"So, he's Ye Hao, huh!"
Dai Mubai cracked his knuckles, his eagerness to teach Ye Hao a lesson evident. As the self-proclaimed leader of the Shrek Seven Devils, Dai Mubai had no tolerance for anyone who insulted the academy. His only thought now was to give Ye Hao a taste of what Shrek was truly capable of.
Hearing the name Ye Hao, Xiao Wu's interest was piqued. She momentarily forgot about the lingering pain in her cheeks and quickly snatched the file from Dai Mubai's hands.
Aside from "Spicy Rabbit Head," Ye Hao was the second person Xiao Wu despised most in the world.
Wait a minute—Spicy Rabbit Head... Ye Hao liked eating spicy rabbit heads... Could it be? Was Ye Hao actually Spicy Rabbit Head?
At the same time, Tang San came to the same realization. He and Xiao Wu both knew about Ye Hao's peculiar fondness for spicy rabbit dishes. With Ye Hao now officially a member of the Emperor Team—whose prowess in the Soto Great Spirit Arena was well-known—it seemed increasingly likely that Spicy Rabbit Head and Ye Hao were the same.
Ning Rongrong, however, already knew the truth. She vividly recalled seeing Ye Hao in his Heaven Dou Imperial Academy uniform during their encounter. Although the emblem had been hidden, the distinct design was unmistakable.
No one casually wore their academy's uniform unless they had a good reason. This was especially true for Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, whose reputation preceded.
Master spoke up, his tone grave.
"This battle will be your final team fight in this stage of training. I've already reviewed your accumulated points. You've surpassed the Silver Spirit Fighter rank, and strictly speaking, you're now officially a Silver Spirit Fighter team."
Dai Mubai's confidence soared. "Don't worry, Master. Whether it's the Emperor Team or Ye Hao, we'll handle them and uphold Shrek's reputation."
Master, however, shook his head. His expression grew even more serious.
"Listen carefully. When the battle begins, you must not harm Ye Hao too severely—especially you, Xiao Wu."
All eyes turned to Xiao Wu, who suddenly found herself under intense scrutiny. It seemed even Master had caught on to her tendency to go overboard during fights.
"Me? What did I do?" Xiao Wu asked, bewildered.
Tang San interjected, defending her. "Master, Xiao Wu never hits too hard—I can vouch for her."
"Heh."
Ning Rongrong snorted, casting a disdainful glance at the pair. "Not too hard? Says who?"
Master sighed. "Ye Hao is a member of the Emperor Team, which is directly affiliated with Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. More importantly, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is under the protection of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family.
"Yesterday, your senior Qin Ming, who leads the Emperor Team, confirmed this. If you injure Ye Hao too severely, you'll bring untold trouble to the academy."
The revelation shocked everyone.
Master's words only heightened the group's awareness of the Emperor Team's background and prestige.
Meanwhile, Master still naively believed that Ye Hao's presence was part of some greater plan—perhaps orchestrated by the Heaven Dou royal family. But the truth was that Ye Hao had no such connection. In reality, he had spent years mocking Master at every opportunity.
Tang San, though visibly angry at Ye Hao, knew his hands were tied. Master's words had essentially given Ye Hao an untouchable status—a "get out of jail free."
"Enough of this. Focus on the fight and strive for victory," Master concluded, stepping aside for Flender to address the group.
Flender cleared his throat, his expression a mix of seriousness and excitement.
"Before the fight begins, I have an important announcement to make."
"After this battle, the academy will undergo a major relocation. Once this stage of training ends, you'll have three months to rest and take care of any unfinished business in Soto City. After that, the entire academy will move to our new destination: Heaven Dou City."
The Shrek Seven Devils exchanged surprised glances.
"We're moving the academy? Why?" Ma Hongjun asked, perplexed.
Flender's gaze hardened. "Are you questioning the dean's decision?"
"No, no! The dean is wise and farsighted!" Ma Hongjun quickly backtracked, waving his hands in surrender.
The reason for the move, Flender thought, would become apparent soon enough. The night before, he had reached an agreement with Qin Ming. They planned to merge Shrek Academy with Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Shrek's current status as an unregistered "rogue" school wouldn't cut it in the long run.
With the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament fast approaching, the merger would ensure the students had the best resources and opportunities to prepare.
The Emperor Team members pored over the detailed profiles of the Shrek Seven Devils. Each one's martial soul, soul power, and ring configurations were meticulously documented.
"Tang San? Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass? Blue Silver Grass can be cultivated." Dugu Yan sneered, finding it hard to believe.
Based on the profiles, four of the Shrek Seven Devils had reached the Soul Elder rank, with Dai Mubai boasting the highest soul power. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar followed closely. The remaining three posed no significant threat—except Ning Rongrong, whose Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda marked her as someone special.
Seated off to the side, Ye Hao watched the battles below with mild interest. The upcoming fight against the Shrek Seven Devils promised to be fascinating.
"The Clear Sky Clan, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... interesting. All three great clans tangled up together," Ye Hao mused, a faint smile on his lips.
The prospect of fighting against representatives from the three greatest clans in the world was thrilling.
At that moment, Qin Ming entered the room, his gaze sweeping over the team.
"Teacher Qin!"
"Hmm."
Qin Ming nodded in acknowledgment. "It's hard to believe it's already been a month since we left the academy. Are you all ready? This will be your final battle of this phase of training."
Dugu Yan smirked confidently. "Teacher Qin, I reviewed the Shrek Seven Devils. They're supposed to be undefeated in team battles at the Soto Great Spirit Arena, but their lineup doesn't impress me. Four Soul Elders and three Soul Grandmasters? They're not as strong as they look."
Like the Shrek Seven Devils, the Emperor Team had been undefeated since entering the arena. With their near-perfect spirit ring configurations and unparalleled teamwork, losing wasn't even a consideration.