That day, Dai Mubai was on his way to the market in Spirit City. He intended to buy one of the local specialties: hundred-year-old plant-type soul beast carrots. He wanted to secretly bring them back for his little sister Xiao Wu to taste.
"Yo, what a coincidence. Isn't this my foolish little brother, Dai Mubai?"
A long-forgotten voice sounded behind him. Dai Mubai turned around, surprised:
"Dai Weisi, it's you."
Indeed, Dai Mubai had run into Dai Weisi. Not only Dai Weisi, but also the seductive Zhu Zhuyun, leaning against him and staring at Dai Mubai with a scrutinizing gaze.
Dai Weisi walked up and said,
"You seem to have been living quite well these years in the Heaven Dou Empire. Let your elder brother test your strength."
Suddenly, Dai Weisi punched. Dai Mubai, already on guard, countered with a palm, blocking it.
In this brief clash, neither gained the upper hand. In fact, Dai Weisi had struck first yet was stopped, showing that Dai Mubai's strength had perhaps surpassed Dai Weisi's by a margin.
Dai Weisi's face darkened in disbelief.
"How is this possible… You've grown this strong?"
Dai Mubai sneered.
"My foolish elder brother, surprising isn't it? To defeat you and escape fate, I've trained with two hundred times the effort of an ordinary man every single day. That's why I've achieved what I have today."
He was now at rank 49, powerful enough to challenge his elder brother. Mubai recalled countless nights in the past two years, cultivating the Martial Soul Fusion Skill alongside Xiao Wu in the room next to Tang San's—a cherished memory.
Dai Weisi suddenly relaxed, his expression shifting.
"Your talent is indeed remarkable, but my foolish brother, do you know the greatest mistake of your life? Running away alone. Now, you're just one man, and that won't be enough to stand against us."
"What do you mean?" Dai Mubai frowned.
"It means… you're the only one left." Dai Weisi pointed at him.
"Only one… don't tell me—Zhu Zhuqing…" Mubai realized.
"Zhu Zhuqing is dead. Three years after you ran, she tried to follow you. But she died at the hands of her elder sister. Her corpse was returned and buried in the Zhu family tomb. So, Dai Mubai, what use is your strength alone? What matters is the Martial Soul Fusion Skill. You need a wife for that. Now you're just a lonely man." Dai Weisi smugly wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhuyun.
"Zhu Zhuqing is dead? Impossible…" Mubai muttered in disbelief. He turned to Zhu Zhuyun, demanding:
"Zhuyun, Zhuqing was your sister! How could you do this?"
In his previous life, Zhu Zhuqing had told him she escaped because her sister had shown mercy, driving her into the Star Dou Forest instead of killing her.
But this time… she had truly died at her sister's hands.
Zhuyun's anger flared. She jabbed a finger at him.
"Dai Mubai! The Dai and Zhu families have always slaughtered their siblings. The losers end as bones, the winners inherit everything. For the Star Luo throne, I killed Zhu Zhuqing. Is that strange? Did you expect mercy from me? You're the one who abandoned her. If you hadn't fled alone, would she have died in the Star Dou Forest?"
Mubai was left speechless.
Zhuyun shot him a disgusted glance and looked away.
Dai Weisi chuckled.
"So, my foolish brother, do you now understand your situation? Enjoy what little peace you have left, hahaha! Zhuyun, let's go."
With that, he left arm-in-arm with Zhu Zhuyun.
Mubai stood frozen for a moment, but soon collected himself.
Zhu Zhuqing's death did shock him—but only that. His heart stirred no grief, not even sorrow. In fact, he felt relieved. Because deep down, another girl already filled his heart.
The only problem was… without Zhu Zhuqing, he'd have to face Dai Weisi and Zhuyun alone. Even as a Soul King, victory was far from certain.
Forget it. He'd deal with that later. For now, the priority was still buying carrots for Xiao Wu.
Mubai quickly set the matter aside and went shopping.
Back at their lodgings, Mubai recounted everything to the Reincarnated Four.
Tang San said,
"So Zhu Zhuqing never came to Shrek Academy because she died in the Star Dou Forest?"
Mubai nodded.
"That's what Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun told me."
Ma Hongjun asked,
"Couldn't they have been lying to trick you?"
Mubai put on a face of grief.
"I don't think so. Their expressions didn't seem fake. I fear Zhuqing truly is…"
The four fell silent. This was another variable. In their past life, Zhu Zhuqing had been one of the Shrek Seven Devils, yet here she had already fallen. They sighed heavily.
Of course, deep down, their hearts were already occupied by another woman. They mourned Zhu Zhuqing, but only that.
Tang San patted Mubai's shoulder.
