The lounge of the Soto Great Arena fell into an uneasy hush after Tang San's stubborn attempt to push his "realgar detox" theory.
Xiao Tian finally shook his head, his tone calm yet cutting.
"Tang San, stop clinging so hard. Others here may not know realgar's real effect, but I do. It is no panacea. Its pungent smell makes some snake‑type beasts instinctively avoid it, but that's not detoxification. Understand? The Green Phosphorus Snake venom is infamous across the continent. Even faint mist from a thousand‑year skill can kill outright. If realgar wine could cure, why has that never spread in the world? Why do thousands still perish each year from snake venom?"
He leaned back, voice faintly mocking. "Or is it that you secretly mixed some exotic dissolving agent into your realgar, and just haven't had the decency to admit it?"
Tang San's mouth twitched. He knew Xiao Tian was right—but he swallowed his fire, unwilling to be exposed. Steeling his face, he dodged.
"Then since you're so clever, Xiao Tian, you tell us—how should we deal with Dugu Yan's venom in actual battle? She will use it once pressed."
Xiao Tian's gaze was calm, but the faint smile on his lips spoke of disdain.
"Simple. From my understanding, her venom manifests as mist—spreading outward, lingering like a poisonous fog. If Phoenix Fire doesn't suffice, I can sweep it outright. A few bursts of sword qi with my fourth ring are enough to blow apart any vapor her soul power creates."
He stood as if already envisioning it. "If she still insists on blanketing us, then it becomes a contest of endurance. Will her fog last longer than my sword aura, or will my power outlast her mist? The answer is obvious."
The loft of his words fell like slaps.
His conclusion was simple: In a direct clash of power, victory was his. Always.
Tang San's face soured dark. Damn him. So arrogant. Must every problem revolve around his power?
He bit out harshly, "Then perhaps you've already decided who'll be the substitute then, Xiao Tian? Since you know everything, spare us suspense."
Tang San's words were sharp as blades, but in his heart lurked a sinister thought—seeking to see whether Xiao Tian would cut Zhu Zhuqing from lineup. After all, Ning Rongrong's auxiliary couldn't be missing. If Fatty had to play to face poison, then surely Zhu Zhuqing, the "least critical," must sit out.
But Xiao Tian smiled lightly, his voice decisive:
"Let Oscar sit this one out."
The bombshell dropped.
"What?!" Oscar lurched to his feet, color draining then flooding back with hot fury. "How dare you decide this! Why me? Impossible, absolutely not! I refuse to accept this!"
Xiao Tian's words cut through his tantrum like a cold knife.
"Rejection is invalid."
Oscar trembled with rage. This bastard who stole Rongrong's smiles and the team's respect—now dares shove me aside?
He puffed his chest, trying to muster confidence. "I am clearly more suited than Zhu Zhuqing! My level is higher than hers! Why should I be the substitute? Give one good reason!"
Oscar had long seen Xiao Tian as a rival—not just in strength, but in love. His jealousy toward Ning Rongrong's closeness to Xiao Tian had been gnawing him raw. This felt like the last straw, part of a deliberate attempt to sideline him.
From beside, Zhu Zhuqing's frosty eyes tilted over. One look from her and chills knifed down his back. His limbs stuttered. But he swallowed, forcing himself to hold Xiao Tian's gaze, determined to argue.
Tang San frowned, glancing instinctively at his teacher. Yu Xiaogang gave a slight nod—an implicit clue. By his calculations, Oscar was the weakest link here. Though unsure about Xiao Tian's reasoning, Tang San followed the signal.
Even so… something nagged at him. After all, Oscar's sausages weren't entirely useless. His soul recovery was valuable; his mushroom sausages had saved them more than once. Why let him go?
Xiao Tian finally sighed. "Since you ask for reasons—fine. I'll give you three, and let everyone judge."
He raised one finger.
