DD Black White [151-153] (Patreon)

Chapter 151: Ma Xiaotao Fights With Her Life

In an instant, the tide of battle shifted dramatically again, and Shrek Academy was plunged into dire straits.

Ma Xiaotao was already countered by Firefly, and to make matters worse, Robin timely unleashed her fifth soul skill—Fugue of the Stars.

This soul skill was incredibly powerful, forcibly raising Firefly’s soul power to the Soul Emperor level.

As a result, even though Ma Xiaotao was in her Martial Soul True Body state, she was still completely suppressed by Firefly, unable to fight back at all.

March 7th’s restraint over Ling Luocheng was even more apparent. Not only could she instantaneously move using the ice released by Ling Luocheng, catching opponents off guard, but her ultimate ice soul power could instantly incapacitate Ling Luocheng, freezing her solid.

Jinhsi, Castorice, and Gu Yue immediately unleashed their powerful abilities, successfully suppressing Dai Yaoheng, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi.

Although the Shrek Academy team fought desperately, under the fierce assault from Saint Freya Academy, they fell into a hopeless situation.

At this moment, the outcome was clear. Everyone could see that Shrek’s loss seemed inevitable.

Saint Freya Academy demonstrated overwhelming strength in all aspects. Whether male or female, each member was extraordinary—there was not a single weakling.

Even Robin, the support, was far from defenseless, and her boosting soul skills greatly empowered her entire team.

Despite Dai Yaoheng and the others struggling fiercely, anyone with a discerning eye could foresee the match’s outcome.

On the main viewing platform, Xu Jiujiu was so excited she nearly jumped up.

But as a princess, she had to remain composed, so she forced herself to sit with poise, though she couldn’t conceal the joy sparkling in her eyes.

Dai Hao, however, frowned slightly and shook his head.

With his experience, he could clearly see that Shrek Academy was beyond saving.

Shrek’s originally strongest member, Ma Xiaotao, had most of her power drained at the start by Lu Jingming’s hundred-thousand-year soul skill, and was then restrained by Firefly, leaving her unable to showcase her Soul Sage-level strength at all. It was truly frustrating for her to have such power but nowhere to use it.

“Boom!”

A loud explosion erupted, flames soaring skyward like a fully-bloomed fiery flower.

A massive Fire Phoenix let out a wail of unwillingness; as the flames scattered like fireworks, the Phoenix’s form faded, finally dissipating into the air, exposing Ma Xiaotao’s true body.

“Bang!”

Ma Xiaotao instinctively crossed her arms in front of her, trying to block the attack.

However, she was at her limits and could not resist Firefly’s fierce assault.

Firefly landed a heavy kick on Ma Xiaotao, sending her flying in a long arc.

Relentless, Firefly gave chase, delivering another punch midair.

The punch whistled through the air, threatening to tear it apart.

Ma Xiaotao, like a cannonball, crashed into the ground, shattering the hard surface and leaving a shocking trench, a testament to Firefly’s power.

“I can’t take this anymore!” Ma Xiaotao was at her breaking point.

In terms of soul power, she was more than ten levels above Firefly. In age, she was also several years older.

Yet now, she was being beaten helplessly by a girl not yet fifteen.

Her pride and dignity were deeply hurt.

And now the match was nearing its end—if she didn’t change something, Shrek’s defeat was certain.

“Come out! Phoenix Armor!” Ma Xiaotao roared to the sky, her voice filled with resolve.

Instantly, a golden-red radiance lit her body, as dazzling as a blazing sun.

A set of magnificent Phoenix battle armor slowly appeared, enveloping her.

“Stop, Ma Xiaotao!” In the Shrek rest area, Wang Yan’s face turned ashen as he cried out.

He knew the dangers of forcibly using the Phoenix Armor and what Ma Xiaotao’s action signified.

But Ma Xiaotao was determined to turn things around for Shrek and couldn’t hear Wang Yan’s shout.

Even if she could, she wouldn’t care.

To her, sacrificing something for Shrek’s glory was worthwhile.

“Foolish!” Wang Yan sighed helplessly as Ma Xiaotao’s aura soared in her flaming armor.

Phoenix Armor was a peak-level Rank 9 soul tool, terrifying in its power.

If fully utilized, it could rival a Titled Douluo, possessing both Titled Douluo-level defense and Super Douluo-level speed.

However, the minimum requirement to wear it was a Soul Douluo.

For Ma Xiaotao, just a newly advanced Soul Sage, forcing it on was gambling her life.

