Tang San Brutally Beats Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai!

Although Oscar was not particularly strong in combat, his interference from the sidelines was still troublesome.

The three of them coordinated seamlessly.

Even an ordinary Soul Ancestor would likely have met a bitter end under such a siege.

"Third Brother!"

"Sir!"

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's expressions changed when they saw this.

Soul Power surged through both of them as they prepared to rush forward and help.

Zhu Zhuqing had already completed Martial Soul Possession, her hands transforming into cat claws as Hell Stab gathered momentum.

They could not possibly stand by and watch Tang San be besieged by three people.

"Don't come over!"

Tang San suddenly shouted.

He did not turn around.

His eyes remained fixed on Dai Mubai as he charged toward him.

The blue fighting outfit on his body fluttered loudly in the fierce wind.

There was not a trace of fear on that handsome face.

Instead, it radiated powerful confidence and pride.

"Stay over there and watch."

"This is a battle between men."

Tang San slowly raised both hands.

His ten fingers moved in rhythm.

That was the opening stance of Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon.

"To deal with these three pieces of trash..."

"I alone..."

"Am enough."

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, deep in the night.

The Imperial Study was brightly lit.

Emperor Xue Ye sat behind a broad desk, the vermilion brush in his hand suspended in midair, unable to come down for a long while.

It was a drafted imperial edict.

Among the mountain of memorials piled atop the desk, eight out of every ten mentioned the same name.

Tang Yuan.

This King by Other Surname, who had risen abruptly within the empire, now wielded overwhelming power.

He commanded heavy troops and struck fear into the borderlands.

More terrifyingly, his prestige within the army was simply too high.

So high that with a single command from him, those proud and fierce generals might know only King Tang, not His Majesty.

Emperor Xue Ye set down his vermilion brush and rubbed his slightly swollen brow.

He glanced at the old eunuch standing beside him and spoke in a low voice.

"How have things been lately between Qinghe and Tang Yuan?"

The old eunuch bowed, his voice shrill yet respectful.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince holds King Tang in the highest regard. The two share a deep personal friendship."

"They frequently exchange letters, and whenever King Tang returns to the capital, he always visits the Crown Prince's Mansion first."

A shadow that was difficult to detect flashed through Emperor Xue Ye's eyes.

A minister whose achievements overshadowed his sovereign.

These were the four words emperors throughout the ages feared most.

It would have been fine if this sharp sword were held in his own hand.

But this sword had grown far too close to the future heir.

Should Tang Yuan develop rebellious ambitions, or should the Crown Prince entertain thoughts of forcing the palace...

The Heaven Dou Empire's throne could change hands in an instant.

Even if ruler and ministers appeared harmonious now, and father and son seemed affectionate.

As an emperor, he could not gamble on human nature.

He could only maintain balance.

Emperor Xue Ye picked up the decree again.

His gaze fell upon a region in the south of the map.

Seven Treasure City.

It was one of the most prosperous regions in the Heaven Dou Empire, with fertile land stretching for three thousand li and flourishing trade.

But it was also a hot potato.

Because one of the Upper Three Sects, the wealthiest Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was entrenched there.

For many years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's influence there had even surpassed that of the Imperial Family.

Taxes, livelihoods, city defenses—nearly all of it lay under Ning Fengzhi's control.

And with the two Titled Douluo, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, stationed there—

It was practically a state within a state.

A cold smile touched Emperor Xue Ye's lips.

Since Tang Yuan wanted land, then he would give him the best.

He would grant those three thousand li of fertile land to Tang Yuan as a royal fief.

Let this fierce tiger lie within the territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

One mountain could not accommodate two tigers.

Tang Yuan was overbearing by nature; he would never tolerate an uncontrollable force within his own territory.

And Ning Fengzhi was deeply calculating. How could he willingly hand over the foundation he had built over so many years?

When two tigers fought, one was bound to be injured.

When the time came, whether it weakened the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or blunted Tang Yuan's edge—

It would be a guaranteed profit for the Imperial Family either way.

"Draft the decree."

Emperor Xue Ye's voice echoed through the empty Imperial Study.

"Bestow upon Blue Silver King Tang Yuan the fief of Seven Treasure City and the surrounding three thousand li."

"He is to assume office immediately. There must be no mistake."

Outside Suotuo City, at the gates of Shrek Academy.

The atmosphere was tense, ready to explode.

Dai Mubai's mismatched eyes were filled with bloodshot fury.

In his White Tiger Vajra Transformation state, his entire body had swollen by a full size, his muscles bulging like granite.

The imposing aura of the king of beasts poured forth without restraint.

Behind him—

Ma Hongjun endured the searing pain in his face as purple-red flames frantically gathered in his palm.

Oscar gripped two sausages in his hands, his gaze fixed warily on the blue-clad youth.

Three against one.

A Soul Elder and two Soul Grandmasters besieging a youth who did not appear particularly strong.

To anyone, it would have seemed like a fight with no suspense.

Of course, the blue-clad youth was undoubtedly doomed to lose.

Yet Tang San merely stood there quietly.

The wind swept past the hem of his clothes, making them snap loudly.

His hands hung naturally at his sides, his eyes as calm as a stagnant pool.

He had not even summoned his martial soul.

Such disregard made Dai Mubai feel humiliation unlike anything he had ever known.

"Arrogant!"

Dai Mubai roared, his enormous tiger paw carrying a fierce gust of wind as it lunged straight for Tang San's face.

At the same time—

"Phoenix Fireline!"

Seizing the opportunity, Ma Hongjun fired a thick beam of purple flame straight at Tang San's back.

They attacked from both front and rear.

Their coordination was flawless.

Tang San moved.

But he neither dodged nor retreated.

The ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled.

Then—

No dazzling soul rings flashed, nor did anyone loudly chant a soul skill.

Countless blue-black vines burst from the ground without warning.

The vines were as thick as pythons, covered in golden patterns.

They moved at an incredible speed.

"What is this?!"

Dai Mubai's vision blurred.

Before his powerful palm strike could land, his body suddenly stiffened.

More than a dozen thick vines instantly wrapped around his limbs, waist, abdomen, and neck.

The vines were terrifyingly tough.

The strength of his prized White Tiger Vajra Transformation was nothing but a joke before them.

"Break!"

Dai Mubai struggled desperately, his Soul Power surging wildly as he tried to break free.

But not only did the vines refuse to snap, they tightened even further.

The thorns on the vines pierced his skin.

A strange numbness instantly spread through his body.

It was poison.

And the draining of his life force.

On the other side—

The flames Ma Hongjun spat out had not even touched Tang San—

Before they were blocked by a wall woven from vines.

Not only did those vines fail to wither in the flames, they instead glimmered with a lustrous sheen.

Fire immunity?

Ma Hongjun's already swollen eyes widened.

How was that possible?!

How could a plant-type martial soul not fear fire?

Before he could react—

Several more vines shot up from beneath the ground, tying him up like a bundled rice dumpling.

Even Oscar, who had just been about to charge forward, was casually hoisted into the air as well.

In the blink of an eye—

The victor had been decided.

Tang San had not even moved half a step.

Life Bloom.

Myriad Vine Strangler.

This was the absolute control over Blue Silver Grass's life force that Tang Yuan had taught him.