At dawn, the first rays of sunlight pierced the treetops of Shrek Academy and spilled across the bluestone training ground, where seven figures were drenched in sweat.
Since escaping death in the dense forest, the Shrek Seven Devils had trained with even greater desperation. No one needed to push them. The desperate battle against the Clear Sky Douluo and the two divine beasts' earth-shaking pressure had become the sharpest goad, etched into every one of their hearts. They knew better than ever that if they wanted to avoid being crushed by powerful enemies and protect the companions at their side, their only choice was to give everything they had to grow stronger. There were no shortcuts.
On the east side of the training ground, Dai Mubai stood bare-chested, White Tiger Soul Power surging around him like waves. A golden aura coiled around his fists as he honed the force behind his White Tiger Fist again and again. Each punch split the air with a sharp whistle. He could wield and withdraw his Soul Power with ease; gone was the reckless, all-out aggression of before. Instead, he concentrated his strength into a single point and precisely controlled the rhythm of attack and defense. In only a few days, his Soul Power had stabilized at level thirty-two, in the Soul Elder realm. His control over his Martial Soul had far surpassed what it once was, and he could now easily crush Soul Masters of the same rank.
Not far away, Ma Hongjun sat cross-legged, golden-red Phoenix Flame swirling around him. No longer the wild, furious blaze that had once burned unchecked, it had become a gentle layer of flame armor clinging to his skin. With his eyes closed, he precisely controlled its temperature and range, absorbing all the Soul Power in the surrounding air to temper his Phoenix Martial Soul. He had long since overcome the flaw of consuming Soul Power too quickly. His flames were now several times more effective against evil toxins and sinister forces, and he himself had become less impetuous and more composed.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu stood side by side in the woods, refining their close-combat teamwork.
Zhu Zhuqing's figure blurred into streaks of shadow. The Hell Spirit Cat's speed had improved yet again, and her movements left almost no trace. The blade-light of her Nether Slash grew increasingly condensed, each strike aimed straight at a vital point. Xiao Wu, meanwhile, moved with nimble steps as Soft Bone Soul Power flowed around her. Her Waist Bow, Soft Bone Lock, and Eight-Stage Throw linked together flawlessly. One attacked while the other controlled; one was swift, the other deft. Their figures wove around each other without leaving an opening. Even against an agility-type opponent far stronger than themselves, they could easily keep them in check.
At the center of the training ground, Ning Rongrong held the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm, its seven-colored radiance flowing without pause. She seamlessly switched between five boosts—strength, speed, defense, Soul Power recovery, and mental strength—and precisely directed each one onto her companions. Having endured life-or-death trials, her Soul Power had grown far more resilient, and the duration of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's boosts had doubled. She could maintain them for long periods without running out of Soul Power, firmly establishing herself as the team's foremost support.
Oscar sat nearby, Soul Power rippling rapidly at his fingertips as one new sausage after another took shape. Along with the Recovery Sausage and Flight Sausage, he had devoted himself to research over the past several days and successfully created the Defense Sausage and Agility Sausage. After eating them, a person's physical defense and movement speed temporarily increased. This had completely filled the gaps in the team's support, taking Shrek's endurance and adaptability in team battles to a new level.
Of the seven, Lin Chen always stood to one side of the training ground. He seemed relaxed, but his spiritual awareness constantly covered the entire area. He observed everyone's training in detail, ready to point out any flaws, while quietly absorbing the surrounding Soul Power and consolidating his own strength.
His Soul Power remained at its previous level, but his foundations had grown increasingly profound, and his spiritual awareness was far stronger than before. Nothing that stirred within a ten-mile radius escaped his senses. He had repeatedly studied the two divine beasts' pressure that had swept out from Star Dou Forest that day. It had not only greatly strengthened his spiritual awareness, but also given him a deeper understanding of the power coursing through beast-type Martial Souls and ancient divine beasts. Even if he encountered pressure on the level of Tang Hao's again, he could withstand it calmly and protect the companions around him.
During a break in training, they all sat down to rest and catch their breath.
Xiao Wu held the Recovery Sausage Oscar had handed her and nibbled at it, but her gaze wandered. Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the Beast Bone Pendant at her neck, and unease still lingered in her heart.
In that moment of crisis, she had triggered the token and drawn down Daming and Erming's pressure. Though it had driven Tang Hao away, it could also easily expose her identity. It wasn't that she distrusted her companions; it was just that her true form was the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit. If her identity were exposed, it would surely bring a deadly calamity upon the people of Shrek Academy—and drag Lin Chen, who had always protected her, into it as well.
This secret was like a tiny thorn embedded in her heart, keeping her from ever feeling completely at ease.
"What are you thinking about?"
A gentle voice sounded beside her. At some point, Lin Chen had sat down next to her. His tone was calm, but his eyes held a knowing warmth.
Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly set aside her thoughts and looked up at Lin Chen, forcing herself to appear composed as she shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking about our teamwork earlier and what we could've done better."
Lin Chen saw the panic she couldn't conceal in her eyes. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, but he didn't call her out. He simply said softly, "No matter what happens, I'm here. No one can hurt you, and no one can make trouble for anyone in Shrek Academy."
It was a simple sentence, yet it brimmed with absolute confidence and certainty.
Xiao Wu gazed at him, at the unreserved trust and protectiveness in his eyes. Her nose prickled, and most of the unease in her heart vanished at once. She suddenly felt that perhaps she didn't have to be so cautious all the time. This person by her side really could shield her from every storm.
She nodded firmly and linked her arm through Lin Chen's. Her eyes regained their usual brightness and resolve. "Mm! I'll train hard and grow stronger with everyone. One day, I'll be the one protecting you all!"
