Chen Yi's gaze shifted away from the dark golden card, making no move to take it. This money had only been stored by the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect for him temporarily and would inevitably be collected with interest in the future. He looked at Feng Bing, who kept a low profile, and spoke in an indifferent tone, "Take her and leave."
The other side had just rescued Ning Rongrong and weren't interfering with others, nor were they taking any action against the Grand Martial team, so for now, he saw no reason to make things difficult.
"Young Sect Master, I thank you for your kindness!"
Feng Bing felt a faint sense of relief, repeated his thanks, and bowed his head. Without a moment's delay, he pulled the trembling Ning Rongrong, whose eyes were filled with fear and, wavering, disappeared at the entrance of the corridor.
As Ning Rongrong was led away, she couldn't help but look back—what she saw was the young man in purple standing in the center like a demon god, leaving only endless coldness in her heart. In that instant, she truly felt the breath of death. If Uncle Feng hadn't acted in time, the one now lying in ice and blood would probably have been her alone.
Seeing the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's people leave, Chen Yi's gaze returned to the arena and he slowly walked towards the Shrek team.
"It was so lively on stage just now, why is everyone dumbstruck now?"
Particularly, his gaze fixed on Yu Xiaogang, who was still coughing up blood beside his friends. At this moment, Yu Xiaogang's face still bore the marks from the scorched whip, blood oozing; his bones were broken all over, and his cheap ale-soaked clothes mixed with blood, giving off a strong stench. Feeling Chen Yi's gaze, his body shuddered uncontrollably, eyes brimming with fear—as if he saw a demon crawling up from hell.
How could you… How could you do this!
I am the Blue Lightning Marquis chosen by the Heaven Dou Emperor himself, the renowned Grandmaster, and theory master—son of Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen! How dare you humiliate and beat me in public!
Yu Xiaogang's heart roared with fury, but the pain and fear of death paralyzed him; he couldn't utter a word.
Chen Yi cared nothing for his thoughts, instead speaking coldly—his voice cutting through the suddenly silent battle ring.
"Just before the match, I heard that a certain 'master' and his 'disciple' were discussing the Body Sect's 'Secret Second Awakening Technique.'"
He tilted his head slightly, as if recalling something nostalgic. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present, as well as those in the audience, heard it clearly.
"What do you think… putting your own interests first? Why not make it public?
'If it's announced, it will benefit all soul masters?'"
Every sentence from Chen Yi's lips made the faces of Shrek and everyone inside the ring pale. In the stands, after the initial shock, the crowd broke into an even greater uproar, with heavy breathing.
"Whew! This Yu Xiaogang… is he out of his mind?"
"To covet the core secrets of another sect—talk about overstepping!"
"A werewolf! More ruthless than any cold-blooded human!"
In the soul master world, coveting another sect's secret inheritance was a far more severe taboo than killing someone or stealing their treasures. Especially targeting the mighty Body Sect!
Shrek's group's expressions changed dramatically. Flender anxiously stepped between Chen Yi and Yu Xiaogang, bending low in humility.
"Young Sect Master Chen, please forgive him. The Grandmaster was merely overly curious about your sect's mysteries and got carried away—he had no other intentions!"
"Also, please let the young master read his heart: the wise overlook the missteps of fools. Please forgive him this time!"
Yu Xiaogang, paralyzed on the ground, heard his friend plead on his behalf, his dignity trampled even more. Yet there was no gratitude—only deep resentment flickered in his eyes.
How could the proud Blue Lightning Marquis be so humiliated? To have Flender beg so lowly! If this spreads, what face can he have left in the world of soul masters?
Seeing this, Chen Yi sneered, looking at Flender with sardonic eyes.
"Do you actually believe that?"
Flender's face froze. He wanted to answer, but no words came. Of course, he didn't believe it—but what else could he say now?
Chen Yi ignored him. His gaze fixed upon Tang San, who was on the verge of death.
"Execution is spared, but you must pay for your crimes."
He pronounced his verdict calmly.
"No!"
Flender immediately understood Chen Yi's intent and screamed in terror.
But Chen Yi was faster. He slowly raised his right hand, palm down, and aimed at Tang San lying on the ground. Invisible spiritual power and pure, domineering soul force intermingled, condensing into a transparent giant hand above Tang San.
"Ahhh—!"
Suddenly, the giant soul hand pressed down, pinning Tang San with the force of nothingness. Already gravely injured, Tang San let out an inhuman scream, body convulsing violently, blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
Chen Yi's eyes were indifferent. He didn't intend to simply crush Tang San to death.
