The moment he finished speaking, the battle had already begun.
Having learned from Xiao Wu's lesson, Tang San immediately summoned his Martial Soul and activated his Purple Demon Eye, afraid of missing even the slightest movement from Le Bai.
Le Bai had no habit of probing his opponent or waiting for change with constancy. Since Tang San was not moving, he would simply attack head-on.
He sprinted straight forward and threw a direct punch.
"So fast! So strong! I can't take it head-on!"
Tang San took in all of Le Bai's movements through his Purple Demon Eye. Feeling the force behind Le Bai's fist, he almost instinctively used his strongest evasive technique: "Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!"
Le Bai had never undergone systematic combat training, but years of cultivation and occasional sparring with others had given him some practical experience. He would not attack with all his strength—this was practically common sense in battle. Xiao Wu had made a misjudgment earlier only because she had been overly confident in the effects of her Charm skill.
Therefore, although Tang San dodged Le Bai's fist, Le Bai did not stiffen up and become unable to move like Xiao Wu had.
Even so, an opening appeared.
Tang San thought it was an excellent opportunity to attack. The Soul Ring on his body lit up, and one hand decisively pressed against the ground. "First Soul Skill: Entangle!"
Blue Silver Grass appeared from nowhere and grew wildly, wrapping around Le Bai in the blink of an eye.
"Looks like I've won!"
Certain that his Blue Silver Grass had bound Le Bai, Tang San said confidently, "My Blue Silver Grass has been strengthened by two Century Soul Rings. Its toughness far surpasses ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Even Battle Soul Masters at my level would find it difficult to break free. Even if you can instantly unleash Soul Power above level thirty, Le Bai, as long as you can't sustain it, I can immediately use Entangle again to restrain you. And the barbs on my Blue Silver Grass contain a toxin with a paralyzing effect. You should be finding it hard to even move right now!"
"Not quite."
Le Bai's calm voice arrived first, followed immediately by his fist appearing before Tang San.
At the critical moment, Tang San almost instinctively raised both hands before himself and used Mysterious Jade Hand. He avoided being punched directly in the face, though he was still knocked back.
As he retreated, Tang San did not adjust his posture, allowing himself to fall toward the ground while using his First Soul Skill again. "Entangle!"
But this time, Entangle did not have the effect Tang San expected. Before the Blue Silver Grass could wrap around him, Le Bai had already left his original position.
"Why weren't you poisoned?!"
Tang San struggled to his feet and assumed a stance suitable for facing an enemy, asking with a puzzled expression.
"Of course, because your Blue Silver Grass never pricked me."
Le Bai rushed before Tang San. As he spoke, his fist had already swung out.
Tang San had yet to adjust his posture. His feet had not touched the ground, leaving him unable to use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade. He could only face it head-on. "Mysterious Jade Hand!"
Tang San's hands once again took on the texture of white jade. The instant they touched Le Bai's fist, he drew his arms back along the direction of the force, then followed with another technique. "Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon!"
Le Bai felt the Soul Power and force in his fist affected by a powerful pulling force, making it difficult for him to control as it was drawn toward Tang San's side.
"Worthy of being a Tang Sect secret technique. The effect is truly impressive."
Le Bai spoke in a voice only Tang San could hear.
"!!"
Tang San was utterly shocked! Even the way he looked at Le Bai changed!
"Losing focus in battle is a great taboo."
Le Bai had no intention of holding back. Soul Power surged from his left hand, controlled and shaped into an invisible claw of Soul Power. It grabbed Tang San from afar, forcibly corrected the direction of his attack that Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon had diverted, and continued toward Tang San's face.
Whoosh—!
A gust of wind blew Tang San's hair upward, but Le Bai still stopped just before the blow landed.
"That leaves you with only one chance."
Le Bai declared Tang San's first round of assessment a failure and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Tang San shouted loudly, wanting to get an answer. Why did Le Bai know about the Tang Sect? Did it exist in this world as well? Or was Le Bai, like him, from...
"Don't rush."
Le Bai stopped walking but did not turn around. "Once you enter Shrek, we'll have plenty of time to talk."
