The clash between Li Zhexian and Tang San came without warning.
As a result, before anyone could react, the transparent sword qis wrapped in Ultimate Sharpness, fiercely collided with the purple light bursting from Tang San's eyes.
Szzz—
With a light sound, the purple light was like ice and snow meeting a blazing fire. It was instantly minced into pieces by the transparent sword qis, turning into wisps of purple smoke that vanished without a trace.e and vanishing.
But the sword qis continued their charge.
Their speed was so fast!
Their sharpness was so potent!
They tore through the air with a piercing shriek!
Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.
The thought of dodging had only just arisen—
When the swords qis had already pierced into his eyes.
"Urgh—ahhh!"
Tang San considered himself a man of tenacious will.
Yet—
when those sword qis imbued with unmatched sharpness pierced into his eyes,
the pain was like knives gouging flesh, breaking through his will in an instant.
A roar of agony he could not suppress tore from his throat.
Tang San's eyes were tightly closed. Crimson blood mixed with a purplish tint flowed down his pale face from the corners of his eyes.
And that wasn't the end of it.
The aftershocks of the sword qi surged violently around him.
His yellow-green uniform shredded inch by inch beneath the fierce intent.
The arena floor itself was raked open into dozens of jagged scars.
"Pfft—!"
Tang San staggered back several steps,
before collapsing heavily onto one knee.
Both hands clutched his eyes,
red-pueple blood seeping between his fingers.
"Third Brother! / Xiao San!"
Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and Oscar's cries rang out together.
They rushed to his side in panic.
Xiao Wu stared at the blood spilling ceaselessly between his fingers, her pretty face as pale as paper, her voice breaking into sobs.
"Third Brother, y-your eyes…"
The arena, moments ago roaring in frenzy—
fell into dead silence.
On the massive soul tool projection floating above the stage,
countless eyes fixed in disbelief upon the kneeling youth, blood dripping from his fingers.
What had happened?!
This prodigy who had just moments ago, with dazzling brilliance, immobilized five enemy Spirit Masters—
how had he suddenly fallen into such a miserable state?
"Sword Wine!"
At that instant,
Dai Mubai erupted, Spirit Power surging as his golden hair whipped about wildly without wind.
He spun around, his evil eyes seething with killing intent, locking onto the white-robed figure in the waiting zone.
"You dare to launch a sneak attack?! Despicable and shameless!"
His roar thundered across the arena.
Spectators stared, wide-eyed with shock.
Sword Wine?!
Sword Wine struck?!
And he crushed Shrek's genius?!
"Heavens! Sword Wine is too strong!"
"I didn't even see how he acted—Shrek's prodigy is already defeated?!"
"This makes my blood boil! Sword Wine is still Sword Wine!"
"Sword Wine might even match the Spirit Hall's team!"
In the VIP platform—
Emperor Xue Ye and Bishop Salas straightened in their chairs, eyes blazing as they stared at the white-robed youth in the spotlight.
If Shrek's display had earned their grudging respect before—
then Sword Wine's instantaneous crushing of Shrek's core genius left them shaken.
"What sharp sword intent…"
Salas's murky eyes flared with light.
A flush spread across Emperor Xue Ye's pale face, his emotions so stirred he coughed twice.
Sword Wine was a genius born of Heaven Dou City.
What the Empire lacked most compared to the great clans and sects—were peak powerhouses.
A single Titled Douluo could rival an army of one hundred thousand.
If this Sword Wine could one day serve the Empire…
"Teacher, I couldn't see clearly how Sword Wine struck just now. Please enlighten me."
Xue Qinghe's delicate features were filled with astonishment, the teacup frozen halfway in her hand.
As though truly awed by Li Zhexian's swordsmanship.
But in truth—
these words were deliberate.
To compare Shrek to Li Zhexian?
And now?
Let's compare again!
Ning Fengzhi slowly exhaled, the shock in his gaze gradually fading.
He glanced at this once-docile disciple of his, then after a pause, said:
"Zhexian's sword… I fear only Uncle Jian could analyze it."
After a beat, his tone gentled:
"Zhexian's talent, I have never denied. But this Tang San is no mediocrity either."
"This outcome, rather, is that Tang San's eye technique was simply countered by Zhexian's sword."
"If the two fought openly and squarely, Zhexian's chances of victory…"
"…should be about sixty percent."
Xue Qinghe's lips curved faintly.
"Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance."
Sixty percent?
Heh…
My teacher's judgment is still a bit lacking in the end.
On stage—
Dai Mubai's Spirit Power surged.
His killing intent locked firmly on Li Zhexian below.
How could Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Yu Tianheng and the others sit idly by?
Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom!
The seven of them stepped forward in unison.
And stood behind Li Zhexian.
Releasing their Spirit Power without restraint,
forming a howling storm above their heads.
Yu Feng sneered with disdain,
pointing directly at Dai Mubai and Tang San.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"You dare bark at our captain like this?"
"Keep yapping, and believe me—we'll cripple Shrek here and now, and you won't even sniff the finals!"
From the front rows,
the disciples of the Wind Sword Sect, led by Feng Buyu, had their black robes fluttering.
Seeing the conflict escalate,
their eyes went wide.
"Oi, what?!"
"Is this about to blow up?!"
"The Wind Sword Sect must stand with Brother Zhexian now!!"
Feng Buyu made to vault over the railing into the arena.
The disciples howled to follow his lead.
Spirit Masters maintaining order rushed to block them.
The scene devolved into chaos.
Meanwhile, teams like Blazing, Godwind, and Elephant Armor held their ground.
Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Feng Xiaotian, and Hu Yanli exchanged swift looks.
A tacit understanding was reached:
"Not the right time to act!"
"Later, we'll ask Brother Zhexian if he wants Shrek thrashed in private!"
"You, defeated trash, dare to speak so bravely?!" Dai Mubai, seething with fury, let out a cold laugh.
His Spirit Rings rose, muscles bulging, his tall frame radiating oppressive force.
Behind him,
Oscar and Bai Chenxiang gathered Spirit Power, bracing themselves.
Xiao Wu shielded Tang San anxiously.
Ning Rongrong's face was pale, her teeth biting hard into her lip.
Her mind was in chaos.
The soul of Shrek, Tang San, had been so easily crushed by Li Zhexian.
She had meant to prove herself to him through this battle—
but now, she was the one shaken.
Zhu Zhuqing stood still at one side.
Her coldly beautiful face showed no expression,
but Spirit Power coursed silently within her slender frame.
Her amber eyes swept icily across Dai Mubai, Bai Chenxiang, and Oscar.
The two sides stood on a knife's edge.
The air itself seemed ready to ignite.
From the stands, the jeers and shouts swelled louder and louder.
Finally—
the Spirit Masters maintaining order and the presiding referee shouted sternly,
their powerful Spirit Pressure sweeping across the arena,
halting the clash on the verge of eruption.
The Shrek Seven were escorted toward the exit tunnel.
Just as they were about to leave the stage—
Tang San stopped.
He slowly turned back.
His ruined Purple Demon Eye, bloodied and broken, fixed across the arena upon Li Zhexian.
His voice was unnaturally calm,
even a little hoarse—
but laced with killing intent that made hearts tremble.
"Sword Wine…"
"You have not won. I have not lost."
"It is only that your attribute happened to counter my eye technique."
"On the tournament stage—we'll meet again."