Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 24: Explosion
Instantly, the first spirit ring beneath his feet ignited, a brilliant yellow glow illuminating his handsome features. As the strings vibrated, a circular wave of sound swept through the entire venue with devastating force. The solid granite floor shattered like thin paper under this force, sending rubble raining down.

Tang San hastily used his Black Jade Hand to block, but the sound of the zither seemed to penetrate his defenses and strike his internal organs. He groaned, used his Qi to regulate his breathing, and retreated seven steps before he could barely stabilize himself. The blood oozing from the corner of his mouth was particularly glaring on his pale face.

"Xiao San!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, her pink eyes full of heartache, her slender fingers tightly grasping the edge of the fighting arena, as if she was about to go on stage in the next second.

Everyone at Shrek looked solemn, and Dai Mubaihu's eyes widened. They were shocked to realize that the young man who always wore a warm smile had such terrifying strength.

"This kind of power, this is impossible!" Yu Xiaogang stood up suddenly, and the tactical notes in his hand fell to the ground. His proud disciple had suffered a great loss in a single encounter.

Zhao Wuji stroked his stubble, his eyes gleaming. "Interesting! This kid's piano music seems to be a perfect counter to those fancy little monsters. Flender, it looks like our little monster has hit a wall today."

Tang San steadied his trembling body, a flicker of surprise in his purple demon pupils. He stared at Feng Yao, who was calmly playing the zither not far away, and his heart was filled with a chill. Among spirit masters of the same level, those who could so keenly perceive his hidden weapon techniques hidden under his spirit attack were rare. Adding Feng Yao's spirit, he could conclude that his hearing was even better.

Feng Yao plucked the strings of the zither lightly with his fingertips and advised in a gentle voice, "Tang, a sneak attack might catch the enemy by surprise." The zither's sound changed, becoming a clear and melodious voice. "But it's a minor path after all, and I'm afraid it will hinder your future. Why not..."

He raised his eyes and smiled faintly, with stars in his eyes: "Put more effort on the foundation of cultivation."

To outsiders, this was a very friendly reminder, but to Tang San, it had a completely different meaning.

Feng Yao's understated words struck Tang San like lightning. His face instantly turned pale, his knuckles white from exerting excessive force. As a Tang Sect disciple, the art of concealed weapons was the foundation of his life. This comment was tantamount to a complete denial of everything he had learned throughout his life. This battle was no longer just a challenge to Feng Yao, but a battle to defend the Tang Sect's honor!
A cold glint flashed in Tang San's eyes, a hint of blood in the depths of his purple demon pupils. "You have insulted the Tang Sect, and you have already received your death." Murderous intent surged within him, yet his expression remained impassive. He slowly raised his left hand, striking a Tang Sect handshake gesture, while his right hand quietly rested behind his back. With a soft click, a jet-black, fine-iron crossbow mechanism fell into his palm. The dark blue lines on the crossbow were faintly visible in the light of the soul guide, and three poison-infused crossbow bolts were poised for release.

Feng Yao's ears twitched slightly, his keen hearing, cultivated from years of playing the zither, allowing him to accurately capture the almost inaudible sound of the spring. His gaze as he stared at Tang San gradually turned cold, a sharp edge gleaming in his originally gentle gaze.

Feng Yao stroked the strings of the zither with his fingertips, silently reciting in his heart: "He who kills others will be killed."

In the stands, Yu Xiaogang's gaze narrowed slightly as he stared at the coldly glowing crossbow in Tang San's hand. His lips moved slightly as if to stop him, but he ultimately fell silent. On the Soul Fighting Arena, there was only victory and loss, life and death. Using external objects, while despised by the Soul Master community, was not considered a violation.

Flanders, standing nearby, frowned, his gaze shifting between Tang San and Qin Ming in the distance. He knew full well: given the relationship between Qin Ming and Shrek, this should have been a brief, controlled exchange. But Tang San's use of his killing weapon had already crossed the line into healthy competition.

Tang San's knuckles gripped the crossbow trigger tightly, a flicker of determination in his purple demon pupils. He was well aware of the power of the Zhuge Divine Crossbow in his hand—even a Soul Master at the Soul Sect level would find it difficult to escape unscathed at such close range. Once the poisoned crossbow arrow left the string, no matter how skilled the opponent was at playing the zither, there was no way to change its trajectory.

The icy touch between his fingers bolstered his confidence. Tang San secretly planned: Fire three arrows simultaneously, targeting the throat, heart, and dantian. Even if Feng Yao could avoid a fatal wound, he would still be severely injured.

In an instant, Tang San's figure suddenly became erratic, and he pushed his Ghostly Shadow Step to its limit. The next second, he left several afterimages on the fighting arena, which were difficult to distinguish between real and fake. The Zhuge Divine Crossbow, emitting a cold and icy light, had already locked onto Feng Yao's vitals. The black crossbow arrow flashed a deadly light under the soul guide light.

"Be careful!" Zhu Zhuqing's cold and beautiful face suddenly changed color, and her clear voice pierced the sky.

