Tang San finally understood. These three women had never planned to follow his strategy. They were using him as a living target to draw fire!
"Xiao Wu!"
Tang San had just started to call out when he saw Xiao Wu launch an attack from the other side. Her target wasn't Zhao Wuji, but the exposed side of Zhao Wuji's waist as he attacked Tang San.
Zhao Wuji had no choice but to split his attention to deal with her, giving Tang San a brief chance to catch his breath.
But after striking once, Xiao Wu immediately retreated, keeping herself on Tang San's flank the entire time. She appeared to be supporting him, but in reality, she was just making sure their "shield" wasn't smashed to pieces with a single slap.
At the edge of the arena, Ning Rongrong maintained her buffs on Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu while pretending to strain with all her might to activate her Martial Soul, looking so drenched in sweat that she could barely protect herself. But her eyes remained fixed on the battle, and one hand was secretly tucked behind her back, where a silver Soul Power pistol was slowly charging.
"You little slippery devils."
Zhao Wuji was fed up with Zhu Zhuqing's harassment and decided to take one of them out first.
"Third Soul Skill, Gravity Enhancement!"
His purple Soul Ring lit up, and an invisible field of gravity instantly enveloped the area where Tang San stood.
Tang San felt his body sink, and his speed plummeted.
"Now!" A flash of pink crossed Xiao Wu's eyes as she activated her second Soul Skill, "Charm."
Zhao Wuji's mind wavered, and his control over the gravitational field faltered for an instant.
Zhu Zhuqing seized the opening and activated her second Soul Skill, "Nether Hundred Claws." Countless claw-shadows hammered Zhao Wuji's ankles, forcing him to look down.
"Rongrong!"
Xiao Wu cried out and rushed in again, using the "Waist Bow" technique to wrap around Zhao Wuji's arm and restrict his movements.
From the other side, Zhu Zhuqing launched "Hell Stab," aiming straight for Zhao Wuji's eyes.
With the two of them harassing him from both sides, Zhao Wuji's attention was completely drawn away, leaving a huge opening in his chest.
"Ready!" Ning Rongrong's clear voice rang out.
She dropped her act, and a sly smile that didn't match her delicate appearance appeared on her face.
The silver Soul Power pistol had finished charging at some point, its muzzle gleaming with a dangerous blue light.
"Bang!"
A beam of energy shot out with lightning speed and struck Zhao Wuji squarely in the chest.
"Pfft!"
The defense of his vaunted "Immovable Wisdom King Body" was as flimsy as paper in the face of that beam. It was pierced in an instant.
He grunted as the enormous impact sent him stumbling backward, the stench of charred flesh rising from his chest.
Then a pain that pierced to the marrow surged through him, making him knit his brows.
He looked down at the torn clothes and mangled flesh on his chest, unable to believe his eyes.
This kind of power... It was already beyond the range of a Soul Emperor!
After that single shot, the tide of battle was completely turned.
Wounded, Zhao Wuji could no longer circulate his Soul Power smoothly, and the two women found it easier and easier to keep him occupied.
They followed the tactics Bibi Dong had designed to the letter, taking "selling out their teammate" to its absolute limit.
Tang San ran himself ragged across the arena, nearly getting hit several times by Zhao Wuji's furious attacks. His Soul Power drained rapidly, but Xiao Wu's perfectly timed "protection" always helped him escape danger.
He was worn down little by little, so subtly that he barely noticed, until the last of his strength was gone.
When the final wisp of smoke cleared, the incense had burned out.
Tang San's vision went black, and he fell into a complete faint.
"Tang San!"
Xiao Wu cried out and flashed over, catching him as he fell at just the right moment. Her face was full of "worry" and "concern."
If you were going to act, you had to see it through.
Zhao Wuji panted as he looked at the three women, who had also spent a great deal of Soul Power but were still standing. Then he glanced at the wound on his chest and could only give a helpless, bitter smile. "The young are truly formidable... You three passed."
With that, he clutched his chest and limped away. He needed to get treatment quickly. If he didn't deal with the wound, it might leave lasting damage.
"Yay!"
The three women could no longer hold back their excitement. They threw their arms around one another.
They immediately sent the third-person-view recordings they had each made to the group.
[First Cute Bunny: @everyone, we did it! Here comes the video!]
