In the arena, Tang San said nothing, and Yu Tianheng paid him no attention either.
The two exchanged a glance and attacked at the same time.
"Entanglement!"
"Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Tang San controlled his Blue Silver King, making it grow and coil outward.
Yu Tianheng used his first soul skill directly, swinging his dragon-transformed right hand to unleash a claw-shaped bolt of lightning.
Everyone thought Tang San's Blue Silver King would crumble at the first blow, and he would be blasted away along with it.
Whoosh!
The Blue Silver King fell in swathes like wheat, only for another swathe to grow in its place. Tang San remained completely unharmed.
Yu Tianheng's expression grew grave.
He saw that his attack had failed to destroy even half the Blue Silver King.
That completely contradicted the characteristic fragility of plant martial souls!
More importantly... Tang San had called out a soul skill, yet not a single soul ring had lit up.
The spectators below could not help crying out.
"A self-created soul skill?!"
Qin Ming's expression grew solemn.
He realized he seemed to have underestimated Tang San!
The Blue Silver King martial soul renewed itself endlessly, turning into countless vines to dissipate attacks.
Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon could not overpower the Blue Silver King. This would be a bitter fight!
No sooner had that thought surfaced than it vanished.
Tang San ignored the Blue Silver King's advantage. His face flushed red, and he clenched his fist and charged at Yu Tianheng.
The Imperial Fighting Team members cried out in alarm.
"What is Thousand-Hand Asura trying to do?"
"He's going to clash with him using his bare body?"
"Has he gone mad? A plant martial soul trying to go head-to-head with a top-tier dragon beast martial soul?!"
The corner of Dugu Yan's mouth twitched, and she silently withdrew the foot she had stepped forward with.
She had thought she would need to help take Tang San down.
She had never expected him to ignore his own advantage.
Feeling belittled, Yu Tianheng mercilessly activated his first and second soul skills and snapped, "Thousand-Hand Asura, you're courting death!"
The next instant...
Bang!
Yu Tianheng's dragon-transformed right hand collided brutally with Tang San's fist, and a thunderous crash rang across the platform.
Everyone stared, dumbstruck, their mouths hanging wide open.
On the dueling platform, Yu Tianheng, who had activated his soul skills, was punched clean out of Thunderclap by Tang San, who had used none. His dragon claw fractured, he spat blood, and he passed out.
Silence held for several seconds before Qin Ming murmured, "This... how is this possible?"
Whether according to common knowledge in the soul master world or the teachings of the academy,
Beast martial souls inherently granted stronger physiques than plant martial souls and tool martial souls.
Yet now, a soul master with a plant martial soul had used nothing but his physical strength to send Yu Tianheng flying with one punch, despite his top-tier dragon beast martial soul, martial soul possession, soul skills, and secret technique.
Tang San glanced at the silent crowd and asked expressionlessly, "Who else?"
Dugu Yan stepped forward and activated Martial Soul Possession, her expression grave. "Thousand-Hand Asura, I never imagined you were so powerful!"
"In that case, this big sister won't hold back!"
Not daring to be careless in the slightest, Dugu Yan immediately activated her third soul skill and spat out a cloud of purple mist that swiftly covered the entire arena.
Jade-Scale Purple Poison was intensely toxic. Anyone whose cultivation was lower than the user's could easily be dissolved into poison.
Tang San knew Dugu Yan's three soul skills well.
Her first soul skill, Jade-Scale Red Poison, was also called Agitation Poison. It increased her teammates' attack power and speed by twenty percent.
Her second soul skill, Jade-Scale Blue Poison, was also called Numbing Poison. It eliminated her teammates' pain and increased their defense by thirty percent.
Only her third soul skill, Jade-Scale Purple Poison, was offensive.
When it came to poison, Tang San was very confident.
He had at least nine ways to deal with the poison from Dugu Yan's third soul skill!
Considering the trade he wanted to make, Tang San chose to neutralize the poison. He pulled out realgar wine and splashed it outward, then flicked his hand, shooting out two iron needles that collided and struck sparks.
Boom!
The sparks ignited the alcohol, and the purple poison mist that had nearly covered the entire platform rapidly dissipated.
Everyone froze, their eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
"That's Sister Yan's third soul skill! Its poison is incredibly potent, and it even contains soul power. How could one burst of fire wipe it out?!"
