During the fifth match of the Spirit Master Tournament, the Shrek team finally faced a formidable opponent: the Elephant Armor Academy.
Both Yu Xiaogang and Tang San took this match very seriously. Yu Xiaogang even suggested forfeiting the battle, believing the enemy to be even stronger than expected.
However, Tang San, being stubborn by nature, insisted on fighting with everything they had, even if it meant getting injured in the process.
Once the Shrek team stepped onto the stage, everyone couldn't help but gulp.
Yang Xiong was now fourteen years old and had grown to about 1.85 meters tall. His physique was strong, and his build was now similar to Dai Mubai's.
In comparison, aside from Yang Xiong, Dai Mubai, and Tai Long, the tallest among the rest was only about 1.75 meters.
The members of Elephant Armor Academy, however, were massive, each over two meters tall, covered in thick, terrifying muscles, resembling sumo wrestlers from Yang Xiong's previous life. Judging by their size, each weighed at least 300 jin (about 150 kg).
After analyzing the opponent, Tang San decided to have Zhu Zhuqing take the field instead of Tai Long, a decision that puzzled even Tai Long and Yu Xiaogang.
Tang San had carefully studied both teams' characteristics and concluded that the Elephant Armor Academy's biggest weakness was their lack of agility. Having Tai Long, a power-type fighter, in the match would put him at a disadvantage. Zhu Zhuqing, being much faster, had a better chance to exploit their sluggishness.
While the arena was boiling with excitement, the tension in the spectator stands was even more intense.
Emperor Xue Ye was once again present to observe the match. Sitting next to Ning Fengzhi was a towering man, Hu Yanzhen, the head of the Elephant Armor Sect.
Hu Yanzhen looked displeased. "Sect Master Ning, I heard you're supporting the second team of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and even your own daughter is on the team. It seems you're quite confident they'll win the championship."
Ning Fengzhi replied calmly, "You're joking, Sect Master Hu Yan. The Shrek team is just a group of kids. How could they compare to the Elephant Armor team, whose members are nearly adults?"
Although Ning Fengzhi's tone seemed casual, his words carried a veiled jab, implying that the Elephant Armor team relied on their older age for an advantage.
Hu Yanzhen's face darkened. "Once you're on the stage, age doesn't matter. I just hope these little ones don't start crying when they get hurt."
Before Ning Fengzhi could respond, Salas spoke up. "Sect Master Hu Yan, it seems you have great confidence in your team."
Hu Yanzhen sneered proudly. "Of course. My grandson Hu Yanli reached the Soul Ancestor realm at the age of twenty. He's the most talented disciple in our sect's history, even more gifted than I was. He may very well become our sect's only future Title Douluo."
Bone Douluo, standing behind Ning Fengzhi, simply snorted in disdain, clearly unimpressed by the boast.
Salas, however, gave Ning Fengzhi a pointed look. "Sect Master Ning, I didn't expect you to even send your daughter into battle. It seems the Shrek team is just a front for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Fengzhi replied with a smile, "You're reading too much into it, Salas. This is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team. I wouldn't dare take credit."
As the conversation heated up, Emperor Xue Ye finally spoke, "Let's focus on the match. It's not often we see such promising young talent in our academy."
Everyone's attention shifted back to the arena.
When both sides revealed their spirit rings, the crowd was stunned.
The Elephant Armor team had three Soul Ancestors and four high-level Soul Experts. Their captain, Hu Yanli, had even reached level 43, one level higher than Dai Mubai.
In contrast, Shrek only had one Soul Ancestor. Their overall spirit power levels were clearly outmatched.
As the seven towering members of Elephant Armor Academy stood on the stage, the ground seemed to tremble beneath them.
Once the referee announced the start of the match, Tang San immediately shouted, "Retreat!"
Instead of launching an attack, the Shrek team quickly fell back in an orderly formation. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing flanked the sides, Dai Mubai held the center, and Yang Xiong moved toward the back near Ning Rongrong.
It was obvious that Tang San and Yu Xiaogang had already studied the enemy's tactics. The Elephant Armor team specialized in brute force and defensive counterattacks. Their main weakness was their lack of speed and agility.
While the Shrek team withdrew, the Elephant Armor team advanced aggressively in a tight formation.
Tang San reacted quickly. His Blue Silver Grass shot out like vines, wrapping around the legs of several opponents, trying to halt their advance.
Surprisingly, many of them were quickly ensnared.
Tang San was initially pleased. His Blue Silver Grass was not easy to escape from. He increased the pulling force, trying to trip them.
However, to his astonishment, the Elephant Armor members barely reacted. The vines couldn't even budge their 300-jin frames.
Worse still, with a simple exertion of force, they snapped the vines with ease. Tang San even lost his balance momentarily.
He was shocked. From raw strength alone, these opponents were stronger than Dai Mubai, especially Hu Yanli, who was likely unmatched in power among Soul Ancestors.
