Flip the Table

The referee's whistle came a full three seconds late.

It was not that he did not want to blow it; no one dared make a sound under that oppressive pressure. Only after Chen Xuan removed his foot and the berserker crumpled to the ground like a pile of mud did the referee suddenly come back to his senses. Trembling, he shoved the whistle into his mouth and blew the final whistle with all his strength.

"Th-the winners... Shrek Academy!"

His voice echoed through the empty Spirit Arena, yet it failed to stir the expected cheers.

The spectators were still stunned. That brief exchange of barely more than ten seconds had already surpassed most people's comprehension. An unknown "free agent" had used the most primitive, brutal methods to beat the undefeated Ironwall Berserker Team into dead dogs.

No flashy spirit skills, no complicated formation coordination.

Only a throat-grab, a heavy kick, and killing intent that chilled people to the bone.

"Th-that guy... is he from Shrek?" someone muttered from the back rows.

"Damn, wasn't that Stone spirit guy supposed to be a freeloader? The one who lies under the tree all day?"

"A freeloader? You call that a freeloader? If that claw had hit me, I'd be on my way to Spirit Hall by now!"

The murmurs spread like a tide. The spectators who had originally come for the Shrek Seven Monsters now focused in unison on the gray-clad youth standing in the center of the arena, leisurely dusting off his hands.

Chen Xuan ignored the gazes around him. He pulled out a hard flatbread from his pocket, took a bite, and chewed slowly.

The battle had consumed far less of him than it appeared. The Five Elements Flow had operated astonishingly smoothly in actual combat. Earth generated Metal, Metal generated Water; once that cycle was guided by the Wind Eagle Ring, the Wood Shadow Stone's stability had improved by at least thirty percent. Although the berserker captain's attacks had been fierce, to Chen Xuan, his openings were as wide as city gates.

He tilted his head and glanced at the Shrek Seven Monsters behind him.

Tang San was still standing where he was, pale-faced, the clothes on his back soaked through with sweat and clinging tightly to his skin. Chen Xuan's gaze paused on his back for a moment—the dark blue scales there had already receded, but Chen Xuan could sense that the icy aura had grown even denser than before.

Xiao Wu held Tang San's arm and looked at Chen Xuan with a complicated expression: wariness, confusion, and a trace of gratitude even she herself had not noticed. If Chen Xuan had not stepped in, Ning Rongrong would have died when that giant axe came down.

Dai Mubai climbed up from the ground and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The contempt in his gaze toward Chen Xuan was gone, replaced by deep shock. He had always considered himself a genius of the assault type, yet when that berserker had sent him flying, he had not even had a chance to fight back. Chen Xuan, meanwhile, had dealt with the man in a single move.

Ma Hongjun sprawled on the ground and muttered weakly, "If I were even half as good as him... Old Zhao wouldn't be training me like a dog every day..."

Oscar squatted beside him, still clutching half an uneaten Replica Sausage. His mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg. He had thought Chen Xuan was merely a lucky freeloader, but now he realized the man had simply been hiding his strength.

Ning Rongrong had already put away her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Her gaze toward Chen Xuan carried the shrewdness unique to a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. She could tell that Chen Xuan's fighting style was not reckless. It was an extremely efficient combat system—resolving the most crucial target at the smallest possible cost. That line of thinking coincided perfectly with her father's teachings.

Zhu Zhuqing stood at the edge, arms crossed, her cool gaze resting on Chen Xuan's right wrist. The Wind Eagle Ring there had glimmered with a faint cyan light during the battle, but it had now returned to normal. As someone who followed the ultimate agility-assault path, she understood that balance between speed and power better than anyone.

"Let's go." Tang San's voice was hoarse. He shook off Xiao Wu's hand and headed for the waiting area first.

His back was straight, but those familiar with him could tell that his steps were unsteady.

Yu Xiaogang stood at the entrance to the waiting area, his face darker than the bottom of a pot.

The referee approached with a record book in hand and cautiously glanced at him. "Master Yu, regarding this... contestant Chen Xuan's eligibility and points..."

"Follow the rules." Yu Xiaogang forced out the four words through clenched teeth.

The rules indeed did not say that a "free agent" could not enter midway through a match, but neither did they say that someone who joined midway could earn points. By Spirit Arena convention, such temporary substitutes could receive only a "Special Contribution Award," no matter how much they had contributed. The points belonged to the team.

Chen Xuan shrugged indifferently and stuffed the last bite of flatbread into his mouth. He had never expected Yu Xiaogang to give him points anyway. That remark had merely been a pit he had dug for Yu Xiaogang.

"Master." Chen Xuan stopped before Yu Xiaogang. "You said earlier that if I lost, you would make me get out of the academy."

Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly and said nothing.

