The Real Way to Win Without Lifting a Finger Is to Wait Until Your Opponents Are Nearly Beaten

The red mist receded like a falling tide, revealing Xie Yue and Hu Liena on the arena floor. Xie Yue knelt on one knee, his Moon Blade planted in the ground as blood poured from his mouth. Hu Liena sat where she had fallen, her fox tail hanging limp. The strain on her mind had left her face deathly pale.

But Tang San had reached his limit too. Blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The light of his Purple Demon Eye had gone out, and his Soul Power was almost completely spent. He knelt on one knee, using the Clear Sky Hammer to keep himself from collapsing.

With the red mist gone, the arena came back into view. Dai Mubai lay in a pool of blood, his White Tiger Vajra Transformation completely dissipated. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing sat back to back, unable even to stand. Ma Hongjun had lost consciousness, while Ning Rongrong and Oscar had been captured by Spirit Hall's Soul Ancestors.

On Spirit Hall's side, Xie Yue and Hu Liena could no longer fight after Demon Charm was broken. Yan was still standing, but he had little Soul Power left. The three Soul Ancestors still had some strength, though they had taken serious injuries in the earlier melee.

The only ones still standing in the arena were Yan, the three Soul Ancestors, and Xiao Ran, who was trapped inside the Blue Silver Cage. On Shrek's side, only Tang San could barely move.

Tang San looked up at Xiao Ran inside the cage, astonished. Xiao Ran stood at its center, silver-blue light flowing around him, his face expressionless.

"Xiao Ran..." Tang San's voice was hoarse.

"Tang San, you and Dai Mubai charged at me the moment the match began. Xie Yue blocked you for me. Did you think I stayed on the sidelines because I was afraid of you?" Xiao Ran took a step forward. Under his silver-blue light, the Blue Silver Cage's vines began to blacken and crack. "I was waiting."

"For what?"

"For Xie Yue and Hu Liena to wear you down," Xiao Ran said. "You broke Demon Charm, but it cost you almost everything you had."

The cage shattered.

Xiao Ran stood amid the fragments, unharmed. His First Soul Ring lit up, and a silver-white domain spread from him to cover the entire arena. Tang San felt his Soul Power slow and his body grow heavy as lead. Then Xiao Ran's Second Soul Ring lit up, layering the Domain of Strength over it.

"Yan, fall back," Xiao Ran said. "I'll handle the rest."

Yan and the three Soul Ancestors retreated to the edge of the arena.

Tang San struggled to his feet. His legs shook, and his Purple Demon Eye had gone completely dark. He flicked both hands, but every fragment of his Eight Spider Lances had already been fired. His fingers were empty. He still gripped the Clear Sky Hammer, yet its head felt impossibly heavy.

"Your Bat Wing Reincarnation really is impressive, Tang San." Xiao Ran stepped forward. "But have you forgotten? I'm unbeatable. Let me show you what it means to have an unfair advantage!"

Xiao Ran raised his right hand. A card formed in his palm, the outline of Ultraman Tiga flickering across its face.

"Ultraman Tiga card—Zeperion Ray!"

Xiao Ran pressed the card into the crystal on his left wrist. Silver-white light merged with the Giant of Light pattern on the card. He crossed his arms before his chest in an L shape, and the silver-blue markings across his body blazed brighter.

A massive silver-white beam erupted from where Xiao Ran's arms crossed. A spiraling pattern like a river of stars ran through its core as it tore straight across the arena.

With the last of his strength, Tang San held the Clear Sky Hammer before him. The instant the Zeperion Ray struck it, the impact drove Tang San backward, hammer and all. His feet carved two deep furrows through the arena floor, and a distinct crack appeared on the hammerhead.

The beam faded. Tang San knelt on one knee, white smoke rising from the crack in the Clear Sky Hammer. The skin between his thumb and forefinger had split wide open, and blood dripped down the handle.

"I'm not done," Xiao Ran said calmly.

He raised his right hand again, and a second card appeared. Flames burned around Ultraman Taro's outline on its face.

"Ultraman Taro card—Ultra Explosion!"

Xiao Ran pressed the card into the crystal. The silver-blue markings across his body instantly turned a blazing red-gold. He brought his hands together, forming a red-gold sphere of energy between his palms. Flames churned inside it like those of a star. Xiao Ran pushed it forward, and the sphere became a red-gold pillar of light hurtling toward Tang San.

Tang San used the last of his strength to dodge sideways with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. The pillar grazed his left shoulder and blasted a pit several meters wide into the arena behind him. The shockwave threw him into the air. He tumbled several times before crashing down near the arena's edge.

He tried to get up, but his body would no longer obey him. The Clear Sky Hammer slipped from his hand and struck the ground with a dull thud.

Xiao Ran gave him no chance to catch his breath. A third card had already appeared between his fingers. The outline of Ultraman Agul shimmered on its face with an ocean-blue glow.

"Ultraman Agul card—Agul Stream!"

Xiao Ran pressed the card into the crystal and crossed his arms before his chest. A blue-white beam shot from his right arm, rippling like ocean waves as it raced toward Tang San.

This time, Tang San did not dodge. He had no strength left to do so.

The Agul Stream struck his chest, engulfing him in blue-white light. It did not explode. Instead, its sustained force pinned Tang San against a stone pillar at the edge of the arena. His back slammed into it, and cracks spread across the stone like a spiderweb.

The beam faded.

Tang San slid down the pillar and fell to his knees. His clothes hung in tatters, blood poured from his mouth, and the light of his Purple Demon Eye had gone out completely. The Clear Sky Hammer lay three steps away, the crack across its head still spreading.

"I... lost."

Xiao Ran withdrew his Martial Soul, and the silver-white domain vanished. He walked to the center of the arena and raised his right hand. Spirit Hall's bishop announced in a ringing voice:

"The winners of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament finals—the Spirit Hall Academy Team!"

In the stands, Spirit Hall's spectators erupted in thunderous cheers. Bibi Dong sat on the papal throne at the highest point of the arena. Her violet eyes narrowed, and the faintest smile touched her lips.

Xie Yue leaned against a stone pillar, clutching his wounded shoulder. He looked at Xiao Ran in the center of the arena and gave a rueful laugh. Xiao Ran's back was reflected in Hu Liena's foxlike eyes as the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Yan lay on his back at the edge of the arena and cursed. "Where the hell was that brat earlier?"

On Shrek Academy's side, there was dead silence. Yu Xiaogang slumped in his chair, his face ashen. Ning Fengzhi said nothing. Flender and Liu Erlong exchanged a glance, disbelief filling their eyes.

Xiao Ran turned to Tang San, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Next time, don't fight seven people by yourself. It's exhausting."

Tang San did not answer. He only clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Far away at the edge of the arena, Dai Mubai's fingers still twitched faintly, as if he were throwing punches in his dreams.