"Anyone can challenge the Spirit Guidance Master..."
Ling Bai rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, "Is the academy afraid that the Spirit Guidance Master won't be eliminated?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaotao beside him snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Don't forget, Shrek is the number one 'Spirit Master' academy on the continent! The Shrek Seven Monsters may need anyone else, but the one thing they absolutely don't need is a Spirit Guidance Master!"
Ma Xiaotao heavily emphasized the words 'Spirit Master,' making it clear to even the dullest listener that she harbored strong prejudice against Spirit Guidance Masters.
Ling Bai revealed a meaningful smile. He was too lazy to waste his time arguing the pros and cons with Ma Xiaotao. Shrek Academy had suffered too few setbacks. When the day came they got a couple of teeth knocked out by Spirit Guidance Devices, then they would feel the pain and naturally begin to value their development.
"Does anyone have any questions about the rules?"
Elder Xuan asked loudly after introducing the rules of the Seven Monsters Challenge.
Everyone replied in unison, "No."
Elder Xuan nodded with satisfaction. At least this year, everyone seemed smart. He continued:
"Now, the current Seven Monsters, step forward and introduce yourselves one by one, so the challengers can understand your Martial Spirits, spirit power ranks, and specialization, to help them decide whom to challenge in the future! Dai Yueheng, you go first!"
"Yes, Elder Xuan."
The student named was a tall and robust young man with masculine and chiseled features, and a pair of naturally strange double pupils. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Dai Yueheng, Martial Spirit: White Tiger, Rank 61 Power Attack System Spirit Emperor, current captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters. I welcome everyone to challenge me!"
As he finished, those strange double pupils stared fixedly at Ma Xiaotao across from him, who stood with her arms crossed. It seemed as if fierce sparks of battle intent were igniting between the two.
After Dai Yueheng, another male student stepped forward. He wasn't as muscular as Dai Yueheng but was tall and well-proportioned. A slightly forced smile appeared on his face as he introduced himself: "Chen Zifeng, Martial Spirit: Soulchasing Sword, Rank 54 Power Attack System Spirit King."
The reason for his forced smile was simple. Among the current Shrek Seven Monsters, only he and Dai Yueheng were Power Attack System Spirit Masters. He acknowledged that his strength was far inferior to Dai Yueheng's, and among the challengers, Ma Xiaotao's reputation was notorious. The Evil Fire Phoenix was a top-level Power Attack System Beast Martial Spirit!
The Inner Courtyard's 'active volcano' not only represented an explosive temper but also implied that once she erupted, it would be earth-shattering!
For the sake of the team's overall strength, Ma Xiaotao might not necessarily challenge Dai Yueheng and was more likely to choose between himself and the Spirit Guidance Master. Chen Zifeng silently prayed in his heart:
Big sister, choose him, not me! Choose him, not me!
The third student was a female student. Unlike Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng, who stood out in appearance, she had neatly trimmed short hair, an ordinary figure, and a plain face, the kind that would be impossible to find in a crowd.
"Xi Xi, Rank 53 Agility Attack System Spirit King, Martial Spirit: Lightning Leopard."
Like Chen Zifeng, Xi Xi gave a simple introduction. However, her presence was so fleeting that she seemed to drift by like a leaf in the wind, making it hard for people to remember her. She was so remarkably ordinary that it was astonishing.
However, it was precisely such an ordinary person who made another Agility Attack System Spirit Master present, Chu Qingtian, feel his palms grow damp with sweat.
What was the role of an Agility Attack System Spirit Master?
Assassination!
Ambush!
Like an assassin lurking in the dark of night, ready to backstab and crush the throat in one lethal strike!
Clearly, Xi Xi had grasped the true essence of an Agility Attack System Spirit Master. Ordinariness was her most perfect camouflage. When she shed her disguise and revealed the fangs of the Lightning Leopard, her prey would be doomed!
After Xi Xi finished speaking, another female student stepped forward. She radiated an aloof and proud aura, with an exquisite and cold face that contrasted sharply with the ordinary Xi Xi beside her. Her skin was as white as snow, and she walked with an ethereal lightness as if she didn't carry any weight.
