Shrek's Seven Take the Stage

The next night, the main arena of the Soto Great Soul Arena was packed.

The Imperial Fighting Team versus Shrek.

As soon as word got out, tickets sold out.

Many had come for the Imperial Fighting Team.

An elite team from Heaven Dou Royal Academy was a rare sight in Suotuo City.

Plenty of others had come for Myriad Phenomena.

But they soon discovered that he would not be fighting.

The stands erupted in protest.

"Myriad Phenomena isn't fighting?"

"Then what's the point of watching?"

"Can the rest of Shrek even take on Imperial Fighting?"

The betting tables were even livelier.

The odds on Imperial Fighting were frighteningly low, while almost no one bet on Shrek.

Someone waved a betting slip and shouted, "Without Myriad Phenomena, what's Shrek supposed to fight with?"

A man beside him replied, "If they last one stick of incense, I'll call that impressive."

Word spread quickly.

Many spectators had come to watch Myriad Phenomena cut people down. Once they heard the rules, though, they grew curious.

They wanted to see how long these unknown young Soul Masters could last.

The voices reached the waiting area, and Xiao Wu clenched her fists.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Dai Mubai rolled his shoulders.

"It means they're looking down on us."

Ma Hongjun snorted.

"Then let's show them."

Tang San said nothing.

He was checking his medicine pouches.

He had already prepared a fresh batch from the medicinal ingredients they had brought back the night before. With the Cold Vine Powder removed, he knew what the Antidote Powder could do.

Oscar had made several sausages in advance. His usual smile was gone.

Ning Rongrong held the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her fingers resting lightly against it.

Zhu Zhuqing stood in the shadows without a word.

Yuan Yu leaned against the door.

"Why are you all looking at me?"

Xiao Wu asked, "You're really not going up?"

"No."

"Then don't laugh at us from down here."

"I'll try not to," Yuan Yu said.

Xiao Wu glared at him.

"Outside the platform is yours."

Yuan Yu's smile faded.

"Don't worry."

Flender walked in.

"One more time: you have one stick of incense. Last that long without more than three of you losing the ability to fight, and you'll meet the Spectator Team Battle objective."

Zhao Wuji added, "Don't go in thinking about winning. Hold your ground first."

Dai Mubai asked, "And after that?"

Zhao Wuji grinned.

"Fight if you can."

Flender turned to Yuan Yu.

"And watch yourself. If someone makes a move off the platform, catch them if you can. If you can't, don't chase too hard."

Yuan Yu smiled. "Dean, that doesn't sound like you."

Flender snorted.

"Don't go dying out there. If Spirit Hall comes looking for you, I can't afford to pay them back."

Zhao Wuji chimed in, "He'd have to pay with money, and you'd pay with your life. Either way, it's trouble."

Yuan Yu nodded solemnly.

"Then I'll do my best to leave the trouble to someone else."

An announcement rang out.

"Spectator Team Battle: Shrek's seven versus the Imperial Fighting Team."

"Both teams, take the stage!"

Shrek's seven emerged from the tunnel.

Yuan Yu did not follow.

He turned toward the side of the Dueling Platform.

From there, he could see the platform, the VIP seating, and the backstage entrance.

The spot was inconspicuous, but it put him directly in the path of anyone trying to circle from backstage toward the Lamp Array.

Azure Luan and Ling Yuan were higher up.

"Not going onstage?" Ling Yuan asked quietly.

"He has something else to do," Azure Luan said.

On the Dueling Platform, the Imperial Fighting Team was already in position.

Yu Tianheng stood at the front.

Dugu Yan stood half a step behind him.

The Shi Brothers guarded either side.

Osler and Yu Feng took the flanks.

Ye Lingling stood at the rear, her face hidden behind black gauze, her expression unreadable.

On Shrek's side, Dai Mubai held the front, Tang San the center, with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing on either side. Ma Hongjun stood a little farther back, and Ning Rongrong and Oscar brought up the rear.

