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*****
"You're... Lan Yinzi?"
Wearing a mask that covered half of his face, Mù Tiān, upon seeing a familiar face, tentatively inquired.
"Who are you?" Lan Yinzi raised her eyebrows, completely unaware of Mù Tiān.
"Um..." Mù Tiān felt a bit embarrassed. They had met before in front of Shrek Academy and even exchanged a few words. It must be because of the mask that she didn't recognize him. "I'm Mù Tiān. We met at the admissions office of Shrek Academy."
Now, Lan Yinzi finally remembered. "Oh, it's you..."
This time, Lan Yinzi didn't finish the sentence in her mind: "This time traveler."
"Do you know him?" the tall man beside Mù Tiān asked curiously.
"Yes, she's Lan Yinzi. That blue-haired girl also participated in the admissions process of Shrek Academy, but she suddenly left and wanted to find Tang San..." At this point, Mù Tiān calmed down and abruptly stopped speaking.
But Dai Mubai, who didn't notice Mù Tiān's quieter tone, waved to Lan Yinzi and Ye Lingling. "Two beauties, how about going for a drink after the match?"
When Lan Yinzi left, Zhu Zhuqing came over and joined Shrek Academy, becoming the only girl in the academy. However, without the company of Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing's tolerance for Dai Mubai was very low. It wasn't that she would forgive Dai Mubai, but it was just too lonely without Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. In the Zhu family, there were servants and others to chat with, but in Shrek, she could only find some old ladies in the village... There was simply no topic to talk about.
An aloof and solitary person might not necessarily enjoy being alone.
In the first few days, Dai Mubai would still come to greet her, but Zhu Zhuqing remained frosty and ignored him completely.
So Dai Mubai quarreled with her a few times, saying things like "I'm not looking for women anymore, what else do you want?" or "Can't you forgive me?".
As a result, their relationship deteriorated even further.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun in the academy didn't dare to ask.
It was Mù Tiān who wanted to take advantage of the situation, and then--
Dai Mubai beat up Mù Tiān, and perhaps to spite Dai Mubai at the time, Zhu Zhuqing handed a cup of water to Mù Tiān.
So Dai Mubai, who had had enough, also didn't want to bother with Zhu Zhuqing anymore and continued his womanizing business. After all, facing a block of ice, how could it compare to the wonderful feeling of facing beautiful girls?
However, Dai Mubai also knew that Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't really give up on him; she just thought he was worthless. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come to Shrek Academy.
But what could he do?
Dai Weisi was older than him, and he couldn't beat him. Otherwise, why would he run to this remote and poor place?
However, he still had hope, not despair. He didn't want to die yet.
In the future, he would need Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul fusion to have a chance to defeat his big brother Dai Weisi, so when he went out, he usually avoided Zhu Zhuqing. When he returned to Shrek, he would also tidy himself up.
He had to maintain appearances...
This time, Zhu Zhuqing wasn't present for the two-on-two soul fight, so Dai Mubai's licentious nature resurfaced.
"No time." Lan Yinzi frowned. She found that Dai Mubai was really as described in the novel, very lecherous. Although there might be redemption for a prodigal son, it was difficult to develop any goodwill toward him.
Fortunately, her own child hadn't gone to Shrek, and she hadn't stayed there either.
If her son turned out to be as outrageous as in the original, Lan Yinzi wouldn't believe that it wasn't Shrek's fault. Anyway, it wouldn't be her son's fault.
It could be said that the domineering Lan Yinzi would never favor someone else's son!
"Haha, quite temperamental, I like it." Dai Mubai didn't mind. Being rejected so many times had made him accustomed to it. But as long as he demonstrated his strength, the other party would surely yield.
Conquering female soul masters was actually very simple: defeat them.
In this world, the vast majority of female soul masters had a psychological inclination towards strength.
In the stands.
Tang San explained to the others what had been said between Lan Yinzi, Dai Mubai, and Mù Tiān. He said to Qin Ming, "Teacher, are they really students from Shrek? Why do I feel like they're just a bunch of hooligans?"
"Ahem, every academy always has underachievers," Qin Ming felt a bit embarrassed, but immediately labeled Dai Mubai as an "underachiever". "He doesn't represent the entire Shrek."
