"So you came all this way just for this?"
When Bei Bei learned of Chen Junting's request, he and his team readily agreed. Xu Sanshi even added that this was the perfect chance to rematch Chen Junting and reclaim his dignity.
"By the way, Senior Tang Ya," Chen Junting said, eyeing the trio's composition—one attack, one defense, one control—"could you contact Senior Jiang Nannan? If we add an agility-attack specialist, we can simulate more team combinations." Since Jiang Nannan was a girl and he barely knew her, he didn't want to approach her directly. Tang Ya, as her roommate, was the ideal go-between.
"Nannan? Why do you need her?" Just as Tang Ya was about to reply, Xu Sanshi suddenly shoved himself between her and Chen Junting, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Senior Xu, you don't need to be so defensive," Chen Junting said, amused.
Tang Ya, however, jabbed a finger at Xu Sanshi's nose. "Xu Sanshi, you shameless jerk! Nannan isn't yours—what gives you the right to act like this?!"
"No! You don't understand!" Xu Sanshi's face softened into desperate sincerity. "I believe if I persist, even an iron rod can be ground into a needle. Nannan will accept me… eventually."
The entire group fell silent.
Bei Bei, who'd been about to step forward, froze mid-motion, his face twitching. Tang Ya's scolding died in her throat. Even Chen Junting couldn't help but think: This isn't devotion—it's next-level simp behavior!
…
"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Jiang." Chen Junting handed her a white card. "This has a balance of one thousand gold soul coins—as payment for your time."
"Junior, this… this is too much!" Jiang Nannan nearly staggered. With visible effort, she refused the "fortune" of a thousand coins.
"It's not excessive," Chen Junting insisted, ignoring Xu Sanshi's jealous glare. He pressed the card into her hand. "Hiring a Shrek Academy prodigy Soul Grandmaster as a sparring partner? One thousand gold is fair—especially since we've disrupted your plans today."
"I didn't have any plans…" Jiang Nannan blushed. She was just working a part-time shift at a café for one gold soul coin. This wasn't disruption—it was a miracle.
Chen Junting smiled but said nothing, waiting for her decision.
With Tang Ya and the others chiming in—"We all got paid the same!"—Jiang Nannan quickly relented.
"Then… thank you, junior."
Her agreement instantly transformed Xu Sanshi's scowl into a beaming grin—a masterclass in emotional whiplash (Simpology). Bei Bei, watching from the side, could only facepalm.
Soon, the four followed Chen Junting toward Jiubao Pavilion, where Ning Tian's group had already gathered.
…
"Yuhao, your team goes first."
On the dueling platform stood Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Xu Sanshi—a combination lacking an attack specialist, making it the weakest of the four possible lineups.
"Got it."
The battle erupted instantly.
Since the three Soul Elders were restricted to Soul Grandmaster-level soul power and barred from using their third soul skills, the fight remained evenly matched—at first.
Meanwhile, in the stands—
"I never knew the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect developed soul-guided devices like this," Bei Bei murmured. He wasn't touching the lavish pastries or rare teas on the table. His eyes were fixed on the bracelets on Xu Sanshi's team—soul-limiting soul-guided devices.
If Jiubao had progressed this far…
What about the Sun-Moon Empire?
"Senior Bei Bei, it's not as impressive as you think," Chen Junting said calmly. He fed Ning Tian a bite of pastry before explaining, "These devices can theoretically restrict even Title Douluos—but only if the soul master doesn't resist." He wiped his hands with a napkin.
"The key isn't just the soul-guided arrays—it's the material." Ning Tian's bracelet glowed, and a black gem appeared in her palm. Chen Junting passed it to Bei Bei. "This is Soul-Seal Stone—the core component. But…"
A surge of soul power—
The gem crumbled to dust in Bei Bei's hand.
"One strong soul power burst, and it's useless."
"Ah… I see." Bei Bei visibly relaxed.
After this brief interlude, Chen Junting turned to assess Qin Lan and Gao Ming properly. His spars three months ago had only given rough estimates of their soul skills.
"I'll go first," Qin Lan said, his voice muffled by his mask. "Level 23 Agility Attack Soul Grandmaster. Martial soul: Void Ghost Panther. My first soul skill, Ghost Panther Afterimage, boosts speed to create illusions. The second,Void Hundred Rends, is a close-range claw strike with piercing damage. Any wound lets my soul power seep in and disrupt the opponent's meridians."
Chen Junting nodded. The meridian disruption sounded fearsome—but in reality, it only mattered in prolonged fights. And agility-attack types? They couldn't afford to drag things out. Best to seek openings for one-hit kills.
But Gao Ming surprised him. Level 21 Support Soul Grandmaster. Martial soul: Ruyi Disk. Soul skills: Speed Aura and Attack Aura—20% base amplification, scaling by 5% per soul ring. At Title Douluo, that'd hit 55%—solidly Tier 2 among support martial souls.
"Now me." Chen Junting summarized his Seven Kill Sword briefly.
Their discussion wrapped up just as the duel neared its end.
On the platform, Huo Yuhao's team unleashed a storm of Blue Silver Grass, flooding the arena. Dugu Xin seized his chance—his second soul ring flared, and violet-black crystals rained down, corroding the vines. The toxin-laced Blue Silver Grass withered, crippled by Dugu Xin's superior venom.
"Xiao Ya's being suppressed," Bei Bei sighed.
"Senior Bei Bei," Chen Junting remarked casually, "Blue Silver Grass was never meant for poison."
Bei Bei fell silent.
After a pause, he admitted, "Blue Silver Grass itself has no innate toxin. It only gained poison from absorbing toxin-type soul rings. But…" His brow furrowed with worry. "Xiao Ya's situation isn't good."
"Then why not suggest she changes paths?" Chen Junting's question drew everyone's attention—though only Ning Tian dared speak.
"Xiao Ya says it's tradition from Ancestor Tang San."
Stubborn!
The word flashed in both Chen Junting and Ning Tian's minds. They exchanged a knowing look, then offered gentle advice: "Senior Bei Bei… do you know Ancestor Tang San's martial soul's true form?"
"The academy records say Blue Silver Emperor," Bei Bei replied openly. Outsiders thought it was Blue Silver Grass, but sects like Shrek and Nine Treasures Glazed knew the truth.
Yet the Tang Sect… seemed to believe the myth.
Chen Junting and Ning Tian shared a silent, incredulous look.
No wonder the Tang Sect collapsed. Everyone else knew it was a facade—only they took it seriously!
"Senior Bei Bei, I'll be blunt," Chen Junting said, earnest. "If Senior Tang Ya continues like this, she'll end up stuck in mediocrity."
"Poison was never Blue Silver Grass's path. Even the Blue Silver Emperor soul beast evolved toward vitality, not toxicity. So why force a humble Blue Silver Grass down that road?"
"It should absorb plant-type soul rings like other flora martial souls—harnessing their strengths and cultivating its innate vitality. At least then, Xiao Ya wouldn't be so utterly countered by Dugu's poison. She could've held her ground with life-force resilience."
As Mu En's great-grandson, Bei Bei wasn't foolish. Once the veil was lifted, he instantly grasped Blue Silver Grass's true potential.
But his expression remained conflicted.
He couldn't bear to shatter Tang Ya's cherished illusion.
Ning Tian frowned, about to speak—but Chen Junting stopped her with a shake of his head.
Some advice should be given—and then left. They'd done their part as friends. The rest? Not their burden to carry. After all, you can lead a horse to water but can't force it to drink.
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