The match began.
The seven members of the Elephant Armor team formed an impenetrable wall, gradually compressing the Shrek team's space to maneuver.
After several attempts, Dai Mubai returned to the group empty-handed. "Xiao San, I can't break through their defense."
The Elephant Armor team's meat shield tactic was nothing new.
But without a powerful offensive martial soul, it was difficult to deal any substantial damage to them, let alone break their formation.
Tang San's right hand moved toward his waist but quickly retracted.
In the Soul Masters Tournament, weapons other than martial souls were prohibited. Even though hidden weapons might resolve the current crisis, they couldn't be used on the battlefield.
The toughness of Blue Silver Grass was negligible in front of these burly men of the Elephant Armor team.
Tang San felt a growing sense of urgency.
If this continued, before they could even act, the Elephant Armor team would push them off the stage.
"Xiao San, what should we do?" Dai Mubai asked anxiously.
Less than a minute had passed since the start of the match.
In such a short time, Tang San hadn't come up with a good idea. "Everyone, hold on for now and maintain our survival space. Let me think of a solution."
On the high platform, watching the match fall into the Elephant Armor team's rhythm, Huyan Zhen couldn't help but sneer. "Once you're in Ah Li's hands, you're like turtles in a jar—you won't escape."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Gu Rong, who shook his head.
The seven members of the Elephant Armor team were all tall and muscular, broad-shouldered and stout.
With their meat shield tactic, the seven acted as one, cooperating seamlessly, greatly reducing their soul power consumption.
If the Shrek team didn't change their tactics soon and kept blindly charging, they would inevitably lose.
Gu Rong transmitted a voice message: "With Tianchen's attack power, breaking through the meat shield would be easy. As for the Shrek Academy… they're still lacking."
He could see that as long as the Elephant Armor team's formation remained intact, Dai Mubai's tiger claws would never penetrate their defense.
"If the Shrek team could use the same tactics they employed in the opening match, the Elephant Armor team might be in trouble. But alas, there are no 'ifs' in reality," Salas remarked indifferently.
Bombarding the Elephant Armor team with high-level soul skills from all members could indeed break their shield.
But opportunities were fleeting—the Elephant Armor team wouldn't give them a chance to charge simultaneously.
---
Inside the Seven Treasures team's rest area, Chen Huayu rubbed his hands together as he looked at the 1,200 golden soul coins on the table. "Teacher Sun, Boss, Miss Rongrong, it seems you're going to lose."
Ning Tianchen wasn't concerned about the hundred golden soul coins. He said, "If the Elephant Armor team wins, I'll accept the loss. But don't speak too soon—the match isn't over yet."
The Shrek team wasn't so easy to defeat.
Xiao Wu was on the field in this match, and given her fighting style, getting injured was almost inevitable.
"Tianchen is right. Before the match is officially decided, anything can happen," Ke Jie said approvingly.
As for why he bet on the Elephant Armor team, it was purely random.
---
The Shrek team's resistance was proving ineffective. The Elephant Armor team gradually pushed them to the edge of the stage.
Seeing that they were about to be eliminated, Tang San finally came up with a plan.
"Mubai, I'll restrain them while you find a way to jump behind them!" Tang San shouted loudly.
"Fourth soul skill, Blue Silver Prison Cage."
Blue Silver Grass rapidly grew beneath the feet of the Elephant Armor team members, forming cages that trapped them.
At the same time, a strand of Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Dai Mubai, preparing to use Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragons to throw him behind the Elephant Armor team.
Xiao Wu seemed impatient and charged forward. "Third Brother, leave it to me."
"Third soul skill, Instant Shift."
Her body vanished from its original position, leaving behind pink soul power ripples in the air. In the next moment, she appeared behind the Elephant Armor team.
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Wu's lips. "First soul skill, Waist Bow."
If she could knock down just one member of the Elephant Armor team, their meat shield formation would crumble instantly.
At that point, it would be the Shrek team's chance to counterattack.
Tang San didn't hesitate and immediately ordered, "Boss Dai, prepare to support Xiao Wu. Once we break through, we can strike back."
Dai Mubai readied himself, waiting for Xiao Wu's attack to land.
Xiao Wu unleashed her full strength, aiming to send Hu Yan Li flying into the air.
She kicked fiercely at his lower body with her right foot.
However, she seemed to underestimate the Elephant Armor team.
The meat shield formation wasn't static—Huyan Li immediately pulled back, and his teammates tightened their ranks.
Seeing Xiao Wu charging in, he reached out and grabbed her ankle.
"What tremendous strength."
Realizing the danger, Xiao Wu tried to break free, but Huyan Li didn't give her a chance.
Grabbing her by one leg, he slammed her violently onto the ground.
Xiao Wu's face collided with the ground, leaving her dazed. She didn't even have time to activate her Invincible Golden Body.
"Little rabbit, did you really think our formation could only defend one side?"
Seeing Xiao Wu lose consciousness, Huyan Li casually tossed her aside and spat on her.
In the audience, Yu Tianheng suddenly stood up and shouted, "Uncle Xiaogang, forfeit quickly! Xiao Wu needs immediate treatment."
"Damn Elephant Armor team, you're courting death!" An enraged Liu Erlong looked ready to storm the stage.
"Erlong, calm down," Flender blocked her path.
Yu Xiaogang, however, remained composed in the face of crisis and sighed, "No need—they're the ones who will suffer."
Though reluctant to admit it, after Xiao Wu was injured, Tang San's combat power could indeed skyrocket several times over.
---
On the stage, Tang San's face twisted in rage, veins bulging on his forehead as his breathing grew heavier. "Anyone who hurt Xiao Wu… I won't spare a single one of them."
In his heart, every member of the Elephant Armor team was already marked for death.
Huyan Li didn't realize the gravity of the situation and mocked, "Once you step onto the stage, anyone must be prepared to get hurt. Hmph, if we were weak and lost to you, we wouldn't say such things."
Below the stage, Yu Tianheng swallowed hard.
Back then, the Imperial Team had suffered Tang San's wrath after injuring Xiao Wu.
The memory of those rain-like bursts of hidden weapons still sent chills down his spine.
"This is bad! Uncle Xiaogang, if Tang San uses hidden weapons, we're in trouble!" Yu Tianheng exclaimed anxiously.
Breaking the tournament rules could result in disqualification for this match at best—and at worst, the academy might be expelled from the competition entirely.
Yu Xiaogang was equally tense, but in Tang San's current state, there was no stopping him.
---
The stage wasn't soundproof, and Tang San's words were heard clearly by the audience, sparking widespread discussion.
"Is this Tang San insane? If he didn't want his sister to get hurt, why did he let her fight in the first place?"
"Exactly. After his sister gets injured, acting so outraged—what's he trying to prove? Who's he putting on a show for?"
"He's such a schemer. Probably, after saying all that, the girl will be completely devoted to him after the match."
Even Ning Rongrong couldn't help but comment, "Doesn't the Shrek Academy have a single normal person?"
First, there was the lecherous Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, and now this "sister-protecting maniac" Tang San—it was one bizarre character after another.
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