Imperial Fighting Approaches

The Spirit Arena had paid compensation.

A hefty sum.

Flender's expression softened considerably when he held the compensation statement.

Yuan Yu watched him.

"Dean, you were furious just now."

Flender put the statement away.

"Anger is anger. Money is money."

Zhao Wuji said, "You sure know how to keep them separate."

Flender ignored him.

This time, Yuan Yu got his share of the prize money.

Not because Flender had found his conscience.

Ning Rongrong was standing right there.

The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a stare more effective than any ledger.

Oscar eyed Yuan Yu's money pouch, envy written all over his face.

"You make money fast in the Soul King Division."

Ma Hongjun said, "Want to fight there too?"

Oscar shook his head at once.

"I'm happy selling sausages."

Xiao Wu turned to Ning Rongrong.

"You were pretty fierce up there."

Ning Rongrong gave a soft snort.

"I was never a pushover."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at her.

"Thank you."

Ning Rongrong froze.

"Huh?"

"For apologizing earlier."

Ning Rongrong turned her face away.

"It was the right thing to do."

A brief silence settled between them.

It wasn't awkward.

Yuan Yu noticed, but said nothing.

Back at the academy, Flender called everyone to the training ground.

The night wind carried a chill.

They had all just finished a fight, and every one of them had injuries.

But no one complained.

Flender took out a roster.

"The Imperial Fighting Team will arrive in Suotuo City in three days."

Dai Mubai's expression grew serious.

"Dean, will they really fight us?"

"Yes."

Flender said, "Qin Ming is leading them."

Zhao Wuji's expression shifted at the name.

Yuan Yu caught it.

"Someone you know?"

Flender looked down at the roster, his voice dropping.

"A former Shrek student."

Everyone was stunned.

Oscar's eyes widened.

"Our academy actually had a student who made it that far?"

Flender looked up.

"Oscar."

Oscar shut his mouth at once.

Zhao Wuji gave a grunt.

"That kid Qin Ming did us proud."

Tang San looked at the roster.

"How strong is the Imperial Fighting Team?"

Flender handed it to him.

"See for yourself."

Tang San took it.

The first line read:

Captain: Yu Tianheng.

Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

Level thirty-nine assault-type Soul Elder.

Tang San's eyes sharpened.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

One of the Upper Three Sects.

Dai Mubai had seen it too.

"Level thirty-nine."

Ma Hongjun leaned in.

"He's not even a Soul Ancestor."

Flender glanced at him.

"Don't underestimate the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."

Dai Mubai took the roster and read it again.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon has tremendous power in a head-on clash. If Yu Tianheng is their captain, he's no ordinary Soul Elder."

He paused.

"If I faced him head-on, I couldn't say who would win."

For once, Ma Hongjun had no wisecrack.

If even Dai Mubai said that, Yu Tianheng would be a tough opponent.

Tang San turned to Yuan Yu.

"Are you going to fight?"

Yuan Yu shook his head.

"Let's check the rules first."

Flender nodded.

"In a standard team match, you can't sign up with them for now. Your level is too high. It would throw off the team's matchmaking."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"So Yuan Yu can't fight with us again?"

Yuan Yu grinned. "I can watch you get beaten from below the stage."

Xiao Wu kicked at him.

Yuan Yu dodged aside.

Zhao Wuji said, "Him sitting out might not be a bad thing. The Imperial Fighting Team is a chance to see what you can do on your own."

Ning Rongrong pressed her lips together.

This time, she didn't immediately look at Yuan Yu.

She knew she couldn't always wait for him to bail them out.

Yuan Yu leaned against a tree. When he heard the name "Yu Tianheng," a fragment stirred in his mind.

Lightning.

Dugu Yan.

Jade Phosphorous Serpent.

Imperial Fighting Team.

The fragment was incomplete.

He only knew this team was no ordinary opponent.

Ning Rongrong studied the roster.

"Dugu Yan is on it too."

Her expression changed slightly.

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul?"

Tang San looked up.

"Poison?"

"Yes."

Ning Rongrong said, "The Dugu family is associated with poison. If she really comes from that line, a Team Battle against them will be troublesome."

Tang San grew serious.

