Shadows and Undercurrents Behind the Winning Streak

The joy of three consecutive victories was like a warm spring breeze, briefly dispelling the chill of the Imperial Hunting Grounds. The atmosphere in Shrek Academy's camp had relaxed considerably. Defeating powerful opponents in succession had sent the Eight Monsters' confidence soaring to unprecedented heights, and the tempering of real combat had made their teamwork increasingly seamless.

Yet beneath this glory and growth, shadows were quietly spreading.

The night was deep, and the campfire crackled as it illuminated the young faces gathered around it. Dai Mubai wiped down his Tiger Claw, his eyes gleaming. "Godwind and Tianshui Academy are both down. As for the remaining teams, as long as we don't make mistakes ourselves, there shouldn't be much of a problem."

Xiao Wu swayed her Scorpion Braid and said smugly, "Of course! Our Eight Monsters are famous now! Let's see who still dares look down on these uniforms!" As she spoke, she deliberately tugged at her still eye-catching shit-green team uniform.

Ma Hongjun chuckled and stuffed a piece of jerky into his mouth. "This fatty is bursting with energy now. I'm just waiting for the next match so I can stretch my muscles!"

Ning Rongrong and Oscar exchanged a smile, clearly pleased with their current record. Although Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, her cool eyes held a little more warmth than usual.

Xiao Xiaoxiao sat slightly apart from the others, absentmindedly twirling a blade of grass between her fingers. Yet her gaze kept drifting toward Tang San, who sat cross-legged alone nearby, regulating his breathing. He was still the calmest among them, as though the praise from the outside world had nothing to do with him. He merely focused on restoring his Soul Power and tending to the injury in his right arm. Firelight danced across the side of his face, outlining his resolute features.

She could tell that his right arm was in worse condition than it appeared. The lightning's power had scorched his meridians, and such injuries would not heal easily. Every time he used his Soul Power, it likely came with a stabbing pain. Yet he had never mentioned it, nor had he revealed the slightest sign of it during battle.

"What are you thinking about, Sister Xiaoxiao?" Xiao Wu leaned over and followed her gaze. Understanding dawned on her, and she smiled. "Worried about Xiao San again? Don't worry, Xiao San is amazing!"

Xiao Xiaoxiao's face heated up. She shot Xiao Wu an annoyed glare. "Don't talk nonsense. I was thinking about the upcoming matches."

Xiao Wu giggled without exposing her, then lowered her voice. "But seriously, Xiao San was badly hurt this time. His face looks terrible every time he finishes using Soul Power. Sister Xiaoxiao, you really need to take good 'care' of him." She deliberately emphasized the word "care," her smile full of teasing mischief.

Xiao Xiaoxiao blushed furiously at her antics and raised a hand as if to hit her, but Xiao Wu had already ducked behind Ning Rongrong with a laugh.

The laughter and chatter around the campfire spread, driving away the stillness of the night. Yet beyond this seemingly harmonious scene, several pairs of eyes hidden in the darkness watched it all coldly.

On a hill not far from Shrek's camp, several vague figures stood silently.

"Hmph. Shrek Academy is certainly becoming more and more glorious." A cold voice rang out, carrying undisguised envy and hatred. The speaker was tall and powerfully built: Hu Yan Li, son of Hu Yan Zhen, the sect master of the Elephant Armored Sect. Having been defeated by Shrek, he had never been able to let it go.

Beside him stood a pale-faced young man with sinister eyes. He was Yu Tianxin of Thunder Academy. Tang San had traded injury for injury against him that day. Though he had not been as seriously wounded as Tang San, he had lost all face. Now, as he watched the glow of Shrek's campfire, a cold light flickered in his eyes.

"Glorious? They're just relying on tricks and luck." Yu Tianxin said coldly. "If Tang San hadn't risked crippling an arm to block my Fourth Soul Skill, and if Xiao Xiaoxiao's Mental Interference hadn't been so bizarre, how could they have defeated Thunder Academy? How could they have broken your Elephant Armored defense?"

Hu Yan Li snorted heavily. "That Tang San truly is a menace! And that Xiao Xiaoxiao—her Spirit System martial soul is impossible to guard against! If we don't get rid of those two, they'll become a serious threat!"

