"Damn it! Is the gap between a Soul Elder and a Soul King really that big?"
Tang San clenched his fists, frustrated. Despite his strength, no one—neither opponents nor spectators—saw him as the core or strongest member of the Shrek team.
In their eyes, there was only Dai Mubai, the "ordinary" five-ring Soul King.
This realization filled Tang San with indignation.
What a tragedy!
Do they not see the Clear Sky Hammer in my hands? The world's number one tool martial soul?
"Hmph! You'll all witness my power one day," Tang San muttered through gritted teeth.
"That day is not far off!"
Tang San had considered challenging Dai Mubai to prove himself, but Dai Mubai had defused such thoughts by openly admitting that he wasn't as strong as Tang San.
This left Tang San without an opportunity to issue a formal challenge.
What Tang San didn't realize was that, while he took Dai Mubai's words seriously, the rest of the team saw them as a joke.
After all, Dai Mubai's strength was no secret. Even as a Soul Elder, he had single-handedly defeated the entirety of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's Royal Battle Team.
Could Tang San have done the same? Most likely not.
Dai Mubai's statement was seen by everyone else as giving Tang San a polite face. But Tang San, naturally, believed it wholeheartedly.
The Seven Shura Illusion Domain was a unique Spirit Technique Fusion Skill. While it didn't cause physical harm, it targeted the opponent's mental strength. Those with weak mental fortitude stood no chance of surviving.
If the seven Canghui members had been stronger—Soul Saints or higher—they might have used this skill to temporarily rival a Titled Douluo.
Inside the glowing domain, Tang San narrowed his eyes.
As a practitioner of Purple Demon Eye, Tang San's mental strength far surpassed that of most spirit masters his age.
Moreover, his absorption of four thousand-year spirit rings and a head spirit bone had further enhanced his mental abilities, even if the head spirit bone's boost was relatively minor.
At this moment, Tang San's mental strength was comparable to that of a peak Soul King.
Using Purple Demon Eye's heightened perception, he could clearly discern the positions of the Canghui team members.
Their smug laughter rang out, mocking him as if he were some kind of monkey—or worse, a clown.
"So, this skill specifically targets mental strength?"
Tang San's lips curled into a faint smile, a fleeting glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
From the age of three, I've trained in Purple Demon Eye. I've endured hunger, sipped dew, and persevered through the harshest conditions. My mastery has reached the pinnacle—Kezi Realm.
Purple Demon Eye's realms were: Survey, Insight, Kezi.
The Kezi Realm, which Tang San had reached, was a level no one in the Tang Sect had ever achieved in his previous life.
Although Tang San hadn't ventured to the Icefire Yin Yang Well to obtain the mystical Dew of Clarity, his head spirit bone and spirit rings had provided enough stimulation to push him into the Kezi Realm naturally.
The Canghui members soon noticed that something was amiss.
Tang San didn't behave like someone trapped in an illusion.
"He's resisting! Increase the output!" their captain roared.
The seven immediately poured more spirit power into the technique, causing the multi-colored glow to intensify further.
Above the arena, Dou Dou and Dai Mubai continued their conversation.
"Dai Mubai, do you think Tang San can withstand the Seven Shura Illusion Domain?"
"I do. I trust Tang San's strength completely," Dai Mubai replied with confidence.
Before Dou Dou could respond, the glowing domain below flared even brighter.
"See? Even the previous level of the technique couldn't affect Tang San. The Canghui team must be panicking now."
"Won't this put Tang San in danger?"
"Hmph, against Canghui? No chance. Unless they increase the output again—"
As Dai Mubai spoke, the domain's intensity surged.
Everyone: "…"
Dai Mubai, you jinxed it!
The audience's exasperated murmurs didn't escape Dou Dou's notice. She cast a suspicious glance at Dai Mubai, who seemed entirely unfazed.
Is he deliberately setting Tang San up?
But as the host, she couldn't openly voice such suspicions. Some things were better left unsaid.
Half a cup of tea's time later, the vibrant glow of the Seven Shura Illusion Domain suddenly dissipated.
The crowd eagerly turned their eyes to the stage.
Seven members of Canghui Academy swayed like leaves in the wind, ready to collapse at any moment.
Meanwhile, not far in front of Tang San lay a patch of blood. Blood also trickled from the corners of his mouth.
Swaying briefly, Tang San's eyes rolled back, and he fell backward with a heavy thud.
"Ha ha ha! In the end, we won!"
"Tang San, you're nothing special!"
The Canghui captain's triumphant smirk betrayed his exhaustion. He and his teammates fell to the ground moments later, utterly spent.
"???"
Dai Mubai stared at the scene, baffled.
Wait, what kind of plot twist is this?
Shouldn't the Canghui team members have been reduced to mindless fools by now? Instead, they appeared merely drained.
What Dai Mubai didn't know was that Tang San hadn't yet mastered Purple Divine Light. Instead of counterattacking, he had been forced into a mental tug-of-war with the Canghui members.
Although Tang San's mental strength was formidable, he was up against seven specialized spirit masters. Their synchronized assault had pushed him to the brink.
Ultimately, the Canghui members collapsed due to spirit power exhaustion and backlash from overexerting their mental strength.
"Did he lose?"
"That Tang San is something else. Even against a Seven-in-One Spirit Technique Fusion Skill, he managed to fight to a draw."
"I didn't think there'd be someone this strong in Shrek Academy aside from Dai Mubai."
The audience's murmurs of awe filled the air.
In the end, Tang San had been preparing to strike at their physical bodies when the Canghui members suddenly increased their output.
Their desperation to defeat Tang San had left him no choice but to defend, and the prolonged standoff had drained both sides completely.
"Truly terrifying," Dou Dou muttered into her microphone.
"A single man, against seven. Although he fell first, who can deny Tang San's strength? He endured the Seven Shura Illusion Domain!"
"I always thought Boss Dai was just giving Tang San face," Ma Hongjun said quietly, his mouth slightly agape.
"But Tang San… really is something else."
(End of Chapter)