Beating Tang San, Shrek's Trash

Outside the Suo Tuo Great Spirit Arena, a carriage slowly came to a stop.

"There are so many Spirit Arenas to choose from, why did we have to come to this backwater Suotuo City?" Yan jumped down from the carriage, asking with a puzzled expression.

"I have my reasons." Jiang Mian smiled. "I'll explain everything to you when the time comes."

Before he finished speaking, another group approached from the distance. Jiang Mian fixed his gaze on them—the leading teacher was a middle-aged man with a crew cut, dressed in coarse black linen.

"Yu Xiaogang." Jiang Mian felt a wave of physical disgust just looking at the man's sanctimonious demeanor.

They noticed Jiang Mian's group as well.

"Dai Laoda, look, those girls are gorgeous." Ma Hongjun, at the back of the line, swallowed hard as he pointed at Hu Liena and the others.

"Let's see if we can get our hands on them later." Dai Mubai's eyes lit up, and he snickered. "Those three look like they'd be good for breeding. Just thinking about it gets me going."

Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing, sharp-eared as they were, naturally overheard the two men's comments. Hu Liena's face darkened with anger, and she wished she could make them pay in the worst way.

Xie Yue quietly patted Hu Liena's shoulder and shot her a look. His meaning was simple: he'd get revenge for her later.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Mubai, her expression cold and utterly dismissive. Only a coward would run from a problem, and Dai Mubai was exactly that—a coward!

In her eyes, he was the lowest of the low.

Tang San locked eyes with Jiang Mian and felt nothing but mockery in the other man's gaze, as if he were looking at a clown.

"Third Brother, do you know them?" Xiao Wu tugged at Jiang Mian's sleeve, trembling slightly as she asked.

As a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit who had lived in the Star Dou Great Forest for ages, how could she not recognize the two terrifying presences behind Jiang Mian?

"Look at that little rabbit." Bear Lord's eyes gleamed with amusement. "She turned into a human form. How boring."

"Same feeling. Why don't you go test her?" Scarlet King teased.

"I couldn't care less." Bear Lord snorted derisively. "Let the man beside her pick up the scraps."

Rabbits had the longest mating seasons of any animal, and Xiao Wu was a rabbit who had lived for a hundred thousand years—the implication was obvious.

"I don't know them." Tang San frowned slightly. Looking at Jiang Mian, he felt a vague unease. "But I can tell they have a strong hostility toward us."

"Oscar, what do you think?" Ma Hongjun slapped Oscar on the shoulder with a grin. "Third Brother doesn't care about those three girls. How about we each take one?"

"Fatty, don't drag me into this." Oscar raised an eyebrow and quickly slipped behind Yu Xiaogang. "Those guys don't look like pushovers. I'm not about to court disaster."

"Look at you, such a coward. No fun at all." Ma Hongjun elbowed Oscar in disgust, then scurried over to Dai Mubai to indulge in his fantasies.

"Let's go in." Yu Xiaogang waved his hand and led Tang San's group into the Suo Tuo Great Spirit Arena.

"Brothers, did you see those pretentious bastards?" Jiang Mian turned back with a smile. "If you end up fighting them later, beat them within an inch of their lives."

"Do you have some deep grudge against them?" Xie Yue asked in surprise.

"Don't worry about that." Jiang Mian chuckled coldly. "Xie Yue, they were making crude jokes about Nana just now. Don't you want revenge? If it were me, I'd beat them to death."

Hu Liena's cheeks flushed. She felt that Jiang Mian really cared about her.

Jiang Mian's group entered the Spirit Arena, registered their identities, and prepared for battle.

Tang San and his team were all Soul Elders, two full ranks below Jiang Mian. Logically, they shouldn't have been matched together.

But Jiang Mian knew a thing or two about rigging the system.

As members of Martial Soul Hall and the Golden Generation personally appointed by Pope Bibi Dong, Xie Yue carried a badge that allowed them some leeway.

Although the Spirit Arena had betting options, the bets weren't the Arena's own money. Besides, if it came down to it, they could just stop the wealthy patrons from placing bets for these two matches.

With the fix in place, Jiang Mian easily got matched against Tang San, while Hu Liena faced Xiao Wu, Xie Yue took on Dai Mubai, and Yan went up against Ma Hongjun.

"Yan, that little fatty insulted Nana. You get it, right?" Jiang Mian fanned the flames, not caring if things got worse.

