About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, both teams emerged from their respective tunnels and stepped onto the stage in advance.
Seeing the lineup of the Seven Treasures team for this match, Tang San couldn't help but let a faint smile creep onto his face. He quietly said to his teammates, "Hmph, the Seven Treasures team is truly arrogant. Neither Feng Xiaotian nor the twin sisters are on the field. This match might be our chance to win."
"Tang San, we'll follow your lead," Yu Tianheng said with excitement.
Ever since losing to Ning Tianchen in both team soul duels and one-on-one battles, he had been harboring frustration.
Now that there was a chance to defeat him, how could he not be thrilled?
Since the stage hadn't been fully cleared yet, the match wouldn't start immediately.
The members of the Seven Treasures team stood proudly in place, exuding confidence. On the other hand, the Shrek team huddled together, using this time to quickly discuss tactics.
Tang San analyzed, "They have three people in the back row, and Bao Zhen has no means of self-defense. Therefore, they must have at least one person assigned to protect the back row."
"Zhu Zhuqing is an agility-type attacker. Her role in protecting the back row would be minimal, so she will definitely be looking for opportunities to assassinate our back-row members around the battlefield."
"Brother San, how about I defend the back row?" Xiao Wu suggested.
Zhu Zhuqing's speed was extremely fast—perhaps only Xiao Wu's teleportation ability could catch up to her.
"That works," Tang San said confidently. "I also have a way to deal with Zhu Zhuqing. Xiao Wu and Fatty will stay in the back row, while Tailong moves to the front row."
"We'll form a three-front-row lineup, which should put significant pressure on the Seven Treasures team. The key to winning this match lies in whether Tianheng and Boss Dai can hold back, or even defeat, Ning Tianchen."
Yu Tianheng patted his chest. "Don't worry—I may not have the confidence to defeat him, but if it's just holding him back, there's absolutely no problem."
---
"Hey, you've been discussing for so long—have you reached a conclusion? The match is about to begin," Chen Huayu couldn't help but remind them.
The Shrek team spread out into formation, each member wearing a confident smile, as if victory was already in their grasp.
"It seems they're ready," Ning Tianchen chuckled, immediately wiping the playful grin off his face.
After the stage was cleared, the match entered its final preparation phase.
The Seven Treasures team arranged their formation.
Ning Tianchen stood at the very front, with no teammates beside him. The closest person, Chen Huayu, was twenty meters behind him.
"Arrogant," Tang San sneered.
The Shrek team, following the newly adjusted tactics laid out by Tang San, took their positions accordingly.
Below the stage, Yu Xiaogang wore a faint smile. "Ning Tianchen plans to go deep alone? Hmph, it seems he hasn't read my theories carefully enough to make such a basic mistake."
The match began.
Under Tang San's command, the Shrek team launched the first attack.
"First soul skill, White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
"First soul skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Yu Tianheng didn't dare to be careless and quickly completed the dragon transformation on his arms.
His arms turned into dragon claws, crackling with lightning.
He and Dai Mubai crossed paths repeatedly, charging straight toward Ning Tianchen.
"Stop dancing around—I'm getting dizzy," Ning Tianchen muttered, swinging the Dragon Pattern Seven Kill Sword to unleash a wave of sword qi.
The sword qi streaked across like a rainbow, slicing through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
Yu Tianheng and Dai Mubai dodged to either side to avoid the sword qi. Then, exerting force from their feet, they charged directly at Ning Tianchen again.
"Third soul skill, Thorny Binding!"
Tang San's third soul skill shared a similar name and effect to Bao Zhen's second soul skill.
Moreover, this soul ring had been obtained with Ning Tianchen's help back in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Tang San, is this soul ring useful?!" Ning Tianchen shouted, the third soul ring beneath his feet suddenly glowing brightly.
With his right hand forming a sword finger, he manipulated the Dragon Pattern Seven Kill Sword to repel Dai Mubai and the others while severing the Blue Silver Grass wrapping around him.
"The Seven Kill Sword truly lives up to its reputation as the continent's number one offensive weapon-type martial soul," Tang San thought inwardly with a sigh.
The Seven Kill Sword was far too sharp—any plant-type soul master would be at a disadvantage against it.
As for the matter of the third soul ring, Tang San hadn't forgotten. "You helped me obtain my third soul ring, and I haven't forgotten. But now, we're no longer classmates—we're opponents."
"Besides, I also contributed when Ning Rongrong obtained her third soul ring. Your favor has long been repaid."
The stage wasn't soundproof, so the spectators below heard every word exchanged between Tang San and Ning Tianchen.
Many in the audience began to voice their opinions. "Ning Tianchen went to great lengths to help Tang San hunt for his soul ring, and all Tang San did was lend a hand during Ning Rongrong's soul hunt. Is that really enough to repay the favor?"
"Hmph, I doubt it's that simple. When Ning Tianchen helped Tang San, it was probably just the two of them. But when helping Ning Rongrong, there was likely an entire team involved. So, Tang San only contributed a small effort but thinks he's repaid the favor—it's too flippant. Who would dare help him hunt for soul rings in the future?"
"Exactly. The Shrek Academy really is full of morally corrupt individuals."
---
The murmurs from the stands didn't reach the stage.
The Shrek team's first wave of attacks was deflected by Ning Tianchen, but it wasn't over yet. Tang San's eyes flashed with purple light.
Purple Extreme Demon Eye, activate!
Using his exceptional vision, he locked onto Zhu Zhuqing while continuously searching for an opening in Ning Tianchen's defenses.
"Nine Treasures Turn Out with Glazed Tile; Nine Treasures Renowned, Third: Soul!"
A nine-colored light infused Ning Tianchen's body, causing his soul power to surge dramatically.
The Dragon Pattern Seven Kill Sword floated before him, emitting intense sword qi that formed a barrier around his body.
The barrier expanded outward, forcibly pushing back Dai Mubai and the others.
Ning Tianchen's gaze flickered, seizing the gap in their attacks, and charged directly at Dai Mubai.
"Fourth soul skill—"
The soul ring beneath Tang San's feet lit up.
In the original timeline, Tang San's fourth soul ring contained one regular soul skill and one variant soul skill.
Ning Tianchen's expression hardened, and he quickly retreated.
The casting time for the Blue Silver Prison Cage was too long—his speed and movement were more than enough to evade it effortlessly.
Tang San wasn't foolish—if he still chose to use his fourth soul skill, there could only be one other outcome.
"Blue Silver Spike Array!"
From the stage floor, Blue Silver Grass shot up, their tips transforming into razor-sharp spikes.
The tips were incredibly sharp—anyone who was accidentally pierced would undoubtedly be injured.
"So fast!"
Tang San didn't know what the other party was thinking, but he felt that Ning Tianchen's reaction speed was extraordinarily quick.
"Nine Treasures Renowned, Second: Speed!" Ning Rongrong immediately provided a speed boost.
Ning Tianchen's speed increased by fifty percent, allowing him to gracefully dodge the spikes' range of attack.
After a brief pause, Ning Tianchen decided to change tactics.
With Tang San constantly supporting them, he couldn't make a move against Dai Mubai and the others.
He signaled a tactical gesture to Zhu Zhuqing behind him, and she immediately understood, gradually moving her position forward.
In the original timeline, Tang San had learned the Blue Silver Spike Array during the break after the preliminaries ended.
Now, however, it had appeared a month earlier.
Ning Tianchen couldn't help but marvel at how extraordinary the other party's luck was.
Of course, he didn't know—
After being attacked by Shi Nian, it was as if Tang San had unlocked some hidden potential.
After that, the Blue Silver Spike Array spontaneously formed within him.