Douluo: I have too many clones

Chapter 824 Aruheng vs. Uchiha Sasuke

The martial arts tournament for choosing a husband is drawing to a close, and the highly anticipated final three days have finally arrived.

The stands around the arena were packed with people, cheers and chatter rising and falling, the air thick with anticipation and excitement—everyone knew that the final stage of the competition would surely be the most exciting showdown.

Today's schedule is highly anticipated because of the two key matches: the round-robin matches between Group 5 and Group 6.

Among them, Group 6, which was dubbed the "Group of Death" by the audience, had already become the focus of pre-match discussions due to the gathering of many top players.

The fifth group's competition was able to rival it only because both of the contestants appearing today were top-tier powerhouses with "original martial souls".

A true spirit is an extremely rare existence in the world of spirit masters. Every spirit master who possesses a true spirit has potential and strength far exceeding that of other spirit masters of the same level.

Today's fifth match takes the "rare" to its "peak" - the senior disciple of the Body Sect, Aruheng, will face off against the mysterious young man, Uchiha Sasuke.

A person's martial soul is the "heart" that symbolizes the origin of life. It is known for its strong vitality and explosive power. It can provide a continuous source of soul power in battle and can also use the special ability of the heart to fight against powerful enemies.

The other person's martial soul is the "eye" that controls vision and special abilities. Although the specific abilities have not yet been fully revealed, the mere mention of "body martial soul" is enough to make people not dare to underestimate him.

The heart is opposite the eyes—one representing the core of life and power, the other symbolizing insight and mystery.

The clash of such top-tier physical martial souls is enough to excite many viewers just by hearing the name, making it one of the most anticipated matches of this round-robin tournament.

What's even more exciting is that both contestants are young – Aruheng, though he has the physique of a middle-aged man, is actually only in his early thirties at most; Uchiha Sasuke, with his handsome face and cold demeanor, looks even younger.

With such formidable cultivation at such a young age, no one doubts that they will inevitably grow into top powerhouses in the world of Soul Masters.

For the audience, witnessing this clash of future top talents in advance will be a source of great pride and something to boast about in the future.

As the referee gave the order, two beams of intense light suddenly descended from the sky at the entrances to the passageways on either side of the competition platform, illuminating the end of the passageways as if gods were descending to earth.

Immediately afterwards, two distinctly different figures slowly entered the audience's field of vision, instantly pushing the atmosphere of the entire venue to its first climax.

Aruheng emerged from the left-hand passage.

He was a full two meters tall, his extraordinary physique standing like an iron tower, his muscles as hard and prominent as granite, and with each step he took, one could feel a slight tremor from the ground, radiating an extremely fierce sense of oppression.

Especially his shiny bald head, which reflected a dazzling light under the sunlight, made him a real "Bright Summit," adding to his fierce temperament and making him even more recognizable.

Uchiha Sasuke, who appeared in the passage on the right, formed a stark contrast with Aruheng.

He was tall and slender, with a handsome face that could leave the female audience speechless. He wore a light gray short-sleeved shirt with a stand-up collar, which outlined his smooth body lines. The red and white emblem embroidered on the back of the shirt, though its meaning was unknown, added a touch of mystery and nobility to him.

"Sasuke! Sasuke! Sasuke!"

Almost the instant Uchiha Sasuke stepped onto the stage, a series of sharp cheers erupted from the audience, all of them shouts from young girls in the throes of first love.

Clearly, compared to a muscular strongman like Aruheng, this young man with both a handsome appearance and a cool demeanor is more likely to capture the hearts of female viewers.

In an instant, the name "Sasuke" resounded throughout the arena, and even the air seemed to be filled with pink bubbles.

"Sunny day! Sunny day!"

Many enthusiastic fans waved homemade support signs and shouted "Sunny Day Helper," a nickname that has spread from who-knows-where.

Although it sounds a bit strange, and even doesn't quite fit Uchiha Sasuke's cold demeanor.

However, some fans felt that the nickname was both endearing and unique, which perfectly highlighted Sasuke's distinctiveness. As a result, they spontaneously accepted the nickname and regarded it as their exclusive support for him.

