"Zhang Ping, fall back!" Hu Liena quickly shouted.
"Their tactic is focused fire—targeting Yan, who restrains Tang San the most," Xie Yue instantly understood.
From the very start, Shrek Academy had prepared against him and his sister. The arena was more than 150 meters in diameter, and as soon as the match began, Shrek's members immediately retreated, pulling the distance to more than 50 meters. That left his sister's only effective opener as her first soul skill, Fox Cry, which spreads by sound. But as a first soul skill, its effect was limited at such range, especially since the opponents instantly covered their ears. At most, it could suppress their spiritual power slightly.
Her second soul skill, Fox Charm, required eye contact at close range. Her third and fourth soul skills weren't viable yet. As for her fifth, Bewitching Fox Mist, it needed time to spread—yet the opponents had fled right away. Even if Zhang Ping immediately flapped her wings to blow the mist across, the Shrek side would have time to counter with soul skills and disperse it.
To make things worse, Tang San had already absorbed it into his vines using his martial soul's Devour ability.
That meant Liena's abilities could only be effective if she closed the gap. This was also why they hadn't launched their Martial Soul Fusion Skill right away.
As for him, his blade martial soul excelled in close combat—his greatest advantage. Teammates Sun Chuantao and Li Kai, too, were close-combat soul masters. Shrek Academy's opening retreat had neutralized all of them, buying Oscar precious time to make his flying sausages.
Once the entire team took to the air, Shrek could widen the distance further, continuing to suppress their ability to engage. After that, their goal would be to focus on eliminating Yan—the greatest threat to Tang San's control—then restrain Zhang Ping. That would give Tang San's vines and poisonous mist space to flourish. And in the skies, with the wide field of vision, Tang San's…
His face changed as realization struck. "Zhang Ping, watch out for Tang San! Everyone else, prepare to defend!"
"So you guessed?" In midair, Tang San's eyes flashed, but his movements didn't slow. Behind him, the Eight Spider Lances clustered to his front, vines extending to their tips and sprouting blood-colored spikes, quickly stained a dark purple by venom.
But guessing meant nothing—could they evade?
Swish, Swish, Swish!
His jade-like hands blurred, purple light gleaming in his eyes as countless black streaks shot forth like a torrential rain, sealing off Zhang Ping's flight path.
'In the end, it's still poison and hidden weapons,' Yang Yunhai thought, watching Tang San's spider-like storm of projectiles. Against him, it was useless—but against Spirit Hall's team, it was effective. They had no large-area defensive soul skills like Shi Mo and Shi Mo, nor a body immune to all poisons.
"Third soul skill, Teleport!" Beside Tang San, Xiao Wu vanished in flashes, instantly appearing behind Zhang Ping. Her kick slammed into Zhang Ping's back.
"Ugh!" Zhang Ping groaned in pain.
Swish!
A venomous spike pierced into her thigh.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San called out. He trusted his accuracy—once his projectiles landed, no need to waste more soul power following up.
"Down you go." Xiao Wu obliged, another kick sending Zhang Ping plummeting.
Tang San had already turned his gaze toward Hu Liena.
At that moment, Spirit Hall's support-type soul master's golden staff glowed brilliantly, enveloping Hu Liena and Xie Yue together.
"A forced choice," Yang Yunhai mused. Against Tang San with temporary flight, Hu Liena's group had no way to counter. Xie Yue's fifth soul skill could deprive vision, but it would blind allies as well—while Tang San could still release poison or hidden weapons amidst the chaos. Most importantly, it couldn't protect Hu Liena, who lacked strong self-defense. Tang San's hidden weapons could bend mid-flight.
Thus, their only option was their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
And Yang Yunhai's lips curled slightly. 'Tang San, you should thank me.'
That thrust into Xie Yue's shoulder earlier? Intentional. The explosive strike on Yan? Also intentional. Barely two hours had passed since the morning battle—he was certain neither had fully recovered. Overexertion could easily aggravate their injuries.
He wanted Spirit Hall Academy to lose, tarnishing Bibi Dong's prestige, forcing her to pay the price. If not for her constant favoritism toward Shrek Academy, they would never have reached this stage to face Spirit Hall's team.
Once his identity was exposed, elders and older generations who knew her past with Yu Xiaogang would connect the dots, suspecting her of favoritism and underhanded manipulation. Then her leadership would be questioned—and ousting her would be far easier.
Whatever the outcome, it was in his favor. Now was the time to dig the pit.
"It's a Martial Soul Fusion Skill," Tang San muttered, brows furrowed. His spikes split in two volleys—some targeting Hu Liena, others the support soul master.
The next moment, brilliant red light erupted. Hu Liena and Xie Yue vanished, leaving behind only a tall, androgynous figure. Its body spun violently, forming a crimson tornado that deflected all hidden weapons.
Red mist poured outward, cloaking allies and obscuring vision, before surging toward Tang San's group in a sweeping wave. The mist advanced frighteningly fast, carried by the whirlwind.
