DD Black White [211-213] (Patreon)

Chapter 211: Huo Yuhao vs. Tang San

March 7th was not truly foolish. She understood there were things she couldn't casually reveal, and when questioned about something critical, she naturally became cautious.

Pure, upright, lively, and kind—these were rare and precious qualities that made March 7th so beloved. But that didn't mean she was defenseless toward outsiders.

Even if someone knew Lu Jingming, it was impossible to trick March 7th into disclosing everything without reservation.

Meanwhile, the battle neared its end.

Wang Qiu'er's Golden Dragon Spear suddenly transformed into a golden dragon, piercing straight through Yu Tianlong in a flash of light.

Beside him, Xing Yan's lips had turned purple, his face pale as paper—obviously poisoned by Meng Hongchen's chilling toxin. If not for his top-tier beast martial soul granting him a powerful physique, he would have collapsed long ago.

Seeing Yu Tianlong defeated, Xing Yan lost his last bit of strength and blacked out. The poison and his injuries caused him to dissolve into particles of light, leaving only a revival chip behind.

Yu Tianlong looked down at his pierced heart. Though still alive thanks to his strength, he knew he was utterly defeated—and by a female dragon soul master his own age.

He opened his mouth, as if to ask Wang Qiu'er's name, but could only cough up blood.

As the seven rays of light faded, the entire Heaven Dragon team was eliminated.

With their original strength, Heaven Dragon could have been top contenders in this survival tournament—if only they hadn't encountered the St. Freya Academy's second team so early.

"Take your things and come with us—we'll guarantee you a top ten finish." Wang Qiu'er did not refuse the deal she'd made with Ye Lingling.

The remaining Heaven Dragon members, though weaker, still had value as fighting force—perhaps useful at a crucial moment.

Other than Heaven Dou Royal and Heaven Dragon teams, there were surely more teams lurking nearby, eyeing the high-tier supplies.

But most were deterred by Wang Qiu'er and her companions' strength and ultimately backed off.

The truly powerful teams had already been secretly dissuaded by Robin and March 7th.

Thus, St. Freya Academy's second team smoothly claimed the first supply chest.

Compared to the thrilling encounters of March 7th and Robin, Lu Jingming's experience was much duller.

The Holy Spirit Church's team lived up to its reputation as evil soul masters—no unlucky team escaped their grasp.

Their lineup was strong: two Soul Emperors, four Soul Kings, and a Soul Ancestor-level Huo Yuhao.

But ironically, the most dangerous was Huo Yuhao, who seemed the weakest.

Of the Soul Emperors, one was the bone dragon, Yan Feng, and the other—attacking with dark Blue Silver Grass—could only be Tang Ya.

She'd joined the Holy Spirit Church recently, but her power had soared.

No wonder that in the Mingdu Tournament years later, she appeared as a high-level Soul Sage.

The further a soul master progresses, the slower their cultivation, so Tang Ya's leap was astonishing.

This was partly due to the Church's resources, but also the devouring nature of her mutated dark Blue Silver Grass.

The Tang Sect always appointed Blue Silver Grass wielders as sect masters—a bit of a joke, but this generation truly produced a mutated martial soul.

Dark Blue Silver Grass, an evil martial soul, could devour blood, soul power, life force—even souls themselves—to increase its strength.

Of course, having an evil martial soul didn't make one evil—it was the soul master's choice.

Tang Ya, driven by revenge, chose this path.

At first, she restrained herself, only targeting enemies. But after being found by the Holy Spirit Church's Five Worships and brought in, she lost her autonomy.

While the Church valued her and gave her the title "Holy Maiden," they only cared for her martial soul's potential and future power.

She was soon controlled by secret techniques and potions, as the Church's leader, Zhongli Wu, could see she'd never truly betray the Tang Sect.

Thus, Tang Ya became a puppet Holy Maiden—forever murmuring about her Tang Sect.

Unlike Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao had sincerely joined the Holy Spirit Church.

As the disciple of Dragon God Douluo Mu En, he received special treatment. The Church's two strongest pillars favored him, and Zhongli Wu truly intended to make Huo Yuhao his heir.

Huo Yuhao squinted at the black-haired girl beside him.

He never expected to encounter Teacher Xiao Ya in the Holy Spirit Church.

But unlike him, Tang Ya had much of her memory erased—even failing to recognize him.

Still, perhaps subconsciously, Tang Ya was more obedient to him than to others.

"Hey, more prey coming!" As they advanced toward the island center, the Holy Spirit Church team spotted another group.

Without hesitation, they surrounded them.

No team discovered by the Holy Spirit Church had survived.

…

"Oh no, we've been found—retreat!" Not far off, Tang San's face changed dramatically.

His Mysterious Heaven Record cultivation gave him keen senses. The instant he spotted the Church team, he sensed overwhelming danger—a top team.

