In the afternoon, behind Shrek Academy, Tang San continued his difficult training in Distraction Control.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi had just received a letter from Ning Rongrong.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, you should take a look too." Retracting his gaze, Ning Fengzhi handed the letter to the two men seated beside him.
Sword Douluo extended his hand, pulling the letter into his palm with a gentle suction, then placed it flat on the table so the three could read together.
"This Tang San really has no shame at all!" Bone Douluo sneered coldly. "And Yu Xiaogang as well—just for fame, he's even thrown away his face. His so-called theories are clearly designed just to win tournaments, with no thought at all for how the students are supposed to survive once they graduate."
"What Dugu Yan said was correct. No banquet lasts forever, and no matter how perfect a team may seem, it will eventually disband. When that happens, without a team to cover your weaknesses, what are you supposed to do—beg your enemies for mercy to keep you alive?"
His mind drifted to the Speed Clan, one of the Four Single-Attribute Families, now residing in the Star Luo Empire. They had pursued an extreme path of pure speed.
Their Martial Soul granted only speed, without any offensive power. Aside from scouting, they had no real strengths.
The result: the entire clan lived in poverty, unable even to resolve the basic problem of survival.
If battle broke out and they faced an opponent whose Martial Soul restrained their speed advantage, then death was the only outcome.
For example, against someone like Dugu Bo, whose Martial Soul had large-scale area control. If the Speed Clan faced him, a single eighth soul skill would wipe them all out.
"Empty talk, paper theories. Nothing but misleading the next generation." Sword Douluo shook his head slightly.
He then turned his head toward Ning Fengzhi. "Fengzhi, perhaps it's time to cut off the hidden weapon business. The sect has already stockpiled plenty, there's no need to continue acquiring them."
"That way, once the Soul Master Tournament ends and Rongrong is brought back home, the ties can be severed cleanly."
Ning Fengzhi nodded lightly. "We'll find a suitable time, and let Rongrong deliver the message."
That evening, at the hotel where Heaven Dou Royal Academy was staying, Yang Yunhai awakened from cultivation, his face lit with delight.
He had broken through to rank 49.
One night passed without incident. The next morning, at the Great Spirit Arena of Heaven Dou City—
"In the morning, Thunderclap Academy will be fighting Oakland Academy. Also, Shrek Academy will be facing Canghui Academy." Meng Shenshou walked into the rest area, informing everyone of the draw results. "Our match is in the afternoon, against Blazing Academy."
Yang Yunhai nodded, standing up from the sofa. "Let's all go watch."
The group then departed for the viewing area.
Before long, the host's voice echoed: "Preliminaries, Round Eight, First Match: Thunderclap Academy versus Oakland Academy!"
There was no suspense in this fight. In just one minute, it ended.
Oakland Academy, with all members only at the Soul Elder level, were completely helpless before Thunderclap Academy, which had four Soul Ancestors.
"Thunderclap Academy…" Watching Yu Tianxin and the others step down from the stage, Yang Yunhai sank into thought.
"Preliminaries, Round Eight, Sixth Match: Shrek Academy versus Canghui Academy!" The announcer's voice rang out again.
Yang Yunhai immediately returned to focus, raising his head to look.
At the entrance tunnel, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling emerged.
"All of their speed-type members are playing, and even Ning Rongrong is there to boost speed. Looks like Shrek Academy has the same idea we once had—they're going for a speed assault." Yu Feng commented from the side.
"Whether it works is another matter."
"Hard to say." Oslo shook his head. "Since we beat Canghui Academy, they've definitely prepared countermeasures against fast assault tactics."
"Who knows." Yu Feng shrugged. "Either way, that Ma Hongjun isn't as fast in the air as me, and his soul skills don't cover as wide an area. The question is whether he can disrupt Canghui Academy's formation effectively. Or maybe Tang San will open with control?"
Yang Yunhai didn't answer. He simply watched silently, his gaze fixed on Tang San.
