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Qin Ming, the leader of the Imperial Fight Team, stood not far away. When he saw Dugu Yan unleash the "Blue Phosphorus Purple Poison," his heart jolted. Soul Power surged around him as he prepared to save someone at any moment.

Xiao Wu's face also changed drastically. Even an idiot could tell that what Dugu Yan had sprayed was highly poisonous. She hurriedly shouted, "Xiao Zong, watch out!"

The members of the Imperial Fight Team, however, smiled faintly. Although they had no conflict with Zu Zong, they still hoped that Dugu Yan, whom they spent every day with, would win.

The next moment, something shocking happened.

Two large leather sacks had somehow appeared in Zu Zong's hands. He flung them forcefully into the air, then shot two black kunai at them. The sacks were filled with gas.

Bang—

Without question, the water sacks exploded. Under the combined effects of the Soul Power-coated kunai and the gas pressure, they instantly burst apart, scattering the Realgar Wine within into a vast mist.

At the same time, Zu Zong's first Soul Ring lit up.

"First Soul Skill—Poison Dragon Entanglement."

The Blue Silver Emperor Vines, covered in blazing red scales, did not attack Dugu Yan. Instead, they pounced toward the water mist. In an instant, the mist was completely transformed by the heat into fiery vapor, carrying a peculiar fragrance that filled the entire area. It also engulfed all the purple mist.

Zu Zong let out a soft breath and muttered quietly, "Phew! It finally worked. All those practice runs weren't for nothing."

Before the suddenly rising flames, the dense purple mist began to burn as well, producing a string of popping sounds before vanishing into the air.

"No, that's impossible. How could you break my Blue Phosphorus Purple Poison?" Dugu Yan stared blankly at Zu Zong across from her, her eyes full of disbelief. Not only her—even every member of the Imperial Fight Team, including Qin Ming and Xiao Wu, was stunned.

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison is nothing more than a petty trick. If all five Blue Phosphorus Five Poisons came at me together, perhaps I would pay them some attention. Your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison has not yet reached that level." Zu Zong repeated, word for word, what Tang San had said to Dugu Yan in the original story.

Zu Zong: I finally got to show off properly!

Tang San: You bastard! Not only did you steal my tactics, you even stole my lines! I'll never rest until one of us is dead!

The next moment, Zu Zong dismissed his First Soul Skill and used Blue Silver Range Entanglement once more, easily binding Dugu Yan into a dumpling.

Zu Zong looked toward Qin Ming. "Well, Teacher Qin, I won, right?"

Qin Ming swallowed with difficulty. "Zu Zong wins this soul battle."

The commotion from Zu Zong and Dugu Yan's fight had not been small. Before anyone noticed, many students drawn by the noise had gathered around them, along with several teachers, including Sun Buyu.

Only after hearing Qin Ming announce his victory did Zu Zong release the bound Dugu Yan.

The crowd surrounded them, breaking into discussion.

Girl A: "Wow, who is that handsome blue-haired guy? He's so cute!"

Girl B: "Handsome, I want to have your babies!"

Male Student A: "That guy really is impressive. He actually defeated Dugu Yan."

Dugu Yan had not suffered much injury. She had not even shed a single drop of blood; she had merely expended too much Soul Power. Supported by her boyfriend, Yu Tianheng, she walked up to Zu Zong and stared at him intensely. "What was in those leather sacks just now?"

Zu Zong pretended to be unconcerned. "Realgar Wine."

When Zu Zong mentioned Realgar Wine, not only Dugu Yan but most of those present showed puzzled expressions.

Just then, Sun Buyu spoke up. "Hehe, snake-type Soul Beasts do indeed hate the smell of things like realgar. I simply never expected Realgar Wine to be able to neutralize snake venom. Young friend, you truly know how to apply what you have learned!"

"My first Soul Ring came from a century-old venomous snake-type Soul Beast. I specially prepared Realgar Wine in case anything went wrong. Who would have thought that the Dean of Students who helped me hunt the Soul Ring back then would be so powerful? The Realgar Wine ended up unused, so it happened to come in handy today." Zu Zong could spin lies at the drop of a hat without blushing or skipping a beat. He could hardly tell them that he had planned this all along!

Blanklin: I was really that powerful?

Zu Zong: Pah! I'm just using you as an excuse! I killed that Black-Scaled Poison Python by myself. All by myself.

Xiao Wu excitedly pounced on him, once again hanging from Zu Zong's neck like a koala. She cheered, "Wow! Xiao Zong, you're amazing! You actually beat that old hag!"

Zu Zong's explanation clearly left Dugu Yan feeling dejected. As the Poison Douluo's only granddaughter, the snake venom she had long been so proud of had been neutralized. Dugu Yan removed the exquisite bracelet from her wrist and tossed it to Xiao Wu. "A bet is a bet. This three-cubic-meter Storage Soul Tool is yours. Starting today, you officially become members of the Imperial Fight Team."

Xiao Wu caught the bracelet in one hand, clearly at a loss. "Old hag, this is—"

Zu Zong gave Xiao Wu a chop on the head.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

Xiao Wu clutched her head in pain.

"You're still calling her an old hag? She gave you her beloved Storage Soul Tool. Don't be so thoughtless. Hurry up and call her Sister Yan Zi!"

Although Xiao Wu had argued with Dugu Yan earlier, she still listened to Zu Zong. Lowering her head, she bowed to Dugu Yan and said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Yan Zi!"

Even the dejected Dugu Yan was stunned by Zu Zong's move. "Zu Zong, you..."

Zu Zong smiled faintly. "What happened before was all a misunderstanding. Besides, we'll be teammates on the same team from now on. It would be far too improper for us to become unhappy over such a small matter."

Zu Zong's words greatly improved the Imperial Fight Team's impression of him. Several academy teachers, including Qin Ming and Sun Buyu, smiled and nodded.

After everyone had dispersed.

Qin Ming smiled. "Since that's settled, I'll treat everyone to a feast in Heaven Dou City tonight."

Everyone cheered.

"Yeah!"

"Teacher Qin is the best!"

That evening, most of the Imperial Fight Team, including their leader Qin Ming, got drunk. Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan laughed away their past grievances and drank to their hearts' content, both becoming thoroughly tipsy. Only Ye Lingling did not drink alcohol, having merely a little beverage. She sat alone, and when others spoke to her, she only gave brief replies.

After the banquet ended, Zu Zong escorted the already drunk Xiao Wu back to her room before coming out again. He could hold his liquor well and was not drunk at all. The moment he stepped outside, he happened to run into Yu Tianheng, who had likewise just taken Dugu Yan back to her room.

The two met each other's eyes and nodded.

Yu Tianheng remained expressionless as he said calmly, "Thank you for showing Yan Zi mercy during the day."

"No, no. Yan Zi is extremely strong. If I had not happened to have Realgar Wine on me, I might have lost." Zu Zong hurriedly shook his head in denial.

Seeing how earnest Zu Zong looked, even the usually cold Yu Tianheng could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth.

If he had not witnessed their fight with his own eyes, he might actually have believed him. What a load of crap. This brat is rotten to the core.

As he brushed past Zu Zong, Yu Tianheng left behind one sentence before departing. "Next time, I want to see your true strength."

Zu Zong nodded and headed back toward his own room.

Contract signed