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The midday Shrek Academy took the stage against Cang Hui Academy.
Ning Tian couldn't wait to see how Tang San without the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and stuck at the first stage of the Purple Demon Eye would handle Cang Hui's Seven-in-One Fusion Skill: the Seven Asura Illusion.
Ning Rongrong, newly empowered by the Illusionary Wisdom Skull Bone, slid up beside him. "Do you think Cang Hui can take down Shrek?"
Yu Feng spoke up for Ning Tian. "No way. Shrek's bunch might be gross, but they're tough. Cang Hui Academy already lost to Elephant Armor Academy earlier, and now they're facing Shrek, who they've got bad blood with. They're in deep trouble. Unless Tang San has another… mishap, Cang Hui's got a slim shot at winning."
Most of the New Heaven Dou Battle Team nodded along, but Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Qing kept their eyes on Ning Tian, waiting.
Ning Tian's mouth twitched into a small smile. "Don't count on it."
At the same time, he sent a quiet message to Xiao Wu, who was near Shrek's rest area: 'Xiao Wu, sit this match out.'
Xiao Wu paused, then gave a slight nod. She turned to Tang San. "Black Bro, I'm not feeling well. Cang Hui's not that strong anyway, I'll pass on this one."
Tang San, always soft on Xiao Wu, didn't argue. Still, he had a hunch something was off with Cang Hui Academy. To be safe, he replaced two weaker members from the original Heaven Dou Imperial Academy second team. Now the team consisted of him, Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the two strongest from the second team. He held back Ning Tao, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit Ancestor, as a hidden ace.
"Tang San, Cang Hui's up to no good. Are you sure about this?" Flender asked, worry creasing his face.
Next to him, Liu Erlong sighed. "If only Xiaogang were here. He'd figure out how to deal with them."
Ever since Ning Tian had chewed her out, Liu Erlong hadn't bothered him again, especially after the Heaven Dou organizers told her to back off. But her blind love for Yu Xiaogang made her ignore Ning Tian's warnings. She couldn't accept that the man she adored was a fake, choosing to trust Flender's words instead: 'You love him for him, not his ideas.'
Bringing up Yu Xiaogang was a mistake, though. Tang San's expression darkened, his anger bubbling up. 'That useless fool,' he thought. 'If not for him, I wouldn't be a joke, a "feces man" to everyone. My shine in Xiao Wu's eyes is gone.' Even though she'd comforted him after, the hurt stuck like a thorn.
Still, knowing Yu Xiaogang was off chasing a fix for twin spirits, Tang San shoved his fury down. He brushed off Liu Erlong and told Flender, "Don't worry, Dean. We've got Cang Hui covered."
"I hope you're right," Flender said. "But let me make it clear in advance, if anything happens to you I will immediately forfeit. After all, Cang hui Academy has already lost several games. Even if you lose one, it will not affect your promotion. Safety is still the most important thing."
...….
Soon, both teams took the main stage, and the crowd's boos rained down, aimed right at Shrek. Tang San's stunt at the opening ceremony had painted a target on them.
"Take them out! Send those nasty Shrek losers back to the dump!"
"Cang Hui's got this! Cang Hui's got this!"
The referee's voice broke through "The energy's high today. Cang Hui's record till now is seven wins, three losses. Although they lost to Divine Wind, Thunder, and Elephant Armor, they're still in the game. Facing them is Shrek Academy. Cang Hui's odds look slim, but who knows, strange things happens."
He obviously leaned toward Cang Hui. After all, he'd been one of Tang San's prime targets at the opening, catching a faceful of mess.
"Release your Martial Spirits. Match starts in one minute."
With that, the referee darted offstage, like he feared a repeat disaster.
His words fired up Shrek's team.
"Hmph, that's too much," Dai Mubai said, voice low and sharp. "Let's show them."
Shrek's members called their Martial Spirits together: three Spirit Ancestors and four Spirit Elders.
Cang Hui had just one Spirit Ancestor, their captain and one Spirit Elder with three yellow Soul Rings, not a single thousand-year one in sight.
But their Martial Spirits stood out: all gem-types.
As the referee's call faded, they formed an odd shape fast, the captain up front, the other six in a hexagon, grinning at Shrek.