"Begin!" With the referee's low shout, both sides sprang into action.
"Seven Treasures turn out Glazed, the second is Speed!" Ning Rongrong immediately amplified her teammates' speed.
"Third soul skill—Phoenix Soaring Wings!" Ma Hongjun's fiery wings spread from his back. His feet pressed off the ground, propelling him into the sky.
"Second soul skill—Bathing Fire Phoenix!" Flames surged across his body as he shot toward Canghui Academy.
On the ground, the other attackers charged close behind.
Canghui's team immediately lined up into a long snake formation.
"Hmph, did you really think we wouldn't prepare for this?"
Their leader raised his gem Martial Soul high, his third soul ring flaring. Brilliant white light burst forth, flooding the stage.
Silent and unseen, the Shrek members struck by the light all shuddered, instinctively clutching their heads and shaking them violently.
In the sky, Ma Hongjun felt his mind go blank. His Spiritual Power reeled, buzzing painfully. His soul power became chaotic, and the flames on his wings sputtered out.
From afar, he looked like a bird with its fire extinguished—falling like a roasted chicken.
"A kind of spiritual interference, carrying suppressive effects." Yang Yunhai calmly explained. "It should be paired with illusion-type soul skills. First, they disturb and suppress the enemy's mind, then unleash illusions for double the impact."
"Now, with their teammates' support, its range and effect are magnified several times, and the casting time drastically shortened."
"A seven-in-one fusion skill!?" In Shrek's viewing area, Yu Xiaogang's expression changed dramatically.
The very next second, Canghui's formation shifted swiftly from a snake line to a hexagon centered on their captain.
All of them raised their gem Martial Souls together. The captain's fourth soul ring lit up, while the others' third rings glowed. Seven beams of light burst upward, weaving into a dazzling rainbow that illuminated the entire arena.
"What is this?!" Tang San blinked awake, pupils contracting as the spreading radiance engulfed him.
From afar, one could see nothing of the fighters—only seven brilliant pillars of light.
"Damn, it's too bright—I can't see a thing." Yu Feng shielded his eyes, peeking through his fingers.
Yang Yunhai's eyes gleamed, golden light flickering within.
Through it, he could clearly see Canghui's members maintaining their formation, holding up their Martial Souls to sustain the effect.
Shrek's fighters were all frozen in place, including the fallen Ma Hongjun.
In mere moments, each of them twisted in pain.
On the ground, Ma Hongjun began to roll, his shouts carrying through the sound-amplifying soul tool.
"You fat pig, stay away! Don't come near me, ahhh—"
"…." Many men in the crowd fell silent. As veterans, they knew exactly what kind of nightmare he was enduring.
Clearly, the boy named Ma Hongjun was suffering torments of the flesh no one his age should ever face.
"Fatty! White Tiger! I'm warning you, don't you dare!" Ning Rongrong's trembling cry followed.
In her illusion, under a dark sky, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were advancing on her with cruel, beastly grins, forcing her into a corner.
His Martial Soul's flaw, his indulgent habits, and Dai Mubai's crude remarks from the Great Spirit Arena—it all came back too vividly.
As a powerless support soul master, she was always on guard against them.
'Looks like things aren't exactly the same as in the original story.' Yang Yunhai frowned slightly. 'Rongrong's fear of Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai runs so deep it's manifesting as nightmares.'
He glanced toward the VIP seats at Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo, both wearing stormy expressions.
"Mother… don't leave me!" Xiao Wu screamed in anguish, trapped in her mother's death once again.
"Yang Yunhai, you deserve to die!" Dai Mubai snarled, gnashing his teeth, his vision filled with Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing lying together as a couple.
"…." The Heaven Dou Royal Academy team's brows all furrowed.
'So you dare target our captain in illusions? Just wait!'
"Yan Yan, you—" Yu Tianheng's voice broke out, filled with disbelief.
"???" Yang Yunhai's teammates stiffened in shock.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan both narrowed their eyes, killing intent rising.
