Shrek Eight Monsters

After undergoing high-intensity training, they had seven days of rest. Everyone experienced something different during those seven days, but overall, it had been quite fulfilling.

Time spent having fun always passed quickly. Their seven-day vacation flew by, and the bell for class rang on schedule as the little monsters of Shrek gathered on the training field.

The sunlight was especially bright today. The clear blue sky stretched endlessly without a cloud in sight. Though it was still early morning, the sunlight already carried a hint of scorching heat. Master's shadow was stretched long by the sun as he stood with his arms folded across his chest, waiting for the seven students to line up.

"Three months have passed since I began teaching you. Under the supervision and guidance of the teachers, your bodies have built a certain foundation. But if you want to become outstanding Soul Masters, this is still far from enough."

"Therefore, starting today, I will begin the second stage of your training. Flender told me that all of you have already visited the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. That place will become your training ground for the coming period. There is no time limit for this training. It will end whenever you obtain Silver Soul badges. During this period, I will arrange for you to stay at the inn closest to the Great Soul Arena. You will cover all food and lodging expenses yourselves. If you are capable enough, the income you earn from the Great Soul Arena will be quite substantial."

"Remember, obtaining a Silver Soul badge does not only mean winning One vs One Soul Battles. You must also obtain a Silver Soul badge in team battles. You will compete under the team name Shrek Eight Monsters. Team battles will not only earn each of you personal points, but also team points, something Two vs Two Soul Battles do not have. Of course, if you want to earn the title of Silver Soul faster, you may freely form teams to participate in Two vs Two Soul Battles. I will not stop you. However, there are several restrictions you must remember. First, you may not reveal your appearances or tell your opponents your names during Soul Battles. You will fight only under aliases. Second, no one, including Tang San himself, may use hidden weapons. Third, regardless of victory or defeat, each person must fight at least twice every day."

"As for Fu Hua, aside from the above rules, you may not use any abilities other than Soul Power. You may not use those Crystal Wings."

Fu Hua nodded. This was simple. Even if she only used Soul Power, she could be said to have no opponents below Rank 40.

Oscar complained somewhat, "Master, Ning Rongrong and I are Support System Soul Masters. Do we also have to obtain Silver Soul badges?"

"Or, you may choose to train as before until the others obtain their Silver Soul badges," Master said calmly.

"Uh... Master, I suddenly realized that your decision to send us to the Soul Arena to gain practical combat experience is incredibly wise. Pretend I never said that."

How ridiculous...

Master had always acted swiftly and decisively. After speaking, he had all the students briefly pack their belongings, then immediately led them toward Suotuo City.

Accompanying them were the students' old acquaintances, the academy's original two heads: Four-eyed Cat Eagle Flender and Immovable Ming King Zhao Wuji. The other three teachers remained behind to guard the academy.

Recently, due to Master's open-ended teaching methods, the academy had run into serious financial problems. This decision not only solved the students' training issue, but also resolved the academy's funding problem. It truly killed two birds with one stone.

Soul Battles at the Great Soul Arena were all held at night. After arriving in Suotuo City, the group first chose an ordinary hotel near the Great Soul Arena.

Because it was adjacent to the Great Soul Arena, even an ordinary hotel charged twice as much as elsewhere.

Of course, for the eight students, who earned at least ten gold coins a month and sometimes over a hundred, it was not much of a burden.

After settling the students in, Master called the seven of them into Tang San's room.

"You may now freely form teams and decide which type of Soul Battle to enter. The Great Soul Arena generally starts One vs One and Two vs Two matches first. Although team battles are separate from the first two, they begin much later and are the battles that attract the most spectators. By staggering the times, the arena can also sell more tickets. Every day, you must participate in one team battle. You may freely choose the other match. I will not object if you wish to compete in three matches, provided you keep track of your Soul Power."

The moment Master finished speaking, Oscar immediately put on a pitiful expression and looked at Dai Mubai.

"Boss Dai, how about we enter Two vs Two together? What do you think? I've only just reached Rank 30, but my support abilities should still be able to help you. Otherwise, who knows when I'll ever accumulate enough points to earn a Silver Soul badge?"

Dai Mubai froze for a moment. He had originally wanted to ask Zhu Zhuqing to enter a Two vs Two Soul Battle with him, but seeing Oscar's pleading gaze, he could only nod helplessly in the end.

"Fine!"

Oscar, I'm telling you, you're ruining someone else's good thing.

"Fu Hua."

