Easy Victory, Hand Over the "Wager"!

"What's going on?"

Tang San frowned, a faint sense of unease rising in his heart.

Through the Blue Silver Vines, he could sense three life auras within the "Blue Silver Vine Ball."

But...

The three people inside were all strangely "silent" at the moment, as though they had lost their souls.

"Could it be that Li Yu was only pretending to be calm earlier, when in fact she had already been affected by my poison?"

This was the most likely answer Tang San could think of.

Once he considered this possibility, anxiety surged within him.

Though he had not hesitated to put Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing in danger in order to uncover the secret of Li Yu's Soul Rings,

he did not want these two companions, who had been by his side for so long, to suffer severe injuries or even lose their lives because of it.

"I have to end this quickly..."

Tang San muttered inwardly, but his expression abruptly changed in the next instant.

The next moment.

Everyone saw the long-silent "Blue Silver Vine Ball" suddenly emit a jade-green glow.

Then, the vines gradually stopped "tightening" and instead began to "loosen" in the opposite direction!

"How could this be..."

Tang San stared at the scene before him in disbelief.

At this moment, he had actually lost control over his own soul skill!

"Third Brother, has it been resolved already?"

Unaware of the situation, Ning Rongrong revealed a delighted expression.

"It loosened?"

"Did Miss Li Yu lose?"

"Huh? How could this happen? She was so impressive just now, yet she lost to a skill like this?"

The spectators in the stands were equally surprised.

This outcome had come far too abruptly.

"No, look at Tang San's expression!"

Hearing this, everyone raised their eyes to look.

Sure enough.

Tang San's eyes were wide open, and his face had turned somewhat pale.

His hands kept moving, as if he were trying something.

But judging from his expression, the attempt had failed.

Then, everyone saw—

The "Blue Silver Vine Ball" peeled apart layer by layer, its vines drooping limply to the ground.

Within it, emerald Willow Branches unfurled one after another, and a Green Willow over thirty meters tall suddenly appeared in the arena!

Before the Willow Tree, two branches bound two figures respectively.

They were Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, who had been controlled in an instant earlier.

But both of them had already fallen unconscious.

What drew even more attention was—

One branch of the enormous Green Willow extended forward, with a figure standing at its tip.

Four Soul Rings flickered around her—

Purple! Purple! Purple! Black!

The instant they saw this Soul Ring configuration, the noisy Soul Arena fell silent.

Everyone subconsciously rose to their feet and rubbed their eyes.

Then they all stared at the scene before them in shock.

When they had previously heard of a "Soul Ring configuration beyond common sense," they had been baffled, not believing that this "secret" could compare to a Soul Bone, let alone an External Soul Bone.

But now, it seemed it truly was worth that "price."

Four rings, three purple and one black!

If anyone had claimed before this that such a four-ringed soul master existed, they would have laughed their teeth out.

Yet now, such a person stood right before them!

So real, yet so unreal.

"How is this possible?!"

This was the question that flashed through nearly everyone's mind at once.

Naturally, there were a few exceptions.

They were the Three Education Committee Members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy led by Meng Shenji, the people from Shrek, as well as Prince Xue Xing, Xue Beng, and Dugu Yan.

"Tang San, is this all the strength you have?"

Li Yu's cold voice rang out, pulling everyone's attention back.

Feeling the constantly trembling Blue Silver Grass, a sense of helplessness rose in Tang San's heart.

His gaze toward Li Yu was filled with regret.

He had been too impulsive!

How could Li Yu, with such a Soul Ring configuration, possibly lack strength and trump cards?

For the secret of those Soul Rings, he had actually let greed cloud his judgment and agreed to a wager with such a huge price!

Wait...

Tang San suddenly recalled that Li Yu seemed to have gone to the Education Committee Members with Dugu Yan!

And the two of them were extremely close!

That meant Dugu Yan was very likely to have told Li Yu about what had happened during the battle at Soto Grand Soul Arena!

That meant Li Yu likely already knew that he possessed an External Soul Bone, and she had come specifically for it!

And judging from Meng Shenji and the others' reactions when Li Yu released her Soul Rings before the Education Committee Members, they had not known she possessed such a Soul Ring configuration. They had not even known of her existence before then.

Which meant that releasing her Soul Rings and defeating Dai Mubai had all been done to seize his External Soul Bone now!

She had even kicked Dai Mubai out first to ensure that nothing unexpected happened in this battle.

That way, she had prevented the appearance of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger!

The more Tang San thought about it, the more fear and fury filled his heart.

"Despicable!"

