"Shrek... lost?"
"The four members of the Taoyuan Team defeated the seven-person joint team of Shrek and the Royal Battle Team, despite being out-ranked and outnumbered?!"
"Am I seeing things?"
"It's fixed! This is definitely fixed!"
"Damn you, give me my money back!"
"..."
The moment the last member of the Shrek Team, Tang San, fell, the main arena of Soto City erupted.
The vast majority of the audience's composure shattered in that instant, their faces turning as red as persimmons with anger.
The fan signs and glow sticks that had been inscribed with words like [Go Shrek], [Shrek Will Win], and [Thousand Hands Asura is Invincible] were now hurled from all directions at the defeated Shrek Team members.
The undefeated legend that had reigned in the Soto City Great Spirit Arena for a month had, in this moment, fallen. They were now the target of everyone's scorn.
"We lost. I gave it my all, but we still lost."
"Unless... unless I can forge the Angry Buddha Tang Lotus and the Storm Pear Flower Needle..."
"But that's simply not something I can create with my current strength."
"Right now, I have no way to defeat them..."
Tang San lay weakly in a pool of his own blood, the light gone from his eyes.
Even his rare external Spirit Bone, the Eight Spider Lances, which his teacher had praised, had been severed in this battle—a full five lances cut off by the combined attack of Meng Yiran and Zhu Zhuqing's hellish hidden weapon, the Hellish Flying Flowers.
The Mysterious Jade Hand, the Zhugeshen Crossbow, the Sleeve Darts, the Dragon Beard Needle... all had failed.
Not only was the destructive power of the Hellish Flying Flowers astonishing, but the hellish, necrotic aura they carried sent a chill to the bone. Combined with Zhu Zhuqing's Ten Halls of Yama, it was as if they were facing the inviolable judgment of the King of Hell himself, completely powerless to resist.
Teacher... I... have I failed to live up to your expectations?
Tang Sect... can I ever restore your glory?
Even as he was pelted with the trash—stinking shoes, drink cups—thrown from the audience, he didn't move an inch, just lying there.
There is no greater sorrow than the death of the heart...
He could only faintly hear the arena guards coming to maintain order, and some healing-type Spirit Masters and physicians rushing up to treat them, their anxious voices echoing around him:
"Are there any vital signs?"
"Honorable healing Spirit Master from the Royal Battle Team, please help us treat the wounded!"
"Still not working?"
"Are they dead?"
"No, they're alive! Their heartbeats are returning! They're still alive! Quick, stop the bleeding!"
"It's no use! The wounds are difficult to heal! These weapons contain a corrosive power! If this continues, the wounded will be left with incurable injuries!"
"..."
"What's their condition now?"
"The Evil Eye White Tiger's left eye was hit. I'm afraid it can't be saved."
"The Evil Fire Phoenix's main leg bone has been shattered. We can't reattach it. If we don't amputate in time, the corrosive power may spread to his abdomen, and there's a risk of his reproductive organs becoming paralyzed."
"Where are the patients' families and teachers? We need their signed consent, otherwise, we can't risk performing the treatment!"
"We won! Yay! Teacher, we won!"
"Mwah mwah~"
Just as the medical staff was urgently treating the severely injured members of Shrek.
On the spirit fighting stage, a sweet smile bloomed on Ning Rongrong's face. She jumped for joy and, without even leaving the stage, couldn't help but blow a few kisses in the direction of Teacher Su Ran, sharing her happiness with him.
The thought of being able to kiss her teacher soon made her tremble with excitement. The peach juice is about to overflow~
The other three students of Taoyuan Academy also had smiles on their faces, waving to Su Ran along with Ning Rongrong. "Teacher, we won! We won!!"
"Grandpa, Grandma, did you see my performance?!" Meng Yiran added, waving to the Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma.
The old couple were already watching with tears in their eyes, their old hands clasped tightly together. "We saw, we saw. Our Yiran is so strong now. Grandpa and Grandma are so proud of you."
"Teacher Su Ran, we really don't know what to say. In just one month, you have taught Yiran to be so outstanding. We are truly grateful to you."
This was their first-ever team battle, and they had achieved such an astonishing result. The Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma were now completely in awe of Su Ran's teaching ability.
Even Meng Yiran herself was a little surprised that her actual combat ability could go toe-to-toe with Tang San. She had known her improvement was significant, but she never imagined it could be this great in just one month! I've finally brought honor to Grandpa and Grandma! You wanted to steal a spirit beast from us in the Star Dou Great Forest? You wanted to bully us? Try bullying us now!
