Time To Show Off

Standing not far away, the teacher of the Emperor Team, Qin Ming, was shocked when he saw Dugu Yan unleash her "Jade Phosphor Violet Poison." His spirit power surged, ready to save the others at any moment.

Xiao Wu also turned pale with fright. Even a fool could tell that what Dugu Yan had spewed was deadly poison. She hurriedly shouted, "Xiao Zong, be careful!"

The members of the Emperor Team, however, smiled subtly. Although they had no personal grievances with Zong, deep down, they still hoped that their close companion Dugu Yan would win.

What happened next was astonishing.

Suddenly, Zong had two large leather pouches in his hands. With a powerful swing, he hurled the pouches into the air while simultaneously launching two black kunai. The pouches, filled with gas, exploded.

Bang—

Without a doubt, the water pouches burst. Under the combined forces of spirit-covered kunai and gas pressure, the pouches shattered instantly, releasing a massive mist of realgar wine.

At the same time, Zong's first spirit ring lit up.

"First Spirit Skill—Poison Dragon Entanglement."

The Blue Silver Emperor vines, now coated in fiery red scales, did not attack Dugu Yan but instead rushed toward the mist. In an instant, the water mist turned into fire mist due to the intense heat, spreading a unique fragrance throughout the arena. The mist completely enveloped the purple fog.

Zong let out a soft breath and murmured to himself, "Phew! Finally succeeded. It wasn't in vain to practice this so many times."

The once-condensed purple fog began to burn in the face of the sudden flames, producing a series of crackling sounds before disappearing into thin air.

"No, this can't be. How did you break through my Jade Phosphor Violet Poison?" Dugu Yan stared blankly at Zong, disbelief written all over her face. It wasn't just her; every member of the Emperor Team, including Qin Ming and Xiao Wu, was equally dumbfounded.

"The Jade Phosphor Violet Poison is just a minor trick. If the Five Poisons of the Green Phosphor were combined, I might have taken it more seriously. But your venom is far from enough," Zong repeated Tang San's words from the original work, word for word.

Zong (secretly pleased): Finally, I pulled off an epic move!

Tang San (furious): You thief! Not only did you steal my strategy, but you also stole my lines. I'll never forgive you!

In the next moment, Zong canceled his first spirit skill. The Blue Silver Emperor vines reappeared, easily wrapping Dugu Yan up like a dumpling.

Zong turned to Qin Ming and said, "So, Teacher Qin, did I win?"

Qin Ming swallowed hard. "This match goes to Zong."

The commotion caused by Zong and Dugu Yan's duel had drawn a large crowd of students, including several teachers like Sun Buyu.

Hearing Qin Ming declare Zong the winner, Zong finally released the bound Dugu Yan.

The crowd gathered around, murmuring among themselves.

Fangirl A: "Wow, who's that handsome blue-haired guy? So cute!"

Fangirl B: "I want to have his babies!"

Male Student A: "That guy really is something, beating Dugu Yan."

Dugu Yan wasn't physically hurt; not a drop of blood had been spilled. She had just expended too much spirit power. Supported by her boyfriend, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan approached Zong, glaring at him. In a cold voice, she asked, "What was in that pouch just now?"

Zong replied casually, "Realgar wine."

When he mentioned realgar wine, not only Dugu Yan, but many others also looked puzzled.

At that moment, Sun Buyu spoke up. "Haha, it's true that serpent-type spirit beasts hate the smell of realgar. I just didn't expect realgar wine to neutralize snake venom. Well done, young man, applying what you've learned!"

"Years ago, my first spirit ring came from a hundred-year-old venomous snake spirit beast. I had prepared realgar wine as a precaution, though the headmaster who helped me hunt the spirit ring was so powerful that I didn't end up needing it. I just happened to use it today," Zong lied without missing a beat. He certainly couldn't admit that this was all part of a premeditated plan!

Blanklin (excited): Am I really that strong?

Xiao Wu excitedly rushed over and hung herself from Zong's neck like a sloth, cheering, "Wow! Xiao Zong, you're amazing, beating that old hag!"

Zong's explanation left Dugu Yan feeling dejected. As the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo, she had long taken pride in her snake venom, but now it had been shattered. Dugu Yan took off her ornate bracelet and tossed it to Xiao Wu. "A bet is a bet. This three-cubic-meter storage soul tool is yours. From today on, you're officially part of the Emperor Team."

Xiao Wu caught the bracelet but looked confused. "Old hag, what is—"

Zong gave Xiao Wu a swift chop on the head.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

Xiao Wu clutched her head in pain.

"Stop calling her an old hag. She just gave you her treasured storage soul tool. Don't be heartless—call her Sister Yan!"

Though Xiao Wu had earlier clashed with Dugu Yan, she still listened to Zong. She lowered her head, bowed to Dugu Yan, and thanked her, "Thank you, Sister Yan!"

Even the disheartened Dugu Yan was shocked by Zong's actions. "Zong, you—"

Zong smiled faintly. "It was all a misunderstanding. Besides, we'll be teammates from now on. It wouldn't be right to let a small matter cause tension."

Zong's words improved his standing with the Emperor Team members, including the academy teachers like Qin Ming and Sun Buyu, who nodded approvingly.

After the crowd dispersed, Qin Ming smiled and said, "Well then, tonight I'll treat everyone to a feast in Heaven Dou City!"

The crowd cheered.

"Oh yeah!"

"Long live Teacher Qin!"

That night, almost everyone in the Emperor Team, including Qin Ming, got drunk. Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan, their earlier grievances forgotten, drank joyfully, while only Ye Lingling abstained, sipping on a soft drink and responding briefly when spoken to.

After the banquet, Zong escorted the drunken Xiao Wu back to her room and then stepped outside, still sober. As he exited, he ran into Yu Tianheng, who had just escorted Dugu Yan back to her room.

The two exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

Yu Tianheng, his face expressionless, said flatly, "Thanks for going easy on Yan earlier."

"No, no, Yan's strength is incredible. If I hadn't had realgar wine on me, I probably would have lost," Zong quickly shook his head, denying it.

Seeing Zong's serious demeanor, even the usually cold Yu Tianheng couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Had he not seen the battle with his own eyes, he might have believed it. I don't believe you at all, you sneaky brat!

As they passed each other, Yu Tianheng left with a parting remark: "Next time, I'd like to see your true strength."

Zong nodded and returned to his room.

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