"Ling Luochen, Martial Spirit: Ice Element, Rank 52 Control System Spirit King."
She gazed past everyone, looking solely at Ling Bai. Her pearly teeth unconsciously bit her red lips, and her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions—shyness, anger, curiosity, fear, and more.
Ling Bai met her gaze and attempted to analyze the medley of emotions in those eyes that resembled a fan-shaped pie chart. After three seconds, he decisively gave up.
Sorry, I can't make heads or tails of it!
The fifth person was a slim and short male student, standing at most a little over 1.6 meters tall. His figure was slender and petite, and words like handsome couldn't be used to describe his appearance. He looked like a living, breathing comical sidekick.
"Yao Haoxuan, Martial Spirit: Ape, Rank 52 Spirit Power, dual specialization in control and support. Because my situation is a bit special, I've teamed up with the sissy next to me. If anyone wants to challenge us and secure two positions among the Seven Monsters in one go, come at us!"
Yao Haoxuan chuckled as he patted the shoulder of the delicate-looking male student beside him.
"Jerk, who are you calling a sissy!"
The male student gave Yao Haoxuan a big eye-roll, raised his hand gracefully, and said in a soft voice:
"Gongyang Mo, Martial Spirit: Rainbow Dragon, Rank 56 Auxiliary System Spirit King."
If Ling Bai could still be described as handsome, then this Gongyang Mo was almost to the point of being effeminate. His voice was so melodious and winding that everyone who heard it couldn't help but shiver and break out in goosebumps!
The last student stepped forward slowly. He was tall and burly, like a vajra tower propping up the sky. His massive pectoral muscles, like a double-door refrigerator, were exceptionally eye-catching. Contrasting with his physique was a small and exquisite object attached to his wrist.
A Spirit Guidance Device!
"Qian Fufu, Class 5 Spirit Guidance Master."
His name carried a hint of humor. Pan Tao, who had a low comedic threshold, couldn't help but let out a snicker. Unlike Spirit Masters who reported their Martial Spirit and spirit power rank, Qian Fufu only needed to state his class as a Spirit Guidance Master.
Hostility?
The Spider Emperor Sense told Ling Bai that this Qian Fufu seemed to harbor intense animosity toward him.
Do we... even know each other?
Ling Bai felt unjustly targeted and was utterly baffled. He lightly patted Ma Xiaotao's shoulder and asked:
"Do you know Qian Fufu?"
Ma Xiaotao was taken aback. "Why are you suddenly asking about him?"
"We just… hit it off."
Like hell I'd believe that!
Ma Xiaotao resisted the urge to retort at Ling Bai's nonsense and replied, "He's the adopted son of the two Deans of the Spirit Guidance Department, Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er. The Inner Courtyard's top Class 5 Spirit Guidance Master, and also the biggest ass-kisser around. And the person he's fawning over is actually that iceberg Ling Luochen!"
Mystery solved!
Ling Bai recalled Qian Fufu's humble appearance the previous day when pleading for Ling Luochen to open the door. He must have heard somewhere that he had defeated her in the Spirit Dueling Arena and was preparing to play the knight in shining armor to avenge his goddess.
'Come to think of it, does Shrek have some weird feng shui going on? It keeps producing these clingy types...'
Ling Bai had doubts about this. Qian Fufu and Xu Sanshi—the two biggest simps of the Inner and Outer Courtyards!
Huo Yuhao was even more extreme. Tang San nearly tortured him to death, yet after becoming a God, he still called him 'Father-in-law' every time!
After the current Seven Monsters finished their introductions, Elder Xuan took a swig of wine and, slightly drunk, said to the challengers, "That's the situation. Whom you choose to challenge is up to you. Six months later at the Spirit Dueling Arena, the Seven Monsters Challenge will officially begin."
Having given his instructions, Elder Xuan staggered out of the Spirit Dueling Arena, leaving only the current Seven Monsters and the seven challengers staring at each other. Suddenly, Dai Yueheng broke the silence:
"Junior brothers and sisters, although the challenge is an individual competition, since we're all gathered here today at the Spirit Dueling Arena, I propose we have a friendly team battle. What do you all think?"