Lin Bo and Tang San

A year and a half passed in the blink of an eye, and before long, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament had begun.

While the heated preliminaries were underway at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, Lin Bo was waiting in a private room at the innermost end of the second floor of a teahouse on Heaven Emperor Street, the most prosperous district of Heaven Dou City. He looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

"Just think, I, the mighty Lin Bo, was actually reincarnated as a woman. Good thing I'm still disguised as a man now. Tang San... I, Lin Bo, am destined to tear you to pieces. I, Lin Bo, am the true great villain! Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!"

Just as Lin Bo was lost in his fantasy, Ning Fengzhi came upstairs with Tang San.

Lin Bo swiftly snapped out of his reverie and, as though he had become someone else, said respectfully, "Uncle Ning, you've arrived."

Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "Qinghe, how many times have I told you? You don't need to be so formal."

"How could I not? You are my elder and Qinghe's teacher. If Father found out that I had been disrespectful to you, he would probably break my legs." As he spoke, Lin Bo looked toward Tang San. "This must be Brother Tang San, whom Uncle Ning thinks so highly of?"

"I don't deserve such praise." Tang San gave Lin Bo a slight nod.

"Let me introduce you. This is His Highness Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire," Ning Fengzhi said.

"So you are His Highness the Crown Prince." Neither servile nor overbearing, Tang San gave Lin Bo a slight bow.

"If Uncle Ning hadn't told me, I would have found it hard to believe that you were only fourteen. When I was fourteen, I was still an ignorant youth. If you don't mind, there's no need to call me Crown Prince. Just call me Brother Xue."

"All right, sit down first. The green tea here is quite good. Little San, you should try some as well," Ning Fengzhi said.

As they discussed Tang San's father, Lin Bo subtly adjusted his own words while making comparisons. He discovered that whenever his words matched those in the novel exactly, Tang San and Ning Fengzhi's responses proceeded entirely according to the plot. If he altered even a few words, the other party's words would also differ slightly. If his words once again became identical to those in the novel, the original plot would gradually return.

Lin Bo was no fool. From those subtle changes, he vaguely deduced something.

It seems that people like us have quite a major influence on the plot. I just wonder whether I can get rid of Tang San if I make some big moves. As long as Tang San is dealt with, my path to godhood in the future will be smooth sailing. Lin Bo thought. In a while, I should remind Shi Nian to be careful of Life-Chasing Yama's Sticker when he tries to assassinate Tang San.

After considering it, Lin Bo did not give Tang San the Crown Prince's Golden Token.

After seeing Tang San off, Lin Bo bid Ning Fengzhi farewell. After a brief moment of thought, he turned and headed toward the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

A few days later, in a small forest outside Heaven Dou City.

Shi Nian, the Soul Sage and vice principal of Canghui Academy, was using his Remnant Dream Spirit. His Seventh Spirit Ability, Nightmare, had been activated, trapping Tang San in an illusion.

I can't let my guard down. Shi Nian was extremely vigilant. According to the Crown Prince, Tang San can remain conscious within my illusion and possesses hidden weapons capable of killing me.

Shi Nian kept his entire body constantly shrouded in Soul Power as he approached Tang San step by step. Soul Power gathered in his hand, ready to kill Tang San directly.

Purple-gold light flashed brilliantly in Tang San's eyes. His body spun halfway through the air, and his right arm lashed out sharply. A streak of black light flashed past in an instant.

Though this was not the best moment, if Tang San did not act now, he likely would not get another chance.

Terror flashed through Shi Nian's eyes. He did everything he could to block that black streak, but ultimately failed.

He had still been too careless. Although he had long known of Tang San's methods, he had been somewhat doubtful of Lin Bo's words and did not believe Tang San could kill him. Coupled with Tang San's extremely swift reaction, he was naturally killed in a single strike.

Even a lion used its full strength when hunting a rabbit. If Shi Nian had directly overwhelmed him with Soul Power, Tang San would likely have died instead. Of course, Lin Bo had not believed Tang San would be so easily killed either. Otherwise, he would not have been Tang San.

A few days later, in Crown Prince Hall in Heaven Dou City.

Lin Bo sat quietly in a chair, his fingers continuously tapping against its armrest as he muttered, "Tang San, Tang San, I still underestimated you in the end. But before you have the chance to grow up, I'll have plenty of opportunities to get rid of you. I wonder how long you can hold out?"

As he spoke, Lin Bo rose to his feet and looked through the window toward the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. He said to himself, "Tomorrow should be Shrek Academy's match against Blazing Fire Academy, right? If I remember correctly, Fan Yihuang and Qi Xiaomin should be at Blazing Fire Academy. With their talent, they should have become quite powerful by now. I just wonder how they will face Fire Immunity Blue Silver Grass. How exciting."

Just then, a lewd voice sounded in Lin Bo's mind. "Hey, Qi Xiaomin, Fan Yihuang, are you there?"

"Little Fatty, stop calling," Qi Xiaomin's voice came through. "Watch us crush you tomorrow."

"You guys? Want to make a bet?" Little Fatty said.

"What are we betting?" Qi Xiaomin asked. "How about spirit bones?"

"You have spirit bones?" Little Fatty retorted.

"Once we win the championship, we'll have spirit bones," Qi Xiaomin said.

"So you don't have any yet?" Little Fatty said disdainfully.

"I say, how about we bet on something else?" Li Hong asked. "For example, who can defeat the Shrek Seven Devils?"

"Of course it'll be us," Liu Xiaoxiao said. "But that would be unfair. What if you defeat them before you even meet us? Then what?"

"Hah, how could you possibly beat us?" Little Fatty said.

"Not convinced? Then let's fight one-on-one," Qi Xiaomin said.

"Sure, but we'll have to wait until the group stage for a one-on-one match," Little Fatty said. "Tomorrow, let's each bring out our true strength in a team battle."

Lin Bo shook his head helplessly, let out a cold snort, and looked out the window. "No matter how much stronger you become, it will be meaningless. I will stand at the pinnacle of this world and defeat every one of you."