Chapter 180: Crippling Dai Mubai
After Su Mo activated his Spirit Avatar, the Soul Hunting Spear in his hand seemed to transform into a genuine weapon—no longer merely a construct of condensed spirit power.
Su Mo could now freely control the size of his Spirit Avatar spear, much like how the disciples of the Clear Sky Clan could expand their hammers to the size of small mountains before smashing down. However, Su Mo chose not to do so, finding the standard-sized spear more comfortable to wield.
"The spear dances like a dragon, commanding all weapons; life fades like the Yellow Springs, never to return. White Dragon!"
Gripping the Spirit Avatar spear, Su Mo unleashed a self-created spear technique, thrusting straight toward Zhu Zhuqing.
"So strong…"
"I'm locked on… I can't dodge…"
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted slightly as she sensed Su Mo's attack. She realized her aura had been completely locked onto by this move—there was no way to evade.
She hadn't expected Su Mo's spirit abilities to become so terrifying after releasing his spirit rings. Nevertheless, Zhu Zhuqing refused to simply wait for death. Even knowing she stood no chance, she charged forward to meet the attack head-on.
Boom—
As expected, Zhu Zhuqing was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Thankfully, Su Mo had struck her with the blunt end of his spear and held back at the last moment. Had it been the spear's tip, Zhu Zhuqing would have been in grave danger.
Pfft—
Even so, Zhu Zhuqing spat out a mouthful of blood as she was sent flying.
Whoosh—
Just before she hit the ground, a figure flashed forward and caught her slender figure.
It was Hu Liena.
After catching Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena subtly shot Su Mo a reproachful glance, as if scolding him for being too heavy-handed.
"Contestant Zhu Zhuqing has fallen out of the arena—defeat!"
"All members of the Spirit Hall team have been defeated and will proceed to the loser's bracket!"
"Contestant Su Mo is victorious!"
"Now, we invite the Shrek Academy team to send their next participant!"
Once the host confirmed Zhu Zhuqing's defeat, he stepped forward to announce the results and called for Shrek Academy's next fighter.
At this point, Shrek Academy still had two members who hadn't fought—Dai Mubai and Tang San.
After the host finished speaking, his gaze naturally fell on Dai Mubai, expecting him to step forward eagerly. After all, Dai Mubai had been impatient to fight earlier, even when it wasn't his turn.
Yet, under the host's expectant stare, Dai Mubai pretended not to notice and simply turned his head away.
Ridiculous! He was only a Spirit King—what chance did he have against Su Mo, a Soul Sage with two 100,000-year spirit rings? He still had some self-awareness.
"Big Brother Dai, go up first and try to force Su Mo to reveal as many of his techniques as possible!"
However, just as Dai Mubai was reluctant to step forward, Tang San spoke up from behind him.
Su Mo's breakthrough to Soul Sage had shocked Tang San as well.
But even so, Tang San hadn't given up on avenging Xiao Wu.
He still had his hidden weapons!
Before that, though, he needed to gather as much information as possible about Su Mo's abilities—and have Dai Mubai wear him down first.
"San, forget it. Su Mo's strength is too overwhelming. There's no way we can beat him in the individual rounds."
"We should just concede and conserve our strength for later."
Before Dai Mubai could respond, Yu Xiaogang intervened, advising against Shrek Academy continuing the match.
Su Mo's power wasn't something Dai Mubai and Tang San could overcome through sheer attrition.
The only hope of defeating Su Mo lay in the team battles.
On this point, Yu Xiaogang still held some confidence.
This year's Heaven Dou Imperial team only had Su Mo as a standout fighter—none of the other members had even reached Spirit King level.
Meanwhile, Shrek Academy boasted four Spirit Kings. With proper coordination, they stood a real chance of defeating the Heaven Dou Imperial team.
The Seven Spirit Fusion Skill he had devised for the last Spirit Master Tournament had never been used—perhaps this time, they'd finally have the opportunity.
"Even for the sake of the finals, we need to understand Su Mo's abilities first!"
Tang San ignored Yu Xiaogang's advice, insisting on his own plan.
