On the final day of the Promotion Tournament, the atmosphere within the Martial Arena was exceptionally tense. Although the outcome of the match had long been predetermined in the minds of most, this was, after all, the concluding battle. Moreover, the two sides facing off were the top-ranked Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One and the dark horse Shrek Academy, which still drew all the teams that had not yet left the enclosure to come and watch.
When the referee announced the entry of the contestants, everyone's gaze focused on the arena entrance.
From the direction of Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One, it was still that familiar, solitary black figure. Marco Lee stepped onto the arena with a calm expression and steady pace, then stood still. His appearance immediately quieted the previously somewhat noisy spectator stands considerably, and many students instinctively revealed a trace of awe in their eyes.
Shortly after, a figure also appeared at the entrance from the direction of Shrek Academy. However, to everyone's surprise, only one person walked onto the arena!
This person wore plain blue clothes, had a well-proportioned build, and an ordinary face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright and spirited. It was none other than the soul of the Shrek Seven Devils—the Control System Battle Spirit Ancestor, Tang San!
"Huh? Only Tang San alone?"
"Shrek Academy is also sending only one person to the field?"
"What kind of tactic is this? Sacrificing the pawns to save the king? Letting Tang San bear everything alone?"
"Probably so. Since they're going to lose anyway, sending one person to fight, even if defeated, looks better on the surface than the whole team conceding."
"Tsk tsk, sending Tang San is still giving Marco enough face, after all, Tang San is their core."
"But, facing Marco alone… that's too much pressure. Can Tang San withstand it?"
"Withstand? What are you thinking? It'll be impressive if he can last a few moves! Probably just a formality, put up a symbolic fight and then concede."
A low murmur of discussion arose in the spectator stands. Most people still believed this was a "dignified" strategy adopted by Shrek Academy to save face—sending their core member to fight alone, honorable even in defeat.
On the arena, Marco looked at Tang San, who had walked onto the stage alone, his gaze calm. When his eyes met Tang San's unusually bright gaze, which even carried a suppressed, blazing fighting spirit, his brow imperceptibly twitched.
"Oh?" A faint, almost mocking smile curled at the corner of Marco's mouth as he spoke first, his voice flat yet clearly reaching Tang San's ears. "Looking at your eyes… what, it seems like you can't wait to devour me? Do we have such a deep grudge?"
Tang San met Marco's gaze, his chest rising and falling slightly as he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart. His voice was steady yet carried an undeniable firmness: "Grudge is not the right word. It's just that, for this match, our Shrek Academy—only I will participate."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the spectators in the stands who wore expressions of "as expected" and "just a formality," before finally locking back onto Marco. Word by word, he declared:
"I, Tang San, will not be like your previous opponents—cowed before the fight even begins, conceding easily!"
His voice was not loud, yet it spread clearly throughout the entire Martial Arena, carrying a stubbornness and pride unique to youth!
"Shrek Academy, Tang San! I ask for your guidance!"
As these words fell, the spectator stands erupted into an uproar!
"What? He won't concede?"
"What did Tang San just say? He won't easily admit defeat?"
"Is he really going to fight? One against Marco?"
"He's insane! Who does he think he is? Even Huo Wu's Ring Fusion Blazing Sun couldn't do anything to Marco!"
"Probably just a young man trying to act tough, talking big. He'll realize the gap is too huge after a few exchanges and concede naturally."
"That's right. He can't just start by saying 'I concede'—that would be too embarrassing."
"But daring to talk to Marco like that, this Tang San has quite the guts!"
Discussions erupted, but the vast majority still didn't believe Tang San had the slightest chance of winning, viewing it merely as a young man's attempt to preserve his dignity.
On the VIP seats (though major figures like Emperor Xue Ye were absent, the team leaders and teachers from various academies remained), Flender and Liu Erlong clenched their fists nervously, while Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's expression was extremely grave, his eyes filled with worry. The leaders and talented students from other academies mostly wore amused or curious expressions, wanting to see what tricks Tang San could possibly pull off.