Yu Tianheng nodded, feeling it made sense, and then asked, "Tang San, how do you know what they're talking about? There are so many people in the audience, and the noise is loud. Even two or three meters away, you can't hear what they're saying to each other."
"I've learned a bit of lip-reading. I can roughly understand the content of the conversation from their lip movements," Tang San said. "After the match, we can confirm with Lan Yinzi and Ye Lingling."
[The battle begins!]
At this moment, the referee shouted loudly.
"First soul skill, Blue Silver Seed!"
With Lan Yinzi's command, countless blue silver seeds emerged from her hands, spreading out like a strange blue liquid.
From above, it looked as though a puddle of blue liquid was flowing out from her hands, appearing eerie.
However, Tang San noticed that Lan Yinzi's hands were entwined with blue silver grass, or rather, blue silver emperor. The seeds were sprouting from those leaves.
"White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
Dai Mubai's first soul ring lit up, and a white light shield appeared around him, providing both increased attack power and defense.
These blue "liquid" substances seemed somewhat peculiar, so it was better to be cautious.
Facing an opponent focused on offense, Lan Yinzi naturally wouldn't confront head-on but instead chose to evade.
Ye Lingling, on the other hand, stood at the edge of the competition area.
According to Lan Yinzi, the two opponents in front of them were both beast-type soul masters, and their abilities were mostly close-range combat-oriented. While there might be long-range attack soul skills, as Soul Ancestors, they probably didn't possess skills that could lock onto targets.
Therefore, Ye Lingling stayed on the sidelines.
For the first time, Dai Mubai felt like the competition area was a bit too large.
Faced with a strong offensive, Lan Yinzi naturally wouldn't engage directly but rather evade.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingling stood at the edge of the competition area.
According to Lan Yinzi, both of their opponents were beast-type soul masters, and their abilities were primarily focused on close-range combat. While there might be long-range attacks, as Soul Masters, they likely didn't have skills that could lock onto targets.
Thus, Ye Lingling stayed on the sidelines.
As Lan Yinzi's blue "liquid" substance was absorbing his soul power, Dai Mubai realized he needed to end the match quickly.
"These things are absorbing my soul power!" Dai Mubai noticed that the brilliance of the White Tiger Protective Barrier was dimming, realizing that his soul power was being drained. Decisively, he decided to finish the battle quickly.
With a flicker of purple soul rings, Dai Mubai activated his third soul skill, White Tiger Diamond Transformation.
Instantly, his aura doubled, his muscles swelled, and black tiger patterns appeared on his skin. His red and blue heterochromatic eyes became even more striking.
White Tiger Diamond Transformation was a self-boosting soul skill Dai Mubai gained after obtaining the White Tiger Vajra Soul Ring. In this state, Dai Mubai's attack, defense, and strength were all doubled, lasting for half an hour.
"This way!"
With his attack, defense, and strength all doubled, Dai Mubai charged towards Lan Yinzi, ignoring the blue silver seeds that were absorbing his soul power.
Facing Dai Mubai's charge, Lan Yinzi naturally chose to evade, and Ye Lingling watched from the sidelines.
As the battle unfolded, Tang San and the others watched attentively from the stands, waiting for the outcome of the match.
Therefore, standing at the edge of the arena, the response time for long-range attacks from the opponents would be longer, making it easier to evade.
If someone were to attempt a close-range attack on her, even if she couldn't win, there would still be a chance to drag the opponent down with her, or even create an opportunity for Lan Yinzi.
As a support healer, Ye Lingling's martial soul lacked offensive capabilities. This wasn't a team battle involving seven people, so there weren't any extra hands available to protect her.
Therefore, she could only act as bait.
Dai Mubai and Mutian also understood Ye Lingling's intention, so they refrained from attacking proactively. After all, within the realm of soul fighting, it took considerable courage to approach the edge of the arena.
However, Ye Lingling didn't just stand idly by at the edge of the arena, but rather took out alcohol and matches from her soul device.
Unlike the elite competitions of the major soul master academies across the continent, the soul arena allowed the use of other means besides martial soul abilities, as long as they didn't target the opponents' vulnerable spots...
"Hey, little girls, don't you dare run!"
Lan Yinzi's agility was extremely nimble, like a gust of wind, always a step faster than Dai Mubai's claws, which made him somewhat impatient.