It was equivalent to burning her life to activate the armor, which would inflict great harm—cutting at least five years off her life, or even ten.

As a responsible teacher, Wang Yan couldn’t bear to see his student throw away her future for a single match.

But it was too late; he couldn’t stop her.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao recklessly burning her life, Firefly paused briefly, frowning deeply, anger flickering in her eyes—anger at Ma Xiaotao’s disregard for her own life.

Firefly herself suffered from entropy-loss syndrome—a near death sentence. To survive, she would pay any price and even joined the Stellaron Hunters to live.

But during her summoning by Lu Jingming, he used the Authority Reality to cure her, freeing her from that affliction.

This was why her initial favorability for Lu Jingming was so high.

Unlike Castorice, whose death-constitution was the source of her power and could not be removed, Firefly’s entropy-loss could be cured.

So for Firefly, who longed for life, Ma Xiaotao’s reckless burning of her own life for a match was incomprehensible.

“Death Star Overload—Full Burn!” Firefly called out, and her third and fifth soul rings burst with light.

A fire-weakness mark appeared on Ma Xiaotao, glaring red in the sunlight.

At the same time, Firelfy’s mecha was infused with wild energy, covered in red magma patterns, radiating intense heat, her aura even more explosive.

Now, she was in no way inferior to Ma Xiaotao in Phoenix Armor.

“Sigh!” Robin looked at the intense battlefield and shook her head.

Her fourth soul ring shone, black as ink.

“Fourth Soul Skill—Thousand-Tone Concerto!”

Robin sang gently, her voice melodious and ethereal, drifting across the battlefield.

As the sound reached Firefly, an astonishing change occurred—her originally black fifth soul ring slowly turned blood-red.

Before the stunned eyes of all, Robin forcibly upgraded Firefly’s fifth soul ring to a hundred-thousand-year status.

The now hundred-thousand-year skill, “Full Burn,” instantly pushed Firefly’s battle strength to its peak.

Terrifying heat radiated outward from Firefly, warping the air, melting the ground with hissing sounds.

Even the seawater near the Eye of Abyss evaporated, shrouding the area in thick white mist.

Thankfully, the audience stands were protected by soul tool barriers, blocking most of the heat. Even so, the spectators felt like they were in a furnace.

Luckily, Herta’s soul tool screens held strong, continuously broadcasting the match.

Herta had anticipated the match’s intensity would impact the soul tools, so they prepared in advance.

On the field, silver-white mechas streaked with red, flames raging and warping space.

The golden-red armor burned fiercely as well; Ma Xiaotao, burning her life force, finally reached the domain of ultimate fire with the armor’s boost.

Though still slightly weaker than Firefly and burdened by a fire weakness, she could finally fight on even terms.

Yet, Ma Xiaotao was enduring excruciating pain from forcibly wearing the armor.

She could feel her life force being devoured, her body tortured as if in a sea of fire.

Her pretty face twisted in pain, but her eyes shone with madness, her obsession keeping her going.

The fiery thrusters on her back flared, and she shot toward Firefly like an arrow.

Firefly met her head-on with terrifying speed.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The two flame-wreathed figures darted and clashed at incredible speeds.

The audience could only see two meteor-like fire streaks colliding, each impact like colliding stars, setting off huge fireworks.

Shockwaves and heatwaves swept the arena, letting everyone feel the battle’s terror and intensity.

“Wang Dong!”

“Yuhao!”

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao exchanged a determined glance.

They knew the side effects of using the Phoenix Armor early, but seeing Ma Xiaotao fight so desperately, how could they stand by?

“This is reckless!” Lu Jingming frowned as he watched Ma Xiaotao’s near-mad battle and sighed inwardly.

He couldn’t understand Ma Xiaotao’s obsession with this match—why risk everything for just a competition?

Still, though he didn’t understand, he chose to respect her choice.

He also guessed what Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong would do next, but made no move to stop them.

Under Lu Jingming’s gaze, Wang Dong unfurled blue-gold wings, the phantom of the Bright Goddess Butterfly flickering behind him.

Huo Yuhao’s clothes burst apart under a surge of soul power, revealing the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion tattoo on his back.

The pattern seemed to come alive, the crystalline yellow eyes exuding a fierce aura, as if ready to devour anyone.

Chapter 152: Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Holy Spear Reversal!

Brilliant light erupted from Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, dazzling the eyes of all who looked.

