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

Chapter 52 Formless and Formless
As the competition progresses, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is drawing to a close, and the battles are becoming increasingly fierce and intense. The teams that have made it to the third round are all elites who have fought their way through the brutal elimination rounds, and each member is a standout among young soul masters.

After a short day of rest, the third round of the competition finally kicked off amidst great anticipation. The elites from various academies were eager to compete, and the air was thick with tension. The stands were packed, everyone holding their breath, ready to witness this ultimate showdown between young geniuses.

Sun Buyu slowly walked back to the waiting area, holding his draw slip. His gaze fell on the slip in his hand, and he announced in a calm and clear voice, "Your opponent in the third round is—Thunder Academy!"

Upon hearing this, the members of the Royal Fighting Clan all displayed intriguing expressions.

"Interesting." Yu Feng muttered in a low voice, secretly glancing at Feng Yao not far away. He thought to himself: Is Xiao Feng just naturally incompatible with the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family? Every time he encounters someone from Blue Lightning, he always manages to cause some trouble.

Dugu Yan keenly noticed Yu Feng's subtle movement, and her red lips curved slightly: "What? Has our 'talkative bird' become mute today?"

Yu Feng shrank back sheepishly, but couldn't help glancing at Feng Yao again. Feng Yao was casually adjusting his cuffs, but the slight upturn of his lips looked rather malicious.

"Heh, what a small world." Dugu Bo narrowed his long, narrow eyes and said in a chilling tone, "Boy, beat those Thunder Academy guys to a pulp. If I can tell you're holding back even a little bit..." He snorted coldly.

Feng Yao's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he respectfully bowed. "Don't worry, senior, I was just looking for this opportunity." A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes as he looked up. "To conduct a proper experiment."

The referee in red stepped onto the stage and announced loudly: "The third round of the All-Continent Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academies: Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy versus Thunder Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

The referee in red's booming voice echoed across the arena. The two teams of Soul Masters slowly walked onto the stage under the watchful eyes of the crowd, their heavy footsteps seeming to resonate in everyone's hearts.

The members of Thunder Academy wore solemn expressions, their gazes unanimously fixed on Feng Yao. Yu Tianxin, the leader, frowned deeply, blue-purple lightning flickering between his fingers. Lei Dong, beside him, lowered his voice and said, "Captain, that Feng Yao..."

“I know,” Yu Tianxin interrupted in a deep voice, a hint of apprehension flashing in her eyes. “Everyone stay alert; his methods are very strange.”

Feng Yao seemed to sense something, raising his eyes to meet the gazes of the Thunder Academy students, a half-smile playing on his lips. He slowly and deliberately straightened his clothes, each subtle movement making his opponents even more tense.

Feng Yao raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his amber eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Captain Yu, I never expected the mighty Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus to switch to support roles."

These words sent a chill down the spines of everyone in the Royal Fighting Clan. Yu Feng gasped, instinctively taking a half-step back behind Dugu Yan. Although they had the backing of Poison Douluo, Feng Yao's words were a blatant trampling of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's dignity.

In the Shrek waiting area, Yu Tianheng's face instantly turned ashen, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white. Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed, his hands gripping the theoretical notes so tightly they were deeply wrinkled—in his eyes, it was nothing more than tactical coordination.

"You!" Yu Tianxin roared in fury, his body suddenly erupting with blinding lightning, blue-purple electric snakes thrashing wildly through his hair. Although Feng Yao's words were true, for him, who valued the honor of his sect above all else, this was undoubtedly a blatant insult.

"Tianxin, don't get carried away!" The Thunder Academy members hurriedly stopped the enraged Yu Tianxin. Lei Tian gripped his shoulder tightly: "He's provoking you!"

Feng Yao remained calm and composed, even casually dusting off non-existent dust from his sleeves. His composed demeanor contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere at Thunder Academy across the street.

At this moment, even the red-clad referee on the stage couldn't help but cast an admiring glance at Feng Yao—after all, there weren't many people on this continent who dared to provoke the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan like this, and those lightning-attribute soul masters, known for their violence, were never easy to deal with.

Yu Tianxin's eyes were bloodshot, her teeth clenched so tightly they cracked, and lightning surged around her: "Feng Yao! If you've got the guts, send them all down, and we'll settle this one-on-one!"

"Pfft—" Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan's face lit up with a smile. Her short purple hair swayed slightly with her trembling shoulders. She understood in her heart: "As expected. Every single one of the people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is a bit dim-witted." A playful light flashed in her purple eyes as she glanced meaningfully in the direction of the Shrek Academy team.

A faint smile played on Feng Yao's lips as he glanced at the red-clad referee not far away, his eyes slightly raised. "Referee, is this suggestion in accordance with the competition rules?"

The referee in red, his face solemn, stood with his hands behind his back, his voice unhurried: "This referee is only responsible for maintaining order in the competition. I will not comment on your personal grudges, but if you intend to treat the rules set by the Spirit Hall as a joke—" He paused meaningfully, his piercing gaze sweeping over both sides, "then don't blame me for acting according to the rules."

