"Hm?"
After being entangled by the Blue Silver Grass, Dai Mubai thought he could easily break it apart. But to his surprise, the strength was far greater than expected, and the vines had sharp thorns that pierced his skin.
Blue Silver Grass was widely recognized as a worthless spirit beast, so its power at this level was truly unexpected.
Still, Dai Mubai only felt a little surprised, believing that with a bit of soul power, he could break free.
However, when he exerted most of his strength, he still couldn't escape.
This was definitely not an ordinary Blue Silver Grass spirit beast!
Only then did Dai Mubai begin to take it seriously, increasing his soul power further until he finally broke free.
He stepped back some distance, then looked at Tang San and said, "Heh, your spirit beast is definitely not an ordinary Blue Silver Grass. It's either a mutation or a different spirit beast that just resembles Blue Silver Grass, right?"
His tone was confident and certain.
"Arrogant fool."
Tang San sneered and continued to use the "Entangle" soul skill.
"Hmph!"
Dai Mubai smiled and said, "Your spirit beast is surprising, but it's still not enough to control me."
With that, he threw a punch filled with powerful soul energy, breaking the Blue Silver Grass vines that had wrapped around him.
From then on, it became very difficult for Tang San to entangle Dai Mubai directly.
But Tang San still persisted with the "Entangle" skill, seemingly trying to wear down Dai Mubai's soul power.
"This can end now!"
A yellow soul ring appeared on Dai Mubai's body as he activated his second soul skill.
White Tiger Blazing Light Wave!
Dai Mubai opened his mouth wide, and a beam of light shot out.
"It's a beam attack, but not very flexible."
Tang San dodged while seizing the opportunity to entangle again with the Blue Silver Grass.
The beam sliced through the vines, cutting them to pieces.
Even if Blue Silver Grass tried to wrap him, any twist or turn could be cut off by the beam.
Their fight was intense. The people who had kept a safe distance watched eagerly, while inside the Rose Hotel, the manager winced as many furnishings were damaged.
"Young Master Dai, stop fighting. Let's talk this out," the manager pleaded.
Dai Mubai paid no mind. "How much damage was done? I'll pay double afterward."
Hearing this, the manager fell silent and moved to a safe spot to watch.
"Hah!"
Dai Mubai shook off the remaining vines clinging to him. "Ridiculous. You think you can drain my soul power like this? You haven't realized the gap between us — truly laughable!"
He did not believe Tang San could exhaust his soul power first; it would be Tang San who burned out before him.
Nearby, Xiao Wu looked worried and wanted to help, but Tang San did not call her, so she could only watch.
"The one who's truly ridiculous will be revealed soon!"
Tang San grew calmer and more confident, unhurried.
Dai Mubai stopped using the beam attack, as it was too inflexible.
His three soul skills consisted of one offensive, one defensive, and one for boosting strength.
Without the offensive skill, he resorted to fists and feet, relying on his immense soul power to hold his ground.
Suddenly, Dai Mubai exploded with speed, charging directly at Tang San.
He made no attempt to dodge and smashed aside the Blue Silver Grass vines with his fists.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass could no longer wrap Dai Mubai from the front.
"Parasitic Growth!"
Tang San used his second soul skill.
A yellow soul ring flashed, and many Blue Silver Grass vines sprouted on Dai Mubai's body, quickly rooting into the ground.
For a moment, Dai Mubai was pinned in place like a stake.
Tang San immediately followed with the "Entangle" skill, summoning a mass of vines to wrap Dai Mubai tightly like a dumpling.
Dai Mubai was annoyed — trapped by a control-type spirit beast!
"Third soul skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
A purple soul ring appeared, and white light pierced through the layers of Blue Silver Grass vines.
Then, with a roar, Dai Mubai shattered all the vines in an instant.
The Vajra Transformation greatly enhanced Dai Mubai's power.
"Such incredible strength — no wonder he's a fierce combat spirit beast, no wonder he's a Spirit Marquis!"
Tang San couldn't help but admire.
"It's time to end this farce!"
Dai Mubai's anger and humiliation from earlier, brought on by Xu Yunhan and Zhu Zhuqing, finally erupted.
He decided to take it out on Tang San, unable to bear it any longer.
Suddenly, Dai Mubai's figure flickered and vanished; the ground cracked beneath him.
"So fast!"
Tang San was alarmed and immediately used "Parasitic Growth" again.
But this time, the Blue Silver Grass vines growing from Dai Mubai couldn't pin him down — they were instantly torn apart.
Dai Mubai's furious burst of speed was too great for Tang San to easily handle.
But Tang San had a plan.
First, he used the Purple Extreme Demon Eye to lock onto Dai Mubai's movements.
Then, he employed Ghost Shadow Steps to dodge. Even if a punch was unavoidable, he used Xuan Jade Hand to redirect the force, making the damage manageable.
Dai Mubai was puzzled by how Tang San managed this — so slippery and elusive, with none of it being soul skills.
And Tang San was only a Grand Soul Master.
Yet this control-type Grand Soul Master was still holding his own against a powerful combat Spirit Marquis.
"If this continues, I really won't hold back!" Tang San warned.
Dai Mubai snorted coldly. "I want to see how long you can last. Bring all your tricks — or you'll have no chance!"
Tang San's gaze turned icy cold. "You asked for this!"
He took several hidden weapons out from the storage soul ring of the Twenty-Four Bridges and Bright Moon Night and, using the Xuan Jade Hand technique, seized the opportunity to deploy them.
Hidden weapons like these might exist among ordinary people in Douluo Continent, but their power was limited and posed little threat to soul masters.
As a result, soul masters generally had little awareness of hidden weapons.
No soul master ever used hidden weapons in battle.
Thus, it was all the more unexpected.
Several hidden weapons struck Dai Mubai.
"Ah!"
Dai Mubai immediately cried out in pain, halting his movements.
It was clear that all four of his limbs had been hit by the hidden weapons, his eyes betraying his struggle.
Tang San, considering the people around and Dai Mubai's background, refrained from attacking vital points.
Had they been alone, Tang San might have directly taken advantage of the chance to end Dai Mubai's life.
Dai Mubai felt his limbs lose control and burn with pain, his body growing numb.
The paralyzing effect of the Blue Silver Grass had been accumulating on him, and now it finally showed its impact.
"Still want to continue?" Tang San asked, looking at Dai Mubai's trembling body.
Dai Mubai felt extremely frustrated — never had he imagined losing to a Grand Soul Master, and in such a baffling way.
He had lost!
It was humiliating!
But he could only endure it.
With time, enduring might become a habit, something natural.
Dai Mubai didn't overthink it. "You win. The room is yours."
After saying that, he turned around, walking out with pain and difficulty — lingering any longer would only be more humiliating.
"Wait."
Tang San called out.
Dai Mubai glared back at him, unsure of what he wanted.
"I'll remove the hidden weapons from your limbs. Otherwise, if left too long, you might be crippled."
Since killing Dai Mubai was impossible, Tang San thought it best to ease the resentment.
Crippled?
Dai Mubai was shocked. "You're being so kind?"
Tang San replied, "We had no grudge before, and this was your own recklessness just now."
Dai Mubai was silent but didn't refuse Tang San's offer.
Using a special technique, Tang San carefully removed the hidden weapons from Dai Mubai's limbs and packed them away. "They're all out. Use some medicine and rest for a while; you should be fine."
Suddenly, Dai Mubai found himself seeing Tang San in a better light — far better than Xu Yunhan and Zhu Zhuqing.
In that moment, a thought to get to know him better quietly took root.