Trapped within Shi Nian's spiritual Spirit Skill, Tang San entered an illusory world.
It felt as though he had returned to the Tang Sect of his previous life. This time, however, the hidden weapons that had never failed him were effortlessly neutralized by the Tang Sect elders.
Panic flooded his mind. Tang San stood frozen in place, and before long, the Tang Sect disciples seized him.
Outside the illusion, Shi Nian ran his tongue across his lips and let out a sinister, vicious grin.
"What a pity. My strength is still too weak. If I could break through to the level of a Titled Douluo, I'd be able to see exactly what he's experiencing in the dream."
For someone as psychologically twisted as Shi Nian, uncovering other people's secrets was his greatest source of pleasure.
Unfortunately, his cultivation was insufficient. Otherwise, if he had seen Tang San's previous life, things would have become far more interesting.
Hidden in the shadows, Wu Qi watched everything unfold.
Unlike in the original timeline, Tang San did not summon his Blue Silver Grass Spirit to protect himself.
Of course, without the opportunity at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he did not possess the King of Hell's Invitation. Even if he managed to break free from the illusion, he would have had no way to deal with Shi Nian.
As Shi Nian's mental suppression intensified, Tang San let out a miserable scream before collapsing unconscious.
Seeing that the time was right, Wu Qi gave the signal, and Dugu Bo immediately made his move.
"Eighth Spirit Skill: Time Freeze!"
The Jade Phosphor Serpent inner core emerged from Dugu Bo's mouth and floated above Shi Nian's head.
In the next instant, the surrounding space became completely frozen in time.
Shi Nian's eyes widened in shock.
What he had done was a capital offense. Now that he had been discovered, his fate was obvious.
His face turned deathly pale. He stood there helplessly, completely resigned.
Dugu Bo stepped out from hiding and slowly approached him.
"Shi Nian, harming a tournament contestant. Do you realize the crime you've committed?"
Recognizing the Poison Douluo, Shi Nian lowered his head and remained silent.
Did he have any hope of escaping from this Titled Douluo?
Wu Qi stayed hidden, silently observing.
Following Wu Qi's earlier instructions, Dugu Bo asked, "Shi Nian, answer me this. Who helped you rob the Heaven Dou Auction House's treasure convoy? Tell me honestly. Perhaps I can plead for leniency on your behalf."
Shi Nian was no fool.
He knew exactly what kind of person Dugu Bo was.
Had Dugu Bo promised him a swift death, he might have believed it, because that suited Dugu Bo's character.
But hearing these words only convinced him that he had been set up.
Even so, revealing that person's identity would also guarantee his death.
Still, he had to try.
Perhaps there was still a chance to survive.
"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, I don't know what you're talking about. But if you're willing to spare me and keep today's events secret, I'm willing to pay any price."
Seeing that Dugu Bo remained unmoved, Shi Nian sweetened the offer.
"I possess a Spirit Bone. If you'll let me go, it's yours."
Dugu Bo sneered.
"Since you're unwilling to admit it, I won't waste any more words. As for the Spirit Bone, isn't it already on your body? Do you take me for a fool?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Spirit opened its enormous jaws.
Terror filled Shi Nian's eyes.
Unable to utter even a single scream, he was instantly dissolved into a puddle of flesh by the poison.
A brilliantly glowing Spirit Bone quietly remained on the ground.
With a casual wave of his hand, Dugu Bo lifted it with a gentle stream of Spirit Power and stored it inside his Spirit Tool.
After confirming that no one nearby had noticed anything, Wu Qi emerged from hiding and walked over.
"Old man, we're not done yet. Use your spiritual power to erase the seal on Tang San's Spirit Tool."
"You want to rob his belongings?" Dugu Bo asked in confusion.
Considering Wu Qi's background, what could he possibly need that he couldn't already obtain?
Wu Qi offered no explanation and simply urged him to hurry.
Without hesitation, Dugu Bo used the spiritual power of a Titled Douluo to erase the imprint on the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night with ease.
Wu Qi lightly touched one of the jade compartments, causing its contents to spill out.
The first compartment, the one Tang San accessed most often, was filled entirely with hidden weapons.
Ordinary hidden weapons required specialized techniques to use and were of no value to Wu Qi. The mechanical ones had some use, but they were not the objective of this trip.
After searching through the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night, he discovered numerous hidden weapon blueprints.
These blueprints were one of his primary objectives.
With them, Spirit Hall could someday fully equip itself and use Tang San's own methods against him.
However, Wu Qi's greatest goal was to obtain Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Technique.
Everyone knew that this cultivation method had accompanied Tang San throughout his entire life. Even after becoming a God King, he continued cultivating it.
How could Wu Qi possibly pass up such an extraordinary technique?
Unfortunately, Tang San had never recorded the cultivation method in writing.
It was nowhere to be found inside his Spirit Tool.
Thinking about it, that made perfect sense.
Such an important cultivation method would never be allowed to spread. Tang San had undoubtedly memorized it completely and would never leave behind a written copy.
After quite some time had passed, Dugu Bo urged him.
"Kid, are you done yet?"
"Robbing someone in broad daylight isn't exactly wise. If we're discovered, it'll only cause trouble."
With a sigh, Wu Qi stored all of the blueprints inside his own Spirit Tool.
"Old man, clean up the scene."
"Make it look like Shi Nian tried to murder Tang San and steal his belongings before you caught him."
With that, Wu Qi immediately withdrew.
As evening gradually fell, the members of Shrek finally realized that Tang San was missing.
They first searched the tournament venue but found no trace of him. They then checked the places he frequently visited, as well as the academy, yet he was nowhere to be found.
For a moment, everyone at Shrek panicked.
"Damn it, where did Xiao San go?" Grandmaster frowned deeply.
If he hadn't seen Tang San regain his confidence earlier, he would have feared that Tang San had been unable to bear the pressure and had chosen to run away from reality.
Yu Tianheng's expression darkened.
"Has everyone heard the recent rumors? Quite a few tournament contestants have disappeared recently, and none of them have been found. Even the investigation team sent by the tournament organizers hasn't discovered anything."
"I'm afraid Tang San may have..."
Before he could finish, Liu Erlong interrupted him.
"Tianheng, don't say such things. Xiao San will be fine."
Even so, his words stayed with her.
"For everyone's safety, the teachers will search for Tang San from now on. All of you remain at the academy and wait for news."
Flender said, "I'll go speak with the tournament organizers first. Xiao San's sudden disappearance is too suspicious. The more people searching, the greater the chance we'll find him quickly."
However, they had already offended the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Would the tournament organizers really help them search?
Regardless, Flender had to try.
He couldn't afford to give up even the slightest hope.
Grandmaster, meanwhile, was too anxious to sit still. Back then, Tang Hao had entrusted Tang San to his care.
If anything happened to Tang San, how could he possibly answer to Tang Hao?
Faced with Tang Hao's wrath, he doubted he would survive.
"Headmaster," Tai Long said solemnly, "take me back to my family. I'll ask my grandfather to mobilize our clan members to help with the search."
Flender nodded without objection.
Just as everyone stepped out of the academy, a representative from the tournament organizers came hurrying toward them.
"You're the headmaster of Shrek Academy, aren't you? Come with me."
"Something has happened to your team member."
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