Within the light, the phantoms of the Bright Goddess Butterfly and Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion merged, as did Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

In a curtain of blue, gold, and green light, the giant wings of the Bright Goddess Butterfly broke free, and as cold air burst forth, a crystal-clear ice staircase formed in midair.

Down these icy steps descended a breathtakingly beautiful girl.

Her blue-pink hair flowed to her ankles, silky and radiant.

She wore a gown woven of light and frost, its hem sparkling with every step like a fairy from a dream.

She radiated gentle light, as if one with it, and the frost beneath her feet spread a noble, icy aura.

Six butterfly wings fluttered, trailing shimmering cold, beauty beyond mortal comprehension.

The audience was stunned, watching the fairy-like figure dancing amid the ice mist as if time itself had stopped.

Lu Jingming, unlike the crowd, wasn’t shocked—he already knew Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong possessed this fusion skill.

But to think this beautiful girl was the fusion of Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong—he found it bizarre.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion and Bright Goddess Butterfly combined to create the Goddess of Light, Tang Wutong. It seemed to defy logic—didn’t Douluo Continent’s fusion skills have any rules at all?

Seeing the golden trident mark on her brow, Lu Jingming frowned, not forgetting that Wang Dong harbored the divine consciousness of Sea God Tang San.

“If you refuse to give up, then let me show you what true despair is,” Lu Jingming said coldly.

As he spoke, his black armor dissolved into black light, reforming into his familiar black spear, releasing the fifth soul skill.

The crowd was puzzled—why would he undo his hundred-thousand-year soul skill just as Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong successfully unleashed their fusion technique?

But in the next moment, their eyes widened in shock.

Lu Jingming slowly drew a white lance from the void, radiating holy light.

“Twin martial souls?”

“He has twin martial souls too!”

“How is this possible?!”

The stands erupted in discussion. All eyes turned to Lu Jingming, now holding both a black and a white holy lance.

“It’s coming!” Gu Yue’s eyes shone with excitement as she clenched her fist.

In an instant, a gale arose, turning into countless blades that enveloped Xu Sanshi.

They slashed madly, breaking his shield with a harsh sound, leaving him bloodied and collapsing to his knees.

Despite his sorry state, most of his injuries were superficial—Gu Yue had held back. If she hadn’t wanted to focus on watching Lu Jingming, she wouldn’t have gone so easy on him.

“Lu Jingming also has twin martial souls, he’s so strong and so handsome!” Meng Hongchen’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Lu Jingming in adoration.

Xiao Hongchen, seeing his sister’s infatuation, clenched his fists in frustration.

Remembering how Lu Jingming hadn’t even used his full strength when fighting him, his pride took another blow.

Meng Hongchen’s reaction only made him angrier, but he had nowhere to vent.

“Twin martial souls, hundred-thousand-year soul ring—his talent is at least on par with Huo Yuhao, if not greater!” Wang Yan adjusted his glasses, full of awe.

Shrek’s current generation did have several twin martial soul geniuses—Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong—but they were still growing.

Lu Jingming was different—not yet fifteen, he could already dominate the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament with astonishing strength.

“I am the black that heads to hell, the white from heaven. I will reverse heaven and earth, restoring order to the world.”

Lu Jingming raised both lances and slowly merged them, reciting a bold incantation.

Black and white light shot skyward, merging into a single, ornate black-and-white holy lance.

“Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Holy Spear Reversal!”

As Lu Jingming spoke, the black-and-white holy lance aimed at the Goddess of Light.

At the same time, the Goddess of Light raised her right hand, cold energy gathering at her fingertip, ready to unleash.

“A self fusion skill? What’s that? Can one person use a fusion skill?” The crowd was in an uproar.

Especially Xiao Xiao, herself a twin martial soul, felt her worldview shatter.

She never imagined twin martial souls could be used like this—one person using a fusion skill alone.

On the main platform, Xu Jiawei stood up in shock, and Duke White Tiger Dai Hao looked grave.

In the history of soul masters, there were many twin martial soul geniuses, but never had anyone used a self fusion skill—not even the God of Rakshasa or the Sea God a millennium ago.

Lu Jingming had broken convention, using a fusion skill alone, rewriting history.

In a flash, the Goddess of Light moved like lightning toward Lu Jingming.

Where she passed, the temperature plummeted, and the ground instantly covered in thick ice like a silver carpet.

Lu Jingming smirked, gripping his black-and-white lance.

With a flick of his wrist, he thrust the lance forward, unleashing a dazzling white light.

The light collided with the Goddess’s fingertip, charged with ultimate cold.

At the moment of contact, the white light surged, forming a huge sphere that enveloped the Goddess.

