Chapter 40 The "Reward" for All Beauties, and the Seven Asura Illusions of Canghui Academy
Tian Dou City, a luxury suite exclusively for the full-time esports team.
As night falls, the bustling Tiandou City is ablaze with lights.
Having just finished a tough battle against the Elephant Armor Sect, the full-time team was enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Hu Yanli, that raging bull, had been dragged off by Ye Shaotian to a celebratory drinking contest. The large living room was unusually quiet—or rather, filled with a romantic, heart-pounding atmosphere.
Ye Feng leaned back lazily on the soft leather sofa, closing his eyes to rest. Although the battle seemed to have been won easily, he had actually expended a great deal of his soul power in order to suppress the power of that sword strike so as not to actually kill anyone.
Suddenly, a faint, cool fragrance wafted over. This scent carried both the danger of snake venom and the rich aroma unique to a mature woman.
A pair of boneless hands gently rested on Ye Feng's temples, massaging them with just the right amount of pressure. "Captain, you've worked hard today," Dugu Yan's voice rang in his ear, carrying a gentleness and allure that she would never normally display.
Ye Feng didn't open his eyes, but a slight smile played on his lips: "What, our Poison Douluo's granddaughter can serve people?"
"That depends on who it is." Dugu Yan chuckled and leaned forward slightly. Today she was wearing a deep purple silk nightgown with a low neckline. With her movements, a breathtaking glimpse of snow-white skin was faintly visible, almost touching Ye Feng's cheek.
She breathed softly into Ye Feng's ear: "If you're willing, I don't mind serving you like this every day... After all, you not only saved my life, but also helped me slap Yu Tianheng and the Elephant Armor Sect in the face."
Ye Feng opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Dugu Yan's pair of emerald green eyes, which seemed to be able to bewitch and captivate. Unlike Shui Bing'er's coldness, Dugu Yan's beauty was aggressive, like a beautiful snake coiling around him, dangerous yet irresistible.
Ye Feng grasped her hand that was massaging her temples, gently stroking the slightly cool skin on her palm caused by long-term practice of poison.
"Yanzi, you're playing with fire."
"Playing with fire?" Dugu Yan's eyes were alluring as she sat directly on Ye Feng's lap, her long arms encircling his neck, her whole body pressed against his chest like soft, fragrant jade. "If it's this fire, I'd like to see if it can melt this 'full-time' iron."
Her long, slender legs gently rubbed against Ye Feng beneath her nightgown, full of provocative intent.
Ever since Ye Feng suppressed the snake venom within her and her martial soul evolved into the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, Dugu Yan's feelings for Ye Feng had long since transformed from gratitude into deep infatuation. In this world where the strong are revered, Ye Feng's power, mystery, and the care he showed her were enough to make any woman fall for him.
Just as the atmosphere between the two was about to escalate to the point of conflict—
"Ahem." A clear, cold voice, like an icy spring, came from the doorway.
Shui Bing'er leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, a layer of frost on her exquisite face. She wore a light blue silk nightgown, which, although covering her up completely, only made her aloof and ascetic temperament more alluring.
"Dugu Yan, have you forgotten that this is a public rest area? If you want to be promiscuous, go back to your own room."
"Oh my, isn't this our Ice Phoenix?" Dugu Yan didn't get off Ye Feng, but instead snuggled even closer to him provocatively, and kissed him on the cheek. "What? Still not asleep so late? Are you jealous? Or... do you want to join in too?"
"You!" Shui Bing'er blushed. Although she was usually calm and composed, she was clearly no match for Dugu Yan, a "veteran driver," when it came to such shameless matters.
"Alright, stop fooling around." Ye Feng patted Dugu Yan's pert buttocks, signaling her to get up (although the feel was excellent, he could feel the air around Shui Bing'er was about to freeze).
"Bing'er, is something the matter that you've come to see me so late?"
Dugu Yan pouted and reluctantly stood up, but still obediently sat down to the side like a wronged little wife, her charming eyes always fixed on Ye Feng.
Shui Bing'er took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and walked up to Ye Feng. "About tomorrow's opponent, Canghui Academy."
She tried to make her voice sound businesslike, but when her gaze fell on Ye Feng's open collar and firm chest muscles, she couldn't help but look away.
"Teacher... Teacher Mingyue asked me to remind you that Canghui Academy's competition records in recent years are very strange. Their opponents often appear mentally confused or even become mentally impaired after the competition. The teacher is worried that they may have some kind of evil magic targeting the mental level."
When the topic turned to business, Ye Feng's expression became slightly more composed. "Mental attacks, huh..." He tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa armrest, "Indeed, that's all those gem-collecting guys are good for."
"Are you confident?" Shui Bing'er asked with some worry. "Mental attacks are different from physical attacks; they're impossible to defend against. Although our soul power is higher than theirs, what if we get hit..."