With that, he continued onward.
Tang San remained frozen in place with one hand extended as if trying to stop him. Only after quite a while did he lower it in disappointment and walk toward the spectator area.
"Brother!"
Xiao Wu hurried over and asked worriedly, "Are you all right?"
Seeing Xiao Wu, Tang San forced a smile. "I'm fine. I was just wondering why Le Bai wasn't poisoned by my Blue Silver Grass."
Le Bai walked to the tree where the incense was planted. After glancing at the stick, which was still three-quarters unburned, he said to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, "You two, who's next? This incense seems fairly slow-burning. There's no need to replace it with a fresh one."
Ning Rongrong stepped forward with a smile. "I'm only an ordinary Support System Soul Master and have no combat ability. There's no way I can last that long against you alone. If Shrek has no other assessment method, then I can only give up the assessment and leave!"
Le Bai asked Zhao Wuji, "Teacher Zhao, I think she has a point. How about we wait until after she enrolls before using my method to train her?"
"That works."
Zhao Wuji nodded and asked Le Bai, "Can you keep going?"
Le Bai pointed at his forehead, which did not have a single drop of sweat on it. "I haven't even warmed up."
Zhao Wuji nodded with an expression that said, Just as expected. Sitting upright, he said to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, "You two should have a clear understanding of Le Bai's strength by now, right?"
The two nodded, glanced at Xiao Wu and Tang San, and silently thanked them for their efforts.
"Then how about this—"
Zhao Wuji proposed a new assessment plan. "I'll cancel the second chance Le Bai was giving you two and have you face Le Bai together. The time will also be shortened further. Before that incense stick in the tree burns out, as long as one of you can still stand, you'll pass. What do you think?"
Ning Rongrong nodded. "I can accept that."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Mubai and saw that his face was full of concern. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I accept as well."
"Good."
Zhao Wuji made the decision. "Since you both agree, let's begin."
Le Bai walked to the battle area farther away from Zhao Wuji and looked at the two pretty young girls opposite him. "They say the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the strongest support-type tool Martial Soul on the entire continent. I hope you won't disappoint me."
"I used to think Support System Soul Masters had no combat ability. Seeing you today, I realize how terribly wrong I was."
Ning Rongrong's eyes were full of interest. "Whether or not I pass the assessment and enroll today, I want to invite you on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
As she spoke, both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had already released their Martial Souls.
"Then show me whether you have the value to make me agree!"
Le Bai stomped on the ground and charged rapidly toward Ning Rongrong—common knowledge among Soul Masters of Douluo Continent: in a battle involving more than one opponent, one should first find a way to defeat the opposing Support System Soul Master. This was especially true when that Support System Soul Master possessed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Thus, Support System Soul Masters were often the teammates' primary targets of protection as well!
"Hell Stab!"
A slender figure launched a surprise attack from Le Bai's side, moving even faster than he did.
At this moment, if Le Bai refused to abandon his attack and continued charging toward Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing's attack would strike him first.
She wants to force me to stop and defend, or change direction to evade. Worthy of an Agility Attack System Soul Master—she's incredibly fast.
Le Bai thought as he stopped to defend. Fixing his eyes on Zhu Zhuqing's steadily approaching claw tips, he gathered Soul Power in his right hand and reached for her wrist from the side. Even if he failed to catch it, he could still apply force from the side and divert the direction of Zhu Zhuqing's attack.
And if he caught her, considering the difference in their strength and physiques, Zhu Zhuqing would have no chance of breaking free.
"Seven Treasures Famous—Second: Speed!"
A ray of light fell upon Zhu Zhuqing, instantly raising her speed by another level. Just before Le Bai could seize her, her thrusting arm shifted slightly upward, narrowly avoiding his palm.
"Truly impeccable support."
Without panicking, Le Bai moved his other arm and pushed upward from beneath Zhu Zhuqing's attacking arm.
I suddenly discovered that the novel had entered contracted status, so I added another chapter to encourage myself.
Reader Cube and Paper also sent a reward, so I added another chapter as thanks.
Before you continue