Chapter 140: One Person Against the Shrek Seven Devils, Calm and Unfazed
Seeing that Lin Qingmo agreed to fight seven opponents alone, a trace of triumph flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes, though he quickly suppressed it.
He nodded and assumed a posture of fairness.
"Very good."
"The sparring rules are simple: no killing, no intentional crippling. Everything else is allowed."
"The venue will be the open ground behind the academy's back mountain. It's large and spacious enough."
He paused before adding, "Flender and I will act as referees to ensure the fairness of this spar."
The corner of Flender's mouth twitched again.
Fair?
Did this situation have even the slightest connection with the word "fair"?
But he didn't say it aloud.
He simply sighed and turned around to begin preparing the field.
If something really went wrong during the fight, he might as well stop being the academy's dean.
…
On the way to the back mountain, the atmosphere felt strange.
Eight people walked in a line, yet no one spoke.
Only the rustling of footsteps and the occasional chirping of birds from the forest could be heard.
Xiao Wu walked close beside Lin Qingmo, hesitating several times as if she wanted to speak.
"Say whatever you want to say."
Lin Qingmo turned his head slightly to look at her.
"I… I don't want to fight Ah Qing."
Xiao Wu's voice sounded muffled.
"We're on the same side. Why should we listen to that Yu Xiaogang? He obviously has bad intentions."
Lin Qingmo smiled.
"Then just treat it as training with me. Don't you always say you lack real combat experience?"
"But this isn't that kind of training."
Xiao Wu muttered.
Walking ahead, Dai Mubai turned back.
"Xiao Wu, don't hold back. This is a great chance to test our team coordination."
As he spoke, a fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
"I want to see just how terrifying his ten-thousand-year soul ring really is."
Tang San, walking beside Dai Mubai, frowned slightly when he heard that.
"Xiao Wu, he's right. Only by going all out can we discover our shortcomings."
Even so, the thought that Xiao Wu would stand on the opposite side of Lin Qingmo with her full strength secretly thrilled him.
Ma Hongjun leaned over. "Exactly! If the seven of us still lose, how are we supposed to show our faces in the academy afterward? Even the cafeteria aunties will laugh at us!"
Oscar sighed. "The pressure is huge."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at him. "You're just a sausage support. What pressure do you have? Stop pretending."
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly spoke.
"Lin Qingmo is very strong. It will be difficult for us to win."
Her words made everyone fall silent.
Thinking about it… she wasn't wrong.
…
They arrived at the clearing behind the mountain.
It was a wide stretch of yellow earth, surrounded by sparse woodland.
Yu Xiaogang stood at the referee's position with his hands behind his back, looking unfathomable.
When he saw the eight of them enter, a faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Prepare yourselves," he said.
"The spar will begin in ten minutes."
Lin Qingmo walked alone to one end of the field.
He turned around and looked at the seven people gathered together on the opposite side.
Dai Mubai was loosening his wrists, the phantom of the White Tiger flickering behind him.
Tang San held several Bone-Piercing Needles between his fingers, his gaze sharp.
Xiao Wu bit her lip, tapping the ground repeatedly with the tip of her foot.
Ning Rongrong summoned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, its seven-colored brilliance slowly rotating.
Oscar muttered incantations under his breath as sausages emerged one after another from his palm.
Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together, flames dancing in his palms.
Zhu Zhuqing's figure had already begun to blur slightly. The speed-type soul skill of the Hell Spirit Cat was warming up.
Yu Xiaogang stared fixedly at Lin Qingmo, his eyes unblinking.
He had waited far too long for this moment.
A fourth ten-thousand-year soul ring, an existence that surpassed theoretical limits. At last, he would be able to witness its power with his own eyes.
Flender wiped sweat from his forehead beside him.
He looked from one side to the other.
The time was about right.
He raised his hand.
"Duel—"
His voice echoed across the field.
"Begin!"
At the center of the arena, the seven of them instantly spread out, surrounding Lin Qingmo in the middle.
The formation looked exactly like a party teaming up to raid a boss.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender watched from the side of the field. Yu Xiaogang's eyes were as wide as searchlights, staring at Lin Qingmo as if afraid to miss a single detail.
Flender, on the other hand, seemed relatively relaxed and even stroked his beard.
