Snatching Shrek's Soul Beast

Lin Yi's calm yet unquestionable words fell, and everyone on the Imperial Fighting Team froze. Snatch a Soul Beast someone else was already hunting?

That seemed a little... contrary to the unwritten rules of the Soul Master World?

But their leader had spoken, and for a moment, no one dared object.

Meng Shenji's brows lifted slightly as he looked at Lin Yi. As a Soul Douluo and the academy's chief, he naturally had more to consider.

He carefully sensed the "Dark Demon Evil God Tiger" battling Shrek, then glanced at the cool and aloof Ye Lingling beside him. After a moment's thought, he slowly nodded. "Teacher Lin Yi is right. This Demon Tiger's attributes are balanced, and it contains traces of light and life. Its age is suitable, too. It's indeed a better fit for Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia than that three-thousand-year-old Holy Light Lingzhi Beast. Since we've run into it, of course we should try to claim it."

With Meng Shenji, a Soul Douluo, having weighed in, the Imperial Fighting Team had no further objections. Instead, they were faintly excited.

Getting to "snatch" something alongside their leader and the chief—and from Shrek Academy, no less—sounded thrilling.

"Let's go." At Lin Yi's command, he led the way toward the battle. Meng Shenji followed behind with his hands clasped behind his back, his bearing dignified. Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others immediately followed, quickly forming a loose encirclement around the battlefield where the Shrek Seven Devils were locked in a bitter fight with the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.

The sudden arrival of a third force immediately put both sides on alert.

"Who's there?!" Zhao Wuji, who was doing everything he could to hold off the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, reacted first. With a roar, he punched the Demon Tiger back and warily eyed the newcomers.

When he saw Lin Yi at the head of the group and Meng Shenji behind him, whose presence was as deep and imposing as a mountain abyss, his expression turned ghastly.

"Lin Yi? Chief Meng Shenji?" With Flender and Yu Xiaogang absent, Zhao Wuji was the only teacher leading the group. The pressure fell squarely on his shoulders.

He recognized Meng Shenji, chief of Heaven Dou Royal Academy and a Soul Douluo! Lin Yi's appearance, meanwhile, made his heart sink, and a foreboding rose within him.

The Shrek Seven Devils had also spotted Lin Yi and the group of richly dressed young Soul Masters behind him, all radiating an extraordinary presence. When they saw Lin Yi's calm, unreadable gaze, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others darkened their expressions.

"Teacher Zhao, it's been a while." Lin Yi's gaze swept across the battered Shrek group and the fearsome Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. He spoke in an even tone. "We're taking this Soul Beast."

"Bullshit!" Dai Mubai roared in fury. He had just broken through level forty and desperately needed this Soul Ring. Besides, they had discovered the Demon Tiger first and had fought it until now. "Lin Yi! We found this Soul Beast first! Are you trying to steal it?"

Zhao Wuji was, after all, an experienced hand. He suppressed his anger and said gravely, "Lin Yi, Chief Meng Shenji. By the rules of the Soul Master World, this Soul Beast belongs to Shrek Academy—we found it first and are already hunting it. Is Royal Academy going to bully the weak and break the rules?"

Meng Shenji said nothing, leaving Lin Yi to handle the situation. He trusted that this disciple of Sword Douluo could deal with it.

Lin Yi's lips curved into a faint smile as he looked at Zhao Wuji. "Rules? In the Soul Master World, strength comes first. What absolute rules are there? Besides, this Soul Beast's attributes are a better fit for Ye Lingling, the Support System Soul Master beside me.

"She can't take part in the fight for it, so by 'another rule,' our team can send a representative to compete with yours for ownership of the Soul Beast. The victor claims it. How about that?

"That wouldn't count as bullying the weak, would it?"

He had cleverly turned "snatching" into "competing according to the rules." By pointing out Ye Lingling's status as a Support System Soul Master, he had also gained the moral high ground.

Zhao Wuji's face turned livid. He knew Lin Yi was right. In the Soul Master World, there was indeed an unwritten rule that when both sides needed the same Soul Beast and one side had a Support System Soul Master who couldn't fight, they could settle the matter with a representative battle.

But on his side, Dai Mubai was a Power Attack System Soul Master, and he was the one who needed the Soul Ring. By rights, he should fight. But Dai Mubai had only just broken through level forty and hadn't obtained a Soul Ring yet, so his strength was greatly reduced...

At that moment, Tang San stepped forward and calmly said, "Brother Lin Yi, Mubai's just been injured, and he's not in good shape. I'll fight in his place."

Tang San was sharp-minded. He had seen that Dai Mubai was at a disadvantage and wanted to take his place.

He had considerable confidence in his level-thirty-nine strength and the many trump cards he held.

However, Lin Yi had been prepared for this. How could he not know how difficult Tang San was to deal with?

Though Yu Tianheng was a level-forty-three Soul Ancestor with an exceptionally powerful Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, the outcome of a fight against Tang San—with his Tang Sect skills, hidden weapons, and Clear Sky Hammer, which he had yet to reveal—would be hard to predict. Lin Yi couldn't let Tang San disrupt his plans.

"No." Lin Yi rejected him outright, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Dai Mubai is the one who needs the Soul Ring. He isn't a Support System Soul Master who can't fight. If he can have someone take his place just because he's not in good shape, then can I step in and fight for my team as well?"

