Chapter 29

Three days passed in a flash. Never had the central main spirit-fighting area of the Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena been so lively. The crowd roared, and the lights illuminated the venue as brightly as day. The VIP boxes had long since filled up, while the ordinary seats below were packed to the brim. The air was thick with restlessness and anticipation.

In their private lounge, the Shrek Seven Devils could clearly hear the tsunami-like clamor outside, most of it chanting, "Imperial Dou Team!"

Oscar nervously rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth. "Good heavens, this is quite the scene... The betting odds are nearly ten to one. Hardly anyone thinks we'll win."

Dai Mubai worked his wrists against an iron pillar in the corner, producing cracking sounds. A fierce gleam flashed in his Evil Eyes. "Perfect. It'll be more satisfying when we beat them flat."

Xiao Wu adjusted her Scorpion Braid in a cracked mirror on the wall, a blade of grass clenched between her teeth. She looked relaxed, but her eyes were serious. Zhu Zhuqing rested with her eyes closed, her breath calm, while Ning Rongrong repeatedly polished her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Tang San checked the pouch of Hidden Weapons at his waist, his expression as calm as ever. Xiao Xiaoxiao stood beside him and could feel the tranquil aura radiating from him. Strangely, it calmed her racing heart somewhat. She took a deep breath and tried to shut out the noise outside.

Flender pushed open the door, his eyes sweeping across the group from behind his glasses. He chuckled. "Scared already?"

"Who's scared?!" Xiao Wu was the first to jump up.

"Good." Flender rubbed his fingers together. "I bet my wife fund on you winning. If you lose, we'll all be drinking northwest wind together."

Master followed behind him, his tone steady. "You all know the Imperial Dou Team's information by heart. Yu Tianheng, Level 39 Assault System, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. His explosive power is extremely strong, and he is their absolute core. Dugu Yan, Level 38 Control System. Her Bile Poison Snake Venom has a wide range and is difficult to guard against. She is the target you need to restrict first. As for the rest, Osler's Ghost Leopard is incredibly fast, Yu Feng's Wind Chime Bird can interfere from the air, the Shi Family Brothers' Black Tortoise defense is astonishing, and Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia possesses formidable healing abilities."

His gaze settled on Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao. "At the start, Mubai will hold Yu Tianheng head-on. Zhu Qing will harass Osler. Xiao Wu will look for an opportunity to break into the backline. Rongrong will provide overall support. Oscar, prepare Detoxifying Sausages and Flying Mushroom Sausages. Tang San, your task is to coordinate the overall situation and restrict their key members. Xiaoxiao..."

Xiao Xiaoxiao immediately straightened her back.

"Your illusion and Mental Interference are the key to disrupting their rhythm, especially to counter Dugu Yan's snake venom. When necessary, do not spare your Soul Power."

"Yes, Master!"

A staff member's voice came from the entrance to the passageway. The spirit fight was about to begin.

Dai Mubai let out a low roar. The Evil Eyes White Tiger possessed him as he took the lead in pushing open the lounge door, and a massive wave of noise instantly poured in. He looked back with a wicked smile. "Brothers, let these arrogant bastards taste what Shrek monsters are made of!"

"Let's go." Tang San was brief and to the point as he took the lead in following.

The seven filed into the passageway. Bright lights and deafening cheers—mostly for the Imperial Dou Team, who were about to enter—washed over them. From the opposite passageway, the Imperial Dou Team emerged as well.

At their head was the tall, stern-faced Yu Tianheng. Faint lightning flickered around his body, and his gaze was imperious, carrying the pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. Beside him stood Dugu Yan in a green dress. She was beautiful, but her eyes were as cold as a venomous snake's, and a faint sneer rested on her lips. The others also had steady auras, and their gazes at the Shrek Seven Devils were filled with undisguised contempt.

The two teams took their positions in the arena, and the atmosphere instantly became taut with tension.

After loudly announcing the rules, the referee waved a hand. "The match—begin!"

"Brothers, release your martial souls!" Dai Mubai roared. The Evil Eyes White Tiger possessed him, and three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—shone brilliantly. The other six released their martial souls at the same time: Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit, Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Spirit Cat, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, Oscar's sausage, and Xiao Xiaoxiao's Phantom Moon Fox! All of them had the optimal configuration of two yellow and one purple soul rings, instantly drawing cries of shock from the stands!

The Imperial Dou Team's soul rings lit up as well. Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon let out a roar, its might overwhelming, while Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent flicked its tongue, cold and eerie.

"Seven Treasures turn with Glazed Tile: first, strength! Second, speed! Third, soul!" Light flashed repeatedly from Ning Rongrong's pagoda, and six streams of colorful light landed precisely on the six teammates before her!

With the boosts, Dai Mubai let out a furious roar and charged first at Yu Tianheng! White Tiger Vajra Transformation! The two collided like war chariots, Soul Power exploding as shockwaves rolled outward!

