"Stellar Sword Soul · Creation of the Universe!"
He no longer held back, pushing the Stellar Sword Soul he had comprehended and transformed from the Earth Sword Soul to its peak. This was a power that even some Title Douluo found hard to grasp, yet it manifested in his hands.
The Diamond Stellar Sword seemed to transform into the first ray of starlight at the dawn of the universe, carrying the vast will to cut through chaos and divide purity from impurity, fiercely slashing at the starlight chains binding him.
Poof!
Under the dual impact of the Radiant Sun Domain and Stellar Sword Intent, the resilient starlight chains let out a mournful cry and suddenly snapped.
Xu Xiaoyan felt as if struck heavily, letting out a muffled groan. The light of her Star Staff instantly dimmed, even showing tiny cracks. Her face turned pale, and she staggered backward.
Free from his bindings, Gu La didn't pause for a moment.
He shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging toward Gu Yue who was controlling the elemental storm. The Diamond Stellar Sword pointed directly at the core of the raging elemental vortex—he intended to forcibly cleave the storm before it fully formed.
Gu Yue watched Gu La charging towards her, and a barely perceptible ripple flashed deep within her silver eyes.
She chose not to engage in a direct confrontation but instead pressed her hands down forcefully.
"Fall!"
The elemental storm, not yet fully fused to its peak but already possessing terrifying destructive power, was forcibly detonated by her. It crashed down onto the entire platform like an overturned celestial river.
Her target wasn't just Gu La alone but covered Gu La, Ye Xinglan, and even herself and Xu Xiaoyan—it was indiscriminate.
"Not good!" Ye Xinglan summoned her soul power desperately, holding the Star God Sword close to her chest, preparing to withstand the blast. Gu La's pupils contracted as well, and he swung the Diamond Stellar Sword back, ready to confront this world-destroying storm.
However, just as the raging elemental torrent was about to consume everything—
Gu Yue's elemental domain instantly contracted, forming a seven-colored light shield around herself and Xu Xiaoyan.
Gu La's Radiant Sun Domain also abruptly contracted, combining with his defensive technique to form a condensed barrier of light enveloping himself and Ye Xinglan.
Boom——!!!
A world-shattering explosion erupted in the center of the platform, and the seven-colored energy torrent wildly ravaged and annihilated everything.
The incredibly sturdy platform was torn apart and melted like paper, the protective barrier violently fluctuated, emitting a piercing groan, and cracks spread everywhere.
The terrifying shockwave lasted for a full ten seconds before gradually subsiding.
As the smoke cleared, the platform lay in ruins, with a massive crater at the center.
On either side of the crater:
The radiant barrier erected by Gu La was riddled with cracks. He stood protectively in front of Ye Xinglan, his face somewhat pale, and the starlight on the Diamond Stellar Sword had significantly dimmed.
Ye Xinglan behind him, though well-protected, was still shaken by the terrifying might, causing her blood to surge.
On the other side, the elemental shield erected by Gu Yue remained relatively intact, but her breathing was uneven.
Xu Xiaoyan, whom she protected, looked deathly pale, clearly having expended a great deal of energy, and the cracks on her Star Staff were more pronounced.
The four of them gazed at each other across the crater.
Gu Yue's gaze swept over Gu La and Ye Xinglan behind him, then glanced at the weakened Xu Xiaoyan.
She slightly raised her hand, and several sharp icicles instantly condensed, hovering in front of her, aimed at Ye Xinglan. Ye Xinglan tightened her grip on the Star God Sword, her eyes unyielding.
But Gu Yue didn't launch the attack. Xu Xiaoyan's constitution was too weak; without battle armor to protect herself, it was unsuitable to continue. After a moment of silence, her cool voice rang out:
"We concede."
After speaking, she retracted all her soul power, and the icicles dissipated. She turned around, supporting the somewhat exhausted Xu Xiaoyan, and walked off the platform.
