A Battle Comes to an End, and Everyone Reacts

The competition continued.

With the support of two control-type Soul Masters, Yuan'en Yehui could just barely hold her own against Long Yue.

As for Xie Xie, he occasionally tried to find an opening to attack with his Light Dragon Dagger, but for some reason, Long Yue always managed to dodge with pinpoint accuracy.

Xie Xie was also startled to discover that when he attacked areas with stronger defenses, like Long Yue's back, Long Yue didn't even bother to dodge. He simply took the hit.

However, Xie An and Wu Zhangkong, standing on the platform, could tell that it was only a matter of time before Yuan'en Yehui lost.

On the one hand, the Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul was simply too powerful. On the other, the third ring was the first major threshold for a Soul Master.

For a top-tier Martial Soul like the Mountain Dragon King, reaching that level brought an enormous increase in power.

Thinking of this, Xie An suddenly remembered a certain Grandmaster who had barely broken through to level thirty by the age of fifty.

Long Yue's Soul Power had not yet reached the Soul King level or higher. Otherwise, the sheer pressure of his aura might have made anyone with a weak will collapse on the spot.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Tang Wulin's team is going to lose," Wu Zhangkong said, analyzing the situation.

Xie An nodded in agreement.

Elsewhere,

Na'er didn't continue targeting Long Yue. Instead, she went straight for Gu Yue.

A Silver Dragon Spear appeared out of thin air. It bypassed Long Yue and thrust straight at Gu Yue.

Seeing this, Gu Yue merely smiled. "Na'er, can you really bring yourself to hurt me?"

Rippling waves appeared beneath her feet.

Specks of light in different colors began gathering around Gu Yue.

A massive fireball hurtled toward Na'er.

A closer look revealed a faint green glow clinging to the fireball.

Na'er used White Dragon Pull and instantly leaped more than ten meters, bypassing the fireball and charging straight at Gu Yue.

Gu Yue didn't panic. Green light appeared around her once more.

Her speed suddenly increased, and she swiftly dodged aside.

What Gu Yue hadn't expected was that Na'er didn't stop. She continued charging forward.

Behind Gu Yue stood Dai Yun'er.

When Na'er suddenly rushed toward her, Dai Yun'er, who had kept Spiritual Detection active, panicked.

She was still a pampered little princess. Though her Soul Power Level was high, she had little real combat experience.

By the time she realized what was happening and tried to dodge, the tip of the Silver Dragon Spear was already at her throat.

"Don't move, or you'll die."

A breathtakingly beautiful girl looked Dai Yun'er in the eye and spoke the coldest words she had ever heard.

Through Spiritual Detection Sharing, Long Yue immediately knew what was happening. The Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul erupted, and he tried to rush back to save her.

Just then, Wu Zhangkong released his aura from the platform, clapped his hands, and spoke.

"This match is over. Tang Wulin's team wins."

After speaking, Wu Zhangkong looked toward Xie An. When Xie An gave no indication that he wanted to speak, Wu Zhangkong continued.

"This wasn't a fight to the death. I hope you'll learn from this match."

"Some of you lack real combat experience. Dai Yun'er, for example."

"You have Twin Martial Souls, yet you stood there like a wooden post."

"Others showed no teamwork at all. Long Yue, you're powerful, but if you'd coordinated properly with Gu Yue, the match wouldn't have dragged on this long."

After speaking, Wu Zhangkong looked at Xie An.

Xie An nodded to him, then flashed over to stand before the group.

As soon as Xie An appeared, the shadow beneath Gu Yue stirred ever so slightly.

The movement was so subtle that Wu Zhangkong didn't notice it.

Tang Wulin looked at Xie An, his face alight with delight.

He had really found the person who had taught him the technique back then at Eastsea Academy.

Xie An glanced at Gu Yue's shadow, then smiled warmly.

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Xie An, and I'm the War God Temple Master."

"The fact that you've all gathered here is, you could say, entirely my doing."

"As for why, I hope you'll defeat Shrek at the Eastsea Grand Competition three years from now."

Xu Xiaoyan, Dai Yun'er, and Long Yue looked shocked.

Tang Wulin and Na'er were confused.

Gu Yue, Yuan'en Yehui, and Xie Xie remained calm.

"I hope you'll grow stronger quickly over the next three years and not let all my efforts go to waste."

After speaking, Xie An nodded to Wu Zhangkong. "I'll be going to deliver an invitation to Shrek in a couple of days. Make sure you teach these children well."

Then Xie An vanished.

After Xie An had left, Wu Zhangkong spoke again.

"You all heard what he said. I hope you'll work hard."

"All right. I have a general idea of your abilities now. That's enough for today."

Being children, the group cheered and went their separate ways.

After they split up, Xu Xiaoyan found Gu Yue. "Sister Gu Yue, you heard that we're supposed to defeat Shrek. Why weren't you surprised at all?"

Gu Yue replied with a hint of surprise, "Before you came here, didn't your family tell you what the War God Temple Master was planning?"

"Huh? Was there something?"

Xu Xiaoyan scratched her head, puzzled. She wanted to ask more, but Gu Yue had already hurried away.

That night, in Gu Yue's room,

Moonlight poured into the room, casting two shadows.

"Lord, that Xie An is powerful. I feel like he's already surpassed me."

"This afternoon, he may have sensed my presence. But for some reason, he didn't make a move."

A man hidden in the shadows spoke in a low voice.

A strand of golden hair on his forehead stood out sharply.

Gu Yue didn't answer. She merely nodded.

"Why don't I join forces with Xiong Jun and the others and take out the War God Temple Master?"

A ruthless glint appeared in the man's eyes.

Gu Yue furrowed her brow slightly and thought for a moment before replying.

"Let it be. I can tell that the human powerhouse has no ill will toward me for now."

"Besides, only you and I know our plan. Even the world can't divine it, because of my influence. There's no reason for that human to know, either."

"The Spirit Beast aura on me has been completely sealed. He has no reason to attack me."

"My strength hasn't fully recovered, and our infiltration of the Spirit Pagoda has made little progress."

"Besides..."

Gu Yue hesitated, her eyes filled with doubt.

"Given his strength, the Douluo Plane shouldn't allow someone like him to exist."

"Even if you all attacked together, there's a good chance you still wouldn't be able to truly kill him."

"You'd only make the War God Temple turn against the Spirit Beasts."

"Most importantly, I still can't figure out what's going on with Tang Wulin."

At this, the doubt in Gu Yue's eyes deepened.

The man received his orders and gradually faded from view.

In Wu Zhangkong's room,

Wu Zhangkong looked at Xie Xie, who was kneeling on the floor, and asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"

Xie Xie answered with complete sincerity, "I hope you'll accept me as your disciple, Teacher."

"Why?"

"Because... because I want to become stronger. I'm too weak."

"During today's team match, I was the least useful one."

Wu Zhangkong seemed momentarily lost in thought. At last, he said, "I can agree, but you'll only be an unofficial disciple."

"Whether you can learn from me will depend on how you perform."

Xie Xie was overjoyed.

"Greetings, Teacher!"