Chapter 203: New Shrek Team, New Conflict
Ma Hongjun casually tossed the thoroughly gnawed roasted chicken bones at his feet, then rubbed his fingers against his clothes, wiping off the grease.
He shifted two steps closer to Oscar, shoulders nearly touching, and lowered his voice.
"Xiao Ao, did you see? Not only did the team leader from the Royal Fighting Team come, but Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Osler—those four guys are here too."
He jerked his chin in their direction.
"Back during the match, those two brothers nearly smashed me apart. Why are they all suddenly coming to our Shrek? Don't tell me they're here to challenge us?"
Oscar's gaze swept past Flender and Yu Xiaogang's expressions before landing back on Yu Tianheng and the others. He lowered his voice as well:
"Doesn't look like they're here to challenge us."
"Look at the Dean and the Grandmaster's expressions. They clearly already knew about this; they just didn't tell us."
"I just don't know what they suddenly came here for."
His thoughts raced rapidly.
Tang San's fingers hanging at his side twitched slightly, the Mysterious Heaven Skill circulating quietly through his fingertips.
His gaze settled on Yu Tianheng's right arm. The muscle lines there were tight and smooth. Even without releasing his martial soul, it concealed an explosive sense of thunderous power.
He had fought Yu Tianheng head-on before.
He knew very well how terrifying the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul was.
Yu Tianheng was a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a core talent cultivated by Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
He truly could not understand why the other party would come to a place like Shrek Academy, which didn't even have a proper training ground.
At that moment,
Qin Ming released Flender.
He raised a hand to straighten the folds of his robe, then turned to face Dai Mubai and the others.
As a Soul Emperor, even without deliberately releasing his pressure, his soul power still made the young soul masters present feel a clear sense of oppression.
But he wore a gentle smile.
"Junior brothers, hello everyone. I am Qin Ming."
His voice was clear and bright. "From today onward, I officially withdraw from Heaven Dou Royal Academy and join Shrek Academy. From now on, I will be your leading teacher."
As his words fell, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, raising his hand to pat Yu Tianheng's shoulder. There was a kind of elder-like expectation in the gesture.
His gaze swept across the disciples in front of him. "Xiao San, let me introduce them to you. Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Osler—starting today, they will also officially join Shrek Academy and, at the same time, enter the Shrek Team, preparing with you all for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."
The moment those words fell, it felt as if even the wind on the training ground had stopped.
The weighted stone in Dai Mubai's hand slammed heavily onto the ground, sending up a cloud of dust.
He walked up to Yu Xiaogang, his back straight as a rod, the aura of the White Tiger martial soul uncontrollably leaking out.
"Grandmaster, what did you say?"
His voice was extremely low, filled with suppressed fury.
"They're joining the Shrek team?"
Ma Hongjun leaped forward, his chubby face full of dissatisfaction, his voice rising several degrees so everyone present could hear clearly:
"Are you serious? They were our enemies, and now they're joining our team? On what grounds?"
Oscar's gaze swept over Yu Tianheng and the others, then returned to Tang San. The unease in his heart grew heavier.
Yu Tianheng's right hand, hanging at his side, suddenly clenched.
A flash of blue lightning flickered across his fingertips.
The faint smile on his face completely disappeared as his gaze swept over Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and the others, a chill rising in his heart.
Just a group of defeated opponents, and they dared to act arrogantly?
If not for his uncle, Yu Xiaogang, personally writing him a letter saying that Shrek had the most advanced soul master theories and could help him grow stronger, he would never have left Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Nor would he have come to this place that didn't even have a proper training ground.
And certainly not to be mocked face-to-face by this group.
Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Osler also looked displeased.
If Yu Tianheng hadn't made a move, they would have already turned and left.
Yu Tianheng stepped forward, stopping face-to-face with Dai Mubai.
Less than a meter separated them.
Their soul power auras collided in midair, stirring up fine dust.
"A bunch of defeated opponents, and you think you're worthy of looking down on us?"
His tone carried the pride ingrained in the bones of a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Every word struck Dai Mubai's heart:
"I came to Shrek to give my uncle face. What do you think you are?"
"What did you say?!"
The soul power around Dai Mubai surged uncontrollably.
The phantom of the White Tiger martial soul solidified behind him.
Soul Rings rose upward from his ankles, lighting up with dazzling brilliance.
His teeth ground together as his gaze locked onto Yu Tianheng's face as he said word by word:
"Say that again if you dare!"
Yu Xiaogang frowned tightly, about to step in to stop them.
But Yu Tianheng raised his hand across him, blocking his movement.
Yu Tianheng's gaze never left Dai Mubai as a cold arc curled at the corner of his lips.
"What? Want to fight?"
"I don't mind letting you, a defeated opponent, experience failure one more time."
His gaze swept across everyone around them as he said loudly:
"How about this—we fight one-on-one, purely using martial souls and soul skills. Fair and square."
"Whoever wins becomes the captain of the Shrek Team."
He stared into Dai Mubai's eyes. "Well? Do you dare accept?"
"Fine! I accept!"
Dai Mubai didn't hesitate in the slightest, answering immediately, his voice filled with unquestionable resolve.
His tone was low. "I'll let you know who the real boss of Shrek is!"
A raging storm of anger surged within him.
Yu Tianheng, an outsider, had just arrived at Shrek and already wanted to take his captain position.
If he didn't dare accept this challenge, he would have no place to stand in Shrek from now on.
Moreover, both he and Yu Tianheng were Soul Elders, their strengths not too far apart.
Even if the other party's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul was a top-tier beast martial soul, it didn't mean he had no chance.
Flender pushed up the glasses on his nose.
His gaze swept over Yu Xiaogang beside him. The latter showed no expression, simply watching the two in the field, with no intention of stopping them.
He understood Dai Mubai too well.
Though the boy appeared unruly, deep down, he cared more than anyone about face and pride.
And Yu Tianheng was Yu Xiaogang's own nephew.
If these two fought—regardless of who won or lost—the team atmosphere wouldn't be good.
But now the arrow was already on the string.
If he forcibly stopped them, it would only make both sides lose face.
Helpless, he could only personally supervise the battle, but he required that they stop at the right point and not truly go all out.
…
The yellow earth at the center of the training ground was firmly packed beneath their feet.
Everyone else retreated over a hundred meters away, leaving enough space for their duel.
Tang San stood at the very front, his brows tightly furrowed.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun stood beside him, both looking somewhat tense.
Qin Ming stood next to Yu Xiaogang, a hint of confidence on his face.
Yu Tianheng was someone he had watched grow up, and he had full confidence in him.
The Shi Mo brothers and Osler stood behind Yu Tianheng, their eyes equally filled with certainty.
—
End of Chapter
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