In the dimly lit room, a battle of wills was taking place. However, this battle was not between two Spirit Masters, but between a man's pride and his primal biological needs.
Yu Xiaogang sat on his bed, staring at the bowl of food that Tang San had placed before him. The aroma of the roasted meat and steamed vegetables wafted up, assaulting his senses. His stomach let out a loud, treacherous growl, betraying the indifferent facade he tried to maintain.
He clearly could not save face after his earlier outburst at Flender, but his body had reached its limit. His hands trembled slightly, not just from his injuries, but from the weakness caused by starvation.
Ultimately, physiology triumphed over psychology. The survival instinct was far stronger than the fragile ego of a disgraced Grandmaster.
Yu Xiaogang finally succumbed to the food Flender had brought back. When Tang San held the large bowl out to him again, Yu Xiaogang only feigned refusal twice—a weak, performative gesture—before he couldn't resist any longer. He snatched the bowl and began to eat.
He did not eat with grace. He wolfed down the food, chewing rapidly and swallowing large mouthfuls as if he hadn't seen a meal in days. Grease stained his lips, but he didn't care.
Despite this surrender, Yu Xiaogang had already constructed a mental fortification to protect his ego. As he chewed, he told himself that this was not an act of accepting charity. No, this was a strategic decision. Only by eating well and maintaining his physical health could he continue to train Tang San effectively. He wasn't accepting a favor; he was critically utilizing the resources provided by Flender for the greater good of his disciple's future.
In his mind, he wasn't eating Flender's food; he was merely refueling the machine that would create a god.
Seven days passed quickly in a blur of recovery and preparation.
Since that night, Flender had never brought food to Yu Xiaogang and Tang San again. The relationship had truly turned cold. Fortunately for the master and disciple, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was an institution of immense wealth and resources. The ordinary meals in the academy's cafeteria were provided free of charge to students and staff. This policy was the only reason Tang San and Yu Xiaogang had not starved to death during the week.
Finally, the day arrived. It was the day set for the sparring match between the Shrek Team and the Royal Fight Team.
Although Tang San was currently a substitute due to the new team shuffling rules, he was still considered a core member of the Shrek Team. Therefore, after getting Yu Xiaogang's permission, he went to the arena with the others.
When the group arrived at the venue, they were momentarily stunned. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy's dueling arena was magnificent. It was a colossal structure, comparable in size and grandeur to some of the official Great Spirit Arenas found in major cities. The stone work was polished, and the magical lighting made the stage shine brilliantly.
At this moment, all fifteen participants—eight members of the Shrek Team and seven members of the Royal Fight Team—had gathered at the center of the arena.
The spectators' stands were already packed. Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the organizer, Qin Ming, stood on a viewing platform, watching the scene below. Surrounding them were hundreds of students from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
News of the match had spread like wildfire three days ago. Students had skipped their classes and training sessions just to witness this event. They had heard rumors that the members of the Shrek Team were powerful "monsters," but few had seen them fight with their own eyes.
On the other hand, the Royal Fight Team was the pride of the academy. Most students had witnessed Yu Tianheng and his team dominate opponents countless times. Therefore, a considerable number of the audience members were skeptical. They looked down at the Shrek team with critical eyes. They wanted to see if this ragtag group of commoners, who were not nobles, deserved the special treatment they were receiving.
Today was not just a sparring match; it was a trial by public opinion.
Qin Ming stepped forward to finalize the proceedings. There were a total of fifteen people from both teams. The rules for the draw were specific.
First, the Support System Spirit Masters were excluded from the one-on-one combat draw. This removed one member from the Royal Fight Team and two from the Shrek Team (Oscar and Ning Rongrong).
That left twelve combat Spirit Masters.
However, fairness was the priority. The opponents for the one-on-one battles had to be at the same level of Spirit Power.
Currently, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan from the Royal Fight Team had already reached Level 40, becoming Spirit Ancestors. On the Shrek Team's side, only Huo Feng and Dai Mubai had reached the same height.
Therefore, these four powerful Spirit Ancestors did not need to draw lots. They were naturally paired against each other for two high-level matches later in the day.
This left exactly ten participants: Spirit Elders with Spirit Power between Level 30 and Level 39. They would be the ones drawing lots.
After briefly explaining the rules to the audience and the participants, Qin Ming held up the lottery box and began the first round.
"The first one-on-one battle!" Qin Ming announced, his voice amplified by Spirit Power.
He pulled a slip of paper from the box.
"From the Royal Fight Team... Shi Mo!"
He reached in again.
"Against the Shrek Team's... Tang San!"
A buzz went through the crowd.
"Both parties, please ascend the dueling platform!"
Hearing the result, Shi Mo, the burly defensive Spirit Master from the Royal Fight Team, stepped forward. He ascended the dueling platform without hesitation, his heavy steps thudding against the stone floor. He looked calm and imposing.
Tang San, however, did not move immediately. He stood frozen below the stage, looking dazed. He clearly hadn't reacted to his name being called. He was mentally unprepared, not expecting to be the very first person selected.
"Tang San?" Qin Ming called out again, looking down.
Jolted back to reality, Tang San finally walked up the stairs onto the dueling platform. He looked somewhat bewildered, his mind racing to recall Shi Mo's abilities from their last encounter.
