Expert Appraisal Technique

"Hmph, I don't believe you can maintain your flight ability forever."

"Your spirit power consumption must be incredibly high, right?"

Unable to lay a hand on Tang Wu and the others, Zhao Wuji said triumphantly:

"When the time comes, you'll get what's coming to you..."

However, the reality was exactly as he had anticipated.

The spirit power consumption for this flight was being sustained entirely by Tang San alone.

As the core of the spirit skill, he had to bear the additional burden of the other three, causing his spirit power to drain rapidly.

Less than three minutes later.

Xiao Wu and the others were about to crash because Tang San's spirit power was exhausted.

Just as Zhao Wuji was laughing, a seed suddenly descended from the sky, landing precisely in his mouth.

Gulp.

Before he could react, he subconsciously swallowed it.

"Hey, have you no morals? Littering from such a height!!!"

"Watch out, or I'll report you to the police station and have the officers come arrest you for a 12-day stay in the holding cell."

Zhao Wuji said indignantly.

It was fortunate that it was just a seed this time, nothing of any real consequence.

If it had been something else, while it wouldn't have harmed a Spirit Saint like him, it would have been disgusting, wouldn't it?

"Don't worry, Teacher Zhao, that was just a croton seed; it's nothing major."

"It'll just be a bit of... an unpleasant experience, that's all."

Tang Wu said with a beaming smile.

His expression was very subtle, and his eyes seemed to be looking forward to what was about to happen.

Although croton seeds have laxative properties and can be used to treat constipation.

But Zhao Wuji was, after all, a Spirit Saint; his physique, nourished by spirit power, had an incredibly powerful digestive system.

It was just a tiny croton seed; surely it would be digested before it could even take effect?

And so...

Zhao Wuji immediately dismissed it and mocked Tang Wu, who was hovering above:

"I thought it was something serious; to think you'd try to deal with me this way—you're far too naive."

"I'll tell you the truth: this won't have the slightest effect on me."

He wore an expression as if he had seen right through Tang Wu's plan.

To this, Tang Wu smiled slightly:

"What if I told you that was only the first layer?"

"The real trump card is still to come. Second Spirit Skill: Strangling Resurrection Banyan!"

"What?!!"

Zhao Wuji was shocked upon hearing this.

The power of the Strangling Banyan, which had been lying in wait within his body, finished accumulating and began to grow and spread rapidly.

In the blink of an eye.

Zhao Wuji's body was covered in sturdy vines; even his hands and feet were immobilized, pinning him firmly in place.

The lignification spread to every part of his body.

Back at the Rose Hotel, Tang Wu had used this very move to control Dai Mubai.

By utilizing the Strangling Banyan's exceptional control capabilities, he had caught his opponent off guard and secured a victory in one fell swoop.

"What an overbearing control spirit skill. Even an average Spirit King might not be able to break free."

Feeling his stiffened body, Zhao Wuji offered a word of praise:

"But unfortunately, if you think this can control me, Vajra Bear."

"Break for me!"

As Zhao Wuji exerted his strength, the vines coiled around his body were instantly shattered and sent flying.

Leaves and branches scattered everywhere like falling flower petals.

Just as Zhao Wuji was about to say something more after clearing away the debris, his expression stiffened.

He looked down, watching in horror as his stomach rapidly swelled and expanded.

"You... what exactly did you do to me?"

"Actually, the Strangling Banyan wasn't the main point; the real point is my third spirit skill."

"When the Strangling Banyan matured, I slightly altered its seeds, replacing them with durians."

Tang Wu spoke in a gentle voice, uttering the most brutal of words.

Is this the legendary... Appraisal of the Strong?

With sharp spikes protruding from his stomach, Zhao Wuji rolled on the ground in agony, a pain akin to childbirth.

"Wait... stop... no, ah----"

"Holy durian!"

Watching Zhao Wuji rolling on the ground below, the little rabbit Xiao Wu couldn't help but shiver:

"Third Brother, don't you think Brother Wu has become increasingly cruel lately?"

"This is indeed a bit too sinister..."

Looking at the miserable scene below, Tang San nodded noncommittally.

As someone who had watched Tang Wu's journey, he had witnessed the evolution of the other's soul skills firsthand; each one was more hellish than the last.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing gasped in horror.

Looking at the Tang Wu before them, as if seeing something terrifying, they instinctively backed away.

Tang Wu's ability had placed a durian inside a human body.

How brutal!

"Damn, so he was holding back before!"

Dai Mubai felt a surge of relief in his heart.

After seeing Zhao Wuji's current tragedy, his intention to cause trouble for Tang Wu later vanished in an instant.

He didn't have the physique of a Soul Saint like Zhao Wuji; if he took a hit like that, he would really die.

"Is Teacher Zhao alright? He looks like he's not going to make it..."

Seeing Zhao Wuji in such unbearable pain that he was trying to see if his head was harder than the rocks, Xiao Wu said with some concern.

To this, Tang Wu reassured her:

"Don't worry, Teacher Zhao is a Soul Saint, and his martial soul is a beast soul with extremely powerful defense."

"Therefore, he doesn't feel pain..."

Listen to yourself, is that even human?!

If Zhao Wuji were still conscious enough to hear these words, he would surely be unable to stop himself from cursing.

What do you mean he doesn't feel pain?

Is he not a person? Is he even human at all?

"Stop, I surrender! Hurry up and dispel this detestable ability!"

Unable to endure the excruciating pain any longer, Zhao Wuji waved a white flag.

After the ability was dispelled and his stomach gradually shrank, he looked at Tang Wu with a complex expression:

"Tell me, kid, where did you get such a hellish soul skill? I've traveled far and wide for so many years, and this is the first time I've ever seen one."

"Alright, according to the previous bet, all of you pass!"

Zhao Wuji waved his hand, announcing that they had all passed the assessment.

He hadn't intended to let them off easily; he had just been itching for a fight because he saw some promising talent. Who would have thought he'd suffer like this?

If only he had known, he wouldn't have regretted it so much.

Hearing Zhao Wuji's voice, Tang San finally brought the others down.

The moment he landed, his body felt weak, and he nearly collapsed.

Taking three people into the air consumed far too much soul power.

This kind of skill was not something he should be able to touch at his level, so the consumption naturally multiplied.

Tang Wu was doing better, as his level was higher than Tang San's, but he still couldn't help but feel a bit weak.

Seeing them land, Dai Mubai stepped forward to congratulate them:

"Congratulations, you are now members of our Shrek."

Zhao Wuji, however, looked depressed:

"Oscar, what corner of the world did you run off to?"

"Coming, coming! Whoa, Teacher Zhao, how did you end up looking like such a mess?"

Amidst a cloud of dust, Oscar sprinted to the scene with his stall.

Seeing Zhao Wuji's state, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Laugh, laugh, what's so funny?" Zhao Wuji snapped in a fit of rage:

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and give me some tofu."

After eating the tofu from Oscar's first soul skill, his condition improved significantly, and he felt much more spirited.