Word Count: 2,848 Words
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Ling Bai hovered in midair, his four angelic wings radiating a dazzling light as brilliant as the blazing sun. The intense radiance caused everyone's eyes to sting painfully. His 10,000-year black fourth spirit ring shone brightly as he pointed the Angel Sword forward. Thousands of holy sword energies resounded in unison, erupting with a magnificent aura that threatened to tear apart the surrounding world!
Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory!
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng struggled to climb out of the craters. As soon as they lifted their heads, they discovered countless blades had been unleashed. The brilliant golden sword energies in the sky resembled divine judgment upon sinners. When the sword energies descended, they transformed into sword-wielding angels, shining with boundless radiance amidst exalted sacred hymns!
"Block him!"
Dai Yueheng released a tiger's roar. His first, third, and fifth spirit rings beneath his feet lit up simultaneously. A layer of golden-white protective barrier enveloped his body, which then expanded dramatically. His physique became robust with bulging muscles, and the White Tiger's white fur completely turned golden.
White Tiger Body Barrier, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, White Tiger Devilgod Transformation!
Under the empowerment of these three major enhancement spirit skills, Dai Yueheng tilted his head back and spewed out a bright golden-white beam of light toward the sky. A faint crescent-like radiance flickered at the beam's center. Dozens of light clusters flashed at the beam's peak, and like meteors, they shot straight toward the sword-wielding angels manifested from Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory.
Fourth Spirit Skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower!
The Rainbow Dragon and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda stood at the pinnacle of Support System Martial Spirits. Ma Xiaotao knew that with the addition of the Seraphim's third spirit skill Holy Heart and the Ape's Battle Roar, Ling Bai now possessed the monstrous strength to sweep through all seven of them. The holy power contained in Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory even made the evil power deep within the Evil Fire Phoenix's origin tremble, but she absolutely refused to admit defeat!
Sharp phoenix cries accompanied by tiger roars echoed throughout the Spirit Dueling Arena. Ma Xiaotao's final black spirit ring shone brilliantly as enormous golden-red fireballs over a meter in diameter fell from the sky. The Evil Fire Phoenix's sixth spirit skill Phoenix Meteor Shower combined with Dai Yueheng's White Tiger Meteor Shower. Like wind aiding fire and fire borrowing wind's might, the two meteor showers merged together, dyeing half the sky in red and white.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Continuous explosions rang out one after another. They were no longer opponents on the same level. Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory precisely sliced through each meteor, and the light fragments poured down like rain. Ling Luochen raised a canopy made of Ultimate Ice while Bei Bei, Xi Xi, and Xu Sanshi each released their spirit skills to block the aftershocks.
The two meteor showers served their purpose in consuming energy. After the ice canopy shattered, Ma Xiaotao and the others were revealed, and though they were all panting and drenched in sweat, at least they hadn't suffered any casualties.
"Sister Xiaotao, what do we do now?"
Xu Sanshi looked up at Ling Bai hovering in the sky, almost in tears. Despite having his Angelic Domain, spirit bones, and Martial Spirit talents restricted, why was this guy still so overpowered?!
Ma Xiaotao's expression was extremely grim. Ling Bai, who had suddenly skyrocketed to Spirit Saint level and transformed into a four-winged form, could no longer be described as merely troublesome. They were like cornered beasts making a futile stand, waiting for the angel's judgment to descend from the heavens!
"Stall him! Stall until his spirit power collapses!"
In her understanding, for a Spirit King to suddenly cross over to Spirit Saint, the quadruple amplification would place an incredibly heavy burden on the Spirit Master's body.
Stall until Ling Bai himself could no longer endure the power. The remaining three melons and two dates were hardly worth mentioning!
The seven gathered to maintain their formation. The key to victory or defeat was time!
On the other side, Ning Tian, Gongyang Mo, and Yao Haoxuan focused on support. The enemy team was determined to hold their ground and engage in a battle of attrition. As a close-combat Spirit Master, Jiang Nannan had very little room to display her abilities. Although He Caitou's Spirit Fortress Formation had fierce firepower, his Class 4 Spirit Guidance Devices couldn't pose a substantial threat; Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei together easily blocked them.
