"Begin!"

The moment the match started, both fighters exploded into action!

Tang San ditched his usual flashy hidden weapons.

He quickly pulled out a Zhuge Divine Crossbow from his Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges, fired, then immediately switched to a new one.

Oh?

Hidden weapons going full auto? Ditching stealth for firepower now, huh.

["God of Emotion": Outdated hidden weapons can't even compare to soul tools!]

Though lacking tails, those bolts were strong enough to kill a four-ring Soul Ancestor, and the barrage they unleashed was nothing to scoff at.

But Meng Yiran remained fearless.

Her serpent staff spun rapidly in her hands, soul power condensing into a shield.

Divine Technique: Eight Spider Fissures!

Though designed for the Eight Spider Lances, the technique could be unleashed in other ways too—it just came at the cost of reduced power.

But with her improved cultivation and reforged body from the immortal herb, Meng Yiran held firm under the bombardment. The Eight Spider Lances wove together as she closed in fast on Tang San.

Tang San quickly adjusted his strategy, flicking out Dragon Beard Needles to try and breach her defenses from the side.

But every single one was deflected with precision by the Eight Spider Lances.

Hidden weapons were, by nature, tools for ambush and assassination.

Throwing them openly like this? He'd have better luck hitting a ghost.

She was almost on him.

Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass. His third soul ring lit up, scattering seeds in all directions that shot toward Meng Yiran.

"You seriously don't have anything new?"

Meng Yiran stopped spinning her staff and started spinning herself instead.

Her soul power shield formed a rotating sphere, easily bouncing away all the Blue Silver Seeds.

The scene looked eerily familiar.

But…

Was Tang San really that stupid?

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The scattered seeds suddenly began exploding, entangling and detonating again in chain reactions, weaving a thick Blue Silver Grass that swept toward Meng Yiran.

Ssssssshhh—

The sound of slicing rang out, but it still couldn't pierce Meng Yiran's defense.

It looked like a waste of effort.

Yet Tang San smiled, his golden buck teeth gleaming.

What he wanted… was to control her positioning!

Tang San took a few steps and leapt high into the air, throwing his head back—then slammed it downward!

His two dazzling golden buck teeth expanded in the wind to the size of doors, crashing down with his headbutt!

Soul Bone Skill: Invincible Gold Teeth!

A nerfed version of Invincible Golden Body—only the teeth were invincible.

But they were tough enough to act as weapons!

Ssssssshhhh—

The golden teeth clashed with Meng Yiran's soul power shield, screeching as they pressed downward instead of bouncing off.

They forcibly halted her spinning, pinning down two of the Eight Spider Lances.

Effectively immobilizing her.

Tang San, already dual-wielding Zhuge Divine Crossbows, pulled both triggers.

At this close range, with two Eight Spider Lances pinned, Meng Yiran had no room to perform Eight Spider Fissures.

She had no escape.

But—don't forget—Eight Spider Lances, eight in total!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

Thud!

As the tail-less bolts slammed into Meng Yiran—

One Eight Spider Lance pierced straight through Tang San's heart.

No question—Tang San was dead.

As for Meng Yiran, five of her lances protected her vital organs, but the rest of her limbs were riddled with bolts.

Maimed, yes. But alive.

"Ugh—"

Meng Yiran let out a strange groan. Her pale skin turned a sickly purple.

Poison.

And not just any poison—it was a lethal one that attacks instantly on contact. It felt like she was about to die on the spot.

Tang San grinned, unbothered by the blood pouring from his chest.

He had Diyi Hong's resurrection!

But you?

He was playing the "mutually assured destruction" game. What could she do?

Wummmm—

A golden light descended.

It was Diyi Hong's Healing Divine Light.

While it couldn't regrow a heart, as long as Tang San still had one breath left, he could be brought back.

Of course, the side effects were…

Glug glug—

Tang San gleefully spat up blood bubbles, as if enjoying a fine wine.

What the hell?

"Ahhhh~~~"

That came from Meng Yiran—if you just listened, you'd think it was from a certain infamous teacher's work.

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Heehee! That's the side effect—an intense, pleasure-overload massage of life energy that makes you moan~]

["God of Speed": Rongrong, what have you been studying in the Divine Realm?]

["Phoenix God": Looks… kinda awesome.]

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Don't even think about it, fatty. I'm not giving you a sample.]

["Phoenix God": No worries, I'll try it from this world's version of you.]

Tang San soon cleared out the clotted blood in his lungs, and he and Meng Yiran started groaning in unison.

"Hah~"

"Hss~"

"Whew~"

"Mmm~"

Their duet of moans made everyone's skin crawl.

Oscar not dared to straighten up.

Ning Fengzhi gripped his staff tightly, his gaze complex.

He had experienced the Healing Divine Light himself. It was soothing, yes, but… this level of breakdown?

Could it be…

Another one of Diyi Hong's "specialized side effects"?

Then that was fine.

If Meng Yiran had to go through that, she was no longer a serious competitor.

Nearby.

Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang looked at their granddaughter with hearts aching, but seeing her limbs already healing, they could only stare helplessly.

They were really having a hard time!

About half a minute later.

Tang San finished healing first. He crawled out of the golden light, shooting Diyi Hong a wary look.

Hell no.

That healing light had some freakish charm—his body just wouldn't listen to his brain. He could feel himself getting addicted…

A healing ability… with a seduction effect?

This guy was a damn demon!

"You owe me another life," said Diyi Hong, calm as ever.

"What?" Tang San was stunned. "Didn't you say I get one free resurrection?"

"That's if you win," Diyi Hong replied.

"I did win!" Tang San pointed at Meng Yiran. "She took my Five Venom Powder! In three breaths, she'd have died! I, on the other hand, even with a shattered heart and spider venom, could still hold on for at least ten seconds!"

Diyi Hong's eye twitched.

Right on cue, Meng Yiran finished healing. He withdrew the golden light.

"Go tell that little bastard who really won."

Looking thoroughly humiliated, Meng Yiran stood up and shot a venomous glare at Tang San.

You opened with a mutual kill strategy? Are you nuts!?

"What are you looking at?" Tang San said smugly. "That's called 'strategic rule exploitation'! You should've gone for the head!"

Meng Yiran's eyes narrowed in disdain.

She walked to the side, yanked out a Zhuge Crossbow Bolt, and stabbed it into her own shoulder.

Her pale skin turned purple instantly.

Tang San's brows furrowed.

He didn't think she was the type to give up in despair.

Sure enough—

The Eight Spider Lances on her back suddenly stabbed into different parts of her body, sucking up the venom.

In moments, her skin turned back to its pale-white hue.

With facts, she slapped Tang San in the face—This lady ain't afraid of poison!

"One of the Eight Spider Lances' evolution requirements is absorbing poison," Meng Yiran said coldly. "Trying to poison me? Why don't you try drowning a fish next time?"

Tang San: (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

What the hell?!

Is this chick insane?!

Wasn't the Human-Faced Demon Spider supposed to evolve by devouring soul beasts and soul masters?!

Now it eats poison too?!

One misstep, and the whole plan collapses.

Tang San could already imagine everyone laughing their asses off at him.

So humiliating!!!

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