Talisman Master's Three Straight Wins, the Seven Monsters' First Team Victory

The Suotuo Great Soul Arena buzzed with noise.

Lin Xuan took Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the others to the betting counter first.

Ning Rongrong expertly pulled a large bag of Gold Soul Coins from her Soul Tool and slapped it onto the counter.

"The usual. Everything on the Talisman Master to win—singles and doubles."

The attendant handling the bets wiped away his sweat, hurriedly accepted the coins, and issued a receipt.

Xiao Wu leaned over with a grin and nudged Lin Xuan with her elbow.

"We're going to make a fortune in pocket money again. After the fights, you're treating me to the braised beef from the south side of town."

"Sure. Eat all you want."

Lin Xuan put away his number tag and headed for the waiting area.

The evening's matches were scheduled close together.

In the doubles match, Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu took the stage against two level-thirty Battle Soul Elders. Lin Xuan flicked out a Gale Talisman.

With her speed boosted, Xiao Wu moved so fast her opponents couldn't touch the hem of her clothes. Two consecutive Explosive Eight-Stage Falls sent them flying off the platform.

Next came Lin Xuan and Tang San's pairing.

Lin Xuan placed a Blazing Fire Talisman and a Clear Mind Talisman on Tang San. Blue Silver Grass wreathed in flames swept across the platform, controlling the field and scorching their opponents. The two level-thirty-three bruisers were forced to jump down and surrender.

In the final singles match, Lin Xuan faced a level-thirty-six defense-type Soul Elder.

Lin Xuan barely used his Martial Soul's close-combat abilities. He simply applied three Frost Lock Talismans, and bitter cold spread across the floor, freezing his opponent's legs to the platform's stone slabs.

Then a heavy punch empowered by both wind and fire shattered his opponent's protective Soul Power and blasted him off the platform.

Three matches, three wins. Lin Xuan had made it look easy.

In a corner of the stands, Yu Xiaogang gripped his pen, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

Lin Xuan's combat ability was too well-rounded. Whether he fought alone or boosted his teammates, Yu Xiaogang couldn't find a single flaw.

But he wasn't worried.

One person's strength didn't make a team strong. In the real world of Soul Masters, what mattered was a seven-person squad's tactical execution and how its Martial Souls complemented one another.

The main event tonight was the upcoming seven-person team battle.

In the team battle waiting area, an announcement rang out.

"Shrek Seven Monsters and Beast Team, please proceed to the Seventh Sub-Battle Arena!"

Dai Mubai rose from the bench, straightened his collar, and led the way toward the passage.

"Stay sharp, everyone. This is Shrek's first team battle. We need a clean win!"

Ma Hongjun followed with his belly sticking out, calling:

"Don't worry, Boss Dai. With you here, those guys won't stand a chance."

Oscar hurried after them too, chanting his sausage incantation as he prepared several Big Sausages and handed them out.

Tang San walked up beside Lin Xuan and said quietly, "Watch from below, Lin Xuan. We'll finish this quickly."

Lin Xuan nodded. "Stay safe. Just play it steady."

Xiao Wu trailed behind the group, muttering unhappily:

"We had a perfectly good team of seven, but someone insisted on benching our best fighter. I have no idea what he's thinking."

Ning Rongrong walked beside Xiao Wu, her lips pursed. She was clearly holding back her anger too.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and quietly brought up the rear.

Lin Xuan sat with Yu Xiaogang and Flender in the reserved viewing seats.

At the center of the platform, the two teams took their positions thirty meters apart.

The opposing Beast Team consisted of seven burly men whose Martial Souls were all beasts such as lions, tigers, and leopards.

According to the information read out by the referee, they had four Soul Elders and three Soul Grandmasters, with Soul Power Levels ranging from twenty-eight to thirty-four.

But when both sides released their Soul Rings, the difference became obvious.

Most of the seven Beast Team members had one white ten-year Soul Ring and one yellow hundred-year Soul Ring. Only their two captains had a purple Thousand Year Soul Ring each.

On Shrek's side, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xiao Wu all displayed the ideal combination of two yellow rings and one purple.

Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar each had the standard pair of yellow rings.

As soon as the brilliant Soul Rings lit up, cheers erupted from the stands.

"Begin!"

At the referee's command, four assault-type Soul Masters from the Beast Team charged forward, intending to tear through the defensive line with brute strength.

"Seven Treasures are famed: first, strength; second, speed!"

Ning Rongrong raised her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda first. Two beams of colored light fell on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.

Bolstered by the strength boost, Dai Mubai activated his White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier and met the charge head-on. His tiger claws stopped two strength-type Soul Elders in their tracks.

Behind him, Tang San raised both hands. Dozens of thick Blue Silver Grass vines burst from the ground and bound the Beast Team's two flankers.

"Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, go!"

Tang San gave the order from behind.

With her speed boosted, Zhu Zhuqing darted around the right flank, her claws aimed straight at the opposing Support Soul Master in the back row.

Xiao Wu used Teleportation to break into the fray. She activated her first Soul Skill, Waist Bow, and hurled a Soul Elder bound by Blue Silver Grass into the air.

Ma Hongjun flew low above the platform and unleashed a stream of Phoenix Fireline, cutting off the enemy's route to reinforce their teammates.

The entire battle lasted less than five minutes.

The Beast Team's Soul Rings were far inferior, and Tang San's control was exceptionally precise. Their attackers were separated and surrounded, while Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu quickly crushed their back line. Soon, every one of them had been knocked off the platform.

The referee announced loudly, "The winners of this team battle are the Shrek Seven Monsters!"

Thunderous applause filled the stands.

Flender pushed up his crystal glasses, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Not bad, not bad. These little monsters didn't disappoint me. Their teamwork was coming along nicely."

Beside him, Yu Xiaogang straightened his back, looking particularly pleased with himself.

"That was merely the most basic effect of complementary Martial Souls."

Yu Xiaogang picked up his notes and stood. "A complete tactical system is what truly decides a team battle."

Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged as he rose and followed them toward the competitors' passage.

In the dressing room at the back, the seven Shrek members gathered around a table, wiping away sweat and drinking water.

Dai Mubai looked delighted. He slapped Ma Hongjun on the shoulder and laughed.

"Fatty, that fire was right on target. You cut off that guy's escape route completely."

Ma Hongjun lifted his chin. "Of course. With you holding the front line, Boss Dai, I could attack as much as I wanted."

Oscar came over with sausages. "Here, eat a couple and get your strength back."

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing sat on a wooden bench to one side. Ning Rongrong took out a handkerchief and dabbed the light sweat from her forehead.

The door opened, and Yu Xiaogang strode in, with Flender and Lin Xuan behind him.

The lively room fell silent.

Yu Xiaogang walked to the front of the table, set down his notebook, and swept his gaze across the room.