At the center of the arena, the elderly referee also looked at Tang San, whose fighting spirit was surging, with some surprise, then glanced at the still-calm Marco opposite him, confirming, "Shrek Academy, are you certain only Tang San will fight?"
"Confirmed," Tang San replied resolutely.
The referee nodded, asked no further questions, and raised his right hand high. The entire arena instantly fell silent, everyone holding their breath.
"Final round of the Promotion Tournament, Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One versus Shrek Academy! The match—begins!"
The moment the referee's arm swung down, Tang San moved! Without any probing, he went all out from the very first move!
"Fourth Spirit Skill, Blue Silver Cage!"
A purple light flashed in Tang San's eyes as the profound purple Ten Thousand-Year Soul Ring on his body suddenly lit up! In an instant, with Marco at the center, dozens of thick, dark blue-glowing Blue Silver Emperor vines covered in golden patterns erupted violently from the ground! These vines, as if possessing life, grew and intertwined wildly, instantly forming an incredibly sturdy, massive cage that trapped Marco firmly at its center! The cage emitted a powerful restraining force, attempting to restrict all of Marco's movements!
But that wasn't all! Almost the moment the Blue Silver Cage took shape, Tang San's hands danced like butterflies weaving through flowers as he uttered low shouts in quick succession:
"Second Spirit Skill, Parasitism!"
"Third Spirit Skill, Spiderweb Restraint!"
"First Spirit Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Instantly, countless tiny spikes and suction-cup-like structures sprouted from the Blue Silver Emperor vines trapping Marco, frantically trying to pierce through his clothing, adhere to his skin, and release paralyzing toxins! At the same time, a massive, sticky spiderweb woven from Blue Silver Emperor vines, emitting a sickly sweet scent, descended from above, accurately covering the caged Marco! Moreover, countless ordinary Blue Silver Grass vines surged from all directions like a tide, layering and entangling him further!
Four Spirit Abilities! Almost unleashed simultaneously! The fluidity of their combination and the speed of their release were astonishing!
Tang San had pushed his abilities as a Control System Soul Master to the limit! From the very first move, he unleashed a chain of combined control techniques, intending to maximize the restraints on Marco in the shortest possible time, leaving him no opportunity to react or break free!
"Whoosh—!"
The stands erupted with deafening cries of astonishment!
"Holy crap! Four Spirit Abilities unleashed in one breath!"
"This Soul Power control! This release speed! It's terrifying!"
"Blue Silver Grass can be used like this? Instantly unleashing four different control effects!"
"Cage, Parasitism, Spider Web, Entanglement! He's trying to control Marco in one go!"
"Incredible! As expected of Shrek's core!!"
"But... will it work against Marco?"
Under the shocked gazes of everyone, in the center of the arena, Marco's figure had been completely engulfed by countless wildly thrashing Blue Silver Emperor vines! An enormous "blue dumpling" had appeared, its framework formed by thick cage bars, its interior filled with parasitic thorns, sticky spider webs, and layers upon layers of entangling vines! Powerful Soul Power fluctuations and binding forces continuously emanated from within the "dumpling"!
Tang San stood not far away, breathing slightly heavily, his face somewhat pale. Simultaneously unleashing four Spirit Abilities, especially the Fourth Spirit Skill Blue Silver Cage, had consumed a tremendous amount of his Soul Power. Yet, his bright eyes were fixed intently on that massive blue vine sphere. His hands swept across the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist, and the cold glint of countless Hidden Weapons already flickered between his fingers.
He knew that relying solely on the Blue Silver Emperor could never truly trap Marco. His attack was only just beginning!
The entire arena fell deathly silent! Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed tightly on the massive "Blue Silver dumpling" in the center of the arena, wondering how Marco would respond to this frenzied control combo that had peaked right from the opening move.
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