But did you think this was the full extent of Xiao Tianyang's plan?
No—the true core was yet to come!
Tang San didn't even spare a glance at the soul master charging toward him. The opponent posed no threat.
Instead, he shifted his focus from controlling the Blue Silver Grass and instead wrapped it around his own teammates!
This move left not only the audience on the field but even those off it utterly baffled.
'What kind of strategy is this?'
Huo Wu couldn't help but question inwardly before grumbling to herself: "Shrek Academy really has raised a bunch of oddballs!"
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Tang San's actions became clear.
The vines coiled around Oscar and the others had already woven themselves into a set of rattan armor—Flame-resistant armor!
"So that's his plan!" Huo Wu cursed Tang San under her breath once more.
"Everyone, prepare for the third battle plan!" she commanded coldly, her body erupting in radiant light.
Cupping her hands before her chest, she raised them high, gathering a sphere of white light that swelled larger and larger—Like a miniature sun!
"Fourth Soul Skill: Blazing Sun!"
Xiao Tianyang, watching from below, couldn't resist a low whistle. "This girl's temper is something else. At this rate, she's going for mutual destruction!"
"What do we do?" Xiao Wu's face twisted with anxiety. "Should we just forfeit? This match isn't worth risking—"
"You think Xiao San would agree to that now?" Xiao Tianyang rolled his eyes and flicked her forehead. "Use that little head of yours. Just because she's going all out doesn't mean she'll succeed."
"Huh?!"
Xiao Wu pouted, glaring at him. "You didn't explain that earlier!"
"You didn't ask!" he shot back.
Xiao Wu: "..."
Arguing with him was, she realized, the dumbest thing she could do.
Had she ever won one of their childhood squabbles?
Resigned, she huffed and turned her attention back to the arena.
"That soul power… It must be Huo Wu's fourth soul skill," Saber murmured, frowning. "How do you think Tang San will counter it?"
"There is no counter. They'll have to endure it head-on."
Xiao Tianyang's expression turned grave. "If this were before Huo Wu's martial soul evolved, Xiao San might've stood a chance. But now? No way."
"Then why are you so calm?!" Xiao Wu whipped her head back around, panic resurfacing.
"Relax. If things go south, I'll step in—assuming there's time." He patted her shoulder, his tone easing. "Though it's funny… You're usually so sharp, but the moment it's about him, your brain shuts off."
"Shut up!" Xiao Wu's cheeks burned crimson.
"Besides, you've seen my healing abilities. Why the fuss?" His smirk carried a hint of mischief, as if nudging at something unspoken.
Xiao Wu's face, already flushed, turned scarlet. She buried it in her hands, too flustered to retort.
…
On the Arena
The match was far less relaxed than the sidelines.
By now, Dai Mubai had already overpowered his opponent and was locked in a fierce clash with Huo Wushuang—holding the upper hand.
Tang San, meanwhile, had taken down another power-type fighter and an agility-type Flame Crane.
Not to be outdone, Tai Long seized an opening to drag an enemy speedster off the stage with him in a mutual takedown.
Yet underestimating Tai Long would be a mistake.
His path was one of sheer, overwhelming force.
To catch a speedster—despite the gap in agility—and force a double elimination?
That spoke volumes.
Had he been greedier, attempting to defeat the opponent outright, it would've been pure folly.
As the saying goes: Every trade has its master.
Speed was their specialty; brute strength was his.
Merely grazing the opponent's sleeve would've been impressive.
But Tai Long went further—sacrificing himself to take the enemy down.
Given the current state, Tang San's side held the advantage.
Their initial weakness—numbers—had been reversed.
The enemy had one injured and two eliminated, leaving only two combatants (one wounded) against Shrek's team.
But none of this mattered.
Huo Wu hadn't intervened earlier for a reason—she'd been charging her ultimate strike.
Her teammates' sacrifices? It was all calculated.
The moment she ordered their assault, she'd already written them off.
Their only role was to buy time.
Success was a bonus; failure was acceptable.
"Tang San!" Huo Wu's voice rang out, clear as a phoenix's cry. "If you survive this, we concede!"
Her silver eyes blazed, the phantom of her martial soul mirroring her stance—hands cradling the blazing sun above her.
Dai Mubai and Huo Wushuang broke apart, retreating to their respective sides.
"Little San," Dai Mubai muttered, eyeing the gathering inferno, "this looks bad."
"Only two options now," Tang San said grimly. "Surrender… or endure."
"Then we endure!" Dai Mubai barked. "Wrap all your Blue Silver Grass around me. I'll take the hit!"
"No. I will."
Tang San cut him off. "My physique is stronger, and with the Eight Spider Lances, I'm the better choice—even if you're the assault-type."
Dai Mubai hesitated, then sighed. "You sure? If the referee can't intervene in time—"
He wasn't reckless.
Huo Wu's attack, while fearsome, shouldn't be lethal—not at her level.
But Tang San?
His Blue Silver Grass, no matter how enhanced, had limits.
Reality wasn't kind.
And sometimes, raw power trumped strategy.
…
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