Feng Yao's eyes narrowed, and his slender fingers suddenly exerted force on the strings. Three soul rings, yellow, yellow, and purple, simultaneously shone brilliantly, and the Fuxi Qin vibrated like a dragon's roar. The surging soul power rippled, distorting the very air.

Tang San's heart was filled with alarm. The strength of Feng Yao's spirit power at this moment was far beyond his expectations. He was about to pull the trigger when he saw Feng Yao's fingertips had already scratched the strings.

How could a crossbow reach the speed of sound waves? The moment this clear and melodious sound of the zither rang out, Tang San knew that he had lost the initiative.

Feng Yao's eyes flashed like lightning, and a clear shout resounded throughout the room: "The strings move, startling the wind and rain; the sound breaks through the clouds! Clang!!"

At the moment Tang San pulled the trigger, sound waves, barely perceptible to the naked eye, pierced the crossbow mechanism with pinpoint accuracy. With a soft click, the iron-forged Zhuge Divine Crossbow exploded before everyone's eyes!

Feng Yao's fingertips gently stroked the strings, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. He certainly couldn't take Tang San's life in public, but he could teach this so-called Tang Sect disciple a lesson that would last a lifetime.

Tang San's knuckles burst open, his entire right hand shattered by the shattering pieces of the Zhuge Divine Crossbow. Even more terrifying, Feng Yao's zither music wasn't just aimed at the Zhuge Divine Crossbow; it penetrated his meridians like a thorn in his flesh. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, streaked with fragments of his internal organs.

"puff--"

In the final moments before his consciousness faded, Tang San felt only the excruciating pain of his meridians being torn apart. The sound waves were like thousands of red-hot steel needles, roaming freely within his body, causing heart-wrenching pain every time they passed through a vital acupoint.

"Although it is exquisite," Feng Yao's voice flowed like a clear spring, but every word was heartbreaking. "It's a pity," he said, looking at the pile of scrap metal on the ground, sighing softly, "that it is just an external object. The more sophisticated the mechanism, the more flaws it has."

Tang San was thrown several feet away like a kite with a broken string, and fell heavily on the edge of the fighting arena. The expensive Zhuge Divine Crossbow had already been shattered, and the parts were scattered all over the ground.

"Xiao San!" Xiao Wu's heart-wrenching cry pierced the sky. A pink figure rushed towards the fighting arena like an arrow. The Shrek people followed closely behind.

At the same time, the Royal Fighting Team also leaped onto the stage. Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorus Snake loomed, and Yu Tianheng's body flashed with lightning. The seven of them stood in a fan-shaped formation behind Feng Yao, their momentum as strong as a rainbow.

The two sides confronted each other on the bloodstained fighting arena. The tense atmosphere made the air freeze, as if a fight would break out at the next second.

"stop!"

Three figures flashed onto the stage like lightning. Flender's Cat-Owl Spirit left a trail in the air before landing on the stage with Yu Xiaogang, while Qin Ming appeared beside Feng Yao like a ghost.

Feng Yao didn't wait for Qin Ming to speak before turning to Ye Lingling and said softly, "Thank you, Sister Lingling."

Ye Lingling was about to take a step forward when the wary gazes of the Shrek people stopped her. Dai Mu's white tiger claws flashed with a cold light, Xiao Wu's scorpion braid stretched like a whip, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda slowly spun in Ning Rongrong's palm.

Feng Yao's fingertips gently stroked the strings of the zither, his tone gentle but unquestionable: "If you don't want Tang's foundation to be completely destroyed, please move aside."

"Hypocrite!" Dai Mubai's eyes widened, his claws flashing coldly, "Xiao San is injured like this, isn't it because of you?"

Feng Yao's expression was calm: "Student Tang was the first to kill, I was just protecting myself." He glanced at the unconscious Tang San, "Without a powerful enough sound wave, how can we shatter that fine iron crossbow? If you insist on stopping me..." Feng Yao's voice paused slightly: "Every moment of delay will increase the damage to his meridians."

Ning Rongrong suddenly thought of something and pushed everyone aside: "Everyone, get out of the way!" She tightly grasped the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, her voice trembling, "He's right. Xiao San's injury can't be delayed."

Qin Ming stepped forward at the right moment, his gentle voice like a spring breeze: "Don't worry, everyone, with Lingling here, he'll be fine." He swept his eyes over the crowd gently, "After all, I'm considered your senior."

Flender quickly smoothed things over: "Alright, Qin Ming, let's talk about the past later. Let's get this girl started." He anxiously glanced at the unconscious Tang San, his heart agitated. If anything happened to Tang San, not only would Shrek Academy be shut down, but they would all be forced to pack up and flee, each going their own way.

Ye Lingling quickly came to Tang San's side, raising her hand lightly. Although Xiao Wu glared at Feng Yao angrily, she didn't say anything to stop him.

"Nine-hearted Begonia, bloom."

As Ye Lingling's cold voice rang out, pale pink crabapple petals fell like rain. Each petal, upon contact with Tang San's wound, transformed into a speck of light, merging into his body. Most astonishing was his bloody left hand—the shattered bones reassembled, the torn muscles healed, the entire process taking only a few breaths.