Ignoring the Blue Silver Grass, the Elephant Armor team pushed forward with overwhelming force. The Shrek team suddenly felt immense pressure, after all, most of them were around 1.7 meters tall, facing off against opponents over two meters. It was like children fighting adults.
Tang San's eyes flashed. His Blue Silver Grass wrapped around the waists of five team members and he shouted to Oscar, "Little Ao!"
Oscar had anticipated this. He quickly produced two flying mushroom sausages. He ate one himself and handed the other to Tang San. Given his current spirit power, he couldn't make more, this was a thousand-year spirit ability.
In the blink of an eye, Tang San and Oscar soared into the air. The Blue Silver Grass on Tang San's body pulled five teammates upward as well. This was one reason why Zhu Zhuqing was chosen, she was much lighter than Tai Long.
Now airborne, the Shrek team flipped the pressure on their opponents, literally gaining the high ground.
Oscar then began taunting the enemy, which enraged them. Hu Yanli was lifted into the air by his teammates, forming a strange formation.
But just then, countless Blue Silver Grass vines suddenly sprouted from Hu Yanli and the other team members, it was Tang San's second spirit ability: Parasitic.
Yang Xiong, watching from the rear, couldn't help but sweat at the sight of Hu Yanli and Oscar. One was a flirt, the other looked clueless, neither had the aura of a spirit master prodigy.
Though Tang San's strategy to lure the enemy was clever, he had underestimated their strength. In just moments, all the parasitic vines were destroyed. Still, it was enough to interrupt Hu Yanli's aerial attack.
Tang San's eyes sharpened. "Attack! We must take down Hu Yanli quickly!"
Everyone descended at once. Yang Xiong remained in the rear to protect Oscar and Ning Rongrong, while Tang San and the others targeted Hu Yanli. In theory, four-on-one against a Soul Ancestor should be easy.
But Tang San clearly underestimated Hu Yanli's durability. Hu Yanli summoned a massive Diamond Mammoth and activated his fourth spirit ability: Mighty Defense. A protective shield formed, and with a deafening roar from the mammoth, the whole arena seemed to shake.
The group's attacks landed on the shield, but such a pure defensive skill was not easily broken.
Hu Yanli, furious at Oscar's earlier taunts, charged at them with full force.
He clashed fists with Dai Mubai. Hu Yanli only paused slightly, but Dai Mubai was knocked back several meters, clearly overpowered.
Zhu Zhuqing reacted swiftly, using her third spirit ability: Nether Hundred Claws. Countless claw shadows slashed toward Hu Yanli.
But his defense was overwhelming. He even headbutted her mid-skill, sending Zhu Zhuqing flying.
The Elephant Armor Sect's claim of being the strongest in defense clearly wasn't exaggerated. Their power and defense were terrifying.
Tang San and the others kept up the assault, but the remaining Elephant Armor members also joined the fray, turning the match into a chaotic melee. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass couldn't effectively control them.
With Shrek's formation on the verge of collapse, it seemed defeat was imminent.
Ning Rongrong summoned her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Multiple buffs landed on the four attackers, greatly increasing their strength and speed.
Realizing the importance of the support, Hu Yanli broke away from the fight and charged like a raging bull toward Ning Rongrong.
This revealed the Elephant Armor team's advantage of having multiple Soul Ancestors. The other two, Hu Yanshan and Hu Yanba, engaged Tang San and Dai Mubai, while the rest surrounded Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing. All four attackers were now tied down.
Yang Xiong let out a cold laugh. As Hu Yanli charged, Yang Xiong met him head-on with a punch.
Their fists collided, and Yang Xiong didn't budge. Hu Yanli was knocked back several meters.
Furious, Hu Yanli shouted, "A Soul Expert like you has this kind of strength? I'm not weaker than anyone in raw power!"
His second spirit ring lit up. This was his second skill: Mammoth Power. His already massive body now looked even more formidable.
But upon clashing again, Yang Xiong still didn't move, and Hu Yanli was once again knocked back, this time even further. Clearly, Yang Xiong was stronger.
Before Hu Yanli could react, Yang Xiong closed in rapidly. He transformed his fists into open palms. When Hu Yanli swung again, it was as if he hit cotton, losing control of his posture.
Before he could regain his balance, Yang Xiong's hands turned into claws, grabbing Hu Yanli's arm and leaving five deep bloody gashes. Pain surged through Hu Yanli's body.
Then, Yang Xiong delivered a powerful silver punch to Hu Yanli's chest, sending him flying over ten meters. A fist-shaped dent was clearly visible on his chest.
Blood trickled from Hu Yanli's lips, he was clearly seriously injured.
Everyone had expected him to bulldoze through the support line, but instead, it was as if he'd fallen into a trap.
That last move of Yang Xiong's was called the Bone-Shattering Strike. It condensed his strength and spirit power into a single focused punch, unleashing it with full body momentum. It was a combat soul skill Yang Xiong had developed through numerous battles, nearly impossible for any Soul Ancestor to withstand.