157: Chapter 157 Round of 16! Annihilation Thunder Spear! Slaughtering Ice Prison!
The draw for the Round of 16 was complete; the flames of war were reignited!
The atmosphere of the entire Central Plaza was instantly ignited, everyone's gaze focusing on the arena where the duel was about to unfold.
The first match was a focal point!
Zhou Heng (Donghuang First Team, Nine-Star Condensing Spirit Realm) VS Tuoba Shan (West Border University, Six-Star Condensing Spirit Realm)!
The two stepped onto the arena and stood facing each other.
Tuoba Shan was burly, a full head taller than Zhou Heng, with the dark red giant blade [Mountain Burner] slung over his shoulder.
Crimson earth and fire dual-element yuan energy surged around him as his S-grade Divine Seal [Crimson Soil Burning Heaven] was activated.
It made him look like a volcano on the verge of eruption! His eyes were filled with a blazing will to fight and a hint of caution.
He remembered clearly the shame of being taken down two-on-one by Zhou Heng in the team competition; this time he had prepared thoroughly and would not be easily fooled again!
Zhou Heng, on the other hand, looked lazy, with his dragon spine spear casually resting on his shoulder.
A faint, indistinct smile hung at the corner of his mouth.
He sized up Tuoba Shan, and his [Omniscient Eye] instantly activated.
[Target: Tuoba Shan]
[Realm: Six-Star Condensing Spirit Realm (Stable)]
[Divine Seal: S-grade Crimson Soil Burning Heaven (Earth and Fire dual-element)]
[Status: High fighting spirit, cautious, yuan energy condensing]
[Skills: Crimson Soil Burning Heaven Art, Lava Hell (Domain), Heaven-Burning Palm Blade, Earth-Splitting Molten River Slash...]
[Weakness Analysis: Power is fierce but lacks variation; there is a brief gap in breath recovery after an outburst; defense against extreme speed and penetrating attacks is weak.]
"Xiao Shan, it seems you weren't convinced by your last loss?" Zhou Heng chuckled. "How do you plan on getting beaten this time?"
Tuoba Shan snorted coldly, ignoring Zhou Heng's trash talk.
He growled, "Zhou Heng! Enough talk! I won't give you any chances this time! Crimson Soil Burning Heaven Domain—Lava Hell! Open!"
Boom—!
With Tuoba Shan as the center, the dark red domain instantly expanded!
The arena floor instantly turned into scalding lava, bubbling and gurgling, as scorching air waves swept out, making the air itself twist and distort!
This was his domain power, which greatly enhanced his own fire and earth attributes while weakening and burning his enemies!
"Oh, starting with a big move? In such a hurry?" Zhou Heng raised an eyebrow but stood still, as if the scorching lava had no effect on him.
His Myriad Tribulations Thunder Prison Body operated spontaneously, purple-gold lightning flowing over his body, isolating him from the high temperatures and corrosive forces.
"Heaven-Burning Palm Blade!" Seeing his domain fail to take effect, Tuoba Shan didn't hesitate, bringing his left hand together like a blade and slashing through the air!
A condensed crimson flame blade light tore through the air, slashing toward Zhou Heng with an aura that could incinerate all things!
Zhou Heng's feet moved slightly as he used Wind Thunder Illusion Steps, his figure shifting several meters like a ghost, easily dodging the blade light.
The blade light struck the arena barrier, causing a ripple.
"Earth-Splitting Molten River Slash!" Tuoba Shan roared, gripping the giant blade [Mountain Burner] with both hands as his entire body's yuan energy poured in frantically!
The giant blade erupted with a blinding crimson light, the blade body seemingly turning into flowing magma!
He leaped high into the air, slashing down at Zhou Heng with a force that could split mountains and crack the earth!
The blade's momentum covered the entire front of the arena, making it unavoidable!
This strike contained all his strength and his understanding of the laws of earth and fire; its power was staggering!
