Luo Yu's hair stood on end, and he continuously retreated.
"Bang!"
But in the end, it was a fraction too late; he was kicked in the stomach, his body forming an inverted C as he was sent flying.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The eight military souls' spectral shadows in the sky quickly flew behind Luo Yu, overlapping to cushion the impact of his flight.
That was the only reason he wasn't kicked straight out of the ring.
Seeing Luo Yu's exquisite timing and his overwhelming attack instantly turned around like this, the audience was not exclaiming but silent.
They stared at Luo Yu in disbelief.
Scanning him over and over again.
Especially recalling the reverberating, metallic sound they had just heard, whispers of doubt unavoidably rose among the crowd.
Is this guy even human?
How tough must he be for that kind of sound to have been produced?
Luo Yu patted his chest to stand up, forcibly circulating his spiritual power to keep the hand that had struck Luo Yu from trembling. He stared at Luo Yu intently.
"Was that a Golden Bell Shield or an Iron Cloth Shirt just now?"
"Vajra Indestructible, how could you have cultivated such a physical skill to such a high level at your young age?"
Luo Yu thought to himself.
Golden Bell Shield?
Iron Cloth Shirt?
Such physical skills might be precious to mortals, but to someone like him with a legacy of a hundred deities, they were nothing more than low-grade goods.
What he cultivated was the Vajra Indestructible of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, a great divine power that was impervious to water and fire. Even just entering the gates, he was already equivalent to the highest realm of the Iron Cloth Shirt physical skill.
He said to Luo Yu:
"Unfortunately, I haven't lost."
Li Zhenyue's face turned extremely ugly. Luo Yu was blatantly ridiculing him in front of everyone.
After all, Li Zhenyue had declared that Luo Yu was certainly going to lose the moment he made his move.
Yet here he now stood, unharmed, even sporting an infuriating, smug smile.
"Is this your hidden trump card, a protective technique like the Iron Cloth Shirt cultivated to the transformation realm?" Li Zhenyue said, "But do you think I've shown my trump card yet?"
The audience was astonished: "Does this guy have even more outrageous moves?"
"He was already fierce just now, and there's something scarier?"
Luo Yu cleaned out his ears.
"Maybe for others, you're fierce, but with me, you'd better keep a low profile."
"I've always loved to show off."
"What I dislike the most is..."
"Others showing off in front of me."
"You've crossed the line today, so you're going to fall here."
Hearing Luo Yu's words, the instructors didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but the students erupted in cheers, fond of Luo Yu's edgy and bold character.
"My trump card has never been seen by anyone, because anyone who has seen it is dead. In the past on the battlefield, I was attacked by six outsiders at the Fifth Rank Peak, and I crushed them with this move. I hope you can withstand it," Li Zhenyue revealed a meaningful smile.
"Impressive, you fight valiantly on the battlefield," Luo Yu responded with a nod, as if he were a senior acknowledging a junior's merit.
Such acknowledgment, however, was particularly grating to Li Zhenyue's ears.
He always felt that Luo Yu didn't regard him as an equal. He wanted to ask on what grounds Luo Yu dared to speak to him like that.
Who was he? He was the Military God, Li Zhenyue.
The man destined to carry the Great Xia on his shoulders.
Li Zhenyue murmured, "The world only knows that Li Jing is a General of the Tang Dynasty, commanding troops, unmatched in military strategy."
"They think the legend is just a legend."
"But who can say that legends aren't real?"
He spread his arms wide, releasing the Human-Spirit Fusion stature, and Li Jing's majestic, armored figure reemerged into the crowd's view.
As everyone was wondering about the meaning of his words, they saw Li Jing's eyes flashing with dazzling golden light.
Streams of golden, godly essence started to flow around Li Jing's body.
A high-level aura was reviving inside Li Jing, causing all the Ancient Spirits within those present to tremble for a moment.
"What is happening!"
"What's with this aura?"
The bewildered freshmen exclaimed as Shi Kai and the instructors jumped down from the high platform to stand at the closest position to the stage, watching intently.
Lyu Chan hesitated, "This guy's aura, why does it start to feel like Luo Yu's, no, like the God-Level Ancient Spirits behind Luo Yu?"
"His Li Jing is at God Rank?" Diao Lingluo was astonished.
"Boom!"
