"Evolved… evolved…"
He repeated the word like a mantra, then suddenly lifted his head, eyes bloodshot. "Why?! We both have the White Tiger martial soul—why can you evolve it?!"
"I'm the rightful heir of Xing Luo! I'm the trueborn son of the Dai family!"
His voice brimmed with bitterness, jealousy—and a sliver of fear he refused to acknowledge.
If Dai Chengfeng's White Tiger had truly evolved to this degree… what meaning did the Xing Luo inheritance rules hold? What purpose did their brutal tradition of brother-against-brother combat serve?
Dai Chengfeng watched his elder brother's distorted face and shook his head gently.
"Dai Mubai, ask yourself honestly—have you ever truly sought to understand your martial soul? To unlock its deeper potential?"
"You've only treated it as a tool—a means to prove yourself, to seize power."
"But a martial soul is alive. How you treat it… is how it treats you in return."
The words struck Dai Mubai like a hammer. He opened his mouth—but no sound came out.
Dai Chengfeng turned away, his gaze sweeping over Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar before settling on Tang San.
"Still want to fight?"
Tang San took a deep breath, forcing down his shock.
He glanced at Dai Mubai's ashen face, then at Ma Hongjun and Oscar—who, though stunned, still burned with fighting martial soul. Slowly, he clenched his fists.
His Purple Demon Eyes whirled at full intensity. He could see it clearly: though Dai Chengfeng's tiger phantom was terrifying, his soul power remained steady at the Soul King level.
His rank hadn't changed—only the essence of his martial soul had evolved.
That meant Dai Chengfeng wasn't invincible.
"Of course we'll fight," Tang San said firmly, violet light swirling in his eyes. "Shrek has no tradition of surrendering without a battle."
"Good."
Dai Chengfeng nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He turned to the three women behind him.
Hu Liena's eyes sparkled with excitement—the thrill of facing overwhelming power.
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together, resolve hardening in her gaze.
Ning Rongrong clenched her small fists, the Nine-Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda shimmering, ready to amplify at a moment's notice.
"As I said earlier," Dai Chengfeng said calmly. "Rongrong, keep amplifying. Liena, Zhuqing—choose your targets."
He paused, adding, "This battle is your finest whetstone. Hold nothing back. Show me your limits."
Hu Liena laughed lightly, her fox tails swaying. "Zhuqing, take Dai Mubai. It's time you two settled things."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes locked onto Dai Mubai. Complex emotions flickered in her feline pupils—then hardened into steel.
"Fine."
Her form blurred—already a black streak hurtling toward Dai Mubai.
Ning Rongrong didn't hesitate. The Nine-Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda blazed anew.
Three waves of amplification crashed over Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing.
Hu Liena felt her soul power surge again—her charm nearly solidifying into tangible force.
Zhu Zhuqing's speed, strength, and defense all skyrocketed. Her Nether Spirit Cat phantom materialized behind her, claws gleaming with lethal intent.
Dai Mubai's face paled—but his pride as a battle soul master forced down his dread.
He roared, activating White Tiger Vajra Body and White Tiger Guardian Barrier simultaneously, meeting Zhu Zhuqing's charge.
Meanwhile, Hu Liena turned to Oscar and Ma Hongjun with a coy smile. "Then you two are mine and Rongrong's~"
Oscar grimaced. Ma Hongjun exploded: "Who're you looking down on?! Watch me burn you, you fox demon!"
He unleashed a Phoenix Fire Beam—searing flames roaring toward Hu Liena.
But Hu Liena didn't dodge. Her first soul ring flared; her tails swayed gently.
A pink aura rippled outward. Ma Hongjun's fire veered wildly off-course, grazing Hu Liena's side and slamming into the arena's barrier.
"What?!" Ma Hongjun's eyes bulged.
Hu Liena giggled. "Little fatty, your flames aren't enough~"
In a ghostly blur, she darted toward Oscar—support soul masters were always priority targets.
"Fatty, protect me!" Oscar yelped, frantically crafting Flying Mushroom Sausages to ascend.
Too late. Pink ripples washed over him. His eyes glazed; his movements slowed by half a beat.
In that instant, Hu Liena's claws pressed against his throat.
"Out you go~" She tapped his shoulder. Oscar flew out like a broken kite.
"Xiao Ao!" Ma Hongjun's eyes burned crimson. His fourth soul ring ignited again. "Phoenix Roar Air Strike!"
This time, he charged longer—flames blazing brighter.
But Hu Liena didn't even glance his way. Her third tail flicked—and she vanished.
"Up here~" Her laughter drifted from above.
Ma Hongjun looked up—Hu Liena hovered midair, when had she—
A pink halo descended. Ma Hongjun's vision swam with illusions; his gathered soul power collapsed.
Hu Liena struck his back. He grunted, crashing heavily to the ground—incapacitated.
In ten breaths, two of Shrek's pillars were eliminated.
---
On the other side, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai's duel reached its peak.
Amplified by the Nine-Treasures Pagoda, Zhu Zhuqing moved faster than the eye could follow.
She became a storm of afterimages, circling Dai Mubai, her claws carving deep gashes in his White Tiger Barrier with every strike.
Dai Mubai raged. "Zhuqing! Must you do this?!" he bellowed, unleashing White Tiger Fierce Light Wave—only to hit empty air.
Zhu Zhuqing's true form appeared at his left, voice icy: "Dai Mubai, what do you think?"
"Everything was your delusion. My choice was never you!"
"Today, there's only victory or defeat."
Her speed exploded—attacking from four directions at once.
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth, his fourth soul ring flaring: White Tiger Meteor Shower!
But this time, Zhu Zhuqing didn't evade.
Her form blurred—then countless black claw shadows rained down, each slicing precisely through the golden orbs.
Hiss-hiss-hiss—
A chorus of rending filled the air. The meteor shower shattered before fully forming.
Dai Mubai's pupils contracted.
In that split-second of shock, Zhu Zhuqing's true body pierced through the debris, claws aimed at his throat.
Dai Mubai barely crossed his arms in defense.
CLANG—!
Metallic thunder echoed. The impact sent him stumbling back, arms numb.
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her advantage, clinging like a shadow. Her second soul skill, Nether Hundred Claws, unleashed a storm of talons engulfing him.
"ENOUGH!"
Dai Mubai roared, his third soul skill White Tiger Vajra Body erupting. Muscles swelled as he tanked the claw strikes, then drove a fist straight at Zhu Zhuqing.
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