He looked at Li Yu and slowly spat out those two words.

"Hm?"

Li Yu raised an eyebrow, cold light flashing in her eyes. "You're courting death!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

With a thought from her, countless Willow Branches immediately swept toward Tang San!

Even the vines created earlier by Tang San's soul skills, Entanglement, Parasite, and Spider Web Restraint, swept toward him as well.

Tang San's gaze sharpened as he pushed Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to its limit.

His figure flickered as he darted between the Willow Branches, dodging their lashes.

The Soul Arena floor was also ravaged by the whipping branches, instantly shattered beyond recognition as dust rose everywhere.

"Ah!"

A sudden scream rang out.

Ning Rongrong, who had been circling around the edge of the arena, was sent flying by a Willow Branch and fell off the platform.

Her clothes were instantly torn to shreds, exposing large swathes of fair skin.

"Ning Rongrong, eliminated!"

Meng Shenji's voice rang out in the next moment.

Tang San, who had been continuously dodging, felt his heart sink at those words, but his feet did not stop in the slightest.

He could barely protect himself. How could he have time to care whether Ning Rongrong lived or died?

Besides, this was only a match, and Meng Shenji was guarding the side. Ning Rongrong would not die no matter what.

"Is that all? You can barely even touch me, yet you still want to defeat me?"

Tang San sneered coldly. "A four-ringed Soul Ancestor, and that's all you've got?"

"Hehe, is that so?"

Li Yu's unconcerned voice rang out as well.

The next moment.

Tang San suddenly sensed that something was wrong. Just as he was about to retreat quickly, he discovered there was nowhere left to retreat.

And in the eyes of the spectators,

a gigantic green ball woven from Willow Branches had appeared in the Soul Arena, and both Tang San and Li Yu vanished from sight.

Only the enormous Willow Tree remained, emitting a faint jade-green glow. The aura it gave off also made people feel inexplicably comfortable.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Inside the "ball."

With no path above or below, and dense Willow Branches blocking him in every direction, Tang San finally had nowhere to evade.

Willow Branches wrapped directly around his limbs and neck.

With only a thought from Li Yu, he would be strangled to death alive!

Li Yu walked gracefully toward Tang San. With every step she took, the Willow Branches parted and automatically formed a path, allowing her to descend step by step upon stairs made of branches.

"So, this is all the strength you have?"

Li Yu looked at Tang San disdainfully. With a slight thought, the Willow Branches binding Tang San suddenly tightened.

The green leaves on the branches were like sharp blades, slicing bit by bit into Tang San's skin.

In mere moments, Tang San's entire body was drenched in blood!

"Urgh..."

Blood also spilled from the corner of Tang San's mouth.

He glared viciously at Li Yu, and silver light suddenly flickered in his left palm.

The next moment, the Clear Sky Hammer appeared.

Unfortunately, Tang San currently had no ability to swing the Clear Sky Hammer.

And he did not seem to intend to swing it, either.

"Do you know what this is?"

Tang San spoke with difficulty, his tone full of threat.

"Oh?"

Li Yu raised an eyebrow slightly at his words.

Naturally, he knew the Clear Sky Hammer, but was Tang San trying to borrow its influence?

Was he trying to save his life this way?

Hehe!

Li Yu smiled and said disdainfully, "Isn't it just a Martial Soul?"

"A Twin Martial Souls owner. Are you very proud of yourself?"

"What, are you trying to take this chance to pledge loyalty to me?"

"Tsk. With your talent, you are qualified to pledge loyalty to me!"

"How about this? Come, kowtow to me once, and I can spare your life."

After saying that, Li Yu truly released the Willow Branches binding Tang San, entirely unafraid that Tang San still had some other trick up his sleeve.

"Argh!"

As the branches loosened, Tang San fell to the ground.

He could not stand, because when the branches released him, they had directly severed the tendons in his feet!

Tang San lay prone on the ground and struggled to prop himself up with both hands so that he would not look quite so pathetic.

But the cold sweat covering his head and his pale lips showed that he was in terrible condition!

Yet...

He still stared at Li Yu with cold arrogance. "You country bumpkin, this is the Clear Sky Hammer, the number one tool Martial Soul in the world!"

Country bumpkin?

Li Yu's gaze turned cold, and he slapped Tang San across the face.

Smack!

Pfft!

Tang San's head snapped to the side. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and several teeth flew out with it.

He lowered his head blankly, seemingly unable to believe that after he had revealed the Clear Sky Hammer, Li Yu still dared to treat him like this.

