The First Use of the Source of Life, All Trees Submit

"Long Yuan, don't listen to Tang San."

"He just competed with me in this and won this Soul Beast. In this regard, Tang San is practically invincible." Meng Yiran assumed Gu Linyuan did not know Tang San's true capabilities and spoke up to explain.

Tang San's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

He looked at Meng Yiran, his voice still steady.

"Miss Meng Yiran, that is not quite right. Since it is a competition, the rules naturally have to be agreed upon by both sides. If Young Master Long Yuan finds them unsuitable, he may propose changes."

His words were flawless, as if he were not someone trying to seize the advantage, but a fair and impartial judge.

Yet Meng Yiran's words had already sent ripples through the hearts of everyone from Shrek Academy.

Ning Rongrong lowered her head, unwilling to look at Tang San again.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze shifted away from Tang San and settled on Gu Linyuan, her pale eyes carrying a trace of concern.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances, both seeing complicated emotions in the other's eyes.

They had spent every day with Tang San and called each other brothers. But at this moment, they had to admit that what Tang San was doing was indeed rather dishonorable.

"Or what? Long Yuan, are you scared?"

Tang San stared intently at Gu Linyuan's hood.

"Scared? Tang San, stop making me laugh." Gu Linyuan shrugged.

The corners of Tang San's lips rose slightly, and an almost imperceptible flash of pride passed through his eyes.

He had calculated everything.

In terms of cultivation, he was no match for Long Yuan.

But in hidden weapons, no one in this world could surpass him.

This was his domain, his pride, his final fortress. His Mystic Jade Hand techniques for wielding hidden weapons were unparalleled in this world.

"Long Yuan, are you really going to compete with him? But he..."

There was urgency in Meng Yiran's voice. She truly did not want Long Yuan to repeat her own mistake. Zhu Zhuqing also could not remain still any longer and was about to step forward to stop Gu Linyuan.

Gu Linyuan merely glanced at Meng Yiran and Zhu Zhuqing, then nodded lightly.

Then he turned to Tang San.

"Fine. We'll do it your way."

His voice was calm, as calm as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather.

A flicker of delight appeared in Tang San's eyes, though he quickly suppressed it.

"Long Yuan, you really are straightforward. In that respect, I admire you."

After saying that, Tang San turned and cupped his hands toward Dragon Duke Meng Shu.

"Senior, please shake that tree for us."

Meng Shu glanced at Gu Linyuan, then at Tang San, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

He knew just how outrageous Tang San's hidden weapon techniques were. He had witnessed them firsthand moments ago.

Eighteen Soul Breaking Blades had been thrown simultaneously, each one precisely piercing a falling leaf before all of them embedded themselves in the trunk.

That could no longer be called hidden weapon technique. It was a divine skill.

The black-clad youth before him might seem unfathomable, but hidden weapons were different from cultivation. They were not something one could master quickly through talent alone.

Still, he did not voice those thoughts, though he was somewhat disappointed in Long Yuan. Long Yuan might not be weaker than Tang San, but he had completely fallen for Tang San's provocation.

Long Yuan had already been dragged into Tang San's area of expertise. All Tang San had to do next was display his hidden weapon techniques, and he would easily make Long Yuan lose face.

Meng Shu merely nodded, walked to the large tree twenty meters away, and lightly pressed his Dragon Head Cane against the trunk.

Bang.

The tree shook violently. Countless leaves rustled down from its crown like a shower of green rain.

Tang San moved.

His hands swept across his waist like butterflies flitting among flowers, eighteen Soul Breaking Blades dancing between his fingers.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

The sounds of tearing air blended together, nearly impossible to distinguish one after another.

Eighteen streaks of silver flashed through the air. Each precisely pierced a falling leaf before continuing onward and embedding itself in the tree trunk.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

Eighteen dull impacts rang out in rapid succession, as dense as drumbeats.

Tang San withdrew his hands, took a deep breath, and turned to look at the tree trunk.

The eighteen Soul Breaking Blades were embedded neatly in the trunk, forming a perfect circle.

Every blade had pierced a leaf, pinning it between the blade and the bark as it trembled gently in the wind.

All hits.

Eighteen blades, eighteen leaves, a one-hundred-percent hit rate.

Everyone looked at Tang San. Even Gu Linyuan had to admit that Tang San's hidden weapon technique was truly exquisite, even pleasing to the eye.

As expected of a field that had developed to its absolute peak in another world.

The corners of Tang San's lips lifted slightly as he turned toward Gu Linyuan.

"Long Yuan, it's your turn."

There was a trace of barely restrained triumph in his tone.

Xiao Wu was the first to clap, her face brimming with pride.

"Third Brother is amazing!"

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun also relaxed, smiles appearing on their faces. Ning Rongrong raised her head, a complicated light flashing through her eyes.

Zhao Wuji stroked his chin and nodded in satisfaction. Tang San's methods were very much in line with Shrek Academy's values. This boy would surely achieve greatness in the future.

The atmosphere on Shrek Academy's side immediately grew much more relaxed.

Tang San had gone first and landed all eighteen.

Even if Long Yuan also hit all eighteen, it would only be a draw.

And on Tang San's home ground, a draw was victory.

At this moment, Tang San was already undefeated.

Gu Linyuan looked at the eighteen Soul Breaking Blades in the trunk and the leaves pierced through by them, remaining silent for a moment.

Then he smiled.

A quiet laugh drifted out from beneath his hood.

"So this is your pride? No wonder you wanted to compete in this."

Gu Linyuan shook his head and walked toward Dragon Duke Meng Shu.

"Senior, please shake the tree once more."

Meng Shu gave him a look, nodded, and shook the tree again.

Gu Linyuan turned around to face the tree and slowly raised his right hand.

He did not take any Soul Breaking Blades. He did not even look at the falling leaves.

His right hand rose, fingers spread, pointed toward the tree.

Tang San froze.

Everyone froze.

What was he doing?

No leaves? No Soul Breaking Blades? He was not even looking?

The next moment.

An extremely faint green glow, nearly impossible to notice, gently seeped from Gu Linyuan's palm.

The light was so dim that it was almost invisible beneath the sunlight.

But the tree sensed it.

Its crown trembled faintly.

Then.

Every leaf, even those that had not been shaken loose, fell from the branches at the same instant.

They did not drift down. They detached.

Tens of thousands of leaves poured down from the crown like a torrential rain that covered the sky.

A green ocean blotted out the sun.

Tang San's eyes widened abruptly, his pupils shaking violently.

"This... How is this possible..."

Gu Linyuan lightly waved his right hand.

No one saw what he did.

There were no hidden weapons, no silver flashes, no visible trajectories.

Only the tens of thousands of leaves, suddenly changing direction in midair.

All of them flew toward Gu Linyuan.

They did not fall to the ground. Instead, like summoned spirits, they densely gathered in the air before Gu Linyuan, layer upon layer, forming a wall of green.

Gu Linyuan extended his left hand and took a Soul Breaking Blade from Meng Yiran.

One blade.

Only one.

He gently sent the Soul Breaking Blade forward.

The blade flew out.

It pierced through the green wall made of tens of thousands of leaves, then firmly embedded itself in the tree trunk.

Thud.

A soft sound rang out with exceptional clarity in the silent forest.

The entire scene fell deathly silent.