Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 142: Tang San's Second Defeat

By this point, Team One had already lost two members, while Team Two remained fully intact. Victory seemed to be shifting decisively toward Team Two. Though the four remaining members of Team One appeared somewhat disheartened, Tang San was resolute, his gaze steely with determination.

Tang San activated his fourth spirit ability, Blue Silver Prison, ensnaring all of Team Two and creating a brief advantage. Then, he retracted his Blue Silver Grass spirit and summoned the Clear Sky Hammer, ready to risk everything in a last-ditch effort for victory. His first target was clear: Ye Lingling, the key to Team Two's resilience. As long as Ye Lingling was on the battlefield, Team One had no hope of winning.

Understanding his strategy, Dai Mubai used his fourth spirit skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower, aiming at all of Team Two. He hoped to weaken their numbers by breaking through the Blue Silver Prison. However, the Blue Silver Prison was notably less effective against Team Two's members, whose spirit power outmatched Tang San's. Yang Ping'an and Niu Mang shattered their bonds within two seconds.

After Niu Mang broke free, he immediately activated his fourth spirit skill, Iron Wall, and shielded himself to absorb the full impact of Dai Mubai's White Tiger Meteor Shower. Surprisingly, Ye Lingling was the third to break free from the prison. Gathering spirit power, she formed an orb in her hand and smashed it against the Blue Silver Prison, instantly shattering her restraints.

Ye Lingling's speed took the crowd by surprise as she dashed toward Yang Ping'an. Her agility was unheard of for a healing spirit master, especially one with the Nine Heart Begonia spirit. The audience, and particularly those familiar with the Nine Heart Begonia, were baffled—how could a healer possess such offensive capability and speed?

Meanwhile, Yu Tianheng activated his third spirit skill, Dragon Fury, and, along with Tai Long and Xiao Wu, charged directly at Ye Lingling, recognizing her as the linchpin of Team Two. However, despite the impending danger, the other members of Team Two remained calm and confident, showing complete trust in Yang Ping'an and Ye Lingling's abilities. After weathering Dai Mubai's fierce attack, Niu Mang launched a counteroffensive, joined by Yang Tianyue and Yang Yuxuan, all three targeting Dai Mubai.

With four Team One members now converging on Yang Ping'an and Ye Lingling, the situation looked dire. But Yang Ping'an, undeterred, unleashed his fifth spirit skill, White Tiger Annihilation Strike, positioning his massive spear to shield Ye Lingling and forcing their attackers to back down.

Suddenly, Xiao Wu appeared before Ye Lingling, using her third spirit skill, Teleportation. But Ye Lingling, without hesitation, formed another glowing sphere and launched it at Xiao Wu, sending her flying. Tang San, dashing to catch her, found Xiao Wu injured, adding further strain to Team One's already compromised position.

With the Blue Silver Prison fully broken, Dugu Yan and Niu Kui joined the battle, rushing to support Ye Lingling. Meanwhile, Dai Mubai was in increasingly dire straits, struggling to hold his ground against the combined force of Niu Mang, Yang Tianyue, and Yang Yuxuan. Both of the latter, though only Spirit Elders, boasted power that rivaled many Spirit Masters.

Now, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Yu Tianheng, and Tai Long faced the formidable Team Two members Yang Ping'an, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Niu Kui, while Dai Mubai was left to fend off Niu Mang, Yang Tianyue, and Yang Yuxuan alone.

Fully aware of his dire circumstances, Dai Mubai summoned his third spirit skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, reinforcing his body with black stripes and a protective barrier. But the relentless assault from Niu Mang and the others left him with little time to react. His defense barely held against Niu Mang's brute strength, compounded by the twin spears of Yang Tianyue and Yang Yuxuan.

In the midst of the chaotic melee, Tang San, clutching the Clear Sky Hammer, charged Yang Ping'an with single-minded focus. Yu Tianheng and Tai Long joined him, creating a short-lived three-on-one scenario. But Yang Ping'an's prowess exceeded their expectations; even under pressure, he held firm, bolstered by Ye Lingling's continuous healing.

Thanks to Yang Ping'an's resilience, the rest of Team Two rallied around him, buying time for Dugu Yan and Niu Kui to reinforce their allies. Dugu Yan enveloped Yu Tianheng in a toxic mist, a tactic to which he had limited resistance despite his lightning-based attacks, given the five-level difference in spirit power. Niu Kui, meanwhile, intercepted Tai Long. Although Tai Long was stronger, Niu Kui's tenacity kept him occupied, leaving him unable to break through the defense.

This left Tang San, wielding the Clear Sky Hammer, locked in fierce combat with Yang Ping'an. Their weapons clashed repeatedly, each strike filling the air with deafening reverberations. Tang San's skill and determination were clear, but against Yang Ping'an's unyielding spear and constant healing from Ye Lingling, he struggled to gain any ground.

