Jade Phosphorous Serpent Venom

The poisonous mist over the Dueling Platform began to thicken.

Dugu Yan stood behind Yu Tianheng, the shadow of her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul coiled around her shoulders. She did not rush to blanket the arena. Instead, she released more mist each time Shrek changed positions.

Tang San saw what she was doing.

She was trying to force Shrek into a mistake.

The mist was easiest to misjudge while it was thin.

It did not block their path like a wall. It curled around their feet in wisps. Step left, and it slipped out on the right. Try to go around it, and it blocked the next step.

If even one of Shrek's seven moved too slowly, their formation would be pulled apart.

Tang San spread his Blue Silver Grass across the floor, feeling out the path while drawing his teammates back to their positions.

Every inch the mist advanced, his Blue Silver Grass gave up an inch.

He retreated carefully, leaving room for himself and his teammates.

The Dueling Platform was only so large. Where to retreat, who could fill a gap, and who had to hold position—all of it had to be worked out in a heartbeat.

Ning Rongrong and Oscar stood at the rear. One wrong step, and the mist would reach them first.

Ning Rongrong could not see every wisp of mist, so she watched Tang San's signals.

When Tang San raised a finger, she gave Zhu Zhuqing speed.

When he pointed forward, she gave Dai Mubai strength.

They said little, but their coordination grew smoother.

"Fatty, left side!"

Ma Hongjun immediately fired a Phoenix Fire Line.

The line of fire swept low across the floor, thinning the mist on the left.

Xiao Wu charged through the opening.

Yu Feng dived from above, the shadow of his wings slicing past.

Xiao Wu twisted her waist to evade the first strike, then kicked at his shoulder.

Yu Feng caught the wind and slid backward.

"That rabbit's fast!"

Xiao Wu snorted.

"You're the rabbit!"

Yu Feng wheeled through the air, no longer daring to underestimate her.

The girl could burst forward in an instant and use momentum with precision. One flick of Blue Silver Grass, and she could charge from a new direction.

If she got close, even flight might not save him.

Yu Feng climbed at once.

Xiao Wu looked up at him.

"Come down if you've got the guts."

Yu Feng grinned. "Come up if you've got the guts."

Xiao Wu ground her teeth.

"Don't chase him," Tang San said at once.

Xiao Wu stopped short and returned to the formation.

Tang San had no time to worry about her.

His Blue Silver Grass kept growing, only to be driven back by lightning and poisonous mist.

Oscar passed a Recovery Sausage to Ning Rongrong.

Without turning, Ning Rongrong took it and bit down.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone without pause.

Strength. Speed.

She had to keep switching between the two boosts.

She could not be slow.

A heartbeat late, and Dai Mubai would have to take one of Yu Tianheng's blows head-on.

A heartbeat late, and Osler might catch Zhu Zhuqing.

Below the platform, Flender watched with his fists clenched.

Zhao Wuji said nothing either.

The Imperial Fighting Team was nothing like the Silver Blade Team.

The Silver Blade Team fought dirty and used underhanded tricks.

The Imperial Fighting Team fought steadily.

Every member held the right position. The moment one teammate moved, another filled the gap.

That was what made them troublesome.

Qin Ming stood below the platform, his gaze fixed on Tang San.

He knew better than anyone how hard the Imperial Fighting Team's rhythm was to break.

Yet Tang San covered every opening half a beat early.

It was not Soul Power. It was judgment.

Yuan Yu stood below the platform too, but he was not watching only the fight.

He spotted a Spirit Arena attendant carrying a lamp toward the Soul Guidance Lamp Array.

That lamp faced Shrek's rear line.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glowed faintly.

Yuan Yu moved.

Without drawing the crowd's attention, he circled around from the side.

The attendant had only just reached into the lamp socket when a sword sheath came down on his shoulder.

"What's in your hand?"

The attendant went rigid.

"Lamp oil."

"Open it."

The attendant did not move.