"Mubai, we're all saddened by Zhuqing's death. But if I can ascend to godhood, I will definitely resurrect our seventh sister, restore her to you whole."
"Thank you, San. You're my best brother." Mubai replied gratefully, though inwardly he thought: Forget it. Compared to Zhuqing, I want your Xiao Wu more.
"But without Zhu Zhuqing, when we face the Star Luo Royal Team…" Oscar trailed off.
"Hey, I've got an idea!" Ma Hongjun joked.
"Boss Dai, your strength already surpasses your brother's. Why not snatch your sister-in-law for yourself?"
"Shut up." Mubai snapped.
"I already have another woman in my heart." He thought of Xiao Wu's lively figure.
Tang San assumed Mubai was grieving for his dead wife Zhu Zhuqing, so he paid it no mind. He said firmly,
"Mubai, Oscar, Fatty—even without Zhu Zhuqing, we Shrek Four Brothers, united as one, can shatter any obstacle. Even if Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun have the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, we'll still defeat them and help Boss Dai through this crisis."
Author's Note:
In truth, Zhu Zhuqing has no role in this story. Killing her off ends it neatly. But why leave her soul around? No special reason. Since Zhu Zhuqing is technically an ancestor of Huo Yuhao, she's a "clean" character without many flaws. Killing her outright without any follow-up might draw criticism. So I arranged for her soul to still exist, just to give readers closure. But she won't appear again—she's dead, just like Ning Rongrong. In terms of plot, she's effectively benched, hidden away off-screen.
On the night before the match, Flender went to draw lots, and when he came back, he announced the result.
In the first round, the Spirit Hall team drew a bye. Shrek's opponent would be the Star Luo Royal Academy team.
Upon hearing that their opponent was Star Luo Royal Academy, Yu Tianheng stepped forward and said:
"Dai Mubai, I've heard about the brutal succession system of the Star Luo royal family. You and your elder brother are competitors for the throne, aren't you? Your strength is indeed impressive, but you lack a partner. Alone, you cannot defeat your brother. Do you want me to stand with you in the match tomorrow?"
Faced with Yu Tianheng's olive branch, Dai Mubai flatly rejected it in front of Tang San:
"Thank you, but no. My problem is mine to face. I believe in my brothers Tang San, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun. I don't need an outsider like you meddling."
Tang San also stepped up, speaking solemnly:
"Yu Tianheng, this is an internal matter. Tomorrow, we don't need outsiders on the field."
Yu Tianheng chuckled:
"Heh, since even the captain says so, I can't force it. But remember this—"
He leaned closer and said in a low voice:
"This is the finals. Lose once, and you're out. What's eliminated won't just be your brother Dai Mubai's life, but Shrek's honor as well. Can you shoulder that responsibility?"
Tang San's face darkened.
"I know. You don't need to remind me. I'll lead my brothers to win tomorrow's match. The ones going on stage: myself, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Tai Long. We seven will fight."
As the saying goes: the player is blind, but the onlooker sees clearly.
Even after repeated setbacks, Tang San still firmly believed himself to be the child of destiny, the youth chosen by the God of Asura.
But the many incidents along the way had already caused Shrek's "Three Devils" to doubt Tang San's so-called destiny.
From the start—Tang San's Eight Spider Lances had been stripped away by Bibi Dong.
Dugu Bo had died.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had been occupied by two dragons.
When Tang San tried to awaken his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, it had been stripped from him, leaving him pitch-black.
His Clear Sky Hammer had also been destroyed.
And in several past competitions, he had been utterly humiliated in defeat.
How could anyone still believe Tang San was a "child of destiny"? Dai Mubai certainly didn't anymore.
So he didn't take Tang San's promise of "leading them to victory over the Star Luo team" seriously.
That night, in the room next to Tang San's, Dai Mubai was with Xiao Wu, training their martial soul fusion skill.
Dai Mubai gazed at Xiao Wu with a hint of obsession and sighed:
"Xiao Wu… I'm sorry. I may not be able to help you anymore."
Xiao Wu blinked.
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
Dai Mubai explained the brutal succession system of the Star Luo Empire, then sighed again:
"Now that Zhu Zhuqing is gone, I can't possibly stand against my brother and sister-in-law's martial soul fusion skill. So…"
Xiao Wu smiled softly:
"Brother Mubai, you're so silly~"
Dai Mubai froze.
Xiao Wu continued:
"Even if you no longer have the fusion skill with Zhu Zhuqing, you still have one with me. Our martial soul fusion isn't inferior to the Netherworld White Tiger at all."
"Our martial soul fusion…" Dai Mubai's heart stirred slightly.
He knew he and Xiao Wu had such a technique, but because Xiao Wu had been using him to scheme against "that little brat" (Tang San), they had never once used it. Still, as a man, how could he not hope to one day display such a powerful technique on the stage of the Soul Master Tournament?
