“You’re too naive.”
Indeed, this was what Tang San wanted to say. The next moment, he shot out like an arrow from a bow. Moreover, what he chose was the most difficult route out, attacking the densest seven star balls of the Fire Leopard Spirit Master.
Huo Wu was somewhat dazed. She couldn’t understand why Tang San would make such a suicidal charge, he was only a control system Spirit Master! Without control, a control system Spirit Master was nothing. Could he really want to collide head on with a power attack system Spirit Master? And still a power attack system Spirit Master’s third spirit ability? Wasn’t that suicide?
Even more, Huo Wushuang, Huo Yun, and Huo Yu’s attacks would follow directly afterward. Let alone breaking through the Fire Leopard Spirit Master’s obstruction, even if he did have that strength, as long as the Fire Leopard Spirit Master’s attack slowed him down for just a moment, he would be met with three powerful attacks from behind.
Was Tang San truly suicidal? Impossible.
The Fire Leopard Spirit Master couldn’t help inwardly exulting when he saw Tang San dashing at him. He immediately arrayed his third spirit ability, Explosive Seven Star Bullets, in a perfect formation to hit Tang San. He had complete confidence in his spirit ability, especially when under the boost of the two auxiliary system Spark Spirit Masters. Even if it couldn’t compare with most Spirit Masters’ fourth spirit abilities in strength, it wasn’t far off.
Indeed, the Fire Leopard Spirit Master’s third spirit ability was very powerful. Even Tang San would inevitably be injured if he was hit, let alone going on to block the attacks coming from behind. But the Fire Leopard Spirit Master had forgotten one thing, or perhaps it should be said he basically hadn’t expected it to happen. Even the most powerful spirit abilities were useless if they didn’t hit the opponent.
Tang San had never been a simple Spirit Master, that had never been his destiny ever since arriving in this world. Because he came from the Tang Sect of a different world, and he had inherited Tang Sect’s peak secret skills.
Could the scattering Explosive Seven Star Bullets truly block Tang San’s every path forward? Seventy might, but never seven.
To the eyes of the Fire Leopard Spirit Master, Tang San’s body suddenly seemed to have become illusory, completely turning into light and shadow. He seemed weightless, twisting bizarrely in the air a few times, stepping at a mysterious pace that unexpectedly let him bore straight past the seven energy bullets. Not only didn’t he touch even one, he didn’t even make a sound. Everything he saw was like a hallucination.
The Fire Leopard Spirit Masters’ pupils abruptly expanded, he also had plentiful combat experience. Even though he didn’t know how Tang San had been able to simply ‘walk’ through his attack like that, he still reacted instantly, using all his strength to control the Explosive Seven Star Bullets he had shot out to return and strike Tang San’s back. In terms of spirit ability control, this was already the limit of what he could accomplish.
However, no matter how exquisite his control was, those seven energy bullets were still only chasing a back. And Tang San advanced.
In the crisis, the Flame Leopard Spirit Master’s battle ability erupted completely. Extending both hands, a ball of intense flames erupted from his palms. In this limited time, all he could use right now was his first spirit ability, Flame Howl[9].
He knew, as long as he could block Tang San for a moment, his closely following Explosive Seven Star Bullets as well as his companions’ attacks would catch up. At that time, Tang San would be defeated.
Even though he knew that Tang San’s spirit power was higher than his, he still didn’t believe that his strength wasn’t enough to block Tang San for just that long.
This moment, besides the ongoing fights on the other four stages, the entire arena became silent. Almost all the gazes from the onlookers were focused on Tang San. They all wanted to see just how the soul of Shrek Academy’s team, possessing a ten thousand year fourth spirit ring Tang San, would face this situation.
Could he be blocked? Tang San gave the answer under the gazes of several tens of thousands of spectators. Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, he didn’t just step past the attack of the seven Explosive Seven Star Bullets, but simultaneously also stepped past the Fire Leopard Spirit Master.