Yuan Yu pressed down with his wrist.

The attendant's hand trembled. He had no choice but to take out a small bottle.

As soon as the bottle was opened, a faint medicinal scent drifted out.

It smelled much like the packet of Cold Vine Powder in Tang San's medicine room.

"Did we miss one last night?"

The attendant turned to run.

Yuan Yu did not chase him.

A streak of azure Soul Power fell from above and pinned the man against the wall.

Azure Luan stood on the eaves.

"Watch the stands."

"Thanks."

The captive attendant tried to shout, but Azure Luan merely glanced down at him.

The man swallowed his cry.

Ling Yuan circled to the backstage entrance from the other side, cutting off his escape.

Someone had dared to act during an exhibition match. Whoever was behind it likely would not care about losing one attendant.

Yuan Yu wanted to see who else would make a move.

On the platform, the poisonous mist surged forward again.

Ma Hongjun was already panting.

"Powder!" Tang San shouted.

Oscar tossed him the packet.

Tang San caught it and used Blue Silver Grass to fling it into the air.

"Fatty, fire!"

Ma Hongjun gritted his teeth.

A Phoenix Fire Line shot upward.

The powder scattered through the flames, forcing back a patch of mist.

The stands erupted in astonishment.

Dugu Yan frowned.

"You can actually neutralize my poison?"

Tang San looked up.

"Only a little."

Dugu Yan sneered.

"A little is annoying enough."

Her third Spirit Ring lit up.

Jade-green mist billowed outward.

This time, it even drove Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line back.

Xiao Wu staggered.

Zhu Zhuqing frowned too.

"Little sausage!" Oscar shouted at once.

Ning Rongrong raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Her voice was more urgent than before.

"Seven Treasure Mantra, Second: Speed!"

The supporting light fell over them.

Tang San flicked his wrist.

Several cold flashes flew from his sleeve, all striking the floor of the Dueling Platform.

Tiny needles hit the ground, scattering fine medicinal powder.

The mist thinned a little more.

Yu Tianheng seized the chance to charge.

Dai Mubai met him head-on.

They collided for the second time.

Blue-violet lightning raced up Dai Mubai's arm.

Dai Mubai clenched his teeth as the light of his White Tiger protection pushed outward in layers.

Ning Rongrong immediately reinforced him with strength.

Oscar tossed him a Recovery Sausage.

Without looking back, Dai Mubai caught it in his mouth and held his ground.

Yu Tianheng gave him another look.

"You're stronger than the records say."

With the sausage in his mouth, Dai Mubai's reply came out muffled.

"Your records are out of date."

Lightning tore a gap in the light of his White Tiger protection.

Blood appeared at the corner of Dai Mubai's mouth.

But he did not retreat.

"I'm still standing!"

Below the platform, Qin Ming's fingers twitched.

Shrek was harder to handle than he had expected.

Just then, Ye Lingling raised her hand.

The Nine-Hearted Begonia bloomed for the first time.

The shadow of white petals drifted down.

The scratches on Yu Tianheng's arm, the marks Blue Silver Grass had left on the Shi Brothers, and the red burn near Dugu Yan's wrist all healed rapidly.

Ma Hongjun stared wide-eyed.

"How are we supposed to fight that?"

Tang San stared at the white begonia, his brow furrowing.

"That's the Nine-Hearted Begonia," Ning Rongrong said quietly.

Yuan Yu handed the captured attendant over to Azure Luan, then turned toward the rear door of the VIP seats.

A black-clad figure slipped out.

The figure moved quickly.

He showed no panic and did not look back, as though he had known someone would notice him.

Ling Yuan was already in pursuit, her figure flashing across the eaves.

Yuan Yu stayed beside the Dueling Platform.

Shrek's seven were still holding on inside the poisonous mist.

He had to stop the dirty work below the platform, but he also had to watch how the fight above played out.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern felt colder than before.

The one truly giving the orders was still outside.