Chapter 444: The Butterfly Effect?
"To repay hatred with virtue, how would virtue be repaid? Repay virtue with virtue, and hatred with justice."
A familiar voice echoed in Huo Yu´er's ears, and the anger consuming her faded as she snapped back to reality.
"Master?!" She looked around but couldn't spot Ye Wen anywhere. Knowing his abilities, it wasn't surprising he'd remain undetected. His voice came again, filled with encouragement.
"Teach him a lesson! If you don't beat him senseless today, I'll personally handle your next training routine."
Huo Yu´er's eyes widened at the thought. She remembered all too well the intensity of Ye Wen's training sessions far beyond anything at Shrek Academy. Though his words sounded harsh, a warmth filled her heart.
After taking a steadying breath, she cracked her knuckles and addressed her teammates. "Xiao Xiao, Wulin, I'll take the lead. You two support me."
Though Huo Yu´er's spirit power wasn't the highest in the class, her strength over the past three months had solidified her position as the group's strongest. Xiao Xiao and Tang Wulin didn't hesitate to follow her lead.
From the stands, class teacher Zhou Yi watched with a cold, dismissive gaze. Huo Yu´er had kept her true level hidden since using the celestial herbs Ye Wen had given her. Zhou Yi assumed she was still below the 20th level, expecting her to drag her team down in this three person tournament.
"Introduce yourselves," the referee announced.
Huo Yu´er's group went first. "Huo Yu´er, Xiao Xiao, Tang Wulin."
"Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Cui Yajie," came the reply from the other team.
Ye Wen's gaze roamed over the six contestants on stage. He wasn't here to watch kids spar; instead, his eyes focused intently on Tang Wulin. From what he remembered, if Tang San and Xiao Wu had a son, he'd be named Tang Wulin. If they had a daughter, she'd be Tang Wutong. Each name embodied Tang San's hopes for his children: a boy who'd be strong as a qilin and a girl pure hearted like a phoenix resting on a wutong tree.
Ye Wen smiled wryly. "Ice pure and jade clean Tang San; those names really fit his style."
He ignored Dai Huabin completely. The man who'd brutally targeted an eight year old girl such a person was unworthy of any more attention.
Ye Wen's focus landed on Cui Yajie for a moment. Her Nine Tailed Fox spirit was rare and powerful, with both spiritual and physical advantages. But her talent would be wasted; she was destined to remain a minor character.
After both teams initiated their spirit possessions, Ye Wen's brows raised slightly. "Was Tang San beaten up by Xiao Wu? Why did he give his son this spirit?"
As Tang Wulin activated his spirit ring, a pair of soft pink rabbit ears appeared atop his head. His spirit was, unexpectedly, the Soft Bone Rabbit. On a man, it looked absurdly out of place.
Ye Wen briefly wondered if he was mistaken. "Could this still be Tang Wutong in disguise?" But a quick divine scan confirmed that he was indeed a boy. Tang San's overbearing, controlling nature was evident leaving a piece of his own divine sense to constantly monitor his child was invasive at best.
Feeling mildly nauseated, Ye Wen turned his gaze away.
Meanwhile, Little Snow cheered with excitement. Huo Yu´er's team had already dominated several rounds, proving Zhou Yi wrong. Instead of being a burden, Yu´er's leadership had carried her team to victory time and time again.
As Dai Huabin's team prepared, his training in careful strategy surfaced. He recognized that Yu´er's team could easily split their group up and pick them off one by one. "Cui Yajie, keep them busy!" he commanded.
Cui Yajie gritted her teeth, hating his condescending tone, but reluctantly complied.
"First Spirit Skill: Charm!"
Yet, just as Cui Yajie was gathering her spirit energy, Huo Yu´er shouted, "Close your eyes!"
Following their leader's command without hesitation, Xiao Xiao and Tang Wulin shut their eyes and continued to charge forward. At the same moment, Huo Yu´er summoned her two spirit rings, the first one bright white activating in sync with Cui Yajie's attempt.
Huo Yu´er's spirit abilities were partly hidden to avoid being pulled into Shrek's spirit guidance division. Instead, she relied on the first ring ability she had shown thus far.
"First Spirit Skill: Mental Impact!"
Cui Yajie's vision blurred, as Huo Yu´er's piercing gaze overwhelmed her, dissolving her charm skill instantly. She cried out in pain before her vision faded to black, and she collapsed.
Just then, Dai Huabin unleashed his White Tiger family's most revered technique.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Netherworld White Tiger!"
On the Douluo Continent, fusion skills were revered, as they could allow spirit masters to fight above their level. In the stands, Ye Wen assessed the spirit fusion skill, estimating its power between Spirit Elder and Spirit King levels.
For Yu´er's team, each below the 30th rank, Dai Huabin's fusion skill was formidable. In the original timeline, it had taken Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's own fusion skill to match it.
But Ye Wen wasn't worried. Huo Yu´er had been under his strict training for months now.
Huo Yu´er's command rang out. "Xiao Xiao, slow him down!"
"Got it!"
Xiao Xiao's petite appearance belied her fiery spirit. She summoned her Three Lives Soul Calming Cauldron.
"Second Spirit Skill: Cauldron Ripple!"
Dark energy rippled outward, washing over the ferocious form of the Netherworld White Tiger, briefly locking it in place.
Yet, against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, the effect lasted less than a second.
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