He really was too fast. Even though he wasn’t an agility attack system Spirit Master, relying on Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, with just one slightly staggering movement, he had already moved around the Fire Leopard Spirit Master.
Just this one simple action completely changed the situation. The one confronting the attacks of the three Blazing Academy team members from behind and the attack of the Seven Star Bullets was no longer Tang San, but rather the Fire Leopard Spirit Master himself.
Standing stably, dropping his shoulder, striking back. The three motions were as smooth as breathing, Tang San didn’t give the Fire Leopard Spirit Master any more time to react, before his shoulder heavily struck his opponent’s back.
Accumulated Mysterious Heaven Skill erupted in a flash. The Fire Leopard Spirit Master only felt an irresistible force spread from his back through his whole body, and immediately afterward he was launched flying.
The Flame Howl was confronted with the returning Seven Star Bullets, and those three pursuing comrades of his watched helplessly as foe became friend, and all they could do was to as much as possible redirect their attacks to the sky.
Otherwise, their team member would inevitably be turned to ash by their combined assault.
At this moment, Blue Silver Grass quietly acted. The Blue Silver Grass twisting around Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Huang Yuan’s waists suddenly tightened, their speed increasing in the blink of an eye.
From surrounding the enemy, from being surrounded by the enemy under the Defying Flame Ring’s effect, then again back to surrounding them. Everything happened at lightning speed.
At this very moment, Tang San had for the first time in this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament revealed his own talent for battle.
Spirit abilities would never be the full strength of Spirit Masters, and this was even more so for Tang San. Just relying on Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step and his own keen judgement, his tactics had already successfully reversed heaven and earth.
Hong——
The Fire Leopard Spirit Master crooned miserably, his body scorched black by the bombardment of his own Seven Star Bullets. If not for his own fire attribute, and his exceeding familiarity with his own third spirit ability, this alone would have caused him serious injuries.
His three comrades also didn’t feel much better. The feeling of misusing strength to forcefully change direction of their spirit abilities was extremely painful, almost making them spit blood. The three staggered uncontrollably, and behind them, Dai Mubai’s trio already arrived swiftly.
If their attack struck, then the White Tiger Vajra Transformed Dai Mubai alone would have been enough to smash the three staggering opponents before him.
The battle had already advanced to a white hot stage, each moment could be the key to victory or defeat.
At this moment, the control system Spirit Masters of both sides completely showed their importance as the souls of the teams. Seeing absolute advantage turn to absolute disadvantage, Blazing Academy team’s control system Spirit Master Huo Wu acted once again.
Another ring of intense flame erupted, Defying Flame Ring appearing on the battlefield for the second time. Practically the same scene as before appeared again. The instant Shrek Academy was about to defeat their opponents, they were shot out by the Defying Flame Ring. While on the brink of catastrophe, the crisis of Blazing Academy’s main assault force was resolved.
Even though Huo Wu had saved her teammates at the crucial moment, right now she was already covered with a layer of sweat. She knew that even though she already had a high estimation of Tang San, she had still underestimated him.
His close combat abilities were in
no way as simple as an ordinary control system Spirit Master’s. That bizarre footwork, could it be some spirit ability? But, he couldn’t have any more spirit abilities. Then, was it a spirit bone?
It was in no way just Huo Wu thinking along these lines. In the VIP seats, a lot of people already had similar notions.
“Was that the power of a spirit bone?”
Nobody knew who spoke first.
Sitting in the front row of the VIP section, emperor Xue Ye, as well as Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School master Ning Fengzhi and platinum bishop Salas shook their heads practically simultaneously. At this moment, their eyes were filled with shock.
But the three could still be certain, that wasn’t the power of a spirit bone.
Because Tang San’s pace lacked the particular spirit power fluctuations that came with the use of a spirit bone. That should only be a technique, a simple close combat technique.
Ning Fengzhi held his forehead, laughing wryly in his heart, ‘Ah, Tang San, how many times are you going to shock me before you’re done?’
