Seeing Yu Tianheng approaching, Tang San immediately tried to use his Blue Silver Grass to entangle him. However, the Shi Mo Brothers stepped in, forcing him to retreat.
Tang San regrouped with the others, while Osler and Yu Feng also fell back. All Emperor Team members had now reunited.
Tang San, spotting Dai Mubai and Bai Lang, scolded sharply:
"You guys are useless! I almost eliminated her. Good opportunity lost because you couldn't stop Yu Tianheng!"
Dai Mubai's face darkened.
Bai Lang retorted,
"Did you expect me, an agility-type, to handle an attack-type four levels above me? And with someone who can't even withstand a single punch?"
Tang San cast a disgusted glance at Mubai.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists and lowered his head in shame. Mocking words left him speechless, and he began doubting whether he was truly a genius. The main problem behind his low combat power was the constant pain in his body whenever he clashed with opponents. This pain prevented him from exerting his full strength, causing him to lose half of his fights and barely win the remaining ones against soul masters of lower power.
He had sought help from healing soul masters, but it didn't work. The higher-level healers capable of treating him weren't freely available, they only resided in major sects or empires. Returning home wasn't an option; his brother would kill him. Major sects wouldn't assist him either. Left with no choice, he gritted his teeth and continued his pursuit of power.
In reality, his hidden injuries were accumulating, and his strength was slowly decreasing. He was becoming weaker and weaker, all thanks to Yu Xiaogong and Tang San's constant demands in battles. He had effectively become living bait.
While Mubai wrestled with his doubts, the Emperor Team surrounded Dugu Yan to protect her.
Ye Lingling began healing, and Yu Tianheng crouched near Dugu Yan, asking,
"Dugu Yan, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. That bastard caught me off guard with a sneak attack," she said angrily.
Yu Tianheng trembled with fury, his girlfriend had been injured. Without hesitation, he turned and charged at Tang San to avenge her.
Seeing Yu Tianheng advance, Tang San had an idea. He shouted,
"I'll block him. You guys deal with the others!"
Rushing toward Yu Tianheng, Tang San exchanged punches with him. Yu Tianheng's fists crackled with thunder, while Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eyes and Xuan Tian Hand to counter the attack.
Both were evenly matched, and soon an intense battle erupted between them.
Meanwhile, Mubai, Bai Lang, Fatty, and Hu Ge consumed recovery sausages from Oscar and advanced toward the Emperor Team.
Fatty engaged Yu Feng, Osler faced Bai Lang, and Mubai and Hu Ge charged the Shi Mo Brothers. Rongrong continued boosting her teammates' strength and agility.
Smaller skirmishes unfolded across the arena, but the most intense battle raged at the center: Tang San versus Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng grew increasingly shocked. How could a mere Blue Silver Grass soul master fight on equal footing with him? He could have leveraged his soul rings to gain the upper hand, but his pride forbade it, he wanted to defeat Tang San fairly.
Tang San, however, was observing all the fights, patiently waiting to execute his plan. Only Dugu Yan remained to defend Ye Lingling.
The battle dragged on until Mubai and Hu Ge, with Rongrong's assistance, managed to push back the Shi Mo Brothers.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan shouted,
"Antidote!"
Her teammates immediately understood and took the green antidote pills. Dugu Yan used her martial spirit to release poison in defense.
Tang San's eyes lit up. He activated his martial spirit to trap Yu Tianheng, catching him off guard. Then, using Ghost Shadow Steps, he rushed toward Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
As he neared the poisoned area, he pulled out a bag of alcohol and threw it toward the poison, shouting,
"Fatty, shoot it!"
Fatty instantly blasted the bag with fire, producing an explosion that dispersed the poison.
Just as Tang San prepared to rush forward, the Shi Mo Brothers were already advancing.
"Mubai, Hu Ge, stop them!" Tang San shouted.
Though affected by the poison, they gritted their teeth and held their ground against the Shi Mo Brothers.
Tang San seized a gap and dashed toward Dugu Yan.
Yu Tianheng activated his third soul ring, Thunder Fury, breaking free from the Blue Silver Grass and charging toward Dugu Yan.
Tang San circled behind the stunned Dugu Yan, who had not recovered from shock because her martial spirit poison had been easily neutralized, and pushed her toward Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng halted to avoid colliding with her, giving Tang San enough time to move to Ye Lingling. He trapped her with Blue Silver Grass, placed a hand near her neck, and shouted,
"Surrender, or I'll break her neck!"
Tang San laughed coldly. He knew he couldn't win fairly, so he took hostages to secure victory.
Ye Lingling struggled fiercely but couldn't break free. Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan stared at Tang San with hatred, realizing he had resorted to hostage-taking and blackmail.
"You bastard! Stop! We surrender!" they shouted.
Tang San did not release her immediately. He signaled to the referee to announce the result:
"Shrek Seven Devils won!"
Hearing the result, he released Ye Lingling.
The Emperor Team, Xiao Wu, and Zhuqing were disgusted at how Tang San had won the match.
Flander and the remaining Shrek team looked at Tang San with complex feelings, they didn't know whether to be happy that they had won or feel bad about winning through blackmail.
Yu Xiaogong, however, was ecstatic to see his disciple carry the team to victory.
Tang San paid no mind to anyone's feelings. He slowly walked toward the exit, proudly holding his head high, basking in the crowd's cheers.