Dark Undercurrents Emerge, Trial of Coordination

News of Xiao Xaxiao officially returning to training swept through Shrek Academy like a spring breeze. Eight sweat-drenched figures once again appeared on the Training Ground. Though one of them still seemed somewhat slender, her steps were firm and powerful.

Master's training regimen grew increasingly demanding. He was no longer satisfied with simple team battles and began introducing complex battlefield simulations: terrain restrictions, sudden disruptions, even simulated enemies with special soul skills or tactics. The purpose was clear—force the Eight Devils' potential and adaptability out under extreme conditions.

That day's training was "Base Assault." The eight had to defend a central flagpole within a simulated Ruined Castle while fending off repeated attacks from an "assault team" composed of Zhao Wuji, Flender, and Teacher Lu Qibin. Not only was the assault team formidable, but they were also familiar with the students' fighting styles, making the challenge extraordinarily difficult.

The castle's interior was complex, with ruined walls and broken structures forming natural cover and traps. The eight quickly divided their tasks. Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ma Hongjun formed the main defense on the front and flanks; Zhu Zhuqing roamed about scouting, responsible for warnings and assassinations; Ning Rongrong and Oscar provided support from the center, offering boosts and supplies; while Xiaoxiao's task was the most crucial—use the Phantom Moon Fox's Spiritual Perception to monitor the entire battlefield, especially to detect the hidden ambush routes the three teachers might choose, and interfere and confuse them with the minimum necessary Illusion Technique.

"Remember, your advantage lies in your numbers and coordination. Your weakness is the absolute gap in strength. Hold out for one incense stick's time, and you win." Master's cold voice echoed through the castle before he announced the start.

The battle entered a fever pitch from the very beginning. Zhao Wuji charged head-on through the main gate like a humanoid tyrannosaur, his violent power sending shattered stones flying. Dai Mubai roared and met him head-on, pushing his White Tiger Vajra Transformation to its limit. With Tang San's elusive Blue Silver Grass Entangling and Hidden Weapons harassment, he barely held the line. Meanwhile, Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun did everything they could to handle Flender's nimble, uncanny attacks and Teacher Lu Qibin's Control System soul skills.

Soul Power flared throughout the castle, while explosions and collisions rang out without end.

Xiaoxiao held her breath, standing at a relatively safe high point with her eyes tightly shut. She spread her Spiritual Power outward in fine strands like a spiderweb. She could "see" Zhao Wuji's torch-like Soul Power blazing as he assaulted the front; she could "feel" Flender darting through the ruins like Gui Mei, searching for openings; she could "catch" Teacher Lu Qibin's soft yet resilient control-type Soul Power as it attempted to divide their formation.

Cold sweat soon beaded on her forehead. Simultaneously monitoring the movements of three Soul Emperor Level opponents was an enormous burden for someone who had only just recovered. A familiar stabbing pain came from between her brows, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.

"Left flank! Dean Flender is circling around from behind!" She suddenly opened her eyes and urgently warned Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun, who were guarding the left flank.

Almost the moment her words fell, Flender's figure swept out from behind a broken wall like a great bird, diving straight at Ning Rongrong and Oscar!

"Phoenix Fireline!" Ma Hongjun reacted swiftly, spraying out a stream of purple fire that temporarily blocked Flender's path. Xiao Wu activated her Waist Bow and instantly closed in, trying to interfere.

"Right-side shadows! Teacher Lu is about to unleash a large-scale control soul skill!" Xiaoxiao's voice rang out again, carrying a trace of exhausted hoarseness.

Tang San's eyes sharpened. Several Blue Silver Grass vines that had been supporting the front suddenly turned, shooting toward a seemingly peaceful patch of shadow on the right like venomous snakes. Teacher Lu Qibin, who had just revealed himself, was forced to interrupt his soul skill and defend himself.

Xiaoxiao's precise warnings resolved crisis after crisis, greatly easing the pressure on Dai Mubai and Tang San at the front. Yet her own face grew paler and paler, her body swaying slightly as the frequency with which she shook that silver bell rose higher and higher.

"Xiaoxiao, can you still hold on?" Ning Rongrong gave her a worried glance. A faint healing light fell upon her, but it was a drop in the bucket against Spiritual Power depletion.

"I'm fine..." Xiaoxiao forced herself to endure and closed her eyes again. She knew that she was currently the team's eyes. She absolutely could not be the first to collapse.

Time passed bit by bit. More than half an incense stick had already burned away. Under the intense pressure, the eight grew increasingly coordinated. Though every one of them was injured and their Soul Power heavily depleted, they stubbornly withstood the three teachers' fierce assault.

Just then, an extremely subtle yet dangerous fluctuation appeared within Xiaoxiao's Spiritual Perception. It did not come from any of the three teachers. It came from deep beneath the castle—cold, viscous, and carrying a heart-palpitating sense of devouring.

"Underground... there's something there!" Xiaoxiao abruptly opened her eyes, her voice filled with unprecedented terror. "A powerful Soul Power fluctuation! It's approaching quickly!"

