Lin Tian VS Shrek! Tang San's Seven-in-One?!

Hu Liena pressed herself closer.

She buried her face against Lin Tian's shoulder, her hair falling between them. The strength around her waist made it impossible for her to pull away, and she had no desire to do so.

"Lin Tian."

"Mm."

"There's still a match tomorrow."

"I know."

"Then let's hold each other for a while."

"Alright."

Hu Liena closed her eyes.

Listening to Lin Tian's steady heartbeat, the heat in her body caused by the Whale Rubber gradually subsided.

After a while, she lifted her face.

"Give me another piece."

"You can't continue tonight."

"I still want to become stronger."

"Your body needs time to adapt."

"What about tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night is fine."

Hu Liena finally released her arms.

She stepped back half a pace and draped her black gauze outer robe over her shoulders again.

"It's a promise."

"Mm."

"You're not allowed to forget."

"I won't."

Hu Liena looked at Lin Tian, the smile on her face brighter than the lamplight.

She bent down, picked up the remaining Whale Rubber, and closed the wooden box.

"It isn't safe to keep these things in your room."

"I'll put them away."

"Put them in my room."

Lin Tian looked at her.

"You're planning to keep them for me?"

"And keep an eye on your cultivation while I'm at it."

"You'll keep an eye on me?"

"I'm already level forty-five now."

Hu Liena raised her chin.

"I might not be unable to catch up to you in the future."

"Then give it a try."

"Just wait."

She carried the wooden box a few steps away, then turned back to look at Lin Tian.

"Lin Tian."

"Something else?"

"That hug just now wasn't thanks."

"Then what was it?"

Hu Liena did not answer immediately.

She stood at the entrance to the training grounds. Her white dress clung to her slender figure, and the black gauze robe covered her shoulders, yet it could not block the radiance the lamplight cast over her face.

"It was because I wanted to hug you."

With that, she turned and left with the wooden box in her arms.

Her skirt swayed softly.

Her embroidered shoes stepped across the stone slabs, revealing a glimpse of her fair ankle.

Lin Tian stood where he was, watching her figure vanish at the end of the corridor.

A moment later, he withdrew his gaze.

"Hu Liena."

"She's getting more and more straightforward."

Lin Tian sat cross-legged on the stone platform again.

The Nine Nether Beast and the Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus appeared at the same time.

Four black Soul Rings slowly revolved beneath the lamplight.

He took out another piece of Whale Rubber and began cultivating.

At the end of the corridor, Hu Liena stopped while holding the wooden box.

She turned to look toward the training grounds.

The blush on her fair cheeks had yet to fade.

"Tomorrow night..."

Hu Liena raised a hand and pressed it against her chest.

Then she hugged the wooden box tightly and hurried back to her room.

Moonlight streamed into the room through the window.

The wooden box was placed beside the bed.

She sat on the edge of the bed, raised her legs, removed her embroidered shoes, and placed her fair feet on the soft carpet.

Remembering how Lin Tian had supported her earlier, her legs unconsciously drew together.

"Tomorrow night, we can't just hug for a little while."

Hu Liena muttered softly.

She reached out, took out a piece of Whale Rubber, and examined it carefully in her palm for a while.

"I need to become stronger."

"And keep standing by his side."

In the distant training grounds, azure and pitch-black light flashed in alternation.

Lin Tian was still cultivating.

Yet Hu Liena could not fall asleep for a long time that night.

One month later.

Deep within the Great Star Dou Forest.

Great swathes of ancient trees lay toppled across the ground.

Deep claw marks, several feet deep, covered the spaces between the broken trunks.

Lin Tian stood at the center of a clearing.

Level fifty Soul Power surged through his meridians.

Over the past month, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament had completed several stages.

Spirit Hall Academy remained undefeated.

With the help of the Whale Rubber and the cultivation chamber, Lin Tian's Soul Power had also risen from level forty-five to level fifty.

The Tank Engine had completed five enhancements.

Five new Attribute Forgers had further increased his strength, defense, and Soul Power recovery.

Now, he only lacked a Soul Ring to officially enter the Soul King realm.

Heavy footsteps continuously approached from the dense forest ahead.

With every step, the ground trembled.

Crack!

An ancient tree so large it took several people to encircle snapped in half.

A massive figure crashed through the canopy and appeared before Lin Tian.

It was a giant bear more than eight meters tall.

Dark golden fur covered its entire body.

Its two paws were exceptionally enormous.

Its ten claws were each over a meter long, dark golden light flowing across their surfaces.

The claws merely brushed the ground, yet hard rock was sliced apart.

A Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

One of the most powerful races among soul beasts.

This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had a cultivation of thirty thousand years.

Even an ordinary Soul Sage would not want to face it alone.

Lin Tian looked at those dark golden claws.

"Just right for the Nine Nether Beast."

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear suddenly raised a paw.

Five dark golden claw streaks tore through the trees ahead and descended straight toward Lin Tian.

Lin Tian did not dodge.

The Nine Nether Beast stepped out from behind him.

All nine giant tails spread out at once.

