Plan Then Decide

Tang San and Fu Hua silently agreed. Just as expected.

As early as the start of the team battle, Fu Hua, Tang San, and the others had discussed a strategy. Given Fu Hua's growing reputation, the Berserk Team could not possibly overlook her. With Fu Hua's formidable strength, they would surely try to defeat her first before picking the rest of them off one by one.

The best option would be to trap Fu Hua—or even lure her into a trap.

And the facts proved that they had been right.

Trapped in the center of the Berserk Team, Fu Hua exchanged glances with Tang San from several meters away. Both saw the look of absolute control in the other's eyes.

The corner of Tang San's lips lifted slightly as he said slowly, "Attack from within and without. Close the door and beat the dog."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three sharp sounds tore through the air.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu swept in from different directions, forming another encirclement. Though there were only three of them, their momentum was like that of a thousand troops.

Spider Woman merely glanced over, unconcerned.

"Using one Support System Soul Master as bait to lure you in was worth it," Spider Woman said.

Fu Hua remained silent.

As for the other Berserk Team members, their eyes had all turned bloodshot, and they looked utterly frenzied.

It was the Ruyi Plate Soul Master's third soul skill—Berserk.

At the cost of their sanity, it enhanced the entire team's strength. Against such crazed opponents, even Fu Hua, who could only use Soul Power, had to proceed with caution.

"Are you waiting for your teammates to come rescue you?" Spider Woman mistook Fu Hua's silence for deliberate stalling and asked.

Yet Fu Hua still showed no desire to speak. Holding the Xuanyuan Sword, the three Soul Rings of different colors around her pulsed rhythmically, their effects unknown.

Dai Mubai and the other two, surrounding the Berserk Team from outside, also remained silent as they quietly waited for Tang San's command.

As a Control System Soul Master, one played an absolutely vital role within a team. Not only did they control their opponents, but they also had to rein in their own teammates at the right moments.

This prevented their teammates from becoming overly eager for quick success and throwing the rhythm of the match into disarray.

At this moment, Tang San was also quietly watching the changes in the Berserk Team. The moment Fu Hua nodded, they could launch their attack at any time.

But clearly, now was not the time. Fu Hua had not felt any pressure yet.

Six berserk fighters, all above level thirty-five, were beasts without pain or reason, capable of displaying strength exceeding level forty. Moreover, one among them had not been completely affected and was controlling the others.

The strength they could unleash would rise even further. Tang San had no choice but to treat them with utmost caution.

Before the match began, Fu Hua and Tang San had conducted an in-depth analysis of the battle against the Berserk Team.

Facing a team of Soul Masters all with Soul Power above level thirty-five, even Fu Hua had to be cautious. Before the match, they had analyzed their combat abilities and members.

Mad Rhinoceros was an Assault System beast-spirit Soul Master with powerful defensive capabilities. His weakness was similar to Dai Mubai's. As for the other two Assault System beast-spirit Soul Masters, neither had anything particularly remarkable about them.

Other than their second soul skill, Trample, being somewhat troublesome, they were fairly ordinary.

As for the Control System Soul Master, the woman with the spider martial soul was completely countered by Tang San. The Agility Attack System Monkey Soul Master was not even half as fast as Fu Hua, so he was nothing to worry about.

The only one who required attention was that Support System Soul Master.

"His third soul skill is Berserk. With everyone already possessing Soul Power above level thirty-five, if they go berserk again, the increase in combat power definitely won't be as simple as one plus one equals two," Fu Hua said.

Tang San nodded. Beside them, Master and Flender maintained their usual silence.

Soul fighting was their own affair. If they needed teachers like them to devise strategies for everything, then they would only be flowers raised in a greenhouse, unable to truly grow.

Knowing how to think and how to plan—those were what a team needed.

"So, we need to defeat that Support System Soul Master immediately. But we must also prepare for the possibility that they might go berserk. When that happens, we won't merely be facing Soul Elders with Soul Power above level thirty-five," Tang San said cautiously.

"Or we could lure them into the trap."

"Fu Hua, you mean..."

"They want to lure me in, so we'll beat them at their own game."

Closing her eyes as she recalled the plan she had made with Tang San, Fu Hua slowly opened them again. She looked at the six people surrounding her, while beneath her feet lay the trap Spider Woman had prepared long ago.

Looking around, Dai Mubai and the others outside the Berserk Team all wore grave expressions.

Her right hand shifted on the Xuanyuan Sword, its heavy weight firmly remembered. Raising her gaze, her sky-blue eyes were calm.

"Plan before acting, and remain resolute in action."