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing spoke at the same time. The tender, clear voices unique to young girls instantly drew everyone's attention. Even Master could not help glancing over, wanting to see how Fu Hua would handle this matter.

For Fu Hua, who already possessed a Silver Soul badge, there was actually no need to participate in this kind of match. But for the sake of the team, she still had to join. At the same time, it would let the other students properly learn some of her combat techniques.

Even without using Soul Power, combat techniques were still extremely important. Hadn't Zhu Zhuqing already reached the point where she could compete with Tang San?

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing looked at each other. The livelier Ning Rongrong was the first to speak.

"Fu Hua, although I'm still only a Rank 27 Soul Grandmaster, with your strength and my support, there definitely won't be a problem."

Ning Rongrong had absolute confidence in Fu Hua's strength. Even without using her other abilities, Fu Hua could still face the combined assault of all seven of them alone. Facing two Rank 30 Soul Elders would be no challenge at all.

Besides...

"I'm a Support System Soul Master. Just as Oscar said, if I only participate in team battles, who knows when I'll earn a Silver Soul badge?"

The Great Soul Arena's rules stated that once a team had a member who reached Rank 30, that team had to participate in Rank 30 Soul Battles. In other words, in a team formed by Fu Hua and Ning Rongrong, Fu Hua would have to face two Rank 30 Soul Elders by herself.

However, Ning Rongrong's presence could not be ignored either. Her boosts were still small at present, but they were useful to Fu Hua nonetheless. With Ning Rongrong's enhancement, Fu Hua could absolutely hold off two Soul Elders alone.

Master could not help nodding from the side. Even with the difference in levels, Fu Hua's own strength could not be underestimated. Up to now, no one, including Master, knew Fu Hua's true Soul Power Level.

On one hand, the three months of intense training had left them with no time to pay attention to it. On the other hand, Master had deliberately allowed it to remain unknown.

He understood that a Soul Master like Fu Hua could not be measured by conventional standards. Naturally, he had not required Fu Hua to register at Spirit Hall or anything like that. He still held reservations toward Spirit Hall.

After all, back then, that person had...

"I understand, Rongrong. I'll form a team with you, but..."

"But what?"

"I think I should be able to form teams at the same time."

Silence—

That seemed... perfectly reasonable.

Fu Hua's third soul skill: Clone.

The clone possessed one hundred percent of the original body's strength and could share information. At critical moments, she could even directly abandon one clone without suffering any effect herself.

It was an extremely overpowered ability, and in moments of crisis, it was a divine skill for preserving one's life.

After Fu Hua spoke those words, everyone immediately thought of this. Unfortunately, that was not what Fu Hua meant.

"I have an acquaintance in the Great Soul Arena. I can ask whether one person can form two teams at the same time. If so, I would like to form a team directly with Rongrong and Zhuqing."

"Is that so? In any case, you can decide your own participation in Soul Battles. Take these, one for each of you. Wear them properly during the battles. Also, speak as little as possible on the stage, and do your best not to let your opponents know your ages."

Master did not object. Naturally, Fu Hua, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing did not object either. Having one more opportunity to fight meant they could obtain their Silver Soul badges faster.

Besides, with Fu Hua leading them, wasn't that basically getting carried by an expert?

Of course, it was better just to think about it.

It was still a hotel beside the Great Soul Arena, but this one was far more luxurious than the hotel Fu Hua and the others were staying in. Its price was certainly not cheap either.

At that moment, Xue Qinghe sat at the head of the room, listening to a report from a guard below.

"Lord Xue, the person you wanted to keep an eye on has appeared. They are at a hotel beside the Great Soul Arena."

"Oh! Has she finally arrived? I've waited for a full three months! Don't disappoint me." Xue Qinghe's eyes shone as he looked at the guard below. "Go notify Manager Ao at the Great Soul Arena!"

"Yes."

"Crimson Kite... Heh! Fu Hua, have you finally decided to show yourself?"

Meanwhile, within the Great Soul Arena, the senior managers had appeared in the main hall. There was still some time before nightfall, yet none of them minded waiting there. They seemed to be expecting someone's arrival. This sight, rare enough to be seen once in a thousand years, made the Soul Masters who had come to watch or compete stop in their tracks.

"What's going on with the Great Soul Arena today? It's so lively. It looks like all the managers have come out."

"Who knows? Come to think of it, there hasn't been any news about Crimson Kite lately. Do you think he's really run out of talent?"

"Ha! Maybe the Great Soul Arena overestimated Crimson Kite from the very beginning!"

