The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament!

They had no real rapport with the seven who had previously made up the Shrek Seven Devils. In the limited time ahead, they had to focus on building teamwork!

With the tournament approaching, even the slightest lack of coordination could become a fatal weakness."

"Yes, Teacher. I understand."

Seeing his teacher's expression soften, the simulated Tang San finally breathed a sigh of relief. He responded respectfully and took Yu Xiaogang's instructions to heart.

He could sense that although his teacher seemed to have developed some distance from him, Yu Xiaogang still remained rigorous and responsible when it came to the competition and the team's victory.

"Go."

Yu Xiaogang turned away without looking at him again, his gaze falling on the tactical diagrams spread across the table, as though they contained something more worthy of his attention.

Seeing this, the simulated Tang San did not linger. He bowed once more to Yu Xiaogang's back, then silently left the room and gently closed the door behind him.

The following simulation showed the Shrek Team's intense preparations for battle.

Just as Yu Xiaogang had emphasized, the newly joined Tai Long, Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling had all reached the Soul Elder level individually, but there was clearly still a sense of unfamiliarity between them and the originally well-coordinated Shrek Seven Devils.

As the team's true tactical core and control-type Soul Master, the simulated Tang San devoted a great deal of effort to coordinating and commanding everyone.

On the training grounds, shouts, the sounds of Soul Power colliding, and Yu Xiaogang's occasional instructions and corrections rang out without end.

As an observer, Tang San could clearly "feel" his simulated self's mind working at high speed, constantly issuing commands, adjusting positioning, and testing different Spirit Skill combinations.

This kind of high-intensity, highly complex team command left even observer Tang San mentally exhausted. At the same time, however, a wonderful feeling of controlling the entire battlefield and planning everything from afar rose within him.

It was somewhat similar to how he had felt as an elite of the Tang Sect in his previous life while carrying out intricate missions, except the scale was larger and there were far more variables.

He also noticed that throughout the training, Yu Xiaogang usually stood quietly at the edge of the field and observed. Only occasionally would he point out broader issues or offer suggestions. The specific tactical details and execution were completely entrusted to the simulated "Tang San."

Such trust had clearly been built upon strength and ability.

Apparently, in this "future," "Tang San," who had already become a Soul Ancestor and possessed stronger Blue Silver Grass control, had earned the right to command through his actual performance.

"Was it... Master Fu Shiyan's guidance that caused a qualitative leap in my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and control abilities, allowing me to shoulder such a heavy responsibility at this age?"

Observer Tang San silently speculated.

Training continued amid sweat and repeated rounds of adjustment.

Time flew by in the simulation. In what felt like the blink of an eye, it was already the eve of the tournament's opening.

At this moment, the entire Shrek Academy was permeated with an atmosphere of tension and excitement.

At the same time, Tang San had already decided on the competitors for the preliminaries, mainly rotating four members of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Those four included Tang San himself, who had to compete; Dai Mubai, the Evil Eye White Tiger with the strongest Soul Power; Oscar, the food-type Soul Master; and Xiao Wu, the assault-type Soul Master.

Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong would be kept in reserve.

Once everything was prepared, the group headed for Heaven Dou City.

After arriving in Heaven Dou City, even Tang San, watching from the observer's perspective, was stunned by the sight before him.

With the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena at its center, nearly one-third of Heaven Dou City seemed deserted. Crowds filled the streets, voices roared like a boiling sea, and flags fluttered everywhere. It was obvious just how attractive the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was to the public!

The teammates beside him also looked around in every direction, occasionally exclaiming and chatting. Clearly, they too were awed by the grand spectacle.

But soon, all of them unconsciously lowered their heads, their faces burning.

Because their outfits were truly embarrassing—standard Shrek Academy uniforms in an outrageously eye-catching grass-green color!

Flender had specially ordered them, and on the chest of each shit-green uniform was a cartoon Shrek monster design that covered almost the entire front.

Most bizarre of all, six glaring scarlet characters were printed on everyone's back:

Seeking title sponsorship ads!