"Trying to run? You need our permission first!" Lich King Xiao Lei sneered, extending his withered right hand.

White skeletal hands burst from the ground, clawing at Tang San's group.

"What the hell!" Ma Hongjun shrieked as the bone hands erupted, jumping up and unleashing blazing flames at the ground.

Tang San's expression darkened. He slammed his palm down, and blue-violet Blue Silver Grass vines shot up to meet the skeletal hands.

"Hm? Blue Silver Grass martial soul?" Noticing the blue vines, Huo Yuhao frowned and glanced at Tang Ya, then at Tang San.

For some reason, seeing Tang San sparked a nameless anger and disgust in Huo Yuhao.

He didn't know why, but chose to trust his instincts.

"Teacher Xiao Ya!" Huo Yuhao called softly.

Tang Ya immediately pulled down her black hood, revealing a pale but striking face.

Her eyes vacant, she looked toward Tang San.

As six soul rings appeared, a bloody aura filled the air. Dark red Blue Silver Grass surged from the earth like a swarm of monstrous snakes, tearing at the land and sweeping wildly toward Tang San's group.

"Soul Emperor, and Blue Silver Grass? Am I dreaming?" Ning Rongrong, supporting the group with her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, gasped at the sight of the massive vine surge.

This was her first time seeing another Blue Silver Grass master besides Tang San—and a Soul Emperor at that.

"No, this is definitely not ordinary Blue Silver Grass!" Tang San's expression grew more grave.

A Soul Emperor was trouble enough, but Tang Ya's martial soul was fundamentally different from his.

"What now, Xiao San?" Dai Mubai swung his tiger claws, white light slashing the incoming vines. But there were far too many—eventually, they'd be worn down.

"Oscar, get the flying sausages! We're out of here!"

Tang San made a snap decision. The enemy was not only a Soul Emperor with Blue Silver Grass, but also had strong companions. Escape was the only option.

Oscar quickly made flying sausages and handed them out.

As wings sprouted and the team shot away at high speed, Huo Yuhao sneered.

With his spiritual detection locked onto them, escape was impossible.

The Holy Spirit Church team chased at a leisurely pace.

With Huo Yuhao's shared detection, Tang San's group ran desperately but could never shake pursuit.

"Split up! As long as one survives, there's hope."

Tang San realized they were locked onto and ordered everyone to scatter.

With the tournament's revival system, if even one survived, they could later collect revival chips and bring teammates back—so long as the chips weren't taken. Tang San gambled the enemy's arrogance would keep them from picking up chips.

Facing the enemy head-on was suicide—they had two Soul Emperors and four Soul Kings.

Chapter 212: Tang San's Repeated Defeats

Decision made, Tang San stopped and threw two black iron balls.

With a burst of soul power, the balls collided mid-air, exploding into a rain of poison needles at the Church team.

"Go!"

Tang San unleashed the Tang Sect's Cluster Soul Chasing Ball, then fled left with Xiao Wu, while Ma Hongjun and the rest scattered.

Though powerful, this hidden weapon's effect depended on the user's strength.

Tang San's skill could threaten a Soul Emperor, but killing one was luck.

Unfortunately, luck was not with him.

Under Huo Yuhao's spiritual detection, all the needles' paths were perfectly tracked.

Not one of the Church team was hit.

"Hidden weapons?" Huo Yuhao was surprised, but soon ignored it.

His eyes flashed blood-red as he unleashed a spiritual shock at Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Both staggered, but quickly recovered and fled.

"Hm!" Huo Yuhao was again surprised.

These two were only Soul Ancestors, not even Soul Kings, yet resisted his mental strike.

He didn't know Tang San's Purple Demon Eye gave him unusually strong spirit, and Xiao Wu, as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, was also resilient.

Still, after taking the hit, they slowed.

Soon, they were overtaken.

Facing Yan Feng, wings of bone and six soul rings aglow, Tang San's heart sank.

He didn't panic, but felt regret—this tournament was far tougher than expected. He wouldn't win the one-hundred-thousand-year soul bone for his father.

"San-ge, let's fight!" Realizing they couldn't escape, Xiao Wu resolved to fight to the death.

"Fight back?" Yan Feng sneered, a frosty bone dragon looming behind him.

The air chilled as he breathed a freezing blast like an arrow.

Tang San revealed his Eight Spider Spears, blue vines wrapping Xiao Wu's waist as he dodged the icy breath.

"An external soul bone? Shame we're in the simulated universe—if only I could meet you outside," Yan Feng said regretfully.

External soul bones were rare and could grow with the master. The Holy Spirit Church had secret methods to seize even these.

But Huo Yuhao didn't care.

Green light enveloped him as the Ice Jade Scorpion appeared. A howling blizzard swept forth.