Finally, with Ye Lingling securely positioned, she activated her Nine Heart Begonia, casting a verdant healing glow over Team Two's fighters, particularly reinforcing Niu Kui, Yang Ping'an, and Niu Mang.

The battle continued, but Dai Mubai, outnumbered and outmatched, could no longer hold his ground. Overwhelmed, he succumbed to Niu Mang, Yang Tianyue, and Yang Yuxuan's combined might. Yet his tenacity had bought his team precious time.

Following Dai Mubai's defeat, Team Two's fighters turned their attention to the others. Niu Mang joined forces with Dugu Yan, doubling the pressure on Yu Tianheng. Though his thunder abilities had previously countered Dugu Yan's poison, the cumulative advantage in spirit power wore him down, leaving him struggling under their relentless assault.

Each move Team Two made seemed strategically flawless. Victory now appeared inevitable, with Team One's remaining members grappling to stay in the game.

At this point, with Team One down by three members and Xiao Wu severely injured, the outcome looked increasingly bleak for them. Only Tang San, Yu Tianheng, and Tai Long remained combat-ready, but each was under intense pressure. Tang San, though formidable, was forced to face Yang Ping'an alone, a Spirit King whose strength was bolstered by Ye Lingling's relentless healing. Meanwhile, his teammates were fending off multiple opponents.

Xiao Wu, gritting her teeth through her injuries, urged Tang San, "Brother San, let me down. I can still fight."

Tang San, engaged in battle, replied resolutely, "Xiao Wu, trust me. I'll make sure anyone who's hurt you pays the price."

Spectators who observed this exchange sensed that Team One's defeat was imminent. They'd lost three members, with Xiao Wu half out of commission. Now, Tang San, Yu Tianheng, and Tai Long were the only ones left on the battlefield, each cornered and struggling. The odds had turned sharply in favor of Team Two, which, besides boasting the powerful Spirit King Yang Ping'an, still had three Spirit Elders who, by now, had Tai Long pinned down.

Yu Xiaogang's face was pale as he struggled to understand why his team was struggling so much, despite their solid lineup and advantage in Spirit Masters. Without Tang San's exceptional battle prowess holding off Yang Ping'an, their loss would've come even sooner.

Team Two's tactical pressure soon paid off, with Tai Long the next to fall. Though he faced just three Spirit Elders, each had been meticulously trained and exhibited strength comparable to Spirit Masters. Yang Tianyue, in particular, was extraordinarily skilled and agile with her spear techniques, matching even Yu Tianheng in brief exchanges. Her inherent talent as an innately full Spirit Power genius, along with the intense training by the Yang clan, made her a formidable opponent.

After eliminating Tai Long, Yang Tianyue and her teammates quickly turned their attention to Yu Tianheng. Now facing five opponents, he could no longer hold his ground. Though he fought valiantly, he succumbed within minutes, collapsing unconscious on the stage.

In the end, Tang San stood alone, still holding Xiao Wu, pitted against Team Two's six remaining members, who also had Ye Lingling healing them in real time. Inevitably, he fell back under their coordinated assault, and within moments, Tang San was thrown from the platform, losing consciousness as he landed. Team One was entirely defeated.

The members of Team Two erupted in cheers, with Yang Tianyue even jumping in celebration. They had achieved a clean victory over Team One without losing a single member. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang and his group looked utterly defeated. After all the rigorous training they had invested, they had still suffered a crushing loss.

Throughout the match, three members of Team Two had particularly shone: Yang Ping'an, Yang Tianyue, and Ye Lingling. As the only Spirit King in the match, Yang Ping'an demonstrated formidable strength, excelling in offense, endurance, and battlefield control—a true Spirit King in every sense.

Though only a Spirit Elder, Yang Tianyue's prowess rivaled that of most Spirit Masters. She was instrumental in eliminating Team One's Ning Heng and Tai Long, displaying remarkable agility and adaptability in her spear techniques.

The most surprising, however, was Ye Lingling. Her powerful healing abilities were a cornerstone of Team Two's unblemished record, but her unexpected offensive skills, which left Xiao Wu heavily injured, had many wondering if she was even a pure support Spirit Master. Her swift, dexterous movements and newfound attack potential were reminiscent of a battle-oriented Spirit Master, making future opponents wary of attempting to counter her.

Observing the match, Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's leader, was particularly struck by Ye Lingling's offensive capabilities. As one of the most potent support spirits, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's main shortcoming lay in its lack of offensive power. If his clan's Spirit Masters could acquire an offensive edge like Ye Lingling's, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's strength—and the clan's influence—would see substantial growth.

(End of Chapter)

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