Speaking of the storage belt...
Chen Feng suddenly noticed something — Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun all had a Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges belt at their waist.
Wasn't that the soul tool Grandmaster gave Tang San? Why are there so many now?
Sensing Chen Feng's surprise, Ma Hongjun grinned smugly.
"Surprised, aren't you? My third brother replicated Grandmaster's original belt and crafted these storage-type soul tools. He even hired a master craftsman to help. Oh, and we have to thank Bone Douluo for his assistance too."
Chen Feng suddenly understood. So they were replicas. With Bone Douluo's knowledge of spatial manipulation, making such items would've been far easier with his help.
As for that so-called "master craftsman," judging by the timeline, Tang San hadn't yet met Lou Gao, and while Tai Tan was a skilled craftsman, his level was lower.
That left only one real possibility — Tang Hao!
No wonder Tang San was willing to give me the original Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges. It must've been a copy.
Still, Chen Feng found it odd.
If Bone Douluo was involved in the belt's creation, why hadn't anyone told me about it?
He turned to glance at Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong whispered,
"I'm not entirely sure either... but I remember overhearing Father and Grandpa Jian talking about Tang San's father. They said he was an incredibly powerful soul master — so much so that even Grandpa Jian and Grandpa Gu were wary of him. He paid them a personal visit, and only then did Grandpa Gu agree to help."
Chen Feng nodded.
So it was Tang Hao.
But according to records from his past life, Tang Hao had always maintained a hands-off approach with Tang San — rarely interfering unless his life was in danger.
Why the sudden change?
Chen Feng pondered silently. Either the historical records were incomplete… or even though he had traveled five hundred years into the past, events would no longer follow the original timeline precisely.
Who knows? Maybe the Tang San who used to like noodles suddenly craves rice today.
It was just one of those things.
In any case, as long as the main trajectory didn't shift drastically, everything remained under his control.
Chen Feng shook his head and set the thought aside.
Facing the opponents across the field, he smiled faintly.
"Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun... Is it just the three of you? Where's Tang San?"
To Chen Feng, the only one in Shrek's Seven Devils truly worth his attention was Tang San. The others… didn't matter.
"Little San's out handling something. What, just the three of us not enough to teach you a lesson?"
Dai Mubai stood with his arms crossed, his posture brimming with arrogance.
Chen Feng shook his head.
"Sorry — the three of you alone aren't even worth me lifting a finger."
"You're too arrogant!"
Dai Mubai's evil eyes flashed with anger as he pointed at Chen Feng.
"I know you're strong. Back in the Star Dou Forest, you reached the Soul Elder level before us.
But you have no idea how many powerful soul masters we've defeated in the Soul Arena — even Soul Ancestors have fallen to us!"
Ma Hongjun stepped up, clearly impatient.
"Boss Dai, what's the point of wasting words with him? Let's settle it with our fists. I'll go first!"
He jumped forward, casting Chen Feng a sideways glance, beckoning him with a curled finger — full of provocation.
By this point, Liu Erlong, Li Yusong, and other Shrek faculty had arrived at the field.
They crossed their arms and observed coldly from a distance, all appearing supremely confident.
"Looks like you lot have beaten too many rookies. Starting to think you're invincible, huh?"
Chen Feng sighed and shook his head.
"Tianlong, Ma Hongjun's a fire-type soul master — how about you go warm things up?"
"Gladly!"
Yu Tianlong strode forward with firm steps.
Despite his age, his demeanor starkly contrasted that of the Shrek students — he had experienced both triumph and disaster, which had forged a remarkably steady mindset.
As he approached, an overwhelming pressure seemed to radiate from him.
While most couldn't sense it, Ma Hongjun, standing directly opposite, began to tremble uncontrollably.
"What... what is this?!"
Cold sweat broke across his back.
This wasn't the usual soul power suppression — it felt like an innate suppression from his opponent's martial spirit.
"Teacher said my Evil Fire Phoenix is a top-tier spirit…
Could it be… his is even stronger?"
His arrogance crumbled. He took two steps back, curling inward, raising his arms defensively, his heart full of dread and confusion.
Nearby, Liu Erlong immediately sensed something was off.
"Ma Hongjun, fall back! Let Dai Mubai take your place!"
She then sent Dai Mubai a voice transmission through soul power:
"Yu Tianlong's spirit is like mine — a fire-type mutated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Fatty's spirit is also high-grade, but not necessarily immune.
It's likely their fire attributes are clashing — he's at a disadvantage!"
Liu Erlong had seen enough battles to react quickly.
But she still couldn't understand — wasn't Phoenix flame supposed to be stronger than dragon flame?
Why didn't she ever feel that kind of suppression?
In the distance, Chen Feng chuckled silently.
He knew exactly what was going on.
Yu Tianlong's Flame Dragon came from a mutated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and its fire attribute had become purer and more concentrated.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun's flame was essentially corrupted, stemming from the impure Evil Fire Phoenix — never achieving perfect balance.
That was one factor.
The second: Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower — one of the rarest immortal herbs.
It hadn't just evolved Yu Tianlong's spirit; it also granted him innate resistance and dominance over other fire-based powers.
The combination left Ma Hongjun hopelessly suppressed.
Liu Erlong was right to switch opponents. Dai Mubai would not suffer from the same elemental clash.
Sure enough, as Shrek students sighed in disappointment, Ma Hongjun slunk off the stage in defeat. Dai Mubai took his place.
"Dai Mubai, Level 39 Power Attack System Soul Elder. Martial Spirit: Evil-Eyed White Tiger."
"Yu Tianlong, Level 40 Power Attack System Soul Elder. Martial Spirit: Flame Saint Dragon."
The two introduced themselves in turn.
Yu Tianlong had even given his mutated fire dragon a new name: Flame Saint Dragon.
They advanced until they were about two meters apart, then halted — sizing each other up.
Dai Mubai stood tall with golden hair flowing behind him, his presence overflowing with raw aggression and confidence.
Yu Tianlong, even more imposing — half a head taller, his body a mass of defined muscle — clearly built for brute force.
"Release soul rings!"
With a sharp command from Liu Erlong, both combatants activated their spirits.
Yellow. Yellow. Purple.
As each ring appeared, their aura surged higher.
Their martial spirits activated in near-perfect unison.
In an instant, the arena was filled with energy.
Black-and-white striped fur burst across Dai Mubai's form — the Evil-Eyed White Tiger fully manifested, inflating his frame dramatically.
In contrast, Yu Tianlong's form barely changed — but behind him, a colossal flame-wreathed dragon unfurled its wings, burning bright and magnificent.
The two powerhouses stood face-to-face.
They hadn't even clashed yet, but their soul power had already begun to spark and crackle in the air — like blades grinding against one another.