Chapter 170: Alliance with the Seven Treasures, Watching the Haotian Sect
"Yes, Young Master!"
Old Snake was exuberant—his Young Master's ambitions were truly grand.
Once, Dugu Feng had said that the Dugu Clan would rise to stand among the Upper Three Sects, and now that vision was steadily becoming reality.
Among the three great sects, the Haotian Sect was blessed with multiple Titled Douluos—its high-end strength was at its peak. The Dugu Clan, strong as it was, still couldn't match it directly.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had Sword and Bone Douluo, and since the Young Master shared a close bond with the sect's little princess, that power could be considered external support.
The only weakness lay in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—the supposed number one beast-spirit clan, head of the empire's four elemental academies, yet declining year by year, producing no new powerhouses.
That weakness was the opportunity Heaven itself had handed to the Dugu Clan.
"Form ties with the Seven Treasures, observe the Haotian from the shadows. When the world shifts, strike with thunder—and ascend among the Three Sects."
Dugu Feng's tone was distant, almost ghostlike.
Old Snake met his eyes, and both understood the meaning behind the words.
After that, Dugu Feng left him to handle the Five Elements Alliance affairs, turning his attention back to the tournament.
In the seventh round, Gem Academy finally met Shrek Academy.
This would be the highlight of the round. Shrek had achieved five wins and one loss—an excellent record among the twenty-eight participating teams—but fate had put them before Gem Academy.
Their second loss was inevitable.
The match was set on the central main stage of the arena.
For safety, Gem Academy fielded Little Snake.
Shrek's lineup was their strongest: the five core members, along with Tai Long and Huang Yuan.
Once they took the stage, all seven frowned—the opposing team hadn't even included Ning Rongrong.
"They're underestimating us," Dai Mubai said coldly.
"Exactly! We're a Gold Spirit Team—and we've already won five matches!" Ma Hongjun huffed proudly.
They had lost once before—to Godwind Academy, whose flying advantage had completely overwhelmed them. Shrek had held out briefly before falling.
"Wrong," Tang San said quietly. "They are taking this seriously. Didn't you notice that thin, short figure in the center? His aura feels like a venomous snake—it gives me chills."
His gaze locked onto Little Snake, standing with hands clasped behind his back, eyes like ice shards, poised to strike.
Tang San's heart sank. They had come here mainly to gain experience—but who didn't dream of victory?
After five wins, confidence had grown within them. They had even hoped Gem Academy might underestimate them. But it was clear now that the other side was wary and prepared.
The team shifted into serious focus, trusting Tang San's instincts.
"Release your martial spirits!"
The referee's voice echoed.
Light flared across the platform, seven soul masters filling the field with radiant rings.
From the comparison alone, it was clear Gem Academy held the upper hand.
They had four Soul Ancestors.
Little Snake, Dugu Mo, Zhang Jingyang, and Dong Heguang—all level forty and above.
Four Soul Ancestors leading three Soul Elders—one of the most powerful configurations among all twenty-eight teams.
And everyone knew—they were still hiding cards.
Team battles relied on overall strength, and the aura Gem Academy exuded was like an unbreakable wall pressing down on their opponents.
Tai Long and Dai Mubai both activated martial spirit possession—the Evil-Eyed White Tiger and the Vigorous Orangutan stepping forward to take point.
Yet even before the fighting began, sweat beaded on their foreheads under the sheer pressure of four Soul Ancestors.
Gem Academy hadn't even attacked—the oppressive energy alone forced Shrek's front line to channel all their strength defensively.
"Attack! Don't let them build momentum!"
Tang San's shout cut through the roar.
Zhu Zhuqing and Huang Yuan dashed left and right—the Ghost Spirit Cat and the Lone Wolf striking from both flanks.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun unleashed the Phoenix Flame Line beside Dai Mubai.
The battle erupted.
But in the next instant, a massive golden-yellow pillar of light engulfed the entire stage.
Zhang Jingyang had activated his Illusion Control skill.
As Gem Academy's controller, he specialized in this technique.
The arena shimmered as Shrek's seven figures vanished into a projection of illusion.
Except for Tang San, everyone lost their senses and sight.
"Three seconds—attack!"
Zhang Jingyang's roar echoed. The illusion from a single user lasted only three seconds—and lacked complete realism—but that was all they needed.
Among the Shrek team, only Dai Mubai, a Soul Ancestor himself, could faintly perceive approaching enemies.
Tang San's Purple Demon Eye allowed him to see through the haze, but the other five—Huang Yuan, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long—were blind.
"He's using Illusion Control!" Tang San realized instantly.
A control-type master himself, he reacted quickly. The Blue Silver Grass twined around Dai Mubai and the others, taut like threads of steel, pulling the team backward to regroup.
But his speed met someone faster.
"Ha, I didn't believe it before—but the Young Master was right. Tang San really can resist illusions!" one Gem student shouted.
Their formation responded instantly.
They had been instructed by Dugu Feng himself, trained in absolute coordination with Zhang Jingyang.
They did not miss the moment.
Almost simultaneously, Little Snake's Jade Phosphor Finger Art, Dugu Mo's Spider Web Binding, and synchronized assaults from the others all struck at once.
In the blink of an eye, the trapped Shrek members—Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun—were hit by poison-laced projectiles, still blind within the illusion.
Even Dai Mubai, though partially aware, couldn't dodge everything. Under focused fire, his White Tiger Vajra Barrier rang out three sharp impacts, each one driving deeper toxin into his body until his face turned deathly pale.
Three seconds passed.
"Mental Paralysis!"
Zhang Jingyang launched the next attack.
The Shrek Team had no time to react.
Tang San remained conscious, but alone it meant nothing.
He lacked the offensive strength to reverse the tide—and the enemy's poisons were too vicious.
Struck by toxins, his teammates' lives were at risk, and constant spiritual bombardment left them unable to even use Oscar's antidote sausages.
Then came four sharp cracks—Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Blue Silver Grass that bound his teammates was severed—cut by the deadly precision of the Jade Phosphor Finger!
Tang San's eyes widened. Without his bindings, he couldn't pull them to safety.
"Surrender! We surrender!" he shouted.
The battle was utterly one-sided. To continue would have been meaningless.
His team hadn't even had the chance to counterattack.
Gem Academy's composition—two controllers, with that small shadowy figure orchestrating the field—was overwhelming.
The gap between them was simply too vast.
(END CHAPTER)
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