Ma Hongjun laughed loudly. "Cang Hui's out of moves, huh? A Spirit Elder without a thousand-year ring?"
The rest of Shrek eased up, noting Cang Hui had swapped in four new, weaker-looking members.
Only Tang San stayed on edge, a bad vibe nagging at him.
"Everyone, don't act rashly." Tang San shouted, flinging six strands of Blue Silver Grass to snag Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the two second-team fillers by the waist.
But it was too late.
As the five matches started at once, Cang Hui acted quickly. Their captain stepped back into the hexagon's center. A soft glow spread as twenty-two Soul Rings, one Spirit Ancestor and six Spirit Elders rose up, blending into the captain's gem Martial Spirit. He lifted it high, and the other six mirrored him.
Shrek's team moved to strike, but seven beams of colored light shot from Cang Hui's captain, forming a huge pillar that swallowed both teams and the whole stage.
"A Seven-in-One Fusion Skill!" Ning Fengzhi said, stunned, from the VIP seats. Bishop Salas, Emperor Xue Ye and Bone Douluo beside him shared the shock.
Everyone knew a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill wasn't a true Martial Spirit Fusion, but it combined seven people's Soul Power for a big jump in strength, enough to fight above their level. And with all seven using gem-type Martial Spirits, their mental power merged too.
"That feces-spraying Shrek kid's in trouble now," Bone Douluo said, a grin tugging at his lips.
He wasn't the only one unimpressed. Tang San's mess had turned plenty of folks against him, and Bone Douluo couldn't wrap his head around how Hao Tian Douluo had a son like that. Without twin spirits, he'd be nothing.
........
Inside the light pillar, Shrek's team lost touch with the outside, stuck in a foggy, colorful haze.
"Shrek's trash, be glad the tournament doesn't allow killing," Cang Hui's captain mocked them, his voice bouncing from all directions. "But losing to our Seven Asura Illusion is a privilege. Now, face your worst memories and pay for your mistakes."
In Shrek's rest area, Flender and Liu Erlong had already stood up. Liu Erlong didn't care much , she'd seen that none of Shrek's team respected Yu Xiaogang. Flender, though, panicked. "Referee, we give up! Shrek forfeits!"
But the referee, still sore from the opening ceremony, acted deaf, smirking at the stage.
As the last resort Flender ran towards the referee.
...…
In that short gap, Tang San, without the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew to break the illusion, watched his team fall to the Seven Asura Illusion, their deepest fears pulling them down.
"Ah, I'm not a dung teammate! Don't splash me with it!"
"Tang San, you feces man, you'll regret this!"
The two second-team extras broke first.
Then Ma Hongjun: "Ah, Boss Ning, I didn't talk bad about you! It was that bastard Tang San who made me!"
Oscar next: "Ning Rongrong, you shameless flirt! Ning Tian already has Zhu Zhuqing. Why do you still chase him? I'll first hurt you,then kill you, again and again!"
Dai Mubai: "Father, I'm not useless! Dai Weisi, I'm already an eunuch and can't take your throne. Don't cast me out!"
Yu Tianheng: "Ahh! It's not my fault. Uncle Xiaogang forced me!"
Tang San was the last one to fall into an illusion. His mind hit with his darkest moments.
"Ah, Great Elder, I took the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, but I'm no traitor!"
"Yu Xiaogang, you made me a laughingstock. I'll Kill you!"
"Xiao Wu, Ning Tian is not a good person. Please, don't leave me!"
The arena went quiet, the crowd staring as Shrek's secrets poured out.
'Wow,' they thought, 'Shrek's carrying some heavy stuff.'
Three teammates calling Tang San a "feces man." The food-type Spirit Master dreaming of attacking the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's princess, right where Sect Master Ning and Bone Douluo could hear.
Dai Mubai, an eunuch? And a prince too? Yu Tianheng saying his uncle pushed him. And Tang San, hung up on some "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record," hating Yu Xiaogang enough to kill, and pleading with Xiao Wu not to pick Ning Tian.
…..
In the illusion, Shrek's team squirmed, their worst memories and fears tearing at them. Blood leaked from their eyes, ears, and noses as they screamed, their hands gripping their heads in pain.
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