What? Everyone froze. This was not part of the training plan!

Master's voice came through some kind of amplifying Soul Tool, carrying a trace of gravity. "Unexpected situation! The simulated formation seems to have stirred some dormant soul beast remnant beneath the castle ruins! Everyone, abandon the base immediately and retreat to the southeast corner! Quickly!"

A sudden change erupted!

Boom!!

The ground at the center of the castle violently exploded, and a dense plume of black mist shot into the sky, accompanied by a shriek that set teeth on edge! Within the black mist, a massive centipede phantom formed of energy could vaguely be seen, radiating a terrifying pressure no weaker than the Soul Emperor Level! It seemed to have been awakened by the intense Soul Power Collision just now, filled with violent and destructive intent!

"Move!" Zhao Wuji reacted first. He grabbed Oscar and Ning Rongrong, who were closest to him, and charged toward the southeast corner. Flender and Lu Qibin immediately covered the others' retreat as well.

But the Centipede Remnant Soul was incredibly fast. Its enormous phantom swept sideways, directly slamming toward the slower Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu!

"Zhu Qing! Xiao Wu!" Dai Mubai's eyes nearly split open. He wanted to turn back and save them, but the violent aftershock of Soul Power sent him flying!

The two girls were just about to be swallowed by the black mist!

"Third soul skill, Moonlight Illusion!" Xiaoxiao acted almost without thinking. Squeezing out the last of her Spiritual Power, she unleashed the illusion upon the Centipede Remnant Soul! She knew it was risky and might very well leave her seriously injured again, but there was no other choice at this moment!

Buzz! Distorted light and shadows enveloped the Centipede Remnant Soul's head. Its movements stalled and became confused for an instant!

That instant was enough!

Several Blue Silver Grass vines, flashing with blue-gold light and several times thicker than usual, shot out like agile serpents. They precisely wrapped around Zhu Zhuqing's and Xiao Wu's waists, violently pulling them out of the danger zone! It was Tang San! The instant Xiaoxiao acted, he understood her intention. With his Purple Demon Eye locked on target, his Blue Silver Grass erupted with full force!

"Xiaoxiao!" After pulling the two girls back, Tang San immediately turned his gaze toward the high point. Xiaoxiao's body was collapsing backward weakly after casting the illusion. Her face was pale as paper, and blood was once again seeping from her nose!

Tang San's heart abruptly clenched. His Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track instantly surged to its limit as he charged toward the high point without a second thought!

At that moment, the Centipede Remnant Soul had already broken free from the illusion. In fury, it whipped its body around, its enormous energy tail lashing viciously toward Xiaoxiao's position!

"Watch out!" Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and the others cried out!

At the critical moment, Tang San appeared before Xiaoxiao as though he had teleported! He had no time for any defense. He could only spin around and tightly shield the unconscious Xiaoxiao in his arms, using his own back to withstand the energy strike powerful enough to split mountains and shatter stone!

"Bang—!!!"

A deafening explosion rang out! Tang San's body shuddered violently as he spat out a mouthful of blood. Holding Xiaoxiao, he was smashed brutally backward, crashing through half a low wall behind him and becoming buried beneath rubble!

"Xiao San! Xiaoxiao!"

Everyone was horrified beyond measure! Zhao Wuji roared, his seventh soul ring lighting up as his Martial Soul Avatar, the Great Strength Vajra Bear, appeared. He slammed a palm toward the Centipede Remnant Soul! Flender and Lu Qibin also attacked with all their strength!

The remnant soul was only an energy body, after all. Under the furious attacks of three Soul Emperor Level masters, it soon let out an unwilling shriek, dispersing back into black mist and shrinking into the ground.

The battle came to an abrupt halt. The castle was in utter ruin, and the silence was terrifying.

"Quick! Save them!" Master's voice carried a tremor that was difficult to detect.

Everyone rushed toward the pile of rubble like madmen. Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu clawed away the broken stones with their bare hands, revealing the scene within—

Tang San was kneeling on one knee, tightly sheltering Xiaoxiao beneath him. The clothes on his back had been completely shredded, exposing a mangled mass of flesh and blood. Blood still stained the corner of his mouth, but his arms remained like iron bands, protecting the person in his embrace completely. Though Xiaoxiao was unconscious, apart from her pale face, she seemed to have no obvious external injuries.

"Xiao San! How are you?" Dai Mubai's voice was hoarse.

Tang San slowly raised his head. His face was pale, but his gaze remained sharp. He shook his head to indicate that he was fine, yet his eyes immediately fell upon Xiaoxiao's face. Seeing the blood at her nose, his brows drew tightly together.

"Teacher Shao! Teacher Lu! Quickly!" Flender shouted urgently.

A planned training session ended in a perilous manner none of them had anticipated. Dark undercurrents had begun to stir, and before a true crisis, the Shrek Eight Devils had shown for the first time a bond that surpassed training—a bond of life and death shared together. Tempered by blood and protection, that bond became ever more unbreakable.