Shrek Before the Battle

"Fatty, what's wrong with you? It's just the intelligence that arrived about tomorrow's opponent. What are you scared of?"

Seeing Ma Hongjun acting like a startled bird, Oscar hurried over to comfort him. However, Ma Hongjun seemed to have found something to cling to and desperately tried to burrow his fat body into Oscar's arms.

"He's here, he's here! That freak is here!"

Ma Hongjun pointed at the intelligence report about Wang Tianyi on the table, trembling like a quail. Everyone followed his finger, and Dai Mubai picked up the report to examine it. Tang San and Xiao Wu's expressions, however, instantly darkened.

"Wang Tianyi? A new member of the Imperial Fighting Team. Martial Soul: Heaven-Equaling. Soul Power: Rank 33. Soul Ring configuration... one yellow, two purple?!"

Dai Mubai's startled cry drew everyone else's attention. What did one yellow and two purple mean? One Hundred-Year Soul Ring and two Thousand-Year Soul Rings? But how was that possible? Master had said that a Soul Master's first two Soul Rings could only be yellow. The power of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring was simply unbearable for Soul Masters below the Soul Elder rank. It wasn't as if no greedy people had tried before, but every single one of them had been burst to death!

"This Imperial Fighting Team really is full of hidden talents! I've never heard of a Heaven-Equaling Martial Soul, but for someone named Wang Tianyi to join the Imperial Fighting Team with Rank 33 Soul Power, he must be incredibly strong!"

Ning Rongrong, who came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was exceptionally knowledgeable. The Imperial Fighting Team was practically the strongest youth Soul Master team in the entire Heaven Dou Empire. Most of its members were high-rank Soul Elders. It wasn't that they couldn't break through to Soul Ancestor; they were deliberately suppressing their cultivation to strengthen their foundations further! Take Yu Tianheng of the Imperial Fighting Team, for instance. If he wanted to break through to Soul Ancestor, it would be as easy as eating and drinking.

"Huh? Little San, Xiao Wu, what's wrong? Your faces look terrible!"

Oscar noticed Tang San's ashen expression and Xiao Wu's pale face, and he was utterly confused. Ever since he had met them, Xiao Wu had always been fearless, but now she looked incomparably flustered. Tang San, meanwhile, was usually as calm as still water. No matter how powerful an enemy was, he could always find a way to deal with them. He was unquestionably the brain and leader of the team.

Feeling everyone's gaze and looking at the report in Dai Mubai's hand, Xiao Wu suddenly felt her legs go weak. She dropped onto the sofa, while Tang San, his expression grim, slowly revealed the truth under everyone's watchful eyes.

"That Wang Tianyi is difficult to deal with! He's very strong. His true combat power is definitely above the Soul Elder level!"

Tang San's words shocked everyone. He could fight across ranks at Rank 33? What kind of monster was that?

"But Little San, how do you know that? Could it be that you and Xiao Wu know this Wang Tianyi?"

Dai Mubai had hit upon the crucial point. Tang San struggled with his thoughts for a long while before finally sighing helplessly and slowly explaining everything.

"That Wang Tianyi also came from Notting Academy. You could say he was our classmate. But he was arrogant by nature and looked down on everyone. Relying on the strength of his Martial Soul, he repeatedly showed no respect to his teachers or elders. He was simply a disgrace to Soul Masters!"

"My teacher, Master Yu Xiaogang, once saw his talent and wanted to take him as a disciple to teach him. Who would have thought that he would arrogantly refuse? Not only that, his words were full of insults. I stepped forward to reason with him, but Wang Tianyi actually attacked directly..."

Tang San slowly recounted the devilish six years at Notting Academy. He painted himself as an upright gentleman and Wang Tianyi as an overbearing, arrogant, and ill-mannered bastard! Everyone listened with righteous indignation. Combined with how badly Ma Hongjun had been beaten by that guy, the Shrek group all declared that they would teach Wang Tianyi a lesson in tomorrow's match! But as they continued talking, they could not avoid the question of Wang Tianyi's true strength.

"Little San, you said that you challenged Wang Tianyi many times back at the academy. What were the results?"

Oscar really had a knack for bringing up the sorest subject! If Tang San had gotten the better of him, if he had won, why would he not have said so? Over six years at Notting Academy, Tang San had challenged Wang Tianyi no fewer than ten times, but every single time had ended in an unquestionable crushing defeat.

"That guy's Martial Soul is strange! It has an extremely domineering power attribute and completely counters my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Everyone needs to be careful in tomorrow's battle, especially Mubai. Don't fight him head-on!"

Tang San did not answer directly, but Oscar and the others already understood perfectly well.

"Hmph! This young master is now a high-rank Soul Elder. Heaven-Equaling Martial Soul? I've never even heard of it! So what if it has great strength? My White Tiger Wuhun isn't weak either! Little San, Fatty, just watch. See how this young master deals with him tomorrow!"

Dai Mubai clearly had not taken Tang San's words to heart. He had great confidence in his Martial Soul. More importantly, if he truly defeated Wang Tianyi, not only could he vent the anger of his two good brothers, but he could also show Zhu Zhuqing how outstanding he was. It was a win on every front!

The night passed quietly. By late morning, Director Ao had invited Yu Xiaogang and Flender to Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena.

"The fate of Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena is in the hands of Shrek's two team leaders! Please, everyone, give it your all. If you win today, the Great Soul Arena is willing to offer one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in gratitude!"

The Shrek Seven Monsters were Director Ao's final hope. The Imperial Fighting Team was simply too strong, and the city's nobles had staked their entire fortunes on them. If Shrek Academy still lost today's match, Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena would have to pay out at least an eight-figure sum in Gold Soul Coins!

"Don't worry, Director Ao! Every one of our little monsters is exceptionally strong. The Imperial Fighting Team is a terrifying opponent, but I believe the children under my care can create a miracle!"

Flender patted his chest as he gave his assurance. Tang San and the others possessed talent the likes of which he had never seen in his life. They were absurdly strong! More importantly, Yu Xiaogang was by his side—his old friend from years past, the greatest theoretical master in the Soul Master world!

However, Yu Xiaogang had already begun making calculations in his heart.

Shrek Academy ultimately could not provide its students with many resources, but the Imperial Fighting Team was different. They had Heaven Dou Royal Academy behind them. If the Shrek Seven Monsters could defeat the Imperial Fighting Team, they could use that as a reason to try and secure some investment from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Of course, what concerned Yu Xiaogang even more was that familiar name on the Imperial Fighting Team!

Boy, we meet again! My disciple is no longer what he once was. So what if your talent is high? Two top-tier support-system Soul Masters, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and an External Soul Bone—your defeat is already inevitable!

Excitement blazed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He could not wait to see Wang Tianyi's defeated expression!

Lose?

He had never considered such a thing!

For a master, such a word did not exist in his dictionary!