A golden pillar of light stretching from heaven to earth appeared, and Li Jing stepped out from the dazzling golden column, his battle sword no longer visible in his hand.
Li Zhenyue's face radiated an indescribable confidence and pride.
"Xia Luo, you didn't expect this, did you? My Li Jing has a dual form, his human form is like a grand general capable of contending with an entire nation; as for his divine form, who do you think it might be?"
"I acknowledge your strength, but today your defeat is certain. Now that it has come to this, I'd like to see what you can do to win."
Gasps of astonishment rose simultaneously, electrifying the atmosphere.
"A divine form!"
"This guy's Ancient Spirit actually has a dual form."
"Damn, today's truly an eye-opener."
"Isn't this Li Jing ferocious? How do you fight when he suddenly brings out Li Tianwang, who commands the celestial troops?"
"Terrifying, it's just too terrifying."
Xu Baiday, Dajiuer, Lyu Chan, and other experts all wore grave expressions, warily watching the golden light around Li Zhenyue and the Ancient Spirit behind him.
Dajiuer, as seductive as a charming demoness, was surprised by Li Zhenyue's strength, but her gaze fell upon Luo Yu, feeling an intuition that this man, who had seemed so ordinary before, was definitely not simple.
Yet, how to deal with such a terrifying opponent who possessed a God-Level Ancient Spirit?
"The tower—"
"Come!"
Li Zhenyue, full of heroic spirit, reached out his hand, and Li Jing behind him did the same, their actions synchronized, merging into one.
In an instant, countless golden particles gathered in Li Zhenyue's hand, finally forming a nine-tiered golden Exquisite Pagoda.
"???"
"Could it be the legendary Pagoda-carrying King Li's divine weapon, the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda?"
"Of course, what else could it be? Even if it doesn't seem like the true form of the magical treasure, it won't be weak."
"Look at this determination; he's dead set on making Xia Luo cry, he's bringing his real game."
"I thought being the top Tang Dynasty General was impressive enough for Li Jing, turns out you're telling me this guy is a mythological figure?"
"This is not looking good for him."
"Isn't that obvious, Xia Luo is definitely done for."
"Do you really expect him to flip over a God-Level Pagoda-carrying King Li with an old farmer Heroic Spirit? Stop joking; even if he overworks himself to death, he won't be able to."
"It feels like Xia Luo is a prodigy blessed by the heavens, yet it's such a pity that his Heroic Spirit is a bit trashy, dragging him down. Just too bad."
"Indeed, but the fact that Xia Luo pushed Li Zhenyue to reveal his strongest state is already impressive enough. I'm convinced."
At this point, someone said:
"Wait a minute!"
"Don't you all think that this Xia Luo is too calm, not even flustered by the sight of Pagoda-carrying King Li?"
"Probably scared stiff."
"That's possible, who wouldn't be alarmed facing a God-Level Ancient Spirit?"
Li Zhenyue, carrying the Exquisite Pagoda, descended like a deity, his divine aura shining as he said:
"It's not too late for you to surrender now."
"I don't really want to hurt you, after all, in the future, we're all contributing to Huaxia, and it's likely that one day you could become one of my warriors."
Luo Yu nodded.
LI Zhenyue nodded in approval, "A wise man adapts to circumstances."
Luo Yu's voice came through.
"Not as beautiful as you think."
"You don't really think that a Pagoda-carrying King Li is qualified to make me his underling, do you?"
"For the toast refused, the penalty drink."
Li Zhenyue glanced towards the tutors near the arena and called out loudly, "Tutors, don't worry, I know my Great Divine Powers, and I won't kill him. After all, he's still somewhat talented."
Then, he tossed the pagoda he was holding.
The golden Exquisite Pagoda unfolded majestically in the wind, instantly becoming tens of meters tall, exuding a tremendous suction and suppressive force from its base.
Falling squarely upon Luo Yu.
It descended straight down, engulfing Luo Yu inside the tower.
Then the golden Exquisite Pagoda began to flicker on and off, the suppressive force inside intensifying.
As Luo Yu's figure disappeared from everyone's view.
Everyone shuddered.
"Damn, such a domineering Linglong Tower, who can defeat this Li Zhenyue?"
"This Great Divine Power is too twisted."
"Yeah! It's terrifying."