Oscar moved as fast as someone grabbing red envelopes during a festival. With rapid motions, sausages appeared in his hands and were passed to each of his teammates.
"Quick, quick! Recovery Sausage! Speed Sausage! Plenty for everyone!"
At the same time, Ning Rongrong raised her hand.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul appeared in her palm, radiating brilliant light.
"Seven Treasures Turn Out Glazed Light. First: Strength. Second: Speed."
Strength increased by 30%. Speed increased by 30%.
Two streams of colored light landed precisely on Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing.
At her current soul power level, her energy was limited. She prioritized supporting the close-combat fighters: the Power Attack System Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu, along with the Agility Attack System Zhu Zhuqing.
As for Tang San, who controlled Blue Silver Grass and did not fight at close range, and Ma Hongjun, who attacked from a distance with flames, they did not need the buffs.
Dai Mubai's muscles visibly swelled. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's steps became so light it seemed as though they might float.
Lin Qingmo stood where he was, completely motionless.
He simply watched them.
Watch them buff themselves and set up their formation, and watch the seven of them look as if they were facing a great enemy.
His face showed no expression at all.
He neither attacked nor defended. He did not even bother assuming a starting stance.
Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly.
He lowered his voice and said to Flender, "This child is foolish and far too arrogant. Facing seven opponents yet still acting so leisurely."
He truly believed Lin Qingmo would fail.
Young people often become arrogant once they gain a little strength. He had seen many like this.
Today would be the perfect chance to teach him a lesson—what true teamwork and tactical coordination looked like.
Flender raised an eyebrow.
"That's not necessarily true."
He spoke slowly.
"This kid never does anything he isn't confident about."
He wasn't blindly trusting Lin Qingmo.
He had seen Lin Qingmo fight before.
Back at the Great Soul Arena, the feeling of effortless control and ease had definitely not been an act.
That was pure confidence.
Tang San's eyes lit up.
A perfect opportunity.
If Lin Qingmo didn't move, he was essentially giving away the initiative.
Taking a deep breath, Tang San's third soul ring, which he had obtained not long ago, suddenly lit up beneath his feet. The purple thousand-year ring radiated a deep glow.
"Third Soul Skill: Spiderweb Restrain!"
The moment his voice fell, the ground seemed to come alive.
Countless strands of Blue Silver Grass burst from the earth, growing wildly and weaving together. In the blink of an eye, they formed a massive sticky spiderweb that descended toward Lin Qingmo from above.
But that wasn't all.
Almost simultaneously, Tang San's First Soul Skill: Entanglement and Second Soul Skill: Parasite activated as well.
Even more Blue Silver Grass surged from every direction like countless emerald serpents, hissing as they wrapped toward Lin Qingmo's limbs and torso.
Some even erupted directly from the ground beneath his feet, attempting to bind his ankles.
An inescapable net.
A true inescapable net.
Dai Mubai seized the moment and roared, "Now!"
The White Tiger martial soul instantly possessed his body.
His entire figure expanded, muscles bulging as golden fur erupted from his skin. A majestic "King" character appeared on his forehead.
With a thunderous tiger roar, he slammed his foot into the ground and shot toward Lin Qingmo like a cannonball.
His fist carried overwhelming soul power as it smashed straight toward Lin Qingmo's face.
If that punch landed solidly, even steel plates would be punched through.
Xiao Wu moved.
Her body was as light as a feather. With a tap of her toe against the ground, she traced a strange arc through the air and silently circled to Lin Qingmo's side.
Her rabbit ears swayed slightly above her head, and a strange light flickered within her pink eyes.
Her Charm skill was ready to launch.
"I'm ready!!!"
Ma Hongjun inhaled deeply, his chest swelling as his cheeks flushed red.
Blazing flames churned and compressed deep in his throat, producing a dull rumbling sound.
When he opened his mouth, wisps of white smoke escaped between his teeth.
Phoenix Fireline, ready to fire.
Zhu Zhuqing's movements were the quietest and the deadliest.
Her figure seemed to melt into the air itself. With several flickers, she had already circled behind Lin Qingmo.
The Hell Spirit Cat martial soul granted her ghostlike speed and razor-sharp claws.
Now she crouched low, her claws flashing with a cold glint in the sunlight.
Target—the back of his chest.
Four directions. Four attacks.
Every possible escape route for Lin Qingmo had been completely sealed.
End of Chapter