"...That's also a valid point. Fine, Dai Mubai, you go up first. Do your best to force Su Mo to reveal more of his spirit skills!"
Seeing Tang San's determination, Yu Xiaogang hesitated but didn't push further.
"I'll go!"
With no other choice, Dai Mubai flashed onto the arena, appearing before Su Mo.
As Su Mo observed Dai Mubai, a glint of cold light flickered in his eyes.
No matter the timeline, Su Mo had never liked Dai Mubai.
In his past life, it was because of Zhu Zhuqing.
In this life, it was because Dai Mubai had always harbored hostility toward him since the day he joined Shrek Academy.
This was only natural—after all, Su Mo had defeated Dai Mubai during the entrance exam.
"Dai Mubai, I heard your elder brother has already secured the crown prince position in the Star Luo Empire, right?"
Su Mo didn't immediately attack. Instead, he smiled and spoke.
"What a shame. As a prince of Star Luo, joining Spirit Hall isn't an option for you."
He then sighed, feigning sympathy.
"Zhu Zhuqing's betrayal back then—it was because of something you said to her, wasn't it?"
Dai Mubai's expression darkened at Su Mo's first remark. But upon hearing the second, his eyes blazed with fury.
From Su Mo's words, he had pieced something together.
"That's right. And looking back, it was excellent advice, wasn't it?"
"If not for my suggestion, Zhu Zhuqing would be sharing your fate right now."
Seeing that Dai Mubai had caught on so quickly, Su Mo didn't bother denying it.
Dai Mubai's defeat in the succession struggle was inevitable—he would soon return to the Star Luo Empire to face punishment.
Against such a loser, Su Mo had nothing to fear.
He simply wanted to see Dai Mubai's impotent rage.
"You bastard!"
"Fifth Spirit Ability—White Tiger Demon God Transformation!"
The moment Su Mo admitted it, Dai Mubai erupted in fury, instantly activating his fifth spirit skill, White Tiger Demon God Transformation, before charging at Su Mo.
Like his third spirit skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, Dai Mubai's fifth skill was a self-enhancement ability—only far more potent.
The downside was that his third skill became redundant—the two couldn't stack.
"First Spirit Ability—Pierce!"
Facing Dai Mubai's assault, Su Mo finally used his first spirit skill after a long time, imbuing his Soul Hunting Spear with piercing power.
But that was all. Su Mo didn't activate any other abilities.
Boom—
He then swung his spear, meeting Dai Mubai head-on.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Under Su Mo's relentless spear strikes, Dai Mubai—despite his ferocious charge—couldn't even get within a meter of Su Mo. Instead, his body was repeatedly slashed by the spear's edge.
Within moments, Dai Mubai's body was riddled with wounds.
"Damn it…"
Faced with this situation, Dai Mubai quickly recalled the shadow of helplessness he'd felt when fighting Su Mo in the past.
Bare-handed against Su Mo's spear, he was utterly suppressed—completely unable to land a hit.
"Fourth Spirit Ability—White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
Left with no choice, Dai Mubai unleashed his only ranged attack, the fourth spirit skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower.
Countless streaks of light, like shooting stars, rained down toward Su Mo.
Whoosh—
Instead of meeting the attack head-on, Su Mo's figure flickered—vanishing from the spot.
"A teleportation skill?!"
"To think he's mastered such a rare ability…"
"His spirit ring didn't light up—it was his right hand that glowed slightly… A spirit bone!"
"He used a spirit bone skill!"
"..."
Seeing Su Mo execute such a practical and powerful soul skill as Blink, the crowd was astonished.
Some soul masters, upon realizing Su Mo had used a soul bone skill, were even more shocked and envious.
"Blink—the exact same skill as Xiao Wu's!"
"This skill is way too useful..."
"..."
Oscar and Ma Hongjun were equally amazed when they saw Su Mo use Blink, immediately recalling Xiao Wu.
They knew better than anyone just how practical this skill was.
Back at Shrek Academy, Xiao Wu had once defeated both Su Mo and Tang San in sparring matches using Blink alone.
"Blink?!"
