Five days later.
Spirit Hall Academy, Dueling Arena.
Just a few days after returning to school, the Golden Generation trio came knocking on the door once again.
Having learned from their previous failure,
and combined with the new skills they learned from Bibi Dong,
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan challenged Golden Crown once more in the name of avenging their shame.
Hu Liena, in particular, expressed with great confidence that they would definitely win this time.
Regarding this,
Golden Crown didn't coddle them.
After all, the more children are coddled, the easier it is for trouble to occur.
A good beating would fix it.
The surrounding area was filled with students and teachers who had come to watch the excitement.
"How long has it even been? Hu Liena's group is challenging Golden Crown again?"
"Exactly. Have they forgotten how Golden Crown thrashed them last time so quickly?"
"It's different. I heard Yan say that Hu Liena and Xie Yue learned an incredibly powerful move."
"What move?"
"I don't know."
"Bets are open, bets are open! Bet on Golden Crown to win at one-to-three, bet on the Golden Generation to win at three-to-one!"
While the students were discussing heatedly,
the surrounding teachers also shared their views on the battle.
"Old Bai, who do you think will win this time?"
"Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan."
"You're way too optimistic about them. Don't forget that Golden Crown's Soul Ring configuration is unprecedented, not to mention he won last time."
"I know, but Golden Crown was hiding his true strength back then. Hu Liena's group didn't know the specifics and were careless, which is why they were defeated."
"But this time is different. The three of them are prepared, and besides, we've seen their hard work over these past few days."
"After all that, who do you think will win?"
"It's a fifty-fifty toss-up."
"Hmph, you're certainly playing both sides."
...While they were talking,
the four people in the arena were already prepared to start fighting at any moment.
"I'm telling you three, how long has it been and your tails are already wagging in the air again?"
"So eager to get beaten up."
Golden Crown finished warming up and spoke to the three.
Hearing this,
Hu Liena smiled: "Golden Crown, haven't you heard that modesty leads to progress while pride leads to regression?"
"You are too proud; today you will surely be defeated by us."
Golden Crown retorted: "It's true that I'm proud, but the key is that I've never regressed either."
"You..."
These words left Hu Liena quite fuming.
Yan clenched his fists: "Too arrogant. We must defeat him today."
"Victory!" x3
After the three finished speaking confidently,
Yan and Xie Yue were the first to make a move.
The two launched an attack simultaneously from the left and right, striking at Golden Crown.
Compared to last time,
the attack speed of the two had significantly improved.
"Not bad, you've improved a lot."
"But unfortunately, you're still too slow."
Golden Crown used his momentum to sidestep Xie Yue's strike, applying a slight force with his right hand.
He caused Xie Yue to strike towards Yan instead.
"Ouch, Xie Yue, why are you hitting me?"
"My mistake, my mistake."
Taking advantage of the moment they were speaking,
Golden Crown unleashed his second Spirit Ability, Golden Flash.
Just as he raised his hand to strike,
Hu Liena activated her Charm Spirit Ability.
"This illusion is quite a bit stronger than the last one."
"But unfortunately, I'm not someone so easily controlled."
Golden Crown broke through the illusion in an instant.
But in that brief moment, Xie Yue and Yan had already returned to Hu Liena's side.
"This guy is even stronger than before."
"If Nana hadn't timely controlled him just now, the two of us might have been knocked down already."
"Going on like this isn't an option. Xie Yue, I'll hold him off; you and Nana perform that move."
Hu Liena nodded: "Alright, Brother, let's do it. Let Golden Crown see how formidable we are."
"Mm."
The siblings' hands gripped tightly together.
Their respective Martial Souls appeared above their heads and then began to slowly merge together.
"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
Golden Crown said, as unpleasant memories were stirred in his mind.
Yan, meanwhile, rushed forward, launching continuous attacks.
Buying time for the two.
"So annoying. Dark Gold Tyrant Body!"
After boosting his own strength several times over, Golden Crown sent Yan flying with a single punch.
By then,
Hu Liena and Xie Yue's Martial Soul Fusion Skill was already complete.
The field was covered in a mist mixed with red and pink.
This was precisely the core ability of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill—the Red Mist Domain.
Within the range of this Domain, an opponent's senses, spirit power, and mobility would all be significantly reduced.
Next, an androgynous Fiend emerged from the mist.
Now Golden Crown had no choice but to take it seriously.
"Charm!"
The Fiend's eyes lit up with a pink glow, activating mental control.
Clearly,
this Charm was far stronger than the one Hu Liena performed alone.
Golden Crown reacted quickly, flashing into the air.
He unleashed Golden Flash once again, striking out.
"Slash!"
Moon Blades appeared in the Fiend's hands and were swung out.
They sliced the incoming light sphere in half.
"It seems I must get serious today."
Golden Crown finished speaking.
He no longer held back, exerting his full strength to clash with Hu Liena and Xie Yue's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Although a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is powerful,
it has a clear weakness.
That is, the consumption of spirit power is far too massive.
Not to mention that the current Xie Yue and Hu Liena were only Spirit Grandmasters.
Their spirit power was limited.
They could only hold on for a few minutes before they couldn't sustain it anymore.
On the other hand, Golden Crown, relying on the terrifying recovery of the Nine Yang Divine Art,
spammed his ultimate moves as if they cost nothing.
At this moment, he deeply understood what the Prince's Tactics meant.
And what it meant to have overwhelming firepower when rich.
"One move to decide the winner!"
"Third Spirit Ability, Golden Sky-Rending Claw!"
While unleashing the Spirit Ability, his right palm radiated a golden light.
That's right, this time he also added the power of his Spirit Bone.
He swung his right hand with force.
The golden claw shadow, which seemed capable of tearing through space, struck out.
Hu Liena and Xie Yue also used the last of their strength to launch their strongest strike.
Crack!
Golden Crown's strike could be described as incredibly formidable.
Not only did the Spirit Ability inherently ignore defense, but it also added the terrifying power of the Spirit Bone.
The moment the two attacks touched,
Hu Liena and Xie Yue's attack was shredded.
Immediately after, it pierced through the Fiend.
"Ah!" x2
After Hu Liena and Xie Yue let out painful cries, their Martial Soul Fusion Skill deactivated, and they collapsed unconscious on the ground.
But the attack didn't stop.
It flew towards the two.
"Withered Chrysanthemum! Injuries everywhere! Falling petals break the heart!"
At that moment, a massive chrysanthemum appeared on the field,
blocking the attack launched by Golden Crown.
The newcomer was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo.
He glanced at Golden Crown and didn't say a word.
Instead, he took Hu Liena and Xie Yue and left.
"He came just in time."
Golden Crown said, shaking his hand.
He then left the Dueling Arena and returned to the dormitory.
Just as he reached the dormitory entrance,
he saw a family servant waiting at the door.
"Young Master, you're finally back. The Master wants you to return home immediately; he says the location you were looking for has been determined."
"Great! Immortal Herbs, here I come!"
...