How could one describe what the Shrek Group was feeling right now?
From the moment the draw paired them against Heaven Dou Main Team, every member of Shrek had already weathered a violent mental storm.
Two choices lay before them!
Fight, or concede!
To admit defeat now—after everything they had paid to reach this point—how could they be willing?
Yet the thought of Yang Yuan's unfathomable strength made every scalp tingle.
So far, not a single person knew his true power.
Only Tang San had glimpsed the tip of the iceberg.
He still remembered how Yang Yuan had not only blocked his father's assault but had also sent his father flying with one punch.
Though his father hadn't used spirit power at the time, the physical might of a Titled Douluo was hardly ordinary.
Therefore, Tang San estimated that Yang Yuan was, at minimum, a high-RankSpirit Saint—perhaps even a Spirit Douluo.
Their Shrek Team alone was definitely no match for him.
But to bow his head like a coward before Yang Yuan… Tang San couldn't do it.
It was the final stubbornness of a man living his second life and a Disciple of Tang Sect.
Whether from being repeatedly suppressed by Yang Yuan or the towering rage stoked by the Hall of Worship's humiliation, he could not accept surrender.
And so!
A selfish yet resolute thought took shape in Tang San's heart.
He concealed what he knew from the others.
Because he knew that once he spoke of Yang Yuan's true strength, his already-faltering companions would choose to concede without hesitation.
Thus, he would be selfish one more time!
Anyway, no one died in the Soul Master Tournament; at worst they'd get hurt.
True experts weren't raised in greenhouses—this, too, was a kind of tempering!
So when the others asked him whether to fight…
He answered firmly and forcefully: "Fight! Why not?"
"No matter how strong Yang Yuan is, he's still just a Spirit Emperor. If we swarm him, we might have a chance."
Tang San's words gave the group a sliver of confidence.
Right—look at Shrek's current lineup.
Yu Tianheng at Rank forty-nine, Dai Mubai at forty-six, Tai Long at forty-four, Tang San at forty-three, Ma Hongjun and Oscar at forty-one; Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Jiang Zhu all at thirty-nine.
With a roster like that, even if they lost, it wouldn't be a total rout.
After all, Yang Yuan was only a Spirit Emperor!
Yet when they stepped onto the stage and glanced at the tall, straight figure across from them…
Though Yang Yuan stood there calmly, without deliberately releasing any Aura—looking almost casual—
the Shrek Group still felt a crushing pressure surge toward them, so heavy it nearly stole their breath.
Yang Yuan didn't move, yet he seemed born to be the protagonist.
From the instant he appeared, every spectator's gaze was drawn to him, as though a spotlight followed him.
In the VIP seats, Bibi Dong's eyes lingered on him a moment longer.
Though she had never seen him fight, just the bearing before her rivaled the once-high-spirited Yu Xiaogang.
Yang Yuan: "You've got a foul mouth."
Hall of Worship.
In a hidden observation area, Qian Daoliu and several other elders watched through space, their eyes locking on Yang Yuan.
"So this is the boy Xue'er fancies? His looks and bearing are extraordinary—no less than the boss in his day."
Gold Crocodile Douluo stroked his beard, satisfaction in his eyes.
"Ahem—this boy is slightly better than I was back then," Qian Daoliu coughed.
"Xue'er's taste is high; unlike her mother… who was blind!"
"I just wonder about his strength. Though he's a Spirit Emperor, with six burdens in tow, even if he defeats Shrek Academy, the final championship may still elude him."
"Speaking of which, that Tang San in Shrek Academy is Tang Hao's son, right?"
"twin spirits—Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer—should be correct; his temperament's exactly like Tang Hao's."
"Can you believe it? A mere Spirit Ancestor dared demand an explanation from a Titled Douluo like me?"
Thousand Gold Douluo sneered, his face full of disdain.
"If he weren't a junior, I'd have slapped him to death on the spot."
"Enough—watch the match!"
Stage.
"Match—begin!!"
The referee's voice, infused with spirit power, rang across the arena.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, Yang Yuan remained in place, showing no intention of attacking.
He even stepped back half a pace, ceding center stage to the six teammates beside him.
"Attack boldly; I'll cover you," Yang Yuan said with a gentle smile.
The six were Shi Yue, Yun Luo, Zhang Xian, Suo Leisi, Lin Beixing, and Wang Yang.
"Yes, sir!"
They answered in deep, excited voices.
Though their paper strength was far below Shrek Academy's, not a trace of timidity showed on their faces.
With Yang Yuan's retreat, the six moved swiftly and in perfect unison, instantly occupying specific positions; their spirit power resonated at an odd frequency, connecting into a singular, seamless Formation that blended offense and defense.
