At the hotel where the Shrek team was staying—
At the training field, Ma Hongjun and the Dai brothers arrived late.
Tang San's face was gloomy. Seeing them chatting and laughing as they approached, he snapped in anger, "Did you forget we still have training tonight? The semifinals are tomorrow! And you're still…"
Ma Hongjun walked up, face flushed and unsteady on his feet. He spread his hands and said, "So what?"
"Little San, your big bro here is the main DPS. Without my output, could we even have made it this far? You should show me more respect!"
"And who the hell are you? You're not even the team captain. Why are you acting all high and mighty?"
Ma Hongjun curled his lip, clearly unhappy.
He had longstanding grievances with Tang San.
Back when they first met, Xiao Wu and Tang San had ruined one of his flirtatious ventures.
Tang San's face turned red. He saw himself as the team's spiritual core, and now being disrespected by Ma Hongjun struck him right in the heart.
"Bastard!!!"
"Ma Hongjun, do you even know what you're saying? Do you have no sense of teamwork?!"
Tang San grabbed Ma Hongjun by the collar, furious.
Ma Hongjun's head bobbed from the tug, but he lacked the strength to resist and shoved Tang San away weakly, "Don't… don't touch me, damn it…"
The Dai brothers quickly stepped in and separated them.
"Enough! You're all brothers! Is this really necessary?" Dai Mubai said sternly.
"Brothers? Look at him! He's a wreck! No training, always out chasing skirts—what does he think he's doing? Does he even care about this team?" Tang San pointed at Ma Hongjun, furious.
Ma Hongjun snapped back, "Let me ask you—who's the real core of this team? Every time I endure your spirit power infusion, do you know how painful it is? You think being on fire all the time feels good?! You don't even thank me, and now you're acting like this?"
"And don't think I don't know—you're just relying on your crippled dad. You really think you're something? Now that Xiao Wu's gone, you're acting like no one wants you anymore and you've lost your mind?!"
Ma Hongjun's words hit Tang San where it hurt. His face turned beet red, so angry he nearly coughed blood.
"Bastard! I'll kill you—!"
Tang San lunged again, but the Shrek teachers arrived just in time and restrained him.
"Enough! All of you calm down! You've made it to the final four—can't any of you give us a break? You have three days of rest, training can wait."
Flender turned to the Dai brothers and waved them off. "Take Fatty back."
The Dai brothers took Ma Hongjun away, who was still muttering angrily.
Back at their lodging—
Ma Hongjun suddenly chuckled, "That Tang San guy may look ugly, but he's got a nice figure…"
"!!!"
The Dai brothers looked at him in horror.
Although Ma Hongjun had recently started seeking… alternative thrills, even rabbits don't eat the grass near their own burrow!
And besides, the Dai brothers had thoughts of recruiting Tang San—and through him, the Clear Sky Clan—to stand against the Fontaine Empire.
"Fatty, you… you better not do anything crazy…" Dai Mubai said, face darkening as he subtly stepped away from Ma Hongjun.
This fatty was becoming seriously twisted.
Ma Hongjun gave a cold laugh. "So what?"
"When that dog Yu Xiaogang screwed me over, did he show mercy? He knew I was the Evil Fire Phoenix, and he still used that method? He really thought I was some idiot he could fool?"
Suddenly, the lecherous grin vanished from Ma Hongjun's face. He turned cold and serious.
The Dai brothers exchanged glances—they had never seen Ma Hongjun like this. They'd always thought he was just a loud, unruly fatty.
Now he was showing unexpected depth.
Ma Hongjun's face darkened. He clenched his fist and slammed it against the doorframe. "Back then, I acted happy because this was Shrek Academy's first—and last—time in the Soul Master Tournament. I wanted to win first place for our teacher, so he wouldn't have regrets."
"You think I didn't know how damaging that soul fusion technique was for me? It just worsened my Evil Fire, made my life a living hell. But for my teacher, I endured it. So what if it limited my future? I didn't care!"
"But you two saw how Tang San and that dog of a teacher of his act—like they run this whole place. As if Shrek rests solely on their shoulders."
The more he spoke, the angrier Ma Hongjun became—but also more clearheaded.
Originally, Shrek Academy had been Flender's creation, and Dai Mubai was its captain.
