Advance, Imperial Fighting Team! (I)

Tang San had lived two lives, after all, and his state of mind was far superior to that of the other six Shrek Devils. Besides, ever since he began cultivating, relying on the Tang Sect martial arts he had secretly learned in his previous life, as well as his "honorable" hidden weapons, Tang San had yet to suffer a defeat. The pride of a Tang Sect disciple would not allow him to lose heart before even fighting.

Seeing the other six Devils looking utterly crushed and questioning their very lives, Tang San felt it was time to fulfill his role as the team's core.

"Everyone, there's no need to be discouraged. We may not be without a chance of victory. We..." Tang San delivered an impassioned speech, listing the strengths of the other six Devils and successfully stirring their pride as "monsters."

At that point, the skies had cleared, the rain had stopped, and the Shrek Seven Devils felt capable again.

Soto Great Soul Arena, Imperial Fighting Team's lounge.

"Have you all carefully reviewed the Shrek Seven Devils' information?" Qin Ming asked as he entered the lounge.

"Teacher Qin, don't worry. We've already discussed our strategy," Dugu Yan replied confidently. As the first person on the team to reach the Soul Ancestor rank, she was full of assurance.

Surprise flickered in Qin Ming's bright black eyes, but he did not say much more. He merely reminded them, "It seems you're already fully prepared, so I won't say anything further. But there is one thing I must remind you of: in this soul fight, no one is allowed to kill, nor are you allowed to deliberately cripple your opponents. Understand?"

As someone who was once a member of Shrek Academy, how could I let you deliberately harm your junior brothers and sisters? I was even hoping you'd give them some experience, Qin Ming thought.

The Imperial Fighting Team members exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

Tonight, Soto Great Soul Arena was packed to capacity. Whether nobles or commoners, everyone was eagerly anticipating tonight's soul fight, because the Imperial Fighting Team, which had been making waves these past few days, would be appearing once more.

At that moment, at the center of the Soul Fighting Arena, the voluptuous hostess Doudou soared into the air, delivering an impassioned pre-match speech and rousing the audience's emotions.

"Without further ado, let us welcome both teams to the arena!"

The Imperial Fighting Team slowly entered the Soul Fighting Arena from the left. Yu Tianheng, dressed in a fitted blue uniform, strode at the very front with the bearing of a dragon and tiger. Dugu Yan, with her dark purple hair, deliberately lagged a step behind, maintaining a calculated distance from Yu Tianheng. Smiling sweetly, she held Xue Ke's little hand and swayed her hips with every step, occasionally pinching Xue Ke's cheeks without the slightest regard for the disgusted look on Xue Ke's face.

Ye Lingling, veiled in black, remained as placid and unfathomable as an ancient well, her blue eyes carrying a lonely chill. Her waterfall-like pale blue hair flowed down her back as she walked at the rear of the team alongside the Shi Family Brothers and Yufeng. Due to the limit on team members, Osler was not participating.

The Shrek Seven Devils, entering from the right side of the Soul Fighting Arena, were not dressed as flamboyantly as the Imperial Fighting Team. Instead, they all wore fitted black uniforms and verdant green masks as they likewise strode proudly onto the arena.

At the head of the team, Dai Mubai, the Evil Eye Silver Tiger, met the disdainful gaze of Yu Tianheng, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Their eyes collided fiercely in midair, sparking flames of battle intent.

The spectators were exceptionally excited, screaming themselves hoarse with cries of "Imperial Fighting Team must win!" The atmosphere was completely one-sided. Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Yu Xiaogang wore grave expressions as they watched the situation on the Soul Fighting Arena without blinking. Not far away, Qin Ming stared intently at the three of them, and they soon noticed him as well.

Hovering in the air, Doudou fluttered her white wings as her gentle voice slowly reached the ears of both teams. "You now have one minute to summon your Martial Souls. You may only attack after I announce the start of the match."

