SWNOVELXO Chapter 163: "Wait, Xiao Wu, are you hurt?"
"Zhongli, Zhongli…"
On the arena, Paimon watched the unfolding scene, her small head filled with big question marks.
"Only one member of the Shrek team is left standing, so why is this Tang San still smirking like he's got something up his sleeve?" Paimon tilted her head and asked Zhongli.
With his usual rational demeanor, Zhongli should know what was going on, right?
Even Xue Ye, Salas, and Ning Fengzhi looked taken aback, surprised that little Paimon would ask such a tricky question.
Only Tang San himself knew what was going through his mind at that moment.
His expression, that smirk—it was obvious he still had a trump card.
"Hmm…"
Zhongli stroked his nonexistent beard, lost in thought.
If we were to speak in terms of a past life, Tang San at this moment might be considered a god of the abstract.
His entire team had fallen, and yet he still wore a cold smirk, exuding confidence. It was almost surreal.
Even Zhongli couldn't think of a way for Tang San to win here.
Without the ability to use hidden weapons, facing the nearly full-strength members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team—each a Spirit Ancestor, with Dugu Yan herself a Spirit King—Tang San was at a clear disadvantage.
Wait, the Eight Spider Lances?
Zhongli glanced at the Eight Spider Lances on Tang San's back, pondering for a moment before his eyes brightened.
If he were to use it that way, perhaps Tang San had a ten percent chance of winning.
In the original timeline, during the finals, Tang San's Eight Spider Lances shattered, and he used the fragments as hidden weapons with his Tang Sect techniques.
Not a single member of the Spirit Hall team could withstand the Eight Spider Lances' poison.
Of course, those Eight Spider Lances had been strengthened by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the ten-thousand-year Pit Demon Spider; they were far superior to the current version Tang San possessed.
"If he truly goes this far, then he's indeed ruthless."
"Truly, heroes flood the world like carp crossing a river."
Zhongli thought silently, but his face showed no emotion.
For Tang San to win, to change the course of this battle, he would have to destroy his own spirit bone, severely injuring himself in the process, just for a slim chance of survival.
Going this far—it was undeniably ruthless.
He could indeed be called a hero.
"Paimon, even I can't understand that smirk," Zhongli said, shaking his head.
Of course, he did understand, but Paimon was innocent and pure. Some things were better left unknown to her.
Let her stay carefree—it's better that way.
"Huh?"
"Even you can't understand it, Zhongli?"
Paimon blinked, not feeling disappointed, just curious.
"Tang San must have some kind of trump card," Zhongli said vaguely.
Even with all his years of life, he couldn't understand everything, and that was perfectly normal.
If he were omniscient and omnipotent, the regrets of the past wouldn't have happened.
"Oh, a trump card!"
"Like hidden power, right?"
As Paimon's words fell, the arena shifted dramatically.
Tang San's smirk held firm, his eyes full of determination.
He didn't use his Blue Silver Grass martial spirit but instead did something unexpected: he unleashed the Clear Sky Hammer, a spirit without any soul rings.
The sight confused everyone.
As weak as the Blue Silver Grass spirit might be, it still had four soul rings.
The Clear Sky Hammer might be powerful, but it had no rings at all.
So why was he using the Clear Sky Hammer now?
"Dual martial spirits?"
Not every spectator, and not even every competitor, knew that Tang San possessed twin martial spirits.
The appearance of Tang San's second spirit surprised everyone.
Yu Tianheng and his teammates frowned, waiting for Tang San's signature move: Blue Silver Bind.
But instead of using Blue Silver Bind, Tang San had released his second spirit: the Clear Sky Hammer.
The Clear Sky Hammer, known as the most powerful tool spirit, was indeed a fearsome weapon.
But this was the Clear Sky Hammer without any spirit rings…
Tang San gripped the hammer in his left hand, but instead of charging at Yu Tianheng and the others, he crouched down on the ground.
"???"
This sight left everyone baffled and confused.
"Wait!"
"What is Tang San trying to do?"
They saw Tang San grit his teeth, lift the Clear Sky Hammer high, and the two lower spider legs on his back moved in front of him.
"???"
"No way… what is this… Tang San, he's…"
With a loud "bang," Tang San brought the Clear Sky Hammer down onto the Eight Spider Lances.
The hammer struck the spider legs, shattering two of them into fragments.
Despite the excruciating pain from the shattering of his spirit bone, Tang San clenched his teeth, enduring it in silence.
Did it hurt?
Sweat was pouring down his forehead like raindrops, a testament to the intense pain he was enduring.
"Xiao Wu, I'll avenge you!"
Tang San's eyes turned red as he quietly picked up the broken pieces of the Eight Spider Lances.
As Zhongli had anticipated, Tang San planned to use the Eight Spider Lances to change the course of the battle.
If his plan succeeded, it would turn the tables.
If it failed…
"Xiao San, why… why go to such lengths!?"
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang sighed, tears sliding down his cheeks.
Tang San couldn't afford to get hurt. To him, Tang San was more than just a disciple—he was proof of his theories, his life's work.
For so many years, Yu Xiaogang treated Tang San as if he were his own son.
He had no children, and Tang San was like a son to him.
The moment Tang San picked up the shattered fragments of the Eight Spider Lances, Yu Xiaogang knew exactly what he intended.
The rules of the competition didn't allow the use of external objects.
This rule effectively banned soul tools and weapons, including Tang San's hidden weapons.
But the Eight Spider Lances weren't considered external—they were an external spirit bone!
"Tang San, oh…"
Flender sighed, understanding Tang San's situation clearly.
He hadn't expected Tang San to go this far!
What a brave young soul master, just like the boy who had once dared to challenge Zhao Wuji alone.
By now, Dai Mubai and the others had already recovered from the immobilizing effects. When they saw Tang San's state, they were stunned.
Xiao Wu covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
"Xiao San, you… you're truly my brother!" Dai Mubai thought Tang San was going all out to help him win that spirit bone.
A warrior fights for a confidant; a woman adorns herself for her admirer.
For Tang San to go to such lengths, he was closer than a blood brother to Dai Mubai.
Yu Tianheng and the others exchanged glances, suddenly realizing something.
Tang San hadn't used his hidden weapons or techniques in the battle at Sotou City.
But he had used them while sparring with Xiao Wu!
He had given it his all, and although his efforts were ultimately ineffective, no one doubted the strength of Tang San's "self-created soul skills."
Yu Tianheng and the others were present at the disciple ceremony, so they knew Tang San's techniques well.
"Wait, Xiao Wu, are you hurt?"
Suddenly, a concerned voice sounded from nearby.
Xiao Wu: "???"
Dai Mubai and the others: "???"
They looked toward the source of the voice in confusion.