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

Chapter 54 Yan

Bibi Dong's sharp gaze swept over the seven members of Shrek Academy like a blade, and when she saw that they were still standing upright, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. Even the younger generation dared to be so presumptuous; one could imagine the attitude of the forces behind them towards the Spirit Hall.

When her gaze turned to the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, she saw Feng Yao's respectful bow and a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes. "Not arrogant despite being in a superior position, no wonder that girl looks at him differently," Bibi Dong thought to herself.

This forbearance reminded her of her younger self. Those standing in this square were all the chosen ones, but only those geniuses who knew how to assess the situation could truly reach the end.

As a perfectionist, Bibi Dong endured for many years to achieve the perfect soul ring ratio for her second martial soul, only revealing the secret of her twin martial souls after inheriting the Pope's throne. It was precisely this forbearance and restraint that allowed her to deliver a fatal blow to Qian Xunji at his most vulnerable moment.

The shrewdness and wisdom Feng Yao displayed at this moment were just like she had back then. Bibi Dong's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, and the gems on her scepter reflected a meaningful light.

The moment the seven Shrek Seven stood tall and refused to bow, the atmosphere in the entire plaza froze. All the gazes of those belonging to the Spirit Hall shot towards the seven figures like sharp arrows, their eyes burning with fury.

Behind Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's lips moved slightly, and a soul power transmission quietly entered her ear. The Pope's gaze immediately locked onto Tang San in the Shrek Academy team like a hawk.

When that gaze, seemingly capable of piercing the soul, landed on him, Tang San felt a tremor run through his body, as if his soul were being forcibly ripped from his body. He had no choice but to fully activate his Purple Demon Eye, its purple-gold light surging and forming a halo over a foot long in front of him, barely managing to withstand the terrifying pressure. But this passive defensive posture paled in comparison to Bibi Dong's effortless composure.

"Insolence! How dare you disrespect His Holiness the Pope!" The cardinal who had sung the earlier proclamation roared, his voice carrying the imposing aura of a Soul Saint. The entire Papal Mountain seemed to tremble at this angry shout, and even the air seemed to freeze.

Bibi Dong's gaze gradually returned to calm. She gracefully raised her right hand, and the cardinal immediately fell silent, his face filled with awe. While this pope's ability to inherit the throne was certainly due to the previous pope's appointment and the elders' support, what truly secured her position on this supreme throne was her ruthless methods and unfathomable strength.

A faint smile played on her lips as she gazed at Tang San with eyes as still as water: "You are Tang San, the disciple of the Grandmaster?"

Tang San's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a composed and dignified demeanor: "Your Holiness, it is indeed so."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, the gems on her scepter shimmering with a mysterious light: "Indeed, you possess some of the spirit of your teacher from back then."

"This junior dares not compare himself to my master," Tang San replied respectfully, the light in his Purple Demon Eyes already subtly receding.

Bibi Dong said nothing more, and gently waved her jewel-encrusted scepter: "Rise." These two simple words eased the tense atmosphere in the room. Her deep gaze had already shifted from Tang San, as if the conversation just now was nothing more than an insignificant interlude.

Feng Yao slowly rose with the others, a playful smile flashing in his eyes. He shook his head inwardly: "As expected, all you know is how to use hidden weapons. You actually took Bibi Dong's words as a compliment? Was she praising you?"

Bibi Dong deliberately highlighted the master-disciple relationship between Tang San and Yu Xiaogang in this highly anticipated occasion. Was she praising Tang San? Wasn't she blatantly praising Yu Xiaogang?
A graceful smile graced Bibi Dong's lips as her gaze, like a gentle spring breeze, swept over the faces of the twenty-one young Soul Masters present. "In you, I see the future of the Soul Master world," her voice, like celestial music, echoed before the Papal Palace. "Before this sacred hall, I look forward to witnessing you unleash your full potential and power. The ultimate victor will receive the Spirit Hall's most precious gift."

Before she finished speaking, the jeweled scepter in her hand trembled slightly. Instantly, three dazzling points of light bloomed before her, like three stars suspended in mid-air. When the light subsided, everyone could see clearly—they were three soul bones exuding an ancient aura: a right arm bone as red as fire, a skull with a pale blue halo, and a left leg bone with dark green patterns.

The energy fluctuations emanating from these three soul bones were so intense that even the soul masters far away at the foot of Pope Mountain could clearly feel them. The entire Spirit City instantly erupted in excitement, with exclamations rising and falling. Apart from a few who knew the truth, who could have imagined that the reward for the finals would be three top-grade soul bones? Even the well-informed high-ranking members of the Spirit Hall couldn't help but reveal a look of longing in their eyes at this moment.

Bibi Dong watched with satisfaction as the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, the gems on her scepter reflecting a dazzling light.

