The moment the Titled Douluo raised his hand, the atmosphere in the entire Shrek area froze.
Tai Tan was tightly entangled by three black-clad Soul Saint, while Flender and Liu Erlong were too far away, and the guards of the Strength Clan were suppressed and unable to raise their heads.
The palm strike hadn't even landed yet, but everyone knew that once it did, no one could catch it for Tang San.
Dai Mubai was the first to react. He didn't try to block the palm strike—he knew he couldn't—but instead unleashed the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave at a black-clad Soul Saint behind the Titled Douluo.
The Soul Saint, who was flanking from the side, was struck head-on by the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, causing him to falter and creating a gap in the encirclement. Dai Mubai roared, "Now!"
Zhu Zhuqing's figure slipped through the gap, her Nether Civet Martial Soul leaving a dark afterimage in the night as she pounced on another black-clad Soul Saint was trying to approach Tang San from behind.
She wasn't trying to defeat him, but rather to stall him— the Hell Stab grazed the Soul Saint's ribs, forcing him to retreat and defend.
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line descended from the sky, not Quasi-Titled Douluo, but at the feet of the Titled Douluo.
The flames couldn't burn through the Titled Douluo's Soul Power defense, but the scorching bluestone slab exploded into a cloud of rubble and dust, briefly obscuring the Titled Douluo's vision for a moment.
As the aura of Titled Douluo pressed down overwhelmingly, Xiao Wu subconsciously pressed her hand on the silver bracelet on her wrist. The surface of the bracelet flashed slightly, and she glanced down to confirm it before releasing her hand and flashing out from behind Tang San.
Instead of attacking Titled Douluo —that would be suicide—she Teleportation to the opening created by Dai Mubai, used her soft technique to entangle the arm of a black-clad Soul Saint, and used the force to fling him against the mountain wall, further widening the gap in the encirclement.
Tang San caught a glimpse of Xiao Wu touching her bracelet out of the corner of his eye, but didn't think much of it. He had bought that bracelet for her; she liked to touch it when she was nervous.
After Xiao Wu Teleportation away, Tang San didn't chase after her—he believed Xiao Wu knew what he was doing. He simply gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tighter, left the space behind him to the empty spot, and refocused his gaze on the enemy in front of him.
Although the Star Luo Royal Academy was kept at the back by the falling rocks, Dai Mubai shouted towards them during a lull in the fighting, "I am Dai Mubai! I defeated Dai Weisi in the battle for the throne. You should know what this means—"
"Now, all Soul Douluo- level instructors, come and provide support immediately!" A moment later, a Soul Douluo- level instructor leading a Star Luo Empire team crossed the falling rocks and arrived, relieving some of the pressure on Tai Tan.
Another teacher Star Luo Empire, followed closely behind, joining forces with Flender and Liu Erlong to force one of the three Soul Saint besieging Tai Tan to retreat. Tai Tan's pressure eased slightly, and he finally stood up from his kneeling position, the phantom of the Giant Ape Martial Soul solidifying a bit more.
The Titled Douluo glanced down at the rubble blasted apart by the Phoenix Fire Line, then at the black-clad Soul Saint who had been forced back by the Star Luo Empire Soul Douluo.
His lips twitched slightly beneath his cloak—not from anger, but from surprise. These kids, whose highest rank was no more than Soul Ancestor, had actually managed to hold out for a few seconds right under his nose.
He wasn't going to wait any longer. He slammed his palm down.
A cyan wind blade slashed from the other end of the valley, passing over the falling rocks and dust, and struck the ground between the Titled Douluo and Tang San.
The mountain path was cleaved with cracks several feet deep, and the aftershocks of the wind blades forced the black-clad Titled Douluo back three steps. He glanced down at the cracks beneath his feet, then looked up at the source of the wind blades.
Feng Qingxuan stood at the front of the Godwind Academy convoy, his right hand still in a waving posture, cyan Wind Attribute Soul Power flowing at his fingertips. He didn't look at the black-clad Titled Douluo, but simply clenched his fingers slightly, and the wind blades around him re-condensed.
"Your opponent is me."
