Word Count: 2,872 Words
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Shrek Academy, Spirit Dueling Arena of the Outer Courtyard.
All core students under fifteen from the Outer Courtyard had gathered here. The Martial Spirit Departnt had twenty-six students total, with thirteen second-years among them: Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Xie Huanyue, the Lan sisters, Huang Chutian, Cao Jinxuan, and Zhou Sichen. This cohort’s talent undoubtedly stood out, even within Shrek Academy’s ten-thousand-year history.
However, the most imposing auras at the forefront of the Martial Spirit Departnt ca from the three fifth-year Spirit Ancestors: Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan.
Standing distinctly separate from the twenty-six Martial Spirit Departnt mbers was a tall, dark-skinned young man: He Caitou, the sole representative of the Spirit Guidance Departnt and the only genuine Spirit Guidance Master present.
Twenty-seven core students from both departnts competing for seven spots ant everyone was each other’s rival. A tense atmosphere quietly spread throughout the arena. Ning Tian and Wu Feng stood within the crowd, surrounded by Xie Huanyue, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Huang Chutian. All six had been defeated by Huo Yuhao during the Freshman Examination Tournant and had temporarily ford an ’Alliance of the Disgruntled.’
In the distance, an elderly figure staggered with every step as he slowly entered the Spirit Dueling Arena. Most of his face remained hidden behind ssy hair, but the chicken leg in his left hand and wine gourd in his right clearly revealed his identity: Taotie Douluo, Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan stumbled as he walked. The students couldn’t help but wonder whether this old fellow would trip over his own feet and fall flat on his face at any mont.
He swept his drowsy, drunken eyes over the core students and slurred, "Little Wang, is everyone here?"
Wang Yan, who now fully managed Class One of the second grade after Zhou Yi transferred to the Spirit Guidance Departnt for logistics work, quickly stepped forward. He bowed respectfully and said, "Elder Xuan, twenty-six from the Martial Spirit Departnt and one from the Spirit Guidance Departnt—all twenty-seven core students are present. We can begin the examination at any ti."
"Good."
Elder Xuan took a bite of his chicken leg and mumbled indistinctly, "Listen carefully, you little brats. The core student examination is called the ’Grand lee.’ Attack at will within the Spirit Dueling Arena. No rules whatsoever. Fight however you want. There’s only one requirent: unleash your maximum combat strength. Don’t worry about the consequences; this old man guarantees your safety!
Those who voluntarily admit defeat or are rescued by will be eliminated. The last seven people standing will be the victors of this Grand lee. Soon, you seven will jointly carry out a special mission. When I shout ’Begin,’ please have the teachers from each class leave first."
"Attack at will... Excellent!"
Dai Huabin’s tiger-like eyes glead with excitent as he unabashedly fixed his gaze on Huo Yuhao. In just one week since the start of the second year, the situation had undergone earth-shaking changes.
For so unknown reason, Huo Yuhao had awakened a second Martial Spirit, the Ice Jade Scorpion. During the advancent examination, he had defeated a 1,000-year Fla Lion King. The previously overlooked, diocre talent had transford into Shrek Academy’s hottest rising star. The Dean of the Martial Spirit Departnt, Yan Shaozhe, had personally sought him out for a talk. Rumor had it that when Huo Yuhao left the Dean’s office, he was moved to tears of gratitude.
The key point was that Dai Huabin had made a bet with Huo Yuhao on their advancent examination scores. The loser would kowtow and loudly admit, ’I was wrong.’ Huo Yuhao achieved a perfect score thanks to his Ultimate Ice, while Dai Huabin lost by a narrow margin. As a result, he fulfilled the bet’s terms under everyone’s watchful eyes. Blinded by rage, he lost his reason and arranged for assassins from the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion to ambush Huo Yuhao along the path the Outer Courtyard core students took to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. Unfortunately for Dai Huabin, he failed once again.
If not for the fact that the Star Luo Empire’s White Tiger lineage descended from Dai Mubai, the leader of the original Shrek Seven Monsters, and that countless White Tiger descendants had won the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournant for Shrek Academy and risked their lives completing surveillance assignnts over the past ten thousand years, Shrek Academy would have expelled Dai Huabin. Only in consideration of the White Tiger lineage’s illustrious contributions did the academy turn a blind eye.