Tang San's face twisted in fury. In his illusion, Xiao Wu was unconscious from an attack, and he lay beaten on the ground, helpless as Bu Le reached toward her with a vile smile.
As the laughter grew louder, and those hands neared Xiao Wu, Tang San's pupils widened until blood streaked his eyes.
The moment Bu Le touched her—
"You all deserve to die!"
A roar ripped from Tang San's throat. Purple light burst from his eyes, and eight spider lances erupted from his back.
'Xiao Wu appeared in his dream! His emotions and Spiritual Power spiked violently!' Yang Yunhai's heart jolted.
In the next instant, Tang San's scarlet gaze locked onto the seven Canghui members. Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track activated, and he charged forward like a blur.
"How can you still move?!" Canghui's captain exclaimed in shock.
"Xiao San, calm down!" Yu Xiaogang's voice shouted from outside the stage.
Tang San faltered briefly. The red haze in his eyes dimmed, but his rage did not fade. His eight spider lances stretched wide as he darted forward again.
He wove among the enemies like a butterfly through flowers.
Screams erupted.
In seconds, the blinding light faded, leaving Tang San standing amid the shattered formation.
The seven Canghui members lay collapsed, each with a bloody hole in their shoulders. Violet blood oozed out, their faces pale, bodies trembling uncontrollably.
On Shrek's side, the team knelt, gasping heavily.
Ning Rongrong glanced between Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai, clutching her chest, her face pale with lingering fear.
"…." Ning Fengzhi's brow furrowed deeply, while Bone Douluo's eyes glinted with cold malice.
"Still not surrendering?" Tang San's icy voice rang out. "The poison of my soul bone can only be cleansed by me. If you refuse to yield, we'll continue fighting. Should they die, don't blame me for killing tournament competitors."
"We surrender!" Canghui's leader cried at once.
"Shrek Academy wins!" the referee declared.
Only then did Tang San retract his Martial Soul, vines extending to drag the seven together as his spider lances stabbed into their shoulders.
With a thought, he quietly triggered the devouring effect.
He immediately sensed the toxins flowing back, along with strands of soul power—and an incredibly pure, life-rich energy.
So pure it startled him.
"It really works!" Tang San's mind reeled. "If it works on soul masters, then it must work on soul beasts as well!"
Of course, in the tournament, he couldn't go too far. Noticing their pallor, he stopped devouring quickly and focused only on drawing out the poison.
After a moment, he pulled back his spider lances and strode toward his team.
'Hmph, even if the poison is gone, their cultivation will surely suffer. This is the price for harming Xiao Wu and making me suffer!' Tang San sneered inwardly. 'Karma will always strike back. I already showed mercy by not killing them outright!'
He reached Xiao Wu and helped her up gently, eyes soft.
"Xiao Wu, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Wu forced a smile, then glanced at Canghui's group with faint resentment in her eyes.
Tang San nodded, holding her hand as he turned. "Let's go back."
The others followed silently.
Ning Rongrong stayed quiet, keeping her distance from Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai.
"Let's head back to the hotel." Yang Yunhai rose from his seat.
At the Spirit Arena's exit, Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo strode toward Shrek's team.
"Mubai, Fatty, you two need to restrain yourselves. Stop thinking about those kinds of places all the time." Flender snapped sharply. Ning Rongrong's earlier reactions hadn't escaped his ears, and it was obvious to him that the two boys' constant visits to brothels had left a terrible impression.
A young girl traveling with two lechers who frequented such places—of course she'd be on guard.
'So that's why Jiangzhu has been ignoring me lately!' Ma Hongjun realized, full of regret. Straightening his back, he thumped his chest solemnly. "Dean, don't worry. From now on, I'll definitely discipline myself strictly."
'Worst case, I'll just go less often… secretly.' His inner voice whispered.
"…." Dai Mubai shot him a skeptical glance, but still gave a faint nod.
"Rongrong." Ning Fengzhi's voice came suddenly.