As for Wang Dong...
A mere 3-ringed Spirit Elder, even less did anyone pay attention to him.
Without the Golden Road Spirit Fusion, his impact on the battlefield was far less than Huo Yuhao's. At least Huo Yuhao could use the Ice Jade Scorpion's Ultimate Transformation to assist Ling Luochen. Wang Dong could only stand there helplessly.
"Stall me?"
Ling Bai suddenly smiled, a smile that was hard to tell whether it was a sigh or mockery. This strategy wasn't wrong in theory, as ordinary Spirit Masters indeed couldn't endure the sudden surge in spirit power. But he had long since absorbed Life Gold to strengthen his body and Spiritual Sea. The spirit power rampaging inside his body only made him feel...
Exhilarated!
Almost simultaneously, his brilliant golden eyes instantly turned magma-like golden-red. His fifth spirit ring shone intensely, releasing a blazing brilliance more dazzling than the vast sun in the sky. Everyone on the ground instinctively closed their eyes tightly, yet still felt a blinding whiteness before them!
The Seraphim's blazing bloodline burned wildly. A golden-red fireball engraved with various flame runes took shape with a tremendous boom, hanging in the sky like a second sun!
Fifth Spirit Skill: Scorching Sun Wheel!
The Scorching Sun Wheel, trailing a golden-red flame and wrapped in surging heat waves, slowly descended like the great sun falling to earth. Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the others turned deathly pale upon seeing this natural disaster-like phenomenon, and revealed expressions of fear for the first time.
Phoenix cries and tiger roars rang out once more. Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng were both Spirit Emperors, the captain and vice-captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters. No matter what, they had to stand in front of everyone. The Evil Fire Phoenix's fifth spirit skill Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike and the White Tiger's sixth spirit skill White Tiger Annihilation Slash were unleashed one after another. Their unyielding momentum carried a hint of tragic resolve.
Poof!
The White Tiger Annihilation Slash fell into the Scorching Sun Wheel, stirring up a ripple of flames, but its effect was negligible. The fire phoenix from the Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike plunged straight in, not only failing to weaken the Scorching Sun Wheel but instead causing the light and heat it released to become even more immense!
"Ah???"
Dai Yueheng turned to Ma Xiaotao with a shocked expression that seemed to say: Big Sister, why are you aiding the enemy!
Ma Xiaotao watched as the massive shadow of the Scorching Sun Wheel gradually approached and shrugged helplessly. How could she have known that the angelic holy fire could instantly purify and merge with the phoenix's evil fire!
I've done my best; my conscience is clear!
The firelight illuminated the distorted and fearful faces of Bei Bei and Xi Xi. Tiny beads of sweat covered their foreheads as they tremblingly unleashed several spirit skills, but to no avail.
Xu Sanshi put his hands on his hips and grinned crookedly. Compared to Bei Bei and Xi Xi's futile efforts, he was much smarter. He directly withdrew his Mystic Deep Turtle Martial Spirit, spread his arms, and faced the Scorching Sun Wheel head-on.
With Elder Xuan protecting our lives, what do I have to fear!
Come on, kill me if you can!
The only person who could put up some resistance was Ling Luochen, whose Ice Element had temporarily transformed into Ultimate Ice. She waved her staff, controlling Ultimate Ice to build layer upon layer of ice fortresses. Gazing at Ling Bai in the sky, who had a smile on his face, the unwillingness in her eyes almost took physical form!
She thought that with Ultimate Ice, she could defeat Ling Bai for once. As a result, Ling Bai countered with his ultimate move. In the face of Spirit Saint-level Ultimate Holy, her 5-ringed Ultimate Ice was like a child who hadn't grown up.
The Scorching Sun Wheel descended upon the Ultimate Ice and exploded. Angelic holy fire devoured the entire Spirit Dueling Arena inch by inch. Ultimate Ice, the ground, the walls—all turned to ashes under this Ultimate Holy high-temperature purification.