But he hesitated.
"Xiao Wu… If I unleash our fusion skill, that would mean a complete break with that little brat. After that, I wouldn't be able to stay by his side to help you anymore."
Xiao Wu shook her head:
"Brother Mubai, you've already done more than enough. Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer is already useless. Even if he sees our fusion skill, so what? With me here, no matter how much resentment he feels, he'll have to swallow it."
"Mm… If that's the case, then thank you, Xiao Wu." Dai Mubai said gratefully.
"No rush. Let's rehearse tomorrow's fusion skill first." Xiao Wu said with a smile.
And so, the two of them poured their hearts into cultivating the martial soul fusion skill.
The next morning, just before the match, Tang San saw Dai Mubai brimming with vitality and Xiao Wu glowing with health. He walked up to Dai Mubai and extended his fist.
Dai Mubai bumped fists with him.
Tang San spoke in a serious tone:
"Mubai, the key to victory is stopping their martial soul fusion. Priority target: Zhu Zhuyun. I'll use my Snot Hammer—cough, I mean, Clear Sky Hammer—to create chaos. You go all out against Zhu Zhuyun. The rest of us will hold off Dai Weisi and the others. That way, we'll secure victory."
"Mm."
"Shrek will win!" Tang San declared.
"Shrek will win." Dai Mubai echoed.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar chimed in as well.
The seven walked onto the stage.
From the opposite entrance, the Star Luo Royal Academy team appeared.
Both teams stood in formation. Dai Mubai locked eyes with Dai Weisi.
Dai Weisi only smiled faintly in return. His younger brother's talent was indeed frightening, but so what? Without a martial soul fusion skill, victory still belonged to him.
But Dai Mubai's talent remained a threat. If word of it reached the empire, their father might feel pity. No—this match, Dai Mubai had to be crippled.
With that thought, Dai Weisi exchanged a glance with Zhu Zhuyun; their intent was clear without words.
Then his gaze swept over Shrek's lineup. Based on intelligence, three Shrek members had already reached the Soul King level—serious threats.
But then—
When Dai Weisi's eyes landed on a certain pink-haired girl, he froze.
His heart skipped a beat. A martial soul resonance surged within him—stronger even than what he felt with Zhu Zhuyun.
That delicate girl… Why? Why could he feel this resonance from her? Could it be… she and I share a martial soul fusion skill?
Staring at Xiao Wu, Dai Weisi felt more and more captivated. The more he looked, the prettier she seemed, the cuter she became, the more beautiful she appeared.
Her image filled his mind. Every smile, every expression of hers occupied his thoughts completely.
Noticing Dai Weisi's stare, Xiao Wu looked back curiously. Seeing it was him, she gave a shy smile.
And at that moment—Dai Weisi's battleship was sunk!
"The match will begin shortly. Both sides have one minute to prepare. When the bell rings, the match officially starts." The referee announced loudly.
The Star Luo Royal Team and the Shrek Team both released their martial souls. When Tang San saw the Star Luo Royal Team's lineup, the tension in his heart immediately eased. Just like in his previous life, the Star Luo Royal Team did not have any super-standard fighters like Feng Xiaotian or Shui Bing'er.
Tang San whispered to Dai Mubai:
"Mubai, just follow the plan when the time comes."
Dai Mubai nodded. Xiao Wu then gave Dai Mubai a meaningful glance.
Dai Mubai: OK.
Tang San reached into the air, and a Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand. Around him floated four spirit rings: purple, purple, purple, yellow.
Such a bizarre, non-standard spirit ring configuration instantly caused an uproar in the entire arena.
Off the stage, Yu Xiaogang's eyes turned bloodshot. He gripped the railing tightly, staring in disbelief at the four spirit rings encircling Tang San.
Then Yu Xiaogang violently turned his head, seized Flender by the collar, and roared at him:
"Before I left, I entrusted Xiao San to your care. This is how you've taken care of him? What's going on with the Clear Sky Hammer's spirit rings? Tell me—"
Yu Xiaogang was nearly losing his mind. His whole life, he had longed for a comeback, to turn the tables, to make the world remember the name Yu Xiaogang.
For that goal, he had struggled for most of his life. Yet the Golden Sacred Dragon was gone, Luo Sanpao—the martial soul that could have transformed into a Golden Sacred Dragon—was gone too.
He had admitted to plagiarizing theories, nearly severing all chances of making a name for himself. Tang San had become his only and final hope.
Now Tang San was his last hope. Yu Xiaogang's only dream was to raise Tang San into a peerless powerhouse, and by becoming the teacher of such a powerhouse, his own name would live forever.