Now Dai Huabin realized he had an opportunity to openly strike a lethal blow. Adrenaline surged through his body, and he was clearly excited to the extre!
Though the Ice Jade Scorpion commanded Ultimate Ice, it possessed only one spirit ring. The White Tiger was a top-level Martial Spirit that excelled in close combat and physical prowess. With his rank 37 spirit power overwhelming Huo Yuhao’s Rank 23, Dai Huabin felt confident of victory in a one-on-one fight!
anwhile, the official Shrek Seven Monsters stealthily hid behind a pillar, poking their heads out in an orderly line to watch the match.
Since the Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance had been lent to Qian Duoduo for research before the tournant began, Ling Bai instead used the Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device, Aura Barrier, to conceal their presence.
Yao Haoxuan lowered his voice and said, "Sister Xiao Tao chose Xu Sanshi, Yueheng chose Dai Huabin, Ling Bai chose Ning Tian, Ling Luochen chose Jiang Nannan, Xi Xi chose Zhu Lu, Gongyang Mo chose He Caitou, and I chose Bei Bei. Everyone stick to the bet: the losers aren’t allowed to make a move during the elimination match. Just watch the winners go on stage and show off!"
The strength of the various teams in the tournant was uneven. Shrek Academy’s opponent in the first elimination match had historically averaged only Spirit Elders in strength, so within the Seven Monsters, they’d internally dubbed it the ’Show-off Match,’ using one battle to establish Shrek Academy’s might as the number one on the continent!
"Alright, alright, a bet is a bet," everyone replied impatiently.
Yao Haoxuan smiled with satisfaction, then suddenly rembered sothing and asked with a strange expression, "By the way, Gongyang Mo, you pure traitor to the Martial Spirit Departnt! You’re actually betting on a Spirit Guidance Departnt student!"
"Are you kidding? I, Gongyang Mo, am a loyal mber of the Martial Spirit Departnt!"
Gongyang Mo firmly denied being a traitor and explained, "Think about it carefully. None of us in the official Seven Monsters are Spirit Guidance Masters. If the next reserve team doesn’t leave a spot for a Spirit Guidance Master, won’t the Spirit Guidance Departnt throw a fit? Dean Xian and Dean Qian would raise hell!
I heard from Qian Fufu that He Caitou’s talent with Spirit Guidance Devices far exceeds his own. He’s broken through to Spirit Ancestor and beco a Class 4 Spirit Guidance Master. Considering human relationships, benefits, and strength, He Caitou is certain to make the reserve team."
Having said this, Gongyang Mo licked his lips, feeling extrely clever. But after waiting for so ti, he still hadn’t received the expected sudden realization and thumbs-up from the others.
Dai Yueheng scratched his head in confusion and asked, "I understand the reasoning, but why are you licking your lips with such a lewd expression?"
"How annoying! Why ask such things!"
Gongyang Mo’s cheeks flushed red, and his delicate face gave off an alluring vibe. In a low voice, he said, "Caitou’s skin is so dark, and his physique is so strong. He must be very... vigorous!"
Holy shit, he’s into guys!
The three straight n felt a chill run down their spines as their chrysanthemums tightened. They imdiately retreated swiftly behind the girls, warily eyeing Gongyang Mo, who was twirling his fingers in an orchid gesture.
"Stop fooling around. He Caitou still needs to win for that to happen. After all, it’s an unspoken rule that the Grand lee winners make the reserve team."
Ma Xiaotao stifled her laughter as she pulled Ling Bai from behind her. This was the first ti in over a year she’d seen him so deeply wary of soone.
"Tsk, the academy previously stipulated that the official Seven Monsters must include a Spirit Guidance Master. Whether this unspoken rule about the Grand lee holds is up to the Sea God Pavilion elders," Yao Haoxuan said with a crooked smile. "Anyway, I definitely won’t lose by betting on Bei Bei—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and number one assault-type Spirit Master in the Outer Courtyard!"
