The Imperial Fighting Team

The VIP lounge at the Soto Great Soul Arena was far more spacious than anything at Shrek Academy.

Thick carpets covered the floor, decorations made from spirit beast hides hung on the walls, and fruit and refreshments sat on the tables. Even the kettle in the corner was polished silver.

Ma Hongjun's eyes went wide the moment he walked in.

"This lounge is so much better than our dorm."

Oscar picked up a piece of fruit, then glanced at Flender and didn't dare eat it.

"Is that even a comparison?"

Flender looked less than pleased.

"Stop gawking. Have some dignity."

Yuan Yu looked around and said earnestly, "Dean, why don't you talk to the Spirit Arena about making our dorm look like this?"

Flender gave a cold laugh.

"You paying?"

Yuan Yu immediately looked away.

"I didn't say anything."

Xiao Wu's shoulders shook with laughter.

Footsteps sounded ahead.

Qin Ming approached with the Imperial Fighting Team.

The tall young man at the front held his back and shoulders straight, his gaze sharp. Even without releasing his Martial Soul, he brought lightning and dragons to mind.

Yu Tianheng.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

Beside him stood a girl with short green hair and a smile that warned she was not to be trifled with.

Dugu Yan.

Behind her stood a girl in black, her face veiled and her words few. She stood neither at the front nor the rear, as though she had placed herself where her teammates could protect her most easily.

Ye Lingling.

Farther back were the Shi Brothers, Yu Feng, and Osler.

The seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team stood together with a unified presence.

They were nothing like the Silver Blade Team.

The Silver Blade Team had carried a sinister air, relying on Hidden Weapons, poisoned blades, and sneak attacks.

Imperial Fighting was different.

The moment they took their places, their front line, flanks, and rear each had a clear role.

The Shi Brothers said little and stood like a pair of walls.

Yu Feng looked the most relaxed, his shoulders swaying slightly, but his gaze kept sweeping over Shrek's rear line.

Osler kept his eyes lowered. Now and then, his fingers moved, as though he were calculating how many steps it would take to reach Ning Rongrong.

Ye Lingling was the quietest.

She looked at neither Yuan Yu nor Flender. She simply memorized where everyone stood.

Tang San noticed her.

An excellent Healing Soul Master often looked first at her teammates' positions and whether she could reach them in time to save them.

The Imperial Fighting Team was clearly no group thrown together at the last minute.

Qin Ming spoke.

"Let's have both sides introduce themselves."

Dai Mubai stepped forward first.

"Shrek. Dai Mubai, rank thirty-seven assault-type Soul Elder."

Yu Tianheng took half a step forward.

"Imperial Fighting. Yu Tianheng, rank thirty-nine assault-type Soul Elder."

Their gazes met.

The front-line matchup was already set.

Tang San said, "Tang San, rank twenty-nine control-type Soul Master."

Yu Tianheng's brow shifted slightly.

Rank twenty-nine. Not particularly high.

But Qin Ming had specifically warned him that, apart from Yuan Yu, Tang San was the one at Shrek he must not underestimate.

Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong gave their introductions in turn.

When Ning Rongrong mentioned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, several members of the Imperial Fighting Team looked over.

Dugu Yan glanced at her.

"The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is at Shrek too?"

Ning Rongrong raised her head.

"What, is that a problem?"

Dugu Yan smiled.

"No. I just find it interesting."

Ye Lingling said nothing throughout.

She glanced at Ning Rongrong, then at the site of an old injury on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder.

Zhu Zhuqing noticed.

Ye Lingling said softly, "That injury hasn't fully healed."

Zhu Zhuqing replied, "It won't get in the way."

Ye Lingling nodded and asked no more.

Yuan Yu spoke last.

"Yuan Yu, rank fifty-five. Tool Martial Soul, Sun Wheel Blade."

He said it evenly.

The Imperial Fighting Team fell quiet for a moment.

Rank fifty-five.

Faced with someone of that rank, none of the Soul Elders could pretend they hadn't heard.

Yu Tianheng took half a step forward.

"I've heard of you."

Yuan Yu smiled. "A lot of people have lately."

Yu Tianheng did not smile.