The two instantly stiffened.
"Father." Shaken, Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up with relief. She ran straight into his arms.
Ning Fengzhi smiled softly, stroking her hair before raising his gaze to Flender.
"Dean Flender, congratulations on another victory."
"Sect Master Ning flatters me." Flender looked embarrassed. "These two brats just don't know how to behave."
"Boys admiring beauty is natural." Ning Fengzhi kept his tone warm, smiling. "But children are in their prime years for cultivation. Their focus should remain on training if they want real achievement in the future."
"Sect Master Ning is right." Flender nodded quickly.
Ning Fengzhi inclined his head, then continued, "Dean Flender, my wife asked me to bring Rongrong home for a family dinner. Just one meal, and then I'll have someone send her back. I trust you won't object?"
"Of course not." Flender agreed immediately.
This wasn't just dinner—it was clearly to comfort the shaken young lady.
"Then I'll take my leave." Ning Fengzhi smiled, leading Ning Rongrong away.
Once they were gone, Flender turned back, glaring at Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Beside him, Liu Erlong scowled in disappointment. "It seems you've had far too much free time lately. Your energy clearly needs better use."
"From now on, unless we face a top team, you'll both be put through special drills. I'll personally supervise."
"Ah!?" Ma Hongjun nearly collapsed.
Creak—outside the arena, within the carriage.
Bone Douluo, holding Ning Rongrong in his lap, frowned. "Rongrong, be honest with Grandpa Bone. Have Ma Hongjun or Dai Mubai ever tried to act improperly toward you?"
"No." Ning Rongrong lifted her head.
After a pause, she added, "Back when I first entered the academy, Ma Hongjun sometimes snuck peeks. But later he behaved, only ever staring at women outside the team. Still, his habit of ogling anyone made me uncomfortable."
"As for Dai Mubai…" Her face showed shame as she lowered her head. "He did once say something very inappropriate. But I was partly at fault too—I provoked him with my words."
"Oh?" Ning Fengzhi pressed gently. "What did he say?"
"Well… back then…" Ning Rongrong hesitated, then recounted the incident outside the Great Spirit Arena. After losing a fight, Dai Mubai had told Ma Hongjun they'd need to vent that night. She had mocked him in return: 'Always thinking about brothels—no wonder your legs are weak and you lose fights. Rank 37, and with a top White Tiger Martial Soul, at that!'
She had thought then he was more like a sick cat.
Now, she was certain.
'If it had been Yang Yunhai, he would have crushed Dai Mubai's opponents easily. No wonder his fiancée left him. He was never good enough—who else could he blame?'
Her thoughts shifted to Zhu Zhuqing. She felt genuine envy. Younger than her, already a Soul Ancestor, and with a 10,000 year soul ring. She didn't know how Zhu Zhuqing had done it, but she was sure Yang Yunhai was behind it.
Her father had said so as well.
"…." Ning Fengzhi's brows furrowed as he caught the murderous aura radiating from Bone Douluo, and gave a faint shake of his head.
Later, back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi sent Ning Rongrong off to the rear courtyard to see her mother.
"Hmph! No wonder Rongrong cried out what she did in that illusion." Once she was gone, Bone Douluo's killing intent surged. "Fengzhi, that Dai Mubai dared speak such words to her—he clearly has no regard for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"What words?" Sword Douluo, seeing his old friend's fury, couldn't help asking.
Bone Douluo relayed the story.
Sword Douluo's eyes widened, murderous aura bursting forth. "Fengzhi, I'll cut that Dai Mubai down right now!"
"Uncle Sword, don't." Ning Fengzhi stopped him. "It isn't time yet. Wait until after the tournament."
"Since he enjoys those places so much…" Ning Fengzhi's tone was calm, almost chilling. "Then let him die there."
"As for Ma Hongjun—since he likes staring so much, we'll dig out his eyes." Bone Douluo snorted coldly, adding his own grim decree.
(End of Chapter)
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