* * *
[1] (火无双) “Fire Incomparable”
[2] (火云) “Fire Cloud”
[3] (火雨) “Fire Rain”
[4] (火鹤) The term is also the name for Anthurium andraeanum, Fire Crane Lily, but in this case it should simply be the literal meaning.
[5] (火星) Literally “Fire Star”
[6] (火舞) “Fire Dance”, same wu as in Xiao Wu.
[7] (火影) Alternatively “Fire Reflection”
[8] (抗拒火环) Or “Resisting Flame Ring”, “Anti Flame Ring”.
[9] (火啸)
Chapter 101: Fireproof, Blue Silver Grass
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
Salas’ expression became extremely heavy, without letting anyone know what he was thinking. The calmest was instead emperor Xue Ye, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. Watching Tang San on the stage, there seemed to be a praising light in his eyes.
Their attack was broken by the Defying Flame Ring yet again, and this time even Tang San was thrown out, temporarily halting the battle between both sides,
Having escaped disaster, Huo Wushuang and the others didn’t hesitate to swiftly form up with the other three team members, returning to their original triangular formation. On the other side, the Shrek Academy’s seven also gathered.
Jiang Zhu’s healing scepter was already stuck to the ground, releasing ring after ring of recovering light, dispelling the influence the fire attribute spirit power had on everyone. Her healing was many-sided, and one of her spirit abilities could expel all kinds of abnormal conditions.
Refreshing bursts transmitted into the Shrek Academy team members, making their spirits swiftly recover.
Both sides looked at each other, neither anxiously starting the fight again. On the surface it seemed both sides had come out equal, but in fact, it was still the Shrek Academy side that held the advantage.
Practically all the Blazing Academy team members had used their third spirit abilities all out, while on the Shrek Academy side, only Dai Mubai had used his White Tiger Vajra Transformation. Huang Yuan and Tai Long hadn’t fully released their third spirit abilities.
In terms of spirit power consumption, it was clear who held the advantage. Even more, ever since the start of the battle, the mainstay and soul of the team, Tang San, hadn’t used even the simplest spirit ability. He’d just used the basic Blue Silver Grass.
Huo Wushuang turned his head, looking face to face with Huo Wu. The moment their gazes met, they simultaneously gave an imperceptible nod.
Huo Wu slowly raised her hands, a pair of orange flames emitting from her palms, rising a meter high.
This seemed to be a signal, and the other six Blazing Academy members moved simultaneously.
The fiery light around the two auxiliary system Spirit Masters grew, and they released their third spirit abilities once again, without sparing any effort. But this time their target was only one person, the one whose hands was releasing flames, Huo Wu.
Cloud after cloud of condensed sparks poured into Huo Wu. The orange flames in her palms became increasingly bright, but still didn’t rise excessively, but rather gradually changed color. From orange it turned to white orchid, from white orchid to incandescent white.
The previously scorching fiery light abruptly vanished the instant the flame turned white, as if it no longer was a flame.
As for the four attackers, led by Huo Wushuang, the four stood in a line in front of Huo Wu, keeping a defensive formation. Their third spirit rings all simultaneously flared with light, clearly prepared to block any sudden attack from Tang San’s side.
Purple color blossomed. The color of a spirit ring, but it was no longer the third, but the fourth. Huo Wu’s fourth spirit ring.
The purple light fused together with the incandescent white in her palm, the light of the flame making her seem illusory.
Tang San’s expression became a bit more serious. He could of course see that under the support of the two auxiliary system Spirit Masters’ full strength, Huo Wu’s fourth spirit ability would in no way be as simple as common fourth spirit abilities. It’s might could even outstrip a fire attribute Spirit Master’s fifth spirit ability.
Her spirit was even a bit more tyrannical that Huo Wushuang’s Fire Dragon.
As a fire control Spirit Master, this Huo Wu was who Tang San thought of as the most powerful enemy in this match.
