The Bond of the Imperial Dou Fighting Team

Roar!

The Shadow Demon Tiger roared as it swung its claws, aiming straight for Yu Tianheng's face.

It seemed determined to avenge that earlier claw strike.

Yu Tianheng sneered and met claw with claw.

Seeing this.

A trace of human-like mockery flashed through the Shadow Demon Tiger's eyes.

How dared a mere Little Thin Monkey face the might of the king of beasts head-on?

It truly did not know its own limits.

Sure enough.

The instant the two claws collided.

Yu Tianheng fell slightly behind and looked about to be crushed by the Shadow Thunder Tiger.

But suddenly.

As a Seven-Colored Light Beam sank into Yu Tianheng's body.

The Shadow Demon Tiger watched helplessly as Yu Tianheng, whom it had nearly defeated, forcibly pushed its claw back.

That overwhelming strength and unstoppable sharpness.

Immediately made the Shadow Demon Tiger feel as though it were facing a humanoid ferocious beast!

Boom!

A violent crash rang out.

The Shadow Demon Tiger flew back the same way it had come.

Two flapping sounds could be heard.

The Shadow Demon Tiger extended the wings at its sides in midair.

Twisted its body and landed steadily on the ground.

However, the left claw it had used to attack Yu Tianheng was not only dripping with blood.

It also hung limply, its bones clearly injured.

Yu Tianheng was not faring much better either.

Even with Dragon Scales covering his claws, the Shadow Demon Tiger had still left three bone-deep wounds on them.

But when Begonia Petals fell into Yu Tianheng's hands.

His mangled wounds instantly returned to normal.

Roar... roar...

Feeling the intense pain in its left claw.

The Shadow Demon Tiger had already begun to think of retreating. It crouched slightly and kept backing away.

This Little Thin Monkey was somewhat strange. Today's hunt was likely going to end badly.

If it really came down to fighting, it might not necessarily lose.

But it had come out for a meal, not to risk its life.

These Little Thin Monkeys did not even have much flesh on their bones. They were not worth gambling its life for.

With that thought.

The Shadow Demon Tiger turned to flee.

But the moment it turned around, a Demoness with a human body and a snake tail blocked its path.

"Run? Where do you think you're going?" Dugu Yan's cold voice sounded.

As she spoke, she spat out green poison mist.

She looked even more terrifying than the Shadow Thunder Tiger.

A Demoness in front, an Evil Dragon behind.

Caught between them, the Shadow Demon Tiger was like a helpless kitten.

As the saying went, a trapped beast would still fight.

Naturally, the Shadow Demon Tiger was unwilling to await death.

It let out a somewhat shrill roar.

Dragging its heavily injured body, it spread its wings and charged straight at the seemingly weaker Dugu Yan.

But Dugu Yan did not confront it head-on at all. Her snake tail contracted and snapped out like a spring, sending her rapidly backward.

As she retreated, she also swung her snake tail, stirring the poison mist in an attempt to cover the Demon Tiger.

She had learned this move from Tang Xuan.

The Shadow Demon Tiger carelessly inhaled several mouthfuls of poison mist and immediately felt dizzy and disoriented.

It could no longer maintain its glide. Its four legs went weak after landing, as if it were stepping through a swamp.

But no one cared how it felt.

Another Thunder Dragon Claw was already reaching for its vital point...

"Damn, their coordination is this good? That big tiger is being toyed with completely." Tang Xuan's eyes gleamed.

To be honest.

The Imperial Dou Fighting Team's four members were no match for the thousand-year Shadow Demon Tiger in a direct fight.

But what the four of them played with the Shadow Demon Tiger was psychological warfare.

When it smugly believed that Yu Tianheng only possessed strength that it could easily crush.

Ning Rongrong suddenly gave Yu Tianheng a twenty percent increase in strength, catching it completely off guard.

Then, when it thought it was evenly matched with Yu Tianheng and felt psychologically balanced after trading injuries.

Ye Lingling instantly healed Yu Tianheng, throwing it into disarray again.

And when it tried to run, Dugu Yan and her poison mist blocked every route of escape.

Completely shattering the Shadow Demon Tiger's hopes of victory.

Although a Spirit Beast like the Shadow Demon Tiger might not possess so many thoughts.

