The instant Dugu Yan's three soul rings erupted and her Jade Phosphorus Snake spewed its toxic fog, Xiao Tian's expression remained utterly calm. He had anticipated this from the moment she breathed her first hiss.
He turned slightly, his voice like a steel blade cutting through the chaos:
"Fatty! Use both soul skills. Fireline in the center. Leave the rest—to me."
Ma Hongjun blinked wide, startled. Me? Against that venom? Then he gritted his teeth. "Understood!"
"Rongrong!" Xiao Tian's order snapped again. "Boost Fatty's speed."
Ning Rongrong didn't hesitate. Light flickered from her second soul ring, the refined power of the Seven Treasures Pagoda weaving into Ma Hongjun's flesh, making his obese body light as fire itself.
Tang San—standing in the backline expecting to direct—found his mouth still open. His expression blackened as he realized the authority of command had shifted entirely. His pride as team brain ground in bitter dust.
From the Royal Team side, eyebrows arched. Watching Xiao Tian issue crisp tactical commands made them wary, though they assumed it arrogance.
"Break our snake fog? Impossible," Dugu Yan sneered, pumping more venomous power forward.
Yet flames had already surged.
"Second skill—Phoenix rising from the Ashes! First Skill—Phoenix Fireline!"
Ma Hongjun's body shone scarlet, erupting in phoenix fire. A blazing serpent of flame roared from his mouth, so scorching that air crackled and warped. It whipped straight into the rolling venom.
Ssshhh—!
Green mist hissed and burned. Instantly the poisonous vapor combusted, fragments of its droplets consumed by the flames.
The crowd gasped.
"Ohhh! It really works!"
"Phoenix flame—pure Yang fire! A perfect natural counter!"
Dugu Yan's lips parted in disbelief. She laughed coldly to hide her unease. "So you want to burn away my venom, Fatty? Possible, perhaps—but pity for you, you're only a Great Soul Master. Return when you've truly ascended to Soul Sect."
She smirked. Yet before that smirk fully bloomed—
Hummm—
A chorus of ringing blades pierced the arena.
Xiao Tian's sword morphed into countless phantom shadows, each shadow pulsing with his intent. He raised his hand, and tens, hundreds of strands of azure‑black sword qi burst outward, lashing into the fog's heart alongside Ma Hongjun's flames.
The poisoned mist churned violently as wind pressures collided, torn into whirling streams. Sword aura fed fire, fire leapt higher, until dozens of flaming tornados spiraled outward—chewing the mist into nothingness.
The poisonous fog collapsed. Dugu Yan blinked, truly shocked.
"What…? Broken? My poison… destroyed?"
Xiao Tian's eyes gleamed. "The purer the toxin, the easier it burns."
Residual arcs of his sword intent even pierced through toward the Royal Team's backline, forcing their defenders to converge desperately around Ye Lingling, the frail figure of Nine‑Hearted Begonia.
"Protect Lingling!" Someone roared. Defense was instantly raised.
Dugu Yan's face flushed with anger. "I don't believe this! Am I to lose a soul power clash… to a Great Soul Master?! Impossible!"
Her third ring sparked violently as she poured in strength, the serpent head convulsing with greater venom torrents.
On Shrek's side, Ma Hongjun panted heavily, sweat soaking his brow.
"Xiao Tian! I'll dry out in less than a minute like this! My flames burn too much. I—I'll collapse!"
His path had always been burst, not endurance. Phoenix flame consumed spirit energy ravenously.
Xiao Tian's answer was calm, eyes never wavering. "Hold as long as you can. They won't last either. Their poison takes massive drain too. Keep pushing."
Then he snapped his sight to Dai Mubai and the others. His roar lashed their ears.
"Why are you standing frozen? Follow the plan! Long‑range harassment, now!"
Dai Mubai's jaw knotted, his pride cut raw by Xiao Tian barking commands at him like a general at soldiers. Yet in front of battle, he swallowed fury. His rings gleamed, releasing streak upon streak of White Tiger Fierce Light Waves, dazzling beams striking toward the Royal Team's rearguard.
Tang San gritted his teeth. He too forced compliance, hurling Blue Silver Grass to entwine from behind the enemy lines, seeking to snare Ye Lingling or their speed attackers.
But the black tortoise twins, Graphite and Stone Mill, snarled, shells glowing black. With hefty crashes, their enhanced carapaces sliced through the Blue Silver Grass like wet paper.