“Huo—— Wu——, Brilliant—— Sun——[1]!”
Huo Wu called out in a clear bright voice, with each word, the incandescence in her became a bit more intense, and along with the last ‘sun’ word, an enormous ball of white flame had condensed over her head, radiating light like a true sun. At this moment, even the real sunshine in the sky was eclipsed by it.
In the VIP seats, Ning Fengzhi agitatedly said:
“The power of the flame is introverted, without emitting outwards at all. This young miss has already reached a terrifying degree of spirit control. That shouldn’t be her own strength, but that of three people. This time Shrek Academy will perhaps be in trouble.”
Tang San saw that Huo Wu had chosen her fourth spirit ability exactly the opposite of him. What he had chosen was group control capability. But she had chosen an extremely potent attack capability. But it was an attack capability that could use the full power of their combined team.
He could clearly sense that, hidden under that incandescence, Huo Wu’s gaze was firmly fixed on him. And that sun, brimming with white heat, was also locked on him. Had she combined the strength of three people to defeat him? It really seemed that way.
A trace of a faint smile showed at the side of Tang San’s mouth, the seriousness on his face fading as he watched the seven opponents. Because, he knew that it was already impossible to stop Huo Wu’s spirit ability, and he didn’t need to conceal anything.
Dai Mubai and the others were all brimming with anxiety, because until this moment, Tang San still hadn’t given any instructions.
As the soul of the team, the Shrek team’s attacks had always been managed by him, but now he still gestured at everyone to keep back, just watching the opponents accumulate power.
Did they still have any advantage under these circumstances? As captain, Da Mubai was deeply concerned.
And at this moment, Tang San still repeated the signal to hold back behind him, but he himself, just like that walked towards the seven opponents.
Advancing step by step, Tang San’s pace was extremely relaxed, still a trace of a smile on his face. When confronting seven opponents, he seemed to say, ‘Don’t you want to deal with me? Fine, I’ll put myself in front by myself and let you attack.’
Huo Wushuang’s expression had changed somewhat. Even though Tang San was smiling, his smile as he looked at Huo Wushuang held naked provocation. If they hadn’t arranged their tactics long in advance, he would have been unable to keep from rushing out to punch him.
Tang San’s Blue
Silver Grass was now already connected to each of the Shrek Academy team members, but he didn’t move it. By now, he was already five meters in front of the team.
“You’re very powerful, even more powerful than I imagined.”
Huo Wu suddenly spoke up. Her voice trembled somewhat, but still hadn’t lost its sweet melodiousness. That trembling was clearly caused by that ‘sun’ above her head. Her gaze was just like Tang San had sensed, fixed on him.
“But, victory is still ours.”
Huo Wu was finally unable to persevere, with the spirit power of three people coursing into her fourth spirit ability under her control, storing power for this long was already her limit.
The sun had shifted, floating forward half a meter. As Tang San clearly saw Huo Wu attentively gazing at him, that sun had already become a stream of light, abruptly bombarding towards him.
This couldn’t be dodged in any way. Different from the previous Seven Star Bullets, the moment it was launched, this dazzling sun had already completely locked on Tang San, and its speed exceeded what even the fastest agility attack system Spirit Master could achieve.
Tang San didn’t flee, he didn’t even move. Even more, he didn’t call out to his team members to assist him. He simply sat down, and only used the simplest spirit ability.
Blue Silver Grass first spirit ability, Binding, launched.
Fine Blue Silver Grass quietly gathered around Tang San. Since it was his first spirit ability, it was clearly the fastest to use.
In just a split second, the Blue Silver Grass that was originally wound around his companions had already completely twisted around him, to the extent that it didn’t even show any skin.
Everyone just saw Tang San’s first spirit ring flash and Blue Silver Grass winding around him, the next moment, he was already completely swallowed by that incandescent sun.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 15 - Illusion Breaking Demon Eye Page 4