Su Ran nodded to the grateful grandparents. Seeing his four disciples so happy on the stage, a knowing smile appeared on his handsome face beneath the mask.
Su Ran rose from his seat, walked to the railing, and gave Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others a thumbs-up. His voice crossed the hundreds of meters, piercing through the clamor and reaching their ears. "Congratulations on your victory. You were all amazing."
Although Su Ran had been confident they would win, for their first team battle with fewer numbers against the combined forces of Shrek and the Royal Battle Team, their overwhelming victory was truly commendable.
At first, he had only accepted disciples to get the system rewards. But now, seeing the smiles on their faces after winning the match, he felt he was beginning to understand the joy of teaching and the unbreakable bond between a teacher and their students.
However, when Ning Rongrong heard Su Ran's voice faintly in her ear, her eyes lit up. Teacher knows a voice transmission technique too! She shouted directly towards Su Ran's position, "Teacher, you're the best! I like you the most!!!"
"..."
"So he's the teacher of the Taoyuan Team?"
"Damn, so young? How could he raise such incredible students?"
"He screwed me over! I bet half my life's savings on Shrek to win! If I had bet on the Taoyuan Team, I would have made a fortune!"
"It's a pig-butchering plate! This is a scam! None of these capitalists are good people!"
Ning Rongrong's sweet shout-out to her teacher drew the attention of the surrounding audience to Su Ran, and they began to murmur amongst themselves.
Dark lines immediately formed on Su Ran's face. I probably... shouldn't have praised her!
Just then, Su Ran froze for a moment as the voice of the disciple system sounded in his mind:
[Ding—]
[Host's disciples have obtained the rare team battle achievement—Debut is Epic. Reward: Host's all attributes increased by 2%, spirit power level increased by 1%.]
[The team cultivated by the Host has achieved its first team battle victory, defeating a top-tier team of the same rank. Reward: Host's all attributes increased by 1%, spirit power level increased by 1%.]
[All disciples showed their prowess in the team battle, shattered their inner demons and past traumas, and obtained the 'Confidence and Glory' buff. Spirit power level increased by 1%. Host is crowned with the Epic Immortal Teacher's Diadem—Exclusive domain effect: For each disciple within the Peach Blossom Domain, the Host gains a 10% increase to all attributes, with an upper limit of 100%.]
[The four disciples have achieved the 'Victory with Fewer Numbers' achievement and have each earned a title in this team battle—Ning Rongrong: The Unbreakable Golden Shield; Zhu Zhuqing: Lord of Slaughter; Meng Yiran: Excellent Coordinator; Wang Sheng: Bone Breaker.
Reward: Four chances to draw rare flowers and herbs... Drawing... Drawn Immortal-grade herb—Yin Nether Soul-Guiding Grass... Drawn Immortal-grade herb—Golden Body Glazed Flower... Drawn Immortal-grade herb—Storm Tiger-Stripe Bamboo Shoot... Drawn Immortal-grade herb—Shore of the Underworld Undead Flower...]
[All-attribute increase: A comprehensive boost to all indices, including Spirit Ring age, strength, speed, defense, etc.]
[Host's current spirit power level: 76×1.01×1.01×1.01=Rank 78.3!]
The rewards were here!
Su Ran was surprised. He hadn't expected the rewards for a spirit fight to be so generous. His spirit power had jumped by more than two ranks in an instant. 1% sounded small, but since it was multiplied directly with his Spirit Master rank, the resulting increase was considerable.
At the same time, a purple and white immortal teacher's coronet appeared in Su Ran's sea of consciousness. This was the Epic Immortal Teacher's Diadem, which granted him a bonus similar to a teacher's domain.
This bonus surprised Su Ran even more than the immortal-grade herbs. A single disciple within his Peach Blossom Domain could increase his all-attributes and spirit power level by 10%. He now had four disciples, which meant that as long as they were around him, he could increase his strength by 40%, with an upper limit of 100%. This was an all-attribute boost, even more insane than Ning Rongrong's single strength and speed buffs, and it could stack with the enhancement from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
If the number of his disciples reached ten, Su Ran's strength would double. With his peerless Martial Soul, his current Spirit Ring configuration, and his various ultimate techniques, he wouldn't even fear a Titled Douluo.
(End of Chapter)