"Don't worry." Yan cracked his knuckles. He'd lost face in front of Nana during his match with Jiang Mian, and he planned to make up for it. "I'll roast that little fatty's bird until it's well done!"

"I'll go first." Jiang Mian chuckled lightly and walked slowly into the arena.

"I didn't expect we'd meet so soon." Tang San walked calmly to the opposite side of Jiang Mian. Seeing it was him, he even had the nerve to make small talk.

"Yeah." Jiang Mian clasped his hands behind his back. "I'll go easy on you. I'll try to leave you breathing."

"Who are you, really?" Tang San searched his memories but couldn't recall ever offending this guy.

"Don't worry about who I am." Jiang Mian spread his hands with a sneer. "I just want to shatter your confidence completely. After all, destroying a genius is way more fun than creating one."

"Tang San, Spirit: Blue Silver Grass, thirty-first level Control System Battle Soul Elder."

"My name is Jiang Mian."

"Aren't you going to release your Spirit?" Tang San held up that ridiculous Blue Silver Grass and asked calmly.

"You're not worthy." Jiang Mian stood there, completely at ease, and taunted, "Aren't you supposed to have Innate Full Spirit Power? Let me see if you're as useless as your teacher."

Jiang Mian's voice was loud enough for Yu Xiaogang to hear.

Yu Xiaogang shot up from his seat, glaring viciously at Jiang Mian, but he couldn't recall who this person was.

"First Spirit Ability: Entanglement."

Tang San raised his hand and waved. Several thick vines of Blue Silver Grass shot toward Jiang Mian like pythons.

"Your Spirit has a bit of a kinky side to it—binding and all that. Xiao Wu might not be happy with you, but she's definitely in for a lot of variety." Jiang Mian laughed heartily. Without even moving his feet, he casually waved his hand, and three sharp blades materialized in front of him, slicing the Blue Silver Grass to shreds.

"After the Blue Silver Grass absorbed the Man Faced Demon Spider, its toughness is no longer something ordinary blades can cut through. What soul skill is this person using, to silently sever my Blue Silver Grass?"

Tang San's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't even seen his opponent's martial soul, and he was already at a disadvantage?

Just as Tang San was pondering how to deal with Jiang Mian, a crisp, pleasant sound of a slap rang in the ears of all the spectators.

Tang San's right cheek suddenly flushed red. He hadn't even noticed when Jiang Mian had gotten so close.

"You!" Tang San threw a punch, attempting to use Crane Control Dragon Capture, but Jiang Mian wouldn't give him the chance. A swift uppercut landed directly on Tang San's jaw.

"Pfft." Tang San spat out a mouthful of blood, his jaw dislocated by the heavy, forceful blow.

"Third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint."

Tang San quickly distanced himself from Jiang Mian, slurring as he activated his third soul skill, trying to trap Jiang Mian.

"Hellfire." Jiang Mian casually flicked a spark from his right hand. The flame grew fiercer, burning Tang San's Blue Silver Grass to ashes.

Jiang Mian moved like a rainbow, his fists like bullets, slamming into Tang San's abdomen.

Thud!

The punch drove Tang San to his knees, and he lost control, liquid streaming from his lower body.

"No, no, no." Tang San's eyes widened as he desperately tried to hold it in, but the pain in his groin left him powerless. He could only endure the shame and humiliation as so many watched.

"Xiao San." Grandmaster slammed his fist against his seat, his eyes fixed on Jiang Mian. Who the hell was this guy?

"Third Brother." Xiao Wu saw Tang San being so humiliated and wanted to jump into the arena to help him, but the guards held her firmly in her seat.

"Oh ho, aren't you ashamed?" Jiang Mian grabbed Tang San by the neck and lifted him high.

By now, Tang San's pants were soaked, and he reeked of a nauseating stench. Yet Jiang Mian's attacks remained vicious and merciless.

With a loud crack, Jiang Mian slammed Tang San's head straight onto the ground. The collision of his skull against the bluestone bricks produced a crisp, satisfying sound.

Judging by the noise, that was a solid hit.

Tang San was dazed and disoriented, his lower body still leaking fluid. Jiang Mian was ruthless, deliberately targeting the most humiliating spots.

That punch had caused Tang San to lose control of his bladder, and this fall nearly knocked him unconscious.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Jiang Mian kicked Tang San into the air, his hands flying like lightning as he rained a barrage of blows onto Tang San's face.

"Xiao... Xiao Wu..." As Tang San neared unconsciousness, Xiao Wu's image flashed through his mind. His External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances, instinctively activated.

