Tang San's Crushing Defeat!

The surroundings fell silent.

Tang Chen withdrew the Destruction Scepter.

Three black Soul Rings merged into his body one after another.

He walked over to Tang San and looked down at the man kneeling on the ground.

"Do you still want to continue the challenge?"

Tang San raised his head.

Stone fragments from the platform clung to his face.

He looked at Tang Chen, his fingers slowly tightening.

"I lost today."

"I'll remember this."

Tang Chen said,

"Just remember the victory and defeat."

"Don't blame your failure on luck."

Tang San said nothing.

He braced himself against the ground and stood up.

But after taking the impact of Myriad Annihilation Return to Void, his legs still could not fully exert their strength.

As he rose, Tang San's body swayed.

Xiao Wu immediately rushed onto the Soul Arena Platform and supported his arm.

"Brother, how are you?"

"I'm fine."

Tang San pushed her hand away.

He looked at Tang Chen.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy students around them were all watching him.

Earlier, outside the academy gates, everyone from Shrek had been full of confidence.

They had believed the Heaven Dou Royal Academy students were no match for them.

But now, before everyone's eyes, Tang San had lost to Tang Chen.

From beginning to end.

He had not injured Tang Chen in the slightest.

Tang Chen turned around.

Dugu Yan immediately stepped forward to meet him.

She glanced at Tang Chen, then looked at Tang San on the Soul Arena Platform.

"You didn't even fully use your second Soul Skill, and he couldn't withstand it?"

"Mm."

A smile appeared in Dugu Yan's eyes.

"Now they should know that the Heaven Dou Royal Academy isn't a place just anyone can provoke."

Tang Chen did not respond.

Zhu Zhuqing came to his other side.

She reached out and took hold of Tang Chen's sleeve.

"Did that black sphere consume a lot?"

"It was fine."

Tang Chen glanced at her hand.

Zhu Zhuqing did not let go.

She merely pulled Tang Chen's sleeve slightly closer to herself.

"That's good."

On the other side of the Soul Arena Platform.

Dai Mubai looked at Tang San, his expression extremely unpleasant.

He had originally thought that if Tang San made a move, he could at least force Tang Chen to use his third Soul Skill.

Yet after the exchange ended, Tang Chen was still standing where he had been.

His three black Soul Rings had not suffered the slightest damage.

But Tang San had knelt before him.

Ma Hongjun opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Oscar lowered his head and looked at the ground beneath his feet.

Ning Rongrong raised her eyes toward Tang Chen.

For the first time, she clearly realized something.

The title of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's top student had not been yielded to Tang Chen by Yu Tianheng.

Tang Chen's strength had already left everyone his age far behind.

The teacher in charge of officiating looked at the Shrek group.

"The result of the practical battle is already clear."

"According to academy rules, Tang San can only enter the Intermediate Division for the time being."

"Do you have any objections?"

Dai Mubai did not answer.

Tang San stood on the Soul Arena Platform and raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his lips.

He looked at Tang Chen's departing back, a heavy look surfacing in his eyes.

Only at this moment did he truly understand.

The person before him possessed strength he could not confront head-on.

"Wait."

Tang San supported himself against the edge of the Soul Arena Platform and straightened up again.

Tang Chen stopped.

"Is there something else?"

"I lost the individual spar."

His blue sleeves hung at his sides as Tang San wiped the debris from his palm.

"But a contest between Soul Masters isn't limited to individual battles."

"I want another match—a team battle."

The surrounding students looked toward the platform.

The officiating teacher frowned.

"Tang San, you were just injured."

"I can recover first."

Tang San accepted the Recovery Sausage Oscar handed him, his eyes never leaving Tang Chen.

"Seven against seven."

"Both sides will form teams and fight according to official team battle rules."

Dugu Yan stepped half a pace forward.

"You couldn't beat him alone, so you want to change methods?"

"Team coordination is also part of one's strength."

