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Downstairs at the Hotel
After Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong finished eating, they were on their way back to the hotel.
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong pointed toward the rooftop. "Tianchen, isn't that Dai Mubai? Why is he bothering Zhuqing again?"
Even without her saying so, Ning Tianchen had already noticed what was happening on the rooftop.
His perception was sharp—though he couldn't hear their conversation, just by looking at Zhu Zhuqing's expression, he could roughly guess the nature of their exchange.
Sure enough, only a few seconds later, Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative and attacked Dai Mubai.
"Rongrong, I'll go up and check the situation first. You quickly find Principal Ke. Harassing our team member on the eve of the tournament means Dai Mubai will definitely face punishment from the organizing committee!"
With that, Ning Tianchen wasted no time and rushed upstairs.
On the rooftop
Dai Mubai's soul power level was two ranks higher than Zhu Zhuqing's, so he reacted swiftly, dodging her surprise attack.
After retreating a few steps, he touched his neck and, seeing no blood or wounds, let out a slight sigh of relief.
But then, his expression darkened. "You wretched woman! So, since you can't dissolve the engagement, you're trying to kill your own fiancé?"
"Zhu Zhuqing, listen up. Everything you've done, I'll make sure the entire world knows about it. I'll make everyone despise you; I'll lock you in the dungeon and torture you for life."
Dai Mubai had completely lost his mind.
No sooner had he spoken than he lunged at Zhu Zhuqing like a madman.
Zhu Zhuqing, unwilling to back down, activated her martial soul and prepared to retaliate.
Suddenly, a flying sword cut through the moonlight, its silvery glow flashing as it shot toward Dai Mubai.
Clang!
The Dragon-Engraved Seven Kill Sword landed just in front of Dai Mubai's feet, mere centimeters away from severing his root.
Ning Tianchen hadn't intended to spare Dai Mubai—the reason the sword missed was that Ke Jie had pressed down on his hand at the moment of release, causing the sword to veer off course.
Ke Jie patted his shoulder and quietly reminded him, "We mustn't seriously injure an opponent before the match. The Spirit Hall will seize any opportunity to find fault with us. We can't give them ammunition."
As he spoke, his gaze turned to Dai Mubai. "Harassing one of my students—is this your idea, or were you instructed to do so?"
Dai Mubai's face turned pale.
With Ke Jie present, there was no way he could continue attacking Zhu Zhuqing.
After a moment, he suddenly remembered something and angrily retorted, "I have an engagement with Zhu Zhuqing. This is a family matter—it's none of your business!"
Indeed, engagements were family affairs, and outsiders had no right to interfere.
Not wanting to put others in a difficult position, Zhu Zhuqing hardened her resolve and said, "My martial soul is no longer the Netherworld Spirit Cat. I am no longer a member of the Zhu family of Star Luo, and I have no right to marry a prince. Our engagement has long been void."
Ke Jie felt satisfied with her response. His gaze then turned fierce as he stared at Dai Mubai. "In that case, this is no longer a family matter. Harassing one of our students on the eve of the tournament violates the rules. Dai Mubai, come with me to the organizing committee."
Dai Mubai dared not follow him. He stood rooted in place, his face flushed red.
If this matter escalated, at best, it would be framed as him merely "pursuing" Zhu Zhuqing with some unpleasantness in between. At worst, his earlier actions could be classified as sexual harassment.
Committing such an offense would not only affect his team's match tomorrow but might even land him in jail.
Was a jail cell a place fit for humans?
Moreover, the ball was in the other party's court. Whether this matter blew up or was swept under the rug depended entirely on them.
My fate is in my hands!
Suddenly, his expression became resolute. He climbed over the railing and jumped off the building.
Ning Tianchen looked down and saw Dai Mubai activate his third soul skill just before landing, enduring the impact. Without looking back, he ran toward Shrek Academy's room.
"Principal, should we chase after him?" Ning Tianchen asked.
Ke Jie patted his shoulder. "Let's head back to the room first."
Inside the room, after learning about Zhu Zhuqing's ordeal, the hot-tempered Chen Huayu kicked open the door and stormed out, ready to confront Dai Mubai.
"What madness!" Ke Jie glared at him.
Chen Huayu fumed, "Dai Mubai has already bullied us to our faces—I can't tolerate it! Tonight, I'll tear him apart limb by limb."
"I support you," Ning Rongrong said as she stood up, clearly intending to follow.
