Clearly, Zhu Zhuqing had recognized Dai Mubai at a glance. Seeing her fiancé fallen so far, she felt both fury and despair.
Soon.
Zhao Wuji furrowed his brow, evidently displeased with the farce before him. He spoke in a low voice.
"Enough. Save your personal business for later! Are we continuing the test or not?"
The pressure of a Soul Saint erupted once more, leaving everyone gasping for breath.
Tang San drew a deep breath, suppressing the panic and embarrassment in his heart, then turned to Zhao Wuji.
"We'll take it! We're ready!"
He knew this wasn't the time to dwell on personal matters. Getting into Shrek by passing the test was what mattered most.
Xiao Wu composed herself as well, though her gaze toward Tang San remained icy. She clutched Fu Qin's arm tightly, as if she were grasping at a lifeline.
Ning Rongrong watched the scene with curiosity, her eyes shifting between Tang San, Fu Qin, and Xiao Wu. A delighted smile tugged at her lips as she enjoyed the spectacle.
Standing in the middle, Fu Qin sensed the emotions swirling around him and secretly reveled in it.
Dai Mubai's appearance had not only driven a wedge between Tang San and Xiao Wu, but also made Zhu Zhuqing give up on Dai Mubai completely. For Fu Qin, it was like killing two birds with one stone.
Seeing Xiao Wu clinging to Fu Qin's arm, her face full of sorrow, Tang San was so ashamed he could barely face himself.
He knew that if he wanted Xiao Wu's forgiveness, he would have to treat her a hundred or a thousand times better and remain faithful to her!
Next, as long as they passed Zhao Wuji's test, he would have a firm foothold at Shrek.
He looked at Zhao Wuji, a hint of eagerness flashing in his eyes.
"Dean Zhao, we're ready." Fu Qin's voice was calm yet confident as he met Zhao Wuji's gaze. "Please go easy on us."
Zhao Wuji looked at Fu Qin, a flicker of approval in his eyes.
"You've got some guts. Good. Since you're ready, the test begins now!"
Three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose beneath his feet. The aura of a Soul Saint spread out, and the air throughout the testing ground seemed to solidify. A hard-fought battle was about to begin.
Their strategy for dealing with Zhao Wuji was almost identical to the one in the original story.
The only difference was Fu Qin's addition as a "nobody."
Tang San would control the field with Blue Silver Grass, Ning Rongrong would provide support with her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, and Fu Qin, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing would lead the attack.
The formation looked conventional enough, but with his three buffs, their chances of victory could only grow exponentially.
Out of the corner of his eye, Fu Qin saw Ning Rongrong clutching her little fists, eyes full of anticipation. Her favorability on the panel had already climbed to 78 points, up another 13 from before.
"Move!" Tang San barked. Fu Qin, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing charged forward at the same time.
Fu Qin instantly activated his third Soul Skill, "Heavenly Eye: Construction." In the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, everything around him seemed to slow down.
The trembling of Zhao Wuji's muscles, the paths of his Soul Power as it flowed through him, even the telltale rise and fall of his chest as he breathed—all appeared clearly before Fu Qin's eyes.
[Heavenly Eye: Construction: Five senses enhanced by 100%, dynamic vision lock-on, weak-point insight +80%]
He raised his left hand and activated his first Soul Skill, "Hundred Refinements: Materialization." Nine Mysterious Iron throwing knives flew out of the Soul Tool at his waist. Their silver gleam flashed as his second Soul Skill, "Divine Mechanism: Object Manipulation," guided them with precision.
He had carefully tended to these nine knives, refining each one with his Alchemy Gloves. Their sharpness far surpassed that of ordinary weapons, bringing them into the realm of magical artifacts.
Tang San knew Fu Qin had this set of equipment, but had never seen him use it in a real battle. Now, seeing the knives circle like living creatures, his pupils abruptly contracted.
"Rongrong, boost my strength and speed!" Fu Qin shouted.
