Chapter 158: Don’t Lower the Standard

Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi's speech sent shockwaves through the participating academy teams.

Yesterday, Mu Yang was ambushed by two Soul Sage-level assassins. However, because Huo Lie and the others swiftly subdued them, the incident didn't cause too much of a commotion. Naturally, those who hadn't paid much attention had no idea that someone had made a move against a tournament participant.

Now that Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi had openly exposed the matter, everyone immediately felt a sense of unease.

Assassinating tournament participants—such an act was utterly despicable. The leading teachers of the various academies, knowing that their own students were also geniuses, raised their vigilance to the highest level to prevent any villains from exploiting their weaknesses.

"Brother, who do you think was targeted? And who's behind it?"

On the stands, Xiao Wu blinked her eyes and curiously asked Tang San.

"It's probably someone from Blazing Academy or Skywater Academy. As for the mastermind, it's most likely the one sitting next to Emperor Xue Ye—Salas."

Tang San glanced in Mu Yang's direction and whispered.

"The tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind."

He understood this principle well.

Mu Yang, Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er—these five had displayed such astonishing talent that it was only natural for them to become targets of assassination attempts from other factions.

As for the mastermind, it was obvious from how Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi had both glanced at Salas while delivering their warning, and how Salas himself had been sitting there with a dark expression, remaining silent the entire time.

To be honest, Tang San couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude at this development.

Mu Yang and the others had no ties to him, and they were even more outstanding than he was. Though he wouldn't go so far as to throw a banquet to celebrate their misfortune, he certainly didn't mind sitting back and enjoying the drama.

With the matches over and the gossip taken in, the audience began to exit.

There was only one passage leading out of the Great Soul Arena, and with the massive number of spectators, the entrance was bound to be overcrowded. Anticipating the congestion, the participating academy teams didn't rush to leave, opting instead to wait until the crowd had thinned.

After all, many teams had female members, and squeezing through a crowd wouldn't be appropriate for them.

At this moment, Flender gathered the Shrek students before him and instructed, "You all heard it just now—there have been assassination attempts on tournament participants.

While this is partly because some people are too outstanding, that doesn't mean you can let your guard down.

During the competition period, aside from when you're within the academy, you should never stray beyond my, Erlong's, or Teacher Zhao's line of sight. Don't give anyone the chance to take advantage of you."

As soon as Flender finished speaking, Ma Hongjun panicked.

The others could afford to stay put, but he couldn't! With the Evil Fire raging inside him, he still needed to help the poor young ladies out there escape their suffering!

Everyone knew that those girls, who often went hungry and full at irregular intervals, usually had gambling fathers, sick mothers, or school-age younger brothers. If he didn't help them, who would?

Before Ma Hongjun could protest, Flender added, "Fatty, bear with it for now. But if you really can't, just tell me—I'll take you there myself."

"Eh—"

Instantly, the Shrek students, well aware of Ma Hongjun's character, shot him looks of disdain.

Hmm… not just at Ma Hongjun, but also at Flender.

They weren't naïve—each of them understood at least a little about the world. There was no way they believed that if Flender took Ma Hongjun to that kind of place, the lifelong bachelor would just stand by and watch.

At this moment, Dai Mubai stepped forward, patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder, and said, "Fatty, take my advice—stop going to those shady places. Go to a proper club instead.

Even if you don't care about yourself, at least think about Dean Flender.

Don't lower the standard."

Ma Hongjun: "..."

Flender: "..."

This Isn't About Standards!

After a long while, as the audience inside the Great Soul Arena had mostly dispersed, the participating academy teams began to leave one after another.

Not far from the entrance of the Great Soul Arena, by the roadside, two red-clothed bishops of the Heaven Dou Martial Soul Hall were discreetly observing the departing crowd, searching for their target.

Before long, the Shrek group stepped out of the Great Soul Arena.

Immediately, the two red-clothed bishops' eyes lit up. They exchanged a glance, then began chatting and laughing as if nothing was happening, ready to strike at Tang San at any moment.

At this moment, Tang San was completely unaware that danger was approaching.

By now, some time had passed since the match ended, and there weren't too many people at the entrance. As soon as they exited the gates, the Shrek group noticed two red-robed bishops standing by the roadside not far ahead.

However, they didn't pay much attention to them. The Martial Soul Hall was a co-organizer of the Soul Master Tournament, and given the excitement surrounding the competition, it was perfectly normal for red-clothed bishops to come and watch.

Thirty meters… twenty meters… ten meters…

When the Shrek group, walking down the middle of the street, was less than ten meters away from the two men, the bishops of the Heaven Dou Temple made their move.

"Shadow Leopard, Possession! Fourth Soul Skill, Leopard Shadow Assault!"

"Earth Wild Bear, Possession! Fourth Soul Skill, Wild Bear Giant Claw!"

In an instant, the two bishops activated their martial souls. With lightning-fast speed, they unleashed their fourth soul skills in a sneak attack aimed directly at the unsuspecting Tang San.

For attack-type soul skills, given the same level of strength, the older the soul ring, the stronger the power.

However, the older the soul ring, the slower the activation speed. That's why they chose to use their fourth soul skills.

With the strength of a seven-ring Soul Sage, even without any enhancement skills, just their fourth offensive soul skills at the best optimal age were more than enough to instantly kill a newly advanced four-ring Soul Ancestor—let alone with a sneak attack.

The sudden turn of events startled the Shrek group.

"Stop!"

"How dare you!"

"Damn it!"

Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji, all of whom were also seven-ring Soul Sages, reacted the fastest. The moment the two red-clothed bishops activated their martial souls and launched their ambush, they roared in fury and released their own martial souls.

But due to the short distance and the fact that none of them were standing directly in front of the ambush target, Tang San, it was clear that they wouldn't be able to make an effective counter in time.

However, just as the black leopard shadow and the earth-yellow claw shadow were about to land on Tang San, the one standing beside him—Xiao Wu—moved.

Xiao Wu's reaction speed was incredibly fast. After all, she had lived as a soul beast for many years, and rabbits were naturally among the fastest-reacting soul beasts.

She had already sensed something amiss the moment the two bishops activated their martial souls. And the instant they unleashed their fourth soul skills in an ambush on Tang San, Xiao Wu had already completed her martial soul possession.

Just as the two fourth soul skills were about to strike Tang San, Xiao Wu's fourth soul ring lit up. A golden glow burst forth around her as she stepped forward, positioning herself between Tang San and the incoming attacks.

For additional chapters....

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