The referee was momentarily stunned, then announced loudly: "Two-on-two final match, champions—Shrek Academy, Gu La, Ye Xinglan."
Victory belonged to Gu La and Ye Xinglan. But everyone could see that Gu Yue had chosen to protect Xu Xiaoyan at the last moment and refrained from launching a final attack on the obviously weakened Ye Xinglan.
This victory was hard-won and filled with the tacit understanding and restraint between teammates.
Ye Xinglan watched Gu Yue's departing figure, tightening her grip on the sword. Her eyes, besides the fighting spirit, carried more complexity and... gratitude.
She knew that Gu Yue's final act of leniency spared her from serious injury.
"Are you alright?" Gu La asked with concern.
Ye Xinglan used her sword to support herself as she stood up and shook her head: "No pro..."
Just as she was about to speak, her body swayed, and Gu La stepped forward to steady her. "Don't push yourself now. Let's go—I'll help you down."
Ye Xinglan lowered her head, softly responding, following Gu La step by step off the platform. No one noticed the enchanting flush hidden beneath her smooth hair.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Tang Sect in Star Luo.
Compared to their low profile on the Douluo Continent, Tang Sect in Star Luo Empire stood openly as the premier sect, highly relied upon by the Star Luo Empire. Most soul masters took pride in joining Tang Sect.
Tang Wulin stood alone in front of the resource exchange list of Tang Sect. Rare spiritual items rarely seen in the outside world were listed there, making his mouth water. But the long string of zeros that followed brought him back to reality.
The glow of the soul-guiding screen flickered, casting shadows on his face that danced unpredictably, reflecting the intense turmoil in his eyes.
To purchase the ten-thousand-year spiritual item needed to unlock the sixth layer, he would have to sell a large amount of fusion alloy, which meant he would need to spend some time forging afterward.
The order of the top four matches had been announced. His opponent tomorrow was Long Yue, a monster with the Mountain Dragon King martial soul and a soul power level two major stages higher than his own.
The gap of two rings was like an insurmountable chasm.
Adding the disparity in battle armor, he had no hope of victory.
But he didn't want to concede directly, so he asked Old Tang inside him: "Will the surprise of the sixth layer allow me to defeat Long Yue?"
"Do you want to die?" A gentle yet stern voice suddenly exploded deep within his spiritual sea, like a bucket of ice-cold water instantly quenching the boiling blood.
That voice carried an ancient indifference, yet every word hammered down on Tang Wulin's will: "Sixth layer? With your current body? The sealed power of the Golden Dragon King becomes increasingly violent and perilous with each layer. Forcing this layer open prematurely means the next must be unlocked within two years. Better wait another year for your physical strength to increase, giving you a chance to unlock layer by layer."
Each word pierced his inflated fantasy like poisoned ice needles, born of his desperate desire for power.
Tang Wulin's hand froze mid-air. He could clearly feel the burning bloodlust suppressed within him, still unwilling to lie dormant. Sweat dripped from his temples onto the cold ground, spreading into a small dark spot.
"Long Yue..." he muttered hoarsely, his voice dry with heavy reluctance and a hint of despair at being faced with harsh reality.
Gu La's face flashed in his mind, stirring waves of fighting spirit, yet he had to face reality.
The trusting gazes of his companions burned in his heart. Tomorrow, under the watchful eyes of thousands, against the absolute crushing force of his opponent, what could he possibly do?
Old Tang's voice showed no leniency, only an icy insight: "Only the living have a future. Sacrificing your future or losing a match—hard to choose? You still have a long way to go."
"As for Gu La, considering him as your rival, hah, the difference between you is more than just one seal."
That last sentence, tinged with disdain, shattered the last shred of false hope in his heart.
Even though Tang San's divine consciousness had been consumed once by Gu Yue, his discernment remained extraordinary. He saw that Gu La had concealed many things, but he believed that with his guidance, his son would surely surpass Gu La, just as he had defeated Qian Renxue.
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