Stepping on Shrek's Head!

"Step on Shrek's head!"

Those words were like a spark dropped into a powder keg already primed to explode.

The entire First Soul Tool Proving Ground erupted in an instant.

Every student's eyes reddened, their breathing quickened, and they wished they could rush onto the arena right then and there.

The Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire had been held down by Shrek for thousands of years. That resentment was etched into their bones.

Now, at last, someone had dared to stand up and brazenly declare that he would trample the so-called "Number One Academy of the Continent" underfoot.

Such madness was impossible to resist, even for the most levelheaded student.

Especially Ma Rulong, seated in the upperclassmen's section.

The current School Team Captain clenched both fists. His dark face flushed faintly with excitement, and an ambition-fueled fire burned in his eyes.

"Defeat Shrek... make a name for myself..."

He murmured to himself, feeling as though all the blood in his body were flowing backward.

In the stands.

Dean of Students Lin Jiayi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and leaned toward Jing Hongchen with some concern.

"Hall Master, selecting the Reserve Team is a major matter. It concerns the nation's honor. Is it wise to leave the entire decision to Director Gu Yue alone? Isn't that a little too..."

Too hasty?

After all, Gu Yuejin had only just arrived and didn't know the students' circumstances.

"If you have doubts about someone, don't use him. If you do use him, don't doubt him."

Jing Hongchen remained unruffled, his gaze flicking discreetly toward Xu Tianran, whose lips were curved in a smile nearby.

Since His Highness found it "interesting," then as his subject, Jing Hongchen naturally had to go along with it.

Besides...

Jing Hongchen looked at the spirited young man on the field, a gleam flashing through his eyes.

"Besides, I trust his judgment."

"Anyone he chooses won't be a pushover. He's a monster who reached the High-level Soul Saint realm at this age and possesses that kind of terrifying combat ability."

Seeing that the big shots had all said their piece, Lin Jiayi could only shut his mouth and silently pray that the new director wouldn't cause any trouble.

On the Battle Arena.

Gu Yuejin hadn't let the crowd's fervor go to his head.

With his hands in his pockets, he scanned the field like a hawk, then fixed his gaze on a few familiar faces.

"Since everyone's so enthusiastic, I won't keep you in suspense."

"There are seven places on the Reserve Team. I'll fill four of them right now."

The entire field fell silent. Everyone pricked up their ears and held their breath.

"Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen."

Gu Yuejin's clear voice carried across the field.

The siblings stood up at once, heads held high, entirely unsurprised.

As the Sun Moon Empire's twin prodigies, their places on the team had been a foregone conclusion.

"Ma Rulong."

Ma Rulong shuddered when he heard his name, then immediately answered loudly, "Here!"

"Come up."

Gu Yuejin beckoned with a finger.

Once the three had joined Huo Yuhao on the Battle Arena, standing alongside him, Gu Yuejin pointed at the four of them and announced:

"Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Ma Rulong, and my Apprentice, Huo Yuhao."

"These four will be the Reserve Team's starting members."

"As for the remaining three spots..."

Gu Yuejin grinned at the students below, whose eyes were full of longing and frustration.

"The rest of you will have to fight for them yourselves."

"Whoever has the strongest fists and can take the most punishment gets a ticket to the tournament."

"Class dismissed!"

At Gu Yuejin's command, everyone not involved began filing out.

Though most hadn't been selected outright, the lure of the "three remaining spots" was enough to send them back to train harder than ever.

Soon, only Gu Yuejin and the four chosen students remained in the vast Training Ground.

The air fell silent, growing almost oppressive.

Gu Yuejin put aside the fervor he'd used to rile up the crowd. His expression turned cool and stern.

With his hands behind his back, he slowly circled the four of them.

At last, his gaze settled on Ma Rulong.

"Ma Rulong, is it?"

Gu Yuejin sized up the broad-shouldered young man.