His gaze swept over Meng Shenji. The meaning was clear: if they wouldn't abide by the rules of this "representative battle," then they shouldn't blame the Titled Douluo on his side for refusing to play fair, either.

Meng Shenji gave a soft snort at the right moment. An almost imperceptible Soul Douluo's pressure spread out, making Zhao Wuji and the Shrek group's breathing catch.

The veins on Zhao Wuji's forehead throbbed. He knew there was no way to settle this peacefully today.

With Meng Shenji there, they had no chance of taking the Soul Beast by force. If they refused the terms of the battle, they might not even get a chance to compete for it.

"...Fine!" Zhao Wuji ground his teeth and looked at Dai Mubai. "Mubai, you're up! Be careful!"

Dai Mubai took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and his injuries, then strode forward.

Though he was in poor shape, the pride of his White Tiger Martial Soul wouldn't let him back down. "Who'll fight me?"

Lin Yi looked at Yu Tianheng. "Tian Heng, you're up. Finish it quickly."

"Yes, Leader!" Battle spirit surged in Yu Tianheng's eyes as he strode forward with the bearing of a dragon and tiger. He had never thought much of Shrek Academy, especially that Tang San, who seemed to have had some trouble with Yan Yan before. Getting to defeat their captain himself suited him perfectly.

The two took their places, and the atmosphere instantly grew taut with hostility.

"Dai Mubai, level-forty Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor!" Dai Mubai announced his name. Though he still had only three Soul Rings, his bearing remained undiminished.

"Yu Tianheng, level-forty-three Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor!" Yu Tianheng's voice was steady. Four Soul Rings—two yellow and two purple—slowly rose beneath his feet. The fourth, a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, radiated an especially powerful pressure.

The difference in their Soul Ring Configuration, combined with Dai Mubai's injuries and exhaustion from the prolonged fight, seemed to leave no suspense from the very beginning.

"Begin!" Lin Yi announced evenly.

The fight erupted!

Dai Mubai roared. White Tiger Vajra Transformation and White Tiger Protection Barrier activated at the same time, and he shot toward Yu Tianheng like a streak of white light, trying to end the fight quickly with an explosive burst of power.

But Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was a top-tier Beast Martial Soul. How could he fear him?

Yu Tianheng's first and third Soul Rings lit up at once!

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

"Third Soul Skill, Thunder Fury!"

Blue-violet dragon scales instantly covered both his arms, which swelled tremendously as wild blue lightning coiled around them. His attack power and lightning attribute surged! He neither dodged nor retreated, meeting Dai Mubai's tiger paw head-on with a dragon claw!

Boom!

Blue-white lightning collided violently with white-gold Soul Power, and waves of force rolled through the air! Dai Mubai grunted. A surge of wild thunder rushed up his arm and into his body, churning his blood and worsening his already severe injuries. The impact sent him stumbling backward.

Yu Tianheng pressed his advantage. His second Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet. "Second Soul Skill, Thunderbolt!" Countless fine blue bolts erupted around him, forming a wide field of lightning. It not only strengthened his attacks but also dealt continuous electric shocks and paralysis to any enemy who came near.

Caught in the lightning field, Dai Mubai's movements were immediately impeded. Bolts kept exploding over his body as numbness and searing pain coursed through his wounds. He tried to use White Tiger Meteor Shower to attack from a distance, but Yu Tianheng's faster movements and powerful dragon claws scattered it outright.

The difference in strength and the disparity in their condition were laid bare.

In less than three minutes, Dai Mubai was covered in wounds and panting hard, his Soul Power nearly spent. Yu Tianheng had also used up a considerable amount of Soul Power, but his momentum was unstoppable and he held a clear advantage.

Finally, Yu Tianheng seized an opening and slammed a charged Thunder Dragon Claw into Dai Mubai's crossed arms as he tried to block!

Crack! The faint sound of breaking bone rang out.

Dai Mubai screamed, spraying blood from his mouth as he flew backward like a kite with its string cut. He crashed heavily to the ground and struggled a few times, but couldn't get back up.

"Mubai!" The Shrek group cried out in alarm and rushed over.

Zhu Zhuqing helped Dai Mubai up, while Oscar hurriedly handed him a Restoration Big Sausage.

Yu Tianheng withdrew his attack and looked at Lin Yi. "Leader, I've carried out the task."

Lin Yi gave a slight nod, then turned toward Zhao Wuji's livid face and the Shrek group's icy stares. "The winner is decided. This Soul Beast belongs to us."

The Shrek side fell into dead silence. The humiliation of defeat and having their Soul Beast taken hung over every one of them.

However, just as Lin Yi was about to signal the Imperial Fighting Team to take over against the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, which had paused to catch its breath when Shrek stopped attacking and was now watching them warily,

"Wait!"

A cold voice rang out.

Tang San slowly rose to his feet. Supporting the gravely wounded Dai Mubai, he fixed Lin Yi with eyes that were usually warm but now resembled the depths of a Cold Pool. He spoke each word distinctly. "Lin Yi! Dai Mubai lost, and the Soul Beast belongs to you. We have nothing to say about that."

"But I, Tang San, challenge you in my personal capacity!"

"The wager is the Soul Beast you just claimed! If you lose, you return it!"