"San Ge, that move seems similar to my Listen to the Wind." Xiao Wu walked to Tang San's side and whispered, "It's like anticipating the movements of the White Tiger in advance."
"It does seem somewhat similar, but not exactly. However, it does have something to do with the wind."
In Tang San's view, this should be an instinct of Lan Yinzi as a Blue Silver Emperor.
Blue Silver Emperor, when the wind blows, can sway freely, able to sense the airflow. With Dai Mubai's movements being so large, they must have caused considerable airflow, although invisible to the naked eye, Lan Yinzi should be extremely sensitive to it.
This ability was worth learning and then improving the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
Just then, the second century soul ring on Lan Yinzi's body flickered, and the second soul skill was activated.
In an instant, those Blue Silver Seeds began to sprout, linking together to form an airtight net, restricting Dai Mubai's movement.
Meanwhile, Mu Tian kept the Earthfire Lizard continuously spewing fire, burning towards him and Hao Yue, covering the Blue Silver Emperor leaves.
"This is my second soul skill: Blue Silver Ensnaring Net." Lan Yinzi stepped back to Ye Lingling's side, facing Dai Mubai who was struggling and Mutian who was setting fire, "I won't need my third soul skill. You two would die, but seeing your appearance, you don't seem to want to surrender, so..."
Receiving a signal from Lan Yinzi's eyes, Ye Lingling poured the alcohol towards Mutian and Dai Mubai.
"Is this alcohol?" Dai Mubai immediately reacted, his eyes trembling as he looked at Mutian.
"Bear!"
In an instant, Mu Tian's flames ignited the alcohol, causing most of the arena to ignite.
"Ah!" Mu Tian himself was burned by the flames, screaming in agony.
Although his three Earth fire Lizards could spew fire, he himself wasn't fireproof, and the flames produced by the alcohol burning at high temperatures weren't the same as elemental fire converted by soul power. Therefore, Mutian himself couldn't be immune to this kind of fire.
"We surrender!" Dai Mubai shouted as he watched the flames spread towards him, immediately surrendering. In the audience seats, a middle-aged man with glasses immediately descended and, with formidable soul power, stirred up a strong wind to extinguish the flames.
That person was none other than Flender, the four-eyed cat-eyed one.
After rescuing the two students, it was found that Dai Mubai only had some burns on his skin, nothing serious; Mu Tian was a bit more severe, losing some hair due to burning, but it wasn't a big deal, except that the burnt parts might not grow hair in the future.
"Where are you students from? Why such ruthless actions?" Flender questioned Lan Yinzi and Ye Lingling, exuding a Saint-level pressure towards the two girls.
It was embarrassing to take action against two female students, but Flender felt that he was seeking justice for the two students. The Shrek Academy always protected its own.
Of course, he didn't intend to really take action, just wanted to scare the two girls a bit. After all, when students from his own academy were bullied so badly and almost disfigured, as the dean, if he didn't show any reaction, wouldn't it be embarrassing?
These two girls were so powerful, there must be someone behind them. As long as they spoke up, Flender could give them a way out.
"Dean Flender!"
Qin Ming jumped off the spectator stand and walked calmly to the two girls. He smiled at Flender, "Long time no see, how have you been lately?"
"You're Qin Ming!" Flender saw Qin Ming and instantly found a way out. He smiled broadly, "Good lad, I was wondering whose students these two girls are. I didn't expect them to be yours. They have truly inherited the essence of Shrek, brave and resourceful, with a promising future."
Dai Mubai: "······" Dean, where's your integrity?
Mutian, seeing Qin Ming, thought of something. He immediately scanned the spectator stand and found a girl with a scorpion braid and Tang San standing next to her, reaching out to him across the space.
"Let's catch up downstairs, Dean Flender. It's too crowded here." Qin Ming suggested.
"That's true, it's not good for people to watch jokes." Flender laughed heartily, and walked down the arena with his arm around Qin Ming's shoulder, "Let's go to my place. Although it's small and poor, there are few people, quiet, and the environment has a natural fragrance and simplicity."
"Perfect, the other students I lead also want to see Shrek Academy." Qin Ming's eyes were filled with nostalgia, "I haven't visited Shrek Academy in a long time."