In the Original Work, this guy was the captain of the main team. His martial soul was the Great Head Spirit Ape. It wasn't top-tier, but in the Sun Moon Empire, a wasteland of martial souls, he still stood out among the rest.

Some talent, but not much.

Still, he was steady and dependable—a decent tool... Ahem, teammate.

"Since I've chosen you, let me make one thing clear."

Gu Yuejin stopped, his gaze like a blade as it swept across each of their faces.

"Once you join my team, you follow my rules."

"Starting today, in addition to your regular classes, you'll all come here every night for special training."

"I'll apply to the academy for the highest-level Soul Tool training clearance, and... live combat drills."

At that, Gu Yuejin broke into the "benevolent" smile that had haunted Xu Hu's nightmares.

"Of course, I'll be your sparring partner."

"If anyone can't take it or wants to quit, you can leave anytime. There are plenty of people waiting to take your place."

When they heard the words "I'll be your sparring partner," Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ma Rulong all shuddered in unison.

What kind of joke was this?

Hadn't Teacher Gu Yue introduced himself as a Soul Saint?

Was this special training? It was more like a death sentence!

"Huh? We have to train every day?"

Meng Hongchen was the first to protest, her little face crumpling. "Brother Gu Yue... Does that mean I won't have time to go shopping? Couldn't you make an exception...?"

"No."

Gu Yuejin answered with two cold words, leaving no room for negotiation. "If you're afraid of hardship, quit. I'll find someone else."

Meng Hongchen immediately fell silent. She was upset, but she wanted even less to leave Gu Yuejin's side.

"I have no problem with it."

Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath, defiance shining in his eyes.

He was arrogant, but he understood the gap between himself and the truly powerful.

"As long as it makes me stronger, what's a little hardship?"

Ma Rulong, the senior sixth-year student, was busy psyching himself up.

"This is an opportunity! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Getting personal guidance from someone this powerful—even dying on the training ground would be worth it!"

"For the Empire's honor, for the sake of defeating Shrek, what does a little intensity matter? Ma Rulong, if you're a man, stand firm!"

With that, a blazing fire lit up in Ma Rulong's eyes, and he shouted, "I have no problem with it either! Please train me as hard as you can, Teacher!"

Gu Yuejin: "..."

Why did that line sound so weird?

As for Huo Yuhao, he simply stood there quietly, expressionless.

After enduring the freezing conditions of the Extreme North and the torment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, this so-called special training was practically a vacation to him.

"Good. Looks like you all understand what this will take."

Gu Yuejin nodded in satisfaction.

As he looked at the four of them, he began rapidly putting together a tactical system in his mind.

Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen were typical Sun Moon Empire heavy hitters. With their martial souls and Soul Tool Turrets, they could unleash tremendous firepower.

Meng Hongchen's Vermilion Clear Ice Toad martial soul gave her access to deadly poison. She was a top-tier control-and-assault fighter who could also disrupt the enemy's formation.

Huo Yuhao was a full-map hack with mental control, plus the explosive power of Extreme Ice. He was the team's brain.

"The lineup's passable."

Gu Yuejin weighed things up.

"Two assault fighters and two controllers. Plenty of firepower, but not enough durability, and our ability to sustain ourselves is a problem too."

"And..."

He thought of the strange "Death God's Emissary" from the Original Work, and the Corpse Explosion that had nearly wiped out Shrek's main team.

His arrival had changed many things, but there was no guarantee that the Evil Soul Master wouldn't appear again—or appear earlier and stronger.

"We have to shore up our defense and improve our margin for error."

"For the remaining three spots, we need a decent tank. Ideally, we should also get someone who can provide buffs or healing."

"Shrek's foundations are not to be underestimated. Even if this generation's Shrek Seven Devils isn't all that strong, we still need to be fully prepared."

Gu Yuejin narrowed his eyes as he gazed out at the night over Mingdu.

"Better safe than sorry."

"If we're going to win, then we'll win in style—and leave no room for doubt."