Dai Mubai walked to Tang San's side.

"You should remember why the Imperial Fighting Team lost last time."

Yu Tianheng raised his right arm, and the blue patterns on his sleeve unfurled with the motion.

"I remember."

"So this time, I'll participate as well."

Tang Chen raised his hand and pointed to those beside him.

"Zhu Qing, Tianheng, Dugu Yan."

"Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Ye Lingling."

Three members of the Imperial Fighting Team immediately stepped forward.

Shi Mo and Shi Mo stood at the front, while Ye Lingling stopped at the very back of the team.

Zhu Zhuqing came to Tang Chen's side.

"I'll handle their support?"

"Watch the flanks first."

Tang Chen looked at the Blue Silver Grass that had yet to disperse across from them.

"They'll find a way past us and attack Lingling first."

"I understand."

She tightened her cuffs, her gaze settling on Dai Mubai across from her.

Dai Mubai saw her as well.

"Zhu Qing, must you stand with him?"

Zhu Zhuqing did not look away.

"This is the Soul Arena Platform."

"You should ask whether your teammates are ready."

Dai Mubai's expression darkened, and he said nothing more.

Half an hour later.

Both sides took the stage again.

The damaged platform had undergone simple repairs, and Soul Power barriers rose around the arena.

Tang Chen stood in the center of the team.

Yu Tianheng was at the left front, while the Shi brothers guarded both sides.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling stood at the rear, while Zhu Zhuqing kept several steps away from the others.

Across from them.

Dai Mubai and Jing Ling stood at the very front.

Xiao Wu was on the right, and Ma Hongjun on the left.

Tang San stood in the center, with Ning Rongrong and Oscar at the very back of the team.

Blue Silver Grass had already quietly linked all seven of them together.

The officiating teacher raised a hand.

"Leaving the arena, losing the ability to fight, or voluntarily surrendering will all count as elimination."

"You may not attack anyone who has already been eliminated."

Both sides nodded.

As the teacher's hand fell, the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda lit up first.

"Seven Treasures Have a Name: first, strength; second, speed!"

Several streams of colored light descended upon the Shrek members.

White light surged around Dai Mubai as he completed White Tiger Wuhun Possession.

"Little San, follow the plan!"

Tang San raised both hands.

Blue Silver Grass spread along the ground, but did not directly approach Tang Chen.

Large quantities of vines wound around both sides, dividing the paths beneath the Shi brothers' feet.

Ma Hongjun immediately opened his mouth.

A purplish-red stream of fire crossed over the front line and shot straight toward Ye Lingling.

Shi Mo raised his tortoise shell.

The flames struck its surface and spread to both sides.

On the other side, Jing Ling had already completed Martial Soul Possession. His bone claws hooked into the Blue Silver Grass, and he used its pull to rapidly charge toward the rear.

Zhu Zhuqing met him head-on.

The two figures crossed on the flank.

After their claws collided, Jing Ling was forced back repeatedly and failed to cross the defensive line.

Tang Chen did not move.

His gaze rested on Xiao Wu.

She had not followed Dai Mubai in his charge.

Only when the Shi brothers raised their tortoise shells did Xiao Wu's third Soul Ring suddenly light up.

Teleportation!

The pink figure crossed the front line and appeared at Tang Chen's right side.

Light glimmered in both her eyes.

Charm.

Tang Chen gripped the Destruction Scepter, gathering Mental Power at his brow.

Xiao Wu's expression changed drastically.

Her Charm failed to shake Tang Chen, and the backlash instead caused her movements to stall.

Only for an instant.

The purple-black scepter had already swept toward her.

Bang!

Xiao Wu hurriedly raised her arm, but she was still forced back several steps.

Before she could steady herself, Tang Chen stepped forward.

The scepter came crashing down again.

Xiao Wu twisted aside, swinging one leg around his waist in the same motion.

"First Soul Skill, Waist Bow!"

