Chapter 101: Only shared it with Zhuqing?

The outcome of the battle that followed was hardly in doubt.

Dai Mubai had already been able to suppress Goose single-handedly. Although his soul power was gradually depleting as the fight dragged on, he could still hold his own against his opponent for at least one or two moves.

Now, with Tang San and Ma Hongjun taking over while Oscar replenished his soul power and stamina, Dai Mubai was soon back at full strength and rejoined the battle.

Predictably, the result was a brutal beating for Goose, his pained roars echoing through the battlefield.

However, as the five-minute time limit approached, Xiao Tianyang frowned. He couldn't sense even the slightest killing intent from them.

"Are they still too soft hearted?" Xiao Tianyang shook his head, then calmly pulled out his ebony gun, aimed, and fired.

"Bang!"

The bullet struck the exhausted Goose squarely between the eyebrows, piercing through his skull. Blood spurted from the back of his head as he collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Dai Mubai and the others instantly froze.

Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing a Level 53 Soul King. You have earned 140 lottery points! 

Xiao Tianyang jumped down from his vantage point and said to Dai Mubai, "Take the body. We're leaving."

No one objected. None of them felt like Xiao Tianyang was stealing credit.

Instead, they hesitated. Even Tang San.

That's right—whether in his past life or this one, Tang San had always been firm in his convictions, meticulous in his cultivation, and unwavering in his path forward. Yet, in both lifetimes, he had never personally taken a life.

He didn't reject the idea of killing, but when the moment came, he found himself unable to make the move.

Not yet.

Xiao Tianyang's decisiveness made them feel disappointed in themselves. They questioned their own resolve.

Xiao Tianyang, however, had no intention of comforting them. He could guide them on how to walk their paths, but in the end, they had to choose their own direction.

The body lay before them, but they had no trouble carrying it. The weight of taking a life, however, was another matter entirely.

Xiao Tianyang had disposed of bodies before. Whether cleaning up after Bubu's mischief or dealing with sinister soul masters in the Soul Hunting Forest, he had long since become accustomed to eliminating all traces.

With their mission complete, vacation was over. Training resumed as usual.

However, when the Shrek Seven Devils gathered the next morning, the girls quickly noticed that Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others were unusually silent.

Before they could ask about it, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to announce the morning's training plan.

The first task was daily sparring.

At first, it was just matches among the Shrek Seven Devils—one-on-one duels, two-on-three, or three-on-two skirmishes. Nothing particularly exciting, but still decent practice.

As usual, Xiao Tianyang ended the session.

But today, he was harsher than usual—especially toward the boys who had remained silent.

If Yu Xiaogang hadn't called an end to the training, Tang San and the others would have been completely overpowered.

"Xiao San, what's wrong with you today? You seem distracted." Yu Xiaogang frowned as he looked at his disciple.

"Sorry, Teacher." Tang San bowed his head, his face filled with guilt.

Although their injuries had already healed, they all knew why Xiao Tianyang had been so ruthless.

Last night's operation was supposed to be secret.

Yet, their current demeanor made it clear to anyone that something was weighing on their minds. They practically had it written all over their faces.

Yu Xiaogang noticed but chose not to pry. Instead, he moved on to the next announcement.

"From today onward, in addition to your morning sparring and afternoon training, we're adding a new evening task."

"What?! No way!" Ma Hongjun wailed.

Of all of them, he was already suffering the most—forced to endure daily training as well as additional, torturous sessions with Flender. The thought of even more training filled him with dread.

Xiao Tianyang couldn't help but sympathize.

Yu Xiaogang ignored Ma Hongjun's complaints and continued.

"You all remember the mission Dean Flender assigned you at the Great Spirit Arena, correct?"

He glanced at Xiao Tianyang. "Since Tianyang believes your teamwork is starting to show results, you will now begin working toward obtaining your Silver Spirit Fighting Badges."

"Next, we'll decide the teams."

Yu Xiaogang first looked at Oscar and Ning Rongrong. "As auxiliary-type soul masters, it will be more difficult for you to obtain the Silver Fighting Spirit Badge on your own. Therefore, you'll be allowed to form a team with another combatant."

"I want to team up with Tianyang!" Ning Rongrong immediately raised her hand before anyone else could speak.

"Me too!" Oscar followed quickly.

Yu Xiaogang: "..."

"Tianyang and I are already a team," Zhu Zhuqing suddenly interjected.

Ning Rongrong paused, then recalled that the two had already partnered up back when they first arrived at the Great Spirit Arena.

Ma Hongjun sighed. "Teaming up with Tianyang means you don't even have to fight. Sounds like a free win."

"That's not true." Saber spoke up fairly, "Zhuqing has always fought one-against-two in their matches. Tianyang has never had to step in."

"No way!" Ma Hongjun was in disbelief.

"It's true. Tianyang's first soul skill doesn't just heal—it also enhances combat ability," Zhu Zhuqing admitted.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up. "Is that correct, Tianyang?"

"I guess so." Xiao Tianyang shrugged.

"Yes or no, be clear!" Yu Xiaogang demanded. "Use your first soul skill on me."

Xiao Tianyang: "..."

His curiosity really knows no bounds...

Seeing no way out, Xiao Tianyang activated his first soul ring. Four orbs of green flame shot into Yu Xiaogang's body.

Instantly, Yu Xiaogang's perception changed—everything around him slowed, his body surged with overwhelming strength, and his hands ignited with roaring green flames.

Just as quickly, Xiao Tianyang withdrew the boost and smiled. "So? How was it?"

Yu Xiaogang exhaled, his expression awed. "This enhancement can at least quadruple a soul master's strength. Maybe even more. But... the backlash afterward seems severe."

"If you get used to it, the side effects lessen over time," Zhu Zhuqing explained. "And prolonged exposure can even strengthen one's own abilities."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed, as if he had discovered a hidden treasure.

The others were equally stunned.

Ning Rongrong pouted and grabbed Xiao Tianyang's arm. "You're terrible! You kept this secret and only shared it with Zhuqing?"

Xiao Tianyang was speechless.

…

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