Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Marco finally moved.
However, his actions left everyone stunned.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, he didn't burst forth with astonishing Soul Power or release his Martial Soul. Instead... he slowly raised his right hand, lazily covered his mouth, and let out a yawn.
Yes, a yawn.
The motion was casual and natural, as relaxed as if he were standing in his own backyard, forming an utterly absurd contrast with the seven Elephant Armor Academy members opposite him who were fully alert with their Soul Power unleashed.
The entire arena fell into silence, followed by bursts of hushed discussions.
"He... he yawned?"
"What does this mean? Is he looking down on Elephant Armor Academy?"
"Is he still not fully awake?"
In the VIP seats, Hu Yan Zhen's face instantly turned ashen, his fists clenched audibly. Bishop Salas narrowed his eyes with a cold glint. Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi showed surprise, while Bone Douluo Gu Rong's withered face revealed a hint of an amused smile. Li Zhaoyan's lips curved upward almost imperceptibly, his eyes filled with understanding.
After finishing his yawn, Marco seemed to finally notice the dazzling, majestic "Diamond Bulwark" opposite him. His gaze swept over it calmly, neither contemptuous nor solemn in his eyes—only a kind of... detachment, as if examining an ordinary object.
Then, he moved.
He didn't charge forward, didn't unleash his Soul Power. He simply took steps, one after another, slow and steady, walking toward that Diamond Bulwark constructed by the combined efforts of seven Soul Ancestors and reputed to be indestructible.
His pace was slow, casual, like taking a stroll in a courtyard. The soles of his shoes landed on the hard surface of the Soul Duel Stage, emitting soft yet distinct "tap, tap" sounds. These sounds were unusually clear in the silent arena, each one seeming to strike at the heartstrings of the audience.
As he approached step by step, the seven Elephant Armor Academy members behind the Diamond Bulwark involuntarily began breathing more rapidly. Although they maintained their full Soul Power output and the bulwark's radiance remained brilliant, an intangible pressure spread with those slow footsteps, weighing heavily on their hearts.
Several team members with slightly weaker cultivation had already started sweating on their foreheads, their eyes unable to suppress a trace of fear. The domineering, world-shaking scene from this seemingly casual youth's previous match was still vivid in their minds!
Sensing the wavering of his teammates behind him, Captain Huyan Li suddenly bit the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain refreshed his spirit, and he roared out with a voice like a great bell: "Steady! The Diamond Bulwark is indestructible! Don't forget the honor of our sect! For the dignity of the Elephant Armor Sect!"
His roar acted like a stabilizing pill, forcing the somewhat panicked teammates to calm down. Their Soul Power output became more stable, and the Diamond Bulwark's radiance seemed to solidify further.
Below the stage, the teams from various academies were utterly silent, all eyes fixed intently on Marco's slowly moving figure. On Shrek Academy's side, Tang San operated his Purple Demon Eyes to their limit, attempting to see through Marco's true capabilities.
Blazing Fire Academy, Divine Wind Academy, Heavenly Water Academy... The elites of all the teams were filled with shock and disbelief. Was he just walking over like that? Facing a seven-person integrated defense formation without even releasing his Martial Soul?
In the VIP seats, Bone Douluo Gu Rong let out a hoarse chuckle and said to the grim-faced Hu Yan Zhen beside him, "Sect Leader Hu Yan, your sect's Diamond Bulwark truly lives up to its reputation. Look how it's forced this child to simply walk over." Though the words sounded like praise, they were filled with mockery.
Hu Yan Zhen snorted coldly but did not respond, his tightly clenched fists betraying his inner turmoil.
Bishop Salas watched with profound eyes, lost in thought. Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi were fully focused, sensing that Marco's actions were far more complex than they appeared.
Under countless gazes filled with confusion, tension, or anticipation, Marco finally ambled to the front of the Diamond Bulwark, stopping just one step away from the Soul Power shield wall gleaming with unyielding radiance.
He paused, calmly examined the barrier before him once more, and then—to everyone's disbelief—slowly raised his right hand.
There was no surge of Soul Power, no eruption of Domain Momentum. With casual ease, as if knocking on a neighbor's door, he curled his index finger and gently tapped the surface of the Diamond Bulwark—a shield formed by the combined full strength of seven Soul Ancestors, shimmering with flowing light.
The motion was gentle, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Thump.
A dull yet startlingly clear sound suddenly echoed across the entire arena!
Though not deafening, the noise seemed to carry a strange penetrating force, striking directly into the depths of every soul present! The entire surface of the Diamond Bulwark visibly rippled outward from the point his fingertip had touched, creating subtle, spreading waves!
"What?!"
"This…"
"He just tapped it?!"
The crowd erupted in astonishment! Everyone's eyes widened in shock!