The ice storm caught up instantly, freezing Tang San and Xiao Wu stiff and slowing them.

Tang Ya raised her hand, dark red Blue Silver Grass forming a spear in her palm.

"Blue Silver Tyrant Spear!"

The spear flashed and pierced Tang San's heart.

With Huo Yuhao's ice and Tang Ya's spear—plus spiritual detection—Tang San didn't even have time to draw his Clear Sky Hammer before being killed.

His hidden weapons were useless. Against Huo Yuhao's detection, nothing went unnoticed.

"San-ge!" Xiao Wu only realized what happened as Tang San's blood splattered her face.

Seeing Tang San's death, her eyes turned blood-red.

Though this was a simulation and Tang San wasn't truly dead, her anger was real.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao noticed a blue-glowing machine nearby. A wicked smile appeared as his blood-red eyes locked on Xiao Wu.

A dark red gem appeared on his brow—his third eye.

A red beam shot from it, instantly striking Xiao Wu's forehead.

Her expression went blank; her eyes dulled, just like Tang Ya's.

"Go revive him," Huo Yuhao ordered Xiao Wu, pointing at Tang San's revival chip.

Only teammates could use revival chips, so he used spiritual control to force Xiao Wu to revive Tang San.

Xiao Wu struggled briefly, but under the overwhelming mental power, she mechanically picked up the chip, walked to the blue machine, and began the revival process.

In ten seconds, a blue beam shot skyward, signaling to all nearby teams that a revival was happening.

Tang San reappeared beside Xiao Wu.

Immediately, he threw hidden weapons and hurled the Clear Sky Hammer at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao, eyes cold, coated his hand in thick ice, catching the hammer with the Emperor Scorpion Claw.

The two forces clashed, but Huo Yuhao handled it easily.

Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he dodged all of Tang San's hidden weapons.

"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?" Tang San was shocked.

"Are you…?" He wondered if Huo Yuhao, like him, was a transmigrated Tang Sect disciple.

He also realized why Huo Yuhao hated him so much.

Tang San guessed, with limited information, that the resentment came from learning Tang Sect secrets and his past suicide.

Still, seeing Xiao Wu controlled, Tang San's eyes burned with killing intent.

How dare he control Xiao Wu—he must die!

He unleashed his Blue Silver Grass to bind Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao scoffed, activating the Ultimate Ice Domain.

All the Blue Silver Grass instantly froze.

Though Tang San's grass was immune to normal ice and fire thanks to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, higher mysteries defeated lesser ones.

Huo Yuhao's Ultimate Ice was far colder than anything Tang San had encountered.

Though partially protected, Tang San was still frozen.

At that instant, Huo Yuhao drew a soul gun and blasted Tang San to pieces.

And so, he controlled Xiao Wu to revive Tang San, and killed him again.

No matter how Tang San struggled or what trump cards he used, he couldn't stand against Huo Yuhao.

Again and again, the cycle continued.

Tang San refused to surrender, full of anger and resentment.

He wouldn't give up until it was over; he wanted revenge.

Chapter 213: Heaven and Earth Reversed

With Xiao Wu still under control, Tang San's hatred for Huo Yuhao blazed like wildfire, driving him into a frenzy.

No matter how many times he was killed, he swore to take revenge.

Lost in anger, Tang San didn't quit the match—and Huo Yuhao had no intention of stopping, feeling a strange satisfaction from this vengeance.

Seeing this, Yan Feng and the other Holy Spirit Church disciples saw Huo Yuhao in a new, fearful light.

They thought they were already mad enough, but Huo Yuhao was even crazier.

Repeatedly slaughtering the same person—even evil soul masters couldn't help but pity Tang San, and fear Huo Yuhao.

Unbeknownst to them, Huo Yuhao had made an example of Tang San, though not his original target.

Xiao Wu, under mind control, could only watch as Tang San died over and over. Her pain and despair grew until her consciousness nearly collapsed.

She couldn't even log out of the simulation—a loophole no one expected anyone to exploit.

Who would have thought someone like Huo Yuhao would appear?

After all, killing in the simulation wasn't real, and controlling someone to prevent logout seemed pointless.

Also, Huo Yuhao's spiritual power couldn't control Xiao Wu forever.

…

From a mountaintop, Lu Jingming watched Tang San's endless deaths and couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn, this is a complete reversal!"

He remembered the original story, where Sea God Tang San tormented Huo Yuhao in the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley, killing him repeatedly.

If he didn't know about the gem's secret and Mobius' backup plan, he would have thought Huo Yuhao reincarnated just for revenge.

"Is that Huo Yuhao? How did he become like this?" Among the spectators, some from Shrek Academy recognized the abandoned Huo Yuhao.

Watching him ruthlessly kill Tang San over and over, their faces were stunned.

