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

Chapter 49 Battle of Tianshui

Feng Yao's slender fingers danced gracefully on the strings of the Fuxi Qin, and the ethereal sound of the qin melody rose gently. The music flowed like a clear spring, and invisible sound waves rippled throughout the arena. The soul power of the members of the Royal Fighting Team shone brightly, and their various soul rings shone brightly, their momentum rising steadily.

"Captain, what's our next move?" Yu Feng asked in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit.

Feng Yao smiled faintly, his fingertips tracing a graceful arc on the strings: "You only need to fight using your instincts as Soul Masters. I will clear all obstacles for you."

"Arrogant!" Shui Bing'er's eyes flashed coldly, and the illusory image of an ice phoenix behind her spread its wings and cried out. As the phoenix's cry rang out, her first soul ring suddenly lit up: "First Soul Skill: Ice Seal!"

A bone-chilling cold swept in, threatening to freeze everyone in the Imperial Battle. However, Feng Yao's zither music suddenly quickened, and amidst the intense sonic waves, the approaching ice crystals, before they could even take shape, dissolved into countless shimmering powders that drifted through the air.

"How is this possible?!" The pupils of the Tianshui people shrank sharply. Their proud ice control had been so easily neutralized.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, the Royal Fighting Team immediately launched a fierce offensive. Oslo transformed into a black lightning bolt, launching a surprise attack from the flank. Yu Feng spread his Wind Chime Bird wings and swooped down, while Dugu Yan's Azure Phosphorus Purple Poison transformed into a sky full of poisonous mist, dividing the battlefield.

"Second Soul Skill: Ice Ring Armor!" Shui Bing'er remained calm in the face of danger, and crystal-clear ice armor instantly condensed around the Tianshui group. However, Feng Yao lightly flicked his fingertips, and the music of his zither suddenly changed, causing the indestructible ice armor to fall off like quicksand.

A murmur rippled through the audience. Ning Fengzhi paused slightly, his teacup momentarily still, Gu Rong looked surprised, and even the Sword Douluo, who had been resting with his eyes closed, couldn't help but open them. Such exquisite control, capable of disarming an opponent without causing harm, was truly astounding.

"The younger generation is truly formidable!" Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes flashing with a sword-like light. "To have already reached the realm of domains at such a young age is truly remarkable."

These words caused an uproar in the audience. The term "domain" was an unattainable realm for the vast majority of Soul Masters. Even the powerful figures from various factions in the VIP seats couldn't help but show expressions of shock.

Gu Rong nodded slightly, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of appreciation: "Although it's not yet perfect, the cultivation level is insufficient, and the range is a bit small," he glanced at the Tianshui group in the arena, "it's more than enough to deal with these little girls."

Ning Fengzhi gently stroked the scepter in his hand, a thoughtful glint in his gentle eyes. He clearly sensed that, on that small arena, the domain constructed by Feng Yao with the sound of his zither, though only covering the arena, already possessed the initial capabilities of a domain.

At the other end of the VIP section, a complex light flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes, her heart churning with indescribable emotions. Feng Yao's displayed talent had far exceeded her expectations. For a fleeting moment, she had almost mistaken Feng Yao's ability for the purification unique to the Angelic Martial Soul.

"You little rascal, you're cultivating so fast, what will you do later?"

Yu Xiaogang's face was ashen. He clearly realized that Feng Yao's understanding of martial spirits had reached a whole new level, and he could perfectly integrate various abilities into the music.

Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu exchanged a tacit glance, and their soul powers suddenly resonated. Xue Wu's long, white ribbons moved without wind, dancing gracefully around her as if they were alive. The pure white ribbons fluttered up and down with her elegant dance, drawing beautiful arcs in the air.

"Little handsome boy," Xue Wu suddenly smiled, her long, flowing snow ribbons dancing in the wind. "Would you like to accompany my dance?"

“It would be my honor,” Feng Yao replied gracefully, the music still flowing from her fingertips.

As Xue Wu danced gracefully, dark clouds gathered above the arena, and a fine drizzle fell, causing the temperature to plummet. Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu exchanged a smile and slowly clasped hands.

"Thank you for your help, but victory will ultimately belong to Tianshui." Xue Wu smiled sweetly, and the two of them were surrounded by a bright blue light, about to complete their martial soul fusion.

Zheng——!
A string on the zither ripped through the fabric with a sound like a thunderclap. The brilliant blue light dissipated in response. Xue Wu turned her head in astonishment and saw Shui Bing'er looking dazed, a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.