"Get rid of them?" Another, somewhat flippant voice cut in. Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy had arrived at some point. Leaning against a tree trunk, he wore an amused smile. "Brother Hu Yan, Brother Yu, you can't say things like that carelessly during the tournament, with so many eyes watching. Besides, Shrek is in the spotlight now, and there seems to be the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind them. Moving against them would come at no small cost."

Hu Yan Li said angrily, "Are we supposed to let them keep acting so arrogantly? Feng Xiaotian, your Godwind Academy lost to them too. Are you really willing to accept that?"

Feng Xiaotian spread his hands, his smile unchanged. "We were inferior in skill, so we accept defeat. It's a tournament—winning and losing are perfectly normal. But..." His tone shifted, and his eyes sharpened. "If we can defeat them openly and honorably in the arena, washing away our humiliation, that would naturally be best."

A glint flashed through Yu Tianxin's eyes. "What do you have in mind, Brother Feng?"

Feng Xiaotian lowered his voice. "As far as I know, Shrek's upcoming opponents are not among the strongest. They will most likely continue concealing their strength and let Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao recover. This is the perfect opportunity for us to observe their weaknesses and develop countermeasures. Tang San especially—his severely injured right arm has not healed. That is bound to be his greatest weakness! As long as we seize that point..."

The three began discussing in low voices, their chilly gazes repeatedly sweeping toward Shrek's camp.

Meanwhile, in a more secluded and luxurious tent elsewhere in the hunting grounds.

Prince Xue Xing looked over the detailed battle report in his hand regarding Shrek Academy's three consecutive victories, lightly tapping his fingers against the table. Spirit Hall's deacon Salas sat across from him, expressionless.

"This Shrek really does manage to give people a 'surprise' every time." Prince Xue Xing's tone revealed neither pleasure nor anger. "Without Tang San, they broke through the Elephant Armored Sect's wall. After Tang San returned injured, they defeated Godwind and Tianshui Academy in succession. That Xiao Xiaoxiao in particular has become increasingly skillful in her use of Spiritual Power."

Deacon Salas replied blandly, "They are indeed promising talents. His Holiness the Pope has always been eager to recruit the worthy."

A trace of mockery flashed through Prince Xue Xing's eyes. "Oh? It seems Bishop Salas has come as a lobbyist on behalf of His Holiness the Pope?"

"Your Highness jests." Deacon Salas's expression did not change. "The tournament itself is the best way to select talent. Outstanding soul masters, regardless of where they ultimately belong, can bring glory to the continent's soul master world. However, a tall tree catches the wind. Shrek Academy is currently too much in the spotlight, and I fear they have already drawn the wariness of quite a few people. The Elephant Armored Sect and Thunder Academy, for instance, seem somewhat unable to restrain themselves."

Prince Xue Xing snorted. "They are merely jumping clowns. Still, Bishop Salas's reminder is sound. During the tournament, safety is paramount. Pass down the order: increase the patrols and ensure the safety of every academy's camp, especially... Shrek Academy's."

"Yes, Your Highness." Deacon Salas bowed slightly, but an imperceptible strange glint passed through the depths of his eyes.

By the campfire, Shrek's young men and women knew nothing of the distant spying or the schemes being laid in the shadows. They remained immersed in the joy of victory and their hopes for the future.

Tang San finished regulating his breath and slowly opened his eyes, meeting Xiao Xiaoxiao's gaze just as she looked over. She seemed to have been watching him all along. Her eyes still held lingering worry, along with a trace of... a complicated emotion he could not understand.

When she saw that he was awake, Xiao Xiaoxiao quickly looked away as if startled, pretending to watch the jumping flames.

Tang San silently watched her profile, reddened by the firelight, but said nothing. He could feel the faint stabbing pain coming from the meridians in his right arm, and he could also sense the indistinct gazes watching from around them. Their winning streak had brought not only glory, but also more attention—and... danger.

He clenched his left fist, and his gaze became calm and sharp once more.

The road ahead would not be smooth, but he and his companions had long been prepared.

The night deepened, and the hunting grounds returned to silence. Only the wind passed through the gaps in the forest, carrying the distant howls of beasts from the mountains, as though foretelling an even fiercer storm soon to come.