The instant the Formation took shape, their combined Aura soared.
"A Formation?" Tang San's Purple Demon Eye contracted, uncertainty in his gaze.
He had no time to ponder, because the Shrek Group—seeing Yang Yuan so arrogant as to send only six Spirit Elder teammates—felt their heavy hearts lighten at once.
"Great chance—take them out first!"
Dai Mubai roared, releasing his Spirit; four spirit rings rose beneath his feet.
White Tiger Barrier and White Tiger Vajra Transformation activated together, and he charged like a war chariot straight at Shi Yue, who stood at the front of the enemy Formation.
"Mubai!"
Tang San shouted, inwardly cursing the fool.
They hadn't even tested the opponent's strength, yet he rushed in so recklessly.
But the matter was settled; he could only brace himself and follow.
Still, Tang San kept his Purple Demon Eye open, watching the opposing Formation's every shift.
He refused to believe Yang Yuan would let a bunch of "trash" fight Shrek Academy.
Since Yang Yuan dared do this, the Formation had to be extraordinary.
"All together!"
Lightning burst around Yu Tianheng as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul merged with him.
"Third Spirit Skill: Thunder Fury!"
"First Spirit Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!"
He raised his hand, condensing a claw of lightning that slashed at Yun Luo on the flank.
Ma Hongjun, Tai Long, and Huang Yuan also charged.
Oscar stayed at the rear, constantly producing Sausage, ready to support.
Purple light flashed in Tang San's eyes; Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Controlling Crane Catching Dragon worked in tandem as countless deep-violet Blue Silver Grass surged from ground and air toward the enemy Formation.
Against an ordinary team, such an onslaught would be overwhelming.
Yet faced with Shrek's tempestuous assault, the six Heaven Dou Main Team members remained unperturbed.
Their spirit power intersected; the Formation condensed into a mottled shield that inverted over the stage.
Shrek's attacks landed on the shield and produced only faint ripples.
"As expected, this Formation isn't simple!"
Tang San's heart shook at the sight.
"What's going on?" The rest of Shrek was equally stunned.
Dai Mubai's second spirit ring flashed; he spat a white orb of light.
Yet when the orb struck the mottled shield, it produced only a dull thud and achieved nothing.
Tai Long, under Spirit Possession, swelled a full size; punches and kicks rained on the shield to no effect—like kicking a wall of forged steel.
No matter what they tried, the six Heaven Dou Academy members seemed rooted in place, letting themselves be hit.
"Tang San, what do we do?"
After pounding the shield with dozens of lightning punches, Yu Tianheng leapt back to Tang San's side.
Tang San said gravely: "Their Formation fuses the six of their spirit powers into one; that's how it blocks our attacks."
"But I suspect the method has major limits—look…"
From the start of the match they haven't moved a muscle; if I'm right, the moment they do, this Formation will break.
Yu Tianheng nodded in understanding, then frowned. "But if they keep stalling, we'll burn spirit power. What will we have left to fight Yang Yuan?"
Tang San knew that even at full strength they stood no chance against Yang Yuan.
Yet that wasn't something he could say aloud.
He barked, "Shrek Team, regroup!"
The next instant Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun and the others fell back to Tang San's side.
Tang San ordered, "Their Formation can block our attacks, so the cost must be huge. We won't force a clash. Two-man teams rotate in to drain them; the rest recover on the spot and stay ready for surprises."
"Got it!"
"I'm with Boss Dai."
Ma Hongjun stepped beside Dai Mubai; Huang Yuan, seeing this, silently walked over to Yu Tianheng.
Tai Long planted himself behind Tang San without hesitation.
"Mubai, you and Fatty go first!"
Tang San continued.
"On it!"
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun shot forward toward the mottled barrier.
But just as Shrek expected Heaven Dou Main Team to defend as before, everything changed.
"Shift Formation!"
"Yun Luo, main assault!"
Shi Yue roared; Yun Luo leapt from the line, his Martial Soul, the Green Maple Sword, in hand.
The spirit power of the other five surged into him, pushing his Aura to its peak.
The Green Maple Sword blazed, its blade humming.
A three-foot-long emerald Sword Qi shot from the edge, gleaming, sharp enough to slice the air with a hiss.
His Aura rivaled Yu Tianheng's.
"Azure Light Slash!"
Yun Luo swept the sword; a blade of Sword Qi raced straight at Ma Hongjun.
Crippling one finger beats bruising ten.
His goal: knock one Shrek player out of the match.
