Why did Xiao Wu feel that something was off about Ignaz's third Spirit Ring? Sure, its power was a bit stronger than usual, but compared to Dai Mubai's third Spirit Technique, it wasn't that impressive—one was a wide-area attack, while the other amplified three attributes by 100%.
Faced with Yu Xiaogang's question, Xiao Wu hesitated and replied vaguely,
"I… I don't know. Maybe it's just my imagination because I'm too scared."
"Don't be afraid, Xiao Wu. I'll protect you," Tang San said firmly, stroking her head.
At that moment, Xiao Wu's expression suddenly darkened, shifting into pure terror. She finally understood the source of the strange feeling Ignaz's third Spirit Technique gave him: it was derived from a sacrificed Spirit Beast.
Xiao Wu frowned, biting her lip in anger as she stared in Ignaz's direction. Perhaps he once had a lover like her, a Spirit Beast in human form, but that Spirit Beast had resolutely sacrificed itself for him. And now, he was involved with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling in a morally ambiguous way—a treacherous man who deserved death.
Once this Spirit Master Tournament was over, if he dared step into the Star Dou Forest, she would make sure Da Ming and Er Ming would deal with him, avenging the sacrificed Spirit Beast.
But if it was a Spirit Beast in human form, according to the rules of Spirit Beast transformation, Ignaz's third Spirit Ring should have been a red 100,000-year ring. Why was it a purple millennial ring instead? She couldn't make sense of it.
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu, is it our turn against Balak Academy?" Tang San called repeatedly, snapping her back to reality.
"All right, Third Brother, what's our strategy this time?"
…
Soon, the match between Shrek Academy and Balak Academy officially began. The formation followed the original schedule. Despite the difficulty, Shrek Academy undoubtedly defeated Balak Academy.
Over the following days, the individual matches were in full swing. Ever since Thunder Academy had forfeited, any remaining team from the duchies facing the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy would surrender before the match even began.
In other words, with Ignaz starting for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, their team advanced effortlessly, practically lying back while progressing.
Unfortunately, on the fourth day of the advancement matches, Shrek Academy faced Heaven Dou Imperial Academy again. The animosity between the two teams ran deep, dating back to both Shrek Academy's visit to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and the preliminaries. The two sides were now completely irreconcilable.
This also meant that Shrek Academy was the only team in the advancement rounds willing to fight until the very end. Their courage earned them admiration from other teams, regardless of the outcome—they at least dared to challenge, which was commendable.
"The first round of the quarterfinals: Heaven Dou Imperial Academy versus Shrek Academy. Players, step forward," Yu Xiaogang announced from the sidelines, reminding Tang San before he entered,
"Third, with your Twin Spirit advantage, you should be able to defeat him."
Tang San didn't respond, walking onto the Spirit Arena. As the host shouted the start of the match, he activated his first Spirit Technique: Entangle.
But Ignaz wasn't going to wait for Tang San's entangle to affect him. He quickly used Treading Waves Mountain-Sea Step to dodge. At that precise moment, Tang San calculated exactly where Ignaz would step next.
"Fourth Spirit Technique: Blue Silver Prison."
Dark silver-blue grass shot up at Ignaz's feet the moment he landed, forming a cage that trapped him tightly. To maximize the time he could hold Ignaz, Tang San poured nearly half of his Spirit Power into the Blue Silver Prison, intertwining the grass into a dense, dark, impenetrable cage.
Tang San quickly switched to his Clear Sky Hammer Spirit, but the Blue Silver Prison remained intact. He swung the hammer in rapid rotation: one strike, two strikes…
"Bang—"
Two seconds later, the Blue Silver Prison shattered. Ignaz sneered at Tang San, who was still powering up for his next swing.
"You really think a mere Blue Silver Prison can give you a chance to unleash your strongest attack? Ridiculous."
"Fourth Spirit Technique: Thunderous Blood Net."
A lightning net crackling with blood-colored arcs shot toward Tang San, who was spinning his hammer amid a raging energy storm.
"Wait—that's his fourth Spirit Technique? It feels so different from his third, and nowhere near the power a millennial Spirit Technique should have!"
Spectators watched in disbelief, but the Thunderous Blood Net rapidly reshaped into a massive blood-and-lightning spear, thrusting toward the center of Tang San's chaotic hammer storm.
Tang San, only at 24 hammer strikes, saw the massive spear rushing at him. Clenching his hands around the hammer, he smashed toward the spear.
Two colossal forces collided, unleashing an energy storm that tore through the Spirit Arena's protective barrier.
"Yaaah—"
Tang San gritted his teeth, his muscular arms struggling to control the Clear Sky Hammer while unleashing just a third of his Chaotic Cloak Hammer.
Over time, the hammer twisted violently. With a "Bang—" the metal cracked. The hammer head shattered first, followed by the entire block, then the handle. Tang San's face turned deathly pale. Just as the blood-and-lightning spear was about to strike his neck, Ignaz retracted his Spirit, dissipating the technique's effects and saving Tang San.
"I focus on dueling, not killing," Ignaz said, but in truth, he wanted to eliminate Tang San immediately. The tournament rules forbade killing, but that didn't matter. One strike was all he needed—especially since Tang San's father stood in his way.
But now wasn't the time. Ignaz needed Tang San and the others to help him seize the three Spirit Bones from the Martial Soul Hall and withdraw safely. Despite their current strength, they were still qualified for the finals. With Shrek participating, if they didn't go to Spirit City, Ignaz would never attend the final spirit master battle either.