Douluo Dalu: I Can Become Stronger by Pitfalling Yu Xiaogang

Based on the strength Zhang Tianyu had displayed, his odds were bound to drop from here on. His debut today had been at ten-to-one; tomorrow, they would probably be cut by at least half, to five-to-one.

But even five-to-one—

Two hundred thousand times five was still a million!

Then they would continue dropping the day after tomorrow, most likely hitting rock bottom right away—two-to-one, or one-point-five, perhaps even the minimum of one-point-one.

But even at one-point-one, multiplying that by a million would still bring in a huge profit!

Hahaha!

Zhang Tianyu was practically a money tree!

Flender's eyes were already gleaming with the light of gold coins!

"Dean! Dean!" Dai Mubai's voice rang beside his ear, finally pulling him back from his fantasies.

"Huh? Huh? What is it?" Flender adjusted his glasses, only then noticing that everyone from Shrek Academy around him was looking at him with very strange expressions.

"Ahem, what is it?"

"Fatty and Xiao Wu's upcoming soul battles are about to begin," Dai Mubai said.

"Oh, right. Come on, let's hurry over and watch!" Flender turned and strode away.

Dai Mubai slapped his forehead. "Dean!"

Flender turned back. "What now?"

"You're going the wrong way. They're at arenas four and five, over there."

"Oh! Why didn't you say so sooner?" Flender glared at Dai Mubai.

By the time they arrived, Ma Hongjun had already finished his battle on arena four. He had won.

However, judging by his sweat-drenched, exhausted appearance, it had not been an easy victory.

Next up was Xiao Wu on arena five.

Just as in the novel, Xiao Wu's opponent was Qing Bao, a power-type Battle Soul Master with a Bear Martial Soul.

Seeing that his opponent was such a delicate little girl, Qing Bao's urge to protect the fairer sex immediately overflowed. He thought he would go easy on her—

Then Xiao Wu took him out in a single exchange.

The entire venue erupted in cheers!

Everyone loved beauty, and people naturally enjoyed looking at handsome men and beautiful women. Compared to the chubby Qing Bao, the audience clearly preferred the fresh and adorable Xiao Wu.

On top of that, Xiao Wu was so strong that the atmosphere instantly exploded across the entire venue.

The host shouted, "Battle Soul Master Xiao Wu wins! Record: one win, zero losses! Qing Bao's record: twenty-one wins, fourteen losses! Master Xiao Wu, please register your points after leaving the arena!"

Xiao Wu waved her hand and left the arena with a cheerful grin amid applause and cheers.

Flender nodded repeatedly as he watched. "These little monsters are basically invincible among those of the same rank. Hahaha, I won't have to worry about making money in the future!"

"So, how was my performance?" Xiao Wu asked Zhang Tianyu with a grin when she reached the stands.

"Very good," Zhang Tianyu said. "Get ready for the team battle next."

"Mm!" Xiao Wu nodded obediently, her eyes full of anticipation. "Later, I want to test how strong a Soul Elder is first, okay?"

"No problem," Zhang Tianyu said.

Next came Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing's match.

Zhang Tianyu watched with a hint of envy, but unfortunately, although both Zhu Zhuqing and he were newcomers with only Iron Battle Soul Badges, his rank was too high. It was impossible for him to be matched against Zhu Zhuqing.

Moreover, although his arrival had changed some parts of the plot, the main storyline would still not change.

For example, Tang San taking the master as his teacher, and this upcoming match between Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing.

Like everyone here, Zhu Zhuqing had her own path of growth. This battle with Tang San was an indispensable and important part of that journey.

However, this time, you, Tang San, won't be beating Zhu Zhuqing. Hehehe!

"Brother, go easy on her, please!" Before heading onto the arena, Dai Mubai gave Tang San's shoulder his usual pat and awkwardly added a reminder.

Tang San smiled and nodded.

The hell are you nodding for? You think you can win?

Zhang Tianyu looked expectant on the surface, but inwardly, he was cackling wickedly.

When they stepped onto the arena, the sight of two unfamiliar faces—and especially a pretty young girl no less beautiful than Xiao Wu—sent cheers rising from the stands before the soul battle had even begun.

After briefly introducing both contestants' names and Martial Souls, the host signaled that their soul battle could begin.

"Please." Tang San politely made a gesture for Zhu Zhuqing to go first.

Zhu Zhuqing said coldly, "Please go all out. Don't hold back."

"Of course." Tang San raised a hand, and Blue Silver Grass unfurled from his palm as two Soul Rings rose from his body.

Zhu Zhuqing completed her Martial Soul Possession. Her already tight leather outfit immediately stretched even more snugly over her fuller figure, her pupils shifted in color, and a pair of cat ears quietly rose atop her head. She transformed completely into a sexy little wildcat.