"First—Oscar, your detox sausages are useless. They can't counter Dugu Yan's serpent venom. We already have working counters. Your so‑called antidote is invalid in this scenario."
Oscar's mouth clamped shut. His hands twitched.
Xiao Tian raised a second finger.
"Second—the Royal Team has flying support and anti‑air capability. Every mushroom sausage you craft for flight becomes fodder. At best, you'll make a teammate a target in the sky."
Oscar paled.
"Third—and most important—observe carefully. Their team wields a healer with the Nine‑Hearted Begonia Spirit. The only healing martial spirit in all Douluo that equals and even rivals the Seven Treasures Pagoda. Her very presence changes everything.
"With Nine‑Hearted Begonia on the field, as long as her teammates are not fully dead, they will return to fight. Your sausages? Instant healing they are not. Against her, your skills fall redundant. Our strategy for this battle must be rapid strike, eliminate Ye Lingling fast, leaving no chance for wide healing. Once she is down, speed finish. Your restorative sausages are unnecessary."
His third reason fell like the final hammer.
Oscar staggered two steps back. Each sentence had cut another layer of his sulky pride.
Detox useless. Mushrooms useless. First soul skill outclassed.
His vision blurred at the edges. So… am I really useless?
His mental defenses crumbling, bitterness surged bitter into his throat. Of all his clashes with Xiao Tian, this one shattered him most.
His confidence broke. His mentality… collapsed.
Around them, silence lingered.
Tang San blinked, wide surprise cutting through his anger. He stared at Xiao Tian, then at Yu Xiaogang.
Teacher… knew this, didn't he? This was why he intended from the start for Oscar to sit. But why didn't he ever once mention Nine‑Hearted Begonia to me? If Xiao Tian knew of this spirit, why didn't my teacher, the "Grandmaster," ever explain its terrifying traits?
Tang San's fist curled. For the first time, doubt prickled in his idolization.
Across the room, Yu Xiaogang was uneasy. He hadn't calculated this far. All he'd thought was that Oscar's assists wouldn't matter as much. Nine‑Hearted Begonia? He'd only known vague scraps, never details.
How did Xiao Tian know so much more?
Ning Rongrong was the first to break the quiet. She bit her lip, eyes sparkling in awe. "Xiao Tian… You even know about the Nine‑Hearted Begonia? My father once told me it's the only spirit comparable to ours. If not for its curse—only allowing one user across generations—it might have one day rivaled or even surpassed our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect!"
Her tone shifted slightly serious. "To meet such a spirit here of all places… it can't be coincidence."
Xiao Tian chuckled softly. "Rongrong, don't underestimate your Pagoda. Nine‑Hearted Begonia excels in healing, yes, but that is all it does. Its combat role is narrow. Yours, however, is comprehensive—you empower attack, defense, speed, spirit, everything. The Begonia only keeps people alive. You make comrades unstoppable."
Xiao Wu scrunched her nose with curiosity. "But brother… if this Begonia can keep people breathing and heal anything, can't that decide every battle? Doesn't that make it unstoppable?"
Xiao Tian's eyes shone coldly as he explained.
"No. Because healing isn't killing. In real battle no opponent stands idle, patiently waiting for their foe to recover. Every soul master only has a few chances to cast in combat. Facing strong strike, casting is disrupted.
"Nine‑Hearted Begonia's AoE heal has time delay. It can't mend instantly. That window—that is our opening. We must crush through during her heal, before it restores. She is not invincible. She is only a wall to kick down swiftly."
His words unrolled firm clarity that settled into the group's blood.
Ning Rongrong's gaze lingered longer on Xiao Tian now, conflicted warmth sparking defensively in her chest. He always makes it sound so effortless… does he truly always see through everything?
Oscar shut his eyes, throat hot, pride shattered utterly. He could no longer argue.
And Tang San's stare sharpened like broken glass, realizing yet again: no matter how much he wanted it otherwise—Xiao Tian always stole the lead.
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