Being able to enter the final top six of the Continental Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was enough to prove the strength of those academies. Their captains and vice-captains were all outstanding young soul masters.
Bibi Dong had received news from Platinum Bishop Salas that Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire had offered extremely tempting conditions in order to recruit those captains and vice-captains.
Naturally, she would not sit back and watch these talented young soul masters fall into the hands of a future enemy.
These captains and vice-captains all had the potential to become the core pillars of their respective academies in the future.
If she could bring them into Spirit Hall, it would not only strengthen Spirit Hall but also weaken the Heaven Dou Empire.
Conveniently, Yan happened to know some of them.
Inviting them to watch the matches would allow them to witness the true strength of Spirit Hall's Academy Team. With Yan present, they might even be persuaded to join Spirit Hall.
On the other side.
In the lodgings of the Lake Academy Team.
Yu Xiaogang gathered everyone together.
"Children, congratulations. Your hard work has finally paid off—we've entered the final six. As long as we defeat our next opponent, we can reach the top three. At that time, we'll compete in the final showdown on the square before the Pope's Palace."
Everyone was delighted and full of anticipation for the upcoming match.
Yu Xiaogang's expression suddenly turned serious.
"I need to remind you all—in the coming battles, no matter who the opponent is, we must go all out. I called you here because I want us to discuss our strategy."
Everyone's expressions also became solemn.
Yu Xiaogang continued:
"Any of the remaining five teams could be our next opponent. I want to hear your thoughts first."
Dai Mubai spoke up:
"Compared to Spirit Hall Academy, Godwind Academy, Tianshui Academy, and Blazing Fire Academy, the Thunder Academy Team is easier to handle. We should focus our preparations on dealing with the other four."
Ma Hongjun agreed:
"Exactly. Thunder Academy is missing a main force member, and because of ranking they got a bye in the third round. Their earlier opponents were weak, so they advanced purely because of good luck. If we draw them, we'll definitely win."
Their confidence came from having defeated the Thunder Academy Team before.
During the Heaven Dou regional qualifiers, Dai Mubai had severely injured one of Thunder Academy's core members while avenging Tang San and Xiao Wu, causing that person to miss the finals entirely.
Thus, Thunder Academy had been fighting with six main members and one substitute. And since their opponents weren't strong, they easily secured two victories.
If Shrek could draw Thunder Academy, it would be the best possible outcome.
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"You're both correct. Of the five potential opponents, Thunder Academy is indeed the easiest to defeat. But don't grow careless—their lightning-type attacks are extremely violent."
"Teacher, we understand."
Tang San then said:
"If we face Godwind, Tianshui, or Blazing Fire, we may have to reveal that ultimate trump card early."
"Third Brother, you mean the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill?"
"Mm."
"But wasn't that meant for dealing with the Spirit Hall Academy Team?"
"Yes, I know. But if we want to secure the next victory, we have no other choice."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement.
He understood well that Godwind Academy was an especially difficult opponent.
Their shared characteristic was speed—every team member was fast, and two others besides Feng Xiaotian possessed the ability to fly.
Whether in ground combat or aerial combat, they could adapt with ease.
Even Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill would struggle to land a direct hit.
To overcome an opponent like that, conventional tactics would be insufficient. Only by catching them off guard could they hope for victory.
The same applied to Tianshui Academy and Blazing Fire Academy.
Their ice-type and fire-type attacks both restrained Shrek in certain ways, which meant the battle would need to be resolved quickly.
Although the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill wasn't an actual Martial Soul Fusion, merging the strength of all seven members still produced tremendous power.
With it, they could defeat the three element-type academies.
Ning Rongrong suddenly said:
"If we expose our strongest trump card too early and the Spirit Hall Academy Team sees it, what will we use against them afterward?"
"Right, if we meet Spirit Hall Academy next, should we use the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill too?"
Tang San shook his head.
"No. I have another method to deal with them."
"Third Brother? You have another trump card besides the Clear Sky Hammer?"
Everyone looked at Tang San in surprise and curiosity.
Yu Xiaogang nodded to Tang San.
"Little San, tell everyone your plan."
"Alright."
Tang San looked around, then said:
"The Seven-in-One Fusion Skill isn't a true Fusion Technique. Against Spirit Hall Academy—a team with three Soul Kings and four Soul Sects—it's possible they could resist it. What I want to use is something they can't defend against at all: deadly poison."
"Deadly poison?"
"Third Brother, don't tell me it's the same poison I once accidentally suffered from?"
Ma Hongjun shuddered, recalling when he was poisoned by the venom on Tang San's Eight Spider Lances.
Tang San gave a cold smile.
"That's right—the poison from the Eight Spider Lances."
Dai Mubai asked doubtfully:
"Little San, your poison only takes effect if your Eight Spider Lances pierce them. That's not so easy to accomplish."
Tang San patted Dai Mubai's shoulder.
"I naturally have a way. But I may only be able to injure six of them. As for the last person…I'm not sure whether the poison will work on him."
"Who?"
"Yan."
"That fire-attribute soul master?"
"Yes."
Everyone was surprised.
Ma Hongjun asked:
"No way, right? I'm a fire-attribute soul master too, and your poison still affected me!"
Oscar teased:
"Fatty, what kind of fire do you have, and what kind of fire does he have? Can you even compare? His soul power is level fifty-five, and the flames around him looked even stronger than your evil fire. He definitely has greater resistance to poison."
"That's exactly right."
Tang San thought to himself: if Yan really was the flower-picker who entered the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, then he had most likely consumed both the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot , granting him water-fire dual immunity and a body resistant to all poisons.
If that were true, no matter how powerful the venom was, it could not harm him.
Please drop some power stones support me at my
PS: Access the complete/finished chapters/series at Patreon: NanamiTL