The training grounds were silent, with Ye Chen and Tang San standing face to face. Neither made the first move. Both were gauging their opponent, eyes sharp, minds calculating.
Tang San finally broke the silence, his tone calm yet resolute.
"I've seen your battle with Teacher Zhao. If necessary, I can also go all out."
Ye Chen smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering.
"No need for theatrics, Xiao San. Whether I understand your strength or not… the result might not change. You're probably not my opponent."
Tang San frowned slightly at the comment. He acknowledged Ye Chen's strength—but was he really that much weaker?
Without further words, and perhaps to prove himself, Tang San released his first spirit: Blue Silver Grass.
From behind him, countless vines twisted into existence, slithering like serpents. Their movements were quick, aggressive—and laced with poison. As they surged forward, even the rocks caught within them were tightly bound, showing their incredible control.
But Ye Chen? He barely moved. Just a few light steps, and he'd already evaded the vines with ridiculous ease.
The moment he leaped into mid-air, Tang San's eyes narrowed—he didn't miss a beat.
"Parasitic Binding!"
With a wave of his hand, strange ghost-like vines burst from the ground beneath Ye Chen, instantly wrapping around his legs and trapping him mid-air.
"Once my Ghost Vines entangle someone, especially someone of equal level, it's nearly impossible to escape," Tang San said, voice confident. "And don't forget—they're soaked with paralytic poison. Even if you break free, you'll be too weak to fight."
He stared at the tightly-wrapped vines. Something felt off.
It's too quiet... Ye Chen can't be this weak. Even Teacher Zhao would be poisoned badly if trapped that long. So why—
Clang!
The sharp sound of a sword behind him made Tang San's blood run cold.
Instinct took over.
"Purple Demon Eye—Activate!"
He vanished in a blur using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, but before he could land his second step—
Ye Chen was already there, his black blade Demon Abyss pressed lightly against Tang San's throat.
"Careful. You won't be able to block it," Ye Chen warned softly.
Gritting his teeth, Tang San's hands flashed—Mysterious Jade Hands.
His arms glowed, transforming into stone-like toughness as he tried to grab the blade directly.
Clang!
He caught it—but pain surged through his arms. The powerful sword split open his hands, blood dripping as he leapt back.
Breathing heavily, Tang San's eyes filled with seriousness.
Ye Chen's second soul skill... that movement... even my footwork looks childish in front of him.
With his second spirit, Clear Sky Hammer, lacking soul rings and being battle-limited, Tang San realized he had only one last trump card—hidden weapons.
"Are they both monsters?" Dai Mubai muttered on the sidelines. "Just how strong are they...?"
He had always thought that, while Ye Chen was stronger, he himself could easily beat anyone else. Now? Watching Tang San's performance… he wasn't so sure anymore.
And Tang San hasn't even gone all out yet...
With a clenched jaw, Dai Mubai turned away, choosing to sit and meditate.
I've wasted too much time... I can't fall behind any further.
Hidden nearby, Flender watched with a satisfied nod.
"Good… Dai Mubai, you finally understand. Work hard—my ten million gold soul coins depend on you."
Back in the arena, Tang San's fingers moved like shadows.
In a blink, hundreds of needle-thin hidden weapons exploded from his sleeves, locking onto Ye Chen's every possible dodge route.
"That's more like you, Tang San," Ye Chen smiled. "If you didn't use hidden weapons, this match would've been far too boring."
Even space jumps wouldn't get him out of this. The sheer density of the attack left no room to escape.
Yet Ye Chen didn't move. He simply stood there—one man, one sword—like he was part of the land itself.
When the deadly needles were mere inches away—
His sword moved.
Faster than the eye could follow, Demon Abyss blurred through the air, knocking hidden weapons aside like raindrops against a shield. The more he moved, the faster the sword became, until it left behind ghostly afterimages.
Within seconds, Ye Chen had created a spinning sword barrier, a wall of defense so dense that none of the weapons could penetrate.
By the time the last needle clattered to the ground, a literal mound of hidden weapons had formed around Ye Chen's feet.
"Who knew a weapon could be used like that..." Zhu Zhuqing whispered, watching with awe. She glanced down at her own clawed hands, then mimicked his movements in the air.
Her eyes lit up.
Without a word, she sat cross-legged and began to meditate. Moments later, her eyes opened—shining with inspiration.
"I've figured it out…" she whispered. "A defensive technique… not a soul skill, but something I can use to protect myself."
Nearby, Ning Rongrong puffed her cheeks.
"Even Zhuqing's gained something from Ye Chen's swordplay… and this guy used to sneak naps around Sword Grandpa every day! How is he still this good?"
She knew him best, having grown up with him. But the more she knew, the more mysterious he seemed.
One day, I'll know all of him... I want to be one with him, no more secrets.
Back in the battle, Xiao Wu watched Tang San's bleeding palms with growing worry.
"Hang in there, brother… I believe in you!"
Tang San gave a bitter smile.
Believe? Even my most lethal weapons couldn't get past him…
His Moonlit Bridge was empty. Even the rare Dragon Beard Needles—his final trump—had been rendered useless.
He's like a born counter to the Tang Sect…
Ye Chen smiled softly.
"You've been attacking for a while… Want to see one of my original sword techniques now?"
"Sword Control—Begin."
Demon Abyss floated into the air, then shot toward Tang San like lightning, vanishing—only to reappear inches away with a spatial flicker.
It danced around Tang San like a ghost, striking with elegance and precision. Combined with Ye Chen's second spirit, the attack left Tang San flustered and overwhelmed.
"Let's end this."
With a gentle flick of his finger, the sword stopped—resting coldly against Tang San's neck.
There was no room left to resist.
Watching from a distance, Flender let out a long breath.
"This boy… truly terrifying. Tang San's tactics are top-tier—on anyone else, even Zhao Wuji would've taken a hit. But against Ye Chen… not even close."
Shaking his head, Flender turned and left Shrek Academy.
He had seen enough.
If I want to win that bet… I need reinforcements. Someone powerful enough to stand a chance against that monster.
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