Behind the Diamond Bulwark, the seven members of the Elephant Armor Academy trembled violently. Especially Huyan Li, who stood directly opposite Marco's pointing finger, felt an indescribable tremendous force transmit through the barrier—not a brute impact, but a high-frequency, intensely penetrating vibration! His chest tightened, blood and energy churned within him, and he nearly coughed up blood! The other six simultaneously grunted, their faces instantly paling, the Soul Power maintaining the barrier momentarily thrown into disarray!
"Steady!" Huyan Li's eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he frantically channeled his Soul Power! The barrier flickered but barely stabilized.
Marco seemed dissatisfied with the effect of his first tap. He tilted his head slightly and raised his finger once more.
Thump!
A second tap landed!
The sound was deeper and duller than the first! The ripples on the barrier's surface abruptly expanded, and the entire Diamond Bulwark shook violently, its light flickering unstably as if on the verge of collapse!
Pfft! This time, the weakest member of the Elephant Armor Academy team finally succumbed to the bizarre vibrational force, vomiting a mouthful of blood! The others also had blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, their muscles twitching uncontrollably, clearly enduring immense agony! Huyan Li's eyes were bloodshot, his gums bleeding from gritting his teeth, desperately holding on!
The entire arena fell into dead silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop! Everyone was stunned by these two understated yet terrifyingly powerful "knocks"!
In the VIP seats, Hu Yan Zhen abruptly stood up, his face filled with shock and disbelief! Bishop Salas's pupils contracted sharply! Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and the others were thoroughly shaken! A flicker of approval passed through Li Zhaoyan's eyes.
"What... what kind of power is this?" Bone Douluo Gu Rong's hoarse voice carried a trace of gravity. "It's not pure force suppression, but rather... vibration? Penetration? Destruction of the Soul Power structure's very essence?"
Amid this extreme silence and shock, Marco raised his finger for the third time. His expression remained calm, as if he were merely completing a simple action.
"Thump————!!!"
The third strike rang out like a death knell! The sound was dull as thunder, yet carried a sense of finality!
"Crack... crack-crack..."
The moment the third strike landed, the seemingly indestructible Diamond Bulwark first developed spider web-like cracks on its surface, then the cracks rapidly spread across the entire barrier! The next second, under countless horrified gazes, it shattered with a thunderous crash! Transforming into sparkling points of light that dissipated into the air!
"Pfft—!"
"Ah!"
The seven members of Elephant Armor Academy were as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, simultaneously spurting blood wildly. Their Soul Power instantly collapsed. The backlash from maintaining the barrier combined with the residual force from Marco's final strike sent them flying backward like broken kites, crashing heavily near the edge of the Soul Duel Stage. Each one was pale as paper, blood dripping from the corners of their mouths, struggling but unable to rise for the moment!
Diamond Bulwark—shattered!
Elephant Armor Academy—all seven members defeated!
And from beginning to end, Marco hadn't even released his Martial Soul! He merely walked over and knocked three times!
The entire arena fell into deathly silence! Everyone stared dumbfounded at the black-clothed youth who remained standing calmly on stage, as if he had merely accomplished some trivial matter.
Several seconds later, exclamations and discussions erupted like a volcano throughout the Great Spirit Arena!
"My heavens! Three times! Just three knocks!"
"The Diamond Bulwark... shattered just like that?"
"How did he even do that?!"
"Is he even human?!"
Below the stage, elites from various teams wore expressions filled with shock, fear, and disbelief.
In the Shrek Academy area, Dai Mubai's tiger eyes widened, his voice dry: "This... this is his true power?" Tang San took a deep breath, his Purple Demon Eyes filled with gravity: "It's not just strength... the way he struck contains power application techniques we cannot comprehend." Xiao Wu patted her chest: "That scared me to death, he's really... monstrous!" Ning Rongrong murmured: "Father was right, he's truly too powerful..." Ma Hongjun's plump face turned pale: "This fatty will have to steer clear of him from now on..." Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips tightly together. Oscar nearly dropped the sausage in his hand.
At the Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Wu's pretty face turned pale, while Huo Wushuang wore a grave expression. At the Divine Wind Academy, Feng Xiaotian shed all his usual casual demeanor, his brows tightly furrowed. At the Heaven Water Academy, Shui Bing'er's beautiful eyes sparkled with unusual light, yet carried deep apprehension. All team members felt a shadow cast over their hearts—could they really defeat such a monster?
In the VIP seats, Bone Douluo Gu Rong broke the silence first. Looking at Hu Yan Zhen, whose face was iron-gray and trembling slightly, he chuckled hoarsely: "Patriarch Hu Yan, your clan's Diamond Bulwark... well, it made quite a sound when shattered in three knocks. Crisp and pleasant to the ear, not bad at all."
Hu Yan Zhen nearly spat out a mouthful of blood in fury, yet he had no strength to refute. He could only stare fixedly at the young man on the stage, his eyes filled with shock, rage, and a trace of... fear?
Bishop Salas's face was as dark as storm clouds. Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes. Li Zhaoyan slowly sat back down, a faint trace of pride on his face.
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