"What a pity, Brother Yu." Feng Yao shook his head as if regretting.

At this moment, Yu Tianxin's boiling blood gradually cooled down. He stared deeply at Feng Yao, the anger in his eyes replaced by a complex emotion—a barely perceptible hint of relief.

If the team loses, it can be attributed to overall coordination and tactical arrangements; but if he were to truly fight Feng Yao one-on-one, he secretly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning slightly white. Even someone as proud as him dared not say that he could confidently defeat this unfathomable opponent.

What's even more terrifying is that losing a one-on-one duel in public would be far more humiliating than Yu Tianheng's situation. At least his cousin won the match fair and square. This thought was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing his impulsive anger.

The referee in red raised his right arm, his deep voice, amplified by his soul power, resounding throughout the arena: "If neither side objects—the match begins!"

With a sudden swing of his arm, the signal that the match had officially begun instantly brought the atmosphere in the arena to a fever pitch.

A glint flashed in Feng Yao's eyes, and his soul rings lit up beneath his feet; meanwhile, Yu Tianxin on the opposite side was also enveloped in lightning, blue electric currents coursing across her body. The soul power fluctuations of the fourteen soul masters from the two teams collided on the field, stirring up waves of energy.

"Sister Yan," Feng Yao called softly, giving Dugu Yan a meaningful look.

A knowing glint flashed in Dugu Yan's purple eyes, and a dangerous smile curved her lips. With a flick of her slender hand, the venom of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent erupted instantly, and the thick poisonous mist spread across the arena like a living thing, instantly separating the Royal Fighting and Thunder teams.

Yu Tianxin frowned and said sternly, "Lei Tian, ​​go and find out what's going on!"

"Understood!" Lei Tian's Thunder Eagle wings suddenly unfurled, and he soared into the sky with a loud eagle cry. However, when he looked down through the poisonous fog, he was astonished to find that the Royal Fighting Team members were still maintaining their original formation, standing motionless in place, as if waiting for something.

This unusual sight set off alarm bells in Lei Tian's heart. He hurriedly flapped his wings, wanting to turn back and warn others, but saw Feng Yao looking up at him with a chilling smile on his face.

"You don't need to participate in this match," Feng Yao said with a smile, his slender fingers lightly caressing the strings. "Sister Yan's poison mist is enough."

As his words fell, Feng Yao's hand lightly brushed across the strings. The strings vibrated without producing a sound, and the soul rings on Feng Yao's body lit up one by one, gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the poisonous mist. Lei Tian, ​​suspended in mid-air, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, a deadly sense of crisis washing over him. He looked around frantically, but couldn't find any trace of attack. "What's going on? Where did this danger come from...?"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly shot through his armpit. Lei Tian groaned, and Lei Ying's wings instantly went out of control, causing him to plummet from the sky like a kite with a broken string.

"Watch out! His attack is invisible!" Lei Tian shouted a warning, enduring the excruciating pain.

Feng Yao lightly plucked the strings of the zither with his fingertips, whispering like the wind: "The strings move, but the shadow does not." In the poisonous fog, his smiling figure appeared and disappeared, like a ghost seeking death.

A glint flashed in Chen Xin's eyes from the stands, and he rarely showed such admiration: "Wonderful! Formless and shapeless, leaving no trace, this child is truly a prodigy."

Ning Fengzhi paused slightly in his teacup, a look of doubt appearing on his gentle, jade-like face: "Uncle Jian, what do you mean by that?"

Chen Xin turned his gaze to the ancient banyan tree beside him and said calmly, "Let the old bones explain it to you; his perception is more accurate."

Gu Rong's withered fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his hoarse voice tinged with astonishment: "That lad's skill in the zither is probably unparalleled in the entire Douluo Continent. You couldn't hear the music, could you?" He narrowed his cloudy eyes, "But that doesn't mean the music isn't there. I only managed to detect that faint fluctuation thanks to my spatial perception—he used some special technique to play a melody that ordinary ears couldn't perceive."

“Since we can’t even hear him,” Gu Rong paused meaningfully, “we naturally have no way to defend against his attacks. I can only feel the ripples in space caused by the music.”

Just as the powerful figures were conversing, the situation on the field suddenly changed.

Spots of scarlet blood bloomed eerily on the bodies of the Thunder Academy members, as if invisible blades were slicing them indiscriminately. A bloody gash suddenly appeared on Yu Tianxin's arm, a cloud of blood mist burst out of Lei Dong's shoulder without warning, and other team members also developed inexplicable wounds one after another.

"What kind of evil trick is this?!" A Thunder player stared in horror at the wound that had suddenly appeared on his chest, his voice trembling.

Fear spread like a plague through the Thunder team. They formed a defensive formation back to back, but still couldn't withstand the unpredictable attacks. Blood spurted continuously from the void, staining the arena floor a glaring red.