But ever since Yu Xiaogang and Tang San arrived, Flender and Dai Mubai became nominal figures. The real core became Yu Xiaogang and his disciple.
Ma Hongjun saw this very clearly. That's why he was so angry.
"…" The Dai brothers looked at Ma Hongjun with new respect.
They never expected this fat guy to be so thoughtful and perceptive.
"Fatty, I promise you, Shrek Academy won't disappear! After the tournament, we'll at least be in the top four—maybe even champions! With results like that, when you return to the Star Luo Empire, we'll give you full support!" Davis said, patting Ma Hongjun on the shoulder.
Dai Mubai also said with emotion, "Didn't think you had it in you, Fatty. Good! Now I finally see you as a real brother!"
Tears welled in Ma Hongjun's eyes. He hugged the Dai brothers tightly. "If you can fulfill our teacher's dream, this fatty will give you his life!"
A sharp glint flashed in Davis' eyes. He said seriously, "Don't worry, Fatty. I'll tell you straight—when the finals arrive, the Star Luo Empire will launch a full offensive. Then we'll return together!"
"Good brother!"
Suddenly, Ma Hongjun's expression shifted. He shyly added, "Actually… I wasn't lying about Tang San. The aura around him really can neutralize my Evil Fire. If I could somehow… 'explode' him once, maybe I'd really be cured…"
"…"
The Dai brothers looked very awkward. Was it really worth offending Tang San over Ma Hongjun…?
In the shadows, a one-legged, one-armed man silently watched Ma Hongjun, his eyes full of murderous intent.
"Bastard…"
Tang Hao said coldly.
Daring to covet his little San? Unforgivable.
Elsewhere—
Huo Wu and her girlfriends were analyzing the Shrek team. The final four were Shrek, Spirit Hall, Blue Tyrant, and Heaven Dou Royal.
The last was the weakest—almost negligible.
"I feel like they're hiding something. That Ma Hongjun is seriously creepy—he looks at me like he's going to eat me alive."
"Zhuqing, Zhuyun—when it's your turn to go up against him, be careful. Don't let him catch you. I seriously think he might do something… unspeakable."
Just remembering Ma Hongjun's stare gave Huo Wu the chills.
"We're not without our trump cards either. Zhuqing still hasn't gone all out. The ace that Mister Dan Heng gave her—she's never even used it yet, has she?"
Zhu Zhuyun smiled, her tone tinged with jealousy.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. Against true power, there was no need to fear dark tricks.
"Anyway, as long as you're prepared…"
Huo Wu sighed, then looked toward Shui Yue'er, who was hugging a dolphin plushie, and asked, "Why haven't you been clinging to Mr. Dan Heng lately?"
Shui Yue'er huffed,"I'm not stupid. Mr. Dan Heng and his wife are enjoying their time together. How could I have the nerve to interrupt?"
As she spoke, her small face buried into the plush toy.
Come to think of it, she was already a twenty-year-old woman. If she kept following Mr. Dan Heng as she got older, it would look bad.
People would talk. She didn't mind for herself—but she didn't want to drag Mr. Dan Heng into gossip.
At the edge of the Divine Realm.
After intense preparation, the gods had finally found a way to accelerate the flow of time in the Douluo plane.
Aside from the Goddess of Life, who hadn't voiced her stance, the other four God Kings, along with the vast majority of gods, all agreed to speed up time in the Douluo world to force out the hidden god-level being.
Only by doing this could they learn who exactly was opposing the Divine Realm!
The God of Destruction gazed into the pitch-black space-time rift, still slowly expanding and even dragging the Divine Realm toward it.
"That bastard wouldn't have imagined the trap he dug for the Divine Realm would come back to bite him! Whether it's the Emerald Dragon King, the Silver Dragon King, or some other entity—they'll all be forced to appear!"
The God of Destruction sneered.
At that moment, the God of Asura arrived at the Divine Realm's edge, piloting a massive war tower that pierced through clouds. It stood a thousand meters tall, a powerful weapon in itself.
When the gods stood in their respective positions, they could channel their power to accelerate the Douluo plane's time flow.
At the critical moment, they could also unleash the Sword of Judgment Across the Three Realms.
Long ago, the Dragon God had been split in two.
Even now, across a space-time rift, the gods possessed weapons capable of dealing fatal damage to a god-king-level being!
This battle—they were determined to win!