"This is the Clear Sky Hammer, a Martial Soul that only disciples of the number one sect in the world, the Clear Sky Sect, can awaken!"

Tang San spoke sharply. "You dare treat me like this? Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Clear Sky Sect?"

"Oh?"

Li Yu narrowed his eyes. "How rare. You lost a Soul Duel Competition, and now you want to call your parents. Are you a giant baby?"

Tang San froze, a faint flush actually appearing on his cheeks before quickly fading.

He wanted to argue further.

But then Li Yu said, "So what if it's the Clear Sky Sect? Are you one of the Clear Sky Sect now?

Does the Clear Sky Sect even acknowledge you, that you're dragging it out to intimidate me?

I've seen shameless people before, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as you!"

All the words Tang San had wanted to say were suddenly stuck in his throat. His face flushed slightly as he said, "So what if they refuse to acknowledge me? I am still of Clear Sky Sect blood. If I die, would they really stand by and do nothing?"

"Hehe."

Li Yu slapped Tang San across the face again, leaving only a few "lone survivors" among his teeth.

"You!"

Tang San's cheeks had already swollen up, and the fury in his eyes seemed ready to burst forth.

Li Yu frowned slightly at the sight, then relaxed. "Do you think it isn't symmetrical enough?"

Slap! Slap!

Two more slaps landed on Tang San's other cheek.

In an instant, he looked like a big-headed doll.

Tang San stared blankly. He had never imagined something like this would happen to him.

How had he ended up worse off than in his previous life?

Send me back!

That thought flashed through Tang San's mind.

"I have no interest in anything else about you. Now, prepare to pay the stakes!"

With that, willow branches bound Tang San once more. Li Yu returned to the "sky," standing again where she had been at the beginning, as though she had never moved.

During this process, aside from the willow branches binding Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, all the other branches slowly withdrew.

At the same time.

Li Yu's cold voice rang out. "Chief Meng, announce the result!"

The arena immediately fell silent.

It was over?

That thought crossed everyone's minds.

The next moment, the battle-damaged Soul Arena appeared before everyone.

Tang San, bound like a war criminal, lay motionless on the ground like a maggot, stripped of all dignity.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were still unconscious, and Li Yu had not released them either.

"This..."

"Miss Li Yu's strength is actually this terrifying!"

"She's too strong!"

"These Soul Rings, this strength, this talent—who could possibly compare to her?!"

"Starting today, I'm Miss Li Yu's simp fan! None of you better fight me for the spot!"

"Pah! Who do you think you are? If you want to be Miss Li Yu's simp, go line up at the city gate first!"

"Ah..."

The crowd erupted into noise, all staring at Li Yu with blazing eyes.

As for Tang San and the others, no one paid them any attention.

Who even knew them?

Were they important?

Pah, pah, pah. Get lost already. Stop being an eyesore!

"All members of Shrek have been eliminated. The victor... Li Yu!"

Meng Shenji was stunned for a moment before snapping back to his senses and immediately announcing the result.

"Wow, Miss Li Yu is freaking awesome!"

"Miss Li Yu is so cool!"

"Miss Li Yu, I'm your... oh, no, you're my goddess!"

"..."

As if going through the motions, the crowd cheered again upon hearing the result.

"Hehe."

Li Yu smiled faintly and gave the audience a slight nod.

However, with the veil blocking her face, no one could see her features. Otherwise, there would have been another "disaster."

Meng Shenji and the others also looked at Li Yu with complicated expressions.

They truly had not expected Li Yu, with only four Soul Rings, to defeat six of the Shrek Seven Devils at once—all of them outstanding among three-ring Spirit Masters.

One had to know that any one of those six, when facing an ordinary four-ring Spirit Master, would generally be capable of defeating them!

This only further revealed just how formidable Li Yu truly was.

If Li Yu joins Heaven Dou Royal Academy, why would we need to worry about failing to win the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!

That thought flashed through Meng Shenji's mind, and his gaze toward Li Yu grew even more fervent.

For teachers like them, aside from increasing their own strength, nothing excited them more than seeing their students bring supreme glory to the academy!

Unfortunately, he also knew that it was unlikely for an unparalleled prodigy like Li Yu to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After all, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had nothing left to teach such a genius.

Wait...

Heaven Dou Royal Academy belonged exclusively to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!

If he spoke to His Majesty about this matter, perhaps it could be negotiated!

Meng Shenji's thoughts shifted, and his eyes lit up.

"Now that I've won, then..."

Li Yu's voice rang out at that moment. "Please have this Tang San hand over the stakes to me!"