"Don't worry." Ye Feng suddenly reached out and grabbed Shui Bing'er's wrist. "Ah!" Shui Bing'er exclaimed in surprise, lost her balance, and fell directly into Ye Feng's arms—or rather, into the spot where Dugu Yan had just been sitting.
"Ye Feng! You..." Shui Bing'er was filled with shame and indignation, and just as she was about to struggle, she realized she was about to die.
"Don't move, let me recharge for a bit." Ye Feng's arms wrapped tightly around her slender waist, his chin resting on her hair which smelled faintly of mint. His voice was deep and magnetic. "Tomorrow, I will show you what true mind control is. But before that... I need my vice-captain to give me some confidence."
Shui Bing'er's body stiffened instantly, then slowly softened.
Unlike Dugu Yan, whose love was fiery and passionate, hers was reserved, like ice in the deep sea. But now, being held so possessively by Ye Feng, her defenses were crumbling little by little. "You rascal..." she muttered under her breath, but instead of pushing him away, she gently rested her head against Ye Feng's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.
Dugu Yan, who was standing to the side, was not angry at all. Instead, she chuckled and said, "Oh dear, it seems that our captain is going to enjoy the blessings of having two women tonight? Sister Bing'er, are his pectoral muscles very hard?"
"Dugu Yan! Shut up!"
Just then, the bedroom door opened. Mingyue, still elegant in a black silk robe, walked out. Looking at the chaotic scene of "one man and two women" in the living room, she sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "Looks like I came at the wrong time?"
"No, teacher, you've come at just the right time." Ye Feng, with one arm around Mingyue (he didn't actually hug both of them, it was just an aura), smiled and said, "Perfect timing, we need to have a 'dormitory chat' about tomorrow's tactics."
Mingyue rolled her eyes at him, walked over and sat down, her mature charm eclipsing the two young girls. "Stop being so glib. That old guy Shi Nian from Canghui Academy is a cruel and insidious character. I don't want anything to happen to my students." As she spoke, she took out a warm, smooth jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Ye Feng. "This is a calming jade passed down in my family. It can withstand one mental shock. Take it."
Ye Feng looked at the jade pendant, still warmed by Mingyue's body heat and fragrance, and felt a warmth in his heart. He took the pendant, but then took Mingyue's hand. "Teacher, you keep this for yourself. As for me..." A confident glint flashed in Ye Feng's eyes. "A mere illusion, I can break it with a single glance."
This night was destined to be both enchanting and long. Although he didn't actually break through to the final step, with three stunning beauties surrounding him, Ye Feng experienced immense "relaxation" and "encouragement" both physically and mentally.
...
The next day, the Heavenly Battle Arena.
The All-Round Team is facing off against Canghui Academy. This match is even more popular than yesterday's, because Canghui Academy is also a veteran powerhouse; although their reputation isn't great, their strength is undeniable.
On the arena, the seven members of the Canghui Academy stood in a row. The captain, who appeared to be around thirty years old, had a sinister look in his eyes. Their martial souls were all gemstones, currently emitting an eerie glow.
"A full-time team?" Captain Canghui sneered. "You were in the limelight yesterday, weren't you? Meeting us today will be your nightmare."
Ye Feng stood at the front of the group, followed by Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, Ye Shaotian, Leng Qianqian, Bai Xiaochun, and Hu Yanli, who served as the defensive core. He ignored their provocation and simply said to his teammates behind him, "No matter what you see later, don't panic. Remember, I'm here for you." "Bai Xiaochun, prepare the Begonia Flower."
"Yes, Captain!"
"The match begins!"
At the referee's signal, Canghui Academy did not charge like the other teams. Instead, the seven members retreated simultaneously, forming a circle. Seven different colored gem spirits floated in the air, creating a strange resonance between them.
"That's... a seven-in-one martial soul fusion skill?!" Ning Fengzhi stood up in surprise from the VIP seats. Although these seven people from Canghui Academy weren't truly seven-in-one (that's a divine skill), their seven gem martial souls shared the same origin, and the power of their fusion skill was definitely close to the Soul Saint level!
"Hahahaha! Too late! Witness our ultimate move!" Captain Cang Hui laughed wildly, and seven beams of colorful light shot into the sky, instantly enveloping the entire arena in a hazy, colorful mist. "Seven Asura Illusion!"
In an instant, all external sounds vanished. To the audience's horror, they discovered that they could see nothing on the stage except for the thick, impenetrable, multicolored mist.
Inside the mist, the members of the All-Round Team felt a blur before their eyes, and the surrounding scenery instantly changed. It was no longer the arena, but the scene of their deepest fears.
Hu Yanli saw his grandfather holding a big stick, about to break his legs; Dugu Yan saw herself dying with her body covered in sores; Shui Bing'er saw Ye Feng abandon her...
"Ah—!" The crowd's mental defenses began to tremble, and pain appeared on their faces.