"But now I've won." Chen Xuan spread his hands, wearing that mild smile that made people want to punch him. "Shouldn't you honor your promise and let me get out?"

The surroundings fell instantly silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Dai Mubai held back a laugh. Oscar pretended to cough. Ma Hongjun simply buried his head in his arms.

Yu Xiaogang's face flushed the color of pig liver. His chest heaved violently as he pointed at Chen Xuan, trembling for a long while without managing to say a single word.

He truly wanted Chen Xuan gone. But Chen Xuan had helped Shrek win today, and it had been an overwhelming victory. If he threw Chen Xuan out now, what would outsiders think? They would say Shrek could not tolerate talent, that Yu Xiaogang was narrow-minded.

More importantly, something was obviously wrong with Tang San's current state. If Chen Xuan left, Tang San's resolve might collapse completely.

"You... you are outrageous!" Yu Xiaogang finally managed to squeeze out those four words.

"Enough. Stop acting." Chen Xuan cut him off, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "You're keeping me here not for my sake, but for the sake of your theories. You want to prove that your control-type theory is unmatched under heaven, so you need a comparison group. And I just happen to be the most suitable one."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice until only the two of them could hear.

"What a pity, Master. You went to great lengths to turn me into a piece on your chessboard, but you forgot that even a chess piece can turn around and capture the king."

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted sharply.

Chen Xuan did not look at him again. He strode past him and headed toward the academy.

"Chen Xuan!"

Tang San's voice came from behind him.

Chen Xuan stopped but did not turn around.

Tang San hurried after him and stopped three paces behind him, his fists clenched tight.

"What... spirit did you use just now?"

That was what Tang San could not understand the most. Every one of Chen Xuan's attacks had been connected to his five stones. Yet those stones had clearly been identified by Su Yuntao as "waste spirits." How could they transform into so many bizarre weapons?

Chen Xuan turned to look at Tang San. The youth's eyes were bloodshot, filled with confusion, stubbornness, and a persistence on the verge of snapping.

"Do you really not know?" Chen Xuan smiled. "Don't you trust your teacher's theories the most? Go ask him."

Tang San's expression shifted.

"And one more thing." Chen Xuan pointed at his own back, then at Tang San's. "When you sleep lately, does your back always feel cold?"

Tang San stiffened all over.

He had indeed felt that. Especially over the past few days, every night, waves of icy, piercing pain would come from his spine, as though something were moving beneath his skin. He had assumed it was an aftereffect of absorbing a spirit ring and had not dared tell anyone.

"You... what do you know?" Tang San's voice trembled slightly.

"I know more than you think." Chen Xuan lowered his hand, a meaningful note in his voice. "But I won't tell you. Some things need to be discovered by yourself. Just like the things your teacher taught you—they need to be verified by yourself."

He paused, looked Tang San in the eyes, and spoke each word distinctly.

"Tang San, not everything you have believed in for over ten years is necessarily right."

With that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Tang San remained where he was, watching Chen Xuan's back vanish through the Spirit Arena exit as the chill in his back grew heavier and heavier.

Instinctively, he reached toward his spine. Beneath the skin there, something seemed to be pulsing faintly.

By the time they returned to Shrek Academy, it was nearly dark.

Chen Xuan headed straight for the old elm tree at the edge of the training ground. The recliner was still there, completely unmoved. He lay down on it and summoned the system panel.

[Battle settlement complete]

[Personal contribution rate: 78% (highest in team battle history)]

[Five Elements Flow stability: 92% (Wind-Wood linkage has been solidified)]

[Special reward obtained: Team Adaptation Module unlocked]

[Description: The host may take any position in team battles. The system will automatically adjust attribute bonuses according to the selected position. Current compatible positions: Core Assault (S-rank), Single-Target Breakthrough (S-rank), Defensive Stronghold (A-rank)]

Chen Xuan looked at the words on the panel, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

The Team Adaptation Module. That meant that when he participated in team battles from now on, he would no longer be restricted by Yu Xiaogang's "fixed positions." He could fight wherever he wanted and however he wanted.

That was a true "free agent."

Just then, another prompt appeared.

[Detected: Nemesis Tang San's cognitive instability has risen to 52%]

[Detected: Yu Xiaogang's theory collapse has risen to 71%]

[Hidden quest triggered: Awakening of the Witness]

[Quest description: Before Tang San completely collapses, let him personally witness the viability of your path]

Chen Xuan closed the panel, folded his hands behind his head, and watched the sunset gradually darken on the horizon.

"Witnessing..."

He murmured softly.

"Then I'll let you see your fill."

In the distance, the sounds of the Shrek Seven Monsters gathering drifted from the training ground. Yu Xiaogang was arranging another training plan, his tone harsher and more unquestionable than before.

Chen Xuan closed his eyes, too lazy to listen.