Six Against One

"If this is all you've got, you might as well come at me all together!"

Shadow Moon's flat, indifferent words landed on the Heaven Dou Royal Team's ears with a completely different tone.

After all, to Shadow Moon, they really were weak, and he wasn't genuinely trying to join the team anyway—he had ulterior motives.

But his casual tone only stoked the others' anger.

"Tianheng! Tianheng!"

Dugu Yan was the first to rush over when Yu Tianheng fell, catching him in her arms. But by now, Yu Tianheng had been knocked unconscious by Shadow Moon's attack.

Yu Tianheng was indeed a prodigy of his level, used to crushing opponents in battle. Even in the original story, when the Heaven Dou Team lost to the Shrek Seven Devils, Yu Tianheng as an individual hadn't lost. So Dugu Yan, who rarely saw him injured, was frantic at the sight of him unconscious.

"Right, right, Lingling, hurry, use your martial soul, quick!"

Dugu Yan momentarily forgot their team had an incredibly powerful healer and called out to Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling didn't waste words; her martial soul materialized instantly.

Ye Lingling's martial soul was the Nine Heart Begonia, said to be able to heal anyone as long as they had a breath left—even the Grim Reaper would tip his hat.

The Nine Heart Begonia was extremely unique: only two people could possess it at any given time—Ye Lingling and her mother. Forget passing it down through generations; it was a miracle it survived at all.

In the original story, even Ning Rongrong, that fearless little demon, admitted that if the Nine Heart Begonia could be mass-produced without limits, it would be the number one support martial soul on the Douluo Continent.

The Nine Heart Begonia was also one of the rarest martial souls on the continent, setting it apart from other support-type soul masters.

Most other support martial souls provided various buffs.

But the Nine Heart Begonia was all about healing—ultimate healing. It was like how many people looked down on healers, but when you actually faced one, you realized the importance of taking out the healer first in a team fight.

The Nine Heart Begonia bloomed in Ye Lingling's palm, and two yellow soul rings appeared behind her.

Another trait of the Nine Heart Begonia was that no matter what soul beast or soul ring was added, the skill remained the same: increased healing output.

In a way, that was a single-minded path.

The Nine Heart Begonia in Ye Lingling's hand emitted a green healing light toward Yu Tianheng.

The intensifying green glow made Ye Lingling look like a celestial maiden saving lives.

Shadow Moon, watching from the side, narrowed his eyes slightly at the immense life force.

Having vast life force wasn't special—both he and Minami Kotaro possessed it—but being able to grant that level of life force to someone else? That was rarer than a scorpion taking a dump.

Under Ye Lingling's healing, Yu Tianheng's expression relaxed. The damage to his body from the force Shadow Moon had inflicted was gradually and miraculously repaired.

Seeing Yu Tianheng's face ease, Dugu Yan knew he was fine.

"Damn it!"

Dugu Yan stood up straight, glaring fiercely at Shadow Moon.

"If you want to fight, you'd better bring all of them."

Shadow Moon knew exactly how she felt, but to put them in their place and establish dominance, this was the perfect move.

"You said it—we can all come at once!"

Dugu Yan stared at Shadow Moon, searching his eyes for something, but she was disappointed. His gaze was as sharp as a needle.

"I said it. Your whole team can come at me. Of course, if you want to wait for this guy to wake up and field the full team, that's fine too."

"Fine, it's a deal. Ye Lingling, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Osler, and Yu Feng—all together. Let's show this guy what the Heaven Dou Team can do!"

Dugu Yan wasn't stupid. She knew she stood no chance alone.

Even adding Ye Lingling, a healer, wouldn't cut it. Shadow Moon's strength was obvious, and Dugu Yan was a control-type soul master while Ye Lingling was support—neither could handle him.

The safest bet was to take him on with everyone except Yu Tianheng.

Dugu Yan wanted to avenge Yu Tianheng herself, but she knew she couldn't.

Besides, Shadow Moon had challenged the entire Heaven Dou Royal Team, so this was the perfect chance to teach him a lesson.

"Of course—you're more than welcome!"

Shadow Moon watched the six of them charge up. Though the others weren't as visibly fired up as Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng was still their captain.

And Shadow Moon had challenged the whole team. Even a clay doll had some temper, so the other six naturally joined in.

On the arena, One side held the Heaven Dou Royal Team: Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, Osler, Yu Feng, and the Shi Mo brothers.

On the other side stood only Shadow Moon.

"Now announcing—match start!"

Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent, Osler and Yu Feng's agility-type Ghost Leopard and Wind Bird, and the Shi Mo brothers' Black Tortoise Turtle.

For a moment, one side of the arena was a zoo of various beasts, while Shadow Moon's side...

"Hen Shin!"

Shadow Moon's low voice rang out.