"Rongrong, don't join in the chaos. Fatty, calm down!" Ning Tianchen stepped in front of them.
Dai Mubai's actions were clearly in the wrong from the start.
If they charged in recklessly, a verbal conflict might still be manageable. But if things escalated, both sides would be punished by the Spirit Hall.
In that case, wouldn't the Spirit Hall Academy team practically secure the championship?
No matter what, they couldn't afford to let the Spirit Hall benefit.
Besides, multiple teams were staying in the hotel. If this incident spread, it would harm Seven Treasures Academy's reputation.
"Huayu, calm down and listen to what the teachers have to say," Zhu Zhuqing, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
Sun Buyu added, "Principal, in my opinion, we should directly report Dai Mubai's behavior to the organizing committee and make Shrek Academy pay the price."
Ke Jie's gaze swept across the group, and he countered, "Do you really want to let Shrek Academy off that easily?"
"If they're kicked out of the tournament, you'll lose the chance to teach them a lesson. Afterward, there won't be another opportunity."
"I don't care either way. How you decide is up to you all."
Everyone exchanged glances.
If Shrek Academy were expelled from the tournament, Dai Mubai, the main culprit, would escape scot-free.
Gradually, everyone calmed down.
Yu Die placed her hand on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder. "Zhuqing, during tomorrow's match, my sister and I will teach Dai Mubai a lesson for you."
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "That's only a temporary solution. Unless we kill Dai Mubai, he'll keep harassing Zhuqing endlessly."
"He's someone who forgets pain but remembers humiliation. Hurting him today might make him back off for a while, but who knows about the future?"
To achieve permanent peace, the only solution was to kill Dai Mubai. However, the tournament rules strictly prohibited killing, and Dai Mubai was a prince of the Star Luo Empire. Killing him might escalate tensions between two major powers.
Ning Rongrong clenched her fists. "He likes playing around with women, doesn't he? Let's cripple him and make him spend the rest of his life as a eunuch!"
Oscar instinctively imagined himself in that situation, clutching his groin and sucking in a sharp breath.
"Will this cause problems?" Yu Die thought the idea was good but worried about repercussions from the Star Luo imperial family.
Ning Tianchen smiled. "This is an excellent idea. Among the princes of Star Luo, only Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi are qualified to compete for the crown prince position. A eunuch certainly can't become emperor. In that case, Dai Weisi's position as crown prince will be secured."
"The enemy of our enemy is our friend. We might be able to talk to Dai Weisi. With him mediating, I doubt the Star Luo Emperor will bother defending this useless son."
Everyone nodded seriously.
"I'll do it myself!" Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists tightly.
Dai Mubai's earlier threats weighed heavily on her. Only by crippling him and ensuring he lost all chances of inheriting the throne could she live in peace.
They decided to act immediately. Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong headed to the hotel where the Star Luo Empire delegation was staying.
---
At the hotel where Shrek Academy was staying
Seeing Dai Mubai return looking somewhat disheveled, Yu Xiaogang immediately grew displeased. "Another failure?"
Dai Mubai snarled, "That wretched woman Zhu Zhuqing has made up her mind to leave me. No matter how cleverly I spoke, I couldn't sway her!"
He didn't dare mention the conflict with Zhu Zhuqing.
If Yu Xiaogang found out how inept he was at handling matters, Tang San might distance himself from him in the future.
After all, he had relied on Tang San to defeat Dai Weisi in the previous match and wouldn't abandon such a powerful ally.
Before the tournament began, Yu Xiaogang refrained from lecturing him.
Patting Dai Mubai's arm, Yu Xiaogang said, "Forget it, get some rest early. With the five-way martial soul fusion technique, we're not necessarily without a chance. Remember during tomorrow's match, don't be careless and follow Xiao San's commands."
Dai Mubai agreed.
Back in his room, he didn't dare rest, anxiously waiting for Ke Jie to come knocking and demand an explanation.
However, by the middle of the night, no one had come. Only then did the pressure in his heart begin to ease.
...
The two great empires of Tiandou and Star Luo had always been at odds, and now that Star Luo's team had been completely eliminated, the presence of Seven Treasures Academy members in their territory was bound to provoke hostility from Star Luo's participants.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, the guards naturally refused to let them in.
After some negotiation, the guards agreed to relay a message. Whether or not Dai Weisi would see them, however, was not something these guards could decide.
Dai Weisi, who had been conversing with Prince William in his room, felt perplexed upon hearing the guard's report.
