The Battle Begins

Lin Huai stopped laughing at them and turned to the Shrek team.

"I made the rules. Do you really think I'd agree?"

The Shrek team fell silent. In truth, he was right. Ning Rongrong had fought hard just to win them this battle.

But if it was one-on-one, wouldn't they be doomed to lose?

Flender's eyes darted around.

It seemed there had never been any rule saying the outcome would change anything. Lin Huai just wanted to have a fight.

After thinking it through, Flender was about to speak when Lin Huai's voice rang out again.

"But to commend you for using your heads, I'll agree."

Yu Gang immediately regained his confidence, and Tang San and the others stood tall once more.

"However, two of your people will have to challenge two of ours."

"As an extra reward, if you win, I'll even waive that ten thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Flender could practically see his little stash of money waving at him again.

He grabbed Yu Gang by the shoulders and shook him hard.

"Yu Gang!"

"My little stash is counting on you!"

Yu Gang swatted Flender's hands away and looked at Lin Huai and the others.

"Agreed!"

Lin Huai led Qian Renxue and the other two women into the Great Soul Arena.

"I'll go in first and arrange the arena. Once you're done discussing things, Shrek, come in as soon as you can."

Ning Rongrong ignored the Shrek team and followed Lin Huai inside.

Zhu Zhuqing followed Ning Rongrong too. As she passed the Shrek team, she slowed to a stop.

"You wronged Rongrong. I think you should apologize to her."

As the others struggled to respond, Oscar started running his mouth again.

"Ning Rongrong didn't even try to defend herself. Why are you playing the goody-goody, Zhu Zhuqing?"

Oscar paused, looking over Zhu Zhuqing's stunning figure with a strange expression.

"Unless you were involved too?"

"Maybe Lin Huai sent you to Shrek as a spy!"

Zhu Zhuqing had meant well, but Oscar twisted her words and insulted her.

She couldn't be bothered to argue with them. With her long legs striding out, she quickly entered the Soul Fighting Arena.

Dai Mubai looked at Oscar, about to say something,

but Oscar spoke first:

"Boss Dai, I know you're interested in Zhu Zhuqing, but just think about it."

"Suppose a gorgeous woman came to ask you for a deal, and she had a friend with an incredible figure and a pretty face with her."

Oscar stared into Dai Mubai's eyes, enunciating every word:

"Would you really turn down a duck already in your hands?"

"Besides, Zhu Zhuqing didn't even deny it just now!"

Those few words from Oscar sent the whole group off track.

Dai Mubai's eyes were bloodshot, and he panted like a bull as he shouted furiously:

"Lin Huai actually dared to humiliate me like this!"

Tang San and Xiao Wu had wanted to explain that they wouldn't do such a thing, but the mood was all wrong, so they said nothing.

And just like that, the misunderstanding formed a perfect loop.

Ma Hongjun stepped forward and put an arm around Dai Mubai's shoulder, comforting him softly:

"Boss Dai, don't take it too hard. You still have me. You've got us!"

Dai Mubai was too embarrassed to tell them Zhu Zhuqing was his fiancée. Otherwise, he'd have to add "cuckold" to his list of titles.

Yu Gang gestured for Tang San to step in and take charge, establishing his leadership.

Tang San readily obliged.

"Boss Dai, the most important thing now is the challenge. Let's discuss that first."

Dai Mubai wanted to say that the most important thing to him right now was that his fiancée had run off with someone else!

But he couldn't. He could only swallow his anger.

After taking several deep breaths, Dai Mubai spoke:

"Great Master, you make the arrangements. We'll follow your orders with all our strength."

Dai Mubai now blamed Lin Huai for his fiancée running off, too.

Yu Gang considered the matter, then said:

"We don't know who to choose as our second opponent, but they can't have a third Soul Master with a Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."

The more Yu Gang spoke, the more convinced he became of his own brilliance. He was sure that was how things had to be.

"We'll choose the black-haired girl. She definitely isn't as strong as the one who looks the oldest!"

He patted Oscar on the shoulder.

His voice brimmed with expectation:

"That makes Oscar the key to our victory. They don't know Oscar's third Soul Skill lets him fly."

"You'll fly up and quickly surround Tian Yue. Once she's eliminated, you can deal with the other one."

Yu Gang noticed everyone looking at him with admiration,

and his vanity was instantly satisfied.

He coughed importantly,

"All right, that's the plan. Let's go in!"

Inside the Soul Fighting Arena, Lin Huai presented his Spirit Hall credentials and asked the staff to clear an arena for them.

The arena manager quickly arranged one.

At that moment, the Shrek team appeared inside as well.

As team captain, Dai Mubai pointed at Tian Yue and Hu Liena.

"We choose those two as our opponents!"

Afterward, he shot Zhu Zhuqing a fierce glare.

Zhu Zhuqing wasn't sure why, but Ning Rongrong glared right back at him for her.

Lin Huai hadn't expected them to avoid choosing him even after all that, but it didn't matter.

"Fine. The arena's ready. Get up there."

Hu Liena took the furious Tian Yue by the hand, and they headed for the arena.

The five members of Shrek climbed up onto it as well.

In a box, Ning Rongrong asked Lin Huai:

"Now can you tell me Nana's exact strength?"

Zhu Zhuqing leaned in to listen too.

She was curious about the information Lin Huai had on the others.

Lin Huai watched Hu Liena in the arena. She had made rapid progress over the past few years.

"Her Martial Soul is a benevolently mutated Spirit Fox, and she's at level 57 now."

"As for her age, I won't say. She's eligible to compete in this Soul Master Tournament, anyway."

The two women's eyes widened, and their mouths fell slightly open.

They truly hadn't expected Hu Liena's talent to be so incredible.

They had thought she might be close to becoming a Soul King at most, but she had already surpassed that by so much.

The battle was about to begin on the arena.

Dai Mubai roared:

"Brothers, release your Martial Souls! Stick to the plan!"

Apart from Ma Hongjun, they all had the same set of Soul Rings: yellow, yellow, and purple.

Then a sight that stunned the Shrek team and the audience unfolded before them.

Tian Yue's Golden Crocodile King possessed her Martial Soul, and Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's Martial Souls immediately began to tremble.

Then four Soul Rings appeared around her: yellow, purple, purple, and black.

Everyone except Lin Huai and Qian Renxue cried out in disbelief.

While the five members of Shrek were still frozen in shock, Hu Liena instantly completed her Martial Soul Possession. Her equally absurd Soul Ring Configuration appeared around her.

Yellow, yellow, purple, black, and black. Five Soul Rings revolved around her.

Both women had absorbed ten-thousand-year Head Soul Bones. With the support of Immortal Herbs and Whale Rubber, they had successfully absorbed ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Rings.

As her Soul Rings lit up, Hu Liena unleashed an illusion attack.

Tang San hadn't even had time to wind Blue Silver Grass around everyone's waists.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun charged straight out of the arena like rabid dogs in heat, tents and all.

What surprised Lin Huai, though, was that Oscar came to his senses halfway through.

Of course, Lin Huai had no idea why.

Ever since Oscar had flown around with three women, he'd spent the past few days in a state of post-climax clarity.

Just as he was about to pitch his tent,

a stabbing pain jolted him awake instantly.

Oscar hadn't noticed that Tian Yue's Martial Soul was a crocodile, not a Six-Winged Angel.

He quickly made three Flying Mushroom Sausages and handed them to Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were both distracted by the bizarre Soul Ring Configuration and the fact that Hu Liena was actually a Soul King.

They took the sausages and ate them. Only after flying into the air did they notice:

Tian Yue's Martial Soul wasn't a Six-Winged Angel!