Pitch-black destructive power blocked Lin Tian's path and collided head-on with the dark golden claw streaks.

Boom!

Dozens of ancient trees around them exploded at the same time.

Splintered wood scattered in every direction.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear stepped over the broken trees covering the ground, its massive body charging directly at Lin Tian.

It raised its right paw.

Dark golden claws pressed down from above Lin Tian's head.

The Tank Engine within Lin Tian instantly activated.

His bones and muscles rapidly expanded.

Two meters.

Three meters.

Four meters.

Five meters!

The power brought by fifty enhancements erupted in full.

Lin Tian raised an arm and directly seized the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's wrist.

Bang!

The ground beneath both of them collapsed at the same time.

The shockwave blasted away huge amounts of earth.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear continued forcing its paw downward.

Lin Tian stood rooted in place, his legs not retreating even half a step.

"Not bad strength."

His five fingers gradually tightened.

A series of crisp cracks came from the bones in the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's wrist.

It immediately raised its other paw, five claws sweeping horizontally toward Lin Tian's chest.

Dark golden light flashed past.

Five tears appeared in Lin Tian's black clothing.

The claws continued inward, but only left five shallow marks on his skin.

The Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus bloomed to his right.

Azure Divine Light descended.

The five marks vanished in the blink of an eye.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear swung its arm again.

Lin Tian had already seized both of its wrists.

The Tank Engine continuously supplied him with power.

His five-meter-tall body pressed forward.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's thick legs gradually sank into the ground.

It tried to break free, but Lin Tian gave it no chance.

The first black Soul Ring around the Nine Nether Beast suddenly lit up.

"Netherworld Mountain-Splitter."

Destructive power gathered in Lin Tian's right leg.

He raised his knee and slammed it into the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's chest.

Boom!

The thick fur on the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's chest caved inward.

Its massive body left the ground and smashed through dozens of ancient trees behind it.

Destructive power had already entered its body.

A second eruption followed close behind.

A large cloud of blood exploded from the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's chest and abdomen.

It crawled out from the shattered wood, blood continuously spilling from its mouth.

The soul beast did not flee.

Dark golden light surged from its ten sharp claws.

Two Dreadclaw phantoms over ten meters long crossed as they descended.

Ten deep trenches were carved into the surrounding ground.

Lin Tian raised his right hand.

The Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus's first Soul Ring lit up.

"All-Heaven Prison Root."

Thick vines burst from beneath the earth.

Layer upon layer of vines intertwined, blocking the Dark Gold Dreadclaws.

The first layer of vines snapped.

The second layer was immediately cut apart.

More vines grew from the soil.

Azure Life Divine Light continued to fall.

The severed roots reconnected.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaws' power was rapidly depleted.

By the time the final claw strike passed through the vine net, Lin Tian had already arrived before the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

The Nine Nether Beast's nine massive tails descended from different directions.

Just as the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was about to raise its paws, its limbs were tightly bound by vines.

Destruction light blades repeatedly slashed across its back.

Large patches of dark golden fur were shorn away.

Wounds appeared one after another.

Lin Tian clenched his right fist.

The Pearlglow Gauntlet's power gathered around his knuckles.

He drove a punch into the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's head.

Bang!

The first wave of power shattered its protective Soul Power.

Netherworld Mountain-Splitter erupted from within the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear once more.

Its head slammed violently downward.

A massive crater appeared in the ground.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear still tried to rise.

Lin Tian raised his fist again.

This punch triggered a critical hit.

The destructive power doubled in an instant.

Boom!

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's head sank into the ground.

Cracks spread outward from the center of the crater.

Its limbs twitched a few times before completely losing their strength.

A pitch-black Soul Ring rose above its corpse.

Lin Tian withdrew the Nine Nether Beast.

His five-meter-tall body returned to normal.

He sat cross-legged and raised a hand to draw in the Soul Ring.

The Thirty-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring quickly descended.

Immense Soul Power surged into his body.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's lingering savagery entered his Spirit Sea. Before it could take shape, it was shattered by a single swipe of the Nine Nether Beast's claw.

The Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus scattered divine light.

The Soul Ring's power continuously merged into Lin Tian's meridians and flesh.

Half an hour later.

The fifth black Soul Ring stabilized.

Lin Tian opened his eyes.

The pressure of a Soul King spread from his body.

The scattered wood and rocks around him were sent tumbling outward at once.

Level fifty-one!

[Fifth Soul Ring successfully absorbed.]

[Obtained Soul Skill: Dark Gold Soul-Destroying Claw.]

[Dark Gold Soul-Destroying Claw: Condenses Dark Gold Dreadclaws with the power of destruction, ignores part of the target's defenses, and inflicts damage on both body and spirit.]

Lin Tian raised his right hand.

Dark golden claws covered his five fingers.

Pitch-black destructive aura flowed between the claws.

He casually swung forward.

Five claw strikes instantly crossed a hundred meters.

Ancient trees, rocks, and the ground along their path were all sliced apart.

Five deep trenches stretched all the way to the end of the forest.

"Not bad."

Lin Tian withdrew his Soul Power.