Facing this earth-shattering strike, Zhou Heng finally moved.
His eyes narrowed, his laziness vanishing, replaced by an absolute focus and sharpness!
He didn't use any fancy movement techniques, nor did he expand his thunder domain.
He simply took a step forward, leveling his dragon spine spear, the tip pointing directly at the descending giant blade!
"The probing is over," Zhou Heng said softly as the majestic Purple Heavens Wind Urgency thunder yuan within him poured into the dragon spine spear like a river breaking a dam!
On the spear's body, purple-gold lightning condensed and compressed frantically, its color gradually deepening until it even took on a hint of... pale white!
That was the manifestation of him compressing the power of thunder to the extreme, invoking a trace of Nirvana True Intent!
Simultaneously, his minor mastery of Spear Intent erupted completely, merging into this strike!
"Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Spear—Thunder Fury Nine Heavens: Nirvana Transformation!"
Shhh—!
There was no world-shaking commotion, only a pale line of lightning, condensed to the extreme and moving faster than the eye could track, shooting out from the spear tip!
Wherever this line of lightning passed, space itself seemed to warp slightly.
The high temperature of the Lava Hell was instantly dispersed, the scorching aura replaced by a deathly chill!
Striking after but arriving first!
The pale line of lightning struck with pinpoint accuracy at the subtle node where the [Mountain Burner] giant blade's power was most concentrated—the moment when old strength was exhausted and new strength had yet to be born!
Ting—!
A crisp, light sound rang out!
In the next moment, under Tuoba Shan's disbelieving gaze, his [Earth-Splitting Molten River Slash], which had concentrated all his power,
that violent lava blade qi instantly collapsed like a punctured balloon!
A surge of thunder power containing the aura of Nirvana spread up the blade, causing his arms to throb with pain and numbness, his webbing to split, and the [Mountain Burner] giant blade to nearly fly from his hands!
He was sent flying by that terrifying impact, crashing heavily into the barrier at the edge of the arena.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura instantly withering!
One move! Again, only one move!
Zhou Heng hadn't even used his Wind and Thunder Twin Wings or his Thunder Dragon Emperor Armor.
Merely with absolute strength, speed, and precision control to the millimeter,
coupled with his newly comprehended Nirvana thunder intent, he had crushed the fully committed Tuoba Shan!
The entire venue was silent!
Everyone was shocked by this clean, decisive, and nearly overwhelming scene!
Tuoba Shan struggled to climb up, looking at the dimmed giant blade in his hand,
then at the composed Zhou Heng opposite him, his face filled with defeat and bitterness.
He thought he had made great progress and was fully prepared, but he didn't expect the gap to have widened instead...
"Good match, Xiao Shan."
Zhou Heng retracted the dragon spine spear and smiled. "Before you challenge me next time, remember to practice taking a beating first."
The referee announced loudly, "First match of the Round of 16, Zhou Heng wins and advances to the quarterfinals!"
Zhou Heng easily advanced and walked off the arena, returning to the winner's bracket rest area.
He resumed his leisurely manner, as if he had just swatted away a fly.
The following matches were equally brilliant.
Second match, Chen Ye (Donghuang First Team, Peak Five-Star Condensing Spirit Realm) VS Li Chenyuan (Kyoto First Team, Six-Star Condensing Spirit Realm)!
This was a contest between ice and slaughter!
On the arena, Chen Ye was the first to launch an attack!
The fifth level of the [Xuanming Ice Prison Body] was fully activated!
Extreme cold air permeated the air, the temperature of the entire arena plummeted, and frost spread!
Holding the [ice soul] long blade, he used the [Instant Ice Step] movement technique, his body like a startled swan, fast as lightning, instantly closing in on Li Chenyuan!
"Frost Ice Blade—Thousand Mountains Snow Burial!" Chen Ye slashed out, and countless ice-blue blade qis, like a collapsing snow mountain,
surged toward Li Chenyuan in an overwhelming manner, each blade qi containing an extreme chill that could freeze the soul!