Black-and-white light flared around Tang Chen's right arm.

A heavy barrier unfolded between them, cutting off her leverage completely.

Xiao Wu failed to complete the maneuver and was instead jolted backward.

Tang Chen gave her no chance to recover.

The end of his scepter struck beside her shoulder.

Bang!

She dropped to one knee, one hand braced against the platform.

"Xiao Wu!"

Tang San abruptly raised his hand.

The Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Xiao Wu's waist instantly went taut.

Tang Chen raised his scepter.

A streak of purple-black light flashed past, severing the vines on the spot.

Using the last bit of pulling force, Xiao Wu leaped backward, and her third Soul Ring lit up once more.

She did not retreat to her team.

She appeared directly behind Tang Chen and kicked toward his rear shoulder.

"Again?"

Tang Chen turned around.

The Shadow Demon Spirit Left Leg Bone released a black glow. He evaded the kick, and his scepter immediately barred Xiao Wu's path.

Destruction Soul Power erupted.

Bang!

Xiao Wu was blasted head-on and slid several more meters after landing.

Her pink sleeve scraped across the stone platform, gathering dust.

She tried to push herself up, but her arm could not exert strength immediately.

Tang San's eyes reddened.

"Tang Chen!"

"I'm here."

Tang Chen carried his scepter as he walked forward.

"You were the one who proposed a team battle."

"When she kept attacking me, you never told her to stop."

"Now that it's my turn to strike back, you can't take it?"

A mass of Blue Silver Grass surged out from behind Tang San.

He gave no reply. Both hands flicked at once, sending several streaks of cold light flying toward Tang Chen amid the vines.

"Mubai, stop him!"

Dai Mubai's third Soul Ring lit up.

White Tiger Vajra Transformation!

His enlarged tiger claw came crashing down, followed closely by the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave.

Tang Chen's first Soul Ring bloomed with black light.

"Destruction Judgment."

A purple-black beam pierced through the white light wave.

Dai Mubai crossed his arms, yet his body was still pushed relentlessly backward.

Yu Tianheng charged in from the side.

Lightning covered his dragon claw as it slammed heavily into Dai Mubai's shoulder.

Both of them turned toward the flank at once.

A gap had opened in Tang San's frontal defense.

Xiao Wu had barely risen when she saw Tang Chen already standing before her.

She clenched her teeth and raised her leg to attack again.

Tang Chen blocked the kick with his scepter and pressed his left palm against her shoulder.

Soul Power jolted forward.

Xiao Wu staggered back again, her heels already against the boundary line.

"Xiao Wu, come back!"

Tang San flung out Blue Silver Grass.

Tang Chen's second black Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.

A black sphere gathered at the tip of his scepter, swallowing each approaching vine.

Xiao Wu still wanted to use Teleportation.

Tang Chen had already shoved his scepter horizontally forward.

Soul Power slammed into her, sending her straight off the Soul Arena Platform.

The host teacher raised a hand to catch Xiao Wu, setting her down beside the arena.

"Xiao Wu is out of bounds, eliminated!"

Tang San took a step toward the edge, then forcibly stopped himself.

He looked at Tang Chen, fingers gripping the hidden weapons in his sleeve.

"You could have just forced her off the platform!"

"The first time she lost the chance to close in, she could have retreated."

Tang Chen stopped within the boundary.

"The second time, she could have surrendered."

"She didn't."

"And neither did you."

Tang San raised his arm.

Before his hidden weapons could fire, a sheet of jade-green mist spread across the platform.

Dugu Yan raised her hand and pointed behind him.

"Your opponent isn't just Tang Chen."

The Blue Silver Grass immediately curled back, shielding Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

Ma Hongjun turned, blasting purple-red flames toward the poisonous mist.

Dugu Yan did not let the poison mist collide head-on with the flames.

She turned her palm over.

Two streams of jade-green mist split left and right, following the route of the Shi brothers' advance and sealing off Shrek's rear escape routes.

