In the sky, countless fire spirits erupted from Ying Yanyang's body, densely packed, completely obscuring the entire sky.
The clear blue sky was truly set ablaze by the flames, the roaring inferno reflecting a crimson hue.
As the flames swirled around him, a colossal and scorching sphere of fire formed, with Ying Yanyang at its center, encompassing a radius of nearly five hundred meters.
Terrifying and destructive fiery energy surged within the sphere. The heat that merely emanated from it was enough to scorch the grand competition arena below into dry, glowing cracks.
"Is this the power a Soul Sage can wield!"
On the steps of the high platform, the Demon Bear gnashed his teeth almost to breaking. With a soul power level of ninety-five, just one step away from becoming a Super Douluo, he trembled in fear upon witnessing Ying Yanyang's attack.
Such wild and scorching fiery energy gave even him a chill from the depths of his heart. He might very well die if he took this blow head-on!
If he, who excelled in both defense and power, felt this way, the Ghost Leopard, known for its agility and speed, could only swallow nervously in terror.
The strongest among the five, the Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard, were utterly shocked. Let alone the Dragon She and Thorn Eel, whose strength far surpassed theirs, the latter two were now sweating profusely from fear.
Ling Yuan, who had some understanding of her younger brother's strength, was not as incapacitated as the Dragon She and Thorn Eel, but her spirited eyes could not hide her own shock.
"Yanyang's strength has actually reached this point!"
The fiery power, which had been steadily increasing since the start of the competition, was finally displayed in its entirety to everyone at this moment.
Although the soul skill "Burning Xin" was only a hundred years old, the power it brought was something even a ten-thousand-year soul ring could not match!
As the scorching energy wind swept towards him, Wang Zhong pushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead behind his ear, his gaze fixed on Ying Yanyang's movements within the fireball.
Within the sphere of flames, Ying Yanyang spread his legs and arms wide simultaneously. Behind him, the fierce and majestic giant eagle hovered, also spreading its wings.
When no more flames emerged from his body, the giant eagle floating behind him suddenly retracted its wings, curling its massive body inward like a protective embrace, finally transforming into a sphere only about two meters in diameter, shielding Ying Yanyang within.
The moment the sphere appeared, Ying Yanyang made a similar motion, retracting his outstretched arms and crossing them over his chest, bringing his spread legs together and bending them towards his chest. He curled himself up like an infant, nestled within the warm embrace of the flames.
The colossal sphere of fire in the sky suddenly began to tremble, and under everyone's gaze, it slowly contracted.
Five hundred meters, four hundred meters, three hundred meters... fifty meters, forty meters, thirty meters... When the entire sphere shrank to only about ten meters in diameter, it finally stopped.
Compared to the immense fireball that had spanned the heavens and earth before, this ten-meter-wide sphere before them was now pocket-sized and almost cute.
However, no one present dared to underestimate this small fireball.
The fiercely burning scarlet flames, under this extraordinary compression, turned an inky black. Violent and scorching destructive energy stirred restlessly within, exuding a thick aura of death and danger that made the scalps of the few remaining people in the arena tingle!
"Let's go! Yanyang's attack is no minor matter, we can't withstand it!"
In the arena, students and teachers had all evacuated, leaving only Shuang Yuelian, Xia Xuan, and Yue Shan. Looking at the black sun-like entity that had appeared above them, Xia Xuan shrugged, indicating he was leaving.
Such an expression and action earned him a fierce roll of the eyes from Shuang Yuelian.
"The elders are still up there, and the Eminence hasn't left yet. You want to go now? Be careful the Eminence remembers and gives you trouble later."
Xia Xuan, however, shrugged indifferently and sighed, "If she could give me trouble, I'd be overjoyed."
At these words, the three of them sighed in unison, but ultimately remained silent.
"Let's go, Lianmei, Xiaoxuan, we'll go up to the high platform."
"Although with the Pope's Eminence's strength, she likely fears no harm from Yanyang's attack, we ultimately cannot just leave so casually."
The two nodded simultaneously.
It was improper and unreasonable for the subordinates to leave first while the sovereign stood on the high platform!
What's more, the three of them were not entirely subordinates.
Under the astonished gazes of the Ghost Leopard, Demon Bear, Dragon She, and Thorn Eel, Shuang Yuelian first, followed by Xia Xuan, and then Yue Shan, they sequentially ascended the high platform and took their positions behind the Pope.
Moon Guan looked at Shuang Yuelian as she walked onto the stage, smiled warmly, and nodded gently. Ghostly also offered a peaceful smile to the three.
Among the seven Titled Douluo present, Ghostly, Moon Guan, and Ling Yuan were well aware of the relationship between Bibi Dong and Yue Shan and the others.
As for the Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Thorn Eel, and Dragon She, they either lacked sufficient loyalty, had been in seclusion for long periods and remained uninvolved, or Bibi Dong had intentionally kept information about the Spirit Hall Academy under wraps.
Consequently, the four of them knew very little about the people and affairs within the academy, to the point of knowing virtually nothing.
Even before this, as an open academy, any information that could be leaked from the Spirit Hall Academy was either tacitly approved by Bibi Dong, or intentionally released by her.
With truth and falsehood intertwined, who could accurately grasp it?
Let alone now, when the Spirit Hall Academy had completely sealed itself off due to Wang Zhong's connection!
On the high platform, Bibi Dong's wine-red eyes flickered slightly as the three ascended, but quickly returned to calm.
No one had forgotten the vows they had made! Even though she had not responded to those vows for a long time, it was still the same!
Watch over and help each other, live and die together, never abandon...
"Elders, if you feel your strength is insufficient, you may leave now."
Bibi Dong's calm voice echoed in their ears, devoid of ripples, of emotion, of sorrow or joy.
But with such a persuasive tone, and with the incident of the soul bone five years ago serving as a warning, which of them dared to entertain such thoughts?
Moreover, with seven Titled Douluo present not including Bibi Dong, could they not withstand the shockwave of a mere Soul Sage's attack?
If this were to be said, they would be thoroughly shamed.
"We swear to advance and retreat with the Pope's Eminence!"
"We swear to advance and retreat with the Pope's Eminence!"
"We swear to advance and retreat with the Pope's Eminence!"
...
A total of seven voices rang out in unison. Even though the current situation was not a matter of life and death, it was the best time to express their loyalty.
Whether their sincerity or pretense was genuine, for the moment, the attitude of the seven was extremely firm!
And at this very moment, within the sphere in the sky, which was so dark that no sunlight could penetrate it, like a black sun, terrifying energy and fiery fluctuations emanated.
A low, hoarse voice came from within the black sun, carrying a fearsome power that seemed capable of incinerating the world.
"Sixth Soul Skill!"
"Black Sun World Incineration!"