First Battle
Tang San's gaze swept over each team member. "Me, Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Ye Lingling, Tai Long, and Jing Ling. But Yan Yan and Lingling originally came from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so we must try our best not to cripple our opponents."
Dugu Yan nodded, and Ye Lingling's eyes were full of agreement.
"So, during the Soul Fighting, none of you need to move. Give me ten seconds, and I'll handle the battle by myself," Tang San said confidently.
Half an hour later, the competition officially began.
The team members from both sides ascended the Soul Fighting Platform. The seven students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team were already standing on the platform, their uniform light gold team uniforms shimmering under the lights.
The seven members of the Shrek Team filed up the steps, with Tang San leading the way, followed closely by Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Ye Lingling, Tai Long, and Jing Ling.
The seven members' silver-white team uniforms gleamed softly under the lights. Their steps were synchronized, their breathing steady, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.
The seven people stood still, with Tang San in the very center and the others standing on either side, forming a cone-shaped formation.
The emcee stood in the center of the Soul Fighting Platform, holding Amplifying Soul Tool and introducing both sides in a loud voice.
When the emcee announced, "Both sides activate their Martial Souls," the entire Great Soul Arena instantly fell silent.
Tang San shouted, "Brothers, activate your Martial Souls!"
Five Soul Rings rose beneath Tang San and Dugu Yan's feet: two yellow, two purple, and one black. The black Fifth Soul Ring was deep and intense, radiating a chilling sense of oppression.
Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and Ye Lingling each have four Soul Rings, two yellow and two purple.
Tai Long and Jing Ling stood on either side of the group, their three Soul Rings rising up—two yellow and one purple. Although it was a standard setup, it didn't seem so impressive compared to the five people in front of them.
The entire room fell silent.
In the Great Soul Arena with 80,000 participants, all sound vanished the moment the Soul Rings lit up.
Two Soul Kings, three Soul Ancestor, and two Soul Elders.
This setup caused a brief silence in the stands before erupting into gasps of surprise.
Not only the audience stands, but also the VIP stands were filled with gasps of surprise.
On the VIP platform, Prince Xue Xing, unable to control his emotions, shouted, "No, this is impossible! How can there be two Soul Kings? How old are they?"
Meng Shenji closed his eyes in anguish, letting out a lament. "This should have been the glory of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Upon hearing Meng Shenji's words, Xue Ye frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Commissioner Meng, what do you mean by that?"
Meng Shenji, of course, couldn't directly criticize Prince Xue Xing, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
But Xue Qinghe wasn't afraid. This imperial uncle often went against him, and today was a good opportunity to teach him a lesson.
Xue Qinghe immediately leaned close to Xue Ye's ear, lowered his voice, and briefly recounted how Prince Xue Xing had refused Shrek's offer to join the Heaven Dou.
Xue Ye's expression grew increasingly grim, and the anger in his eyes intensified.
After listening, he glared fiercely at his younger brother Prince Xue Xing.
Prince Xue Xing trembled, his gaze darting away, unable to meet his eyes, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
Ning Fengzhi smiled calmly, "Your Majesty may not know, but my daughter is also at the Shrek Academy; she just didn't participate in this competition."
The Xue Ye's eyes flashed as he turned to look at Ning Fengzhi, his tone tinged with a hint of probing. "Sect Master Ning, it seems you have high hopes for this team?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded, his eyes full of approval. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Oh? So, does that mean Shrek Academy was trained by your sect?" Xue Ye said with a smile, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Your Majesty misunderstands. Tang San, the captain of the Shrek Team, is His Crown Prince's man and has now joined his ranks. Logically speaking, this team belongs to the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, the gloom on Xue Ye's face vanished, replaced by even greater joy.
He turned to look at Xue Qinghe, his eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration. "Yes, Your Highness has done an excellent job. I am very pleased that you have recruited such talent for the empire."
"Thank you for the compliment, Father!" Xue Qinghe smiled gently, his smile as warm and refined as he bowed slightly in greeting.
"Tang San is mine now," Xue Qinghe told herself.
Salas was the only one in the VIP section who couldn't smile.
He quickly realized the threat this team posed to the Spirit Hall Academy and knew he had to deliver the message to Spirit City immediately so that His Holiness the Pope informed.
On the Soul Fighting Platform, the seven students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team were completely dumbfounded.
They stood frozen in place, their legs trembling.
The opposing team has two Soul Kings and three Soul Ancestor, while our highest level is only 38. How are we supposed to win?
The emcee was stunned for several seconds before recovering from his shock, raising his right hand to announce the start of the competition.
As soon as the emcee finished speaking, the other six members of Shrek turned around in unison and walked towards the back of the arena, standing at the edge of the Soul Fighting Platform.
On the Soul Fighting Platform, only Tang San remained.
With a thought, Tang San unleashed his Soul Power, channeling it into his palm. Seven Blue Silver vines simultaneously shot out from his palm, striking the seven opposing team members from seven different directions.
Heart Separation Control, Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart —this is the highest level of Heart Separation Control.
Tang San underwent countless tedious training sessions in order to reach this level.
Now, Tang San's Heart Separation Control has finally been perfected. The seven Blue Silver vines are like seven invisible hands, each with its own consciousness.
The Blue Silver Grass vines precisely slipped through the gaps between the seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, silently wrapping around each of their waists.
The seven people struggled desperately, but the Blue Silver Grass tightened its grip, binding them securely.
Tang San waved his arm, and the seven Blue Silver Grass contracted simultaneously, lifting the seven people off the ground.
Tang San controlled the Blue Silver Grass, slowly sending them outside the Soul Fighting Platform, and then retrieved the Blue Silver Grass.
From the moment the Blue Silver vines extended to the moment the seven people were sent off the stage, only ten breaths had passed.
The emcee paused for a moment before raising his right hand and announcing, "Shrek Academy wins!"
A two-second silence fell over the entire stadium. Then, a deafening roar erupted from the stands.
Someone was the first to recognize Blue Silver Grass's fighting style. It was just like the "Cyberpunk" style from the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena back then.
A spectator suddenly stood up from his seat, pointed at Tang San on the stage, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Cyberpunk! He's Cyberpunk!"
That shout was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples everywhere.
The shout alerted the other spectators who hadn't yet reacted, and the entire Soul Fighting Arena immediately came to their senses.
"Cyberpunk! Cyberpunk is back!"
"Cyberpunk! Cyberpunk! Cyberpunk!"
A deafening roar of cheers erupted throughout the Soul Fighting Arena. Eighty thousand people chanted the same name in unison, the waves of sound rising higher and higher.
In the stands, the team members from other colleges also frowned, especially those from the Five Elements Academy who were aiming for the championship.
Shui Bing'er stood on the stands, her icy blue eyes fixed on Tang San.
Her heart was pounding; she hadn't expected Tang San to be so famous in Heaven Dou City.