Douluo: I have too many clones

Chapter 828 The Top Ten are Born
After several rounds of fierce competition, the martial arts tournament for marriage, which has attracted much attention from all forces in the Douluo Continent, has entered its final stage amidst great anticipation.

With the final round of competition over, the top ten have finally been selected.

According to the final rankings released by the Spirit Pagoda, the top ten contestants in this year's Martial Arts Marriage Tournament are as follows:
Group 1 – Naruto Uzumaki.

Group Two – Nan Fusheng.

The third group – Cai Xukun.

Group 4 – Duanmu Yan.

Group 5 – Uchiha Sasuke.

Group 6 – Jade Dragon Moon.

Group 7 – Kamui.

Group 8 – Lan Fuzi.

Group 9 – Orange Fragrance.

Group 10 – Piggy Hero.

It is worth noting that the name "Piggy Hero" is clearly a pseudonym. Although the Spirit Tower had communicated with the contestant about his identity information many times, they ultimately respected his choice because he insisted on using this name. This little episode added a touch of fun to the top ten list.

Among the top ten contestants, Tang Wulin's alias, Yu Longyue, is the most famous, not because of her strength, but because of the Trident of the Sea God in her hand.

The contestants in this martial arts tournament all come from various parts of the mainland. Although they may not be at the very top of the power pyramid in Douluo Continent, they generally possess basic treasure identification skills and industry insight.

Anyone with eyes could see that the pupil that Qian Gu Zhangting took out in the sixth group's qualifying match was no ordinary object, but even so, he still lost to Yu Longyue.

During the competition, most spectators and participants were only focused on the outcome of the battle and had not yet given much thought to the golden trident in Yu Longyue's hands.

Even after the match, as various forces and industry analysts reviewed the details of the game, discussions about this golden trident gradually intensified.

Many experienced weapon appraisers and senior figures in the Soul Master world repeatedly observed the competition videos and judged the shape of the weapon by comparing them. They concluded that this golden trident is very likely a legendary "divine weapon".

Even bolder speculations suggest that the artifact might be the divine weapon held by Tang San, the ancestor of the Tang Clan and the God of the Sea, 20,000 years ago—the Trident of the God of the Sea.

This speculation is not unfounded.

On the one hand, there are many legends about the Sea God Tang San circulating in Douluo Continent. His deeds have been recorded in various books. The image of the Sea God Trident has been preserved in various places through written records, murals and carvings. The appearance of the weapon held by Yu Longyue is highly consistent with the description of the Sea God Trident in historical records.

On the other hand, there is a special connection between the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family and the Sea God Tang San – Yu Xiaogang, the ancestor of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family, was the Sea God Tang San's mentor when he was young.

Yu Xiaogang once took pride in "cultivating a god," and his "Martial Soul Theory" played a key role in Tang San's growth.

Based on this historical connection, mainland Chinese citizens and analysts have put forward the first mainstream speculation:
Twenty thousand years ago, when the Sea God Tang San ascended to the God Realm, Yu Xiaogang chose to stay on Douluo Continent for some reason, to continue to refine his "invincible theory" and cultivate Soul Master talents.

Out of gratitude for the bond between master and disciple, Tang San gifted the Trident of the Sea God to Yu Xiaogang to protect the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family. This divine weapon was thus passed down through generations in the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family, eventually ending up in the hands of Yu Longyue.

This conjecture is logically sound and aligns with the public's emotional expectations of a "deep bond between teacher and student," and it quickly gained widespread acceptance.

Of course, with good comes bad.

Besides the mainstream speculation, there are also some controversial unofficial historical records. The most widely circulated version is used as a topic of conversation by many people because of its dramatic plot.

This unofficial historical account claims that on the eve of Tang San's ascension to the God Realm, Yu Xiaogang approached Tang San and requested to take him along. The dialogue is recorded as follows:
"Oh, it's Xiaogang. What can I do for you?" Tang San asked.

"Little San, I heard you're going to ascend to the God Realm, is that true?" Yu Xiaogang asked anxiously.

Tang San nodded and replied, "That's right."

"Then can you take me to the realm of gods?" Yu Xiaogang asked directly.

Tang San shook his head decisively: "No way."

"Why not?" Yu Xiaogang pressed.

"Because there are rules in the God Realm that you can't bring too many people with you when you ascend," Tang San explained.

Yu Xiaogang still wouldn't give up: "Xiao San, you're a dual god, the Sea God and the Asura God! And as the Asura God, you're also the Enforcer God of the God Realm. Can't you give your teacher a special favor?"

"No, precisely because the Asura God is a god of law enforcement, I cannot break the law." Tang San's answer was firm and unwavering.

"But, Teacher really misses the God..." Yu Xiaogang's words were interrupted by Tang San before he could finish.

"No, you don't want to." Tang San raised the Trident of the Sea God, his tone suddenly changing: "You audacious Yu Xiaogang, if you dare to go to the God Realm today, you'll dare to go to Xiao Wu tomorrow! Prepare to die!"