Oscar immediately handed out Flying Mushroom Sausages.

"Get off the ground first!"

Just as Ning Rongrong reached out, a black shadow passed through the Blue Silver Grass.

Zhu Zhuqing's claws sliced through the vines, and she landed between the two support fighters.

Tang San hurriedly pulled the Blue Silver Grass.

But the black sphere had already arrived before him.

Myriad Annihilation Return to Void!

The gathering vines were dragged by the Devouring Force, all veering toward the center.

Tang Chen raised his scepter, blocking Tang San's path forward.

"You want to protect everyone."

"Stop me first."

Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, attempting to slip past from the side.

Purple-black light descended after him.

His steps were forced to halt.

Behind him.

Zhu Zhuqing grabbed Oscar's wrist and knocked down the Mushroom Sausages he had yet to distribute.

She did not use her claws to injure him. Instead, she turned and gave him a push, sending Oscar toward the boundary.

Ning Rongrong voluntarily put away the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda and stepped aside.

Shi Mo held up his tortoise shell, blocking the other side.

The two support fighters had nowhere left to retreat.

"We surrender."

Ning Rongrong glanced at the arena and grabbed Oscar, who still wanted to go back.

The host teacher immediately announced the two of them eliminated.

Almost at the same time, Jing Ling's path was blocked by Shi Mo.

The Black Tortoise Shell thrust forward.

Jing Ling's bone claws could not break through its defense. His body crossed the boundary, and he landed outside the arena.

Only three members of Shrek remained.

Ma Hongjun retreated two steps, his gaze sweeping toward Dai Mubai.

"Boss Dai, what do we do?"

Dai Mubai had just blocked the dragon claw, and his right arm was already numb.

"Move closer to Little San first!"

The two swiftly tightened their formation.

Tang Chen stood before the three of them, the sphere of light atop his scepter slowly rotating.

"Do you still think no one from the Royal Academy dared to accept your challenge?"

Ma Hongjun raised his head.

"Your Soul Rings are just of a higher age!"

"That wasn't what you said at the entrance."

Tang Chen looked at him.

"You said the academy's rules were worthless, and that your willingness to come was already doing the academy a favor."

"You also said that if the Imperial Fighting Team lost, they would have no right to argue back."

The surrounding students' gazes fell on Ma Hongjun.

He opened his mouth but said nothing.

Tang Chen turned to Dai Mubai.

"You're the same."

"When the teacher told you to register according to the rules, you slammed the table."

"Before the other students even made a move, you used past victories and defeats to humiliate them."

"Is your so-called strength above all just being able to trample people when you win, then blaming your opponent for having better Soul Rings when you lose?"

Dai Mubai clenched his tiger claw.

"Don't lecture me with that nonsense!"

Zhu Zhuqing approached from the flank.

She stopped beside Tang Chen and looked at Dai Mubai.

"Then let's talk about you."

"When you left the Star Luo Empire back then, you left behind matters that should have been faced together for others to handle."

"Yet now, in front of everyone, you question why I didn't stand by your side."

Dai Mubai's expression changed abruptly.

"Zhuqing, this is between us!"

"You were the one who asked me here first."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her hand, and the claws of the Hell Spirit Cat extended between her fingers.

"I never agreed to leave with you."

"And I have even less obligation to save face for you."

Ma Hongjun stepped half a pace forward.

"Boss Dai only asked one question. Was that really necessary—"

"Mind your own business first."

Yu Tianheng walked to the other side.

"Oscar tried to stop you at the entrance, but you shook off his hand."

"Tang San had just lost the spar, and you didn't say a word."

"Now that Dai Mubai is being questioned about his past, you're suddenly so eager to speak for him."

Ma Hongjun's face reddened.

Purple-red flames rose along both arms.

"Have you said enough?!"

Tang Chen raised his scepter.

"Then let's keep fighting."