Ling Bai felt slightly surprised upon hearing this. Shrek Academy truly had talented individuals. This was hitting the nail on the head!
Inside the Spirit Dueling Arena, after learning that the Grand lee rules ant a twenty-seven person free-for-all, so core students began to stir. How could second-years compete with fifth-years? This was completely unfair!
Elder Xuan didn’t give them a chance to protest. He raised his wine gourd and shouted loudly, "Match, begin!"
"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao!"
Huo Yuhao imdiately gathered with his two companions the mont the match began. No one present had the ability to single-handedly overpower everyone else; forming alliances and quickly assembling into teams was the best strategy.
The three Spirit Ancestors from the Martial Spirit Departnt had the sa idea. Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan stood back-to-back. The ’Twin Stars’ of the Outer Courtyard, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, finally revealed that they were actually close buddies. Although Jiang Nannan outwardly seed to want to kick Xu Sanshi to death, she knew in her heart that in critical monts, he was absolutely reliable and would rather sacrifice himself than let harm co to her.
Of the twenty-six Martial Spirit Departnt students, besides the three Spirit Ancestors and thirteen second-years, the remaining ten were third and fourth-year Spirit Elders who had also ford two teams.
"Susu, Luoluo, co help us!" Ning Tian called out to the Lan sisters.
"Coming, Sister Tian!"
Ning Tian had always been well-liked. The simple-minded Lan sisters were easily persuaded and naively boarded the pirate ship.
"Senior Brother, Brother He is a Class 4 Spirit Guidance Master. With him, we’ll have exactly seven people!"
Huo Yuhao called out to Bei Bei, who imdiately understood. Four Spirit Ancestors and three second-years—the new generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters was beginning to take shape.
"Sanshi, Nannan, let’s go! Prioritize eliminating the Spirit Elders!"
Martial Spirit Manifestation: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Bei Bei’s arms transford into draconic forms as two yellow and two purple spirit rings, widely recognized in the Spirit Master world as the optimal combination, rose around him. His entire body shot forward like an arrow toward the team of Spirit Elders.
"Nannan, I’ll tank the damage. Hide behind !"
Xu Sanshi raised his Mystic Deep Turtle Shield, striking a heroic pose as if ready to go through fire and water for Jiang Nannan.
"Scram!"
Jiang Nannan kindly responded with a single word. With her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Spirit activated, her delicate figure beca even more lithe. A pair of pristine white rabbit ears stood erect on her head as she stepped on the Mystic Deep Turtle Shield to propel herself into the air, coordinating with Bei Bei to attack the Spirit Elders.
"Class Monitor, take us with you!"
Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen suddenly realized they were on their own and desperately tried to cling to Huo Yuhao while crying for their daddy and mommy.
However, after a series of tallic clanging sounds, He Caitou unleashed his Spirit Fortress Formation. His body was covered from head to toe with long guns and short cannons, raining fire indiscriminately upon the Alliance of the Disgruntled. Spirit Guidance shells from afar landed on their faces first!
The next mont, Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen miserably appeared beside Elder Xuan, each receiving a solid whack on the head with a chicken leg.
"Eliminated right at the start, you idiots!"
The two heard Elder Xuan’s angry scolding and were on the verge of tears. How could re Spirit Grand Masters survive under the firepower of a Class 4 Spirit Guidance Master?!
Subsequently, the Alliance of the Disgruntled demonstrated the correct thod. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda’s Strength, Speed, and Attack amplifications fell upon the Lan sisters and Xie Huanyue. The Spirit Fusion ’Inescapable Net’ covered the sky. Intense booming sounds continuously rang out, but the hairnet remained sturdy. The few stray shells that penetrated the net were intercepted by Xie Huanyue’s Rubber Elephant’s exceptionally high defense.
"Phew..."
He Caitou exhaled a breath of turbid air. The Mind Stimulating Thick Cigar between his lips had shriveled by half. The Spirit Fortress was the most spirit power-consuming tactic for Spirit Guidance Masters. A single salvo had evaporated a third of his spirit power, and the results were not entirely satisfactory.