Qin Ming stood below the platform, his gaze moving between the two teams.

This was not a fight to the death, but Imperial Fighting would not go easy on them.

Yu Tianheng looked back at his teammates.

"Fight like we trained."

"I'll force them to reposition first."

The Shi Brothers raised their shields across their bodies at the same time.

Yu Feng glanced up at the Lamp Array above, checking his flight path.

Osler's gaze settled on Ning Rongrong, then quickly moved away.

At the rear, Ye Lingling stood with her hands at her sides, so quiet she barely seemed to be there.

Across from them, Tang San said quietly, "Remember our training. Don't rush to win. Keep your formation."

"Got it," Dai Mubai said.

Xiao Wu lowered her voice.

"If Yu Feng flies down, I'm kicking him."

Ma Hongjun grinned.

"I'll handle half the poison mist."

Oscar held up a sausage.

"And leave the other half to Little San."

The host raised a hand.

"Begin!"

Both sides released their Martial Souls at once.

Blue-violet scales covered Yu Tianheng's right arm, lightning crackling across it.

At that moment, quite a few spectators in the front rows shrank back.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's reputation was well earned.

The instant his Martial Soul appeared, thunder cracked across the Dueling Platform. Even the host retreated farther away.

Dai Mubai's White Tiger possessed him, and three Spirit Rings rose around him.

Neither man tested the other. They charged straight into each other.

Boom!

At the first clash between the White Tiger and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Dai Mubai slid half a step back.

Yu Tianheng paused too.

"Not bad."

Dai Mubai grinned.

"Again."

Ning Rongrong's voice rang out.

"Seven Treasure Mantra, First: Strength!"

"Second: Speed!"

Light fell over Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.

Dai Mubai's power surged, and he charged again.

Zhu Zhuqing flashed forward, cutting straight toward Imperial Fighting's back line.

The Shi Brothers stepped up together, two tortoiseshell shields blocking her path.

Zhu Zhuqing did not slam into them. She changed direction and slipped along the edge of a shield.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass spread across the ground and reached for the Shi Brothers' ankles.

Shi Mo stamped down and pressed his tortoiseshell shield at an angle, pinning a swath of Blue Silver Grass.

Shi Mo's brother came in from the other side, sliding his shield low across the ground and forcing Zhu Zhuqing half a step back.

The brothers were not fast, but they were hard to get around.

As long as they held the center, Ye Lingling was safe.

Dugu Yan gave a cold laugh.

"A control-type?"

A Spirit Ring beneath her lit up, and emerald-green mist rose behind her.

Tang San's eyes sharpened.

"Poison's coming."

Ma Hongjun's flames flared at once.

He remembered the arc from training and did not charge the poison mist head-on.

Phoenix Fire Line swept in from the side, driving the first layer of poison mist toward the edge of the Dueling Platform.

Tang San scattered powder at the same time.

The poison mist thinned.

Gasps rose from the stands.

The smile vanished from Dugu Yan's lips.

"You've got some skill."

Lightning surged brighter around Yu Tianheng.

"Yan, don't rush."

His third Spirit Ring lit up.

Thunderous Fury.

Dai Mubai's shoulders sank.

"Little San!"

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Dai Mubai's waist and pulled him slightly to the side.

Yu Tianheng's lightning still slammed into the protective glow around the White Tiger.

Dai Mubai grunted and staggered back three steps.

Below the platform, Yuan Yu's fingers twitched.

This was their fight on the platform.

"Hold formation!" Tang San shouted.

Xiao Wu leaped in from the side, using Blue Silver Grass to swing herself toward Yu Tianheng.

Osler suddenly cut out of the shadows, heading straight for Ning Rongrong.

Zhu Zhuqing fell back to defend.

The two Agility-type Soul Masters collided in front of the back line.

The stick of incense had only just been lit.

Already, the Imperial Fighting Team had Shrek's seven pinned down on every front.

Yuan Yu looked up at the VIP seating.

Someone had left their seat.