Dai Mubai took a deep breath, his wounds throbbing with pain. He moved his lips, his voice low and deep.
"master..."
"We... lost."
"We encountered Ye Lingling. The five of us joined forces, but she wiped us out all by herself."
Upon hearing this, the entire command tent fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.
The anger on Yu Xiaogang's face froze instantly, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief.
He took a sudden step forward and stared intently at Dai Mubai.
"What did you say?"
"Ye Lingling? That support-type Soul Master with the Nine-Heart Begonia skill?"
"The five of you are no match for her alone?"
Yu Xiaogang's voice sounded somewhat disoriented due to his shock.
How is that possible!
The Shrek Seven Devils are the most outstanding geniuses on the continent. Five of them can take on one opponent, including Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul Fusion Skill!
The opponent was just a support-type Soul Master who was considered to have no offensive capabilities by the world?
This is absolutely ridiculous!
Inside the command tent, Yu Xiaogang's voice, distorted with extreme shock, echoed in the deathly silence.
Dai Mubai lowered his head, his mouth full of bitterness, but he was powerless to refute.
Because the truth is more absurd, more...despairing than the master could have imagined.
"Master, Mu Bai is not lying."
A clear, cool female voice rang out; it was Zhu Zhuqing.
Her face was also pale, and a trace of blood remained at the corner of her mouth.
"Our Martial Soul Fusion Technique, Netherworld White Tiger, was broken by her in one move."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang swayed slightly.
The Martial Soul Fusion Skill was one of Shrek Academy's most prized trump cards, its power enough to challenge opponents of higher levels. How could this be...?
"That's not all."
Ning Rongrong, supporting Oscar beside her, spoke with lingering fear, her voice trembling slightly.
"Ye Lingling received the Golden List reward; her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul... has undergone ultimate evolution."
"Indeed." Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress her fear.
"That martial soul evolution is too abnormal. It can heal, poison, break souls, weaken... it's almost omnipotent. It's no exaggeration to say that Ye Lingling's martial soul is now much stronger than my Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
These words struck Yu Xiaogang like a heavy hammer blow.
The Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the number one support-type martial soul in the world; this is an axiom of the continent.
But now, this axiom has been broken.
The tent flap was lifted, and a composed figure walked in. It was Tang San, who had just finished dealing with military affairs and rushed over.
He happened to hear the second half of Ning Rongrong's sentence, and a rare hint of surprise flashed across his usually calm and deep blue eyes.
"Mistress, you've arrived."
When Yu Xiaogang saw Tang San, it was as if he had found his pillar of support, but the gloom on his face grew even heavier.
"Let's not talk about this now," Oscar said anxiously, supporting Ma Hongjun, who was almost unsteady on his feet.
"Third Brother, look at Fatty! He's the one most severely poisoned, he's dying!"
All eyes immediately turned to Ma Hongjun.
His once rosy, chubby face now had an eerie emerald green hue, and his lips were purple.
His whole body convulsed uncontrollably, and the evil fire emanating from his body was suppressed by a layer of dark green poison gas, flickering uncertainly.
Tang San stepped forward, supported Ma Hongjun, and without saying a word, placed his fingertips on Ma Hongjun's pulse.
A wisp of pure blue-gold soul power probed into Ma Hongjun's body.
The next moment, Tang San's brows furrowed tightly.
overbearing.
Strange.
This toxin is like a bone-deep infection, not only eroding flesh and soul power, but also seemingly possessing its own life, frantically devouring Ma Hongjun's vitality.
From his perspective as a master of poisons, this poison was no less complex and insidious than any other rare poison he had ever encountered.
After evolving, the Nine-Heart Begonia can generate such terrifying poisonous power.
But that's probably not all there is to it.
"How is it, mistress?" Yu Xiaogang asked anxiously, "Even you can't solve it?"
Tang San raised his head, his expression solemn.
"The poison can be neutralized."
Just as Yu Xiaogang and the others breathed a sigh of relief, they heard Tang San pause and slowly utter two words.
"only..."
"But what?" Yu Xiaogang's heart jumped again.
Tang San did not answer immediately, but took a deep look at Ma Hongjun, whose face had turned green and who was already in a semi-conscious state, with a complicated look in his eyes.
He did not offer any further explanation.
"I need absolute silence."
After saying that, he sat cross-legged and placed Ma Hongjunping in front of him.
The next instant, a vast, sacred, and seemingly ancient ocean-like aura burst forth from Tang San's body!
A dazzling azure light instantly filled the entire command tent.
The power of Poseidon!
Tang San placed his palms on Ma Hongjun's back, and his extremely pure divine power transformed into gentle streams of water, carefully flowing into Ma Hongjun's meridians.
"Hiss... hiss..."
A strange sound, like ice and snow melting, came from inside the tent.
On Ma Hongjun's skin, wisps of dark green poison gas were expelled from his body, only to be completely purified and vanish into nothingness the moment they came into contact with the azure divine light.
This process lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
When the last wisp of poisonous gas was cleared away, Tang San slowly finished his practice, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Cough...cough cough!"
Ma Hongjun, lying on the ground, coughed violently. The eerie emerald green color quickly faded from his face, and some color returned.
He suddenly opened his eyes, looking completely bewildered.
"What...what's wrong with me?"
"Fatty, you're alive!" Oscar rushed over to help him up. "You were knocked out by that woman Ye Lingling's poison, and you almost went to see the King of Hell!"
"Ye Lingling?"
Ma Hongjun's memories returned instantly. He recalled the overwhelming aura of poison and the deep-seated sense of powerlessness. The blankness on his face was immediately replaced by shock and anger.
"That woman! She's so ruthless!"
He struggled to his feet, slammed his fist on the table beside him, and cursed viciously.
"Once we break through Jialing Pass, I'm going to capture her alive! I'll make sure she gets her revenge and knows what it means to wish she were dead!"
In the past, when he made such lewd remarks, the people in the tent were already used to it, and would even make a few teasing remarks.
But this time, no one laughed.
Everyone's gaze held an indescribable strangeness.
Ma Hongjun muttered a few curses and finally realized that something was wrong with the atmosphere.
Immediately afterwards, he suddenly realized that something was wrong with him.
In the past, whenever he thought of women, especially certain scenarios where he could "release" his pent-up emotions, a certain part of his body would always give the most honest reaction immediately.
But now...
There was no movement.
A deathly silence.
(End of chapter)