On the other side, Yu Xiaogang and company were furious.

Liu Erlong, hot-tempered as ever, raged at Huo Yuhao's behavior, which had crossed all lines.

"What…" Ning Fengzhi and others were puzzled.

By strength, Huo Yuhao was clearly not from their side—so why did he and Tang San have such deep hatred?

"Junior Brother, Xiao Ya!" As Tang San's torment continued and Xiao Wu neared breakdown, the Shrek Academy team, drawn by the revival beacon, arrived.

Seeing Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya, team captain Bei Bei was overjoyed.

Huo Yuhao, seeing Bei Bei and Xiao Xiao, frowned.

He was no longer the Huo Yuhao they knew. Now, as the Blood-Eyed Saint, he had no bonds of camaraderie.

"Squad leader, it's really you! Wang Dong has been looking everywhere for you!" Xiao Xiao also rushed over in excitement.

But as she neared, she froze.

Huo Yuhao's cold gaze showed no emotion, chilling her. This was not the person she once knew.

"Xiao Ya, I missed you—where have you been?" Before Xiao Xiao could react, Bei Bei darted forward to Tang Ya.

Thud!

The Blue Silver Tyrant Spear pierced him ruthlessly, blood bursting forth and reflecting his stunned face.

"Are you kidding me?" Xu Sanshi and the others stood dumbfounded.

Tang Ya had just killed Bei Bei without hesitation—a fatal blow.

"Xiao-Xiao Ya?" Bei Bei, gripping the spear, stared at Tang Ya in confusion.

She simply flung him aside.

Tang Ya showed no mercy. Bei Bei vanished into light, dropping a blue revival chip at Xu Sanshi's feet.

Seeing Tang Ya's blank expression, as if she'd killed a stranger, Xu Sanshi's veins bulged in anger.

"Teacher Xiao Ya, squad leader, you—!"

Xiao Xiao, trembling, looked at the cold Huo Yuhao and the blank Tang Ya, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Xiao Xiao, back off. They're no longer the Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya we knew."

Jiang Nannan sensed something was deeply wrong.

"Holy Son, the commotion must have attracted other teams. What do we do next?"

Yan Feng frowned, not understanding Huo Yuhao's motives—but knowing the repeated revival flashes had drawn attention.

"Kill them all." Huo Yuhao's blood-red eyes were filled with murderous intent. He waved his hand carelessly.

With his order, Tang Dai and Wang Xiaolei grinned bloodthirstily and charged Xu Sanshi and the others like wolves.

Seeing this, Ning Tian and Wu Feng readied for battle.

Xiao Xiao, despite her shock, summoned her Soul Calming Cauldron and prepared for a fight.

"Don't fight—grab Bei Bei's chip and retreat!" Xu Sanshi shouted, activating his Xuanwu martial soul.

A massive black Xuanwu shadow appeared, and a black water vortex blocked the enemy's advance.

In the chaos, Jiang Nannan dashed forward, snatching Bei Bei's chip.

With the chip secured, Xu Sanshi relaxed.

As long as they had the chip, they held the initiative.

"You can't escape!" Yan Feng's bone dragon loomed again, blasting a freezing breath.

The icy wave froze everything in its path.

Meanwhile, Tang Dai's golden skeleton form shrugged off He Caitou's soul tool barrages, charging Xu Sanshi's group without fear.

Tang Dai's Skull King martial soul had far surpassed a typical Soul King in defense.

Elsewhere, Lu Genggeng transformed into a giant abomination, swinging his hook at Ning Tian.

Luckily, Wu Feng shielded her, blocking the massive iron hook with a fiery punch.

Even with Ning Tian's support, Wu Feng was pushed back by the force.

One side desperately tried to escape, the other to wipe them out—a fierce pursuit began.

Seeing his allies on the chase, Huo Yuhao stabbed an ice spike through Xiao Wu's chest, ending her suffering.

He didn't bother picking up Xiao Wu and Tang San's revival chips—he'd just kill them again if revived.

With all his original persona's memories, Huo Yuhao knew Xu Sanshi's group wouldn't go down easily.

He immediately took Tang Ya and followed.

He felt nothing for Shrek Academy—no ties to the past. He wanted all their people eliminated.

After all, his original self cared for Shrek, but what did that have to do with his second persona?

…

Elsewhere, Skywater, Blazing Fire, and Godwind Academies were lucky to spawn in the same area.

They allied instead of fighting, using numbers to bully weaker teams.

But when they encountered the mysterious Body Sect, everything changed.

"Who are those people? How can they have Soul Emperors—and such terrifying strength!"

Shui Yue'er nervously patted her chest, glancing back for fear the monsters of the Body Sect would catch up.

Other than one blonde girl, the Body Sect members were all towering figures with strange but frighteningly powerful martial souls.