[Pagoda Suppresses River Demon: Girls, come see our brilliant moves!]
The moment the video appeared, the group erupted.
[I Am Not Yanzi: Holy crap! Your teamwork was flawless! You girls are amazing!]
[Begonia Blossoms: That Tang San guy had it so rough. You treated him like a monkey the whole time. I'm dying.]
[Heavenly King Covers Earth Fox: That strategy was so ingenious! That final shot was insanely cool!]
Bibi Dong opened the video too and watched it carefully before slowly typing out a message.
[Most Beautiful Pope: Well done. Your courage and execution are both commendable.]
[Most Beautiful Pope: However, it also revealed a few problems. Zhu Zhuqing's movements were still too straightforward. She nearly trapped herself in a dead end several times. Xiao Wu could have supported her half a second sooner. Ning Rongrong's charging act wasn't convincing enough; a more experienced opponent would have seen through it easily.]
[ Ding! Ning Rongrong's admiration Emotion Points +120.]
[ Ding! Xiao Wu's admiration Emotion Points +120.]
[ Ding! Zhu Zhuqing's admiration Emotion Points +120.]
Everyone read Bibi Dong's analysis and was utterly convinced.
[I Am Not Swallow: As expected of His Holiness the Pope! Her tactical skill is way beyond that so-called Grandmaster's!]
[6G Sky Wing: Hmph. Comparing him to Mother is an insult to her. And Tang San's so-called tactics were nothing but armchair strategizing. Laughable.]
After watching the video, the three women humbly accepted the advice too.
[Pagoda Suppresses River Demon: Thank you for your guidance, Your Holiness the Pope! We'll remember it!]
[Most Beautiful Pope: It's nothing. Actual combat is the best teacher.]
Bibi Dong now seemed much more approachable in the group.
The three women tagged Ye Qiong in the group again.
[First Cute Bunny: @Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero, Big Brother Group Owner, we owe you so much for the weapons you gave us! They're amazing!]
[Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero: We're all family. No need to be so polite. Just make sure you complete the task you promised me later.]
[I Am Not Yanzi: A task? What task? Group Owner, tell us!]
[Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero: We're just a little short. For now, everyone can chat more in the group and share some photos or videos. The more active the group is, the faster it'll level up. It should upgrade tonight.]
[Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero: Once it upgrades, everyone will find out the details of the task feature.]
At his words, everyone immediately understood. The group's upgrade was tied to how active they were.
Ye Qiong closed the group chat and opened his system panel.
[Emotion Point Report: This event earned a total of 2532 Emotion Points. The system's double reward was triggered, bringing the final total to 5064 points.] [Current total Emotion Points: 5064.]
"Not bad." Ye Qiong decided to raise his level first. He focused his mind.
[3400 Emotion Points consumed. Soul Power Level increased from Level 34 to Level 35!]
A warm current swept through his body, and he could feel his strength improving once again.
[Remaining Emotion Points: 1664.]
Ye Qiong held on to the remaining Emotion Points, then opened the group chat interface and looked at the upgrade prompt only he could see.
The group chat was on the verge of upgrading. It just needed a little more activity.
Soon. It would upgrade soon.
The only way to leave Aedes Elysiae was...
Night fell.
In the woods outside Shrek Academy, Zhao Wuji sat drinking in a foul mood, the wound in his chest still aching faintly.
He'd been outplayed by a few little girls today. It had been a serious blow to the reputation of the Immovable Wisdom King.
"Zhao Wuji."
A cold voice rang out behind him without warning.
Every hair on Zhao Wuji's body stood on end. He spun around to see a towering figure shrouded in black robes standing behind him. He had no idea when the figure had appeared.
The terrifying aura sobered him up halfway in an instant.
"When you hit the young, the old naturally come out to demand justice." The figure in black slowly raised a hand, and nine Soul Rings suddenly lit up. The last one was a startling blood red.
"A T-Titled Douluo!" Zhao Wuji's legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees.
"I won't use my Martial Soul. I'll play with you a little."
Before the words had even faded, the figure in black had vanished from the spot.
The next second, a bloodcurdling scream rang out from the woods.
"Aaagh..." (Special thanks to Teacher Tom for the voice acting.)
Before you continue