"Then we need to prepare an antidote in advance."

Ning Rongrong said, "There's also Ye Lingling."

She pointed to a line farther down the roster.

"Nine-Hearted Begonia."

Oscar blinked.

"What's that?"

Ning Rongrong's expression was grave.

"One of the most powerful healing Martial Souls on the continent. As long as she's there, it'll be hard to take anyone on the Imperial Fighting Team out of the fight for good."

Zhu Zhuqing said, "Target her first?"

Ning Rongrong shook her head.

"She'll be well protected."

Tang San studied the roster, tapping it lightly with one finger.

"Then we break through her protection first."

Dai Mubai turned to Tang San.

"You'll make the plan?"

Tang San didn't refuse.

"I'll work something out."

Ma Hongjun said, "Tang San, can you handle the poison?"

Tang San nodded.

"That depends on what kind it is."

Yuan Yu suddenly spoke.

"This whole affair at the Spirit Arena may be setting the stage for the Imperial Fighting Team."

Everyone looked at him.

Yuan Yu rested a hand on his Sun Wheel Blade.

"Mr. Xu may not be the one in charge. He didn't mention Imperial Fighting just to scare us."

Flender said, "You mean someone wants us to fight them?"

"Or someone wants to see how we fight."

Yuan Yu looked at the roster.

"The Spirit Arena makes money, VIPs place bets, and Heaven Dou Royal Academy gets to assess our strength. Everyone thinks they're using someone else."

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glowed faintly.

Divine Sense descended.

"Sixth Trial, first stage: Unravel the scheme."

"Find the true mastermind behind the incident at the Soto Spirit Arena."

"Deadline: before the Imperial Fighting Team leaves Suotuo City."

Yuan Yu's brow twitched.

Trouble really had come looking for me.

Tang San noticed the change in his expression.

"Divine Trial?"

Yuan Yu looked at him.

Tang San didn't press. He only said, "Let me know if you need help."

Yuan Yu smiled.

"We will."

Xiao Wu raised her hand.

"Are we still fighting Imperial Fighting, then?"

Dai Mubai said, "We are."

Zhu Zhuqing added, "We are."

Ning Rongrong raised her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"I'm fighting too."

Ma Hongjun chuckled.

"When has this fatty ever been afraid of anyone?"

Oscar raised his hand.

"I'll make sure none of you starve."

Zhao Wuji grinned.

"Good."

Flender looked at the children before him, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"Starting tomorrow, we train to face the Imperial Fighting Team."

"Especially you three."

He looked at Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Yuan Yu.

"Poison, lightning, and Rosy Cloud Pattern."

Yuan Yu sighed.

"Dean, why do I feel busier now that I've come out to have fun than I was in Spirit City?"

Flender said, "Because having fun isn't all you're here to do."

Yuan Yu looked at the roster and smiled faintly.

"Fair enough."

He tucked the money pouch into his robes.

"But let's be clear: my money isn't going into the academy's accounts this time."

Flender's face darkened.

"Why do you have to keep such close tabs on everything?"

Yuan Yu looked at Oscar.

Oscar immediately said, "Even brothers need to eat."

Yuan Yu spread his hands.

"See? Shrek tradition."

The others relaxed a little.

But the roster was still in Tang San's hands.

Everyone knew the Imperial Fighting Team was different from the Silver Blade Team they had faced before.

The Silver Blade Team relied on dirty tricks.

The Imperial Fighting Team relied on strength.

There was no avoiding this fight.

On a distant rooftop, Azure Luan watched the training ground.

Ling Yuan stood beside him.

"Should we send word back to Spirit City?"

Azure Luan nodded.

"Send it."

"Tell Bibi Dong someone in Suotuo City tried to test Yuan Yu."

Ling Yuan gave a cold laugh.

"When His Holiness the Pope hears, someone's going to lose sleep."

Azure Luan said nothing.

On the training ground, Tang San turned the roster to the second page.

The next line came into view.

Vice-captain.

Dugu Yan.

Martial Soul: Jade Phosphorous Serpent.

Yuan Yu looked at the name. The Rosy Cloud Pattern on his Sun Wheel Blade glowed faintly.

This affair in Suotuo City was far from over.