The Inner Academy's Main Team Assembles

Ma Xiaotao loosened her grip; the movement wasn't quick, and to outsiders it looked more like she was feeling guilty.

"Arrive."

Ma Xiaotao casually took two steps forward, nodded to the group, and

"The Inner Academy's Soul Fighting Arena isn't far ahead; I'll take you there."

Zhu Lu hummed in agreement and walked over to Dai Huabin, naturally taking his left-hand side.

Xiao Xiao leaned close to Cui Yajie's ear and whispered very softly.

"Yajie, did I just see that wrong? Senior Ma Xiaotao was holding the class monitor's hand?"

You read that right.

Cui Yajie's voice was also low, but her tone revealed an interest in watching the excitement.

"Isn't Lulu angry?"

Cui Yajie glanced at Zhu Lu, who was walking ahead.

Her long, straight black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her back was ramrod straight, her steps were steady, and she showed no signs of emotional fluctuation.

"Lulu's skill level is beyond our comprehension," Cui Yajie said casually.

Xiao Xiao nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Wang Dong'er wasn't here; she flew over and stayed at the very front of the group. Otherwise, given her personality, the scene would have been even more lively.

The group walked along the forest path, with Ma Xiaotao leading the way.

She was definitely in a much better mood.

The problem of her Evil Fire had plagued her for so many years; not only was her cultivation restricted, but she was also disqualified from the competition. Now, there was finally hope for a solution.

Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but turn around and glance at Dai Huabin. The words her teacher Yan Shaozhe, had said yesterday came back to mind.

"This kid is worth your serious consideration."

Ma Xiaotao hasn't thought about it in that direction yet, but she admits that Dai Huabin is indeed quite different from the other boys her age she's met before.

It's not about looks or ability.

It's that kind of composure where "everything is under control".

To be honest, it's quite incongruous for Dai Huabin to have this kind of temperament. But it feels so natural on him, as if this is how he should be.

Born a king?

Ma Xiaotao shook her head, shaking off the jumbled thoughts in her mind.

Let's deal with the problem of the Evil Fire first before we talk about anything else.

Ma Xiaotao pointed to a semi-open circular building in front of her.

"The Inner Academy Soul Fighting Arena is just ahead."

Dai Huabin nodded, "Thank you for showing me the way, senior."

Ma Xiaotao waved her hand, "Don't be so polite, we'll be on the same team from now on."

Dai Huabin agreed verbally, but his mind was already racing.

The Main Team the Shrek Seven Devils.

Ma Xiaotao, Level 67. Dai Yueheng, Level 64. Gongyang Mo, Level 59. Chen Zifeng, Level 57. Xixi, Level 56. Ling Luochen, Level 55. Yao Haoxuan, Level 55.

Of these seven people, Ma Xiaotao wasn't actually in the team from the beginning.

The earliest main lineup included a student from the Soul Guidance Department; Ma Xiaotao was a student who squeezed in later.

It was called a "squeeze," but it was really just a fight. They beat the Soul Engineer to a pulp and kicked him out.

Since then, the Soul Guidance Department has disappeared from the Main Team.

Dean Xian Lin'er must be furious.

"Huabin! Hurry up!"

At the entrance to the Soul Fighting Arena ahead, Wang Dong'er waved to him.

Her long, light blue hair was blown about by the wind on Sea God Island. She held her hair down with one hand and gestured to him with the other.

She flew there much faster than she walked, and had been waiting there for quite some time.

Dai Huabin raised his hand and waved, but didn't say anything.

He turned his head and glanced at Zhu Lu, Xiao Xiao, Cui Yajie, and Ning Tian who were following behind him.

Snow Empress had somehow moved to the front of the group, dressed in a white dress and with white hair, her steps unhurried, not walking alongside anyone.

"Let's go see just how strong the experts in the Inner Academy are."

Zhu Lu hummed in agreement and quietly followed on his left.

Ning Tian quickly walked over and lowered his voice, "Huabin, how come you and Senior Ma Xiaotao seem so familiar with each other?"

"Like I said, it was all a coincidence," Dai Huabin gestured with his chin toward Ma Xiaotao in front of him.

Ning Tian pursed his lips and didn't say anything more.

The group followed Ma Xiaotao through the entrance and into the Inner Academy's Soul Fighting Arena.

It's at least three times bigger than the one in the Outer Academy.

The circular stands are layered upon each other, with a specially made gray-white stone slab in the center of the field, the edges of which are engraved with a dense array of soul patterns.

The dome was half-open, and the sunlight from Sea God Island poured down, illuminating the entire area.

Six people were standing in the very center of the venue.

Dai Huabin recognized Dai Yueheng at first glance. He was tall and imposing, with a cold and stern face and an upright posture, giving off a sense of imposing superiority.

He bears some resemblance to Dai Huabin, especially his sinister eyes. However, Dai Yueheng is more mature, with sharper features and broader shoulders.

Standing next to Dai Yueheng was a tall, slender boy with fair features—well, a bit effeminate. He must be the one with the Rainbow Dragon Martial Soul.

Dai Huabin marked it in his mind.

Looking to the side, Ling Luochen was easily recognizable. Tall and slender, with an indifferent expression, she exuded a subtle chill. A level 55 Ice-type Soul King.

Dai Huabin glanced at her again.

Both are of the ice attribute, but the ice energy emanating from Ling Luochen is many orders of magnitude weaker than his, let alone compared to the Snow Empress.

The short-haired girl next to him was tall and slender, with a neat posture and toned muscles; she was clearly an extremely agile type.

It should be Xixi.

The remaining two men were a rugged and steady man. Dai Huabin rummaged through his memories.

It should be Chen Zifeng and Yao Haoxuan.

These two characters don't have a very strong presence in the original work.

The battle at the Mingdou Mountain Range benefited the "Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult," as it seems that the two of them were wiped out by the "Strongest Soul King."

But that's a story for another time.

Dai Huabin snapped out of his thoughts and counted again.

Six people, there really were six.

Ma Xiaotao is behind him. If you remove her from the Main Team, there should still be six players left.

However, the original main lineup included a Soul Guidance Department student, but now all six people on the field are Martial Soul Department, which means that the Soul Engineer has been eliminated by Ma Xiaotao.

Really.

Ma Xiaotao joined the team faster than he had expected.

A single challenge match wiped out the Soul Guidance Department members cleanly and efficiently.

"They're here, they're here." Ma Xiaotao strode into the arena, gesturing with her Dai Yueheng and the others. "I've brought them."

Dai Yueheng did not respond to Ma Xiaotao.

His attention was entirely focused on the group of people who walked in. To be precise, it was focused on the blond boy.

Dai Huabin.

The last time Dai Yueheng saw him was more than a year ago.

Back then, this younger brother was only in his early thirties with decent Soul Power. He had good talent, but he didn't have the same aura he has now.

In less than a year, he had already reached the level of Soul Ancestor in his forties.

And what about Dai Yueheng himself? He was in the 64th grade.

He sounds like he's almost twenty levels ahead of Dai Huabin, but how many years did it take him to reach sixty-four?

By now, when Dai Huabin reaches his age, his Soul Power will likely have far surpassed his.