Chapter 78: Tang San Eliminated
Below the Soul Arena stage.
Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Zhao Wuji were all visibly weighed down with concern.
Although Zu Zong's unexpected use of a teleportation soul skill had caught the Shrek Seven Devils off guard at the beginning, Zhu Zhuqing had intervened in time to stall him, so things hadn't strayed far from their original plan.
Next, Dai Mubai was supposed to lure Yu Tianheng into an ambush, drawing the enemy's power-attack soul master deep into their formation for a focused assault. Everything had been proceeding smoothly—until Tang San made a "mistake," resulting in Dai Mubai being injured.
From that moment, the battle began slipping downhill. Now, Tang San was clearly unsteady on his feet, looking like he could collapse at any moment.
Flender cast a worried glance at Yu Xiaogang. "Xiaogang, what's happening to San? Didn't we already neutralize Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Purple Poison?"
Yu Xiaogang frowned as well, replying in a grave tone, "According to San, Dugu Yan's poison was only one of the Jade Phosphor Five Poisons, specifically from her Jade Phosphor Serpent. In theory, realgar wine should be more than enough to counter it. But now…?"
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened slightly as a possibility struck him.
"Master, have you thought of something?" Zhao Wuji asked.
Yu Xiaogang gave a slow nod, a bitter smile creeping across his already stiff face—a smile filled with helplessness.
"Dugu Yan may have gathered all five of the Jade Phosphor Poisons. But her martial soul is the Jade Phosphor Serpent—how could she have released the other four poisons?"
"It was that purple iron pellet. When she activated her third soul skill, she also tossed that into the poisoned area." As a level-78 agility-attack battle soul sage, Flender had sharp eyes. He'd clearly noticed Dugu Yan's subtle movements, but it wasn't until Yu Xiaogang brought it up that he understood.
On the Soul Arena stage.
By now, Tang San was drenched in sweat, his head spinning as he half-knelt on the ground, facing off against Dugu Yan.
Although he had eaten one of the detox sausages prepared in advance by Oscar, the effect was clearly minimal. Other members of Shrek wanted to rush in and help, but they were held back by Yu Tianheng and the others from the Huangdou team, too busy defending themselves.
Elsewhere, Zu Zong had already bound the kitten with vines of the Blue Silver Emperor. With both hands and feet tied, she could no longer resist. The control system's natural advantage over agility-type soul masters was showing clearly—it wasn't a myth.
At this moment, Zu Zong was holding the kitten in his arms, watching the battle between Dugu Yan and Tang San with amusement.
Dugu Yan curled her lips into a sly smile and gave Tang San a glance. Her green eyes shimmered seductively. "Little Shura of a Thousand Hands, let me guess—you're about to say, 'The Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison is only one of the Five Poisons. If all five were present, I might be more cautious. But your serpent poison isn't yet refined enough,' right?"
She had never been able to accept how easily Zu Zong had broken her poison back in the Tian Dou Royal Academy. Even though they later reconciled, that bitterness had remained. Now, seeing another enemy trying to counter her poison the same way—and failing—brought her great satisfaction.
The purple iron pellet Zu Zong had given her earlier contained the other four poisons: Jade Phosphor Centipede, Jade Phosphor Scorpion, Jade Phosphor Gecko, and Jade Phosphor Toad.
Dugu Yan still remembered that when they first arrived in Soto City, Zu Zong had casually asked her whether she could gather the other four poisons. Without thinking, she had agreed. With the help of various noble children from the Huangdou team, it didn't take long to collect them all.
Who would've thought they'd actually be used today?
Upon hearing this, Tang San's pupils contracted. With disbelief in his voice, he asked, "You mean…"
"Bingo. I really have gathered all five of the Jade Phosphor Poisons, little Shura of a Thousand Hands." Dugu Yan's smile deepened before she turned her gaze. "Xiao Wu, it's your turn now."
"Alrighty! Time for Xiao Wu to shine!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Wu—who had been waiting beside Ye Lingling and had yet to make a move—suddenly activated her third soul ring.
"Third Soul Skill—Teleportation!"
The next moment, Xiao Wu appeared right in front of Tang San.
He was startled, and a familiar figure entered his blurry vision. Though she wore a rabbit mask, Tang San instantly recognized her martial soul, body, and hairstyle—this was Xiao Wu. The girl he had longed for but couldn't have. He had asked himself more than once—if Xiao Wu had stayed with him, would he have ever accepted Meng Yiran?
The answer was—no.
But the momentary daze was all Xiao Wu needed. Her second soul ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill—Charm."
Tang San was instantly caught in the skill, unable to resist.
Still unsatisfied, Xiao Wu grinned. "Super Ultimate Finisher—Eight Stage Throw!"
After a brutal and ruthless beatdown, Tang San was hurled clean off the Soul Arena stage.
Yet perhaps due to his extraordinary willpower, Tang San regained a shred of consciousness midair. Using the last of his strength, he launched his Blue Silver Grass to throw Oscar—who had been shielding Ning Rongrong—toward the unguarded Ye Lingling. If he could get her eliminated, maybe Yu Xiaogang's backup plan would still stand a chance.
"Whoosh—whoosh—" The sound of wind splitting followed. Flender, now fully possessed by his martial soul, soared through the air and caught Tang San mid-fall, preventing him from sustaining further injuries.
At the same time, this also officially confirmed Tang San's elimination from the match.
Yu Xiaogang stared blankly at the unconscious Tang San lying in Flender's arms, his mind ringing with static, eyes unfocused, brain utterly blank.
His most prized student—Tang San—had lost. And it wasn't even a clear loss. He hadn't even used his newly gained third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint.
Was his strategy flawed? Why had everything been countered so thoroughly?
Wasn't the plan supposed to be: neutralize Dugu Yan's poison with realgar wine, then use Ma Hongjun's evil fire to suppress Zu Zong, and finally secure victory in one sweeping strike?
Could it be that he, Yu Xiaogang, was truly fated to be a failure?
No, it wasn't time to give up yet. Yu Xiaogang regained his resolve and shouted toward the Soul Arena stage, "Ma Hongjun, it's up to you now! Stick to the original plan. Oscar, deal with the 'Nine-Heart Begonia' soul master quickly!"
On the stage, Ma Hongjun gave a nod.
With the help of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, Oscar had been flung directly in front of Ye Lingling—though he landed face-first. Fortunately, they were now only a few steps apart.
Looking at the graceful girl before him, who seemed untouched by the mundane world...
Gulp. Oscar swallowed hard. It was genuinely difficult to bring himself to harm someone so delicate and beautiful. But for the sake of victory, he couldn't afford to hesitate.
Yet, unexpected turns often arrive just where you least anticipate them.
Ye Lingling remained cold-faced and expressionless, showing no trace of fear. Though her physical strength was inferior to Oscar's, she had spent four months under Zu Zong's training, learning body techniques and specialized soul power control methods. While she hadn't been taught Teleportation Technique, Zu Zong hadn't held back when it came to physical combat skills, tailoring them precisely to her style.
Facing Oscar—another auxiliary-type soul master with no offensive soul skills—was no different for her than dealing with an ordinary opponent.
Soul power surged beneath her feet. She burst forward in a sharp charge and lunged straight at Oscar.
"Ah!"
Another vicious and thoroughly one-sided beatdown followed. Oscar too was sent flying off the Soul Arena stage.
(End of this chapter)
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