"Three straight wins in the Soul King Division. You broke Blood Scythe's left arm. You're strong."

"I do all right."

"I'd like to see for myself."

Qin Ming frowned at once.

"Tianheng."

Yu Tianheng did not back down, but his tone held no aggression.

"Teacher, I know the rules. He won't be fighting in the Team Battle. I only want to ask him to take one of my attacks afterward."

Dai Mubai glanced at Yu Tianheng.

There was nothing offensive in his words, and he had not tried to pull rank.

But he could not hide the pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yuan Yu set down his teacup.

"We'll talk after the battle."

Yu Tianheng said, "All right."

Dugu Yan suddenly turned to Tang San.

"You smell of medicine."

Tang San's expression did not change.

"I've been preparing medicines lately."

"Antidotes?"

Tang San glanced at her.

"They might come in handy."

The smile at the corner of Dugu Yan's mouth faded a little.

"You know my Martial Soul?"

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent. Hard not to."

Dugu Yan smiled. "Knowing my Martial Soul and being able to cure its poison are two different things."

Xiao Wu bristled.

"Of course Xiao San can cure it."

Tang San tugged at her.

"We haven't fought yet. Don't make promises."

Dugu Yan gave Tang San a second look.

"You're cautious, at least."

Tang San said, "Around someone who uses poison, it pays to be."

Qin Ming cut through the tension and explained the rules of the exhibition battle.

Shrek's seven members would fight. Yuan Yu would not.

The time limit was one incense stick.

If Shrek lasted until it burned out without more than two members losing the ability to fight, they would meet their exhibition objective.

If Imperial Fighting rendered more than two Shrek members unable to fight before then, they would meet theirs.

The rules sounded generous to Shrek.

But there was no ignoring the two sides' ranks and lineups.

Imperial Fighting had Yu Tianheng at rank thirty-nine, Dugu Yan's poison, the Nine-Hearted Begonia, and a complete formation of attackers, defenders, agility fighters, and support. Lasting one incense stick would be anything but easy for Shrek.

After hearing the rules, Ma Hongjun leaned toward Oscar.

"It's only one incense stick. That can't be very long, right?"

Oscar looked at him.

"Last time Teacher Zhao chased you, you were crying for your father before an incense stick could burn out."

Ma Hongjun immediately coughed.

"That was different. Teacher Zhao doesn't know how to hold back."

Behind them, Zhao Wuji said mildly, "I heard that."

Ma Hongjun's face stiffened.

Yuan Yu patted his shoulder.

"Run a little faster tomorrow night. Maybe you'll be spared what Teacher Zhao has in store for you."

Xiao Wu snorted. "We're going to fight, not run around while they chase us."

Tang San said, "Running is a tactic too. Imperial Fighting is strong head-on. If we can draw things out, we'll have a chance."

Dai Mubai said, "I'll hold Yu Tianheng off first."

His voice was calm, but he was already flexing his fingers.

Flender said, "Good."

Qin Ming looked at Yuan Yu.

"And where will you be?"

Yuan Yu pointed below the platform.

"I'll watch the arena floor."

Qin Ming understood what he meant.

Yuan Yu might not step onto the Dueling Platform, but that did not mean he would stand by if something happened.

The trail leading to Mr. Xu had not gone cold, and someone inside the Spirit Arena could not be trusted.

Before leaving, Dugu Yan looked at Tang San once more.

"Tomorrow night, I'll see how you cure my poison."

Tang San said, "And I'd like to see how potent Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom is."

Yu Tianheng turned to Yuan Yu.

"I'll be waiting afterward."

Yuan Yu smiled. "Don't wear yourself out in the fight."

Yu Tianheng said, "I won't."

Once the Imperial Fighting Team had left, Ma Hongjun finally let out a breath.

"That lot won't be easy to deal with."

Dai Mubai stared in the direction Yu Tianheng had gone.

"That's what makes it interesting."

Tang San looked down at his medicine pouch.

Dugu Yan's nose was far too keen.

She used poison, and she knew medicines too.

Yuan Yu stood by the door. The Rosy Cloud Pattern on his Sun Wheel Blade stirred faintly.

The exhibition battle had yet to begin, but everyone's position, on and off the platform, was already clear.