Ghost Douluo, Ghostly Phantom, slowly stepped forward from behind Bibi Dong, his hoarse, deep voice seeming to emanate from the depths of hell: "These three soul bones are the Wisdom Skull, formed from condensed spiritual energy; the Right Arm, bursting with fiery flames; and the Left Leg, propelled by swift movement." His withered fingers traced the three floating soul bones in turn. "All originated from ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts. This Wisdom Skull, in particular, was obtained by the previous Pope himself from slaying a spiritual-type soul beast over fifty thousand years old. It is considered a top-grade soul bone, second only to the legendary external soul bones and hundred-thousand-year soul bones."

Bibi Dong gently stroked her scepter, her voice soft yet resounding: "There can only be one victor, and the same goes for the champion. These three soul bones will belong entirely to the champion team." Her gaze swept sharply over the three teams. "I hope you three strongest academies will give it your all and fight for this supreme glory."

Every soul master present gasped for breath, their eyes blazing with fierce fighting spirit. The simultaneous appearance of three top-grade soul bones was an irresistible temptation for anyone. Intense fluctuations of soul power erupted from the twenty-one geniuses, causing the air in the entire plaza to tremble.

"This morning will feature a seven-person individual elimination tournament," Bibi Dong's voice rang out again. "The winning team will gain an advantage in tomorrow's finals. The two losing teams will compete for the other final spot this afternoon." She tapped her scepter lightly on the ground. "Now, each team, please send out your first player."

This is a single-elimination tournament similar to the qualifying rounds, but it is even more brutal because three teams are competing against each other. Although it is not the final battle, it is of great importance - the winner will not only advance to the top two, but will also be able to prepare for tomorrow's final.

At the top three level, the teams are evenly matched. Playing consecutive matches in a single day would inevitably lead to severe exhaustion and even injuries. It would be virtually impossible to recover to peak form before the final the following day. Therefore, the winner of today's individual competition is highly likely to be the ultimate champion.

With a series of solemn footsteps, a row of gilded chairs was neatly arranged in front of the Papal Palace. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Bibi Dong gracefully took her seat in the central position, her dazzling papal crown gleaming in the sunlight. To her left sat Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Ning Fengzhi held a crystal-clear Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in his hands, while Chen Xin held the Seven Kill Sword, his aura overwhelming. To her right were Ghost Douluo Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, the two titled Douluos, one in black and one in white, forming a striking contrast.

Each of the three academies must send its first player to the match. The three of them will draw lots to determine which two academies will play the first match, and the winners will continue to fight, and so on.

"General, are you abandoning your pawn or forfeiting?" Feng Yao pondered, a slight smile playing on his lips. Holding "Fuxi" in his arms, he leisurely strode to the center of the plaza. His action immediately conveyed a tacit understanding to both the Spirit Hall and Shrek Academy teams—the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was to immediately deploy its strongest forces!

A commotion erupted on the sidelines. Even the members of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances, their faces showing an unusual seriousness. Xie Yue's fingers unconsciously caressed the moon blade, and even the usually arrogant Yan subconsciously tensed up.

"A dilemma indeed," Ning Fengzhi thought to himself from the VIP seats. Feng Yao's move was incredibly clever—given his demonstrated strength, any team would find it nearly impossible to win a one-on-one duel without taking damage. However, excessive exertion here would inevitably affect the subsequent team battles. This was clearly an attempt to force the two strong teams to back down!
Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes flashed with a sharp light. He knew better than anyone that facing Feng Yao's unpredictable sonic attack, escaping unscathed was virtually impossible. In this psychological battle, Feng Yao had already gained the upper hand.

Xie Yue tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice to Hu Liena beside him, saying, "Nana, why don't I go first?" A glint of shrewdness flashed in Hu Liena's alluring fox eyes, and she gently shook her head, "Brother, it's not appropriate for either of us to make a move right now." Her red lips parted slightly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz yet every word precious, "Let Yan go first. If we lose, we can retreat to the losers' bracket this afternoon; if we win, the consequences will be manageable."

Her slender fingers unconsciously twirled the ends of her hair, her gaze sweeping over the guqin in Feng Yao's arms: "His sonic attacks are unpredictable and difficult to defend against; we don't need to gamble everything in the individual competition."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yue's eyes flashed with realization. As leaders of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, they really shouldn't have revealed their full strength at this moment. He winked at Yan, who grinned knowingly, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked: "Leave it to me!"

When the draw results were finalized, Feng Yao remained calm and composed, standing in the center of the arena. He had not drawn a bye. Just as everyone held their breath in anticipation, Tang San slowly walked to the center of the arena and respectfully bowed towards the Pope's throne.