Lin Chen smiled and ruffled her hair without saying anything more.
He had long since realized the connection between Xiao Wu and the two divine beasts' pressure, and had guessed that there was something unusual about her identity. But he had never intended to pry, nor would he distance himself from her because of it. In his eyes, Xiao Wu was his companion, a member of Shrek Academy. Whatever her identity might be, he would protect her. That was enough.
Just as they finished resting and prepared to resume training, Flender and Zhao Wuji approached side by side, both wearing solemn expressions. They clearly had something important to announce.
"Everyone, stop for a moment. There's something I need to tell you." Flender stopped and looked over the seven. Seeing how completely they had transformed, he could barely hide his satisfaction. Then his tone turned serious. "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is about to begin its preliminaries. Shrek Academy has received an order to compete."
At those words, everyone's eyes lit up. Their fatigue vanished, replaced by blazing fighting spirit.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament!
It was the stage every young Soul Master on the Douluo Continent dreamed of! It brought together the finest young Soul Masters from across the continent. It was a contest of strength, a chance to bring glory to one's academy, and the perfect opportunity for young Soul Masters to make their names!
"Dean, are we really allowed to compete? What about our academy's slot...?" Dai Mubai was the first to speak, unable to hide his excitement. Shrek Academy had always gone its own way and had never deliberately taken part in continental competitions. Receiving an order to compete this time was truly unexpected.
"Of course we can compete." Zhao Wuji laughed heartily, his deep voice brimming with confidence. "Your strength has already surpassed that of Soul Masters at your level. And after enduring that life-or-death trial, you've become a well-coordinated team with formidable combat ability. You're more than qualified to take the stage!"
Flender nodded and added, "The preliminaries begin in a month, at the main arena in Suotuo City. You'll spend the next month in final training, refining your team tactics and preparing for the tournament. I hope you'll make a name for Shrek Academy in the arena—and use this tournament to temper yourselves and break through your limits!"
"Yes!"
The seven answered in unison, their voices ringing with conviction and their eyes brimming with fighting spirit.
They had been eager for a chance to test the results of their training in real combat. This Soul Master Tournament was undoubtedly the perfect proving ground!
They all knew that powerful opponents from every corner would gather for the tournament. It would be more than a contest of strength; danger could be lurking beneath the surface as well. No one could say for certain whether Tang San, consumed by thoughts of revenge, would use the tournament as an opportunity to appear again and take his revenge.
But none of them feared it now.
They had endured life and death, and were no longer the inexperienced Soul Masters they had once been. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the Shrek Seven Devils had the confidence to face any challenge!
As the people of Shrek Academy burned with fighting spirit and prepared for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, a hidden canyon thousands of miles away presented a very different, oppressively bleak scene.
Deep within the canyon, jagged rocks jutted everywhere, and Soul Power was sparse.
Tang San's body was covered in wounds, his clothes soaked with sweat. Gripping a miniature Clear Sky Hammer in both hands, he repeated the basic hammer forms again and again. Every swing tugged at his still-healing meridians, sending pain so excruciating it felt as if his heart were being torn apart.
Yet he seemed not to feel it at all. His eyes held nothing but a stubborn, blood-red gleam. Lin Chen's figure kept replaying in his mind, along with the image of the Shrek group surrounding him and the humiliation of Tang Hao carrying him away as he fled.
Every ounce of humiliation, resentment, and hatred became fuel for his training. Even as his meridians throbbed with pain and his Soul Power ran dry, he never stopped moving.
"Stop and rest for a while."
Tang Hao's voice carried through the canyon, weary and helpless. He watched his son train as if trying to torture himself and furrowed his brow, but there was nothing he could do.
Over the past few days, he had poured everything into teaching Tang San the Clear Sky Hammer's basic training methods and the secrets of its hammer techniques. He had also helped him straighten out his previously sealed meridians and improve his Soul Power. But hatred had already twisted Tang San's nature. In addition to his training, he had been secretly studying the Hidden Weapon techniques and poisons in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record behind Tang Hao's back, becoming ever more ruthless and venomous.
"Father, I can keep training!" Tang San gritted his teeth and refused to stop. "I have to get stronger as soon as possible. I have to defeat Lin Chen and make everyone in Shrek Academy pay for what they did today!"
"Stop right now!" Tang Hao barked. Pressure rippled faintly around him. "I'm teaching you to grow stronger so you can protect yourself, not so you can obsess over revenge! Do you understand how terrifying the two waves of pressure in Star Dou Forest were that day? They came from two top-tier Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. With someone like that protecting Lin Chen, you can't afford to provoke him!"
Even now, Tang Hao still shuddered when he thought of those two waves of divine beasts' pressure.
He could tell that those two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were far beyond ordinary Soul Beasts. If Tang San insisted on going after Lin Chen, he would only be courting a gruesome death.
But Tang San simply wouldn't listen. Hatred had long since clouded his mind.
He lowered his head, hiding the malice in his eyes. On the surface, he obediently stopped training, but in his heart, his resolve to seek revenge only grew firmer.
He swore silently that he would master the Clear Sky Hammer techniques and refine the secrets of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record as quickly as possible. When the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament began, he would appear before Lin Chen in his strongest form and wash away every last humiliation with his own hands!
In the canyon, the flames of revenge burned fiercer and fiercer;
at Shrek Academy, their resolve to prepare for battle only grew stronger with every setback.
The curtain was about to rise on the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. A clash of the continent's finest young Soul Masters was already taking shape in secret.
And the feud between Lin Chen and Tang San, along with Shrek's struggle against its lurking enemies, was destined to erupt anew at this much-anticipated tournament!
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