The Imperial Fighting Team and the Shrek Seven Devils released their Martial Souls one after another. All manner of birds, beasts, flowers, and plants appeared across the Soul Fighting Arena—chickens if one wanted chickens, geese if one wanted geese. Both sides were brimming with battle intent, and the atmosphere in the arena was extraordinarily tense. Combat could erupt at any moment.

"I declare the match begun!"

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass instantly wrapped around the waists of the other six Devils, forming a single unit centered around him.

Dai Mubai's golden hair billowed in the wind as he threw back his head and roared. A white barrier enveloped his entire body as he unleashed his first soul skill, White Tiger Body Protection Barrier. His tiger claws lunged menacingly toward Yu Tianheng.

As the team's tanks, the Shi Family Brothers took the lead, standing in front of Yu Tianheng like human shields as their first soul rings lit up.

Dai Mubai's sharp tiger claws scraped against the Shi Family Brothers' combined turtle shell, sending sparks flying and leaving several claw marks behind. Seeing this, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone brilliantly, boosting Dai Mubai's strength and speed.

At the rear, Xue Ke finally made her move. Her third soul ring lit up as she used her third soul skill in public for the first time. The Jade Swan behind her glowed brilliantly, and two dense clusters of green light entered the bodies of the Shi Family Brothers.

"Third soul skill, Defense Boost 100%."

Green light rippled across the surface of the Shi Family Brothers' turtle shells. Dai Mubai felt a sharp pain shoot through his tiger claws as the rebound force violently sent him flying back, blood spilling from the webs between his fingers.

Dai Mubai's flurry of attacks looked fierce as a tiger, but the damage was only 0.5.

Dragon roars sounded from behind the Shi Family Brothers. Blue lightning covered Yu Tianheng's body as he flashed before the grim-faced Dai Mubai. Heavenly thunder rumbled around his thick dragon arm as he swung it at Dai Mubai's chest.

Seeing that things were going badly, Tang San swiftly used Blue Silver Grass to pull Dai Mubai out of Yu Tianheng's attack range.

Having evaded Yu Tianheng's lethal strike, Dai Mubai let out an unwilling roar and clashed with Yu Tianheng. The two fought fiercely, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Xiao Wu, with her scorpion braid, and the curvaceous Zhu Zhuqing took the opportunity to bypass the Shi Family Brothers and Yu Tianheng, charging toward the rear of the Imperial Fighting Team from opposite sides.

Yufeng's arms transformed into wings covered in white feathers. His first, second, and third soul rings lit up in succession, leaving three afterimages around him as he chopped his hand toward Xiao Wu, the rabbit girl attempting to ambush the back line.

Xiao Wu blinked her red rabbit eyes at Yufeng and activated her second soul skill, Charm. A faint red glow shone from her eyes as she repeatedly sent flirtatious looks at Yufeng, who was as beautiful as a woman. Unfortunately, he was struck by it. His eyes gradually became unfocused, and no one knew what he saw, but he simply froze in midair.

Xiao Wu nodded to Zhu Zhuqing in the distance, and the two sped toward Xue Ke at the rear of the team.

Dugu Yan glanced toward Xue Ke with her emerald-green eyes, tossed her lovely purple hair, and made no move to rescue Xue Ke. Instead, she launched an attack at Tang San, the center of the Shrek Seven Devils.

"Fourth soul skill, Bipyridine Ray!"

In her Martial Soul Possession state, Dugu Yan's lower body had transformed into a snake tail. Her alluring, serpent-like body darted toward Tang San as she spat a jade-green ray from her mouth. A sharp whistle tore through the air as it shot toward Tang San.

Tang San did not dare underestimate her. He fully activated his Purple Demon Eye and used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track beneath his feet, narrowly evading Dugu Yan's sudden attack.

Just as Tang San thought he was safe, the Bipyridine Ray exploded behind him, forming a thick cloud of Purple Mist that rapidly spread outward from the rear of the team. Ning Rongrong and Oscar were instantly poisoned and collapsed unconscious to the ground.