Everyone at Shrek was stunned. Dai Mubai couldn't help but sigh in a low voice: "Having a healing spirit master like this on the team is like having an extra life."

Ning Rongrong gazed at the crabapple petals and whispered, "The Nine-Hearted Begonia, inherited from a single lineage, truly lives up to its reputation."

Yu Tianheng's gaze suddenly fixed on Flender's side. When he saw the familiar figure clearly, his dragon eyes instantly burst into incredible surprise: "Uncle?!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement. This Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex soul master who was a powerful figure in the fighting arena was like a child who had seen his relatives at this moment. His arrogance was obviously restrained a little.

Seeing that Tang San was out of danger, Flender pushed his glasses and smiled at Yu Xiaogang beside him: "This is really like a flood that has washed away the Dragon King Temple!"

Everyone at Shrek looked at him sideways when they heard this. No one would have thought that this theoretical master who usually looked unremarkable actually came from the famous Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex clan.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze lingered on Yu Tianheng for a moment, but the corner of his eye swept over Feng Yao beside him inconspicuously, and a hint of elusive complexity flashed in his eyes.

"Tianheng, you've grown up." He spoke gently, but just as Yu Tianheng was about to smile, he changed the subject: "But when will you change your habit of underestimating the enemy and rushing forward?"

Captain Huang Dou, who had been so majestic just now, suddenly wilted like an eggplant hit by frost, standing with his hands hanging down, looking like a teenager who had done something wrong and was being scolded by his elders.

As the treatment neared its end, Ye Lingling's smooth forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and her breathing became slightly rapid. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly withdrew her blooming Nine-Hearted Begonia. The soul power lingering around her receded like a tide.

"The injury is no longer serious." She wiped the sweat from her forehead, her voice as cold as usual, "But you cannot use your soul power for three months."

Xiao Wu quickly stepped forward, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you so much!"

Ye Lingling just shook her head slightly, her snow-white skirt swirling lightly, and turned to walk towards the Royal Fighting Team, leaving a faint floral fragrance floating in the air.

Feng Yao turned his gaze towards Zhu Zhuqing who was not far away, with a gentle smile on his face: "Thank you Miss Zhuqing for your reminder just now."

Zhu Zhuqing's expression was cold, and she just shook her head slightly: "Even without my reminder, you can handle it."

"At this critical moment," Feng Yao bowed solemnly, "you are the only one who can speak up for justice regardless of gains and losses. Your broad-mindedness is truly admirable."

These words made everyone at Shrek look ashamed. Dai Mubai turned his face away in embarrassment. Even Flender and Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but cough lightly.

"You saved me." Zhu Zhuqing left this brief explanation and turned away like a breeze, her black leather jacket drawing a neat arc in the air.

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes swept across the Shrek crowd, and her tone was cold: "Teacher Qin, it's late at night, we won't disturb you from reminiscing with old friends."

Qin Ming nodded slightly awkwardly: "Okay, Yanyan, you guys should go back to the hotel and rest first."

"Xiaofeng, let's go." Dugu Yan turned to Feng Yao, and her voice unconsciously softened a little.

Feng Yao nodded in understanding and bowed to everyone at Shrek before leaving: "Please tell classmate Tang that I deeply apologize for what happened today." His warm smile looked particularly sincere in the moonlight.

Feng Yao then looked at Qin Ming and said, "Then I'll trouble Teacher Qin to clean up the mess for us in this great fighting arena."

Qin Ming nodded. As the Royal Fighting Team left, only Yu Tianheng and Qin Ming remained. Flanders raised his square-framed glasses slightly and said to Qin Ming with some embarrassment, "This time, I really embarrassed you in front of your students."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming straightened his back, placed his right hand on his chest, and performed a standard disciple salute. He said respectfully and firmly, "Dean, you are too kind. Once a teacher, always a father. You will always be my mentor, and Shrek will always be my home." He glanced at the Shrek people and said gently, "Young people are full of vigor and vitality, and some friction is a necessary part of growth."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed, and he nodded in approval, "Well said. Only after seeing the wider world can one understand that there are always people better than one." He pondered for a moment, then suddenly suggested, "I wonder if Teacher Qin would be willing to let Huang Dou and Shrek exchange and learn for a while?"

Qin Ming looked troubled and was about to go back to seek everyone's opinions, but Yu Tianheng had already preempted him, saying, "Of course!" His blue eyes gleamed with excitement. "Getting your guidance will be of great benefit to us."

As he spoke, he turned to Qin Ming, his tone firm, but a hint of disdain flashed in the depths of his eyes, and he said: "Teacher, I believe that the exchange with Shrek will definitely take Huang Dou to a higher level."

In Yu Tianheng's eyes, the Shrek team was a bit better than the mediocre Tiandou Royal Academy's second team, but that was all. He readily agreed because he was looking forward to spending more time with his uncle, whom he hadn't seen in years, and gaining his guidance.

(End of this chapter)