Inside the flawless light, her expression changed, filled with disbelief.

In that instant, all her soul power, her ultimate ice, even her pure light power, was wiped out by a powerful force.

It was as if the white light had created a vacuum where all energy ceased to exist.

Lu Jingming smiled. If struck by his self fusion skill—Holy Spear Reversal—all energy would be confined and instantly erased.

The Goddess’s biggest mistake was touching the lance.

It was originally Black Abyss White Flower’s secondary mode, now elevated to a fusion skill.

Moreover, Lu Jingming possessed more than one fusion technique.

Holy Spear Reversal, dominated by White Flower, was not about destruction or killing, but about limiting and erasing energy.

For the soul-power-formed Goddess of Light, it was the perfect counter.

As expected, as the white light faded, she vanished with it.

Left behind were the unconscious Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, their soul power wiped clean.

Lu Jingming glanced at them, then threw the lance, which shot away like a meteor.

At that moment, Ma Xiaotao, locked in a furious fight with Firefly, was lost in her frenzy.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest—the flames on her armor instantly extinguished, the Phoenix Armor going dark.

Ma Xiaotao stared blankly at the black-and-white lance piercing her chest, eyes full of disbelief and confusion.

In an instant, her body went limp like a cut kite and she plummeted.

“Ma Xiaotao!”

“Sister Xiaotao!”

Wang Yan and others cried out in shock, eyes wide with disbelief.

Not only Shrek’s people but the spectators were left dumbfounded by the sudden turn.

No one expected Lu Jingming to strike Ma Xiaotao so ruthlessly.

“Bastard!” In a corner of the Eye of Abyss, Xuan Zi, who had been hiding, was first stunned, then his eyes turned red with rage.

Forgetting all fear of the Snow Moon Douluo, he surged with soul power, ready to storm the stage for justice.

Chapter 153: Mu En’s Decision

“Calm down!” Just as Xuan Zi was about to act, a calm voice sounded behind him.

Xuan Zi froze—he knew that voice too well, having heard it countless times over a century.

“Elder Mu, you’re here! Xiaotao, she—” Xuan Zi was first delighted, for with Elder Mu present, even Snow Moon Douluo would have to give Shrek a proper explanation.

But seeing Mu En’s form, his joy vanished, replaced by disappointment.

It was not Mu En’s true body, but a projection formed from the Golden Tree’s energy.

Though the projection could wield Ultimate Douluo power, it could not last long.

Mu En’s projection, glowing with gentle gold, spoke calmly: “Don’t worry, Xiaotao isn’t dead.”

What Xuan Zi missed, Mu En saw clearly.

Ma Xiaotao was not in mortal danger—the lance through her chest was not meant to kill but to stop her from burning her life force further.

In fact, it saved her.

Otherwise, in her battle frenzy, Ma Xiaotao might have burned herself to death.

Moreover, Mu En knew Lu Jingming had no reason to kill Ma Xiaotao publicly—they had no deep enmity, and their relationship was not bad.

Just as Mu En predicted, the Black Abyss White Flower was now dominated by White Flower’s power.

When Lu Jingming withdrew the lance, Ma Xiaotao’s wound healed instantly, as if never there.

However, her soul power was erased, leaving her limp and powerless.

Under the fusion skill’s special effects, as long as Lu Jingming didn’t want to kill, he could save even the gravest wounds.

Like Ma Xiaotao—even with her heart pierced, Lu Jingming could keep her alive with White Flower’s creative power.

“I almost thought you actually killed her!” Gu Yue had been startled but quickly figured it out.

Lu Jingming wielded both destruction and creation—his fused lance was not for killing.

“Xiao Ming couldn’t bear to, right?” March 7th skipped over, eyeing the unconscious Ma Xiaotao.

Her gaze lingered on Ma Xiaotao’s impressive figure, especially her generous chest, making her twitch her lips.

Such a figure, she’d only seen on Changli—no one else compared.

Neither she, Jinhsi, nor Zhang Lexuan could match Ma Xiaotao’s physique.

At this point, the battlefield was completely transformed.

Saint Freya’s team stood tall in victory.

In contrast, Shrek’s team lay scattered on the ground.

Wang Yan, seeing Ma Xiaotao was safe, finally relaxed.

Then he sighed heavily—Shrek had lost.

Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong were all unconscious; Xu Sanshi, Bei Bei, Dai Yaoheng, and Ling Luocheng were unable to fight.

Shrek’s main force was wiped out.