Just as cheers erupted throughout the arena, Aruheng, who was standing on the stage, suddenly took long strides and jogged up to Uchiha Sasuke.

His face showed no trace of pre-match seriousness; instead, he wore a carefree smile and asked with curiosity, "Brother Sasuke, your spirit is so unique. May I ask where you learned your master?"

With his hands in his pockets and his gaze still indifferent, Sasuke simply replied to Aruheng's enthusiastic question, "What does this have to do with you?"

Aruheng, however, didn't care at all about Sasuke's coldness. Instead, he laughed even more heartily: "Hahaha, Brother Sasuke, don't misunderstand. I'm just curious!"

"After all, someone like you with a true martial spirit is destined to be extraordinary, and you're bound to achieve great things in the future. So, I'd like to ask, Sasuke, have you joined any faction yet?"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke remained calm, his tone carrying the unique confidence of a strong person: "I don't need to join any faction, one person is enough."

Upon hearing the phrase "not affiliated with any faction," Aruheng's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had discovered a new continent. He took a half step forward, his tone becoming even more enthusiastic:

"Then, I wonder if Brother Sasuke would be interested in joining our Body Sect? I'm not joking with you. When it comes to understanding and researching Body Spirits, no one in the world can surpass our Body Sect!"

"If you join, the elders in the sect will definitely teach you everything they know, which will be of immense benefit to the growth of your martial spirit. I guarantee you'll become stronger much faster!"

The Body Sect has been in decline for far too long. As the current senior disciple of the Body Sect and the designated successor to the future sect leader, Aruheng has always harbored a strong desire to revitalize the sect's glory and make the Body Sect flourish, thus fulfilling his master Muye's lifelong dream.

This unwavering commitment made him cherish every opportunity that might bring hope to the sect.

Although his junior brother Lu Fa was exceptionally talented and a contemporary master craftsman, enjoying a high reputation in the Soul Master world, he had always shown little interest in inheriting the Body Sect.

Master Mu Ye never forced Lu Fa. He only valued Lu Fa's talent and made an exception to pass on the Body Sect's innate secret technique, thus establishing a bond of kinship and hoping that there might be a turning point in the future.

Now, having encountered a genius like Uchiha Sasuke at the martial arts tournament—possessing a top-tier eye-type spirit and displaying astonishing strength at a young age—Aruheng naturally wouldn't let him go.

In his view, recruiting Sasuke into the Body Sect would not only allow Sasuke's talent to be fully developed under the sect's nurturing, but also inject new vitality into the declining Body Sect, elevating the sect's strength to a new level—a win-win situation. "Body Sect? Never heard of it."

Despite Aruheng's enthusiastic recruitment, Uchiha Sasuke's expression remained indifferent as ice. He slightly raised his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of aloofness: "I have absolutely no interest in such an unknown small force."

"Hey, Sasuke, you're really ignorant!"

Hearing the words "minor force," Aruheng showed no anger whatsoever. He knew that the Body Sect had indeed declined for a long time and was no longer as famous as it once was; it was understandable that the younger generation of Soul Masters had never heard of it.

So, he put aside his eagerness to recruit Sasuke and instead enthusiastically began to explain the sect's history to him, his tone full of pride: "Our Body Sect is a great sect with a history of over ten thousand years! Back in the day, the Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao..."

"Long-winded!"

Before Aruheng could finish speaking, Sasuke Uchiha showed obvious impatience.

He frowned slightly and interrupted coldly, "I've already said, I have no interest in joining such a small force. If you really want me to join that so-called Body Sect, then let me see your strength first!"

Upon hearing this, Aruheng was taken aback at first, then a simple and honest smile appeared on his face, as if he had grasped the key point: "Brother Sasuke means that as long as I can defeat you, you will be willing to join the Body Sect, right?"

"If you really can do it, then why not join me?" Uchiha Sasuke's expression remained cold.

"Alright! Then it's a deal!"

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Aruheng's face lit up with joy, and his voice even rose a few decibels. He nodded vigorously, then turned and walked towards one end of the arena, preparing for the upcoming duel.

But the moment he turned around, a glint of cunning flashed in his previously honest eyes, and the smile on his lips couldn't be suppressed as it turned upwards, revealing a hint of slyness at his successful scheme.

