Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Most of the injured trainees rested and received treatment in their dormitories or temporary medical rooms.

Yu Xiaogang stood by the window of his simple office, gazing at the dilapidated yet vibrant training ground outside. He pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm and focused.

He knew that defeat brought not only pain, but also the need for timely reflection and more powerful weapons.

He pondered for a moment, then turned and walked out of the office.

Before long, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were summoned to Yu Xiaogang's office.

The two entered one after the other, their faces still bearing the fatigue of the battle and a hint of barely perceptible heaviness.

They were both somewhat surprised to see the other person there.

"Master, you were looking for us?" Dai Mubai spoke first, his voice a little hoarse.

Zhu Zhuqing simply nodded slightly, her cold cat-like eyes questioning.

Yu Xiaogang gestured for the two to sit down, and without much small talk, he got straight to the point, his gaze sweeping over their faces: "Mu Bai, Zhu Qing. I called you here today to ask you something."

He paused, his tone steady yet carrying an undeniable penetrating force: "Your martial souls, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger and the Netherworld Cat, should... be able to fuse, right?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into calm water, causing Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing to pause in surprise, their faces showing obvious astonishment.

How could the master know?

This secret was known only to the members of Shrek Academy and was never mentioned to a third party.

After all, the generations-long marriage alliance between the Star Luo royal family and the Zhu family, as well as the iconic martial soul fusion skill "Netherworld White Tiger," were not top secrets among the continent's upper echelons. However, in a place like Soto City, and among Shrek Academy's mostly ordinary-born teammates, being suddenly exposed still caught them somewhat off guard.

But then, almost simultaneously, the two realized what was happening.

That's right, they almost forgot that the master in front of them, who was always immersed in theory and had a low soul power level, was not of humble origin. He was Yu Xiaogang, the son of the sect leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, one of the three upper sects.

That thing they usually overlooked to some extent because of their awkward martial spirit and level... their illustrious background.

The surprise in Dai Mubai's eyes quickly turned into realization, followed by a complex expression.

He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside him, who remained expressionless but whose cat-like eyes were slightly narrowed, then turned to Yu Xiaogang, nodded, and admitted in a deep voice, "Master has discerning eyes. Indeed."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, which could be considered as acquiescence.

Yu Xiaogang showed no smugness, but continued to ask, "So, are you ready to use this fusion technique now?"

Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai's face showed a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment, while Zhu Zhuqing frowned almost imperceptibly.

"I haven't practiced yet," Dai Mubai shook his head, telling the truth.

Yu Xiaogang seemed unsurprised and pressed further, "Then do you know the method and tricks for performing this Martial Soul Fusion Technique?"

Chapter 353 One Hundred Victories

This time, both Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

“I know.” Dai Mubai’s voice was a little lower. “This is a family tradition. Every clansman who awakens a corresponding martial soul must learn how to perform martial soul fusion after obtaining his first soul ring.”

This is knowledge imprinted in their blood and passed down through generations, guided by their elders and recorded in classical texts from a young age.

Although Zhu Zhuqing did not speak, her silence itself was a form of confirmation.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing the method was infinitely better than being completely clueless.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze becoming serious and earnest: "In that case, I hope that you two will practice more in private from today onwards. I have heard of the power of the Netherworld White Tiger. If you can successfully unleash it, it will become our Shrek Seven Devils' most formidable trump card in the future Soul Master Competition, enough to turn the tide of battle at crucial moments."

He paused, his tone softening, and spoke with the concern of a mentor: "Practicing the Martial Soul Fusion Technique is no easy task. It requires a high degree of tacit understanding, trust, and a deep understanding of each other's soul power fluctuations. If you encounter any difficulties during the process, or need protection or witnesses, you can come to me and Dean Flander at any time."

At this point, Yu Xiaogang's voice unconsciously carried a touch of reminiscence and gentleness: "After all... Flander and I also had experience with spirit fusion techniques back then. Although our spirit fusion techniques are different in nature from your Netherworld White Tiger, many of the principles regarding spirit power resonance and mental harmony are the same."

When the past was mentioned, a small pebble seemed to have been thrown into the depths of Yu Xiaogang's calm eyes, causing subtle ripples.

His and Flander's spirit fusion technique... that was many years ago.

Back then, they weren't like this anymore. Back then, they were full of vigor and ambition, and they had...

A fiery red, intense figure, like a burning flame, involuntarily surfaced in the corner of his mind.

Liu Erlong.

That woman, with a fiery temper, who dared to love and hate, yet valued their bond more than her own life.

I wonder how she is doing now...

The thought flashed by so quickly it was almost impossible to grasp, yet it stirred a faint, distant ripple in Yu Xiaogang's calm heart.

He quickly composed himself, suppressing the inappropriate sense of loss that should not have appeared at this moment, and refocused his gaze on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing in front of him.

The office fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside the window.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing heard Yu Xiaogang's words and also caught the subtle change in his emotions at that moment.

