Clash (II)

He knew who was on the other side.

The Shrek Seven Devils. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing. His older brother was among those seven. It had been four years since he left Holy Soul Village and grew into what he was today in Heaven Dou City, yet he and his brother had never faced each other in a formal setting.

Today, they were going to fight.

"Ah Yin." Dugu Yan opened her eyes and looked down at him. "Nervous?"

"No."

"If you're not nervous, why are you tapping your fingers?"

Tang Yin stopped tapping and looked up at her. Dugu Yan stared at him for two seconds, snorted, and turned away. "Stick close to me today. If anyone on the other side is blind enough to pick a fight with you, I'll take them on first."

Beside them, Ye Lingling added softly, "I'll be behind you."

Tang Yin nodded.

The spectator stands at the Great Soul Arena were packed, with not a seat left empty.

The announcer shouted at the top of his lungs, "Please welcome-the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Imperial Fighting Team!"

The spotlights came on.

Yu Tianheng was the first to enter, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's Soul Rings rising beneath his feet to thunderous applause. Next came the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo, with the phantom forms of their Black Tortoise Martial Souls. Yu Feng's Wind Chime Bird, Dugu Yan's Jade-Scaled Dragon, Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia-

Finally, Tang Yin walked out.

The spectators fell silent for a moment.

"Wh... who's that?"

"A little kid? What's a little kid doing on the team?"

"How old does he even look? The Imperial Fighting Team takes kids like that?"

Tang Yin was speechless after hearing that. Tang San had turned straight into a mature, handsome guy after awakening, so why did Tang Yin get younger-looking the stronger he became?

Tang Yin wore the Imperial Fighting Team's uniform. A head shorter than everyone else, he stood among seven towering figures like a little white poplar. His face was expressionless as his eyes swept across the other side-

The Shrek Seven Devils were already in position across from them.

Tang Yin's gaze stopped on the young man at the far left, whose hair was tied in a scorpion braid.

Tang San.

He was a little taller and a little thinner than Tang Yin remembered, but Tang Yin would have recognized that face even if it had been reduced to ashes-it looked seventy percent like his own. Tang San was looking at him too. For an instant, his eyes were blank with confusion, followed by an indescribable daze.

Beside Tang San, the little girl in the pink dress-Xiao Wu-followed his gaze over and blinked.

Dai Mubai stood at the far right of the team. The moment he saw Tang Yin, his whole body went rigid.

It was him.

That Little Monster from the night market.

Dai Mubai's mouth twitched, and he cursed under his breath. "Damn it... why is it him?"

Ning Rongrong, standing beside Dai Mubai, followed his gaze and froze too. She had just been sizing up the Imperial Fighting Team's impressive display, but when her eyes landed on Tang Yin, she instinctively took a few extra looks-the little kid was a bit too good-looking.

Tang San looked at the little kid across from him, whose face was seventy percent like his own, and felt an indescribable sense of discomfort.

He had never seen this child before.

But why, when he looked into his eyes, did he feel a familiarity in his blood?

The announcer raised his voice. "The Shrek Academy Team versus-the Imperial Fighting Team! Match, begin!"

Both sides released their Martial Souls at the same time.

Three Soul Rings, two yellow and one purple, rose beneath Yu Tianheng's feet as the phantom form of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon roared behind him. Dugu Yan's Jade-Scaled Dragon spiraled upward, Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia bloomed, and the shells of Shi Mo and Shi Mo's Black Tortoises closed around them-

The Imperial Fighting Team's Soul Rings lit up in unison, drawing a chorus of sharp gasps from the stands.

"What a lineup!"

"The Heaven Dou Royal Academy really is different!"

On Shrek's side came Dai Mubai's Evil Eye White Tiger, Oscar's Big Sausage, Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame, Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Spirit Cat, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda-

Finally, the Soul Rings of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass rose beneath his feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple.

Three Soul Rings. Blue Silver Grass vines spread out from beneath his feet.