"Uncle, why would the people from Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect want to see me?" Dai Weisi asked, puzzled.
After a brief moment of thought, Prince William responded, "Your Highness, it would be wise to meet with them. Although Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is closely tied to the Tiandou Empire, they are constantly seeking to open up the commercial markets of the Star Luo Empire. Gaining the support of Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would solidify your position as crown prince."
Dai Weisi frowned. "Ning Fengzhi is the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and will eventually become the empire's grand master. Would he betray Xue Qinghe to help me?"
Prince William shook his head. "Not necessarily. Merchants chase profit. Only when the borders between the two empires are stable can they earn more. Moreover, power in the Tiandou Empire is highly fragmented. When Xue Qinghe ascends the throne, he will need to consolidate the domestic situation. If war breaks out, given his abilities, he might not be able to rally all factions within the Tiandou Empire to resist external threats. This is where their needs lie."
"When there is a need, negotiations can take place. However, the priority now is to understand the purpose of their visit. With me here, you don't need to worry about the negotiation."
Dai Weisi nodded.
Only Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong had arrived, one of whom would likely become the future sect leader. However, as juniors, whether they could make decisions on behalf of the sect remained to be seen.
After being escorted in by the guards, both sides skipped formalities and got straight to the point.
To Dai Weisi's surprise, Ning Tianchen offered to help him eliminate the threat posed by Dai Mubai, and the exchange condition was simple: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect hoped that Star Luo Empire wouldn't hold them accountable for Dai Mubai's actions.
This matter didn't require consultation with anyone else—Dai Weisi could decide on his own.
With the main issue settled, there was no further rapport between the two parties, and Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong promptly left.
Dai Weisi was baffled. "Are they sending us pillows because we're sleepy?"
Prince William chuckled. "Perhaps they have a grudge against Dai Mubai. If so, why shouldn't we reap the benefits? As for the emperor, unless deliberately reminded, he's probably already forgotten about Dai Mubai, his son. This matter poses no loss to us."
Changing the subject, he continued, "However, one must keep their word. This might be a test from Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. I've heard that Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo have improved significantly, and Ke Jie has recently broken through to Title Douluo. The strength of Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has grown once again. Moreover, their relationship with Poison Douluo remains ambiguous. In the future, they may even possess four Title Douluos."
"Your Highness, cooperating with them is a hundred benefits with no harm."
"Rest assured, I will honor our agreement," Dai Weisi solemnly responded.
---
The next day
The teams from Shrek Academy and Seven Treasures Academy simultaneously entered the arena.
It was worth noting that Jin E Douluo did not appear today.
Before the match, many analyzed the strengths of the two teams. Seven Treasures Academy was estimated to have an 80% chance of victory. On the other hand, though Shrek Academy had reached the finals, their strength was also noteworthy, leaving them with a 20% chance of winning.
Pope Bibi Dong stood high above, overlooking the battlefield below.
As the players from both teams took the field, she announced, "The loser's bracket final will now begin."
"Proceed as planned," Ning Tianchen said, turning slightly.
In this match, Chen Huayu did not participate. Though he desperately wanted to personally punish Dai Mubai, according to Ning Tianchen's strategy, his role would have been minimal. Instead, Oscar took his place.
The dual-assistance lineup could infinitely amplify the aggression of the frontline fighters.
On Shrek Academy's side, Tang San stood in the center, Yu Tianxin and Yu Tianheng positioned in front of him on either side, while Dai Mubai and Tai Long stood behind him, forming an ironclad formation.
However, they did not rush into an attack. All five activated their martial souls, and the four on the periphery transmitted their soul power to Tang San. Gradually, a golden array emerged beneath their feet.
"This is… a five-person martial soul fusion technique?"
The Title Douluos on the high platform couldn't help but feel astonished.
A five-person martial soul fusion technique had never appeared on the continent before—Shrek Academy was undoubtedly the first.
Ning Tianchen realized the gravity of the situation but did not lead a charge to disrupt the enemy's formation.
It wasn't that he didn't want to scatter their formation—it was already complete, and rushing in recklessly might result in being targeted and eliminated.
At this moment, the best response was to change formations and fight a guerrilla-style counterattack.
In the original timeline, Shrek Academy's seven-person martial soul fusion technique was centered around Ning Rongrong and arranged in a straight line.
Ning Tianchen hadn't anticipated that Yu Xiaogang would still figure out a multi-person martial soul fusion technique.
