Heaven Dou vs. Shrek (2)

Yu Tianheng gritted his teeth and channeled his Soul Power, activating his Second Soul Skill, Thunderous Might. Countless bolts of lightning struck at Dai Mubai.

But Dai Mubai spread his White Tiger Protection Barrier to its limit, forcibly weathered the lightning, and closed in with a punch.

Tang San stood in the rear, quietly circulating his Purple Demon Eye and taking in every move the Heaven Dou group made.

Three Bone-Piercing Needles rested between his fingertips as his gaze locked onto an opening in Yu Tianheng's defense. Just as Yu Tianheng's previous surge of strength faded and the next had yet to rise, Tang San flicked his fingertips. Three glints of cold light, fine as ox hairs, shot out soundlessly through the gaps between the lightning bolts, heading straight for Yu Tianheng's wrist, waist, and knee.

Yu Tianheng was focused entirely on facing Dai Mubai and had no defense against such subtle Hidden Weapons. By the time he sensed the rushing air, it was too late.

Ding!

He flipped his wrist and used his dragon claw to deflect the needle aimed at it, but he couldn't dodge the other two headed for his waist and knee. The needle tips pierced his skin, and a trace of numbness spread through his meridians, slowing his movements by half a beat.

In that half-beat opening, Dai Mubai smashed a fist into his chest.

Bang!

Yu Tianheng staggered back five or six steps, the Qi and blood in his chest churning as a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Tian Heng!" Dugu Yan cried out and hurried over to support him.

The situation had begun to tilt in Shrek's favor.

"Despicable! You actually used Hidden Weapons!" Angry and anxious, Dugu Yan pointed at Tang San and shouted sharply, "You couldn't win in a fair fight, so you resorted to these underhanded tricks!"

Dai Mubai scoffed. "When Soul Masters fight, each relies on their own abilities. Hidden Weapons are part of one's strength too. Who says they're not allowed? If you don't like it, you can use them yourselves."

"You!" Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed red with anger. She was about to unleash her Jade Phosphor Seven Absolutes Poison and fight with everything she had, but Yu Tianheng reached out and stopped her.

"Don't be impulsive." Yu Tianheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze grave.

He could tell that the Blue Silver Grass youth on the other side was no ordinary opponent. His Hidden Weapon techniques were exquisite, and his timing was even more fiendishly precise. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification on top of that, their side was already at a disadvantage in a head-on fight.

Zhao Wuji stood off to the side, roaring with laughter as he watched. "Good! Tang San, beautifully done with those Hidden Weapons!" He had always been protective of his own, and seeing his students gain the upper hand made him even more pleased. He glanced at Lin Wuyuan. "Well, Teacher Lin? Your students don't seem up to the task."

Lin Wuyuan's expression darkened. He hadn't expected this group of Shrek students to be so troublesome. The Control System Tang San and the Support System Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda were especially difficult to deal with when working together.

"Senior Zhao, this is a spar between students. They should stop before anyone gets hurt," Lin Wuyuan said gravely. "We can give up the snake, but if someone gets injured, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain."

"Explain?" Zhao Wuji grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth. "What's so hard to explain? The Star Dou Great Forest is dangerous to begin with. What's a little injury? I say you should stop dragging your feet. Why don't the two of us get some exercise too? Whoever wins gets the snake. That way, these kids won't waste time fighting all day."

His hands had been itching for a fight for a while now. An instructor from Heaven Dou Royal Academy was just the right person to practice on.

"Senior, are you forcing my hand?" Lin Wuyuan's gaze sharpened.

A level sixty-two Soul Emperor against a level seventy-six Soul Saint-the gap was plain to see. If they really fought, he would surely be at a disadvantage.

"Don't say I'm bullying you." Zhao Wuji rolled his wrist, his bones cracking. "I'll use only half my strength. If you can withstand ten of my moves, I'll let you have the snake. If you can't, go back where you came from."

Before he had finished speaking, he stomped hard on the ground.

Bang!

The entire rocky riverbank shook three times. Seven Soul Rings abruptly rose: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black.

The pressure of a level seventy-six Soul Saint swept over them, blotting out the sky and covering the earth. All the students present found their breathing hitching, and the weaker ones even stumbled back repeatedly.

"Since Senior is offering instruction, I'll experience the Immovable Wisdom King's great techniques for myself." Lin Wuyuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and pressed his palms together.

"Martial Soul, Iron Wall Overlord Tree!"

With a rumble, the ground split open. A gigantic ancient tree several dozen feet tall burst from the earth. Its trunk was thick as iron, its bark covered in spikes, and its branches crossed and tangled. Six Soul Rings slowly lit up around its trunk: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black. The presence of a level sixty-two Control System Soul Emperor surged forth at full force.

"Wang Ze, help me," Lin Wuyuan called in a deep voice.

"Coming!"

Wang Ze's figure blurred as he shot into the sky like a black shadow.

His Martial Soul was the Fanged Bat, and he was a level fifty-eight Agility Attack System Soul King. A pair of black bat wings spread from his back, and sharp claw blades sprang from his fingertips. Five Soul Rings lit up-yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black-and he moved so fast that he left a trail of afterimages.

One defended and the other attacked, complementing each other perfectly.

"Interesting." Zhao Wuji grinned. Without dodging or evading, he walked straight toward the Iron Wall Overlord Tree.

The ground trembled faintly with every step he took, and the Soul Power around him grew increasingly concentrated.

"First Soul Skill, Thorn Entanglement!" Lin Wuyuan shouted.

Countless thorny vines as thick as the mouth of a bowl burst from underground and coiled toward Zhao Wuji like pythons. Their spikes gleamed coldly as they piled layer upon layer, swallowing his figure in an instant.

"Break!" Zhao Wuji roared, his muscles suddenly bulging.

"Second Soul Skill, Great Strength Vajra Palm!"

A gigantic golden palm print appeared out of thin air and slammed down hard.

Crack, crack-

The thorny vines snapped inch by inch and scattered like scraps of paper.

Zhao Wuji stepped out, completely unharmed, a disdainful smile on his lips.

Just then, Wang Ze moved.

He dove from high in the air, folding his bat wings and turning his entire body into a sharp black arrow.

"Third Soul Skill, Fang Assault!"

His claw blades headed straight for the center of Zhao Wuji's back from a vicious, tricky angle. Without looking back, Zhao Wuji threw a backhanded punch. The wind from his fist howled, fierce and powerful beyond compare.

Wang Ze's pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly crossed his arms to block.

Clang-

A sharp sound rang out like metal striking metal. The force of the punch sent Wang Ze flying backward. He tumbled several times in the air before landing, then staggered back three steps as a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Waves of numbness ran through his arms, and his claw blades had nearly snapped.

"Not bad speed, but you're a little short on power." Zhao Wuji rolled his wrist. "Both of you, come at me together. Don't waste time."

Lin Wuyuan's gaze darkened, and he exchanged a look with Wang Ze.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Iron Wall Armor!"

The Iron Wall Overlord Tree's trunk instantly doubled in thickness, its bark taking on the color of steel as its defensive power soared.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Ten Thousand Trees Pay Homage!"

Countless thick tree trunks burst from the ground and pressed toward Zhao Wuji like a forest, each bearing the force of a thousand jun.

Wang Ze moved at the same time, his figure becoming countless afterimages as he flew rapidly around Zhao Wuji.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Extreme Speed Slash!"

Black blade winds slashed ceaselessly at the openings all around Zhao Wuji.

"There's some skill to it," Zhao Wuji said approvingly, but he showed no sign of panic.