Zhu Zhuqing turned into a black streak and lunged at the Ghost Leopard soul master Osler, her speed not inferior in the slightest! Xiao Wu launched herself with her Waist Bow, evading the aerial interference of the Wind Chime Bird soul master Yu Feng and cutting straight toward the backline target—Ye Lingling of the Nine Heart Begonia!

"Third soul skill, Bile Purple Poison!" Dugu Yan sneered and sprayed a thick cloud of purple poison mist from her mouth, rapidly spreading toward Shrek! Wherever the poison mist passed, even the ground sizzled with corrosion!

"Oscar!" Tang San shouted urgently.

"I have a Detoxifying Sausage!" Oscar had long been prepared, tossing out several small sausages with precision.

But Dugu Yan's poison mist covered too wide an area and possessed intense corrosive and neurotoxic properties. The small sausages could only alleviate it; they could not grant complete immunity!

"Xiaoxiao!" Tang San's gaze turned to Xiao Xiaoxiao.

Xiao Xiaoxiao nodded heavily, forcing down her instinctive fear of the terrifying poison mist. Moonlight blazed in the Phantom Moon Fox's eyes. "Third soul skill, Moonlight Illusion! Mental Interference!"

She did not try to disperse the poison mist. That was impossible. Instead, she shrouded the edge of the poison mist in her illusion, distorting light and perception, while her Mental Interference precisely stabbed toward Dugu Yan, who was controlling the mist.

As Dugu Yan precisely controlled the poison mist's spread, she suddenly felt a faint stab in her mind. Her Spiritual Power faltered for an instant! The edges of the poison mist, which had moved as easily as her own limbs, immediately became chaotic. Its spread slowed, and it even curled back unnaturally!

"Hm?" Dugu Yan's pretty face turned cold as her icy gaze locked onto Xiao Xiaoxiao. "Courting death!" She increased her Soul Power output, and the poison mist surged forward once again!

"Entangling!" Tang San's Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground. It did not attack, but rapidly wove itself together before the Shrek formation, forming a temporary barrier. Though the poison mist quickly corroded it, it bought them a precious instant!

"Mubai, retreat!" Tang San shouted.

Dai Mubai, who had been clashing head-on with Yu Tianheng, did not hesitate. Borrowing the force of their clash, he leaped backward and avoided the densest region of the poison mist. Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu withdrew at once as well.

"Trying to run?" Yu Tianheng pressed his advantage without mercy. His third soul ring lit up. "Third soul skill, Wrath of Thunder!" Lightning burst forth, and his speed and strength suddenly soared as he chased after Dai Mubai!

"Your opponent is me." Tang San flashed forward, unleashing the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Several Blue Silver Grass vines marked with green patterns coiled around Yu Tianheng's legs like poisonous snakes, while Silent Sleeve Arrows fired continuously from his hand toward vital points around Yu Tianheng's body, forcing him to defend!

Yu Tianheng was stalled for an instant by the sudden, precise attack. Furious, he swung his Dragon Claw, tearing apart the Blue Silver Grass and knocking away the Hidden Weapons. "Annoying Control System!"

Elsewhere, the Shi Family Brothers' Black Tortoise shields protected Ye Lingling, leaving Xiao Wu with no opening. Yu Feng continued harassing them from the air, releasing Wind Blades to interfere with Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

The battle fell into a stalemate. Relying on their higher Soul Power Levels and seamless coordination, the Imperial Dou Team gradually gained the upper hand. Dugu Yan's poison mist continuously compressed Shrek's room to maneuver, while Yu Tianheng's attacks became increasingly violent. Dai Mubai began to retreat step by step, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"This can't go on!" Oscar was sweating profusely. He could barely keep up with the speed at which he needed to make sausages.

Tang San's eyes remained calm as his mind raced. His gaze swept over the battlefield before finally settling on the well-protected Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, who continued releasing poison mist.

"Xiaoxiao," he said in an extremely low, rapid voice, "a maximum-range illusion. Cover their backline for three seconds. Can you do it?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao's face had already turned pale. Maintaining the illusion and interference continuously had drained her greatly, but she nodded without hesitation. "I can!"

"Xiao Wu, Zhu Qing, Mubai! Get ready!" Tang San issued a string of commands. "Oscar, Flying Mushroom Sausages! Rongrong, boost Xiaoxiao and Xiao Wu with everything you have!"

Though they did not understand why, everyone acted immediately out of absolute trust!

The light from Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda focused on Xiao Xiaoxiao and Xiao Wu. Oscar stuffed Flying Mushroom Sausages into several hands.

Xiao Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth. The Phantom Moon Fox gave a soft cry, and the moonlight in its eyes shone brighter than ever. Her third soul ring flared! "Moonlight Illusion—full release!"