Ma Hongjun, the weakest, was the perfect target.
Even Ma Hongjun hadn't foreseen the sudden shift.
"Fatty, watch out!" Tang San's Purple Demon Eye caught the strike, but his warning came half a beat late.
Luckily Dai Mubai had kept an extra sliver of attention on the enemy.
At the critical instant his First spirit ring flashed.
"White Tiger Barrier!"
Dai Mubai roared; the yellow ring blazed as he threw himself in front of Ma Hongjun.
Bang—!
The condensed cyan Sword Qi slammed into the pale-gold White Tiger Barrier with a deafening blast.
The barrier, tough enough to stop several blows from a peer, shattered in under half a second into motes of light.
The remaining Qi, though weakened, still carved viciously into Dai Mubai's crossed forearms and chest.
Rip—!
Fabric tore and flesh split.
Dai Mubai staggered two steps back, a long slash across arm and chest, bone glinting beneath.
Blood gushed, dyeing his shredded clothes red.
Agony twisted his face; a grunt escaped through clenched teeth.
"Boss Dai!"
Oscar reacted at once, hurling a thick recovery Sausage.
Dai Mubai caught it and gulped it down, barely steadying himself and keeping combat-effective.
Only then did the rest of Shrek recover from the lightning counter and the sight of Dai Mubai's wound.
"This Formation… it can change like that?"
Tang San's face was dark.
If he hadn't underestimated the Formation's flexibility, they wouldn't be in this mess.
"Cover Mubai!"
Tang San barked; his Fourth spirit ring lit, and deep-violet Blue Silver Grass surged like a tide toward Heaven Dou.
But Heaven Dou gave no opening; offense and defense flowed seamlessly.
Though their overall Rank wasn't high, the six moved as one, bluntly holding off Shrek's furious assault.
The arena erupted.
"Heaven Dou! Heaven Dou!"
Roars and cheers shook the dome.
Spectators boiled with excitement;
who would have thought six Spirit Elders could stand against six Spirit Ancestors from Shrek Academy?
Even Bibi Dong, Ning Fengzhi and the hidden Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall were stunned.
Shrek's rest area.
Flender, Yu Xiaogang and the others could scarcely believe it.
Zhao Wuji blurted, "How are they doing this? A Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
"But there are six of them, and every Spirit is different—no connection at all."
Liu Erlong said grimly, "Looks like they're simply funneling six people's strength into one."
Yu Xiaogang's face was ugly.
"No wonder Yang Yuan dared to bring six 'burdens'—he'd hidden this ace up his sleeve, and deep!"
...Back on the stage.
Clever as it was, Heaven Dou's Formation had limits.
As time wore on their spirit power bottomed out and the Formation's flow stuttered.
"Now—break!"
Tang San's eyes flashed; stepping with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he lashed out a dozen arm-thick strands of Blue Silver Grass.
Bang—!
Boom—!
With a string of blasts the six-man Formation was finally smashed apart.
Shi Yue and Suo Lei staggered back, blood on their lips, the line in ruins.
Yu Tianheng, Ma Hongjun and the others bared fangs, ready to pounce and pay back every second of frustration.
They meant to cripple at least a few before the chance slipped away.
Yet the instant Shrek's killing moves were poised and Heaven Dou's six seemed doomed—
the figure who had stood watching from the rear stirred.
No—he only lifted his eyelids.
"Enough."
The soft word carried uncanny force, ringing through every corner of the stage.
As the sound fell
a boundless, mountain-heavy pressure exploded outward from Yang Yuan, shrouding the whole arena in the blink of an eye.
Ma Hongjun, Yu Tianheng and the others froze as if caught in invisible mud, their movements sluggish.
Meanwhile Shi Yue's six
used the brief lull to break free, retreating swiftly behind Yang Yuan.
They looked ragged but had taken no crippling wounds.
"Captain, sorry—we didn't knock out a single one."
Shi Yue scratched his head, embarrassed.
Yang Yuan swept his gaze over them, approval in his eyes:
"Shrek Academy isn't an ordinary team. Holding out this long is already impressive. Go rest."
A beam of Life Force Power shot from his left eye, wrapping the six and restoring them instantly.
His praise brought smiles to their faces.
"Yes, Captain!"
Without hesitation they answered in unison
and jumped cleanly off the stage.
In moments only the unruffled Yang Yuan remained on the vast platform, facing seven Shrek fighters whose faces were taut with dread.
Yang Yuan turned to them, twin-pupiled gaze calm, a faint smile at his lips.
A quiet voice—like thunder in their ears—floated out:
"Now… it's my turn."
(End of Chapter)
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