"Hehehe... Sink into our illusion, become idiots!" In the mist, the figures of the seven Canghui were faintly visible, like seven evil spirits, greedily eroding everyone's spiritual sea.
However, at this critical moment...
"Sigh, is that all?" A mocking voice pierced through all the illusions and rang in everyone's ears.
In the center of the mist, Ye Feng stood with his hands behind his back. His eyes had somehow turned into a pure gold (not the Purple Demon Eyes, but a resonance between his powerful soul force and the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella). Under the gaze of these golden eyes, the grotesque illusions around him melted away like ice and snow.
"How is this possible?! How could you remain conscious in the Seven Asura Illusion?!" Captain Canghui's terrified voice rang out.
"Playing with minds? You're still too green." Ye Feng's lips curled into a cold smile as the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella in his hand slowly opened. This time, the umbrella's surface wasn't the usual silver; it had transformed into a smooth, mirror-like material. Thousand Manifestations Umbrella - Special Form - Mirror Flower, Water Moon!
"Xiao Chun, purify." "Yes!" Bai Xiao Chun, who had been under Ye Feng's protection, shone brightly with the Jade Skin White Begonia in her hand. The spiritual power strengthened by the immortal herb "Looking Through Autumn Water Dew" combined with the purifying light of the begonia, instantly illuminated this dark illusion.
"Ah! It's so hot!" The seven members of Canghui felt as if their spiritual energy was being burned by fire.
"Since you like illusions, then I'll give them back to you." Ye Feng's Thousand Chance Umbrella suddenly began to spin. "Mirror Reflection - Mental Storm!"
Buzz—!!!
A terrifying mental fluctuation, centered on Ye Feng, was amplified millions of times by the Thousand Chance Umbrella mirror and rebounded back along the same path! Moreover, this was not just a rebound, but also contained the immense soul pressure of Ye Feng, who was a transmigrator and had lived two lives!
"No—!!!" A piercing scream echoed through the mist. The Seven Asura Illusion shattered. Or rather, the caster's mental world shattered.
Outside, all the spectators saw the seven-colored mist churn violently for a moment before suddenly dissipating. Immediately afterward, seven figures, like kites with broken strings, coughed up blood and collapsed limply to the ground. The seven students from Canghui Academy had their eyes rolled back, drool dripping from their mouths, and their bodies twitching intermittently; they were clearly delirious.
The seven members of the full-time team remained standing in the same spot. Apart from a few members who were pale and sweating profusely, they were unharmed.
Ye Feng put away the Thousand Chance Umbrella, looked at the seven idiots on the ground, and wore a "I'm sorry" expression. "Referee, it seems... they used too much force and went into a qi deviation?"
The entire room fell silent. This was too tragic! He tried to use an illusion to trick someone, but ended up making himself look like an idiot? A classic case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the bait instead?
In the VIP section, Salas's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water. He could tell it was a mental backlash, but Ye Feng had done it too subtly, leaving him with no leverage. "This kid... not only is his combat skill high, but his methods are also so ruthless."
...
Inside the tunnel after the match.
Dugu Yan was still somewhat shaken; the scene in that illusion was truly terrifying. She instinctively grabbed Ye Feng's arm, practically clinging to him. "Captain...that was so scary!"
"Isn't everything alright now?" Ye Feng smiled and patted her head.
"But my legs are weak, I can't walk anymore," Dugu Yan said coquettishly, her eyes full of admiration. "The way you broke through the formation just now was so cool..."
"Then I'll carry you on my back?" Ye Feng regretted it as soon as he said it.
On the other side, Shui Bing'er suddenly cried out "Ouch!" and swayed. "Bing'er, what's wrong?" Leng Qianqian quickly supported her. "It's nothing... I just felt a bit dizzy from the mental exertion..." Although Shui Bing'er wasn't as direct as Dugu Yan, her beautiful eyes looked at Ye Feng with a pitiful expression.
Ye Feng: "..." How did this chaotic scene extend from off-field to on-field?
"Alright, alright, stop pretending." Mingyue walked over irritably and flicked each of them on the forehead. "This is the competition passage, what kind of behavior is this! We'll talk about it when we get back!" Although she said that, the pride and tenderness in Mingyue's eyes when she looked at Ye Feng could not be hidden.
"Ye Feng, come with me for a moment." Mingyue suddenly lowered her voice and said, "I just sensed... Shi Nian's aura. That old bastard probably won't let this go."
A cold glint flashed in Ye Feng's eyes. Was it Shi Nian, the Soul Saint with the Remnant Dream Martial Soul, the teacher leading the Canghui Academy team? The "money-giving boy" from the original story who tried to kill Tang San to obtain his soul bone but ended up being killed instead, giving away a head soul bone instead?
"Perfect." Ye Feng licked his lips, a greedy glint in his eyes. "Although Xiao Chun's spiritual power has improved, he still lacks a good head soul bone. Here comes the deliveryman."