Due to differences in formation, he hadn't recognized it at first glance.
"Spread out. Xiao Ao, Rongrong, prepare to provide amplification."
After speaking, he held his sword upright, standing firm like a pine tree.
What of it if it was a five-person martial soul fusion technique? It wasn't invincible.
---
The martial soul fusion technique gradually formed. The combined sixteen soul rings of Dai Mubai and the others were transferred onto Tang San.
Twenty soul rings appeared on the surface of the Hao Tian Hammer, and its form began to shift.
The hammer turned golden and gradually grew larger.
Using all his strength, Tang San lifted the Hao Tian Hammer above his head. The massive weapon even exceeded the height of the Pope's Palace.
Seeing this, Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo trembled inwardly.
Years ago, they had been gravely injured by Tang Hao's Hao Tian Hammer. The trauma of that experience lingered in their minds.
After a brief moment of panic, their faces turned grim.
The Hao Tian Sect and Spirit Hall were enemies. The appearance of the Hao Tian Hammer martial soul in front of the Pope's Palace was nothing short of a slap in the face!
"Martial Soul True Body… Uncle Sword, what…" Ning Fengzhi was visibly shaken.
Tang San was only at level forty-nine—how could he unleash an Martial Soul True Body, a technique exclusive to Soul Sages?
Dust Heart's sharp perception immediately identified the reason. "Fengzhi, the combined power of five individuals alone isn't enough for Tang San to activate the Martial Soul True Body. It's likely that the two sources of soul power within Tang San erupted simultaneously, breaking through the limitations of the Hao Tian Hammer. The outcome of this match is uncertain."
Beside them, Bibi Dong felt relieved.
If Shrek Academy had saved such a trump card for their match against the Spirit Hall Academy, there was no doubt the Spirit Hall team would have been defeated.
Now, with Seven Treasures Academy being the first to face this challenge, they simply needed to disrupt Shrek Academy's formation in the next match, rendering the martial soul fusion technique useless.
"Sect Leader Ning, it seems the outcome of this match is already decided," Bibi Dong leaned over and chuckled softly.
Ning Fengzhi wanted to retort, but faced with the Martial Soul True Body, Seven Treasures Academy indeed had no way to counter it.
Below the arena, Ke Jie's expression was complex. If only they had insisted on holding the match yesterday!
In contrast, Yu Xiaogang from Shrek Academy had his nose pointed skyward, exuding the arrogance of someone who believed himself the strongest in the world.
The five-person martial soul fusion technique was the crystallization of his wisdom—he had every right to be proud.
Beside him, Liu Erlong didn't forget to send a taunting glance toward Bibi Dong.
On the stage, Feng Xiaotian anxiously asked, "Captain, should we use our ultimate trump card?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head.
Their trump card was ineffective against the Martial Soul True Body—it would be wasted if used.
He turned and signaled a tactical gesture to Ning Rongrong and Oscar.
Though startled by the sight of the Martial Soul True Body, the two quickly steadied their nerves upon seeing Ning Tianchen's signal.
"Nine treasures turn into glazed tiles; nine treasures exist, one named Strength, three named Soul, four named Defense!"
"Fourth soul skill, Full-Power Pink Sausage; third soul skill, Mushroom Sausage of Fantasy."
Multiple sausages were handed out to the others by the Yu Die sisters.
Next, the two stood facing each other, palms pressed together, activating their martial soul fusion technique—the Kaleidoscope Dazzling Butterfly soared into the air.
After consuming Oscar's sausages, the entire Seven Treasures team took to the skies.
Tang San's eyes glowed red, his expression ferocious.
The combined soul power of four Soul Elders concentrated on him, pushing his body to its limits. The twin martial soul's power was also surging. Now, he had to rely on the Martial Soul True Body to quickly end the match to avoid sustaining hidden injuries.
Under his control, the massive Hao Tian Hammer came crashing down toward the airborne Seven Treasures team.
In the air, there was ample space to evade. Everyone scattered, causing his first strike to miss.
The Hao Tian Hammer did not stop, slamming heavily onto the arena. The stage, capable of withstanding attacks from Soul Emperors, shattered instantly.
Tang San truly lived up to his reputation as the top demolition crew of this tournament.
"Butterfly Wing Slash!"
The Kaleidoscope Dazzling Butterfly unleashed a blade of energy.
Even at peak Soul King level, the attack barely made a scratch on the Hao Tian Hammer.
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