As the holy fire dissipated, the devastated Spirit Dueling Arena revealed an earthen-yellow spirit power barrier. Elder Xuan had saved Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the other seven in the nick of time.
Huo Yuhao stood there dumbfounded. Only when his nostrils filled with purified air and his vision took in the melted ground and walls did he realize what had happened. He plopped down with his butt on the ground.
Dear heavens, I almost died.
While feeling both terrified and grateful, he couldn't help but think: The Seraphim is a God-level Martial Spirit possessing Ultimate Holy. Although the Ice Jade Scorpion is slightly inferior, it still has Ultimate Ice. A Spirit Saint-level Seraphim is terrifying to this extent, which means a 7-ringed Spirit Saint Ice Jade Scorpion would be equally terrifying!
Case closed!
My future is limitless!
Elder Xuan took a sip of wine, scratched his head, and said, "Oops, I originally hoped you could all have a more intense back-and-forth battle. I didn't expect that with the quadruple amplification, Ling Bai could directly reach Rank 70 spirit power.
No matter. You've all gained some understanding of each other's abilities. Fully supporting Ling Bai can also serve as a trump card during the team battles in the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament.
Those who lost, time to carry out your punishment!"
"I am a pig! I am a pig! I am a pig!"
Xu Sanshi, thick-skinned as ever, shouted three times in one breath. Then he shamelessly approached the Inner Courtyard students and volunteered, "Sister Xiaotao, Sister Ling, Sister Xi Xi, let me shout for you!"
"No need. I am a pig!"
Ma Xiaotao gave him a sidelong glance. Together with Xi Xi, she admitted to being related to that chubby and silly animal. When Ling Luochen shouted 'I am a pig,' her gaze remained firmly locked on Ling Bai, her eyes churning with indecipherable emotions.
Xu Sanshi sighed regretfully. He had broken through to four rings, becoming a Spirit Ancestor, and planned to participate in the Inner Courtyard examination next year. He wanted to establish good relations with the Inner Courtyard students in advance. However, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, and Xi Xi didn't appreciate his gesture at all. Suddenly, a deep male voice sounded from behind him.
"Junior Brother Sanshi, help me shout, would you?"
"Sure... like hell I will! Bei Bei, you rascal!"
Xu Sanshi thought it was Dai Yueheng wanting to save face and asking for help, so he readily agreed, only to find it was Bei Bei looking at him with a mischievous expression.
"Nannan, he's bullying me!"
"Scram!"
Xu Sanshi sought comfort from Jiang Nannan but received a vigorous 'Scram!' in response.
"Hehe, winning without lifting a finger feels awesome!"
Gongyang Mo laughed while leaning against He Caitou's muscular chest. Yao Haoxuan deeply agreed with this sentiment. Ning Tian, however, was concerned about Ling Bai's physical condition and stuffed him with a whole bunch of supplements. Wang Dong hid in a corner, drawing circles, growing more irritable the more dazzling Ling Bai became.
"Rest up tonight. Gather at the East Gate tomorrow morning to set off for the Star Luo Empire!"
Elder Xuan gave the order, and everyone immediately dispersed, each returning to their own place.
...
In the early morning, shrouded in a layer of mist, the group from Shrek Academy slowly walked out from the East Gate.
The group consisted of Taotie Douluo Elder Xuan, the two generations of Shrek Seven Monsters, and the accompanying teacher Wang Yan, the homeroom teacher of second-year Class One in the Outer Courtyard.
When the six Inner Courtyard students—excluding Ling Bai—heard that Wang Yan would be commanding their battles and learned that this man in his thirties was merely a Spirit King, they immediately found him unpleasant no matter how they looked at him.
Dude, what kind of strength do you even have?
They pulled Ling Bai aside and solemnly declared their stance, firmly refusing to follow the commands of the 'trash teacher' assigned by Shrek Academy. They would decide their own battle strategies.