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened when he saw Su Mo use such a skill.
He wasn't afraid of Su Mo breaking through to Soul Sage—what truly worried him was Su Mo possessing a life-saving skill like Blink.
With this, Shrek Academy's chances of defeating Su Mo became even slimmer.
"That's Xiao Wu's skill..."
While others might not have realized, Tang San's eyes were fixed on Su Mo's right hand.
He knew—that was Xiao Wu's skill.
"You're too weak."
"I don't even feel like tormenting you."
After appearing behind Dai Mubai, Su Mo spoke indifferently.
"Second Spirit Ability—Tyrant's Strike!"
Boom—
Su Mo then unleashed his modified second spirit skill, Tyrant's Strike.
Though only a second spirit skill, in Su Mo's hands, it was overwhelmingly powerful—far surpassing Dai Mubai's fourth spirit skill.
Pfft—
Dai Mubai barely managed to block, but Su Mo's spear pierced straight through his wrist and shoulder—just like during Shrek Academy's entrance exam.
Only this time, Dai Mubai's injuries were far worse.
"Ah—!"
Dai Mubai screamed in agony as the spear skewered his wrist and shoulder.
"Dai Mubai!"
"No!"
"We surrender!"
"..."
The Shrek team members cried out in alarm, and Yu Xiaogang immediately declared Dai Mubai's forfeit to the referee.
Seeing Dai Mubai severely injured, Yu Xiaogang's expression turned grim.
Their original plan had been to force Su Mo to reveal his hidden abilities.
But now, though they had succeeded, the cost—Dai Mubai's heavy injuries—was far too high.
Facing the Spirit Hall team in the loser's bracket wouldn't be too difficult; this year's Spirit Hall team was weak.
Even without Dai Mubai, Tang San could lead the others to victory.
But if Dai Mubai was seriously injured, it would severely impact their final battle against the Heaven Dou Imperial team.
"Stop! Shrek Academy has surrendered!"
"Contestant Su Mo, cease your attack!"
The host immediately stepped onto the stage to halt Su Mo.
"Apologies. I didn't expect you to be just as fragile as before."
Su Mo smirked faintly at Dai Mubai.
Pfft—
He then yanked his spear free.
"Ah—!"
Dai Mubai screamed again, his face pale as he glared hatefully at Su Mo.
He knew Su Mo had done this deliberately.
But since he wasn't killed, there was nothing he could do—even if Su Mo had clearly intended to cripple him.
After all, Su Mo had only used one move. It was Dai Mubai who failed to defend against it.
As Su Mo said, he hadn't expected his attack to be so overwhelming.
Pfft—
The sheer humiliation made Dai Mubai spit out another mouthful of blood.
Whoosh—
"Dai Mubai!"
"Are you okay?"
"Get him treated, now!"
Two figures rushed onto the stage—Shrek Academy's dean, Flender, and vice-dean, Zhao Wuji.
"Su Mo, you went too far!"
"This was excessive!"
Zhao Wuji couldn't help but reprimand Su Mo while supporting Dai Mubai.
"I didn't expect him to be this weak."
Su Mo flicked his spear, shaking off the blood.
"You—!"
Zhao Wuji's anger flared at Su Mo's dismissive tone.
"Enough. Let's get Dai Mubai treated first."
Flender stopped Zhao Wuji, though his gaze at Su Mo was heavy.
He knew Su Mo had done this on purpose, but in soul duels, injuries were common. Shrek couldn't protest.
"Hmph!"
Zhao Wuji snorted coldly before leaving with Flender to tend to Dai Mubai.
"Su Mo went way too far!"
"Exactly! We were once teammates—how could he do this?"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun criticized Su Mo after seeing Dai Mubai's condition.
Hearing this, Tang San's eyes flashed with disdain and hatred.
Too far?
If they knew what Su Mo had done to Xiao Wu, they'd call him a monster.
No—Su Mo was a monster.
He had forced Xiao Wu to willingly sacrifice herself—and to Su Mo, no less.
As his hatred burned, Tang San stepped onto the stage the moment Dai Mubai was taken away.
...
(End of Chapter)
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