Xiao Xiao: Jiang Bai and Ning Tian's Unspeakable Secret!

In the end, Jiang Bai agreed to Ning Tian's deal.

The terms were that Jiang Bai would do his best to help her obtain a reserve team spot, while Ning Tian would prepare some resources Jiang Bai needed.

"Pills, cultivation resources, Soul Tools, and items containing life energy. I hope you can really help me."

Ning Tian looked at the list Jiang Bai had drawn up. Altogether, it was worth nearly a million Gold Soul Coins.

Still, if Jiang Bai could truly persuade Huo Yuhao, it would be worth it.

Others could not sense it, but Ning Tian knew.

The former glory of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had long since faded, like an ancient painting worn away by time. The image remained, but its colors had become mottled.

Even more terrifyingly, emerging powers that had once groveled at the feet of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were catching up to—and surpassing—it at an astonishing pace.

For example, the Soul Tool families of the Sun Moon Empire, the imperial worship hall of the Heaven Dou Empire, and even some small sects whose names she did not know were all encroaching on territory once occupied by the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

That Shrek Academy, known as the "number one academy in the world," had long ceased to be merely an academy.

Ning Tian was absolutely certain of this.

This number one force in the world had climbed to its position by stepping on the shoulders of countless sects, seizing their interests and even their inheritances.

Under the banner of "nurturing talent," Shrek gathered the best geniuses in the world under its wing. Shrek claimed to be "neutral," yet it was practically a nation unto itself.

So what could the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect do now?

For talent, they could only pick up what Shrek had passed over. For resources, they could only eat what leaked through Shrek's fingers. Even the sect's own disciples took pride in entering Shrek, as if the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect itself was no longer worth mentioning.

And now, Shrek was becoming increasingly distant from the other sects, even disregarding the survival of the Tang Sect.

That last point was the most fatal. When a sect could no longer unite people's hearts, its cohesion would fall apart.

Shrek would certainly take first place in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. At that point, Ning Tian only needed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to make a few arrangements, and Shrek could be tied to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the eyes of the outside world, calming those restless forces.

Several days later...

"Core disciples, stay behind. You'll come with me to the Soul Dueling Area shortly."

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao looked up at Wang Yan.

There really was one?

A few days ago, Jiang Bai had invited Huo Yuhao out and exchanged a few words with him.

"I've received word that there'll be a core disciple selection match in a few days. When the time comes, don't worry about me. I have my own arrangements. I want you to help me with something."

Though he did not know what Jiang Bai intended to do, Huo Yuhao still chose to trust him.

Brother Jiang must have his reasons for doing this.

Although Jiang Bai still had not said what he was planning to do in the end, which left Huo Yuhao confused. Sometimes Brother Jiang was great, but other times he only said half of what he meant. It made Huo Yuhao feel miserable.

He was being way too cryptic, wasn't he?

In the Soul Dueling Area, among the twenty-seven core disciples, only Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were Soul Ancestors.

Most of the remaining core disciples were second- and third-year students.

[Level: 34]

Having finally broken through to Rank 34, Jiang Bai held Xue Ying in his arms and happily looked at the people before him.

Good things lifted one's spirits, especially a breakthrough like this. Jiang Bai even found Dai Huabin somewhat more pleasing to the eye.

I'll hit him a few fewer times later.

Just as Jiang Bai was thinking this, he suddenly spotted a large, dark-skinned figure.

Tall and muscular, bald, with a red headscarf and dark skin.

He Caitou.

Jiang Bai recognized him immediately.

He Caitou stood out sharply among the crowd, and Jiang Bai noticed him at a glance.

Jiang Bai lowered his gaze, light flickering in his eyes.

He Caitou, originally named Xu He, possessed Twin Martial Souls: a cigar and the sun. His true identity was that of the Sun Moon Empire's crown prince.

He had not even reached Soul King cultivation. As for his backing, all he had was Fan Yu.

Weak strength, no background, yet an important identity—he was practically the perfect smokescreen.

If Jiang Bai wanted to stir up something major in the Sun Moon Empire, he could completely expose He Caitou's identity and use him as a smokescreen.

At that time, the Sun Moon Imperial Family would surely descend into chaos. Then, if Jiang Bai wanted to secretly do something within the Sun Moon Imperial Family, it would be much more convenient.

No one in the arena knew what was about to happen.

After a while, an old man staggered his way over to the crowd.

Seeing the person ahead, Xiao Xiao unconsciously backed away several steps. Regardless of anything else, she personally disliked this Taotie Douluo very much.

After Wang Yan reported to Xuan Zi, Xuan Zi decided on the selection method. Just like in the original story, it would be a free-for-all selection match.

The top seven in the selection match would receive special rewards.

Upon hearing about the special rewards, everyone became eager to try. Although Wang Yan had not said what the rewards were, the students below all knew.

Shrek was famously generous when it came to rewards.

"Oh, right. Spread out a little. Don't try any tricks."

Xuan Zi took a swig of wine and spoke with alcohol fumes pouring from his mouth, looking exactly like a drunkard.

Ning Tian seemed to be quite lucky, as Jiang Bai had happened to be assigned beside her.