'Useless against me.' Tang San sneered inwardly. His Purple Demon Eyes could still discern their outlines, even if not every detail.
Hiss…
Outside the mist, Spirit Hall's support master collapsed, poisoned, his face paling rapidly. Zhang Ping, kicked down by Xiao Wu, was the same—skin veins turning dark purple, lips blackened.
"Your Holiness, if this drags on, Zhang Ping and Xu Yu will…" Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward, voice heavy. "I suggest we extract them and detoxify immediately."
Though he disliked Bibi Dong, the children were innocent.
Bibi Dong frowned but nodded. "Elder Chrysanthemum, I'll trouble you."
With a nod, Chrysanthemum Douluo vanished from his seat, diving into the red mist to retrieve the poisoned two. Producing a jade vial, he administered antidote pills. They were crafted by Yang Yunhai—precautions for just such a scenario.
Back in the arena, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang both relaxed slightly, seeing Chrysanthemum Douluo hadn't interfered.
"Retreat to the edge!" Tang San ordered. Not knowing the mist's full effects, he dared not linger. Besides, their flight was about to expire. He led his team toward the boundary, hurling hidden weapons constantly.
Swish, Swish, Swish!
Purple eyes guiding his aim, the black darts pierced into the crimson fog.
"He can still see us!" Hu Liena and Xie Yue's faces paled as they urged the fusion-form to accelerate toward him.
"Second soul skill, Rock Armor!" Yan quickly cloaked himself in stone.
"Fourth soul skill, Destructive Circle!" Sun Chuantao spun his ring-blade for defense.
Li Kai, armored in his boar form, simply charged ahead.
Ding, Ding, Ding!
Tang San's spikes clattered off defenses within the whirling mist.
Still, Yan, Sun Chuantao, and Li Kai began edging sideways. The fog was meant to block Tang San's sight—but since he could still see, they had to abandon it.
"First soul skill, Bind!" Tang San thrust out his hand.
Countless vines erupted from his hidden poisoned spikes scattered across the ground, feeding on the red mist itself as if absorbing it.
Swish, Swish, Swish!
Thick vines burst upward, ensnaring ankles.
The fusion demon tornado shredded the front vines, but Yan, Sun Chuantao, and Li Kai were trapped and entangled.
"Fourth soul skill, Blue Silver Poison Mist!" Tang San clenched his fist. Poison billowed out from every vine, merging with the red mist into a deadly haze.
It was too fast, too close—Yan and the others were instantly engulfed.
"Fourth soul skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower!" Dai Mubai hurled volleys of white spheres, explosions bursting across the arena.
'That pull really is numbingly perfect,' Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly.
Shrek had exploited Spirit Hall's preference for melee combat mercilessly. Using Oscar's flight sausages, they kited them, restrained them, and let Tang San's control thrive. Hu Liena and Xie Yue were forced to blanket their own team with red mist, hindering their allies as much as their enemies.
Now, poisoned and bound, Spirit Hall's advantage evaporated. Only Hu Liena and Xie Yue's fusion form, energy-based and resistant to poison, remained unaffected.
Yang Yunhai glanced sideways at Bibi Dong.
Her brows were furrowed, her face sour.
"Fourth soul skill, Molten Eruption!" Yan roared, magma surging from the ground to burn away the vines. The bindings snapped, but the toxic haze lingered, choking their lungs.
Cough, Cough, Cough…
Even as Dai Mubai's orbs rained down, the demon fusion charged forward unbothered, while Yan and the others staggered, poisoned, coughing blood.
"Damn it!" Yan clenched his teeth. His injuries from Yang Yunhai's thunder earlier hadn't healed, and now with poison sapping him, his fifth skill collapsed mid-cast.
Yang Yunhai's brows lifted slightly.
"Fourth soul skill, Blue Lightning Dragon Assault!" Yu Tianheng roared, sending a lightning dragon crashing into the demon. Then he quickly fell back behind Jiangzhu, channeling his soul power into her.
"It's their Seven-in-One Fusion Skill!" Hu Liena and Xie Yue gritted their teeth, controlling the demon to cleave the lightning dragon and charge again.
But it was too late.
By the time they crossed the field, Tang San's glow faded, and Shrek's team staggered out pale-faced, their energy spent.
"A pity," Dai Mubai sighed.
"It's enough. Leave the rest to me." Tang San's eyes shone with cold confidence. His team withdrew, drained of soul power. Even so, their Seven-in-One had pushed him to the Soul Emperor level—enough to finish it.
"Xiao San, it's your stage now." Dai Mubai clapped his shoulder and stepped off.
Tang San swallowed another sausage, wings spreading as he rose to meet Yan.
Hu Liena and Xie Yue's faces darkened, but they could only redirect the demon form to pursue.
Spirit Hall's team had been pampered with smooth victories, but Shrek had clawed their way through brutal uphill fights. Their real-battle experience was leagues ahead.
(End of Chapter)
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