For a full three months, Crimson Kite's appearance had once again vanished as inexplicably as it had first appeared. Some claimed he had unfortunately died in the Star Dou Great Forest while hunting Soul Rings. Others said he had run out of talent and did not dare show his face again.

Of course, there were also those who believed in Crimson Kite, believing he would once again appear at the Great Soul Arena with godlike talent as he had before.

How could the opinions of others possibly sway Fu Hua's thoughts?

Night fell.

The Suotuo Great Soul Arena repeated its nightly bustle. Crowds began gathering from all directions. As the most traditional form of entertainment, and the one most beloved by the public, it welcomed countless spectators every day.

The wealthy could enjoy themselves to the fullest here, while even commoners without much money could still watch Soul Masters compete.

Because the Great Soul Arena offered ticket packages specifically for commoners at very low prices, anyone who could afford food and clothing was willing to come watch Soul Masters battle.

After all, merely being able to see Soul Masters was enough to satisfy the vanity of most commoners. Naturally, because they held cheap tickets, they could only watch ordinary Soul Battles. The truly spectacular matches were certainly very expensive.

And Suotuo City was never short of wealthy people willing to spend lavishly. Along with the betting venues operated by the Great Soul Arena, these Soul Battles had also become a place where wealthy merchants and nobles secretly competed against one another.

At this moment, it was almost time for the Great Soul Arena's routine Soul Battles to begin. Before long, the outer-ring One vs One and Two vs Two Soul Battles would start. Once those two events ended, the most exciting team battles would begin.

Just then, an eleven-person group drew the attention of the crowd preparing to enter the Great Soul Arena.

Among the eleven, eight wore identical masks. The masks were shaped like Shrek monsters, covering the upper halves of their faces and revealing only their chins, inviting endless speculation.

These eleven people were Fu Hua's group.

However, before they could enter the Soul Battle area, they were drawn to the atmosphere in the main hall. Several people wearing the uniforms of senior Great Soul Arena staff stood there, as though they had been waiting specifically for them.

This left Master and the others puzzled.

While Master and the others were wondering, a middle-aged man at the front seemed to notice something. His eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Fu Hua among the Shrek group.

He strode over with hurried excitement. Before he even arrived, his voice came first.

"Lord Crimson Kite, we have been waiting for you for a long time."

As the figure approached, who else could it be but Manager Ao?

Master and the others all looked toward Fu Hua.

Hidden beneath her mask, Fu Hua's brows furrowed slightly. It seemed the trouble... had not gone away.

She gave a slight nod in greeting.

Then Manager Ao's puzzled voice came.

"May I ask... who are these people...?"

Fu Hua deliberately lowered her voice. "They are my classmates and teachers."

"Oh! So they are Lord Crimson Kite's teachers and classmates! Forgive my discourtesy, forgive my discourtesy. Please come in."

He turned sideways and gestured with his right hand.

Fu Hua gave Master a slight nod. Only then did Master, Flender, and the other teachers lead the way into the Soul Arena with Manager Ao.

After the Shrek group and the senior managers of the Great Soul Arena disappeared, conversation finally resumed in the main hall, voices filled with shock.

"So Crimson Kite went to school? No wonder we haven't seen him lately."

"I just wonder how strong his classmates are. If they're like Crimson Kite, wouldn't that be too monstrous? I even want to enter that academy."

"Give it a rest! You? An academy capable of training such outstanding students must be incredibly hard to enter."

"That's true. But Crimson Kite has come this time with his classmates and teachers. Could they be participating in team battles together?"

"Could be. Hurry, hurry, hurry! Let's buy spectator tickets and go see what this mysterious Crimson Kite is really like."

"Exactly! I also want to see what kind of people can become Crimson Kite's classmates."

The Great Soul Arena was especially lively today. Even the tickets were sold out in an instant. Many people who could not buy seats directly purchased standing tickets instead. The small spectator stands of the Great Soul Arena were instantly packed with people.

And this was only the beginning.

PS: Recently, I tried writing four thousand words per chapter, and it feels pretty good. I'll take it slowly!

PS1: I also want to thank everyone for the Monthly Votes! I'm very happy that you enjoy my work, so I'll keep working hard!

PS2: Back to the main topic: whenever I think of the Shrek Eight Monsters, I always want to remove Fu Hua. Eight monsters, eight monsters—it sounds like Zhu Bajie.

PS3: Hmm~~ I remember there was something I wanted to say. It seemed related to this story too. Maybe when I see everyone's comments again, I'll remember. Mm, I'll add it then.