Heaven Dou vs. Shrek (I)

"Who are you?" Lin Wuyuan stepped forward, his brow furrowing slightly as the presence of a Soul Emperor spread from him.

Zhao Wuji grinned, his voice booming. "Zhao Wuji, Shrek Academy. I brought my students out to hunt for Soul Rings. But what about you? Are you from Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" He glanced at the silver-patterned uniforms everyone wore, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was one of the continent's foremost academies for nobles, while Shrek was an obscure country academy. The two were worlds apart, yet they had run into each other in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Yu Tianheng stepped forward, his gaze falling on the dying Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. "We found this serpent first," he said gravely. "We've been chasing it all the way from the north. Friends from Shrek, please do us a favor and let us have it. This senior of mine needs his Third Soul Ring."

"You found it first?" Dai Mubai scoffed and stepped forward, defiance in his evil eyes. "What does finding it first count for? If you've got what it takes to catch up to it, you need what it takes to subdue it too. We spent all that effort beating it into submission, so why should we hand it over? If you want it, come take it yourselves."

He was a prince of the Star Luo Empire, proud and arrogant by nature. How could he take Heaven Dou's noble youths seriously?

Yu Tianheng's face darkened. "You want to fight?"

"So what if I do?" Dai Mubai gave a slight roll of his shoulders. Three Soul Rings rose around him, yellow, yellow, and purple, and his White Tiger Martial Soul burst forth, covering his arms in white fur. "In the Star Dou Great Forest, everyone relies on their own abilities."

The two stood with needle against needle, and the air instantly grew taut.

"Tian Heng, stand down." Lin Wuyuan looked at Zhao Wuji. "Senior Zhao, I know you are a Soul Saint. But there is a first come, first served to everything, and we did track this serpent first. How about this? The serpent goes to us, and we compensate you with two Thousand-Year Soul Bone fragments as an apology."

He didn't want to stir up further trouble. After all, Zhao Wuji was a level seventy-six Soul Saint; if a fight really broke out, his side wouldn't come out ahead.

But Zhao Wuji was protective of his own and unreasonable by nature. Hearing this, he burst out laughing. "Soul Bone fragments? You think I give a damn about those things? I said whoever subdues it gets it. If you want to fight, let's fight. Win, and you can take the serpent; lose, and go find a cool spot to sit in."

"Senior, are you using your seniority to bully the young?" Lin Wuyuan's face darkened as well.

"So what if I am?" Zhao Wuji folded his arms, his face full of disdain. "If your students can beat my bunch, the serpent is yours too."

"Fine!" Yu Tianheng immediately agreed. He had long been seething with anger. "Students against students, then. Whoever wins takes the serpent."

He considered himself the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, invincible among those of the same rank. Why would he fear a bunch of students from a country academy?

Dai Mubai grinned. "Just what I wanted."

The students on both sides immediately spread out, taking formation on the rocky riverbank.

On Heaven Dou's side, Yu Tianheng stood at the very front. His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul activated, purple lightning coursed around him, and three Soul Rings-yellow, yellow, and purple-lit up as the pressure of a level thirty-four Soul Elder spread out.

Dugu Yan stood at his side, her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul released and pale green poisonous mist curling around her fingertips. Yu Feng and Osler stood to either side, both Agility Attack System students, crouched and ready to strike at any moment. Two senior Power Attack System students stood on the flanks, while Feng Chi retreated to the rear, waiting for a chance to act.

On Shrek's side, Dai Mubai led the way, his White Tiger Martial Soul fully unleashed and white tiger stripes spreading across his cheeks.

Tang San stood behind him to one side, his hands clasped behind his back, the phantom image of Blue Silver Grass flickering in and out of sight beneath his feet.

Zhu Zhuqing hid in the shadows, the presence of her Hell Spirit Cat locked firmly onto Yu Feng across from her. Tuo Mushuo stood at the very front, Vajra Serpent scales covering his entire body as he assumed a defensive stance. Ma Hongjun was on the flank, the presence of his Evil Fire Phoenix faintly rising.

Oscar clutched several Recovery Sausages, ready to throw them at any moment. Ning Rongrong stood in the back row, seven-colored light flowing over her palm and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floating above her fingertips.

"Begin!"

At Zhao Wuji's command, both sides moved at once.

Yu Tianheng struck first. First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!

Purple lightning gathered into a dragon claw and lunged straight at Dai Mubai with a sharp crackle. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's lightning attacks were immensely powerful; a hit would not only cause injury, but also paralysis.

Dai Mubai neither dodged nor retreated. First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protection Barrier! A white Soul Power barrier spread open, taking the dragon claw head-on.

Lightning scattered in all directions. Dai Mubai stepped back half a pace and grinned. "Is that all you've got?"

Before the words had left his mouth, he unleashed his Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave. A white wave of Soul Power roared forth.

Yu Tianheng twisted aside to dodge and swung a bolt of lightning back at him. The two were instantly locked in combat. Lightning and white light collided again and again, producing thunderous blasts and sending shattered stones flying.

Elsewhere, Yu Feng became a gust of wind, heading straight for Tang San. He could tell that this Blue Silver Grass Control System student was the key to the opposing side. Take him down first, and the battle would be secure. But when he was only halfway there, a black figure charged in from the side. It was Zhu Zhuqing.

"Your opponent is me." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cool as she activated Hell Stab, her sharp claws flashing coldly toward Yu Feng's face. With a clear metallic ring, Yu Feng drew the short blade at his waist. The two exchanged several moves in an instant, flashes of steel crossing with shadows of claws as they fought to a deadlock.

Seeing Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng locked in a stalemate, Dugu Yan turned her wrist, sending a cloud of pale green poisonous mist drifting silently toward Dai Mubai's back. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent's poison caused paralysis on contact; even the slightest brush would slow Dai Mubai's movements by half a beat.

But the poisonous mist had only drifted halfway when a cloud of dark golden poisonous mist met it. The two poisons collided with a sizzling sound and both dissipated.

Tuo Mushuo blocked the way and grinned. "Want to play with poison? I'll play with you." His Vajra Serpent was also a poison attack type. Though its poison was not as potent as the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's, it was enough to hold it off for a while.

Dugu Yan's face darkened, and the poisonous mist around her fingertips grew denser.

For a time, the battle was deadlocked, both sides trading blows as equals.

Yu Tianheng's lightning was overbearing, while Dai Mubai's White Tiger was fierce and powerful, each with its own strengths; Yu Feng was incredibly fast, while Zhu Zhuqing's movements were agile, neither gaining the upper hand; Dugu Yan and Tuo Mushuo matched poison against poison, locked in a stalemate.

Lin Wuyuan stood to one side, his brow relaxing slightly. At this rate, their chances of winning were good.

But just then, Ning Rongrong moved.

She stood at the very back, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm suddenly shone with seven-colored light.

"Seven Treasures Have Names, First: Strength!"

"Seven Treasures Have Names, Second: Speed!"

Two seven-colored halos descended one after the other, falling upon Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tuo Mushuo.

The three's presence surged instantly, their strength and speed both increasing by thirty percent!

Dai Mubai had been locked in a stalemate with Yu Tianheng, but the moment the boost arrived, his momentum surged. He activated his Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, his body swelling in size as his tiger claw smashed toward Yu Tianheng with even more terrifying force.

Bang!

Yu Tianheng blocked in haste, but the impact sent him staggering back three steps, his arm numb.

His heart jolted. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?!