"Yes, Young Master!"
Old Snake was exhilarated. The Young Master indeed had grand ambitions.
In the past, the Young Master had spoken of elevating the Dugu Family to the ranks of the Upper Three Sects. Now, that vision was being realized step by step.
Among the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect boasted an endless stream of Titled Douluo, their peak-tier combat strength at its zenith. The Dugu Family's current power was still no match for them.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had two Titled Experts—the Sword and Bone Douluo—and the Young Master was also on close terms with their little princess, making them a potential ally.
Only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family remained. Though they commanded the Four Elements Academy, which gathered the most prodigies in the Heaven Dou Empire, and possessed the world's number one Beast Martial Soul, their decline was evident. No new powerhouses had emerged among them. This was the opportunity the heavens had handed to the Dugu Family to seize their place.
"Ally with Seven Treasures, eye the Clear Sky Sect in secret. Once the world shifts, strike with thunderous force—and the Upper Three Sects shall be ours!"
Dugu Feng's voice was low and measured.
Old Snake and Dugu Feng exchanged a glance, both filled with profound meaning.
Next, Dugu Feng left the affairs of the Five Element Alliance to Old Snake and turned his attention back to the tournament.
In the seventh round, Gem Academy finally faced Shrek Academy.
This battle was the highlight of the round. Shrek Academy had achieved an impressive record of five wins and one loss in six matches, placing them among the stronger teams out of the twenty-eight competing. Unfortunately, they were now up against Gem Academy.
Another loss was inevitable.
The Soul Duel was arranged on the central main stage.
Gem Academy, exercising caution, fielded Little Snake.
Shrek Academy's team consisted of their five monsters, supplemented by Tai Long and Huang Yuan—their strongest lineup.
Upon stepping onto the stage, their brows furrowed. The opposing side hadn't even sent out Ning Rongrong.
"Even if we know each other, this is just too disrespectful!" Dai Mubai was displeased.
"Exactly! We're a Gold Soul Duel Team, and we've already won five matches!" Ma Hongjun boasted proudly.
Their sole loss had been to Divine Wind Academy.
Divine Wind Academy had completely overwhelmed them, with their entire team capable of flight. Shrek Academy had held out for a while before succumbing to defeat.
"No, they're already taking us seriously. Don't you see it?"
Tang San's gaze locked onto Little Snake, who stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes cold and serpentine, as if ready to strike at any moment.
Tang San's heart sank. Though their teachers had emphasized that this tournament was primarily for training, how could they not harbor some hope?
Especially after securing five victories, their confidence had grown.
They had initially hoped their opponents would underestimate them, but it was clear Gem Academy was being cautious.
The others also grew wary, trusting Tang San's instincts.
"Competitors, release your Martial Souls!"
The referee's voice rang out, and in an instant, the central stage blazed with light.
Brilliant Spirit Rings illuminated the arena.
In terms of Spirit Rings, Gem Academy held an overwhelming advantage.
They had a staggering four Soul Ancestors—Little Snake, Du Gu Mo, Zhang Jingyang, and Dong Heguang.
A team of four Soul Ancestors leading three Soul Experts.
This already placed them among the teams with the highest number of Soul Ancestors out of the twenty-eight competing.
Not to mention, they were still concealing their true strength.
In a team battle, overall power was everything. At this moment, Gem Academy's dazzling brilliance loomed over their opponents like an insurmountable wall.
Tai Long and Dai Mubai activated their Martial Soul Avatars—one transforming into the Evil Eye White Tiger, the other into Vigor Kong.
They stepped forward to the front lines, bracing themselves against the pressure.
But faced with the oppressive force of four Soul Ancestors' Spirit Rings, their faces flushed red with exertion.
The Gem Battle Team hadn't even attacked yet, yet they were already forced to channel all their Soul Power just to resist.
"Attack! Don't let them build momentum any longer!"
Tang San shouted.
Zhu Zhuqing and Huang Yuan—one as the Netherworld Cat, the other as a Lone Wolf—swiftly launched their assault from the left and right flanks.
Ma Hongjun, standing beside Dai Mubai, unleashed his Phoenix Fire Line.
The battle had begun.
But in the next instant, a series of bright yellow light pillars flashed across the entire arena, covering a vast area.
Zhang Jingyang had activated his Soul Skill—Illusion Control.
As the Control System Soul Master of Gem Academy, his specialty was, of course, manipulating illusions.
The entire arena was plunged into a fabricated environment, and all seven members of the Shrek Academy Team vanished from sight.
Everyone except Tang San temporarily lost their vision.
"Three seconds—attack!"
Zhang Jingyang roared, issuing the command.
Since he was the only one casting Illusion Control, the skill's duration lasted only three seconds.
Moreover, the simulated environment wasn't entirely realistic.
Among the Shrek Academy Team, only Dai Mubai, as a Soul Ancestor, could vaguely sense the approaching enemies.
Tang San, with his Purple Demon Eyes, could still clearly perceive the battlefield.
The other five, however, were completely ensnared.
Huang Yuan, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long had all lost their sight.
"So he relies on illusion control!"
Tang San, being a Control System Soul Master himself, reacted swiftly. Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and the others were still tethered to him by his Blue Silver Grass.
Without hesitation, Tang San channeled his Soul Power, instantly tightening the vines and yanking Dai Mubai, Tai Long, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing backward.
But as fast as he was, someone was even faster.
"Just as expected! Before stepping onto the stage, I was skeptical—but now I believe it. The Young Master said Tang San is immune to illusions, and it's true!"
The other six members of the Gem Battle Team tensed.
Before the match, they had received instructions from Dugu Feng.
With such seamless coordination with Zhang Jingyang, how could they miss this opportunity?
They struck almost simultaneously with Zhang Jingyang.
As the Shrek Academy Team retreated, Little Snake's Azure Phosphorous Finger Force, Du Gu Mo's spider webs, and the attacks from the other Soul Masters all rained down.
In an instant, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun—still trapped in the illusion and unable to sense their surroundings—were struck by the Azure Phosphorous Finger Force.
Though Dai Mubai could vaguely perceive the attacks, his range was limited. Under concentrated assault, his White Tiger Vajra Transformation shuddered violently under the barrage of Azure Phosphorous Finger Force. After three hits, the poison had already seeped in, leaving his face deathly pale.
Three seconds later.
"Mental Paralysis!"
Zhang Jingyang unleashed another mental assault.
The Shrek Academy Team had no time to react.
Tang San remained lucid, but his clarity alone was useless.
He lacked any powerful offensive means.
And the enemy's Azure Phosphorous Finger Force was too vicious.
Once poisoned, his teammates' lives would be in danger. Under the relentless mental bombardment from the three opposing Soul Ancestors, they didn't even have a chance to consume Oscar's detoxifying sausage.
Suddenly—bang! bang! bang! bang!
The Blue Silver Grass Tang San had wrapped around his teammates was severed by the enemy's diminutive figure.
Cut apart by the Azure Phosphorous Finger Force.
Tang San was shocked. There was no way he could save the others like this.
"We surrender! We surrender!"
Tang San shouted loudly.
It was too overwhelming. Continuing the fight was completely unnecessary.
His side didn't even have a chance to make a move.
He could see that the opponents could be considered as two control-type Soul Masters, with that short figure also controlling the battlefield.
The gap was simply too large.
(End of Chapter)