Fear of the unknown and the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm were etched into the genes of every living creature.

And in the end, when it prepared to make a desperate last stand, Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng simply kited it to death.

Honestly.

If Tang Xuan had been in the Shadow Demon Tiger's position.

He might not have done much better.

"While you have been improving, no one else has remained stagnant. This is all because of your influence..." Qin Ming's expression was exceptionally gratified.

After four months.

The other members of the Imperial Dou Fighting Team had all improved to varying degrees.

Ye Lingling had risen one level, breaking through to Level 25.

Both Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan had broken through to Level 29, only a step away from becoming Soul Elders.

Ning Rongrong had improved the most, gaining a full two levels. She had reached Level 16.

After all, her level had been the lowest, so improving was relatively easier for her.

And there was also the monstrously talented Tang Xuan.

Who could understand the sense of accomplishment Qin Ming felt from being the mentor of such a group of geniuses?

Not long after.

Under the "playful torment" of Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, the Shadow Demon Tiger gradually lost its will to live.

It collapsed to the ground, barely clinging to life.

No one even needed to call Tang Xuan. He strode directly into the battlefield.

With a casual slash of his sword, he ended the tragic life of the little tiger.

Before dying, the Demon Tiger forced its eyelids open to glance at Tang Xuan.

Even though they did not share a language, Tang Xuan knew it was cursing him viciously.

When a bright purple Spirit Ring emerged.

Tang Xuan sat down cross-legged. Just as he was about to begin absorbing it, he felt waves of fierce Soul Power fluctuations rise around him.

Tang Xuan abruptly stood up, thinking another Spirit Beast had entered.

But unexpectedly, Qin Ming and Dugu Yan had merely formed walls of flame and poison mist around Tang Xuan.

Yu Tianheng stood nervously at Tang Xuan's side like some oversized guardian deity.

As though he feared even the slightest disturbance might affect Tang Xuan.

At the same time.

Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling both cast support abilities on Tang Xuan.

Waves of warmth spread through every limb and bone in Tang Xuan's body.

Yet they were not even one ten-thousandth as warm as his heart.

"You all... why go this far? It is only a Spirit Ring that has just entered the thousand-year range. Is there really any need to be so nervous? Besides, Support System Soul Masters' Soul Skills are useless when absorbing Spirit Rings." Tang Xuan's expression was complicated.

He could tell at a glance that everyone was worried something might happen while he absorbed the Spirit Ring.

But were they not being a little too nervous?

"It is just for peace of mind. We will not stand in the way of your decision, but we will do everything we can to help you." Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly.

But her eyes were red around the rims.

Of everyone present.

She was the one who trusted Tang Xuan the most.

And she was also the one most worried about him.

Even if the help she offered Tang Xuan was useless, she would still give it everything she had.

"Rong Rong is right. We are partners. Partners are people who rely on each other." Dugu Yan smiled, her eyes full of both encouragement and concern.

Ye Lingling did not speak. She had always been a woman of few words.

But at that moment, even her formerly hollow gaze had softened. The emotions within it were exactly the same as Dugu Yan's.

There was no longer much trace of her cold, detached air.

"Tang Xiao Xuan, if you can truly achieve a Thousand-year Second Ring, then I will..." Yu Tianheng had only spoken halfway when Tang Xuan cut him off.

"Then what? Become my little brother?" Tang Xuan asked with a teasing smile.

Although everyone's words had moved him deeply.

Tang Xuan truly did not know how to handle emotional moments.

It was always better to keep things light.

"Pah, in your dreams. I meant that if you can truly accomplish the feat of a Thousand-year Second Ring, then I... then I will admit you're impressive." Yu Tianheng said irritably.

He really had just made up his mind to acknowledge him.

After all, that was a Thousand-year Second Ring.

How many people could not even pray hard enough for the chance to become the little brother of someone like that?

But after Tang Xuan interrupted him like that, he felt even more embarrassed to say it aloud.

"Alright, everyone. If we keep chatting, the Spirit Ring will soon dissipate." Qin Ming stepped forward with a smile. "Xiao Xuan, carry everyone's hopes with you. You must succeed!"

Tang Xuan nodded heavily.

He took a deep breath and sat down beside the Spirit Ring once more.

"Come, my Second Soul Ring!"