Shrek's Underhanded Tactics

The Kuang Xi clenched its fists and was about to charge forward.

Dai Mubai did not retreat; his second punch was already gathered at his waist, ready to be thrown.

Just as the two fists were about to collide, a figure darted out from around the corner of the corridor, placing a hand between them with a thick layer of Soul Power in his palm, forcefully deflecting both forces.

He was a middle-aged man, lean and stern-faced, wearing a gray Soul Arena uniform— Manager Ao.

"Stop."

He glanced at Kuang Xi first, then turned to look at Dai Mubai, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Causing trouble outside the Mad Battle Team's rest area, do you two want to be disqualified from the competition?"

Kuang Xi covered his face, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth. He pointed at Dai Mubai, his voice hoarse.

"Manager Ao, he started it! He punched me as soon as I stepped out the door, and I don't even know who he is!"

Manager Ao turned his gaze to Dai Mubai.

Dai Mubai stood there, his fists slowly loosening, his expression gradually shifting from fierce to calm.

"I've mistaken you for someone else. Sorry."

Manager Ao stared at him for a few moments, then turned to look at Kuang Xi, remained silent for a moment, and then waved his hand.

"Go back, everyone. If it happens again, no matter who it is, they'll be disqualified. Kuang Xi, go get your face treated."

"Evil-Eyed White Tiger, go back to your own rest room."

"You're facing off in the team competition tonight. If you want to fight, wait until we get to the competition venue."

Dai Mubai snorted coldly, turned around and walked towards the other end of the corridor, never looking back at Kuang Xi once.

Kuang Xi stood at the entrance to the Mad Battle Team's rest room, clutching his swollen right cheek, the blood still lingering at the corner of his mouth.

He stared at Dai Mubai's back for several moments before gritting his teeth, turning around, and pushing the door open to go inside.

This was incredibly frustrating; he was always the one provoking others, and this was the first time he'd been provoked.

When Spider Woman saw Kuang Xi enter, her gaze first fell on the redness and swelling on his face, and she frowned slightly. "Kuang Xi, why are you back so soon? Did you find out the strength of the Shrek Seven Devils?"

Kuang Xi plopped down on the chair.

He spoke angrily, his voice trembling slightly due to his swollen lips.

"Don't even mention it! I got punched for no reason as soon as I stepped out the door, it was that Evil-Eyed White Tiger from the Shrek Seven Devils."

"Saying I flirted with his wife? I'm speechless! I don't even know who his wife is!"

Have I seen him before? Do I have a grudge against him?

The Spider Woman paused for a moment.

Her eyes twitched slightly upwards. She remained silent for a couple of breaths before suddenly speaking.

"Could it be that they just made up some excuse to probe our strength?" She looked at Kuang Xi.

"Did you... sense his strength just now?"

Kuang Xi's expression froze for a moment.

"... No."

He suddenly punched me; I didn't even have time to react.

The Spider Woman's expression changed.

She stood up, arms crossed, and took a few steps in the lounge, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor.

"That Evil-Eyed White Tiger must have already detected your strength."

"When he punched you, he must have sensed your Soul Power fluctuations in that instant. But you didn't see anything."

"We were careless. We didn't expect them to be even more cunning than us."

Dai Mubai pushed open the door and returned to the Shrek Seven Devils' rest room.

He walked back to his spot, picked up the water bottle, and took a swig.

Nobody knows what he went to do just now.

Zhu Zhuqing sat on the bench, arms crossed over her chest. She glanced at him, then looked away.

She had been keeping an eye on that door since the beginning.

She remembered Tang San's inner thoughts from the spectator stands very clearly.

The Kuang Xi will try to take advantage of me; I almost did in my previous life.

She was waiting for the door to be pushed open.

But the door remained unmoved.

Time passed little by little,

The sound of Loudspeaker Soul Tool came from the corridor.

"The next team match is between the Shrek Seven Devils and the Mad Battle Team. Both teams, please prepare to enter the arena."

Yu Xiaogang closed the booklet and stood up, Flender also opened his eyes.

Yu Xiaogang stood in front of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over them.

"Team competitions aren't like two-on-two matches; teamwork is more important than individual skill. Remember what I've been teaching you."

"Remember this: this match can only be won, not lost!"

The group emerged from the lounge and headed towards the Soul Arena Platform along the passageway.

At the end of the corridor was the entrance; two heavy iron doors were already open, and the lights from the Soul Arena Platform streamed in through the cracks.

Ye Lin walked in the middle of the group, with Xiao Wu beside him.

On the Soul Arena Platform, Manager Ao stood in the center, holding a Loudspeaker Soul Tool in his hand.

"Next up is the team competition: the Shrek Seven Devils versus the Mad Battle Team!"

"The Mad Battle Team, a seven-game winning streak, their strength is undeniable. The Shrek Seven Devils, a newcomer group, are making their debut. Who will emerge victorious? Let's wait and see!"

A murmur arose from the audience.

Manager Ao raised his hand and pressed down, his voice rising slightly. "Both sides, release your Martial Soul!"

The Mad Battle Team made the first move.

Kuang Xi stood at the front of the group, a deep roar resounding from his chest. He stomped his feet on the platform, growing taller, and a layer of yellowish-brown carapace-like patterns appeared on his skin. His arms became twice as thick as before.

Three Spirit Ring— one white, one yellow, and one purple—rose beneath his feet, their light spreading across the Soul Arena Platform.

Standing on either side of him were two Soul Masters with similar faces, curving ram horns on their heads, and three Spirit Ring— one white and two yellow—rising from beneath their feet.

Behind them stood two slender Soul Master, their arms hanging at their sides, their knuckles thick, each possessing one white and two yellow Spirit Ring.

The Spider Woman stood in the middle to the back of the group, her deep purple dress fluttering as she channeled her Soul Power, her long white hair reaching the ground. Her Soul Ring Configuration was top-tier: two yellow and one purple.

At the very back was a short man holding a round plate.

The surface of the plate was engraved with dense patterns, and three Spirit Ring— one white, one yellow, and one purple—rose from beneath its feet.

The Mad Battle Team's Spirit Ring were of varying quality, with only three purple Spirit Ring in total.

However, the Shrek Seven Devils all had the best possible combination of Spirit Ring.

Ye Lin stood in the center of the group, Dai Mubai stood to his left, Xiao Wu stood to Ye Lin's right.

Soul Elder with three optimally matched Spirit Ring exudes an overwhelming aura of power.

Behind him was Ma Hongjun, and on either side were Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

Zhu Zhuqing, an agility-based Soul Master, was placed last.

Spider Woman's gaze first swept over the Shrek Seven Devils' formation.

Her gaze lingered on Ye Lin for a moment, then on Dai Mubai for a moment.

Then it landed on the seven-colored pagoda in Ning Rongrong's palm.

Her pupils contracted sharply, and the fingers gripping her arms clenched tightly.

She glanced at Kuang Xi also turned his head at the same time. They exchanged a look without saying a word, but the meaning in their eyes was conveyed.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

The direct descendant Martial Soul of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects.

There are only a handful of people on the entire continent who possess this Martial Soul, and each of them is a top-tier existence among support-type characters.