"Ah!!!!" Yu Xiaogang let out a scream.

According to records, with Yu Xiaogang's death, the Trident of Poseidon remained on his body, becoming a heirloom of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family.

There are many versions of the above unofficial history, but this version is the most famous because it is the most entertaining.

However, such records have always remained in a state of "not being able to see the light of day".

Because a large number of fans of Tang San and history strongly oppose such unofficial histories that smear the master-disciple relationship between Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, any such content that is circulated is often met with fierce rebuttal.

Until recently, with the Tang Sect being officially labeled as "traitors," Shrek Academy's strength and influence have declined significantly, losing its previous ability to suppress such controversial content, and these unofficial histories have begun to reappear and spread.

In short, despite the ongoing controversies surrounding unofficial histories, the general public and most factions in the Douluo Continent still largely accept the rationality of the mainstream speculation.

After all, the Sea God Tang San didn't take his teacher with him to ascend, so leaving him a trident to protect him shouldn't be too much to ask, right?
Under this consensus, and after many rounds of misinformation, the claim that "the golden trident in Yu Longyue's hand is a divine weapon given to the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family by the Sea God Tang San" has gradually become the common understanding among the people of mainland China.

In other words, the process was wrong, but the result was right.

As the news that "Yu Longyue possesses the Trident of the Sea God" spread further, various forces with ulterior motives began to focus their attention on Yu Longyue.

Some Soul Master organizations that coveted the divine artifact, as well as secret groups interested in the Tang Sect and the Sea God's legacy, secretly inquired about Jade Dragon Moon through various channels.

……

The Mingdu Grand Stadium was already packed with people early in the morning, the vast majority of whom didn't have tickets. Today was the final day of the martial arts contest to choose a husband, and the day when the Silver Dragon Princess would finally be chosen. There were also large screens outside the stadium, and even those who couldn't get in wanted to see the results as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, many people are also offering high prices for tickets to today's event. This is a once-in-a-century event in mainland China, and although it can be watched via live stream, the experience of being there in person is definitely the best!
As a result, the federal government had to deploy more troops to maintain order and ensure that no mass incidents occurred.

With their tickets in hand, the audience members checked their identities and passed through security checks in turn, guided by staff. The process was efficient and orderly.

While queuing, many groups of friends couldn't hide their excitement and started discussing "today's event," with the clash of different opinions making the atmosphere even more lively.

"Do you think Princess Silver Dragon will personally take to the stage today? According to the tournament rules, she has the right to challenge any of the top ten contestants. If we can see her make a move, this trip will definitely be worthwhile!"

A young man dressed in a blue outfit and carrying a soul tool backpack spoke first, his tone full of anticipation.

His companion beside him shook his head slightly upon hearing this: "It's hard to say. The Silver Dragon Princess's strength has long been rumored on the continent, and it is said that she has reached the level of a Title Douluo, but there are also quite a few formidable characters hidden among the top ten contestants this time."

There are those who can manipulate various elements, those skilled in mecha combat, and those whose martial spirits are inherited from ancient bloodlines. If they were to actually fight, it would be very difficult to predict who would win.

Just as the two were discussing, a slightly excited female voice came from not far away:

"Who cares who wins or loses, I'm here today to cheer for my 'Pigeon'! Although I've always shipped him and the Silver Dragon Princess, the thought of him possibly being chosen still makes me so sad..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a tall, muscular boy next to him couldn't help but retort:
"What's so attractive about those slick-haired, pale-faced pretty boys with unstable soul power? A real man should be like my idol, 'Piggy Hero,' with solid soul power and a forthright personality. That's the kind of strong man who is worthy of the Silver Dragon Princess!"

"Who are you calling a gigolo?"

The woman's voice instantly rose, filled with obvious anger, "GG Bond? That guy with the big belly who shamelessly calls himself GG Bond, does he deserve to be called a strongman? He's just a fat pig. I suspect he was able to win before because he was secretly taking drugs!"

"How dare you insult my idol? I'll fight you to the death!" the boy said, taking a step forward, but the surrounding audience quickly reached out to stop him.

The woman, however, refused to back down, and retorted with her hands on her hips, "Come on! Who's afraid of who? Little brother, looking at you, you haven't even grown any hair yet. Are you just a newly promoted Great Soul Master and you dare to come here to chase after celebrities?"

“I’m eight years old this year, but being young doesn’t mean I’m weak! I’ve already reached the Soul Master level, and I can easily beat you!” The boy stiffened his neck, clenched his fists, and his eyes were full of a defiant spirit.

Seeing the two arguing, the surrounding onlookers laughed and tried to mediate, with one jokingly saying:

"Alright, alright, we're all here to watch the game, let's not let our idols ruin our harmony. Whether it's 'GeGe' or GG Bond, they'll have to prove themselves with their skills today. Let's just wait and see how they perform!"