Li Chenyuan's eyes were cold as his Slaughter Blade Heart operated, and his blood blade was unsheathed!
He didn't use any flashy blade light, simply striking with a single slash!
[Slaughter Blade Law: Boundless Sea of Blood]!
Hum!
An invisible and intangible, yet thick and inseparable slaughter intent, like a raging sea of blood, surged out!
A nauseating smell of blood permeated the air, as if the arena had instantly turned into an Asura battlefield!
Chen Ye's overwhelming ice blade qi crashed into this slaughter intent and actually seemed to sink into a mire, its speed and power greatly reduced!
"Such a strong slaughter intent!" Chen Ye's heart tightened, feeling his mind under assault as if countless vengeful spirits were roaring in his ears!
He held his mind steady, his Ice Prison Heart operating to forcibly dispel the negative influence, and without changing his blade's momentum, he continued to slash down!
Li Chenyuan's blood blade danced, his blade techniques ruthless and cunning, each strike aimed at vital points, the slaughter intent constantly battering Chen Ye's spirit! Their domains also collided frantically!
[Absolute Zero Domain] VS [Slaughter Blade Domain]!
Ice and slaughter intertwined!
Half the arena was covered in frost, the other half filled with blood qi!
The scene was eerie and intense!
Chen Ye pushed his ice blade techniques to the limit, with ice blades, ice explosions, and ice seals appearing one after another, forcing Li Chenyuan to respond with all his strength.
Li Chenyuan's slaughter blade law was even more dangerous, with the blade edge grazing Chen Ye's vitals several times!
This battle was far more prolonged and brutal than Zhou Heng's!
Both had fought until their tempers flared, and they began to sustain injuries.
Ultimately, the gap in realm and will decided the outcome.
Li Chenyuan was, after all, in the Six-Star Condensing Spirit Realm, and his Slaughter Blade Heart was more refined. After a long battle, a single slash broke through Chen Ye's defense, leaving a bone-deep bloody gash on his chest!
Simultaneously, that terrifying slaughter intent struck Chen Ye's soul like a heavy hammer!
Chen Ye groaned and was sent flying, landing on one knee and using his blade to support himself, his face pale, clearly having suffered significant injuries.
Although he lost, his eyes remained cold and firm, without any discouragement.
Li Chenyuan was not unscathed either; a gash from an ice blade marked his shoulder, the chill invading and making his movements slightly stiff, his aura somewhat disordered.
He looked at Chen Ye with a hint of gravity in his eyes.
This ice-attribute kid from the Donghuang First Team was much more difficult to deal with than he had imagined!
"Second match, Li Chenyuan wins and advances to the quarterfinals!"
For the Donghuang First Team, Zhou Heng advanced while Chen Ye's journey unfortunately ended in the Round of 16.
In the subsequent matches, Ji Cang powerfully defeated his opponent, and Lu Chenxin easily advanced.
Bai Qianer, relying on her eerie illusions and improved strength, actually managed a narrow victory against a strong enemy, successfully breaking into the quarterfinals!
This caused quite a stir.
After fighting his way out of the loser's bracket, Wang Zhan's momentum was surging as he also defeated his opponent to advance.
The Round of 16 concluded, and the list for the quarterfinals was born:
Zhou Heng (Donghuang First Team)
Ji Cang (Donghuang First Team)
Lu Chenxin (Donghuang First Team)
Bai Qianer (Donghuang First Team)
Wang Zhan (Kyoto First Team)
Li Chenyuan (Kyoto First Team)
Yue Qing (Southwest University) [Dark Horse!]
Shi Potian (Kyoto First Team)
Four members of the Donghuang First Team advanced, demonstrating terrifying team strength!
Three members of the Kyoto First Team advanced, remaining strong! Yue Qing from Southwest University became the biggest dark horse!
The quarterfinals were about to feature an even more intense battle between dragons and tigers!