"A soul bone." In the stands, a knowledgeable wealthy merchant suddenly exclaimed, "He's only in his thirties, and he already has a soul bone!"

At those words, many began to harbor ill intentions. Soul masters were cheap, but killing one with a soul bone meant you could take it for yourself.

"Spider legs." Jiang Mian sidestepped the Eight Spider Lances' protective strike. Tang San barely managed to stand, using the lances for support.

He was already a mess, his face a bloody pulp, two front teeth knocked out, leaving his mouth gaping. His nose was broken and collapsed. Tang San had never looked uglier.

"Do you still want to continue?" Jiang Mian kicked Tang San in the face, knocking him flat again just as he'd steadied himself.

"Stop, stop bullying Third Brother." Xiao Wu covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

Hu Liena watched the little rabbit and already had a hundred ways to torment her in mind.

"Grandmaster, if you don't stop the match, Xiao San will be beaten to death by that guy," Dai Mubai said anxiously.

"Xiao San won't admit defeat, so we have no right to end this match for him," Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly.

"Let me take a look at this External Soul Bone." Jiang Mian pinned Tang San under his foot and grabbed two of the spider lances.

Crack!

The sound of bones breaking echoed through the Great Soul Fighting Arena. Jiang Mian snapped them like twigs, one by one, tearing all eight of Tang San's Eight Spider Lances off.

The lances were connected to Tang San's bones, so the pain was no different from having his ribs forcibly ripped out.

"Ah." Tang San's blood mixed with the filth from his lower body, making him look both pathetic and ridiculous.

"I..." Tang San mustered all his strength to raise his hand, trying to surrender, but Jiang Mian wouldn't give him the chance. He stomped directly on Tang San's mouth, silencing him.

"Tang San has lost the ability to fight. Please, contestant Jiang Mian, show restraint."

The referee stepped in just in time, separating Jiang Mian and Tang San.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun jumped into the arena almost simultaneously, helping the battered Tang San back.

"You're finished." Dai Mubai pointed at Jiang Mian, his face full of rage. "You will pay for what you did today!"

"Dai Laoda, why waste words with him?" Ma Hongjun spat at Jiang Mian and cursed, "A piece of trash like him—I'll make sure to properly 'train' the women traveling with him!"

"Do you two want to die?" Jiang Mian couldn't tolerate their attitude. He said coldly, "I won't bully your pathetic Shrek. The two of you fight me together. Do you dare?"

"Hmph, you only beat Xiao San with pure technique," Dai Mubai said disdainfully. "We're both Attack System Battle Soul Elders. What makes you think you're worthy?"

"Enough talk. Bring it on!" Jiang Mian couldn't wait to beat some sense into these clueless fools.

"The Great Soul Fighting Arena does not permit private fights," the referee quickly stopped Jiang Mian. "Fight outside if you want. We won't interfere."

"Tch. If you've got the guts, come outside and fight." Jiang Mian spat directly onto Ma Hongjun's face, returning the favor.

"What do you want?" The Shrek students jumped down from the stands one after another. Jiang Mian glanced around—many familiar faces, but plenty of new ones too.

Ning Rongrong wasn't among that bunch of Shrek trash. It seemed she'd been too scared to leave the house after Jiang Mian taught her a lesson.

"Want to start a group brawl?"

Xie Yue and Yan leaped to Jiang Mian's side almost simultaneously, releasing their martial souls without hesitation. The configuration of two yellow and two purple soul rings blazed brilliantly.

"Soul Ancestor?" Yu Xiaogang slumped weakly in his seat. Was the gap between his prized student and peers his age really this vast?

"Doesn't Shrek only recruit monsters?" Jiang Mian taunted without restraint. "I see nothing but trash. If you can't swallow the shame, feel free to send Flander and Zhao Wuji to assassinate us."

"Let's go," Xie Yue said coldly. "If you want a fight, we're ready anytime."

"These little brats really don't back down." The Scarlet King nodded with a gratified smile. "Did you feel that? A surge of Soul Power came from over there just now."

"A Titled Douluo." The Bear Lord nodded, speaking with utter indifference. "They're pretty obscure, yet they've got a Titled Douluo holding the line."

"Strong presence. Just watch—there'll be work tonight," the Scarlet King said. "Hit the young ones, and the old ones come begging for a beating."

"Why is everyone so eager to get smacked? I've never seen such a request in my life." The Bear Lord burst into laughter.