Ma Hongjun's movements froze, and he turned toward the voice.
A young woman in a fitted emerald-green outfit slowly stepped out. She was tall and strikingly beautiful, with narrow phoenix eyes that held a hint of elusive allure and arrogance.
It was Dugu Yan.
Tang San and the others all froze.
Of course they recognized this prodigy from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Poison Douluo's granddaughter.
But what was she doing here?
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up at the sight of a beauty, but the disdain in Dugu Yan's eyes immediately enraged him.
"Who the hell are you? Want to stick your neck out for her?"
Dugu Yan ignored his bluster and walked straight over to Ning Rongrong.
"Rongrong, the teacher's orders are that there's to be no fighting inside the academy. But if some clueless fly insists on buzzing around, just swat it dead."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet everyone heard her clearly.
Arrogant!
Far too arrogant!
"Good! Very good!"
Ma Hongjun laughed in fury as the first and third Soul Rings around him suddenly lit up.
"Phoenix Fire Line!"
"Phoenix Wings Soaring!"
A torrent of searing purple-red flames burst forth. At the same time, his wings spread behind him, sending his speed soaring. He became a blazing meteor, hurtling straight at Dugu Yan's face!
He would make this woman, who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, pay for her arrogance!
Faced with this ferocious attack, Dai Mubai and Tang San both frowned instinctively.
They knew Ma Hongjun was truly furious.
Although Dugu Yan was a control-type Soul Master, she would probably suffer badly against a flame as extreme as the Evil Fire Phoenix's.
Yet Dugu Yan's face showed not the slightest trace of panic.
She didn't even summon her Martial Soul.
She simply stood there, watching the flames rush toward her, a disdainful sneer curling her lips.
Just as the flames were about to strike—
Suddenly, everything changed!
Buzz!
At some point, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had appeared in Ning Rongrong's palm.
Unlike the pagoda everyone remembered, it no longer had seven tiers. It had... nine!
The nine-tiered pagoda was made entirely of colored glaze and radiated seven-colored light, both sacred and imposing.
As Ning Rongrong parted her red lips, her fifth Soul Ring—a deep, dark one—suddenly blazed to life!
"Nine Treasures Divine Light Defense!"
A seven-colored barrier instantly opened in front of Dugu Yan.
Boom!
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line slammed into the barrier, erupting in a deafening roar!
Flames burst in every direction and waves of heat rolled through the courtyard, making the stone tables and stools sizzle.
Yet the seemingly thin seven-colored barrier didn't budge an inch. It stood firm as a rock!
"What?!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
His Phoenix Flame could melt even black iron!
And yet... it had been blocked?
By a Soul Skill from a support-type Soul Master, no less!
How was that possible?!
It wasn't just him. Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing—everyone was stunned.
Their gazes fixed on Ning Rongrong.
No, more precisely, they were fixed on the five Soul Rings beneath her feet.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black!
Five Soul Rings!
She was already a Soul King?!
How long had it even been?
And her Martial Soul... the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda?
The curse of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had been broken?!
One shock after another left the Shrek Five Monsters' minds completely blank.
"This is the strength of Blue Silver Academy."
Ning Rongrong withdrew her Martial Soul and stated it as calmly as a fact.
"I said Shrek wasn't good enough for me. Do you still think I was just bragging?"
"Traitor!"
Dai Mubai glared at Ning Rongrong, his eyes bloodshot.
"You traitor who turned your back on Shrek!"
"The Shrek Seven Devils are one! But you abandoned us to pursue greater power! Have you forgotten the bond we shared when we fought side by side?!"
"Bond?"
Ning Rongrong gave a derisive laugh, as though she'd heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Dai Mubai, spare me your hypocritical talk."
"Did you ever really consider me a companion? I'm afraid that, in your eyes, I was nothing but a tool to protect and provide support when it mattered, wasn't I?"
She looked around, her gaze finally settling on Tang San.
"Tang San, dare you say you've never thought that?"
Tang San's lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word.
He had no way to refute her.
Because what Ning Rongrong said was true.
In his tactical plans, Ning Rongrong had always been a support who needed protection at the rear. Her role was to boost everyone—and then... nothing more.
"What a bunch of fools."
Dugu Yan shook her head, her eyes full of pity.
"How could you lot of ordinary mortals ever fathom the teacher's realm?"
She stepped forward and released her Soul Power without holding anything back!
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black!
Five Soul Rings!
She had also broken through to Soul King!
And the aura of Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison around her seemed to have undergone some kind of transformation. It was no longer pure venom; there was now a hint of... vitality?
"Do you see now?"
Dugu Yan declared proudly, "This is Blue Silver Academy! Miracles happen here every day!
"And yet you still cling to that laughable theory of yours. How pathetic!"
"Enough!"
Tang San finally exploded.
He could tolerate Ning Rongrong's betrayal and Dai Mubai's accusations, but he would never tolerate anyone insulting his teacher, Yu Xiaogang!
"Looks like I'll have to knock some sense into you!"
Boom!
A powerful surge of Soul Power erupted from Tang San, soaring into the sky!
Yellow, yellow, purple, black—four Soul Rings appeared!
His fourth Soul Ring was also at the ten-thousand-year level!
More than that, an invisible domain spread outward from him in an instant!
Blue Silver Domain!
Within the domain, countless strands of Blue Silver Grass grew wildly, turning the entire courtyard into a blue sea.
With the domain's amplification, Tang San's aura climbed steadily, faintly threatening to overwhelm Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong combined!
"Divine Slaughter's Domain, activate!"
A white domain of slaughter overlapped the Blue Silver Domain. Its chilling intent sent the temperature of the air plummeting several degrees.
"Take this!"
A flash of purple light crossed Tang San's eyes as he struck with both hands!
"Fourth Soul Skill, Blue Silver Prison!"
"Second Soul Skill, Parasite!"
Countless thick Blue Silver Grass vines burst from the ground, forming a massive cage that closed in on Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan from every direction!
At the same time, countless tiny Blue Silver Grass seeds shot silently toward the two of them.
This was a combination move he had carefully planned. Once they were trapped and infected with the seeds, even Soul Kings would be forced to surrender!
Faced with this lightning-fast attack, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan finally showed a hint of gravity.
Tang San's strength had truly exceeded their expectations.
"Nine Treasures Have Names: First, Strength! Second, Speed!"
"..."
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