The Imperial Fighting Team Approached

The Spirit Arena paid compensation.

A substantial amount.

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

Yuan Yu looked at him.

"Dean, you were furious just now."

Flender put the slip away.

"Being angry is one thing. Money is another."

Zhao Wuji said, "You certainly know how to keep the two separate."

Flender ignored him.

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

It wasn't because Flender had found his conscience.

Ning Rongrong was watching.

A glance from the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect worked better than an account book.

Oscar stared at 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 yourself?"

Oscar shook his head at once.

"I'm happy selling sausages."

Xiao Wu turned to Ning Rongrong.

"You were fierce up there."

Ning Rongrong gave a little 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 only right."

A brief silence settled between them.

It wasn't an awkward one.

Yuan Yu noticed, but said nothing.

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

The night breeze was a little chilly.

They had all just finished a fight, and all of them were injured.

But no one complained.

Flender took out a list.

"The Imperial Fighting Team arrives in Suotuo City in three days."

Dai Mubai's expression grew serious.

"Dean, will they really fight us?"

"They will."

Flender said, "Qin Ming is leading them."

Zhao Wuji's expression shifted at the name.

Yuan Yu noticed.

"Someone you know?"

Flender looked down at the list, his voice quieter.

"A former Shrek student."

Everyone was stunned.

Oscar's eyes widened.

"Our academy really had a student who turned out that well?"

Flender looked up.

"Oscar."

Oscar shut his mouth immediately.

Zhao Wuji snorted.

"That kid Qin Ming certainly did us proud."

Tang San looked at the list.

"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 gaze sharpened.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

One of the Upper Three Sects.

Dai Mubai saw it too.

"Level thirty-nine."

Ma Hongjun leaned over.

"He's not even a Soul Ancestor."

Flender glanced at him.

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

Dai Mubai took the list and read it again.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's head-on attacks are powerful. 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 joke to make.

If even Dai Mubai said that, Yu Tianheng really would be hard to beat.

Tang San turned to Yuan Yu.

"Are you fighting?"

Yuan Yu shook his head.

"Let's check the rules first."

Flender nodded.

"In a normal Team Battle, you can't register with them for now. Your level is too high. It would skew 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 up 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 good chance to test 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 her 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.

All he knew was that this team was no ordinary opponent.

Ning Rongrong studied the list.

"Dugu Yan is here too."

Her expression changed slightly.

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul?"

Tang San looked up.

"Poison?"

"Yes."

Ning Rongrong said, "The Dugu family is known for poison. If she really belongs to that line, the Team Battle will be troublesome."

Tang San grew serious.

"Then we need to prepare a way to counteract her poison."

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

She pointed to a line farther down the list.

"Nine-Hearted Begonia."

Oscar blinked.

"What's that?"

Ning Rongrong's expression was grave.

"One of the strongest healing Martial Souls on the continent. As long as she's still standing, it'll be hard to keep anyone on the Imperial Fighting Team down."

Zhu Zhuqing said, "Take her out first?"

Ning Rongrong shook her head.

"She'll be well protected."

Tang San studied the list, tapping it lightly with a finger.

"Then we break through her protection first."

Dai Mubai looked at Tang San.

"You'll make the plan?"

Tang San didn't refuse.

"I'll work something out."

Ma Hongjun said, "Little 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 might be a setup for the Imperial Fighting Team's arrival."

Everyone turned to him.

Yuan Yu rested a hand on his Sun Wheel Blade.

"Mr. Xu might not be the one in charge. He didn't tell us about the Imperial Fighting Team 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 list.

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

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glowed faintly.

Divine Sense descended.

"First stage of the Sixth Trial: see through the scheme."

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

"Time limit: before the Imperial Fighting Team leaves Suotuo City."

Yuan Yu's brow twitched.

Trouble really has come looking for me.

Tang San noticed the change in his expression.

"Divine Trial?"

Yuan Yu looked at him.

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

Yuan Yu smiled.

"I will."

Xiao Wu raised her hand.

"Are we still fighting Imperial Fighting?"

Dai Mubai said, "We are."

Zhu Zhuqing said, "We are."

Ning Rongrong raised her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"I'm fighting too."

Ma Hongjun chuckled.

"Who's ever scared me?"

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 specifically for 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 here on vacation than I did in Spirit City?"

Flender said, "Because you're not here just to have fun anymore."

Yuan Yu looked at the list and gave a faint smile.

"Fair enough."

He tucked his 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.

"You brat. Why do you keep such careful accounts?"

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 list was still in Tang San's hands.

They all 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 that someone in Suotuo City tested Yuan Yu."

Ling Yuan sneered.

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

Azure Luan said nothing.

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

The next line caught everyone's eye.

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.

The game unfolding in Suotuo City was far from over.