Chapter 81: Substitution
The gate on one side of the Colosseum slowly opened.
A huge dark green python slithered out, its scarlet tongue flickering, accompanied by a chilling "hissing" sound.
Some students showed visible fear.
Snake-type soul beasts had an innate deterrent effect on many. It wasn't about power—just their terrifying appearance.
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, staring at the vertical pupils brimming with murderous intent. Fear rose in his heart.
After all, he wasn't Ling Shuang. He hadn't grown up in the core region of the Extreme North among soul beasts. Despite having ventured to the Far North alone and even encountering apex creatures like the Titan Snow Demon King, Huo Yuhao still lacked the composure of someone like Ling Shuang.
A black soul ring rose beside him, and the temperature plummeted.
Huo Yuhao's slim figure suddenly bulked up as his muscles expanded, his hands morphing into white tiger claws, their sharp tips gleaming coldly.
After escaping from the hands of Xue Di, under Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's guidance, Huo Yuhao had gone deeper into the Far North to find a second martial soul.
However, with most of Tianmeng's power depleted, he could no longer forcibly suppress a hundred-thousand-year beast. In the end, they could only settle for a ten-thousand-year Ice Blade Tiger, forcibly sealed as Huo Yuhao's second martial soul.
While inferior to apex beasts like the Ice Jade Scorpion, the Ice Blade Tiger was still one of the top species of the Far North, barely reaching the threshold of an ultimate ice martial soul.
Because it was forcibly subdued, it lacked any spiritual consciousness merely a raw martial soul.
The moment the ten-thousand-year soul ring emerged, a wave of uproar swept through the Colosseum.
Du Weilun, the referee, and Yan Shaozhe on the viewing platform couldn't conceal their shock.
"Ultimate ice? Another ultimate martial soul among the freshmen?" Yan Shaozhe murmured.
This batch of freshmen was simply astonishing.
There was Ling Shuang Yan Shaozhe could not think of anyone throughout the history of the Douluo Continent more dazzling.
Then there was Xiao Xiao, who had twin martial souls though neither was top-tier, twin spirits alone marked her as a once-in-a-century genius.
And Wang Qiu'er, who was just recruited with an exception, bore the martial soul of the Golden Dragon the origin of strength and one of the nine great ancestral beasts.
Now came another ultimate ice spirit also a twin martial soul.
It was as if a golden era had descended.
Of course, the one Yan Shaozhe valued most was still Ling Shuang.
Despite not having twin martial souls, in his eyes, Ling Shuang was the undisputed number one genius.
On the other hand, Dai Huabin's expression darkened completely.
He had never expected the "waste" Huo Yuhao to bring him such a shocking surprise.
Ten-thousand-year ring, twin martial souls even he, confident as ever, felt shaken.
After all, arrogance didn't mean stupidity.
Meanwhile, Wang Qiu'er and Wang Dong'er's reactions were distinctly different.
The former found it unimpressive twin spirits? Ultimate ice? So what? Strong? Yes, but nothing special.
Wang Dong'er, on the other hand, looked down on it entirely.
Just twin martial souls? She had them too.
Though hers lacked extreme attributes, both the Butterfly Goddess of Light and the Clear Sky Hammer were peerless in quality on par with, if not stronger than, the Ice Blade Tiger and Spiritual Eye.
And most importantly
"Hmph. That annoying guy is still the strongest." Wang Dong'er pouted.
Though she found Ling Shuang lacking in romance, in her heart, he was unrivaled. No one else deserved comparison.
Back in the arena, Huo Yuhao had begun his battle with the Ice Blade Tiger.
The ten-thousand-year ring slightly suppressed the three-thousand-year Python, but not decisively.
As a natural jungle predator, the python, though dulled by captivity, still retained excellent combat instincts.
Though Huo Yuhao had obtained a second martial soul with Tianmeng's help, he had just broken through to rank 20. His experience fighting soul beasts was shallow.
Within moments, he was overwhelmed, firmly controlled by the python's tempo.
The three-thousand-year soul beast was clearly still too much for him.
"Brother Tianmeng!"
Huo Yuhao called to Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in desperation as he struggled to fend off the python's assault.
He couldn't afford to lose this matchhe had a bet with Dai Huabin. He had no choice but to ask Tianmeng for strength again.
Although Tianmeng's remnant will had largely faded, his sealed energy within Huo Yuhao's body remained. It should be enough to turn the tide.
Fairness? That was irrelevant to Huo Yuhao.
With his grudge against Dai Huabin and his own previous use of Spiritual Detection Sharing to aid Bei Bei, he clearly didn't care about "fair" fights.
Just as Tianmeng was preparing to intervene, he suddenly sensed something.
A gaze.
A gaze that made even him an ancient million-year beast feel stripped bare.
From the audience seating, Ling Shuang, who had previously kept his eyes shut, now gazed over.
Those deep, otherworldly eyes were like galaxies fathomless and terrifying.
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's soul quivered.
He found me?!
That thought flashed through Tianmeng's mind, only to be immediately denied.
Impossible. As long as he remained hidden, even a Titled Douluo couldn't see through his concealment.
But then Tianmeng sensed another aura.
An aura that didn't belong to Xiao Shuang but came from him nonetheless.
A familiar and terrifying aura.
The aura of Xue Di, Empress of the Far North!
Only recently had Tianmeng escaped from her grasp with Electrolux's help. He remembered her vividly.
That aura was now lingering around Ling Shuang.
Shocked, Tianmeng immediately gave up on intervening.
"Yuhao, something's up. I can't be exposed. You're on your own!"
"I'll explain later!"
With that, Tianmeng cut off all communication.
No matter how Huo Yuhao called out, there was no response.
He looked at the python flicking its red tongue in front of him and nearly wept.
No choice…
If this weren't a bet, he could simply surrender. Based on his performance, the Academy wouldn't expel him.
But because of that damn bet with Dai Huabin…
He could only grit his teeth and continue.
In the spectator seat, Ling Shuang rested his chin on his hand, smiling slightly with interest.
No substitutes allowed. Now, what will you do?
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(End of this chapter)