Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun stopped mocking Oscar as well.
Instead, they began discussing what rankings they would attain after making the list, their faces full of anticipation.
Ning Rongrong joined the discussion too, dreaming of her own glory on the Gold Ranking List.
Yet Oscar remained where he was, staring at Ye Ling Ling's ranking information on the Sky Screen, his eyes filled with worry.
He knew Flender was merely smoothing things over. The threat posed by the Dou Qi System was real.
If the Shrek Seven Devils still clung to their complacent mindset, they would likely be left far behind by the prodigies of the Dou Qi System in the future.
He let out a soft sigh and muttered, "I hope Teacher and everyone can understand sooner that embracing all strengths is the proper path of cultivation. Otherwise..."
Before he could finish, he shook his head and fell silent. Yet that worry weighed on his heart like a massive boulder, refusing to fade for a long time.
As the purple flames and golden light on the Sky Screen continued to surge over Ye Ling Ling's ninth-place information, an even more dazzling golden pillar suddenly pierced through the clouds.
Like the Soul Power System's powerful counterattack against the Dou Qi System, it firmly engraved Tang San's name in eighth place on the Heavenly Pride Ranking.
In an instant, it completely reversed the tide of public opinion across the Douluo Continent:
[Heavenly Pride Ranking, Eighth Place: Tang San] [Martial Souls: Blue Silver Grass, Clear Sky Hammer (Twin Martial Souls)] [Innate Full Soul Power] [Level: Level 35 Battle Soul Elder] [Affiliated Force: Shrek Academy] [Overall Evaluation: Possessor of Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul integrates the Tang Sect's secret arts. The Clear Sky Hammer inherits the Clear Sky Sect's supreme tool-type Martial Soul. His combat ability and tactical thinking surpass all those at the same level. Fighting above his level is commonplace. Potential Rating: SSS!] [Heavenly Dao Blessing: The origin of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul awakens the ultimate Blue Silver Domain. The hammer intent of the Clear Sky Hammer is condensed, and Soul Power Level rises by 12 levels, breaking through to Level 47 Battle Soul Ancestor! The two Martial Souls fuse, completely resolving all hidden dangers. Grants the exclusive Spirit Skill "Blue Silver Overlord Hammer" and qualification for the inheritance of any divine position!]
"Tang San! Eighth place! Twin Martial Souls! Innate Full Soul Power!"
"Good, good, good! We finally crushed Dou Po Academy! The Soul Power System's prodigies are still at the top!"
"Shrek Academy! Qin Ming is fourteenth, Tang San is eighth—just how many monsters is this academy hiding?!"
Cheers and exclamations swept across the continent like a tsunami. The gloom that had previously shrouded the Soul Power System due to the Dou Qi System's repeated appearances on the ranking
was swept away by Tang San's ranking.
The name Shrek Academy once again resounded across the continent, faintly showing signs of eclipsing Dou Po Academy.
Meanwhile, the reactions of every major force became increasingly complicated with the appearance of this Twin Martial Souls prodigy.
On the training ground of Shrek Academy outside Suotuo City, the moment the words "Tang San," "Twin Martial Souls," and "Eighth Place" appeared on the Sky Screen,
deafening cheers instantly erupted, and Yu Xiaogang's rigid body suddenly trembled.
The obsession and fury in his eyes were replaced by overwhelming ecstasy. He stared fixedly at the Sky Screen, his hands trembling as they clutched his chest, while he repeatedly muttered,
"Did you see that? I knew it! The Soul Power System is the greatest! Little San did it! My theories were not wrong!"
He strode quickly toward Tang San, grabbed his arm, and laughed loudly with reddened eyes. "Little San! Good boy! Eighth place! Innate Full Soul Power truly lives up to its reputation!
"You have proven with your strength that the Soul Power System's prodigies are absolutely not comparable to those crooked paths of the Dou Qi System! My persistence was indeed correct!"
At that moment, the Soul Power System theories he had devoted his life to studying seemed to receive their most powerful validation.
The obsession and anxiety brought about by the Dou Qi System were all transformed into the exhilaration of finally holding his head high. Even the Soul Power around him seemed to grow lighter.
Flender stood nearby, his eyes narrowed into slits from smiling. He slapped his thigh and laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the training ground:
"Hahaha! I told you our Shrek Academy is full of talent!
"Qin Ming just took fourteenth place, and Little San charged straight to eighth! Dou Po Academy?
"They are nothing more than clowns jumping about! Shrek is the true cradle of monsters!"
He puffed out his chest proudly, accepting the cheers of his disciples, the pride on his face nearly overflowing.
Qin Ming's placement had brought Shrek some fame, while Tang San's eighth place caused Shrek Academy's prestige to soar in an instant.
It faintly overshadowed Dou Po Academy's momentum.
Tang San looked at his ranking on the Sky Screen, but there was not much joy in his eyes. Instead, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed through them.
He frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Eighth place? It is still too low. With my strength,
"I should have made it into the top five. This ranking does not deserve the potential of Twin Martial Souls."
Having lived two lives, he had a clear understanding of his own strength. As a Level 35 Battle Soul Elder, he could challenge Soul Ancestors and even Soul Kings above his level. In his view, eighth place was nowhere near enough.
Dai Mubai silently calculated, Little San is ranked eighth. I am the leader of the Shrek Seven Devils, and my Martial Soul is the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Evil Eye White Tiger.
There is no way I can rank below Little San, right? At the very least, I should make the top seven—perhaps even the top five—to live up to my status as the leader!
He patted Tang San on the shoulder, his tone brimming with competitive spirit:
"Little San, not bad. You got eighth place! But just wait. Once I make the list, my ranking will definitely be higher than yours. After all, I am the leader!"
Tang San turned to glance at Dai Mubai, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Then I will wait and see."
A blazing fighting spirit ignited in Dai Mubai's heart. Tang San's placement let him see hope for the Soul Power System.
It also filled him with confidence in his own ranking. He could hardly wait to see his name appear on the Gold Ranking List.
Oscar stood nearby, looking at the ranking on the Sky Screen. There was not the slightest hint of a smile on his face. He merely remained silent, his brows tightly furrowed.
He had previously urged everyone to embrace all strengths, only to be mocked. Although Tang San had now surpassed the Dou Qi System's prodigies,
he was still deeply worried—how many hidden geniuses did Dou Po Academy still possess?
Was the potential of the Dou Qi System truly limited to this?
His silence reflected his concern for the future, as well as his helplessness toward Shrek's complacency.
Ma Hongjun sidled up to Oscar, patted him on the shoulder, and teased,
"Little Ao, why are you not saying anything? Tang San took eighth place and beat those Dou Qi System guys. You should be happy!
"Stop pulling such a long face all the time. Do not boost others' morale while crushing your own!"
Oscar opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he merely shook his head and remained silent.
He knew that anything he said now would be futile. Everyone had been carried away by victory and would not listen to his advice at all.
Ning Rongrong skipped over to Tang San, her pretty face wearing an innocent, adorable smile and her eyes full of admiration:
"Third Brother, you are amazing! You actually ranked eighth and beat that Ye Ling Ling and Meng Yi Ran. That is incredible!"
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