Your self-important arrangements, your arrogant attitude... Grandmaster, oh Grandmaster, when things don't unfold as you imagined, what will become of everything you take such pride in?
Up in the air, Shangguan Hong watched Tang San fighting fiercely below and sneered inwardly. Did Yu Xiaogang really think he was some peaceful, humble person? Targeting him so openly? Then he would have to accept the uncontrollable consequences! Because the battle was so intense, Tang San and the others had not noticed that Shangguan Hong had maintained his Third Soul Skill for a little less time. It might have been only a few seconds, or he might have held back a little at some point, but in the current battle, that was enough to send events down a different path.
If Shangguan Hong had held on a little longer, or spoken up to remind them, Tang San and the others would have reacted and thrown Mad Rhino out of the arena. If he had put a little more strength into his strike just now, the Golden Spatula in his hand would have severed Mad Rhino's thigh instead of leaving the entire team in such a passive position...
But the others knew nothing of this, nor did they have the attention to spare to think about it. Tang San was already nearly frantic! Before him was a pack of man-eating beasts, ready to tear them to pieces. Only five of the Shrek Seven Devils remained, two of whom had no fighting ability whatsoever, and he could not bear to let Xiao Wu face such monsters. Shangguan Hong was injured, and with guilt weighing on him as well, how could Tang San let him fight alongside him?
In the end, Tang San made his decision!
"Little Ao, take out all the remaining Mushroom Sausages! Then you can all leave the arena. Leave the rest to me!"
Perhaps he had stumbled upon the right answer by chance, but Tang San now displayed the sense of responsibility of a team leader, appearing quite dependable in Oscar's and Ning Rongrong's eyes.
"Little San, be careful! No matter what, this is only a match. If you're in danger, concede. We Shrek Seven Devils can afford to lose!"
Before leaving the arena, Shangguan Hong caught Tang San's arm and spoke with concern. Tang San nodded firmly and gave him a smile that said there was no need to worry.
The other Shrek members left the arena. The spectators were stunned, and the announcer was equally astonished. However, seeing that Tang San remained airborne while the duration of the Mad Battle Team's Frenzy Soul Skill below was nearing its end, the announcer, who had thought the Shrek Seven Devils were about to lose, began commentating excitedly once more. Meanwhile, Shangguan Hong, Dai Mubai, and the others returned to Yu Xiaogang's side, watching the action in the arena with tension written all over their faces.
"We shouldn't have had such a miserable time in this match! It's my fault. I was too rash!"
Dai Mubai's face was full of regret. This defeat had been truly stifling. A dignified rank 37 Soul Elder, supported by a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master, had actually been captured outright, then kicked out of the Soul Fighting Arena in utter disgrace! The damage had been minor, but the humiliation was immense.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was cold, and no one knew what she was thinking. The expression on Ning Rongrong's face beside her, however, was easy to read: undisguised disdain, aimed openly at Yu Xiaogang! Perhaps the others would show Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang some courtesy for Tang San's sake, but Ning Rongrong was different. She came from a distinguished family and held a noble status. Not only that, although she was indeed a willful little witch, she had received no small amount of education growing up. Precisely because of that, she found it even harder to understand why Yu Xiaogang had forbidden Shangguan Hong from using his Second Soul Skill.
Was he hiding the Second Soul Skill as a trump card? Or was there some other reason? Yet no explanation seemed to make sense.
Not to mention that Ning Rongrong was now biased toward Shangguan Hong.
Shangguan Hong had been injured saving her!
"What bullshit tactical arrangements. With our strength, we absolutely wouldn't lose as long as we fought normally! It's only a puny Mad Battle Team, yet it's become such a hassle..."
Ning Rongrong's voice was not quiet, and everyone heard her clearly. The others' expressions stiffened, but they quickly kept them under control, though inwardly they felt a sudden rush of satisfaction. Yu Xiaogang, however, looked awful, his face livid. How could he fail to realize that Ning Rongrong was insulting him? Considering that they were outside, at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena, Yu Xiaogang forced himself not to erupt. He merely marked it down in his heart, planning to reprimand her severely once they returned to the academy.
Shangguan Hong remained silent, as though none of this concerned him at all, as though he was not the one who had been injured. Inwardly, however, he had already given Ning Rongrong an enormous thumbs-up.
Meanwhile, in the arena, Tang San's flight time finally ran out. The deadly problem was that the Mad Battle Team's Frenzy state below could still last a full minute! Tang San would have to face the combined assault of five Soul Elders in a Frenzy state. He had almost no chance of holding out! But this chosen one had a cheat, and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track played an extremely important role. In the end, Tang San stubbornly held on until the Frenzy state ended and eliminated the Mad Battle Team's members one after another. Since Tang San was harboring anger at the time, his attacks could hardly be called gentle. His Blue Silver Grass lashed like whips, sending one Mad Battle Team member after another flying. Spider Woman, whose frenzied transformation had been incomplete, had wanted to catch Tang San with a dirty trick, but what greeted her was a resounding slap.
The Shrek Seven Devils won, and thanks to their bets, they received a large sum of money! Tang San had saved the Shrek Seven Devils as their savior, cementing his unshakable position within the team. Yu Xiaogang had achieved his objective.
Shangguan Hong had not lost. Through his clever arrangements, he had dragged Yu Xiaogang's standing in the Shrek Seven Devils' hearts down a notch. With time, those tiny cracks would continue to widen. Perhaps one day, he would see Yu Xiaogang part ways with Shrek Academy. At that point, the negative consequences of killing Yu Xiaogang would be reduced to a minimum. He would very likely still retain the blessing of the protagonist group's halo, while also being able to drive Bibi Dong into madness and churn this already storm-tossed continent into muddy waters!
Only in muddy waters was it easy to catch fish! Only then could he gain more benefits!
Now that we've beaten the Mad Battle Team, the Imperial Fighting Team should arrive soon, right? And after the Imperial Fighting Team... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
Boundless greed rose in Shangguan Hong's heart!
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was the greatest cheat on the Douluo Continent! Without its many Immortal Herbs, the Shrek Seven Devils could never have grown at such an outrageous speed, and they could never have taken first place in this Soul Master Tournament!
Judging by Shangguan Hong's current relationship with Tang San, if he kept it up, he would certainly receive a share of the Immortal Herbs in the future, and Tang San would definitely select one from the highest tier of quality for him! But would a single immortal-grade herb satisfy him?
The answer was no!
Only children made choices. He, Shangguan Hong, wanted them all!