Instead, his spiritual power, as precise as a scalpel, instantly invaded Tang San, locking onto the Eight Spider Lance soul bone fused along his spine.
Under the materialized, qualitative effect of Chen Yi's soul, the Eight Spider Lances—though not fully fused—showed a clear connection to Tang San's body. Next, the soul hand's five fingers curled slightly, and the dominant force violently tore apart the link between the Eight Spider Lances and Tang San's spine.
Crack… crunch…
At the same time, there came the sickening sound of bone being ripped out of Tang San's body.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Tang San's scream hit its peak—eyes almost bursting, body twisting madly, yet unable to escape the giant soul hand's grip. He could distinctly feel his eight external soul bones being savagely wrenched from his body.
"Stop! Chen Yi! Stop!!"
Flender's eyes nearly burst as he desperately wanted to rush forward—but could only watch Tang San writhe in pain under the soul hand's pressure.
At last, amidst Tang San's heartbreaking howls, Chen Yi withdrew his right hand. Suddenly, a grotesque pile—shattered, blood-drenched stumps of purple-black spider lances—appeared before everyone. Blood and shreds of flesh clung to the mangled soul bone.
Chen Yi stared at that injured soul bone, sensing its unusual, lingering aura—there was even the hint of a mocking undertone.
The Eight Spider Lances… this object had gone round and round, only to again fall into Tang San's hands. Fate, it seemed, was both absurd and chaotic.
Stowing away the Eight Spider Lances, Chen Yi glanced once more at Tang San. With his soul bone gouged out, all that remained was a spasming body—a mere shell.
To forcibly remove a soul bone, especially one not fully fused, caused not only permanent physical harm but also irreparable spiritual trauma to the soul master. Even if Tang San survived, his future cultivation path would be much more arduous and filled with setbacks.
"Chen Yi! You… you've gone too far!!"
Flender, eyes bloodshot, could not bear to watch his student being tormented like this. At last, he let out a depressed, angry roar, glaring at Chen Yi.
Chen Yi turned his face slowly, his gaze unwavering.
"What is it, Dean Flender? Is there a problem?"
That calm, ordinary tone made Flender feel as if ice water were pouring from head to toe. All his sorrow and anger seemed to evaporate, leaving only bone-chilling cold.
Flender's face, once purple, turned white; his lips trembled, and he could no longer utter another word.
Chen Yi watched his mortified expression, the sneer on his lips deepening.
"Well then, can it be said that you simply… don't dare make trouble?"
This single line struck Flender's face like a resounding slap—and was equally a slap to the vaunted "school motto" of Shrek Academy. In a place like Suotuo City, bullying the weak with a bit of power might work. But before true power, those arguments were but a frog's laughter from the bottom of a well.
Flender's face turned deathly, shame, anger, fear, and helplessness mixing together—barely able to stand.
Chen Yi ignored them. He turned to the Grand Martial team, quietly waiting, and Shui Yue'er in the crowd.
"Let's go."
Shui Binger, Yang Pojun, Dugu Yan, and the others replied, following Chen Yi calmly toward the exit.
The only ones left in the ring were Shrek Academy's grief-stricken, powerless students—and the searing red scene of fresh blood that littered the ground.
Reaching the soul fighting arena's exclusive VIP area, Chen Yi found an old man with gentle features waiting with a smile. Judging by the barely-hidden waves of soul power radiating from his form, he was certainly a high-rank Soul Douluo.
In his heart, Chen Yi was sure this man was one of the representatives of the Eight Great Families that secretly governed the Suotuo Arena—someone key to the tournament's operations.
"Young Sect Master Chen, congratulations. The Grand Martial team certainly lives up to its name, and your actions were immensely convincing!"
The elder clasped his hands and smiled.
Chen Yi also nodded politely, "Thank you for providing the venue and your arrangements this time."
He knew the elder—and the 'Eight Families'—must have their own motives for encouraging this battle, but outwardly they showed only friendliness, and Chen Yi maintained polite decorum in turn.
"There are still a few routine matters I must attend to first. Please excuse me."
Chen Yi did not intend to linger, and took his leave directly.
"Young Sect Master, should you ever need help, we are at your service!"
The old man continued to smile, turning aside courteously.
Chen Yi nodded slightly, said nothing more, and departed with his group.
As Chen Yi and his party disappeared at the end of the corridor, the elder's smile finally faded. He turned to the observation window, gazing down with shrewd, prideful eyes.
"Top Three Sects, huh… Interesting."
…