Chapter Sixty-Five: The Fateful Connection Between King Tang the Divine and the Great Rival

"The Seven Treasures are renowned: first is Strength, second is Speed, third is Spirit!"

Having advanced to Soul Elder, Ning Rongrong's support abilities had become even more formidable. Not only did she gain another soul skill that could enhance soul power attributes, but more importantly, the amplification she provided her teammates increased from thirty percent in the original story to forty percent.

Zhao Wuji did not hesitate in the slightest, immediately setting his primary target on Ning Rongrong. In group battles, eliminating the support soul master first was common sense—especially when that support soul master possessed the world’s most powerful auxiliary martial soul, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Wuji moved. Although he was not skilled in speed—indeed, speed was supposed to be his weakness—the disparity between their soul power was nearly fifty ranks. To Tang San and the others, his figure was still all but impossible to track.

"First soul skill, Bind!"

Seeing this, Tang San immediately unleashed his first soul skill, hoping to slow Zhao Wuji and allow his team to better follow his movements.

But his Blue Silver Grass, not yet awakened into the Blue Silver Emperor, was still too weak. Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage renowned for his strength, needed no soul power at all—merely the force of his own body was enough to tear apart the vines that sought to entangle him. In just a few breaths, he stood before Ning Rongrong.

"Little girl, you’re out first!"

With a soft shout, Zhao Wuji gathered soul power in his hand, forming a small orb of light that shot toward Ning Rongrong.

He was careful with his strength. A twelve-year-old Soul Elder from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan could only hold a position of immense importance. If she were seriously hurt, he’d be hunted to the ends of the earth by her clan. In Zhao Wuji’s estimation, this soul power attack would knock her out of bounds but do no real harm.

But what he hadn’t anticipated was that, as the light orb drew near Ning Rongrong, the gemstone hanging at her chest suddenly shone with a rainbow of colors. Instantly, a circular shield expanded outward from the jewel, and the light orb vanished the moment it touched the barrier.

"What’s this... a soul tool?"

Zhao Wuji’s brows furrowed. With Xue Qinghe’s support, the Nine Star Hall’s soul tool business had spread across most of the Heaven Dou Empire. Zhao Wuji had heard of these new soul tools—different from the traditional storage devices—but, lacking the funds, he had only ever heard of them, never owned one.

"That’s right, Teacher Zhao!"

Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly and said, "Level five defensive soul tool, Heart of Rainbow Light. It can withstand a full-powered strike from a Soul King. Teacher Zhao, you wouldn’t use more than fifty ranks of soul power for an entrance exam, would you?"

To use more than fifty ranks of soul power in an entrance exam—what student could possibly pass? That wouldn't be an exam, but outright bullying.

Zhao Wuji’s expression grew grave as he nodded. It seemed there was no way for him to eliminate Ning Rongrong, meaning Tang San and the others would continue to benefit from the Seven Treasures Pagoda’s enhancement for the entire test.

"Soul tools can do more than just store things? It seems they use soul power as a medium to activate—perhaps even more intricate than hidden weapons!"

Not far away, Tang San’s pupils contracted as he watched Ning Rongrong use the soul tool. Unlike Zhao Wuji, the Tang God-King had truly shut himself away from the world at Notting City. This was evident from the original story—when he first entered Star Dou Forest, he even asked Oscar if the forest was a soul beast reserve of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Grandmaster may have heard of soul tools, but in his theoretical mind, anything that threatened the traditional status of soul masters was heresy. How could he allow his cherished disciple to accept such things?

"San, be careful!"

Just as Tang San was marveling at the soul tool, Xiao Wu’s anxious warning rang in his ears. Realizing he couldn’t knock out Ning Rongrong, Zhao Wuji turned and lunged at the others, his massive bear paw raised, bringing it down toward Tang San.

Distracted by the soul tool, Tang San was too late to dodge, even with Xiao Wu’s warning.

With a crisp smack, the Tang God-King was gifted yet another resounding slap, just as he had been in the Rose Hotel.

Zhao Wuji did not hold back this time. He had gone easy on Ning Rongrong because of her powerful background, but Tang San, with only a Blue Silver Grass martial soul, had no such support—at least, that was Zhao Wuji’s assumption.

With the strength of a giant bear, Zhao Wuji sent Tang San’s frail body flying, crashing heavily to the ground some distance away.

Here, Zhao Wuji ought to thank Xiao Yu. If not for Xiao Yu’s butterfly effect that left Tang Hao gravely injured and unable to watch from the shadows, Zhao Wuji would not have escaped a severe beating tonight.

"You damned bear, I’ll kill you!"

Xiao Wu was Tang San’s reverse scale, just as he was hers. Seeing her beloved brother take another slap, Xiao Wu was beside herself with rage, charging straight at Zhao Wuji with murder in her eyes.

Zhu Zhuqing, watching this, could only sigh. Were these two siblings really so muddleheaded? One was distracted in battle, the other even braver—shouting threats at a Soul Sage of rank seventy-six. Where did that courage come from? Did she think she was a Contra or even a Title Douluo?

Being called a "stinking bear" made Zhao Wuji’s face darken. He was not known for his temper, and in his youth had often clashed with the Spirit Hall for the sake of his pride.

Facing Xiao Wu’s charge, he no longer held back. Activating his first soul skill, Immovable King’s Body, he sent Xiao Wu flying several meters, where she crashed right into the freshly risen Tang San.

"You sharp-tongued little girl, let’s see how I deal with you!"

With a furious roar, Zhao Wuji shot toward them like an arrow from a bow.

Seeing his ferocious charge, Xiao Wu, just as in the original story, used her second soul skill—Charm. However, the gap in soul power was simply too great. Zhao Wuji broke the skill instantly, and the backlash left Xiao Wu rolling her eyes and fainting on the spot.

At once, the Tang God-King entered a berserk state, unleashing a rain of hidden weapons upon Zhao Wuji. But since Xiao Yu had intercepted that piece of crystal needed for the Dragonbeard Needle, Tang San lacked the means to break through Zhao Wuji’s defenses. Instead, Zhao Wuji, relying on his incredible fortitude, simply withstood the storm of hidden weapons and closed the distance, rewarding Tang San with yet another resounding slap.

Still, the unending stream of hidden weapons did cause Zhao Wuji some trouble. And thanks to Tang San’s iron will, despite suffering several heavy blows, he gritted his teeth and managed to hold on until the incense marking the test’s duration had burned out.

As the assessment ended, Zhao Wuji did not press them further. After all, the group’s talent was undeniable. He waved to Dai Mubai, signaling him to make arrangements for the new students.