“Your Holiness,” Tang San’s voice was clear and firm, “Shrek Academy voluntarily forfeits the first half of the finals and requests to directly enter the loser’s bracket finals this afternoon.”

Upon hearing this, Yan, who had drawn a bye, instantly turned ashen-faced. Everyone present was discerning; who didn't understand the deeper meaning? This was clearly Shrek Academy using the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to weaken the Spirit Hall Academy, preferring to preserve their strength for a decisive battle in the loser's bracket.

In the VIP section, Ning Fengzhi paused slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes; while Bibi Dong smiled meaningfully, the gems on her scepter reflecting a cold light. In this psychological game, the three parties each harbored their own thoughts, yet all chose the most advantageous tactics.

Bibi Dong's deep gaze fell on Tang San, a barely perceptible hint of contempt flashing in her eyes—this so-called successor of the Clear Sky Sect didn't even have the courage to fight head-on, far inferior to the Clear Sky Douluo of yesteryear. She gracefully turned to the cardinal referee, her voice as cold as a clear spring: "Since Shrek Academy has forfeited the morning's matches, the individual competitions will proceed as scheduled."

Yan stepped heavily into the arena, his brow furrowed with a mixture of burning fighting spirit and solemnity. He stared intently at Feng Yao, who was holding a guqin, his body already surging with intense soul power.

"The first match of the individual competition!" The Cardinal's booming voice resounded throughout the arena, "Feng Yao from the Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy versus Yan from the Spirit Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

"boom--"

Yan suddenly released his martial spirit, and a raging phantom of a flame lord rose into the sky behind him, the scorching air wave sweeping across the entire arena, even distorting the air itself.

"Fire?" Feng Yao's lips curled slightly, his fingertips lightly caressing the strings of the zither, a playful smile flickering in his eyes. He sat elegantly cross-legged, the Fuxi Zither resting horizontally on his lap, a stark contrast to Yan's raging aura.

Seeing that Feng Yao dared to sit cross-legged with such arrogance, Yan was instantly enraged. His first spirit ring suddenly emitted a blinding light: "First Spirit Skill: Hellfire Lava Surge!"

"He only has one more spirit ring than Yu Tianheng." Feng Yao chuckled and shook his head, his fingertips lightly plucking the strings of his zither. He knew all too well the routines of these offensive spirit masters—it was nothing more than the three moves of dash, amplification, and burst, nothing new.

As Feng Yao's first soul ring lit up, all seven strings of the zither vibrated simultaneously, unleashing visible sound waves that formed a transparent sound barrier in front of him.

"boom--"

The scorching magma collided violently with the invisible sound waves, unleashing a deafening roar. The violent shockwave whipped up their robes, and Feng Yao's black hair flew wildly in the heat, yet he maintained his elegant posture throughout.

This seemingly simple exchange sparkled with wonder in Bibi Dong's eyes. She leaned forward slightly, unconsciously tightening her grip on the scepter—this was the first time she had witnessed a musical instrument martial spirit being used in such a way.

“Interesting.” Bibi Dong parted her lips slightly. “Yan’s first soul skill not only contains flame amplification but also possesses physical impact power. As soul masters continuously grow stronger, it’s a skill with excellent growth potential.” Her gaze was fixed intently on the sound barrier in the arena. “But that child easily neutralized it with just the vibrations of his zither. Such control over sound waves…”

Before he could finish speaking, the situation on the field had already changed.

Feng Yao's fingertips lightly glided across the strings, then he suddenly changed his fingering, and his second soul ring lit up. "No need to rush, it'll be quick."

Feng Yao's hand suddenly swept across the strings, and a powerful bass note instantly blasted towards Yan. In the intense shockwave, Yan's movements visibly slowed down.

"The seven strings plunging fiercely like thunder, all sounds frozen in an instant."

"What!" Yan was shocked and furious. He found that no matter how hard he tried, he could not break through the shockwave caused by the strong sound waves. His soul power was being interfered with by some strange rhythm, and the magma around him was melting like ice and snow.

"Since you're still useful, I won't hurt you." Feng Yao had a faint smile on his lips as he lightly plucked the strings of his zither.

In an instant, an invisible sonic wave suddenly erupted. This wave, seemingly gentle, precisely pierced through Yan's flame defenses and struck his mental sea. Yan felt a "buzz" in his mind, the world spun before his eyes, and his consciousness instantly plunged into darkness.

"boom--"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, this member of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation collapsed straight down in the center of the arena. A commotion erupted on the sidelines, and even the Title Douluos in the VIP seats couldn't help but stand up.

Feng Yao calmly put away his zither, his black hair swaying gently in the aftershocks. He didn't even glance at Yan, who had fallen to the ground, but simply nodded slightly to the referee's table: "Thank you for the concession."

(End of this chapter)