Even with substitutions allowed in the individual elimination round, Shrek only had He Caitou, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, and Xi Xi left—hopeless against Saint Freya.

Thus, the outcome of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament was clear.

Shrek, devastated in the team battle, could no longer fight; the match was decided in one round, no need for a second or third.

Though Wang Yan was unwilling, reality left no choice.

To persist would be humiliation, so he reluctantly withdrew from the rest of the competition.

As Shrek’s head coach, he had the authority to forfeit.

Wang Yan approached Dan Heng, choosing to concede.

Dan Heng calmly announced, “Since Shrek Academy forfeits the individual elimination round, the champion of this year’s All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament is Saint Freya Academy!”

His voice, amplified, rang through every corner of Haiyuan City.

Everyone was stunned, their minds briefly stopping.

Then, thunderous cheers erupted.

No one blamed Shrek for conceding—anyone could see that after the fierce team battle, Shrek’s members were spent, unable to continue.

Saint Freya was strong, the defending champion, and their victory was well-deserved.

People reacted to Shrek’s defeat in different ways.

Some sighed, believing Shrek’s glory days were over.

Others, like the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, were secretly delighted—their old rival had finally fallen.

Even though they lost to Saint Freya, they preferred that over Shrek winning.

Xu Jiawei, meanwhile, was all smiles, very pleased.

After all, the championship returned to the Star Luo Empire, boosting its reputation and unity.

“Elder Mu, we lost again—it’s all my fault!” Xuan Zi stood by, full of guilt and remorse.

He regretted that if only he’d been more careful, stellar students like Yao Haoxuan, Gongyang Mo, and Chen Zifeng wouldn’t have fallen.

Their absence crippled Shrek, leading to such an easy defeat.

Mu En shook his head, his eyes a mix of disappointment and helplessness.

He cared less about wins and losses and more about inheritance and talent.

But Xuan Zi’s repeated mistakes had cost the academy many fine students—this pained him.

Now, Shrek faced a talent gap—the Sea God Pavilion was full of elders; Yan Shaozhe and others couldn’t take charge.

Mu En had no choice but to pin his hopes on Ma Xiaotao and her generation.

Ma Xiaotao was highly talented but too impulsive, as seen when she risked everything with uncontrollable power—nearly courting disaster.

If not for the opponent’s mercy, she’d have died by her own hand—not suitable for Pavilion Master.

After much thought, Mu En fixed his hopes on Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao had twin martial souls, one being the rare ultimate ice.

More valuable, he was calm and rational, keeping his head in adversity—Mu En saw him as the best candidate for Pavilion Master.

Mu En decided to formally take Huo Yuhao as his disciple after returning.

He planned to use the Golden Tree’s life force to heal Huo Yuhao.

With his talent and potential, he was worth every resource.

If Xuan Zi could hold on until Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao matured, Shrek’s future would be secure.

As for Mu En himself, he knew he hadn’t many years left—he wouldn’t live to see them mature.

The match was over, but the excitement at Eye of Abyss lingered.

Spectators basked in the aftermath, reluctant to leave.

This lively scene lasted for hours, until the city guards cleared the venue and spectators slowly departed by boat.

The academy teams also packed up and prepared to leave.

On the eve of the departures, Ye Wuqing and Yu Mengdi from Zhengtian Academy sought out Lu Jingming.

Lu Jingming was surprised but greeted them warmly.

Ye Wuqing spoke first, sincere, “City Lord, once we return to Zhengtian Academy and graduate, we’ll come to Haiyuan City to join you.”

Clearly, Ye Wuqing had learned Lu Jingming’s true identity—not only the Saint Freya team captain but also the City Lord of Haiyuan City, the current Viscount of Star Lou Empire.

Lu Jingming smiled, knowing Ye Wuqing wouldn’t refuse. Zhengtian Academy lacked resources and strong fighters—if Ye Wuqing wanted to grow, he needed to join another power, and Haiyuan City was ideal.

Haiyuan City had the best resources and experts, and Lu Jingming’s personal invitation was irresistible.

As for Yu Mengdi, she wasn’t just after training and teachers, but more for Ye Guyi, or more accurately, her dream.

As a descendant of the Angel Legion, her family was in decline, so she wanted to rebuild the Angel Clan with Ye Guyi and restore their glory.

Lu Jingming could satisfy both their wishes—rebuilding the Angel Clan would surely interest Ye Guyi as well.

Though the tournament had ended and most spectators and teams had left, many chose to stay, so Haiyuan City remained lively.