Ye Hao's fist slammed into Xiao Wu's abdomen, leaving her dazed and spitting up bile.
"Little rabbit, now it's your turn to taste the Eight Stage Drop."
SMACK—
Another resounding slap echoed through the arena. Xiao Wu spun 360 degrees in the air, her head spinning, her eyes vacant. Her entire spirit was on the verge of collapse.
How had it come to this?
In the past, she had always been the one tossing others around with the Eight Stage Drop. Today, she was the one being mercilessly thrown.
BANG, BANG, BANG—
Ye Hao's movements turned into a blur of purple lightning. Xiao Wu's body repeatedly flew up and down in the air as blow after blow landed on her. Each impact reverberated through the arena.
The audience was stunned.
The sight of the "Soft-Boned Charm Rabbit" of the legendary Shrek Seven Devils being so thoroughly crushed by an unknown opponent, who hadn't even unleashed his martial soul, was almost beyond comprehension.
This wasn't a duel.
It was a one-sided destruction.
Finally, the relentless assault ended as Ye Hao slammed Xiao Wu's battered form into the arena floor with a deafening THUD.
The entire arena fell silent.
All eyes were on Xiao Wu, whose face was so swollen that she now resembled Ma Hongjun in drag. Her once-delicate features were barely recognizable.
"XIAO WU!"
Unable to contain his fury any longer, Tang San leaped from the stands and onto the stage. He rushed to Xiao Wu's side, cradling her beaten form in his arms.
Looking down at Xiao Wu, her face grotesquely swollen, Tang San's heart burned with rage. His killing intent surged like a tidal wave, directed squarely at Ye Hao.
Carefully setting Xiao Wu aside, Tang San's three soul rings glowed ominously. With a sharp metallic sound, the Eight Spider Lances unfurled from his back, shimmering with a menacing purple hue.
The Eight Spider Lances, a fortuitous external spirit bone, had long been Tang San's trump card, solving countless crises.
But now, they were itching to taste blood.
"Spicy Rabbit Head, prepare to die!" Tang San roared, his killing intent searing through the air.
Tang San's fury overwhelmed any sense of rules or decorum. He didn't care that they were in the Soto Great Spirit Arena—Ye Hao had brutalized Xiao Wu. If he didn't kill him now, his heart would never be at peace!
Unfazed, Ye Hao remained calm. He raised a single middle finger in Tang San's direction.
"Excuse me, host?" Ye Hao called lazily. "Doesn't Soto Great Spirit Arena have rules? Or does this guy think he's above them?"
The host, realizing the gravity of the situation, scrambled onto the stage and stepped between Tang San and Ye Hao.
"Sir," the host began gravely, "Please control yourself. Breaking the rules here is not permitted. If you persist, the Shrek Seven Devils will no longer be welcome in the Soto Great Spirit Arena. Moreover, you personally will face severe consequences—ones you cannot bear."
Even a dragon must bow before a local overlord. On this turf, the Spirit Arena's rules were absolute.
The rest of the Shrek team quickly joined Tang San on the stage—except for Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who remained seated in the stands, their expressions unreadable.
Dai Mubai grabbed Tang San's shoulder and said softly, "Tang San, calm down. There are rules here. We can't act rashly. As long as this guy stays in Soto City, we'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with him later."
"Yeah, let's go for now," Oscar added, handing Tang San two recovery sausages. "Spicy Rabbit Head isn't going anywhere. We'll settle this, just not here."
Still trembling with rage, Tang San took the sausages and fed them to Xiao Wu, who lay unconscious in his arms.
"Spicy Rabbit Head, I swear I'll kill you!" Tang San's voice dripped with malice as he etched Ye Hao's name onto his mental hit list.
Ye Hao dismissed Tang San's threats with a smirk. He raised his middle finger once again, then turned his thumb downward in a taunting gesture.
"You want a real fight?" he sneered. "I'd love to. But with teammates like yours? Nah. I'd probably end up facing all of you at once.
"And let's not forget—this little rabbit attacked me first, without even waiting for me to unleash my martial soul. Everyone here saw it. The audience isn't blind."
Ye Hao's voice grew louder, his words cutting deep.
"She tried to kill me with her first move—aimed right for my head. What was I supposed to do, just stand there and let her?
"You're the ones who don't understand reason. And now you're mad because I defended myself? Give me a break."
"This is the Spirit Arena. We fight fair and square, but you, Shrek Seven Devils? You think the rules don't apply to you. You're a disgrace to the title of soul master."
Turning his back on the fuming Shrek team, Ye Hao raised his middle finger one last time.
"Oh, and by the way—tonight's menu? Spicy rabbit head."
As the words sank in, Xiao Wu, barely conscious, coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out again.
Tang San's lips twitched, but he couldn't form a response. His fists clenched so tightly that blood began to drip from his palms. The humiliation of being rendered speechless gnawed at his soul.
His teacher's teachings echoed in his mind: "The Shrek Seven Devils are a family. When one of us is in trouble, we all fight together. Rules be damned."
But now, standing here, he could do nothing.
As Ye Hao walked offstage, the audience erupted into cheers. Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Now that is a real man," she said softly.
He had faced Tang San head-on, pummeled Xiao Wu into the ground, and walked away unscathed. To Ning Rongrong, this was the epitome of courage.
"Zhuqing, let's go," Ning Rongrong said, rising from her seat. "And let's keep our distance from Tang San and Xiao Wu from now on."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded faintly, casting one last glance at Ye Hao's retreating figure before following Ning Rongrong out of the arena.