Ling Bai merely smiled. Wang Yan was a theoretical-type Spirit Master scholar; he had some knowledge, but not much. He failed to recognize Meng Hongchen's Red Eyed Ice Toad during the finals, causing Ling Luochen to suffer a needless loss. Still, his character was decent—at least better than a certain Grandmaster!
Everything went smoothly along the way. Ma Xiaotao walked ahead of Ling Bai; to his left was Ling Luochen, who stealthily leaned closer; to his right was Ning Tian, acting as if facing a formidable enemy while subtly probing the identities of the two girls. Surrounded by beautiful women, he was the envy of everyone else.
Behind them, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong held hands to maintain their Haodong Power. Xu Sanshi shamelessly trailed behind Jiang Nannan, while the others chatted in groups of two or three.
After enjoying a delicious lunch cooked by Huo Yuhao beside a forest stream, Elder Xuan gathered everyone and said solemnly, "We're not far from the academy now, but there are some things I need to say upfront. Reserve Team youngsters, listen carefully; this concerns the direction of your future. From the moment you became part of the Reserve Team, you've already set one foot into the Inner Courtyard..."
Elder Xuan slowly recounted stories about the Inner Courtyard, the Shrek Guardians, and Evil Spirit Masters. The Reserve Team listened attentively, their expressions changing several times as they became immersed in Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year glory and the responsibilities on their shoulders. The Inner Courtyard students likewise maintained solemn expressions, showing both pride and a special radiance on their faces, as they all basked in Shrek's ten thousand years of honor.
Oh, two people were just pretending.
"Children, are you willing to join the Shrek Guardians!" Elder Xuan roared.
"We are willing!"
Looking at the seven Reserve Team members, their young faces tense yet unwavering, Elder Xuan nodded in satisfaction and took out seven rings to distribute among them.
The rings were exquisitely crafted, with silver-white metal bands. Inlaid on each was a verdant gemstone the size of a fingernail, its color lush and full of life.
"These rings contain the exclusive clothing, masks, cloaks, and distress signal flares of the Shrek Guardians. Your faces must not be seen while executing surveillance assignments. Please change into them now," Wang Yan suggested.
The two generations of the Shrek Seven Monsters walked into the woods. After a few minutes, they emerged one after another. The seven Reserve Team members had excited smiles on their youthful faces, wearing the close-fitting inner armor of the Shrek Guardians under their clothes.
The inner armor was primarily made from the hide of the 1,000-year spirit beast Plated Giant Rhinoceros, with the addition of some other medicinal substances to make it even tougher. It could provide safety assurance for agility-attack and support-type Spirit Masters who were relatively weak in defense.
Another quarter of an hour passed before Ling Bai finally strolled out last, an unusually strange expression on his face.
"Ling-ge, I know you're so devastatingly handsome it infuriates both gods and men, but there's no need for such narcissism..."
Xu Sanshi couldn't help but tease as he watched Ling Bai fidgeting restlessly by the stream.
"You misunderstand; I just feel it's a bit tight in the crotch area..."
Ling Bai squirmed uncomfortably.
"Pfft!"
Not far away, Ma Xiaotao instantly grasped his meaning. A rosy blush spread across her lovely face. Xu Sanshi, in contrast, closed his mouth in self-consciousness, inwardly vowing to keep well away from Ling Bai when using the restroom going forward.
"It's not a big deal. Just work it a bit, and it'll loosen up."
Ma Xiaotao patted his shoulder and delivered an incredibly impactful piece of advice. Ling Bai immediately fell into deep contemplation.
Hmm... Can this really be 'worked'?
What if it gets shorter the more I work it!
Elder Xuan shook his head and sighed at how forthright young people were these days. Clearing his throat, he said:
"Next, I'll introduce the Guardians' assignment. This time, our assignment has been rated red-grade by the Surveillance Pavilion. We need to go to the mountainous area bordering the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire to find and eliminate a group of Evil Spirit Master bandits. Now that the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament is approaching, we must complete this mission within three to four days..."