He turned and left the Great Star Dou Forest.

Three days later.

Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena.

Inside Spirit Hall Academy's waiting area.

Hu Liena stood before Lin Tian.

She wore a white-and-gold academy uniform.

Her fitted short skirt fell to the middle of her thighs.

Black stockings wrapped around her long legs.

Her golden boots stepped across the floor, their heels making soft clicks.

She raised a hand to straighten Lin Tian's collar.

"You left for three days without even telling me beforehand."

"I went to hunt my fifth Soul Ring."

Lin Tian looked down at her.

"I'm back now."

Hu Liena pressed his collar flat.

Her fingers traced downward along the golden patterns before stopping over Lin Tian's chest.

"You reached level fifty?"

"More precisely, level fifty-one."

She lifted her face.

"What soul beast?"

"A Thirty-Thousand-Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear."

Hu Liena's fingers paused.

"You killed it alone?"

"Mm."

She stared at Lin Tian for a moment.

"Even Soul Sages are unwilling to take a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's attacks head-on."

"Yet you came back without a single wound on you."

"It could only tear my clothes."

Lin Tian raised his hand and held Hu Liena by the waist.

"Have you been cultivating properly these past few days?"

"I'm already level forty-six."

Hu Liena stepped closer.

Her black stockings brushed against Lin Tian's trousers.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face to his chest.

"While you were gone, I didn't even use any Whale Rubber."

"Afraid something would go wrong?"

"I was waiting for you to help me."

She looked up at him.

"After today's match, cultivate with me."

"Alright."

Hu Liena did not let go immediately.

She rose onto her toes and lightly touched the side of Lin Tian's face.

"This is your reward for returning safely."

Lin Tian held her waist and did not let her pull away.

"Only this?"

Hu Liena's cheeks reddened slightly.

"We'll talk tonight."

The waiting area's doors were pushed open at that moment.

Xie Yue entered the room, his steps stopping at the doorway.

Yan followed behind him and likewise saw Hu Liena leaning in Lin Tian's arms.

Hu Liena released him and adjusted her short skirt.

Her expression quickly returned to normal.

"Is the match about to begin?"

Xie Yue nodded.

"Our opponents are Shrek Academy."

Lin Tian stood up.

"Let's go."

The doors on both sides of the Soul Battle Platform opened at once.

The Shrek Seven Monsters entered first.

Dai Mubai stood at the very front of the team.

Tang San stood in the center.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing guarded the flanks.

Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong stood in the rear.

Spirit Hall Academy stepped onto the Soul Battle Platform from the other side.

Lin Tian stood at the front.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan stood to his left and right.

The other three team members followed behind them.

This time, Lin Tian did not have the team members withdraw.

"Use the formation we normally train with."

Hu Liena nodded.

"I'll handle mental control."

Xie Yue drew his two Moon Blades.

"Yan and I will attack."

The remaining three released their Soul Power at the same time, preparing to provide support and defense.

On Shrek's side, Tang San stared at Lin Tian's feet.

"Five Soul Rings."

Dai Mubai's expression darkened.

The experience of kneeling on the Soul Battle Platform last time remained in his memory even now.

"He's already a Soul King."

Yu Xiaogang stood outside the arena.

"Tang San, use the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique immediately!"

Tang San did not hesitate.

"Form up!"

The seven Shrek members quickly lined up in a straight line.

Ning Rongrong summoned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Oscar produced Recovery Sausages.

The others' Soul Power was continuously transmitted through a special method, all of it gathering within Tang San's body.

Blue Silver Grass covered the entire Soul Battle Platform.

Tang San's aura rose steadily.

Level forty.

Level fifty.

Level sixty.

Immense Soul Power condensed into the phantom of giant Blue Silver Grass behind him.

A wave of cries erupted from the stands.

"Shrek's Soul Power has fused!"

"Tang San's aura is already close to that of a Soul Sage!"

"This is Shrek's true trump card!"

The referee raised his right hand.

"The match begins!"

The fourth Soul Ring beneath Tang San's feet immediately lit up.

"Blue Silver Prison!"

Hundreds of Blue Silver Grass vines burst through the Soul Battle Platform.

The vines lashed toward Spirit Hall's seven members from every direction.

Hu Liena stepped forward.

Demon Fox Martial Soul Possession.

Pink light blanketed the Soul Battle Platform.

"Enchantment!"

Ma Hongjun and Oscar froze at the same time.

Just as Zhu Zhuqing was about to launch a surprise attack, Xie Yue's two Moon Blades had already blocked her path.

Yan slammed a fist into the ground.

Crimson flames surged out along the cracks, burning away all the surrounding Blue Silver Grass.

Three Spirit Hall team members activated their soul skills at the same time.

A Soul Power barrier covered the rear of their formation.

Shrek's first wave of attacks was completely blocked.

Tang San raised both hands.

More Blue Silver Grass grew from beneath the ground.

"Hold Lin Tian down!"

Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu charged out at the same time.

The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave descended head-on.

Xiao Wu circled to the side, her legs striking directly at Lin Tian's neck.