"I hereby declare Qiankun Mingxin the winner of this Soul Fighting match. Congratulations on her twentieth consecutive victory."
A wave of thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Amid countless cheers, Xiao Wu watched the black-clad figure heading off the stage, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.
She absolutely couldn't let anyone discover that she was a Soul Beast.
The next moment, Sand-Shadowing Needle appeared in Xiao Wu's hand, followed closely by several Dragon Whisker Needles.
At the faint tremor behind her, Qingxi's expression sharpened. She turned, caught the Hidden Weapons flying at her, and hurled them back at Xiao Wu.
"Here, take them back!"
How could this be?!
Xiao Wu had never imagined that this person could catch even Sand-Shadowing Needle and the Dragon Whisker Needles.
"Ahhh..." Xiao Wu let out a series of screams as the two Hidden Weapons pierced straight through her body. The Dragon Whisker Needles had lodged themselves inside her.
"Oh, that poor girl... Nicely done." On the top floor, the youth lowered his drawn bow and sat back on the railing, his eyes smiling as he watched the dramatic scene below.
"Xiao Wu!!!" Just then, Tang San arrived at the entrance to the fighting arena. Seeing what had happened, his eyes immediately reddened with blood as he rushed toward that graceful figure.
"You'd better pray Xiao Wu is all right. Otherwise, even if a Titled Douluo stands behind you, I'll still take your life." As they passed, Tang San dropped the threat.
"I'll be waiting." Qingxi chuckled softly without turning around.
Did everyone at Shrek Academy have such thick skin? That old rabbit had clearly launched a sneak attack, yet somehow it was Qingxi's fault.
"Brother." Xiao Wu looked at Tang San holding her in his arms, and tears of grievance streamed down her face.
"Don't move. I'll remove the poison first." Seeing Xiao Wu covered in blood, Tang San's heart ached, and tears fell from his eyes.
He took out an antidote and carefully fed it to Xiao Wu, then pulled the Dragon Whisker Needles from her body.
Xiao Wu let out a muffled groan, her face contorted with pain. Gripping Tang San's clothes, she pleaded almost desperately, "Brother, Third Brother, you have to kill her. We absolutely can't let her leave!"
Otherwise, if her identity as a Soul Beast were exposed...
Xiao Wu couldn't bear to imagine that day. She hadn't avenged her mother yet; she absolutely couldn't die here.
"Xiao Wu!" The rest of Shrek arrived at the fighting arena and gathered around her and Tang San. Oscar hurriedly used his Soul Skill.
"I promise you, Xiao Wu. I won't let her get away with this." Tang San lowered his head and kissed Xiao Wu's forehead as she lay unconscious, his gaze resolute and unyielding.
Beneath the night sky, Soto City Grand Arena was like one enormous casino: some people celebrated while others slumped in despair. After the two-on-two matches came the grand finale everyone had been waiting for—the team battle.
Surprisingly, only six members of the Shrek Seven Devils entered the arena today. Even so, they still won the Soul Fighting match.
Amid the crowd's cheers, Tang San, wearing a mask, stared straight at a corner of the stands.
Qiankun Mingxin!!!
At that moment, countless thunderclaps seemed to roar in Tang San's heart. He drew a deep breath, forcing down his murderous intent.
So what if she had a Titled Douluo behind her? Anyone who dared hurt Xiao Wu would die!!
Late that night, Qingxi parted ways with the Imperial Fighting Team at Soto City Grand Arena as usual. On her way back to the hotel, she took a diagram of the Soul Awakening Grass from her Storage Bag.
She had already refined the Soul-Splitting Pill over the past few days. It would be ideal if she could find a Soul Awakening Grass to go with it.
Unfortunately, even though Drell had tried hard to inquire over the past few days, he had only managed to uncover a little information.
Ten years ago, a Soul Awakening Grass nearly nine thousand years old had been auctioned in Heaven Dou City. But no one knew anything about the buyer.
They were incredibly mysterious.
Qingxi sighed. The street was deserted. Amid the swaying shadows of the trees, a figure seemed to flit past.
She stopped, her gaze settling on the alley ahead.
A huge Full Moon hung in the sky. Beneath its light, everything was still and silent.
"Come out. Aren't you tired after following me for so long?"
Six figures emerged, one after another. Tang San led them, with the other members of Shrek besides Xiao Wu standing behind him.
"Today, you'll pay for what you've done." Tang San pointed at Qingxi, his outward calm concealing a raging sea of murderous intent.
"Xiao San, let's make this quick." Dai Mubai patted Tang San on the shoulder and was the first to attack Qingxi.
Xiao San had made the stakes clear. They had to deal with Qiankun Mingxin before the force behind her found out.
"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
"Phoenix Fire Line!"
"Seven Treasures turn, out comes the glazed..."
"Sorry, but you leave me no choice!" Tang San raised his hand, and a black hammer appeared in it. Everyone immediately swarmed forward, unleashing all manner of dazzling moves.
Qingxi watched them rush toward her, a flash of killing intent crossing her eyes. Qiankun appeared in her hand, and she was just about to use her first Soul Skill.
Suddenly, she sensed a strange vibration in the air.
An invisible arrow, trailing icy cold, tore through the air and raised a hundred-meter wall of ice right in front of her. Tang San and two others were sealed inside it. Zhu Zhuqing, who had been hesitating, and Oscar and Ning Rongrong, who had no fighting ability, were the only ones spared.
Qingxi turned and followed the ice arrow's path with her gaze. When she saw who had fired it, her pupils widened slightly.
"Oops. Sorry about that."
Beneath the silvery moonlight, the youth sat on the roof's eaves, his legs dangling and swinging gently in midair. He twirled an ice arrow in his right hand, his amber eyes innocent and playful.
"But little girl... only I get to bully you." The next moment, the youth crushed the ice arrow in his hand. A freezing chill instantly swept toward the members of Shrek, icy winds howling.
"What a terrifying pressure..." Oscar shrank behind Zhu Zhuqing, eyeing the silver-haired youth, who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, with some fear.
He didn't look much older than Oscar. How could he be so terrifyingly powerful?
"..." Qingxi parted her lips, but didn't know what to say.
A glimmer passed through her eyes, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at him.
She had never imagined they would meet again under circumstances like these...
"Come up." Guang Ling crooked a finger at Qingxi. When she didn't move, he remembered that she still couldn't fly.
"What a hassle." Guang Ling muttered under his breath. He leaped down, unfurled the Ice Wings behind him, and landed in front of Qingxi.
The youth bent down and, before anyone could react, slung Qingxi over his shoulder and flew away.
"You..."
"You... put me down... let go of me..." Qingxi's face flushed scarlet with frustration. Never in her dreams had she expected him to do this. It was simply... too much.
"Quit whining." Guang Ling gave her a smack and carried her all the way back to the Spirit Hall in Soto City.
"You!" Qingxi was just about to blow up when he set her down the next moment. She looked at the buildings around her; they seemed familiar.
"You've grown quite a bit in the six years since we last met..." A cold index finger rested on her forehead. Qingxi froze slightly as she looked at the youth so close to her.
He was a very handsome youth. She had always known that, a pure, snow-white youth.
Guang Ling looked at the identical birthmark between her brows, her familiar black hair and dark eyes. Her eyes were still as clear as ever.
Then the youth furrowed his brows, grabbed Qingxi's cheeks in both hands, and pinched them. "You're not cute at all."
He still missed the little girl she used to be, the one he could lift with one hand.
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