"What else can we do? Just let it be like this? In recent years, funding has decreased even more." Flender sighed, "In order to cultivate good health for the students, I've even spent all my savings. Currently, there are only five students in the academy. They may be the last batch of students in Shrek Academy. In the future, Shrek Academy may cease to exist. I and other teachers can only find a high-level academy to teach... It's really heartbreaking."
"Dean, why not come to Tian Dou Royal Academy? I teach there and also lead the Tian Dou Royal Team. Let me introduce you to the three academic committee members, they will definitely welcome you." Qin Ming extended an invitation, "Moreover, I've brought a very outstanding group of students, two monsters among monsters, both twelve years old and already at the Spirit Emperor level."
"That's truly monstrous!" Flender widened his eyes, "Can you introduce them to me?"
"As for their specific identities, I can't say. I've been given strict orders by the three academic committee members. If I dare to reveal it, even if I join the Hall of Souls, those three academic committee members won't let me off." Qin Ming didn't directly say, "However, they are also in the delegation going to the Star Luo Empire this time. Judging by appearance, you should be able to recognize them. There's a boy and a girl."
"Hey, you're still teasing me. But I understand your situation. Working under someone else's command, there's always some lack of freedom." Flender didn't pry further. After all, he liked freedom and being unrestrained. It's not like he didn't understand social conventions; he wouldn't ask about secrets that shouldn't be revealed, lest he invite trouble.
Although Shrek wasn't afraid of stirring up trouble, there were still some people and forces they couldn't afford to offend.
However, when it came to a twelve-year-old Spirit Emperor, Flender genuinely felt that the world was changing too quickly, and it was even hard to comprehend.
They couldn't just call them monsters anymore!
They were prodigies!
"I'll head back to Shrek first and have the teachers and students prepare a welcome ceremony. You can bring the students from Tian Dou Royal Academy over." After Flender finished speaking, without waiting for Qin Ming to refuse, he took Dai Mubai and Mutian and left first.
"Dean Flender is still as carefree as ever. But being carefree won't fill our stomachs." Qin Ming was genuinely concerned about helping the teachers and students of Shrek Academy, but Dean Flender's pride was strong, and he wouldn't join another academy. Qin Ming didn't know what to do...
...
"Dai Mubai, Mu Tian, gather Red, and the others, I'll go find Xiaogang and Lu Qibin." After returning to Shrek Academy with Flender, Dai Mubai and Mutian, Flender instructed the two, "Outstanding disciples who have graduated from the academy have achieved something. They can lead the Tian Dou Royal Team now. Now that they're bringing their students to see us, we can't lose face."
"Dean, we're already quite backward. If those royal descendants see us like this, won't it be embarrassing?" Mutian didn't want Tang San and the others to come. He retorted.
"I believe the students trained by Qin Ming won't be the kind of pampered children." Flender said, "Are you afraid to face their excellence because you were defeated?"
"I'm doing this to motivate you, to let you know there are always people better than us."
"Otherwise, do you think I, as the dean, would willingly let students who have made something of themselves bring their students to see our declining Shrek?"
Reluctantly, Mutian could only go to summon Ma Hongjun and Oscar, while Dai Mubai went to fetch Zhu Zhuqing...
"Flender, what's the matter?" Yu Xiaogang was interrupted from his research, a bit impatient. "Oscar has already reached level thirty, and I'm planning his third soul ring."
"Relax a bit, Xiaogang. Outstanding students who graduated from the academy are coming back, and they're bringing students from Tian Dou Royal Academy with them. I hope the children can communicate with them." Flender stated his purpose. "The children have good talent. When they graduate and go their separate ways, having contact with these people will leave an impression and open up more opportunities for them."
"Does Shrek still have students working at Tian Dou Royal Academy?" Yu Xiaogang's eyes sparkled with hope, as if he had caught a glimpse of a solution. "Can we ask for their support? No, perhaps we can merge with Tian Dou Royal Academy."
"Do we really need to do that?" Over the years, Yu Xiaogang had done a lot of counseling for Flender, so he wasn't particularly excited by Yu Xiaogang's suggestion.
In fact, he had considered it.
Although Shrek Academy was his pride and joy, the conditions were too poor. The food was subpar, and there was no simulated spirit fusion environment. Even his personal disciple, Ma Hongjun, with his soul flaw, could only rely on makeshift facilities like the Spirit Arena to address it.