One raised his entire tortoise plate over body as shield, blocking Mubai's light waves. The other swung his reinforced shell breaker soul skill, dispersing vines with brutal efficiency.
Within breaths, Shrek's suppression staggered.
"Captain, we can't hold out! Their pressure's too fierce. If this keeps up, we're finished!" The twins roared toward Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan.
"Hmph. Then strike back!"
Dugu Yan ground her teeth, sweat beading. She abruptly withdrew her toxic field. Continuing would exhaust her and bring nothing. Their opening play had failed spectacularly.
So—head‑on battle it was.
The arena fragmented as fronts engaged one against one:
Zhu Zhuqing flashed across to meet Oslo's Ghost Leopard, claws and shadows whisking in killing blurs. Nether Cat and Ghost Leopard—nearly matched, sparks struck where claws met.
Tang San turned to intercept Yufeng's Wind Chime Bird, sky dancer against tangled vines.
Dai Mubai clashed with Yu Tianheng himself—blue lightning dragon roars meeting white tiger fury.
Xiao Wu darted like a rabbit into Dugu Yan's range.
Xiao Tian strode, smiling, toward the two black tortoise brothers.
"Xiao Wu!" he barked. "Her poison fails in close range—take Dugu Yan. Leave the turtle‑tanks to me."
He stepped forward lightly.
With a smile, he whispered: "My favorite… to break defense‑type Soul Masters."
Power exploded from his frame.
"Immortal Wind and Cloud Body… Drunken Immortal Stepping the Moon."
His body fractured into phantoms, illusions of himself darting simultaneously along the wings and straight ahead. The black tortoise twins gasped, confused for heartbeats at the triple assault.
Yu Tianheng's eyes flared. "He's breaking for Lingling! Stop him!"
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lurched forward, but Dai Mubai roared like maddened beast.
"You're not going anywhere!"
Two amplifiers burst through Dai Mubai's frame, claw for claw locking Yu Tianheng down. Sparks flew as dragon and tiger mauled in ferocious melee.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan bit down fury as Xiao Wu arrived in a blink right before her.
"You dare approach me?" Yan sneered. Her green aura hissed faint poison cloud again, her third soul ring igniting. "Purple Phosphorus Poison! I am wrapped in my mist—what can you do?"
But Xiao Wu's figure shimmered like she was cloaked by invisible wind. The mist curved away, unable to touch her body.
Dugu Yan's heart dropped. She whipped her eyes back instinctively—yes, in the distance, Xiao Tian's sword glowed faint. Even while dueling the turtle brothers, his surging intent warded Xiao Wu.
Her scalp prickled. He… can multitask like this?
And in that distracted instant—
Zap!
Xiao Wu was before her, eyes glittering pink.
"Charm!"
Dugu Yan staggered, mind blanked.
"First skill—Waist Bow!"
The rabbit girl spun, her kick soft yet merciless. With a strike to Dugu Yan's chest, she swept her across the ring's floor, boots skidding dangerously near the edge.
"Yanyan!" Yu Tianheng cried, rage flooding. He burst both rings at once.
"Third Soul Skill—Dragon's Fury! First Soul Skill—Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Lightning crackled violently as his claws extended, slashing. The arena shook as the amplified dragon fury ripped down.
But Dai Mubai was ready, his body blazing with full double buffs. His roar split the hall. Boom! Claws clashed again, holding Yu Tianheng chained.
On the other flank, Xiao Tian moved like lightning.
The two tortoise brothers braced, their carapaces locked. Defense almost impenetrable. But Xiao Tian's eyes gleamed with amusement.
"The sword to ward off evil."
His blade hissed. His speed blurred so fast only afterimages of his arc remained.
Two thrusts, sharper than time itself, slipped perfectly into the tiny vulnerability—their abdomens beneath shell guard.
"Aughh!"
Before they could cry, their heavy frames blasted sideways, smashed across the arena and sprawling near the edge.
At healing range, Ye Lingling's eyes widened in panic. She fumbled to cast—but froze rigid, shock devouring her composure. Xiao Tian's speed… transcended her imagination.
Her teammates howled, but she hesitated too long. She forgot her art, her role, just staring at the boy with sword dripping mirage-light.
He pointed blade sideways, voice gentle, mocking:
"Well then… will you step down quietly now? Or… shall I help you down myself?"
The crowd erupted. The so‑called untouchable defense had shattered in seconds, and the Human Emperor stood unscathed, smiling in bloodless menace.
--
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