Dugu Bo's poisonous fog followed closely behind, the purple mist surging from the middle of the valley, forcing back the black-clad Soul Saint on the outer edge of the Shrek Academy area. He stood on the roof of the carriage, his hands tucked into his sleeves, a cold smile playing on his lips, " Titled Douluo bullying a bunch of kids, aren't you ashamed?"
The motionless black figure on the cliff finally spoke, its voice low and deep. " Feng Qingxuan, Dugu Bo, this matter has nothing to do with you. We only want Tang San."
Feng Qingxuan finally looked up at the mountain wall, his tone calm. "Someone asked me to protect him. If you harm him, I naturally won't allow it."
The valley fell silent for a moment. The two black-clad Titled Douluo exchanged a glance.
With at least three Titled Douluo in the Three Academy Alliance and a Sword Douluo watching from the sidelines, they have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation.
The Titled Douluo on the mountain wall coldly uttered the command "retreat," and dozens of black figures disappeared swiftly into the mountainside just as they had arrived.
The two Titled Douluo figures on the mountain wall also retreated into the shadows. Before leaving, the one who made the first move glanced back at Tang San, then at Feng Qingxuan, and the corner of his mouth, visible under his cloak, curved slightly—not in anger, but in a meaningful smile.
Then he disappeared too. The valley returned to silence, with only the howling of the mountain wind through the cracks in the rocks and the heavy breathing of the wounded. Tai Tan pushed himself up and stood up, intending to check on Tang San's condition. Tang San nodded to him to indicate that he was alright.
Xiao Wu's face was still a little pale, but she had steadied her breathing, and the silver bracelet on her wrist reflected slightly under her sleeve. Dai Mubai withdrew his White Tiger Martial Soul and gasped for breath.
Ma Hongjun plopped down on the ground, the Phoenix Flame flickering for a final moment at his fingertips before extinguishing. Zhu Zhuqing emerged from the shadows and silently stood beside Dai Mubai.
Since everyone had just come from a battle, for safety reasons, Xue Qinghe arranged for the convoy to set up camp and rest outside the valley. Xue Qinghe's guards cleared away the fallen rocks and reorganized their formation.
The Three Academy Alliance's camp was set up in the very center, with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School's tents right next to the Godwind Academy. Shrek's campfire was on the outermost edge, and the guards of the Strength Clan took turns keeping watch at night.
Beside the campfire at the Godwind Academy, Feng Qingxuan took a sip of the wine offered by Feng Lingtian, stood up, dusted off his robe, and headed towards his tent.
Dugu Bo leaned against the carriage, holding his wine gourd, watching Feng Qingxuan's retreating figure, and chuckled, "Your father is a man of few words, but he doesn't mince words. That gust of wind was clearly for real; he wasn't just bluffing."
Feng Lingtian made no comment, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the Shrek camp.
Xiao Wu was still sitting by the campfire, her fingers unconsciously stroking the silver bracelet on her wrist. From the start of the battle until now, her hand had never left that bracelet.
Feng Lingtian recognized that gesture—it wasn't nervousness, it was confirmation. Confirming whether something that couldn't be lost was still there.
What is something a transformed Soul Beast cannot afford to lose? The answer is self-evident.
The campfire crackled, Huo Xing flying as they were scattered by the night wind. Feng Lingtian withdrew his gaze without saying a word.
The convoy set off again the following morning. The fallen rocks had been cleared, but the battle of the previous day had left its mark on everyone's hearts.
The members of the Three Academy Alliance consciously walked closer together, and no one from the Thunder Academy and Star Luo Royal Academy laughed or joked anymore.
Shrek's team was still trailing behind the Three Academy Alliance, but the distance between them and Godwind Academy was much shorter than yesterday.
As Tang San rode past the carriage of the Godwind Academy, he glanced at Feng Qingxuan.
Feng Qingxuan kept his eyes fixed ahead, focused on getting on his way. But Tang San still nodded slightly in thanks.
Feng Lingtian sat inside the carriage and saw this scene through the gap in the curtain. He lowered the curtain, leaned against the carriage wall, and closed his eyes to rest.
Spirit City was still ahead. But after today, everyone understood one thing: some wanted Tang San dead, while others were willing to save him. This was just the beginning.