When Dai Mubai was trapped by Tang San's second Blue Silver Grass skill, he finally unleashed the power of his third Soul Ring.
Now, the Dai Mubai who stood before Tang San and Xiao Wu had changed appearance once more. His body, already brawny from the White Tiger Martial Soul Possession, swelled further. His muscles bulged grotesquely, tearing his upper clothes apart to reveal a terrifying muscular outline. Most bizarrely, dark horizontal stripes now patterned his skin; if not for the lack of fur, he would look exactly like a tiger.
His tiger palms had grown even larger, and the blades that sprouted from them now gleamed a brilliant silver. The strangest part was that his entire body was enveloped in a layer of intense golden light, as if plated in gold. His blood-red eyes radiated a savage, predatory glow, and his whole being emanated the domineering aura of a king among beasts.
Although Tang San didn't know what this transformation signified, since it was a skill granted by his third Soul Ring—a Thousand-Year Soul Ring—its effects were certain to be extraordinary.
Sensing the same crisis, Xiao Wu released her Soul Rings almost instantly. Like Tang San, two yellow rings appeared around her. Her adorable white ears stood up straight. Even more beautiful than before, all her lines seemed to soften, taking on an even more graceful curve.
When a Beast Martial Soul possessed its user, the effect varied depending on the beast. For Dai Mubai's White Tiger, it made him more ferocious and domineering. For Xiao Wu's rabbit, it softened her features further and elongated her legs, much like the qualities of a rabbit itself.
Not even Tang San knew what Soul Beast had given Xiao Wu her Soul Rings. During the holiday after their third year ended, Tang San had obtained his second Soul Ring with the help of the Great Master and Dean Ma. During that time, Xiao Wu had returned home. When she came back, she already had her second Soul Ring—another Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Blue-black vines shot out from around Tang San's body. A Martial Soul didn't have to be projected only from the palms. The thorned vines lashed through the air with blinding speed, blocking Dai Mubai's line of sight while aiming to entangle his limbs and neck. Driven by Tang San's own Soul Power—the inner energy of his Mysterious Heaven Skill—the binding ability of his first Soul Ring was now pushed to its absolute limit.
As he launched his attack, Tang San grabbed Xiao Wu, who was about to charge out, and shook his head at her.
A battle between men couldn't have outside interference; doing so would only earn the opponent's contempt. Tang San's mental age was far older than his twelve years, and he understood this perfectly. Moreover, while he could sense coldness and dominance from Dai Mubai, he felt no real hostility.
Just as Tang San held Xiao Wu back, his pupils suddenly constricted, and he let out a low, pained grunt.
Ten streaks of silver light flashed and crisscrossed in the air. The rapidly approaching Blue Silver Grass vines froze mid-flight. An instant later, those incredibly tough vines disintegrated into powder and scattered. Dai Mubai's massive form strode toward Tang San, the silver blades on his tiger claws pulsing, exuding terrifying pressure.
"Your Blue Silver Grass is actually quite good—far tougher than I expected. Even with my normal Soul Power, I couldn't slice through them in a single strike. But what I'm using now is my third Soul Ring skill: the White Tiger Diamond Transformation. To obtain this Soul Ring, I went through untold dangers to finally slay a thousand-year Diamond Tiger Soul Beast. It not only greatly increased my strength, attack, and defense, but also granted me this White Tiger Diamond Transformation."
Dai Mubai stopped ten meters away from Tang San and Xiao Wu, halting his advance.
"My White Tiger Diamond Transformation lasts for thirty minutes. During this time, my resistance to abnormal states, as well as my attack, defense, and strength, all double. With my thirty-seven level Soul Power under this kind of boost, your poison isn't strong enough to harm me. Even if your Soul Skills are clever and your Control Type Martial Soul is effective, you're still no match for me. This is the absolute gap in power."
The red light in Dai Mubai's sinister eyes flickered repeatedly. Then, abruptly, his bulging muscles slowly contracted, and the red in his eyes faded. All the effects of the White Tiger Martial Soul Possession receded.
Now, Dai Mubai looked rather comical. His clothes were in tatters; his top was completely shredded, and his pants were heavily torn. The earlier entanglement by the thorned Blue Silver Grass had ripped them in several places.
His eyes returned to normal, and Dai Mubai gave Tang San and Xiao Wu a long, deep look. "I think we'll meet again soon. When you get to Shrek Academy, if anyone gives you trouble, just drop my name: the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, Dai Mubai."
With that, he waved to the twin beauties and walked out of the hotel first.
Xiao Wu couldn't help calling after his retreating back, "How did you know we were going to Shrek Academy?"
Dai Mubai paused, his voice cold. "You're only about twelve, right? At that age, with Soul Power over level twenty, in this particular season, if you're not here to register at Shrek Academy, what else could you be doing? Twelve years old... ha, twelve. I'm already fifteen. Tang San, I'll be waiting for you at Shrek Academy."
By the time his final word faded, Dai Mubai had already left the hotel.
Watching his departing figure, Xiao Wu huffed indignantly. "What an oddball. He doesn't look like a good person at all. Xiao San, even if we do end up at Shrek Academy later, we shouldn't have anything to do with him."