Chapter 76: Tang San: I'm Strong Again
Before the finals even began, Tang San had already devised strategies to deal with the two opposing teams.
Against powerful enemies, striking unexpectedly offered the best chance of victory.
The Seven-in-One Fusion Skill could only be used once, which meant he had to rely on other methods for the second opponent.
Tang San recalled the Tang Sect hidden weapon technique—Batwing Reincarnation—which could be executed using fragments of his external soul bone, the Eight Spider Lances.
The Eight Spider Lances carried deadly poison. Ordinary soul masters would be completely defenseless against it.
Tang San also considered using this technique against Wuming, but quickly dismissed the idea.
Wuming's soul power was far too dense, and his speed far too fast. The fragments likely wouldn't even land on him.
Besides, the far more powerful Seven-in-One Fusion Skill had to be saved specifically for him.
Therefore, Tang San planned to use Batwing Reincarnation to deal with the Spirit Hall team.
However, his heart remained heavy.
After witnessing Hu Liena's charm ability today, he could clearly feel that her spiritual power surpassed his own.
With his current spiritual strength, once he was dragged into Hu Liena and Xie Yue's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he would be unable to escape, leading to unimaginable consequences.
Thus, he had to increase his spiritual power.
And right now, there was only one way to do that—fusion with the skull dropped by Shi Nian.
Although it was only a twenty-thousand-year soul bone, it could still greatly enhance his spiritual power.
It would also strengthen his physical body, enabling him to better harness the power of the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill.
Tang San shared his thoughts with Yu Xiaogang.
After thinking it over, Yu Xiaogang finally decided to support him.
To prove he was not a useless theorist and to showcase his talent, he needed Shrek Academy to advance as far as possible in the Soul Master Tournament.
He knew Tang San wanted the sixty-thousand-year spiritual skull, but that wasn't something they could easily obtain.
If Tang San didn't fuse the twenty-thousand-year skull, they might not even get past the Spirit Hall team.
"Xiao San, once you integrate that skull, you'll never be able to fuse another head soul bone in the future. Are you sure about this?"
"Teacher, I'm sure. I'm still young. I can use other methods to strengthen my spiritual power later."
Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly.
"Alright. We'll proceed with your plan. That twenty-thousand-year skull is still an excellent treasure. It'll increase your strength quickly, helping both against Hu Liena's spiritual suppression and during the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill."
"Mm."
Tang San took out the skull from the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, pressed it against his forehead, and began the fusion.
One hour later, Tang San awoke from the soul bone integration.
Feeling the changes within his body, a joyful expression spread across his face.
As expected, his spiritual power had increased dramatically.
His Purple Demon Eye had advanced to the Mustard Seed Realm.
His mental acuity improved significantly—everything before him appeared clearer than ever.
Seeing Tang San's expression, Yu Xiaogang immediately knew the results were exceptional. He couldn't help but ask eagerly:
"Xiao San, how do you feel?"
Tang San stood up, excitement burning in his eyes.
"Teacher, my spiritual power has indeed improved greatly! I've reached an entirely new realm, and my soul power has risen by one level as well!"
"So you're at rank fifty-three now? Excellent!"
Yu Xiaogang could hardly contain his excitement.
Tang San was the backbone of the Shrek team. If he became stronger, their overall strength would naturally follow.
"Xiao San, let's go find Sect Master Ning. He might be able to help."
"Mm, I was thinking the same."
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, responsible for protecting Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, were also staying at the same grand hotel.
Tang San followed Yu Xiaogang to meet Ning Fengzhi and explained his plan to him.
Ning Fengzhi was greatly shocked.
"Xiao San, have you really thought this through? If the Eight Spider Lances are damaged, you will suffer immense pain."
"Sect Master Ning, I've made up my mind. If we want to defeat the other two teams, this is the only way. I have eight spider legs—losing one is not a big issue."
"Very well. With my healing abilities, I can reduce your pain and help you restore your condition quickly. But your external soul bone is quite special. Once damaged, it will need to regenerate naturally over time."
"Understood. Hearing Sect Master Ning say this, I feel reassured."
With Ning Fengzhi's support, Tang San gained even more confidence.
The Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone provided tremendous regeneration. Even if a spider leg broke, it would regrow far faster.
If they could defeat the Spirit Hall team that afternoon, then in tomorrow's match against Wuming, he wouldn't need to release his external soul bone at all—he could rely solely on the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill to settle things in a single strike.
Soon after, Yu Xiaogang gathered the entire Shrek team.
Tang San explained the plan for the afternoon battle against Spirit Hall Academy.
Although everyone was worried about him, they still believed that Tang San's strategy could succeed.
Aside from the Eight Spider Lances for defense, Tang San also had the Purple Demon Eye, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and his sound-judging ability.
He believed he could withstand Xie Yue and Hu Liena's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Time passed quickly, and the afternoon arrived.
Pope Bibi Dong, the red-clad cardinals, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, along with teachers and students from the three academies, all gathered once more in the plaza before the Pope's Palace.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Second Team, having already secured their place in tomorrow's final, had the right to watch the semifinal as spectators.
Gui Mei had also arrived.
At the center of the plaza, both Spirit Hall Academy and Shrek Academy sent out their full main teams.
After their humiliating defeat in the morning, the Spirit Hall team members had lost their arrogance. Though they still looked down on Shrek's ragtag group, they no longer wasted time on verbal mockery.
Bibi Dong's gaze drifted briefly toward Yu Xiaogang, her thoughts stirring quietly:
"Xiaogang, the moment has finally come. Will the team you lead show something different to the world…?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes were locked tightly onto the fourteen participants in the arena, filled with anticipation.
"Prepare for battle. You may release your martial souls."
With the referee's announcement, all fourteen soul masters unleashed their martial souls and soul rings.
Brilliant lights erupted across the arena.
Xie Yue and Hu Liena moved simultaneously, darting swiftly across the field.
At that moment, a soul master holding a golden scepter stepped forward.
He raised the scepter high.
In an instant, two dazzling beams of golden light shot forth from its tip, descending upon Xie Yue and Hu Liena.
Bathed in golden radiance, their bodies began to spin rapidly, like two merging whirlwinds.
In the blink of an eye, the two had fused perfectly—transforming into a flaming red-haired androgynous demon-like figure.
The red-haired demon radiated a mysterious crimson glow.
The glow surged outward toward the Shrek team, instantly enveloping all seven members within a strange red domain.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang's face twisted in shock.
With the help of the support-type soul master, the fusion skill of the sibling pair not only activated faster, but its power seemed significantly stronger.
"This siblings' Martial Soul Fusion Skill… It's even stronger than I imagined. Fortunately, Xiao San fused that skull soul bone…"
Even though he believed in Tang San, Yu Xiaogang couldn't stop a thread of worry from creeping into his heart.
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End of Chapter