The two exchanged a glance and both saw the complexity in each other's eyes.

Practice the Martial Soul Fusion Technique?

This was a proposal that was far too unfamiliar and...repulsive to them.

Back in the Star Luo Empire, they were quite far apart in age. One had already begun receiving the education of a prince and was renowned far and wide, while the other was still an inconspicuous youngest daughter in the family. Apart from necessary family occasions, they had almost no interaction.

Later, Dai Mubai became a womanizer and his reputation was ruined. Zhu Zhuqing despised his behavior and felt humiliated and powerless because her fate was tied to this man. She avoided him like the plague.

Who would want to try the fusion of martial souls, which symbolizes close connection and absolute trust?

After arriving at Shrek Academy, their relationship plummeted to an all-time low.

Zhu Zhuqing's coldness and aloofness were almost written on her face. Although Dai Mubai had restrained himself somewhat, the past estrangement and Zhu Zhuqing's undisguised disgust stood like an invisible wall between the two of them.

Let alone practicing fusion techniques that require deep understanding and soul power fusion, even ordinary training coordination feels stiff and awkward.

Faced with Yu Xiaogang's earnest and rational advice, Dai Mubai remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding, his voice somewhat hoarse: "I understand, Master. We will... give it a try."

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, but her cold cat-like eyes lowered slightly, concealing the surging resistance and an indescribable annoyance within them.

She knew that, from a rational perspective and in the best interests of the team, the master's advice was correct.

But that meant she had to get close to, touch, and trust this man whom she deeply resented.

This feeling is awful.

Yu Xiaogang saw the two people's reactions and understood what was going on.

He knew it would be no easy task, but it was a step that had to be taken.

He didn't say anything more, but gave a final word of advice: "Don't rush things. Start with the basics. Safety first."

“Yes, Master,” Dai Mubai replied.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly.

The two left the office one after the other, their shadows stretching long in the setting sun, as if separated by an invisible chasm.

Yu Xiaogang stood alone by the window, watching their departing figures, and pushed up his glasses.

……

The City of Slaughter, the Hellish Slaughter Arena.

As the last opponent was decapitated by Lin Wan's knife, his head rolled three times on the ground before finally coming to rest at the edge of the arena.

The empty eye sockets still held the terror and despair of the last moment, and blood gushed from the severed neck, spreading a deeper dark red across the dark red earth.

This means that Lin Wan has officially achieved a 100-game winning streak in the Killing City.

The moment the head stopped rolling, the entire hellish killing field fell into an eerie silence.

It wasn't that there was no sound; the heavy breathing, the frantic heartbeats, and even the chattering of teeth of the thousands of fallen people in the stands were clearly audible. But all the sounds of madness, screams, and shouts vanished at that moment.

Instead, there was a sense of oppression that was almost tangible.

That was murderous intent.

A palpable killing intent rose from Lin Wan's body, not from the knife in his hand, nor from his blood-stained clothes, but from his entire being, from every inch of his skin and every pore.

The murderous aura formed a huge vortex in the air.

A dark red aura swirled in the center of the arena, carrying a nauseating stench of blood, the wails of countless dead souls, and a hellish chill and despair.

The air currents swirled faster and faster, and one could vaguely make out distorted human faces within them—the resentment of opponents who had died under Lin Wan's blade, the aura of death accumulated over thousands of years in this land of the Killing City.

At the center of the vortex, Lin Wan stood quietly.

The knife in his hand was still dripping blood.

His black outfit was already soaked in blood, making it impossible to tell which parts belonged to the enemy and which to him.

He had three new scars on his face, extending from the corner of his eye to his jaw, deep enough to expose the bone.

He had a penetrating wound on his left shoulder, a gruesome laceration under his right rib, and several wounds of varying depths on his thigh.

But he stood very straight.

His spine was as straight as a javelin, as if the injuries that would instantly render an ordinary person powerless were nothing more than minor physical pain to him.

Chapter 354 Road to Hell

Lin Wan's eyes remained calm.

His azure pupils appeared exceptionally deep within the dark red vortex of murderous intent, like the calm sea surface during a stormy night, unmoved by any raging winds and waves.

The vast arena was completely silent under the immense killing intent emanating from him, and the numerous fallen spectators around him remained silent.

Someone instinctively stepped back, their back hitting the cold wall.

Some people gripped the armrests of the seats tightly with both hands, their knuckles turning white from the force.

Some people lowered their heads, not daring to meet the gaze of the figure in the center of the field.

Murderous intent and strength may not be proportional; in the City of Slaughter, there are plenty of madmen with overwhelming murderous intent but mediocre strength.

But at this moment, Lin Wan was an opponent that no one in the City of Slaughter wanted to face.

Because his murderous aura comes from real killing.

One hundred matches, hundreds of opponents, all turned into corpses.

More importantly, he is the first person in many years to achieve a 100-game winning streak.