The audience in the stands erupted in commotion, and many people involuntarily stood up, wanting to see this bizarre scene clearly.

Feng Yao remained calmly seated in the center of the poisonous fog, his slender fingers gently plucking and strumming the strings. Each tremor of his fingertips was accompanied by the blooming of blood somewhere in the arena, as if he were playing an invisible symphony of slaughter.

"Everyone, protect yourselves with lightning! Break through this poisonous fog!" Yu Tianxin shouted sharply, his voice filled with barely suppressed shock and anger. Lightning surged around him, and blue-purple electric snakes writhed wildly on his body, attempting to resist the invisible attack.

The Thunder players were taken aback by what they heard, their faces showing hesitation. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with fear—what terrifying danger lurked behind that swirling, emerald-green poisonous fog?
"Team leader... team leader," a team member's voice trembled, "we don't even know where the enemy is."

"Shut up!" Yu Tianxin's eyes widened in fury, and her thunderous power erupted. "Are you just going to sit here and wait to die?!"

He charged ahead into the poisonous fog, a path torn open by raging lightning. Seeing this, the rest of the team had no choice but to follow, their faces etched with unease and fear. Amidst flashes of lightning, their figures gradually disappeared into the deadly green mist, like moths drawn to an unknown flame.

Inside the waiting area, Dugu Bo narrowed his snake-like eyes, watching the bizarre battle unfold, and couldn't help but click his tongue: "Good heavens, this kid's methods are even more sinister than mine."

A mixture of surprise and admiration flickered in Dugu Bo's eyes. As someone known for his poison skills, he had to admit that even he felt a chill run down his spine from Feng Yao's invisible and deadly music.

"These lads are incredibly audacious, daring to brave Yan Yan's poisonous fog while injured," Dugu Bo sighed, shaking his head, but a hint of schadenfreude lingered in his voice. "I'm afraid the organizers will have to prepare stretchers later."

He stroked his beard, a gleam of pleasure flashing in his narrowed, snake-like eyes. As an expert in poisons, he knew all too well the horrific scene unfolding within the poisonous mist—the venom of the Azure Phosphorus Snake seeping into his bloodstream through the wound, the sensation it caused.
On the field, one heart-wrenching scream after another pierced through the poisonous fog, echoing all around. Each wail was like an invisible claw, sending chills down the spines of the spectators. Many trainees unconsciously took a half-step back, their faces pale.

In the waiting area of ​​the Spirit Hall Academy team, even Xie Yue unconsciously straightened his back and swallowed hard. Even the usually arrogant Yan felt a chill creep up his spine.

"What kind of bizarre attack method is this?" The members of the Golden Generation looked at each other, their eyes filled with undisguised fear and confusion.

As the poisonous fog gradually dissipated, the scene on the field made everyone present gasp – the Thunder Academy team members lay sprawled in pools of blood, each covered in wounds, their blood mixed with emerald green toxins, a truly horrifying sight.

"I protest! This is a malicious foul by the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy! They are harming our team members!" The team leader from Thunder Academy instantly appeared on the stage, roaring furiously.

Feng Yao calmly pulled the Fuxi Qin into his arms, a composed smile playing on his lips. "Rest assured, I deliberately avoided all vital points. However..." He glanced meaningfully at Yu Tianxin, who was still convulsing, "they were too fixated on using lightning for protection, causing the bleeding from the wounds to be slightly more than expected."

At the same time, Dugu Yan gracefully crouched down, her slender hand gently stroking above the wounds of the Thunder team members. The emerald green poison mist seeped from the wounds as if alive, obediently returning to her palm. She glanced at the furious Thunder team leader and said softly, "The poison has been withdrawn; they won't die." Her tone was as calm as if she were discussing the weather.

"Our Heavenly Dou Royal Academy is always known for its excellent service." Feng Yao smiled gently, yet his smile sent chills down the spines of the teachers and students of Thunder Academy. "Sister Lingling, it's your turn to make your move."

Ye Lingling moved with light, graceful steps, the Nine-Heart Begonia blooming in her palm. Pink and white petals drifted down in the wind, and wherever they touched, the gruesome wounds healed at a visible speed. She raised her eyes and smiled faintly, her voice clear and cool: "Don't worry, there won't be any scars."

Feng Yao stood with his hands behind his back, considerately adding, "Please rest assured and recover from your injuries. We will not delay your journey back to Tiandou City." He paused deliberately, a playful smile curving his lips.

These words, though spoken politely, only made the faces of the Thunder Academy members even more unpleasant. Yu Tianxin struggled to her feet, staring intently at Feng Yao, her eyes filled with both anger and an indescribable sense of apprehension.

The referee in red flashed to the center of the arena. No further verification was needed; his voice boomed, "The winner of this match is—Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

The verdict was announced, and the entire arena erupted in uproar. The referee in red gave Feng Yao, who was holding a guqin, a meaningful look.

(End of this chapter)