"It's not time to give up yet. Have you forgotten? Xiao San still has a trump card."
Hearing Flender's words, a spark ignited in Yu Xiaogang's eyes—a flame of battle intent.
Tang San's opponent was his own nephew, Yu Tianheng.
As long as his disciple could defeat Yu Tianheng, he would be able to prove himself—albeit indirectly—to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and wash away the shame of being expelled.
"You mean…" Flender's expression changed drastically.
Yu Xiaogang nodded slowly.
—
Three months earlier.
After confirming that Xiao Se had left Soto City, the Shrek group returned to the academy one after another.
Because Tang San's soul power had broken through to level thirty, he did not return with them.
Instead, under Zhao Wujing's leadership, he took a shortcut to the Star Dou Forest to obtain his third soul ring.
Ma Hongjun stayed behind to care for the injured Dai Mubai.
Ning Rongrong remained in Soto City.
In the end, only Zhao Wujing, Tang San, Oscar—who was close to level thirty—and Xiao Wu made the trip.
During the journey, both Oscar and Xiao Wu broke through to level thirty.
Although Xiao Se's interference caused Shrek Academy to arrive at the Star Dou Forest several days later than in the original timeline—making Oscar miss the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake—
The Titan Giant Ape still sensed Xiao Wu's aura.
It suddenly appeared, brutally beating Zhao Wujing, Oscar, and Tang San one by one before taking Xiao Wu away.
Perhaps guided by fate itself, Tang San still encountered the Man-Faced Demon Spider while chasing after Xiao Wu.
And thus, just like in the original story, he obtained the external spirit bone—Eight Spider Lances.
—
"Sausage… oh no, Oscar."
Watching the battle, Ning Rongrong sighed and turned to him.
"It's already like this—why is Tang San still forcing himself? No matter how strong he is, the gap in strength is just too big."
Since she hadn't gone to the Star Dou Forest, she had no idea Tang San possessed the Eight Spider Lances.
At Yu Xiaogang's request, Zhao Wujing and Flender had also kept it secret.
After all, before an external spirit bone fully merged with its owner, it was extremely easy to become a target.
"I don't know either," Oscar replied helplessly.
He looked at Ning Rongrong with complicated emotions.
For three whole months, he had been pursuing her.
But without the life-and-death experience they shared in the original timeline, even after the incident where Flender scolded her to tears, Ning Rongrong still felt nothing toward him.
Worse still—
When Oscar first joined the academy, his humiliating experience with Dai Mubai had been leaked by Ma Hongjun's loose mouth.
From that point on, he became the permanent butt of Ning Rongrong's dirty jokes.
Privately, she called him "Sausage Bottom", while referring to Dai Mubai as "Ape-Tiger Top."
As for the now-eggless Yu Xiaogang—
He had earned himself the honorable title of "Steward Yu."
—
"So boring…" Ning Rongrong muttered.
"If Xiao Se were here, he'd probably knock the entire Emperor Battle Team flat in three moves."
Unknowingly, Xiao Se's figure surfaced in her mind—
Beating down Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Ma Hongjun.
Instantly killing Soul Saint–level Headmaster Flender.
The more she thought about it, the more absurdly powerful it felt.
And yet, Xiao Se was only fourteen years old.
—
On the battlefield, Tang San could no longer withstand the Emperor Battle Team's relentless assault.
Finally, he decided to release the Eight Spider Lances—something he still couldn't fully control.
Tear—!
With the sound of fabric ripping apart, the clothes on Tang San's back shredded instantly.
Eight fist-sized bulges swelled from both sides of his spine.
Then—
The bulges burst open.
Strangely, his skin did not peel back.
Instead, eight thick, dark-purple appendages forced their way out, growing at a terrifying speed.
In the blink of an eye, they stretched beyond a meter.
They continued extending until surpassing one and a half meters, briefly pausing as joint-like segments formed before bending and growing again in another direction.
"Xiao San finally used the Eight Spider Soul Bone…"
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang finally exhaled in relief.
A smile uglier than crying appeared on his stiff face.
"What is that?!"
"A mutated martial soul?"
The spectators stared in shock.
Very few people present understood what an external spirit bone truly was.
Then—
Something even more horrifying happened.
Under the gaze of the audience and the Emperor Battle Team, the eight spider lances glowing with purple light suddenly transformed—
Into eight rib-like bones resembling those of some monstrous beast.
"AHHH!"
The moment the rib bones appeared, a piercing pain exploded from Tang San's back.
He screamed miserably and collapsed to the ground, convulsing.
The pain was so intense that he could barely breathe.
Emperor Battle Team vs. Shrek Academy — Emperor Battle Team wins!
—
[Ding! Congratulations, Host.
You have exchanged for:
Tang San's external spirit bone — Eight Spider Lances.]
Hearing the system notification in his mind, Xiao Se's mouth twitched violently.
A complete second-rank beast rib… in exchange for Tang San's Eight Spider Lances.
Now Tang San was truly doomed.
That thing wasn't a soul bone anymore.
Nor even an external spirit bone.
Without it, the remaining fragments would violently reject his body.
There was a real chance he might not even survive.
—
Walking into a secluded forest, Xiao Se activated the Vast Sea Protective Barrier.
"Long Kui, come out and have a taste."
As he spoke, he took out Queen Medusa's sofa from his storage ring.
A blue glow drifted from the demonic sword pattern on his right hand and landed upon the sofa, transforming into Long Kui's graceful figure.
"Brother, you seem to be in a very good mood today."
"Not bad," Xiao Se chuckled, handing her a plate full of skewers.
"Picked up quite a few good things from robbery lately."
Long Kui took a vegetable skewer and bit into it gently.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"It's really delicious."
"If you like it, eat more," Xiao Se said with a smile, passing her another.
He then took out the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python from his chest.
Perhaps because the meat had been roasted with Heavenly Flame, the little snake adored it.
She devoured five or six skewers in a row.
It was hard to imagine how such a tiny body could swallow skewers larger than herself.
Once the plate was empty, the little snake suddenly erupted with dazzling red light.
Queen Medusa's flawless figure emerged from within.
"Damn human! You actually dared to treat this queen like a pet!"
"I've always respected you," Xiao Se said dryly, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Then he tested the waters carefully.
"…Want me to grill a bit more?"
"No need. This queen isn't interested."
Medusa turned around, discreetly wiping the corner of her lips—clearly unsatisfied.
"The Spirit Fusion Pill materials are already gathered. When do you plan to refine it for me?"
"After the Inner Academy Selection Tournament ends," Xiao Se replied.
"I'll be refining the Earth Spirit Pill then as well."
(End of Chapter)
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