Dugu Yan stood rooted to the spot, her pale face utterly forlorn.
Having seen Tang San defeat Yu Tianheng, she had poured all her strength into that third soul skill.
And yet... it had vanished in an instant.
"I lost!"
She made no excuses and did not deny it.
Dugu Yan decisively conceded and walked off the platform.
Her strength had been utterly overwhelmed, and rumors of Tang San fighting Battle Soul Ancestors above his level had already spread.
Dugu Yan merely assumed this was some special move and did not harbor resentment as she had in the original story.
Below the platform, both the Imperial Fighting Team and their instructor, Qin Ming, came to a profound realization.
Thousand-Hand Asura truly lived up to his name. He could fight above his level, and his strength was unmatched.
They suddenly thought of Tang San's teacher.
How powerful must a teacher be to train a disciple who could fight above his level?
Having lost despite outnumbering him, the Imperial Fighting Team members were deeply embarrassed and could not bring themselves to ask.
They were just about to leave when Tang San caught up and stopped them.
As everyone watched, expecting humiliation, Tang San looked earnestly at Dugu Yan and said,
"Sister Yan, you've been poisoned."
Everyone: "..."
A poison soul master had poisoned herself.
And this poisoned poison soul master's grandfather was a Titled Douluo.
Did that make any sense?
Pah!
Everyone was speechless, and the same thought sprang into all their minds at once.
Thousand-Hand Asura has fallen for Dugu Yan!
Dugu Yan blushed slightly. "Thousand-Hand Asura, are you hitting on me?"
Tang San shook his head. "I'm not hitting on you. I'm telling the truth."
Dugu Yan did not believe him. To avoid trouble, she pointed at Yu Tianheng and said, "Little brother, this big sister already has a boyfriend."
"You really don't need to hit on me."
Tang San was speechless.
He was not some lecher, and Xiao Wu was very pretty too. How could he fall for someone at first sight and start hitting on her?
Tang San took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"Sister Yan, you should know that my master developed martial soul evolution theory. His theoretical knowledge is exceptional."
"He said that the Jade-Scale Snake has a flaw: cultivating its poison harms the user."
"Even if you don't believe me, surely you can trust my master's judgment?"
"And I know a little about poison myself. Just now, I broke your soul skill with nothing but a little medicine and fire. I didn't use any soul skills."
Seeing Tang San's earnest expression, and knowing that Li Sen's reputation as a master of theory had already reached Heaven Dou City, Dugu Yan fell silent.
Her grandfather was a Titled Douluo. If her martial soul had poisoned her, he would have told her long ago.
But Li Sen could make martial souls evolve, so his understanding of them had to run deep. It might be true.
Dugu Yan still did not believe she had been poisoned, but she did not deny it.
Whether it was true or not, this was a good opportunity to meet the teacher who had trained Thousand-Hand Asura and see how powerful he was and what made him special.
As for being poisoned by her martial soul, she could ask her grandfather once she returned.
After thinking it over, Dugu Yan said, "Since your master said I've been poisoned, could you take me to meet him?"
Tang San nodded. "Of course. My master is at the Master Hotel. Let's go right now!"
The two left side by side, leaving the other Imperial Fighting Team members staring in bewilderment.
Seriously, girl? He says you've been poisoned, and you're actually going with him?
They instinctively looked at the unconscious Yu Tianheng, pity in their eyes.
Buddy, wake up!
You're about to lose your girlfriend!!!
Master Hotel
Tang San brought Dugu Yan along and, after asking a server, found the private dining room.
After knocking and entering, Dugu Yan looked at the scene inside. The corner of her mouth twitched, and she began questioning her life.
Li Sen was enjoying himself with his eyes half closed and his legs crossed, his left arm around Li Yue and his right around Zhu Zhuqing, who was feeding him.
Li Xin stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.
Xiao Wu sat across from him, eating.
Ning Rongrong was the most comical of all. She wore a collar around her neck, its iron chain trailing on the floor, and gritted her teeth as she prepared the food, peeling shrimp, cutting meat, and transferring dishes into a bowl.
When she saw Tang San and Dugu Yan, her cheeks turned so red they looked ready to bleed. Inwardly, she went frantic with shame.
She wanted to run, but feared being disciplined in front of everyone. She remained where she was with her head lowered, her limbs stiff.
I'm done for! They know me!!!
Before you continue