"It's necessary. Our conditions are too poor to effectively nurture the children. Moreover, we have two talented students coming to the academy." Yu Xiaogang's expression was serious. "Also, what's the background of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing? You must be aware, right? White Tiger, Phantom Cat... they are members of the royal family of the Star Luo Empire!"
"Why did you recruit Dai Mubai in the first place, I don't care, but now that Zhu Zhuqing has come over to this side of the Tian Dou Empire, if they want to survive, they have to rely on Tian Dou Royal Academy."
"After all, we have taken them in. The high probability is that the other pair of White Tiger and Phantom Cat from the Dai and Zhu families will consider us as supporters of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing."
This statement might be a bit exaggerated, but Flender had to consider whether, after Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing failed in the final competition, the new emperor of the Star Luo Empire would question Shrek's responsibility.
Can the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan protect them?
Maybe Xiaogang will be fine, after all, no matter how much he clashes with the family, he is still the son of Yu Yuanzhen. But Flender and the other students and teachers in the academy might not be as lucky.
This was also one of the reasons Yu Xiaogang frequently used to persuade Flender over the years.
"Sigh."
Flender sighed deeply.
If he didn't have the intention of joining a higher-level academy, he wouldn't have actively invited Qin Ming to visit Shrek...
...
When Shrek's teachers and students, including Lu Qibin, Li Yusong, Zhao Wuji, Yu Xiaogang, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Mu Tian, and Zhu Zhuqing, were all assembled, Flender announced the reason for Qin Ming's visit with the Tian Dou Royal Team: "This exchange is for our outstanding students from Shrek Academy to come back for a visit and to let you see the gap between you and the Tian Dou Royal Team. I hope you little bunnies can cherish this opportunity."
Originally the Shrek Seven Devils, now missing Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong, with Mutian added, Oscar had become Yu Xiaogang's disciple, receiving additional personal guidance, and had now broken through to level thirty, possessing formidable physical strength, even greater than Ma Hongjun's.
Plus, Oscar's second soul ring had been chosen with the help of Yu Xiaogang, giving him considerable combat power.
"Flender, when will Qin Ming and the others arrive?" Yu Xiaogang was more urgent than Flender.
"They're coming on foot and should be here soon. Let's go out to greet them now." Flender sighed lightly, trying to perk up.
"Dean, I've reached level thirty and need to hunt for soul rings." Zhu Zhuqing suddenly spoke up. Her rate of soul power advancement was faster than in the original story.
After all, before leaving the family, even if her sister openly ridiculed and taunted her, the elders of the family wouldn't cut off her cultivation resources. Coupled with the effect of whale jelly being publicized, she could also get some millennium whale jelly.
As a result, her second soul ring limit had reached over eight hundred years.
The higher the soul ring limit, the more energy contained within, and the stronger the effect on soul evolution. Zhu Zhuqing's cultivation speed naturally exceeded that of the original story.
"Level thirty already? You're progressing quite fast, but there's no rush to get soul rings. Refining your body more will benefit you." Flender said lightly.
"Can the academy provide whale glue?" Zhu Zhuqing had taken whale jelly before and knew its effects. "I can buy it with money. That stuff is much better than carrying stones for training."
"Zhuqing, you also know that our school is very poor. Whale glue is valuable now, and we can't afford it. The effect of bath medicine is also good." Oscar was a bit unhappy. After all, carrying stones for running was a training method proposed by his teacher, and combined with the fact that his teacher often gave him rich nutrition, and even small pieces of millennium whale glue, he had eaten them once or twice.
As a disciple, it was his duty to stand up for his teacher, both in principle and in reality.
Although there was no saying of being a teacher for life like in the Douluo Continent, after becoming a teacher, the teacher was the closest person after parents. Oscar was an orphan, and he became Yu Xiaogang's disciple when he was seven years old. It was not an exaggeration to say that Yu Xiaogang was his foster father.
How could others question it?
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, ignoring him.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang was quite satisfied with Oscar, but he didn't like Zhu Zhuqing, who dared to question his training methods. However, he didn't say anything. After all, the most important thing in a team was unity, not internal conflict.
(End of this chapter)