Zhang Tianyu discreetly swallowed.

Old Zhang loved this kind of thing!

The battle began, and Zhu Zhuqing took the lead, darting forward in a blur of afterimages.

Tang San remained calm and raised a hand, immediately using his First Soul Skill, Bind. Blue Silver Grass shot toward Zhu Zhuqing from every direction like snakes.

Zhu Zhuqing ignored it all and charged straight at Tang San.

The Blue Silver Grass was faster than she was. Flender shook his head. There was no need to watch any further—Zhu Zhuqing was bound to lose.

On an entirely open Battle Soul Arena, an Agility Attack Type was completely countered by a control-type fighter.

However, just as the Blue Silver Grass was about to strike Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhu Zhuqing had already used Hell Stab to reach Tang San—

A smile had just appeared on Tang San's face when suddenly—

"Ah—choo!"

A loud sneeze rang out!

Tears and snot streamed wildly down Tang San's face!

His Purple Demon Eye was broken on the spot, and everything before his eyes turned blurry!

The Blue Silver Grass's assault came to an immediate halt!

Zhu Zhuqing naturally would not miss such a fine opportunity. She used Hell Stab and went straight in for the attack!

Bang!

"Ah!"

Tang San cried out in pain and was knocked off the Arena Ring.

The beauty had won! The entire audience erupted in cheers!

Yet everyone from Shrek Academy was dumbfounded.

Tang San had lost?

That was right—Tang San had not only lost, he was crying too!

Tang San had fallen from the Arena Ring and sat slumped beneath it, weeping bitterly with tears streaming down his face while sneezing nonstop!

Zhang Tianyu looked utterly shocked on the surface, but inwardly, he was laughing madly!

Tang San, Tang San, that long-lost feeling of being screwed over was back, wasn't it? Heh heh, did you miss it as much as I did?

Tang San, next I'll sing you a song.

This song is called:

Pit You

Pit you~~

If you suddenly sneeze~ then it must mean I'm screwing you over~

If someone knocks you to the ground~ ah~ that's also because I screwed you over~

~~~

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I actually sang along!" The system was completely impressed.

Seeing Tang San below the stage with tears pouring down his face as he sneezed incessantly, Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat bewildered too.

Did I hit him too hard? Did I hurt him?

Otherwise, why was he crying?

But this was a match. This was a battle!

We agreed to give it our all, so of course I had to give it my all.

And now you're crying just because I hurt you?

Are you even a man?

The host was somewhat stunned as well.

A contestant had been beaten to tears?

And it was a male contestant who had been beaten to tears by a female contestant?

Uh...

This had never happened in the Battle Soul Arena before!

"Uh... this situation is truly rather unexpected! Contestant Tang San actually... actually cried!" the host said in surprise. "Was he unable to accept his defeat, or did contestant Zhu Zhuqing hit him too hard?

"Uh, in any case, contestant Zhu Zhuqing wins this match! Her current record is: one win, zero losses!

"Contestant Tang San's current record is: zero wins, one loss!"

Fortunately, Zhang Tianyu restrained himself with all his might. Otherwise, he would have nearly burst out laughing!

Tang San, Tang San—zero wins and one loss. Hahaha, wasn't that ironic? Didn't that feel awful?

In the stands, the spectators all wore slightly disgusted expressions at the sight:

"What's wrong with this guy?"

"Yeah, what's his deal? He cries when he loses? He cries when he gets hit?"

"Damn, is he even a man?"

"I saw that his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, and he looked so imposing despite being young. I thought he'd be some talented young expert. But this? Crying when he gets hit? Crying when he loses?"

"How embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing!"

"That's right, he's a disgrace to men!"

"Hurry home and cry!"

"Stop making a fool of yourself here!"

By then, the Pepper Bomb's duration had already run out.

Tang San stopped sneezing and tearing up. He silently got to his feet, said nothing, and turned to leave.

He knew very well that explaining would be useless.

No one would believe that his nose had suddenly become sore and itchy, making him unable to stop sneezing and tears from streaming down his face.

Maybe the person who had ambushed him before had appeared again. Or perhaps something had triggered an allergic reaction. As long as he himself understood what had happened, that was enough.

When he returned to the stands, Zhu Zhuqing was already there.

Zhang Tianyu was the first to greet him. "Ah San, are you alright?"

Tang San looked at Zhang Tianyu's concerned expression, then at the somewhat indifferent faces of the others. A warm current surged through his heart, and he smiled at Zhang Tianyu. "I'm fine. Just an old problem acting up."

Tianyu really does care about me! Tianyu really does care about me!

No matter how others misunderstood, slandered, or looked down on him, Tianyu would always treat him as a friend and show him the concern a friend should!