Ning Rongrong responded at once. The phantom of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda appeared in her palm, and two brilliant beams shot toward Fu Qin.
"Brother Fu Qin, catch!" Her pink Soul Power flowed into Fu Qin, and the strength stat on his panel surged by 20%, while his speed increased by 20%.
The Fate Arises and Fades buff took effect. That "Brother Fu Qin" came out sweet and urgent, raising Fu Qin's favorability by another five points, past 83.
At the same time, Tang San unleashed his Blue Silver Grass. Countless vines burst from the ground and wrapped around Zhao Wuji's legs.
"Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, attack his lower body!" he shouted, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Fu Qin.
Fu Qin controlled the nine knives, guiding them precisely around Zhao Wuji's defenses to target his joints, armpits, and the spots behind his ears. Every attack landed just right.
Even stranger, Soul Power flowed along Fu Qin's fingertips. Once he was close to Zhao Wuji, he lightly tapped the man's clothes.
"Hundred Refinements: Materialization" activated once more!
The coarse cloth of Zhao Wuji's clothes instantly unraveled into countless tiny strips, which he controlled with "Divine Mechanism: Object Manipulation."
Like a swarm of little knives, they slipped through the gaps in his clothes and kept digging into his flesh.
"Bastard!" Zhao Wuji roared. Soul Power burst from him, shattering the cloth strips and the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around him.
He stood bare-chested, his bronze muscles covered in fine bloodstreaks from the cloth strips.
But the instant he released his Soul Power, Fu Qin's Heavenly Eye: Construction had already spotted the key.
Three inches to the right of Zhao Wuji's lower back, the flow of his Soul Power was noticeably sluggish. That was his weak point!
"Third Brother, restrain him again!" Fu Qin shouted, then shot Xiao Wu a glance.
Xiao Wu understood at once. Her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul possessed her, and she shot toward Zhao Wuji like a streak of pink lightning, wrapping her legs around his neck.
"Third Brother Tang, quick!" she called. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fu Qin gathering Soul Power and unconsciously slowed her movement, giving him an opening.
The panel showed that Xiao Wu's favorability toward Fu Qin had already soared to 440 points.
Tang San gritted his teeth and activated his Blue Silver Grass again. This time, the vines were thicker, binding Zhao Wuji's arms tight.
Watching Xiao Wu work in such perfect sync with Fu Qin, he felt both angry and helpless.
He was supposed to be Xiao Wu's husband from her previous life, yet in this life, Xiao Wu's eyes and heart were filled with Fu Qin.
Ning Rongrong's affectionate way of addressing Fu Qin just moments ago had also stabbed at his heart like a needle, but there was nothing he could do about it.
After all, he really had done something to betray Xiao Wu.
The instant Zhao Wuji was bound, Fu Qin moved.
His figure swept behind Zhao Wuji like a ghost. In his palm gathered a gentle Soul Power infused with a strange, penetrating force.
It was his secret technique, "Love Massage," which he had been practicing for some time!
"Take this!"
His fingertips pressed lightly against Zhao Wuji's weak point. Threadlike inner energy mixed with Soul Power surged into his body, precisely vibrating his glands.
Zhao Wuji's furious expression suddenly froze. His pupils widened, and the grimace on his face gradually gave way to a strange look of bliss. The muscles throughout his body relaxed, and his Soul Power instantly fell by a fifth.
"W-what kind of strange move is this?"
Zhao Wuji's entire body went limp. He felt an overwhelming pleasure spread from his lower back, as if his whole body were soaking in warm water. He could not even muster the will to fight back.
Fu Qin pressed his advantage. His figure flashed, and he struck three different acupoints on Zhao Wuji in quick succession, each blow precisely hitting a spot where his glands clustered.
The effects of Love Massage stacked layer upon layer. Zhao Wuji's Soul Power grew weaker and weaker, and the blissful look on his face turned vacant.