Chapter 119: First Battle of the Advancement Tournament
"Young Master, according to the tournament schedule, our first-round opponents should be Elephant Armor Academy," Xuanwu said in a deep voice. "Elephant Armor Academy is affiliated with the Elephant Armor Clan. Based on the data from the preliminary rounds, all seven of their main team members are direct disciples of the clan, and their martial souls are all inherited—Diamond Mammoths. Among them, three have reached level forty, and their strongest is their captain, Huyan Li, a level forty-three defense-type Soul Ancestor, who even possesses a ten-thousand-year-grade head soul bone."
Xiao Yu nodded. Although his interference had led to Blazing Academy being eliminated early, giving Elephant Armor Academy a chance, their lineup was no different from what it was in the original story.
Xiao Yu spoke up, "Elephant Armor Academy is a typical example of the extreme strength approach in the soul master world. All seven of their main members possess the Diamond Mammoth martial soul. Such a lineup has a very obvious weakness—speed is their greatest shortcoming. My suggestion is to make control-type and agility-type soul masters the core of our strategy for this match."
Xuanwu agreed with a nod, "Young Master, I share the same view. They don't have any particularly powerful soul masters, so there's no need for us to use Soul Kings or higher-ranked fighters. For this match, I recommend using Huo Wu, Xie Wu, and Io as the main participants. Huo Wu is a control-type soul master, and both Xie Wu and Io have the ability to fly, which can significantly restrain Elephant Armor Academy's members."
"Then let Huo Wu be the first to go!" Xiao Yu smiled slightly and said, "That wild girl has been sulking ever since Blazing Academy failed to advance. Let her unleash her frustrations in this match. Just in case, have Cang Mo be our last player to hold the line, though I doubt he'll even need to appear."
The next morning, the advancement tournament was held as scheduled at the Heaven Dou Imperial Hunting Grounds.
As soon as Xiao Yu entered the arena with the Nine Stars Palace team, he immediately felt several hostile gazes fixated on him.
Without turning his head, Xiao Yu could guess with ease. Apart from Tang Shenwang and the Shrek team, who else could be looking at him like that?
In the Shrek team's resting area, while Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun glared angrily at Xiao Yu, Tang San's gaze was far more venomous, like a snake lurking in the grass, ready to strike at any moment.
As usual, Tang Shenwang was not about to reflect on his own underhanded actions, like coveting the immortal herbs from Nine Stars Palace and sneaking into their sect. All he remembered was the brutal beating and torture he suffered at Nine Stars Palace.
After half a month of treatment and recovery, Tang San had just woken up when he was struck with another heavy blow. The girl he had been with for over seven years, Xiao Wu, turned out to be a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form. After her identity was exposed, she had no choice but to leave him and return to the Star Dou Great Forest, deepening Tang San's hatred for Nine Stars Palace.
Yes, it was Nine Stars Palace's fault. If it weren't for them, Xiao Wu wouldn't have been discovered.
According to the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, there were top-quality immortal herbs that could conceal one's aura. If Nine Stars Palace had just obediently handed over the herbs, perhaps Xiao Wu wouldn't have had to leave.
Yes, it was all Nine Stars Palace's fault!
Tang Shenwang's twisted logic remained as sharp as ever.
Yu Xiaogang gently patted Tang San on the shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Xiao San, calm down. This is the advancement tournament. If you attack participants outside the match, not only will Shrek Academy be immediately disqualified, but you yourself will also face consequences from the Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Royal Family. Even Sect Master Ning won't be able to protect you then."
Tang San took a deep breath, withdrew his hateful gaze, and nodded heavily. "I understand, Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang then looked around at the equally furious Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, saying, "Don't worry. No matter the results of the earlier matches, every team will face each other once in the tournament. As long as you follow my instructions, when we face Nine Stars Palace, you'll get your chance for revenge."
"The first match of the first round of the advancement tournament: Balak Academy team versus Shrek Academy team! Will both teams please send out their first participant!"
At that moment, the referee's voice rang out from the center of the arena, cutting off Yu Xiaogang's planned tirade.
"Teacher, I'll go!"
Tang San stood up and strode towards the stage.
Although Shrek Academy faced Balak Academy in the first round, just like in the original story, Xiao Wu, who was originally supposed to be the first to fight, had been imprisoned by Xiao Yu. She was being held until Xiao Yu reached level seventy, at which point he planned to use her as his seventh soul ring. As a result, Shrek's first fighter became Tang San.
Both sides took their positions on opposite ends of the arena. At the referee's signal, each side summoned their martial souls, with both displaying the optimal two-yellow, two-purple soul ring combinations.
Without the fortune of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang San had missed out on the immense physical benefits from the Inferno Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and thus, he dared not risk absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring. Additionally, without the assistance of the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Herb to attract soul beasts, he never encountered the six-thousand-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider. Following Yu Xiaogang's guidance, he played it safe and absorbed a Poison Scorpion soul beast that was about 4,500 years old. This added scorpion venom to his Blue Silver Grass, alongside the snake venom and spider venom it already possessed, completely undermining the original vitality-based nature of the Blue Silver Emperor.
"Begin the match!"
As soon as both sides activated their martial souls, the referee's hand came down heavily, signaling the start of the match.
"First soul skill, Demon Wolf Assault!"
"Second soul skill, Demon Wolf Claws!"
The first fighter from Balak Academy was a level forty-one Soul Ancestor with a wolf-type martial soul. As soon as the referee announced the start, his first and second soul rings lit up, his hands transforming into sharp wolf claws, and his speed increased as he charged straight at Tang San.
Blue light surged in Tang San's palms, and he immediately used his first soul skill, Entangling Vines. Numerous vines of Blue Silver Grass erupted from the ground, instantly wrapping around the Balak Academy fighter who was mid-pounce.
After absorbing his fourth soul ring, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had grown not only thicker but also sprouted many sharp thorns along its vines. As soon as they wrapped around the Balak fighter, they pierced his skin, injecting him with the combined venom of snake, spider, and scorpion from the Blue Silver Grass.
"Poison! There's poison!"
The sudden dizziness alerted the Balak fighter to the fact that he had been poisoned. He hurriedly tried to use his soul power to resist the venom, but the mixture of multiple toxins wasn't easy to combat. After expending an enormous amount of effort, he barely managed to keep the poison from spreading further.
"Fourth soul skill, Blue Silver Scorpion Tail Pierce!"
At that moment, Tang San's fourth soul ring lit up.
Four Blue Silver Grass vines burst from the ground. Unlike the ones entangling the Balak fighter, these vines had sharp tips resembling scorpion stingers, and they swiftly pierced through his four limbs, emerging from the other side.
"Ahh!"
The Balak fighter let out a heart-wrenching scream, chilling everyone who heard it.
"We surrender! We surrender!"
The teacher leading the Balak team shouted urgently at the referee. Startled by Tang San's ruthless tactics, the referee hastily declared, "Shrek Academy wins this match! Quickly release your soul skill!"
(End of Chapter)
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