Amidst the lively discussion, the queue to enter slowly moved forward.

……

Nan Fusheng entered the rest area early and waited calmly, not looking nervous at all.

In fact, he wasn't nervous at all. After all, he had already gotten his hands on the Silver Dragon Princess that the audience was so eagerly anticipating, so how could he possibly be nervous?

"Tch, you're pretty laid-back." At that moment, a disgruntled click of the tongue sounded from behind him.

He turned his head at the sound and saw Lan Fuzi dressed in a silver retro samurai outfit.

Today, Lan Fuzi is completely different from before. Her long hair, which she used to deliberately hide, is now draped behind her head. The tailored silver samurai outfit outlines her tall and straight figure. Although she still maintains her men's attire, she cannot hide the soft lines between her eyebrows. Her androgynous beauty is fully displayed.

"What's the use of being nervous? What belongs to you will eventually come to you."

Nan Fusheng's lips curled up slightly, his tone calm yet confident. Then, he changed the subject, his gaze falling on Lan Fuzi, and added meaningfully, "Compared to me, I think the person who should be most nervous right now is you."

"Me? What do I have to be nervous about?" Lan Fuzi retorted subconsciously, but her tone was undeniably stiff, clearly indicating that Nan Fusheng's words had touched a nerve.

"Based on this alone," Nan Fusheng pointed below, "Frankly, I really don't understand why you're still hiding your gender? If Gu Yuena ultimately chooses you, how do you plan to handle the situation?"

"I... I have pure admiration for Miss Gu Yuena, and there is absolutely no way that the embarrassing scene you described could happen!" Lan Fuzi's cheeks flushed instantly, but her voice unconsciously weakened, and she could not hide her guilty conscience.

Having shared a meal together before, this young woman clearly considered Nan Fusheng a friend; otherwise, given her initial fiery temper, she would have definitely slapped him first.

“Yes, yes, I understand.” Nan Fusheng nodded in agreement, but his tone was clearly teasing. “I know you, you shrimp-headed woman, are a pure love goddess, but Gu Yuena doesn’t know that.”

"The purpose of holding this conference is to find her a husband so that she can be happy in the future, but you seem to lack this ability from birth, and you are also suspected of marriage fraud."

In fact, with Gu Yuena's keen insight, Lan Fuzi's clumsy pretense had probably already been seen through. But Nan Fusheng didn't expose this, instead enjoying continuing to tease the girl in front of him who was saying one thing but meaning another.

"I'm not some 'shrimp-headed woman'!"

Upon hearing this, Lan Fuzi first glared fiercely at Nan Fusheng, then said in a frustrated yet determined tone, "In short, I will not give up. At worst, we can wait until Miss Gu Yuena chooses me, then cultivate our relationship first, and after a long time, I will confess everything to her."

"I've already said all this, and you still aren't going to give up?"

Nan Fusheng patted his forehead, feigning distress, and said with a hint of regret, "I thought I could take this opportunity to eliminate a competitor ahead of time."

"Damn, you actually had this kind of idea in mind!"

Lan Fuzi reacted instantly, glared at him again, then patted her chest, her tone tinged with relief, "Luckily, I have a strong will and wasn't swayed by your words, otherwise you really would have succeeded!"

"I'm not in a good mood, I'm really sorry."

"Good to know." Lan Fuzi nodded in satisfaction, her gaze falling on Nan Fusheng, and suddenly a gloating smile appeared on her face. "Besides, even if you really 'kick' me out of the game, you still won't have a chance to be chosen by the Silver Dragon Princess."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Nan Fusheng looked at her, feigning confusion.

"Stop playing dumb. Your two wives already gave you away when we had dinner together last time. How could Miss Gu Yuena possibly choose someone who already has a family?"

As Lan Fuzi spoke, she took out a newspaper from her personal storage soul tool and handed it to Nan Fusheng. "Besides, your situation has already been exposed by the media in Mingdu."

Look at this headline—'Federal Vice Speaker Nan Fusheng, with two wives, still participates in the competition, intending to seduce the Silver Dragon Princess?' Below it's even more outrageous, something like 'Dark Secret History of the Federation: Vice Speaker Uses Martial Arts Tournament to Seize Power,' and the reporter's byline is still that Xiao Meng."

With a tearing sound, Nan Fusheng glanced at the fabricated newspaper a few times, then, with a dark expression, tore it to shreds and threw it into the trash can.

"Well, at least I still have a sliver of hope, but you have absolutely no chance." Lan Fuzi smiled smugly, as if seeing Nan Fusheng unable to marry Gu Yuena made her happier than if she herself could marry the Silver Dragon Princess.

By this time, the first-place winners from the other groups had also arrived and found their seats.

They paid no attention to the previous bickering between Nan Fusheng and Lan Fuzi, as if they hadn't seen it at all, and didn't exchange any words with each other, as if they were really prepared to clash with other love rivals.

(End of this chapter)