……

Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the audience, two figures were talking in hushed tones, their eyes fixed on the two men on the ring.

Zhenhua watched the commotion on the stage, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. He turned to Mu Ye beside him and teased, "Your eldest disciple is quite cunning. He saw that young man was arrogant and deliberately used provocation to trick him into a trap. That's not a very fair method."

Upon hearing this, Mu Ye waved his hand dismissively, a smile on his face, his tone full of approval for his disciple: "You don't understand, this is called a strategy, a plan, understand?"

"Ten thousand years ago, didn't Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao use a similar strategy to 'lure' Rouge Douluo Nan Qiuqiu to the Tang Sect? My disciple is paying tribute to his predecessor and inheriting his wisdom!"

He had known Zhenhua for many years; one was Aruheng's mentor, and the other was his uncle who had watched Aruheng grow up. He knew Aruheng's personality all too well.

Aruheng may appear to be bold and unrestrained, but he is actually meticulous and observant, and is by no means a brute who only knows how to use brute force.

His actions just now clearly showed that he had seen through Uchiha Sasuke's proud and arrogant personality, and that he was determined to win. He deliberately pretended to be simple and honest to deceive the other party and gradually guide him to make the promise that he would join the sect if he lost.

Zhenhua stroked his beard, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, and continued to ask, "So, old man? Do you think that kid Aruheng can beat that Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Of course!" Mu Ye blurted out without hesitation, his tone full of confidence, and his eyes sharpened. "Old man, don't underestimate my apprentice."

"Although that kid named Uchiha Sasuke is indeed not weak, and his eye spirit is also very special, our Body Sect's innate secret techniques are no joke! When that kid Aruheng shows his true skills and defeats him, our Body Sect will be able to welcome another great general!"

At this point, Makino's smile widened, his eyes filled with anticipation:
"That's an eye-type martial soul! It's definitely one of the top-tier body-type martial souls! When Sasuke joins the sect in the future, paired with Aruheng's heart-type martial soul, one focusing on insight and the other on powerful offense, they will absolutely complement each other, and the revival of the Body Sect will be just around the corner!"

"What if—I mean, what if Aruheng loses?" Zhenhua deliberately dragged out his words, asking with a hint of teasing.

Mu Ye's smile vanished instantly. He snorted coldly, his tone stern: "If he loses, it proves that the kid must have been slacking off during his training and hadn't fully mastered what I taught him! As his master, I will definitely 'treat' him well and make him reflect on his actions!"

As he spoke, a dangerous smile appeared on his face, and his eyes made Zhenhua, who was standing next to him, shiver – clearly, the “hospitality” that Muye mentioned was definitely not an easy punishment.

……

On the ring, Aruheng, who was about to warm up, suddenly shivered involuntarily, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

He looked around in confusion. There were no fluctuations of soul power or any unusual movements around the arena. He could only scratch his shiny bald head and attribute the sudden chill to his own nervousness and oversensitivity.

"Five, four, three, two, one, the competition begins."

"Great Fireball!"

Uchiha Sasuke made the first move. He formed a hand seal, and the next second, a scorching aura suddenly filled the arena. He tilted his head back slightly and suddenly spewed out a ball of flame.

"boom!"

A deafening roar erupted in the arena, and the massive fireball unsurprisingly engulfed Aruheng's figure completely.

The heat wave generated by the burning flames spread outwards, and pale blue energy ripples instantly appeared on the protective barrier at the edge of the arena to resist this amazing impact.

"Hahaha, cool!"

However, to everyone's surprise, instead of the expected sounds of dodging or defense, a hearty laugh rang out from within the area engulfed by the flames: "Hahaha, awesome!"

As the laughter subsided, the raging flames seemed to be pushed aside by an invisible force. Immediately afterward, nine distinct spirit rings suddenly lit up in the firelight—six black and three red.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Aruheng emerged unharmed from the flames, his clothes untouched by even a spark, as if the intense heat that had consumed everything was merely a gentle breeze to him.

He raised his hand and patted his solid chest with a dull thud, a hearty and fighting spirit spreading across his face as he shouted to Sasuke, "Brother Sasuke, don't hold back, come on, attack!"

(End of this chapter)