"What are you talking about?" Spider Woman did not understand.

Already trapped in such a predicament, Fu Hua could still remain so calm. With such steadfast resolve alone, she would certainly not remain an unknown figure in the future. For some reason, Spider Woman had that premonition.

Perhaps in the near future, the name Crimson Kite would resound across the continent.

"To possess courage while keeping one's spirit calm is true great courage; to possess strategy without revealing it is true great wisdom."

"Crimson Kite, surrender! You no longer have any chance to fight back. If you don't want to get hurt, then admit defeat."

Impatience was already showing on Spider Woman's face. After all, Berserk had a time limit. If they could not defeat the Shrek group within three minutes, they could only end in defeat.

Even if Crimson Kite was strong, compared to the interests of the team, she was not worth worrying about at all.

And because Spider Woman thought this way, their defeat was inevitable.

"A gentleman acts only after careful planning, following the course of events. Berserk Team, you have lost."

Fu Hua's calm words echoed out. There was not the slightest trace of any other emotion in them; she was merely stating a fact with utmost seriousness. Yet to Spider Woman's ears, they sounded like mockery of how they had concentrated all their strength on her alone.

Ridiculous. She was merely a turtle in a jar, yet she still dared to speak so arrogantly.

No longer wasting time, she directed the other members of Berserk Team to charge at Fu Hua.

The first to rush forward were naturally the Agility Attack System Soul Masters. The two Monkey Soul Masters moved with incredible speed, and under the effects of Berserk, they had reached a terrifying velocity.

The dozens of meters between them and Fu Hua vanished in an instant as they flanked her from both sides.

As for the two Sheep Soul Masters and Mad Rhinoceros, they charged in from behind, their first and second Soul Rings lighting up as their attacks surged forth with chilling force.

As a Control System Soul Master, Spider Woman naturally had to restrain Fu Hua.

Only a few seconds passed from the launch of the attack to Fu Hua being plunged into danger. It happened so quickly that Dai Mubai and the others had yet to react before the attacks had already swallowed Fu Hua's figure.

Spider Woman secretly smiled.

But her smile did not last long. Bursts of whistling air tore apart her confidence.

First Soul Skill, Second Soul Skill, activate.

Sharp Edge Sword Qi combined with Dash.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Sharp sword gleams sliced through the air, tore through flesh, and sent traces of blood spraying.

Sharp Edge Sword Qi broke through defenses; Dash swept everything aside.

In the blink of an eye, the encirclement became a counter-encirclement.

This was truly what it meant to be trapped by one's own schemes!

Dash! Dash! Dash again!

Fu Hua's figure turned into a green haze once more, weaving through Berserk Team's encirclement at a speed even faster than when she had attacked that Support System Soul Master.

"Wha..."

Roar—

The cries of injured beasts echoed through the arena. Even Mad Rhinoceros, who possessed the strongest defenses, had been wounded despite being under Berserk. The other Beast Soul Masters had also suffered serious injuries to varying degrees, yet under Berserk, they remained full of vigor.

Sharp Edge Sword Qi, one hundred percent defense penetration.

Xuanyuan Sword, thirty percent burn effect.

With both effects combined, an ordinary person would have fallen long ago.

Spider Woman was horrified.

"What exactly are you?"

As they passed each other, Fu Hua lightly danced the Xuanyuan Sword, her manner calm and unremarkable.

"I am Crimson Kite. Please enlighten me."

The dazzling multicolored lights were like fireworks during the Spring Festival, brilliant and eye-catching. The cheers from the audience continued without end, yet they could not conceal the radiance of the youths in the arena.

So piercing, so dazzling.

"This continent will ultimately be their stage."

The battle between the Shrek Eight Monsters and Berserk Team came to an end.

The grand fireworks became the final performance that closed the match. In truth, Fu Hua could have used her Third Soul Skill then and trapped them all in one stroke, but for some reason, she did not.

During the Two vs Two Soul Battle, doubts had already arisen in her heart. Judging by the fluctuations of Soul Power, that Soul Master who had made the final move was definitely stronger than Dean Flanders. Thinking of it this way, there was only one answer.

A Titled Douluo.

On the continent, only a few major powers could afford to dispatch a Titled Douluo.

The Heaven Dou Empire, the Upper Three Sects, and Spirit Hall.

Clear Sky Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, had withdrawn from the world decades ago. As for the remaining Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Fu Hua had no direct connection with them, much less any enmity.

The Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, had personally visited her to show goodwill. It was even less likely that he would dispatch someone of Titled Douluo rank. That left Spirit Hall as the only possibility Fu Hua could think of.