As soon as the referee signaled the start, the atmosphere on the stage changed instantly.
"Buzz—!"
Shi Mo let out a low, resonant roar. He wasted no time. Intense Spirit Power surged from his body as he released his Spirit.
Two yellow and one purple Spirit Rings rose from his feet, coiling around his body from bottom to top. As the rings appeared, his body underwent a drastic transformation.
Shi Mo was a possessor of the Black Tortoise Spirit, a top-tier defensive beast spirit. His muscles swelled, becoming as solid as granite. He threw off his upper garment, revealing a physique that drew gasps and admiring gazes from the students in the stands.
As the transformation completed, his shoulders pushed forward and his back arched. Earthy yellow light condensed rapidly, forming a massive, dark yellow turtle shell on his back. Complex light yellow patterns traced across the shell, glowing with energy.
His skeletal structure shifted to accommodate the armor. A plastron—a chest shell—also appeared, encasing his torso completely. His limbs shortened slightly, becoming thicker and more powerful. In the center of his chest armor, a huge, mysterious symbol glowed.
He stood like an impenetrable fortress.
Tang San took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't hold back against such a defense.
"Buzz—!"
Tang San quickly released his Spirit.
Blue Silver Grass surged out from his right palm. From beneath his feet, three Spirit Rings slowly rose.
One white. One yellow. One purple.
The moment the first ring—the white, ten-year Spirit Ring—appeared, the audience erupted. Sneers and laughter echoed from the surrounding stands.
"Look at that!" one student shouted.
"Is this the genius from Shrek Academy? A ten-year Spirit Ring?"
"They can't even achieve the optimal Spirit Ring configuration? That's hilarious!"
The mockery was loud and cutting. To the noble students of Heaven Dou, a white first ring was a sign of incompetence or waste. They waited to see if this so-called genius could make flowers bloom from his "trash" Blue Silver Grass.
Tang San ignored the noise. He focused entirely on his opponent.
"Blue Silver Entanglement!"
To seize the initiative, Tang San chose to attack immediately.
Thick strands of Blue Silver Grass surged across the stage like snakes, rushing towards Shi Mo.
The defensive master didn't even flinch. He let out a low growl, and his second Spirit Ring—the yellow hundred-year ring—suddenly lit up.
At the same time, a circle of yellow light illuminated the edges of the turtle shells on his chest and back.
"Shield Transformation!"
The next moment, a bizarre scene unfolded. The turtle shells on Shi Mo's chest and back detached from his body. They floated into his hands, transforming into two massive turtle shell shields, each one meter in diameter.
Having lost the heavy shells, Shi Mo's physique changed again. He was no longer the hunched, bulky figure. He became slender and taller, yet he held the two massive shields with ease. It was as if the shells were formed from his very bones and vital essence.
The students in the stands cheered in admiration. This was a high-level manipulation of a Beast Spirit. This was true strength.
Looking at the Blue Silver Grass rushing toward him, Shi Mo casually waved his hand. The sharp edge of the shield sliced through the air, severing the vines instantly.
However, Tang San was cunning. Two strands of Blue Silver Grass had moved low to the ground, bypassing the shield and successfully coiling around Shi Mo's legs.
Shi Mo exerted force, and with a snap, the vines shattered. But it was too late. Tang San had achieved his goal.
Tang San sniffed. "That was enough contact."
"Parasite!"
His Second Spirit Ability was activated.
Suddenly, dozens of Blue Silver Grass vines erupted directly from Shi Mo's body. The seeds Tang San had planted during the brief contact grew instantly, wrapping Shi Mo tightly in a cocoon of vines within two breaths.
"Buzz—!"
Tang San didn't stop there. He knew the Black Tortoise was strong. The third Spirit Ring under his feet—the purple thousand-year ring—lit up brightly.
"Spider Web Restraint!"
Tang San launched a ball of light that expanded into a massive, sticky spider web. It crashed down on Shi Mo, binding him completely. The combination of the Parasite bind and the Spider Web seemed inescapable. Shi Mo was immobilized, turned into a green dumpling of vines and webs.
Tang San allowed himself a moment of relief. He had controlled the opponent.
"Swish—!"
Just as Tang San was feeling a flicker of smugness, a sharp, whistling sound pierced the air.
Inside the restraint, Shi Mo was not panicking. The two massive turtle shell shields in his hands began to rotate violently. They spun like buzzsaws.
The sheer, unparalleled momentum of the spinning shells created a terrifying wind pressure. Most remarkably, a tether of yellow Spirit Power connected the back of each shield to Shi Mo's hands, allowing him to control them like yo-yos.
Riiip!
The sharp, spinning edges of the turtle shell shields sliced through the Spider Web Restraint and the Blue Silver Grass instantly. The tough vines, which were supposed to be immune to most cutting attacks, were shredded like paper against the high-speed rotation.
Then, with a breathtaking shriek, the spinning shields flew out from the remains of the web. They curved through the air, aiming directly for Tang San's neck.
Tang San's expression changed drastically. His eyes widened, and he was greatly alarmed. He had underestimated the offensive capability of a defensive Spirit Master!
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