulled it off. Huo Wu's fused attack wasn't weak. Its raw power was second only to Ning Tian's ten-thousand-year soul skill.
"But why'd you say the Clear Sky Hammer drops intelligence?" Feng Xiaotian asked, confused. He'd stuck around with the New Heaven Dou Battle Team to watch instead of heading off.
"You'll get it when you face him," Ning Tian said, keeping it vague. He knew the real proof would come when Feng Xiaotian fought Tang San. If Tang San didn't beat him, how could Ning Tian's win over Tang San stand out? Of course, that depended on Divine Wind Academy facing Shrek before the New Imperial Team did.
"Fine," Feng Xiaotian said, letting it go. Tang San might have stopped Huo Wu's move, but Feng Xiaotian had his own cards to play. Who'd come out on top would only be clear in a fight.
After Feng Xiaotian walked off, Ning Rongrong couldn't hold back. "Ning Tian, what's this about the Clear Sky Hammer dropping intelligence? Does it make Tang San dumber?"
"Not his intelligence but his opponents'," Ning Tian corrected. "Didn't you see? Against Blazing Academy, Huo Wushuang wasn't focused on beating Tang San but he was obsessed with beating the hammer. He rushed straight at it like a fool. And Huo Wu did the same, practically serving Tang San the win by aiming right at it."
The team paused, then nodded as it clicked. It was like a fog had lifted. They realized that, in the same spot, they'd likely target the hammer too, not Tang San himself. It felt almost automatic.
…..
Not far off, a group of young women from Tianshui Academy watched them.
"Sis, look at the New Heaven Dou Battle Team's captain, Ning Tian. He's so cool!" Shui Yue'er, the younger sister of Tianshui's captain Shui Bing'er, said, her eyes shining.
"Didn't you say Shrek's Dai Mubai was more your style?" Xue Wu, the vice-captain, teased.
Shui Yue'er's cheeks turned pink. "Xue Wu, stop it. He… he's a eunuch."
She'd thought Dai Mubai was charming at first, especially with his rare double pupils. But after he'd admitted to being a eunuch, she'd been stunned. The other Tianshui girls hadn't let her forget it.
"Enough, you two," Shui Bing'er said, cutting them off. "The match is starting soon. We've got a few rounds left, and soon we'll face the New Heaven Dou Battle Team. We've qualified, but we still need to give it everything."
As Shui Bing'er spoke, Ning Tian's eyes met hers across the arena. He had to admit, she was striking. With her top-tier beast spirit, the Ice Phoenix, her beauty matched Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's. Maybe only Ye Lingling, with her evolved Sacred Heart Sea Holly spirit, edged her out.
Noticing Ning Tian's gaze, Shui Bing'er, as Tianshui's captain, returned it without backing down.
Ning Tian smiled, unfazed.
Shui Yue'er, spotting their moment, grinned. "Sis, you think the New Heaven Dou Team's captain likes you? I heard he's a real charmer. He pretty much has all the girls on his team under his spell."
Shui Bing'er gave her sister a sharp look but privately wondered how to take Ning Tian down. Their spirit fusion skill seemed like the only shot.
..........
A day later, the New Heaven Dou Team met Thunder Academy in their twenty-second match. To everyone's shock, Thunder Academy surrendered without a fight.
Two days passed, with only three matches left in the preliminaries. The New Heaven Dou Team's next opponent was the all-female Tianshui Academy. At the same time, Shrek took on Thunder Academy.
Like their earlier matches against Blazing Academy, Elephant Armor Academy, and Cang Hui Academy, the New Heaven Doul Team sent out Ning Tian, Zhu Zhuqing, the Shi brothers, Yu Feng, Osler, and Huang Jia.
At the referee's signal, both teams lined up and bowed. Ning Tian faced Shui Bing'er, and up close, her beauty caught him off guard. If Xiao Wu was cute, Zhu Zhuqing cool, Ning Rongrong playful, Ye Lingling pure, Zhu Qing warm, and Huo Wu bold, then Shui Bing'er was like calm water with a spark of wisdom.
Her eyes glowed with real smarts; not the fake kind Yu Xiaogang flaunted. Without her limited surroundings holding her back, Ning Tian was sure she'd go far. And at sixteen, reaching level forty-three without immortal herbs? That was something else.
While Ning Tian sized her up, Shui Bing'er did the same. He was good-looking, no question, with a build she'd never seen matched: broad shoulders, long legs, lean but strong, like nature had carved him out. His presence, though, was what stood out: a rock-solid confidence, like he couldn't lose and couldn't be touched. It almost felt otherworldly, making her feel small by comparison.
Out of respect, Shui Bing'er spoke first, a rare move. "Tianshui Academy captain, Shui Bing'er, level forty-three control-type battle Spirit Ancestor. Nice to meet you."
Ning Tian, always one to return a kind gesture, answered, "New Heaven Dou Team captain, Ning Tian, level forty-eight power-attack-type battle Spirit Ancestor. Same to you."
Then, standing next to Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, who looked a bit like her sister jumped in. "Shui Yue'er, level thirty-six agility-attack-type Spirit Elder."
Everyone froze. This was a match, not a casual chat. Captains introducing themselves was polite enough but why was she butting in?
Shui Yue'er knew it was odd, but she didn't care. She was forward and didn't hide her interest in Ning Tian, her eyes locked on him. The more she looked, the more handsome he got. How had she ever fallen for Dai Mubai?
Zhu Zhuqing, standing beside him, could tell Shui Yue'er was smitten. She wasn't about to let some starry-eyed girl join their group. Stepping up, she said, "Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Tian's girlfriend, level forty-three agility-attack-type battle Spirit Ancestor."
Shui Yue'er, unbothered, smiled brightly. "Oh, Sister Zhuqing! Nice to meet you!" At Tianshui, strength earned respect, so "sister" felt right. Raised with half-siblings, she didn't mind a guy with multiple partners.
Zhu Zhuqing blinked, caught off guard. She glanced at Ning Tian, thinking, "Is this girl okay?"
The referee, done waiting, signaled both teams to release their spirits. The match would start in one minute.
For once, Ning Tian didn't take the lead. He let Zhu Zhuqing head the attack, with the Shi brothers guarding her sides, while he stayed back in the center, Yu Feng and Osler at his flanks.
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