With everything prepared, Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San stood side by side, while Ning Rongrong positioned herself behind them. Tang San was responsible for controlling the field and protecting Ning Rongrong, while Zhu Zhuqing would handle the offense.
Tang San smiled at Xiao Wu and said, "Xiao Wu, it's been a while since we've fought. This time, I'll show you the strength I've gained from my third spirit ring!"
Xiao Wu scoffed, "Oh really? How about we fight one-on-one? Don't forget, I'm still a few months younger than you."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were speechless at Tang San's boast. They were in a three-on-one situation, yet Tang San still had the audacity to say such things!
Hearing Xiao Wu's retort, Tang San's face stiffened. He immediately fell silent, knowing that challenging Xiao Wu one-on-one right now would be foolish.
Yu Xiaogang, acting as the referee, ignored the banter and sternly announced, "Let the match begin!"
As soon as the words left Yu Xiaogang's mouth, Xiao Wu activated her teleportation ability. Tang San immediately tensed and used his Blue Silver Grass to bind Ning Rongrong, assuming that Xiao Wu's first target would be the support-type soul master.
But Tang San miscalculated. From the start, Xiao Wu's target had always been him. When Xiao Wu suddenly appeared in front of him, he froze for a brief moment.
Xiao Wu seized the opportunity and activated her second spirit skill, Charm. Tang San, caught off guard, had failed to activate his Purple Demon Eyes in time to defend against Xiao Wu's charm, and he was instantly controlled.
Taking advantage of this brief moment, Xiao Wu teleported to Ning Rongrong's side. She moved so quickly that Zhu Zhuqing couldn't react in time, and Ning Rongrong hadn't even had a chance to boost her teammates. Xiao Wu struck her neck with a precise chop.
Xiao Wu smiled softly, "Sorry, Rongrong, looks like you're out."
Ning Rongrong, though a bit disappointed, wasn't upset. She hadn't planned to fight Xiao Wu seriously anyway. Xiao Wu's deceptive tactics had worked perfectly.
Typically, support-type soul masters like Ning Rongrong, with her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, would be targeted immediately in combat. During their entrance exam, Zao Wuji had similarly attacked her first. However, Xiao Wu had flipped the script by controlling Tang San first, the brains of the group, before taking out Ning Rongrong. This was definitely something Tang San hadn't expected!
Of course, only someone like Xiao Wu, who had teleportation, could pull off such a strategy. Traditional agility-type soul masters like Zhu Zhuqing couldn't manage the same feat.
Outside the battlefield, Yu Xiaogang's expression soured. He hadn't anticipated Xiao Wu targeting Tang San first instead of Ning Rongrong. Now, without Ning Rongrong's support, it was nearly impossible for Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing to win.
Moreover, he remembered that Tang San had a pair of special eyes—why hadn't he used them to defend against Xiao Wu's charm? If Tang San lost, it would be due to a critical error in judgment.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing, seeing that Ning Rongrong was already out, considered whether it would be best to find an excuse to step down herself. She knew Xiao Wu was far stronger than her, and as one of Xiao Wu's close friends, she had no desire to help Tang San defeat her.
As if reading her thoughts, Xiao Wu appeared in front of Zhu Zhuqing the next moment, using her charm again.
Xiao Wu's charm was more effective on men, and its effects on women were less pronounced. In this case, since Zhu Zhuqing had a strong will, the control didn't last long, even though Xiao Wu's spiritual power had increased significantly. But the brief control was enough, especially with Zhu Zhuqing not resisting.
Both of them understood the unspoken agreement. Xiao Wu then used her waist bow to gently toss Zhu Zhuqing out of the ring.
From an outsider's perspective, it looked like Zhu Zhuqing had lost, but everyone knew that Xiao Wu hadn't used her full strength, as she hadn't performed her explosive Eight Stage Drop.
By this time, Tang San had finally recovered from the charm's effects. His first action was to activate his Purple Demon Eyes, scanning the battlefield to assess the situation. Realizing he was now the only one left, his face darkened. How had he been so careless?
This time, Xiao Wu's charm had held him much longer than in the original story, thanks to the system's enhancements to her spiritual power. Tang San's own spiritual power, cultivated through the Purple Demon Eyes, was clearly lacking in comparison.
Xiao Wu crossed her arms and smiled at Tang San. "Well, Tang San, it's just the two of us now. Let's see how strong you really are!"
Tang San, now on high alert, hoped he could dodge Xiao Wu's attacks using his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, but he wasn't confident.
He immediately surrounded himself with layers of Blue Silver Grass as a defensive measure. As long as Xiao Wu entered the area, he would have time to react.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu shook her head in disappointment. "Is that all you've got?" While Tang San focused on his ground-level defenses, Xiao Wu eyed the open space above him.
In an instant, she teleported directly above Tang San's head.
Tang San, however, smirked. Xiao Wu had fallen for his trap!
From the sidelines, Su Ming sighed inwardly. Xiao Wu, this is too simple. Did you really think Tang San wouldn't cover the air? He's luring you in.
"Spider Web Restraint!" Tang San shouted, launching his third spirit skill at Xiao Wu. At the same time, his Blue Silver Grass extended upwards, forming a web of vines to trap her in midair.
Realizing she had been caught, Xiao Wu acknowledged the misstep, but it didn't matter. In the face of overwhelming power, all strategies would fail.
Xiao Wu had considered teleporting away, but then she remembered the system's reward: Mastery of Strength. This would be the perfect opportunity to test if she could break free from Tang San's Blue Silver Grass purely through brute force.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass hadn't yet awakened its true bloodline potential. She didn't believe that, with her strength as a level 42 Spirit Ancestor and her mastery of power, she couldn't break through its defenses.
Focusing her soul power into her right leg, Xiao Wu executed a powerful right roundhouse kick aimed directly at the Blue Silver Grass.
Boom!
The Blue Silver Grass, which had enveloped the air, was sliced apart as if by a sharp blade. A gust of air followed, and Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with excitement. This Mastery of Strength is amazing! It seems like I can generate air blades with my kicks!
Not fully convinced, she decided to test it again.