"Bing'er?"

"His music also contains a spiritual impact," Shui Bing'er said with difficulty, her face as pale as paper.

"Thank you for your kind words." Feng Yao smiled gently, and the music gradually stopped. In the instant the two were restrained, Oslo and Yu Feng had already subdued the rest of the Tianshui team members as if they were in an empty field.

There was silence.

The atmosphere was heavy in the waiting area for the Spirit Hall Academy team. The silver-haired youth, Xie Yue, stared intently at Feng Yao's figure in the arena and said in a deep voice, "Nana, it seems we need to reassess this team."

Hu Liena nodded slightly, a burning fighting spirit igniting in her golden eyes. Her slender fingers gently caressed the soul tool at her waist, silently comparing her own and Feng Yao's control abilities. As one of the best of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, she longed to compete with such an opponent.

"Tch, what's there to worry about?" Yan, with his fiery red hair, scoffed, arms crossed. "Nana's charm ability can also interrupt the opponent's skills. In her bewitching state, she combines powerful offense and control." He glanced sideways at Feng Yao's slender figure in the arena and sneered, "That kid clearly isn't good at close combat. If he really runs into us, we can take him down in a minute."

Xie Yue frowned and shook his head: "Don't be careless. His sonic attack has an extremely wide range, and..." He looked intently at the musical notes flowing from Feng Yao's fingertips, "...that technique of integrating power into the music is something even I can't fathom."

Hu Liena gently pressed down on Yan, who was about to retort, and parted her red lips slightly: "Brother is right. To be able to break through the opponent's armor without hurting them, and to interrupt their martial soul fusion skill, with the opponent only bleeding a little, it seems he still held back. This level of control—" A hint of excitement flashed in her eyes, "is worth our full effort."

Upon hearing this, Yan immediately put on a smiling face and fawned over Hu Liena, "Yes, yes, Nana is absolutely right!" He rubbed his hands together, his fiery red hair swaying obsequiously, "It was my oversight; that kid is indeed quite capable."

Xie Yue looked helpless, already used to Yan's sycophantic behavior. Hu Liena rolled her eyes at Yan, but didn't say anything more.

"But don't worry, Nana," Yan assured him, patting his chest, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit, "If a fight really breaks out, I'll be the first to charge in! I absolutely won't let that kid's music affect you in the slightest."

Hu Liena scoffed, her short blonde hair fluttering in the wind: "Who needs your protection?"

She turned to look at Feng Yao's figure in the arena, her fighting spirit rising once more—only an opponent like this deserved her all-out effort. In the Shrek Academy's waiting area, Yu Tianheng and Tang San's gazes were fixed intently on Feng Yao on the stage. Their expressions were solemn, their eyes flashing with complex emotions.

“He’s gotten stronger again.” Yu Tianheng’s right hand clenched unconsciously, his nails digging deep into his palm. As someone who had once fought Feng Yao, he knew better than anyone the terrifying speed at which this young man was growing.

Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes flickered slightly, his voice low and deep: "It's not just about getting stronger." He keenly noticed every subtle movement of Feng Yao, "His understanding of martial souls has undergone another transformation."

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same shock in each other's eyes. Even with their talent, they had to admit that each appearance of Feng Yao seemed to represent a transformative metamorphosis. His effortless fighting style, his perfect fusion of music and soul power, all demonstrated the terrifying potential of this opponent.

As the red-clad referee leaped onto the stage, his booming voice resounded throughout the arena: "Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Heavenly Water Academy, the winner—Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

The girls from Tianshui Academy looked across at each other with complicated expressions. Shui Bing'er's long, icy blue hair was slightly disheveled. She pursed her pale lips and gave Feng Yao a deep look, her eyes filled with both resentment and a touch of sympathetic respect.

Feng Yao, holding the Fuxi Qin in his arms, bowed slightly to the people of Tianshui: "You flatter me." His voice was gentle and polite, without the slightest arrogance of a victor.

Shui Bing'er's icy blue eyes were fixed intently on Feng Yao, her voice soft yet exceptionally clear: "Thank you for showing mercy."

Her slender fingers gently stroked her slightly pale cheek—if the mental shock had been a fraction more severe, she probably wouldn't be able to stand by now. This restraint, knowing when to stop, inspired a sense of respect in this proud daughter of Tianshui Academy.

Feng Yao paused slightly, then smiled gently: "Miss Shui, you flatter me. Your academy's ice and snow fusion technique is truly admirable; I merely used a trick."