Spirit Hall had indeed been acting aggressively lately, which also fit their usual style. But Fu Hua did not understand why they would send someone of Titled Douluo rank to deal with her.

It seemed there were still many stories that Fu Hua did not know, just as she still could not figure out why Master understood her so well.

All the answers seemed to lie thirty years ago—with the person who had created the Soul Tool, the person who understood the Honkai Beasts, and that person's relationship with Spirit Hall.

Thinking about it this way, Fu Hua always felt as though an enormous net hung over her. Without realizing it, she seemed to have stepped into something someone had arranged long ago.

Revealing her strength too early would be far too foolish.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will remain undefeated in a hundred battles.

She still understood far too little.

Inside Shrek's lounge, besides Master and Flender, there was another person waiting to receive Shrek's eight little monsters—a man Fu Hua had met before: Xue Qinghe.

Several others stood behind him, one of whom was Manager Ao from the Great Soul Arena.

"Come, come, let me introduce you." Flender's face was full of smiles, a sharp gleam flashing through his crafty eyes.

"This is His Highness Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."

The little monsters were startled. Why would the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire appear in their lounge?

They hurriedly bowed. Although Soul Masters could generally forgo ordinary formalities, proper etiquette still had to be observed before figures such as the Heaven Dou Emperor and the crown prince. Even Master and Flender would offer a symbolic salute upon meeting the Heaven Dou Emperor as a sign of respect.

Xue Qinghe lightly raised a hand in return. His appreciative gaze swept across the little monsters, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. You are all pillars of the Heaven Dou Empire. This country will need you to contribute greatly in the future."

"We wouldn't dare."

"Haha! Crimson Kite, we meet again."

Xue Qinghe did not expose Fu Hua's identity. His expression remained friendly, invisibly closing the distance between them.

Fu Hua cupped her hands once more.

"Your Highness, may I ask what brings you here this time?"

She looked all business, utterly unmoved. Xue Qinghe smiled helplessly, though he quickly concealed it and assumed a solemn expression.

"I believe you know why I am here. The Heaven Dou Empire is not the only force watching you now; Spirit Hall is as well. I have just received word that Spirit Hall seems to be making moves. Those coming to Suotuo City are all important figures, and none of them are below the rank of Soul Sage. All of this is for your sake."

Xue Qinghe's meaning was obvious: Fu Hua was currently in grave danger.

No one present was foolish. After giving it a little thought, they all understood. Master and the others had already considered this possibility before; they simply had not expected it to come so quickly.

Everyone's expressions turned grave.

Then Xue Qinghe continued, "Though the Heaven Dou Empire is not as strong as Spirit Hall, it is still a vast empire. Protecting one person would not be difficult. As long as you are willing to join the imperial family, then..."

"Your Highness, I believe I made myself quite clear before. I have no wish to involve myself too deeply in matters of the court. Struggles for power are the imperial family's concern. I am merely a commoner." Fu Hua's expression remained calm.

Even knowing that she was in grave danger, she did not change in the slightest. Fu Hua's stubbornness and resolute temperament only intensified Xue Qinghe's desire to bring her under his command.

But before he could speak, spatial ripples spread through the small lounge.

The space at one side began to ripple, as though a door were opening.

A middle-aged man's clear voice came from within.

"I was wondering who had sent an urgent letter. So it was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe! I never expected Your Highness to be here as well."

Two figures stepped out through the doorway. Only after they had fully emerged did the door behind them slowly close, and the space returned to normal as though nothing had ever been there.

"Dad?" Ning Rongrong suddenly cried out. "Why are you and Grandpa Bone here?"

The newcomers were none other than Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and its guardian, Gu Rong.

Ning Fengzhi's gentle eyes looked toward the little monsters. Even with the mask obstructing her face, he recognized Ning Rongrong at a glance. His expression was warm, like a spring breeze.

"Rongrong, you have been away from home for quite some time. Of course Father wanted to see you."

"Dad!"

She stamped her foot shyly. With so many classmates and teachers here, couldn't he at least save her some face?

Besides, who had run away from home so directly back then?

After Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo appeared, the atmosphere in the lounge grew even more tense. Since even a Douluo-level figure had been brought in, the predicament they were about to face was definitely no simple matter.

Master and Flender wore expressions they had never shown before—grim, extremely grim!

PS: Today, I finally finished fighting the Forgotten One. There is only one feeling that can describe it: Say nothing. Otto, put up your health bar! Even if I can't kill you, I'll disgust you to death.

PS1: By the way, regarding the earlier question about guessing the identity of the silhouette, someone guessed correctly, but not accurately enough.