Sure enough, as soon as their group entered the crowd's field of vision, they immediately received an extraordinary amount of "attention."

Countless stunned gazes turned toward them, followed by barely suppressed whispers and completely undisguised laughter.

"Quick, look at those guys... What are they wearing?"

"Hahaha, seeking ads? Are they here to compete or to be a joke?"

"Shrek Academy? Never heard of it. Their taste is way too unique!"

Even as an observer, Tang San could clearly feel the overwhelming embarrassment of his simulated self, who wished he could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it!

What was even worse was that Flender and the others leading the group in front had somehow tacitly raised their heads to look at the sky, or glanced around in every direction, wearing expressions that said, "I don't know the people behind me." They strode into the crowd, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the others as possible.

Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, following behind him, were no slower. In the blink of an eye, they had blended into the crowd.

Before long, amid extreme embarrassment and frustration, the group finally found Shrek Academy's designated rest area.

Just as everyone gathered together and muttered complaints about Principal Flender's bizarre aesthetic sense, a highly discordant voice thick with mockery came from nearby:

"What, a bunch of toads think they can win the championship?"

The one who spoke was a young man in his early twenties. He looked arrogant and wore a standard team uniform, though its color and design were completely different from Shrek Academy's.

Neither observer Tang San nor his simulated self recognized him.

The hot-tempered Tai Long was the first to lose his patience. He had already been holding in a bellyful of anger after being mocked all the way there. Now that someone had openly provoked them, rage surged through him. With a low growl, he was about to charge forward and fight.

"Tai Long!" Fortunately, the simulated Tang San spoke in time. His tone was steady yet carried unquestionable authority, stopping him in his tracks.

During the earlier team training, Tang San had noticed that his relationship with Tai Long seemed to be something like that of master and servant.

Tai Long often called him Young Master, and both his tone and behavior were deeply respectful. Based on that title, Tang San guessed it was either related to his drunken father or to his master, Fu Shiyan.

At a time like this, getting into a private fight over a verbal dispute could very likely result in disqualification from the tournament. It was not worth the loss.

Just as Tang San's group and the young man opposite them, along with the students in moon-white uniforms gathering behind him, engaged in a war of words without smoke or fire, an elderly man around sixty years old walked over.

Before he arrived, a low voice carrying a hint of pressure reached them first:

"What are you doing?"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw that the newcomer wore an exquisitely crafted moon-white Soul Master robe. Its embroidery gleamed gold, similar to the clothing of the students behind him, yet clearly far more luxurious, highlighting his distinct status.

His face was lean, his eyes sharp. As his gaze swept over both sides, it carried the scrutiny of someone long accustomed to a position of authority.

Ma Hongjun still wanted to throw back some more insults, but the old man merely gave him an indifferent, emotionless glance.

That seemingly ordinary look made Ma Hongjun feel as though he had been targeted by some dangerous Soul Beast. The words at his lips lodged in his throat, and cold sweat instantly covered his back.

The old man paid no further attention to the Shrek group, as though they were merely a group of insignificant, noisy insects.

He turned to the young man who had provoked them earlier and the students behind him, then said in a deep voice:

"What are you all gathered here for? Go back!"

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable command.

The students in moon-white uniforms immediately fell silent. They respectfully acknowledged him, then followed the old man back toward their academy's rest area with their tails between their legs.

Watching their retreating backs, Dai Mubai frowned and said in a low voice:

"They're from Canghui Academy. That old man should be their team leader. He feels... quite strong."

(Me: Why isn't this book taking off?)

(Fu Shiyan: Because my Blue Silver Grass is immune to fire!)

(Me: sobbing)

(The plot will pick up from here. I can reveal that a small high point is coming—Fu Shiyan will be appearing soon. ૮₍◜ෆ◝.₎ა)

(It's about to begin its trial run. Dear readers, please add it to your collections, keep reading, and send some votes. I'm begging you all, dear readers. Sobbing.)