His primary targets—Ning Tian, Dai Huabin, and Xie Huanyue—remained unscathed. Even Ning Tian, a fellow Spirit Guidance Departnt student, was among his attack targets. There was no choice; their small team had exactly seven people, so Ning Tian would have to make a small sacrifice.
"The Seven Treasures have nas. The first is: Strength! The second is: Speed! The third is: Attack!"
This ti, Ning Tian chose to amplify the ten senior Spirit Elders. Huo Yuhao had already released his Spiritual Detection Sharing. Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan were jointly forcing the Spirit Elders to retreat step by step. If she didn’t help them now, once the three Spirit Ancestors finished dealing with the senior Spirit Elders, it would be their turn next!
The Three Aperture Governing Heart granted her exquisite control. Ten rays of light, each fulfilling their purpose: attack amplification for assault-types, strength amplification for defense-types, and speed amplification for agility-types. With this astonishing forty percent enhancent, the ten Spirit Elders seed divinely empowered as they joined forces to besiege the three Spirit Ancestors.
"Xie Huanyue, protect Ning Tian. Use Inescapable Net to intercept the Spirit Guidance Devices. The rest of you, don’t just stand there! Avenge any grievances; repay any grudges!"
Wu Feng called out to Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Huang Chutian to attack. Their target was unanimous—Huo Yuhao!
The colorful radiance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda fell upon the four at the perfect mont, instantly causing their auras to surge dramatically. The four pounced toward Huo Yuhao like fierce tigers descending the mountain.
First Spirit Skill, Cauldron’s Quake!
First Spirit Skill, Guillotine Wings!
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao naturally couldn’t stand by idly. The Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron and the Bright Goddess Butterfly, positioned above and below, attempted to intercept the four’s attack.
Outnumbered two against four and facing opponents amplified by the world’s premier support-type Martial Spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, their efforts seed futile and laughable. Huang Chutian’s Vigorous Ape tightly grasped the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron, while Dai Huabin’s tiger claws captured the Bright Goddess Butterfly’s Guillotine Wings.
Wu Feng and Zhu Lu broke through the obstruction and charged straight at Huo Yuhao without hesitation. The humiliation and resentnt in these two girls’ hearts were no less than Ning Tian’s and Dai Huabin’s. That was their secret crush and future husband; with their beloved humiliated, how could they possibly let that slide!
Huo Yuhao did not panic in the face of the two girls’ aggressive approach. He was no longer the worthless Huo Yuhao that everyone used to trample on, but Huo Yuhao, a peerless genius with Twin Martial Spirits and an Ultimate Martial Spirit!
Martial Spirit Switch: Ice Jade Scorpion!
Countless diamond-like ice crystals covered his arms. The Ice Jade Scorpion tattoo on his back seed to co alive. A single white spirit ring rhythmically moved around his body. The Red Dragon’s scarlet claws and the Hell Spirit Cat’s pitch-black claws arrived in an instant. His white spirit ring shone brilliantly as the surrounding temperature plumted. The Domain of Ultimate Ice descended, making everyone feel as if they were transported to the perpetually frozen Extre North!
Ice Jade Scorpion’s First Spirit Skill: Domain of Ultimate Ice!
Since the Ice Empress had refused the God-making plan, Skydream could only find a 10,000-year Ice Jade Scorpion for Huo Yuhao. After ticulously selecting for two full days, he finally chose one with royal bloodline and ten thousand years of cultivation. This was the limit of what Huo Yuhao could absorb with Skydream’s help.
Skydream created an iceworm bait with his spiritual power, luring the 10,000-year Ice Jade Scorpion away from its group. It then used its vast spiritual power to ntally overwhelm the scorpion, turning it into a fool. Huo Yuhao delivered the finishing blow and successfully killed it.
An Ice Jade Scorpion with royal bloodline naturally possessed the innate domain ’Domain of Ultimate Ice.’ Legend said the Ice Empress’s Domain of Ultimate Ice had evolved into the Domain of Perpetual Ice, capable of freezing thousands of miles in an instant. This showed the power of the Ice Jade Scorpion’s innate domain and explained why Skydream insisted on choosing one with royal bloodline!
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