The Goddess of Life watched everyone prepare, anxiety growing in her heart.
If Dan Heng was truly forced to appear, or if his wife and child were harmed… would he go mad? Would he retaliate against the Divine Realm?
Right now, Dan Heng was still showing restraint toward the gods.
Even with that restraint, the Divine Realm could hardly deal with him. If he decided to strike directly…
"Sigh…" Just as the Goddess of Life was about to speak and try to delay things—
Suddenly, the God of Fire cried out in alarm:
"Something's wrong! Our god-position inheritors have vanished! Their auras are gone—we can't sense anything at all!"
"I'm the same… There was still a faint connection before, but now it's like they've disappeared into thin air…"
"Same here! Same!"
"..."
Several gods rushed to the five God Kings to report the situation.
The God of Destruction sneered, "Isn't it obvious? The soul beasts must have started taking action! We have to move quickly—if we give them time, even the soul beasts will become gods!"
The Asura God and the others all nodded in agreement.
They boarded the war tower and began final preparations.
The Goddess of Life lagged half a step behind. After some hesitation, she used her connection to the god positions to send a message…
Near Fontaine City.
Just as the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans were on their way to the city, they were ambushed.
Bibi Dong floated in midair, divine might radiating terrifyingly.
She didn't even need to lift a finger—everyone below was already forced to the ground, overwhelmed, and staring up at her in fear.
"Bibi Dong?! Didn't the Spirit Hall say they would no longer pursue old grudges? Why are you still killing us off?!"
"And you call yourself the Pope of Spirit Hall? You go back on your word and strike personally—shameless!"
"Kill us if you want! But don't humiliate us! We'd rather die than submit!"
"..."
The people of the four clans were all incredibly defiant—especially those from the Strength Clan, who even stretched their necks out to provoke Bibi Dong into killing them.
Bibi Dong's face darkened, and her divine power surged, stirring violent storms in the sky.
"Shut up!!!"
"I'm NOT the Pope of Spirit Hall!!!"
Bibi Dong roared in fury.
This was her reverse scale—she was no longer that Pope with a daughter!
Everyone was stunned by her shout.
What… was going on now?
She became a god and still forgot her roots?
Bibi Dong landed on the ground. Ten soul rings shimmered up and down—especially the last one, a purple-gold god ring, which made everyone on-site abandon any thought of resistance.
She walked toward the Agility Clan.
Clan leader Bai He's expression was filled with fear.
"You… What are you trying to do?"
"I need your power," Bibi Dong said.
"..."
Bai He froze.
"If you don't help me—everyone else will die," Bibi Dong said coldly.
The Agility Clan's speed was unmatched on the Douluo Continent—making them ideal scouts, perfect as her "eyes."
Bai He hesitated, looking at his clansmen and the other three clans. He asked: "What do you want us to do? If we help—does that mean no one else will die?"
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod. "Correct. You don't need to know the details. Just follow my instructions…"
"You can't agree to this! Bai He—!" Titan roared.
In the next instant, Bibi Dong's violet divine power surged out like smoke, swallowing everyone.
The scene shifted—the expressions on their faces had all turned blank.
They had already been mentally controlled by Bibi Dong.
"I agree! I agree! The Agility Clan will serve you—but please don't make us…" Bai He cried out anxiously.
Bibi Dong snorted coldly, "You don't get to bargain."
At the Spirit Hall Battle Team's hotel.
Qian Renxue, now the team's official representative, had shed her identity as Xue Qinghe and appeared as the Spirit Hall's heir.
Thanks to Hu Liena's intentional friendliness, the two women got along decently.
"…I wonder where Teacher is? Why hasn't she returned yet?" Hu Liena sighed, staring worriedly out the window.
Qian Renxue replied coldly, "That's not something you should worry about. The Pope… is my responsibility to find. You all should focus on winning."
Though she spoke like that, a trace of resentment slipped into Qian Renxue's tone.
Her own mother was blinded by love, unwilling to face reality—and the man she loved was also the one her daughter had feelings for.
Qian Renxue was absolutely furious.
Hu Liena glanced at Qian Renxue cautiously, sensing her sour mood, and chose not to speak her thoughts.
In her heart, she was convinced:The Spirit Hall battle team couldn't possibly defeat the Lan Ba team…
(End of chapter.)