Buzz! A vast, distorted expanse of light and shadow instantly enveloped the Imperial Dou Team's backline—Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the Shi Family Brothers! The scene became bizarre and surreal, and their sense of direction was instantly thrown into chaos!

"Now!"

Xiao Wu swallowed a Mushroom Sausage, transparent wings unfurling behind her. Her Waist Bow launched her forward like a cannonball toward the backline shrouded in illusion! Zhu Zhuqing moved like a ghost, close behind!

Dai Mubai roared, ignoring Yu Tianheng's attack as he unleashed the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave with all his strength, temporarily forcing him back!

Yu Tianheng, Osler, and Yu Feng tried to return to help, but Tang San's desperate Blue Silver Grass Entangling and Hidden Weapons forcibly held them back!

Inside the illusion, the Shi Family Brothers instinctively tightened their defenses, and Dugu Yan's control over the poison mist fell into disorder for an instant!

In that fleeting moment!

"Nether Hundred Claws!"

"Waist Bow!"

Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's attacks fell upon the unprepared Ye Lingling like thunder! Although the Shi Family Brothers desperately blocked them and deflected most of the force, Ye Lingling still groaned and was sent flying. The light of the Nine Heart Begonia instantly dimmed!

Almost at the same time, Dugu Yan had just broken free from the illusion when a figure descended from the sky like a meteor! It was Dai Mubai! He had taken Yu Tianheng's claw head-on and used the force of the impact to launch his full-strength strike in the White Tiger Vajra Transformation state at Dugu Yan!

"Yan'er, watch out!" Yu Tianheng's eyes nearly split with rage, but he was too late to save her!

Bang!

Dugu Yan hastily used the Jade Phosphorous Serpent to block, but Dai Mubai's violent strength smashed her away. She sprayed blood and fell to the ground, unable to rise for the moment!

The core controller, Dugu Yan, and the strongest support, Ye Lingling, were severely injured almost simultaneously! The battle instantly turned around!

"Bastard!" Yu Tianheng was completely enraged. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul erupted in full force as he charged without regard for anything else toward Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, whose Soul Power had been exhausted and who were falling from the air!

"Your opponent is me!" Tang San blocked his path. Blue Silver Grass surged wildly as his Mysterious Jade Hand clashed head-on with the Dragon Claw!

Bang! The gap in Soul Power was too great. Tang San was sent staggering back, his arm numb and a sweetness rising in his throat, but his eyes remained cold and calm!

At that moment, a weak yet precise Mental Interference pierced the enraged Yu Tianheng's mind once more! It was Xiao Xiaoxiao! Her face was pale as paper, her body swaying on the verge of collapse, yet she still forced herself to release one final interference!

Yu Tianheng's movements stalled!

"Now! Netherworld Slash!" Zhu Zhuqing's figure flashed like lightning through the darkness, her strongest single-target soul skill slashing viciously across Yu Tianheng's back!

Yu Tianheng screamed and staggered several steps forward.

Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, even Oscar all lunged at him, every attack raining down upon him at once!

Boom!

Yu Tianheng crashed heavily to the ground, completely losing his ability to fight.

Their captain had fallen, Dugu Yan was severely injured, and Ye Lingling had been struck down. The remaining members of the Imperial Dou Team immediately lost their composure. Under the combined assault of all seven Shrek Devils, they soon fell one after another.

The referee announced loudly, "Team spirit fight, victory to the Shrek Seven Devils!"

The entire arena fell silent for an instant before erupting into incredulous cries and uproar!

They won? The unknown Shrek Seven Devils had actually defeated the powerful Imperial Dou Team?!

In the resting area, Master and Flender exchanged a glance. Both saw excitement and relief in the other's eyes.

On the field, nearly every member of the Shrek Seven Devils was injured. Dai Mubai's chest heaved violently, Xiao Wu had a claw wound on her arm deep enough to expose bone, blood seeped from Zhu Zhuqing's lips, Ning Rongrong had exhausted her Soul Power, and Oscar lay sprawled on the ground from exhaustion.

Supporting his arm, Tang San walked over to the swaying Xiao Xiaoxiao and reached out to hold her arm.

Xiao Xiaoxiao looked up at him. Sweat slid down her pale cheeks, but she still forced out a smile. "We... won..."

"Mhm." Tang San looked at her and nodded. His hand around her arm tightened slightly. "We won."

Over there, Xiao Wu laughed and cried as she hugged Zhu Zhuqing. Dai Mubai and Oscar high-fived, while Ning Rongrong looked at her companions with reddened eyes.

On the Imperial Dou Team's side, Yu Tianheng was helped to his feet. Looking at the Shrek Seven Devils supporting one another, his expression was complicated. In the end, he lowered his head dejectedly.

In a corner of the stands, a cloaked figure quietly watched Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao supporting each other below. The corner of the figure's mouth curled faintly beneath the hood before they silently disappeared into the crowd.