Many discerning people nodded in approval. Feng Yao had shown respect to his opponent even after winning, a magnanimity that surpassed that of many established Soul Masters.

Xuewu snorted softly from the side, but she had to admit that they had lost this duel wholeheartedly.

Feng Yao couldn't help but sincerely exclaim, "Miss Xue Wu's dance is truly breathtaking!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp killing intent coming from behind him. In the VIP section, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, snapped her folding fan shut.

Feng Yao felt a chill run down his spine and quickly coughed to change the subject: "Um... I mean, the combination of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill is perfect." He wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead without making a sound, secretly glad that he had reacted quickly enough.

A few soft chuckles came from the audience, clearly indicating that someone had noticed the subtle atmosphere. Feng Yao pretended to be calm as he put away the Fuxi Qin, but as he turned around, he met Yu Feng's mischievous gaze and Oslo's meaningful smile.

Thunderous applause erupted. This spectacular duel not only showcased the formidable strength of the Royal Fighting Team but also allowed everyone to witness the brand-new Musical Martial Soul.

"Let's go." Shui Bing'er took a deep breath and turned to leave first. Xue Wu and the others followed closely behind. Although they had lost, their upright figures still maintained the pride of Tianshui Academy.

The members of the Royal Fighting Team exchanged smiles and left the arena with their heads held high under the watchful eyes of the crowd. This victory not only earned them a chance to advance but also declared to the entire continent that the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy would be one of the strongest contenders for the championship in this tournament.

Feng Yao and the others from Huang Dou slowly walked off the arena. As soon as they left the arena, Yu Feng couldn't wait to rush to Feng Yao's side, excitedly waving his arms and legs:
"Xiao Feng! You're amazing!" Yu Feng's eyes lit up, his voice rising eight octaves. "I've never had such an easy team fight in my life! How did you do that?"

Oslo rarely showed such curiosity, his usually stern face now filled with inquiry: "During the battle just now, the spirit rings of those people from Tianshui were clearly lit, yet they seemed to be frozen in place and unable to unleash their skills."

Feng Yao gently stroked the Fuxi Qin in his arms, the strings trembling slightly at his fingertips: "A control-type Soul Master must not only control themselves," a profound light flashed in his eyes, "but also learn to control their enemies."

“The essence of control is to make your opponent act according to your rhythm.” Feng Yao lightly tapped the body of his zither with his fingertips. “My music can interfere with their soul power circulation. Just as they are about to unleash their soul skills,” he made a plucking motion, “they will infuse their spiritual power into the music. With that, their spiritual power will be unable to resist my control.”

Dugu Yan nodded thoughtfully: "Just like last time with Yu Tianheng? Is that why their soul skills kept failing?"

“Exactly.” Feng Yao smiled slightly. “It’s a new way to combine spiritual power with the sound of the zither. I wasn’t quite proficient enough with it last time.”

Having mastered the art of distraction control, Feng Yao can now perfectly blend his mental power with the music of his zither. Invisible sound waves weave together like a spiderweb in the arena. Although he cannot yet precisely control all seven opponents simultaneously, he is more than capable of interfering with key targets in the ever-changing gaps in the battle.

“Like a crucial move in chess,” Feng Yao explained, lightly tapping the strings, “you don’t need to calculate every single move; just strike at the right moment.” A sly glint flashed in his eyes. “When the opponent’s Soul Master is using their full power, a perfectly timed mental interference…”

"That will put them at a complete disadvantage." Yu Feng suddenly realized, and couldn't help but admire Feng Yao's art of control. This effortless fighting style was far superior to simple soul power suppression.

Dugu Yan's purple eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly chuckled, "No wonder Xue Wu's Martial Soul Fusion Technique was interrupted; you had anticipated the opportunity."

As Feng Yao and his group passed through the Shrek Academy team's waiting area, he keenly sensed two burning gazes. Looking up, he saw Yu Tianheng and Tang San staring intently at him, their eyes flashing with complex emotions.

Yu Tianheng's right hand clenched unconsciously, his eyes filled with both fighting spirit and a hint of solemnity; Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes flickered slightly, as if he were analyzing every detail of Feng Yao.

Feng Yao didn't stop walking; he simply gave the two a faint smile and a slight nod. This simple gesture was both polite and exuded a calm confidence, as if to say: the real test will be on the field.

The Fuxi Qin trembled slightly in his arms, the shimmering light on its strings seemingly responding to this silent contest. The two teams passed each other, and invisible sparks seemed to fly through the air.

(End of this chapter)