"When it starts, give us your support, then just walk over." Ning Tian nodded upon hearing Jiang Bai's words.

Since she had sought out Jiang Bai, she naturally had to trust him. In a deal, a certain degree of trust was still necessary.

Jiang Bai looked across from him. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were standing together over there.

Seeing this, Jiang Bai swept his gaze across the others. This was not the only exception.

It was not just those two. The Lan Sisters, as well as Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, were also standing together. Their purpose was likely to make it easier for them to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skills.

"The match... begins!"

At Xuan Zi's command, everyone in the Soul Dueling Arena prepared to erupt into fierce battle. Yet in only a second, mist blanketed the entire arena.

"Hmm?"

Watching from outside the arena, Xuan Zi narrowed his eyes slightly. Soul Power gathered in his eyes as he saw through the scene within the mist.

Inside the mist, two people were unaffected. One was Jiang Bai, and the other was Huo Yuhao, whom Jiang Bai had taken care of.

At the same time, Jiang Bai opened a VIP channel through the mist for Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection. Everything across the battlefield was laid bare before Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Spirit Sharing!

Huo Yuhao immediately linked up with the people he knew. Wang Dong went without saying, since she was right beside him.

The others were Xiao Xiao, Jiang Bai, the Outer Court twin stars Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, and finally Jiang Nannan, whom Xu Sanshi had shamelessly begged Huo Yuhao to include.

Exactly seven people.

After linking up, Huo Yuhao quickly noticed something was wrong.

His spiritual power looked toward a point not far away. There, Jiang Bai had one hand pressed against his own forehead, directly passing Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sharing ability to Ning Tian nearby.

At this moment, Ning Tian stood still with a bewildered expression.

Didn't you say you'd clear a path for me? Why have you blocked every path instead?

Her original plan had been for Jiang Bai to help open a route so she could approach Huo Yuhao or another powerful teammate.

But now, with the thick mist rising, she could not even find Jiang Bai's position, much less Huo Yuhao's.

Still, Ning Tian obediently stood to one side. She chose to trust Jiang Bai.

A moment later, a strange power connected to Ning Tian's spiritual power.

It was a feeling Ning Tian had never experienced before, as though someone had opened a window in her mind, clearly displaying the scene outside it before her eyes.

"What is this?"

Though Ning Tian did not know what this was, she saw the positions of Huo Yuhao and the other six.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ning Tian directly bestowed her support buffs upon all six of them.

At the same time, Huo Yuhao suddenly sensed all kinds of Soul Power erupting within the mist.

The others had already reacted. Ignoring their teammates, they were directly attacking everyone around them.

Under the continuous explosions of Soul Power, the mist finally could not hold on any longer. It burst apart in an instant, revealing the students within.

At some point, He Caitou had already been knocked out. The Soul Tools he was so proud of had not played any role at all. He had not even had time to react; that attack had seemed to be aimed directly at him.

He Caitou scratched his bald head, inwardly lamenting his bad luck. He had not expected the people around him to be so formidable that he could not even react in time.

Most people in the arena had already fallen.

Wu Feng, the Lan Sisters, Cui Yajie, and several other highly competitive contenders had also been eliminated.

Those remaining were all the main forces among the Soul Elders.

At this point, seven people faced the remaining dozen or so.

"Yuhao?"

Xiao Xiao saw Ning Tian standing beside Huo Yuhao. Why was it not Jiang Bai?

"It wasn't me."

Huo Yuhao answered. It truly had not been him—it was Jiang Bai's doing.

Xiao Xiao also knew it was not Huo Yuhao. He had no connection with Ning Tian.

Maybe...

Xiao Xiao secretly mobilized her Soul Power, preparing to find an opportunity to knock Ning Tian out.

"Xiao Xiao, if Brother Jiang didn't allow it, Ning Tian wouldn't have been able to come over."

Just as Xiao Xiao was thinking of knocking Ning Tian out, Huo Yuhao's voice sounded by her ear.

Hearing those words, Xiao Xiao gave up on her previous thought. Indeed, if Jiang Bai had not allowed it, Ning Tian could not possibly have come over.

But why had Jiang Bai done this?

Dai Huabin looked at the seven people ahead, especially Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong among them.

"Zhu Lu!"

Dai Huabin gritted his teeth and pulled Zhu Lu beside him into his arms.

Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Hell White Tiger!

"Did you get abandoned?"

At the edge of the arena, Xie Huanyue looked at Jiang Bai, who had him completely suppressed, and no longer had any intention of resisting. His Soul Power had been utterly suppressed anyway, so there was no point.

Xie Huanyue looked curiously at Jiang Bai. Earlier, he had heard that Huo Yuhao and Jiang Bai were close. Why had Huo Yuhao not pulled Jiang Bai over?

"The top seven aren't useful anyway. I might as well find something else to do."

Jiang Bai answered with an arm around Xie Huanyue's shoulder.

"You really aren't curious?" Xie Huanyue looked at Jiang Bai beside him. Was he truly not curious about what the reward was?

"Not curious."

Jiang Bai merely shrugged indifferently. A reward? Facing the strongest Soul King in The Unrivaled Tang Clan, the Death God Douluo.

And fighting him.