But now you tell me—my disciple Tang San actually cultivated the Clear Sky Hammer, and not only that, after three thousand-year rings, he absorbed a hundred-year ring for the fourth?
How could such a Tang San ever become a peerless powerhouse? Yu Xiaogang's expectations for Tang San were entirely benchmarked against Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong had perfected her first martial soul before attaching rings to her second. Though no one knew her exact second martial soul ring configuration, it was certain that they were all at least ten-thousand-year rings. And Tang San, wasting four ring slots like this—how could he ever compete with Bibi Dong in the future?
"Xiaogang, listen to me, this was something Xiao San decided on his own, behind our backs—" Flender began to explain.
But Yu Xiaogang gave him no chance. He extended his hands and slashed at Flender, roaring furiously:
"It was you—this is all your fault! Xiao San is ruined, and you'll be buried with him!"
Flender, knowing he was guilty, did not resist, allowing Yu Xiaogang to vent. But Yu Xiaogang, instead of venting, grew even more violent. He changed his grasp to a chokehold, treating Flender as if he were a mortal enemy, wishing he could strangle him to death.
"Enough, Yu Xiaogang." Liu Erlong forcefully pulled the two apart.
But as soon as Yu Xiaogang was dragged back, he lunged forward like a madman again, his long-untrimmed claws raking several bloody marks across Flender's face.
Smack—
Liu Erlong slapped Yu Xiaogang across the face.
Yu Xiaogang clutched his cheek, staring at Liu Erlong in disbelief.
"You—you—you actually hit me?"
Rolling up her sleeves, Liu Erlong snapped:
"So what if I did? Gangzi, your precious disciple hid this from the academy teachers and went to some random spirit master to add spirit rings.
He made the decision, he bears the consequences! Why blame Flender for everything?
If Flender really wanted, with your mere rank 29 strength, what could you do to him?
He's simply too lazy to bother with you. But me? I will bother with you!"
Yu Xiaogang heard nothing else, only her one sentence echoing:
"With your rank 29 strength—rank 29, rank 29…"
Yu Xiaogang wailed in grief:
"Erlong, even you think I'm useless?"
Liu Erlong fell silent.
With no hope of further advancement, his disciple's talent destroyed, and even Liu Erlong beginning to despise him, Yu Xiaogang completely broke down—
"Uwaaaahhhh…" He burst into tears, regardless of the strange looks around him, turned and ran. In his heart, there was only one thought: to find a dark, deserted corner, draw ten thousand circles, and curse everything—curse the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, curse the Spirit Hall, curse Flender, curse Liu Erlong, curse Scar, Brother Long, Brother mohaek, Brother Ji, curse Yu Xiaomen's Lin Chen, curse the abandoned Luo Sanpao, curse everyone who had ever hurt him, curse the entire world that had betrayed his expectations.
"Xiaogang?" Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang's stumbling back, reaching out his hand but unsure what to say.
"Why do you even care about him?" Liu Erlong snorted coldly. "We may call ourselves the Golden Iron Triangle, but haven't you noticed? In his heart, there's only ever himself."
Flender nodded silently. After being together so long, and without their Martial Soul Fusion Technique binding them, both already knew exactly what kind of man Yu Xiaogang was.
"He cares only for himself. In the end, he'll crawl out of this shadow and return to Shrek," Liu Erlong said mockingly, watching Yu Xiaogang's back. "After all, how could he ever pass up the chance to make a name for himself in this year's Soul Master Tournament by clinging to Shrek?"
As for Yu Xiaogang's drama, Tang San knew nothing. Even if he did, he would only laugh it off. Why would he care about a chamber pot? To Tang San, Yu Xiaogang was nothing more than a night pot—something to be used and discarded, though still temporarily useful for now.
On the stage, both Shrek and the Star Luo Royal Team had released their martial souls and taken their positions.
With Xiao Wu, a Soul King, standing among Shrek, the Star Luo Royal Team felt an immense pressure.
"Vis." Zhu Zhuyun called softly to Dai Weisi, but he didn't respond.
She tugged his sleeve and said:
"wis, I'm calling you!"
Dai Weisi turned his head.
"Oh, oh—yeah, I'm listening. What is it, Zhuyun?"
Zhu Zhuyun said:
"In a moment, we must immediately use Nether White Tiger and take that Soul King out of the field first." She pointed toward Xiao Wu as she spoke.
Following her finger, Dai Weisi saw the pink-clad figure.
But to attack Xiao Wu? Dai Weisi was extremely reluctant.
"Actually, I don't think that's necessary. Her martial soul is just a harmless little white rabbit." Dai Weisi said.
Zhu Zhuyun didn't doubt him, replying:
"Wis, don't be deceived by her martial soul's appearance. She's a Soul King, a whole rank higher than us!"