The Tournament Begins, the Eight Devils Show Their Edge

In the days that followed, Shrek Academy became like a finely tuned machine wound tight, running at full speed. News of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament spread as if it had grown wings, reaching every corner and igniting the burning fighting spirit in the eyes of the Shrek Eight Devils.

The intensity of training rose to an entirely new level. Master's training regimen was nothing short of brutal, involving not only the extreme squeezing of each person's individual strength, but also endlessly complex team tactical drills. Formation changes, skill coordination, attribute combinations, pressure resistance at the limit... Every day, the Training Ground was filled with the scent of sweat and Soul Power Collisions.

Under Teacher Shao Xin's care and through her own hard work, Xiao Xiaoxiao's Spiritual Power had recovered seven or eight tenths of the way. Although Teacher Shao still strictly forbade her from overexerting herself, she could now fully participate in team training, and the irreplaceable role of her Phantom Moon Fox Martial Soul within the team became increasingly apparent.

Her Moonlight Illusion was no longer merely for interference. With Tang San's precise calculations and her teammates' seamless coordination, it evolved into a range of tactical applications. Sometimes it created false targets to draw enemy fire; sometimes it distorted light to cover her teammates' advance; sometimes it worked with Dai Mubai's fierce assaults to deliver large-scale spiritual suppression. Her keen Spiritual Perception had also become the core of the team's early warning system, often providing the crucial hint just before danger arrived.

Tang San remained the brain and absolute core of the entire team. His control grew ever more refined, his Blue Silver Grass seeming to possess a life of its own as it always appeared wherever it was needed most. His unfathomable Hidden Weapons had become the Shrek Eight Devils' concealed trump card. During training, his coordination with Xiao Xiaoxiao also became increasingly seamless. Often, a single glance or a faint fluctuation of Soul Power was enough for them to understand each other completely.

Dai Mubai was like the sharp tip of a spear, his attacks becoming ever more violent and ferocious; Zhu Zhuqing's speed and assassination techniques reached perfection under immense pressure; Xiao Wu's Soft Skill was unpredictable and ever-changing; Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix grew more powerful by the day; Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda boosts became increasingly precise and potent; and Oscar's various sausages became a solid guarantee for sustained combat.

The eight of them were like eight pieces of refined steel, tempered a thousand times over. Within Master's forge, they were gradually being fused into an indestructible sword.

That day, Master summoned the eight of them to the meeting room. A huge tournament schedule and information on various potential powerful opponents hung on the wall.

"You all know the tournament rules. The preliminaries will use a round-robin format, and our Heaven Dou Empire division is filled with strong teams." Master's finger passed over several prominently marked names. "The Elephant Armored Sect, Thunder Academy, Godwind Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, Skywater Academy... These are all established powerhouse teams with Soul Ancestor-level members. They must not be underestimated."

"Especially the Spirit Hall Team." Master's voice grew more solemn. "This year, they have three Soul Kings known as the Golden Generation. Their strength is unfathomable, and they are the greatest obstacle on our path to the championship."

Soul Kings! The term made everyone present except Tang San draw in a sharp breath. The strongest among them, Dai Mubai and Tang San, had only recently broken through to Soul Ancestors. The gap between a Soul King and a Soul Ancestor was like an insurmountable chasm.

"What's there to fear?" Dai Mubai slammed a hand onto the table, fighting spirit blazing in his evil eyes. "So what if they're Soul Kings? If us Eight Devils join forces, we'll still knock them off their high horses!"

"Exactly! We haven't even fought them yet. Who knows who'll win or lose?" Xiao Wu waved her fist.

Ma Hongjun chuckled. "Fatty's evil fire can burn away their arrogance!"

Oscar rubbed his hands together. "My Mushroom Sausages are perfect for running away... Ah, no, I mean, they're divine tools for strategic retreat!"

The tense atmosphere was greatly eased by their antics. Even the cold corner of Zhu Zhuqing's lips twitched faintly.

Ning Rongrong looked at Master, her tone steady. "Master, we're confident. But during this period of training, we've also discovered some coordination issues, especially when facing opponents with flight capabilities or extreme speed. Our control chain can easily break apart."

Tang San nodded and continued, "Rongrong is right. My Blue Silver Grass has a limited control range, and Xiaoxiao's illusion also requires casting time. If the opponent possesses speed like the Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul, or aerial superiority like the Fire Crane Martial Soul, our formation can be torn apart easily."

Master gave the two of them an approving glance. "Being able to identify problems is a good thing. This is precisely the direction we need to focus on in the coming drills. Tang San, your Hidden Weapons, especially the area-of-effect ones, need to be incorporated into tactical considerations earlier. Xiaoxiao, you need to learn to anticipate with your Mental Interference rather than react only after the enemy has moved. Mubai, you need to pay greater attention to timing when unleashing your bursts..."

A focused tactical discussion lasted the entire afternoon. Everyone spoke enthusiastically, putting forward their own ideas and the difficulties they had encountered. Xiao Xiaoxiao also boldly proposed several new ideas regarding the interaction between her illusions and the others' soul skills, earning Master's approval and Tang San's additions.

As he watched these disciples, still young yet already displaying outstanding tactical awareness and powerful cohesion, a faint trace of satisfaction—so slight it was nearly imperceptible—appeared on Master's cold face.

After the meeting ended, everyone went their separate ways to prepare for the extra training that evening.

Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao were the last to leave. The setting sun stretched their shadows long as they walked side by side.

"Are you nervous?" Tang San suddenly asked. With the tournament drawing near, even he could feel a trace of invisible pressure.

Xiao Xiaoxiao paused, then nodded honestly. "A little. I heard those teams are all very strong."

"Don't be afraid." Tang San looked ahead, his voice steady. "Just fight the way we've trained. I'm here."

It was a simple sentence, not even much of a reassurance, yet it seemed to carry a strange power that instantly soothed the unease in Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart. She turned to look at his resolute profile, outlined by the sunset, and for some reason, she felt at ease.

"Mm." She answered softly, a small curve unconsciously appearing on her lips.

That was right. What was there to fear? They were one whole—they were the Shrek Eight Devils. With her companions beside her and him ahead of her, no matter how powerful the opponent was, they had the strength to fight!

The horn of the tournament was about to sound, and the eyes of Douluo Continent would turn toward this place. What kind of storm would Shrek Academy, this seemingly run-down academy, and these eight little-known young Soul Masters stir up at this spectacular event?

Undercurrents surged, and sharp edges began to show. The era belonging to the Shrek Eight Devils was quietly arriving with the approaching tournament.