It was in that very instant.
The connection between the seven Soul Power was disrupted. The closed loop of the seven-in-one system was broken, and the Spiritual Power that maintained the illusion lost its support, beginning to backfire out of control.
Tang San didn't stop. His Spiritual Power surged into the fractured joint like a tide—not to attack, but to amplify the backlash.
The mental seas of the seven members of Canghui were instantly shattered by the backlash, blood spilled from their mouths and noses, and their consciousness became blurred.
Dai Mubai had no idea what had happened. He only saw that the formation of the Canghui Academy suddenly collapsed, and seven people were swaying and unable to stand steadily.
"Attack!"
The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, slamming into Captain Canghui head-on and sending him flying. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing attacked from both flanks, their Waist Bow and Netherworld Slash raining down in succession, leaving the seven members of the Canghui Academy sprawling like sandbags.
Tang San stood still, neither stopping his teammates nor telling them that the opponent was powerless to fight back. He simply watched from the sidelines.
In the end, the seven members of Canghui fell to the ground and never got up again.
Seeing the miserable state of Canghui's seven members, the referee quickly raised his right hand. " Shrek Academy wins!"
Cheers erupted from the stands, but were mixed with considerable discussion.
"Wasn't Shrek a bit too heavy-handed? He was already barely able to stand, and he kept hitting him?"
"It's a competition, as long as you win. Who cares if you hit too hard or not?"
Shi Nian, the teacher leading the team from the Canghui Academy, saw the students' miserable state, he rushed onto the arena, quickly took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out seven pills, and stuffed them into the mouths of the seven students. The porcelain bottle was labeled with the Pill Pavilion.
"It's a pill from the Pill Pavilion..." Someone in the stands recognized the label.
In the VIP section, Salas's face darkened. Had the Pill Pavilion's influence reached this level? Even the Canghui Academy could purchase them in bulk?
Shi Nian ignored the surrounding discussions. He squatted down beside the captain, checked his pulse, and then examined his eyelids. Seriously injured, but not crippled. The life-saving pills from the Pill Pavilion had stabilized their mental state.
He stood up, gave Tang San a gloomy look, stared at him for a while, said nothing, and then led the seven students off the stage.
In the viewing area of the Iron Rock Academy, Tie Hu watched this scene in silence for a long time.
"That Tang San from Shrek is really ruthless and cold-blooded," Shi Chui said in a low voice.
Tie Hu didn't reply. He recalled that when Godwind Academy attacked them, they only sent three people, and none of them even had their Fourth Soul Ring lit up. It wasn't that they couldn't fight, but that they didn't need to. But when Shrek attacked Canghui, winning wasn't enough; they wanted to beat them to death.
"It's different," Tie Hu said.
Shi Chui paused for a moment. "What's different?"
Tie Hu offered no explanation. He withdrew his gaze, turned, and left.
After the competition, Canghui Academy filed a complaint with the competition organizing committee, alleging that Tang San of the Shrek Academy used Hidden Weapon (not Martial Soul ) to attack during the competition and actively used his Spiritual Power to amplify the backlash damage.
After investigation, the judging panel ultimately determined that Shrek Academy had not committed any violations.
The announcement caused an uproar in the stands.
"Using Hidden Weapon isn't considered a violation? Then everyone should just bring weapons into battle from now on!"
"The rules don't explicitly prohibit the use of Hidden Weapon. Since it's not written down, it's not considered a violation."
"What about their Spiritual Power? Canghui's people were clearly severely injured because of the backlash from their Spiritual Power!"
"The referees said it was a natural backlash after the fusion technique was broken."
"Natural backlash? Do you believe in that? I don't."
Someone whispered, "You don't know? Yu Xiaogang, the teacher leading the Shrek Academy team, is an honorary elder of the Spirit Hall."
The murmurs suddenly subsided.
Honorary Elder. No wonder the judging panel made that decision.
"No wonder..." someone exclaimed, but with a hint of dissatisfaction in their voice, "Having connections makes all the difference."
"Don't talk nonsense." The person next to him tugged at his sleeve, gesturing for him to look towards the VIP section.
Salas sat there, expressionless. No one knew whether he had heard them or not.
In the VIP section, Ning Fengzhi looked at Tang San on the field, his brows slightly furrowed.
He didn't have any particular fondness for Shrek. Ning Rongrong was often ordered around and subjected to targeting and pressure there. As her father, he saw it all, and although he didn't say anything, he was probably not happy about it.
"I went a bit too far," Ning Fengzhi said calmly, then fell silent.
Sword Douluo stood behind Ning Fengzhi without speaking, but his gaze lingered on Tang San for a moment. This young man was decisive and showed no mercy. It was both a good thing and a bad thing.
-
Feng Xiaotian sat in the players' seat, listening to the surrounding discussions without saying a word.
Feng Lingtian stood to the side, his gaze fixed on the hand from which Yu Xiaogang had put away the token. He knew what that token was. It was given to him by Tang Hao. Yu Xiaogang had used this token to protect Tang San.
Feng Xiaotian withdrew his gaze and looked at Feng Lingtian. Feng Lingtian shook his head slightly and said nothing.
Some things don't need to be said.
A few days later, the competition organizing committee issued new rules: in subsequent competitions, contestants are not allowed to use any weapons or Hidden Weapon other than Martial Soul.
When the news reached Godwind Academy, Feng Xiaotian glanced at Feng Lingtian.
" Hidden Weapon are banned," Feng Xiaotian said.
Feng Lingtian nodded. They had fought against Shrek Academy in Suotuo City, and Tang San's Silent Sleeve Arrow were indeed a problem—they were silent and difficult to defend against. But with Hidden Weapon banned, what else did Tang San have?
"Even without Hidden Weapon, he still has Blue Silver Grass," Feng Lingtian said.
Feng Xiaotian didn't reply. Of course he knew. Tang San's control over the Blue Silver Grass, his Purple Demon Eye, and his Self-Created Soul Skill didn't rely on Hidden Weapon. If Hidden Weapon were banned, Shrek would be affected, but it wouldn't be crippled.
Feng Lingtian did not continue speaking.
In fact, he knew that Tang San had another card up his sleeve. That card was the real trump card.
"Let's see how they fight when we meet again," Feng Xiaotian said.
At the Shrek Academy, Tang San remained silent for a long time after hearing the new rules.
The Hidden Weapon were made by his own hands, part of the Tang Sect's heritage. Silent Sleeve Arrow, Godly Zhuge Crossbow, Sand-Hurling Shadow... each one embodies his painstaking efforts. The rules can ban them at will.
He didn't argue. But he knew in his heart that the real reason wasn't that the Hidden Weapon were too dangerous, but that others didn't know how to use them. They didn't know how to make Hidden Weapon, how to use Hidden Weapon, or how to defend against Hidden Weapon. Seeing that he used them well, they felt resentful, so they simply banned them. How cunning.
Yu Xiaogang stood by the window, looking into the distance, without saying a word.
He knew that this token could only be used once, not a second time.