Participating in the Grand Competition, Reserve Spot

"I do not agree. Why must you take a spot from our Soul Guidance Department?"

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, Xian Lin'er slammed her palm onto the table.

Her chest heaved, and the fury in her eyes was practically erupting.

Just moments ago, Yan Shaozhe had suddenly arrived to inform her of the news.

The reserved spot for the reserve team, originally allocated to the Soul Guidance Department this year, was gone.

Given Xian Lin'er's fierce and impetuous temperament, how could she possibly endure this?

She immediately demanded a Sea God Pavilion meeting to demand an explanation in person.

"Lin'er."

Elder Song, sitting in the main seat on the right, furrowed her brows. Her voice was soft, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

She was Xian Lin'er's mother and a veteran elder with profound seniority within the Sea God Pavilion.

Xian Lin'er's breath hitched. In the end, she suppressed her anger and sat back down with a muffled thud, though her face remained livid.

Once she had calmed slightly, Elder Song turned her gaze toward Yan Shaozhe.

"Shaoze, you explain. I recall the academy having a long-standing rule that among the seven spots for the reserve team, one must be reserved for the Soul Guidance Department. Does this rule no longer count?"

"The rule naturally still counts." Yan Shaozhe stood up and bowed slightly to the elders present, his expression composed. "But the situation this time is special. I intend to reserve this spot for Xia Ming."

At the mention of Xia Ming, the atmosphere in the pavilion shifted abruptly.

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions turning solemn.

They all knew what kind of genius this little monster, who had been taken as a disciple by Elder Mu a year ago, truly was!

Over this past year, everyone had witnessed his progress with their own eyes.

It could be said that in the eyes of everyone present, Xia Ming was the greatest hope for the future of Shrek Academy.

In the hearts of some, Xia Ming's status might even be subtly surpassing that of Elder Xuan.

Elder Song pondered for a moment before speaking again:

"Xia Ming is gifted, but he is only seven years old after all. Is it too early for him to participate in the tournament? Furthermore, his strength far exceeds his peers. Exposing him too early will likely invite unnecessary trouble."

"Age is not a limitation." Yan Shaozhe replied calmly. "As for his strength, Xia Ming will suppress his power himself, displaying only the combat strength of a Soul Ancestor to the outside world."

He paused briefly, his voice becoming increasingly steady: "This was decided by the teacher himself; he wants Xia Ming to gain some experience."

As his voice fell, all eyes turned toward the old man in the main seat who had been resting with his eyes closed the entire time.

Mu En did not open his eyes, merely nodding very slightly.

In an instant, the elders understood.

Since it was the will of Elder Mu, there was no room for negotiation.

Thinking it over carefully, having Xia Ming suppress his power to participate in the tournament was indeed the most secure arrangement for the time being—allowing him to gain experience without exposing his trump cards too early.

"Even so, why must you take the spot from my Soul Guidance Department?" Xian Lin'er asked through gritted teeth. "The Martial Soul Department has many spots; why can't you spare one from there?"

Yan Shaozhe looked at her, his gaze calm yet carrying a hint of sharpness: "If the student from the Soul Guidance Department had earned this position through his own strength, I would never touch him. But the reason he was selected... was it not simply by relying on this reserved spot?"

Hearing this, both Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo's eyes dimmed, and they were left speechless.

These words struck a raw nerve.

The Soul Guidance Department had seen stagnant development and a withering of talent over these years.

The most outstanding student in this batch was already fifteen, yet was still only a Level 3 Soul Guidance Master.

Compared to the true prodigies of the Martial Soul Department, the gap was more than just a little.

That spot was less of an earned position and more of a customary reservation.

Now that they had to make way for Xia Ming, even if they were filled with reluctance, they could hardly argue against it.

As for having their own students compete with the Martial Soul Department for the remaining spots? Both of them knew clearly that such a thing was impossible.

Qian Duoduo sighed inwardly, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

Although the Soul Guidance Department lacks geniuses this year, the child Fan Yu adopted, He Caitou, seems to have great potential.

At only ten years old, he is already a two-ring Soul Master and a Level 2 Soul Guidance Master.

If nurtured properly, he might truly earn a place for himself through sheer strength in five years.

"Enough."

Xian Lin'er finally shook her head in defeat, ceasing the argument.

Mu En slowly opened his eyes at this moment, his gentle voice ringing out clearly within the Sea God Pavilion:

"Since there are no objections, this matter is settled. This spot on the reserve team belongs to Xia Ming."

The final decision was made.

After the meeting concluded, Yan Shaozhe approached Xia Ming, his face beaming with spring-like warmth.

"Little Junior Brother, your spot has been confirmed. I shall take you to meet your teammates now."

"Very well." Xia Ming gave a slight nod.

Teammates, is it?

The original reserve team should have been the main squad from the original work, consisting of the six remaining members plus one student from the Soul Guidance Department, excluding Ma Xiaotao.

But since he was involved now, someone would certainly have to be cut.

The most likely candidate would be that student from the Soul Guidance Department.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for that unknown NPC from the Soul Guidance Department.

In the original story, the main squad spot was taken by Ma Xiaotao, and now the reserve team spot was being taken by him.

It was truly quite miserable.

However, the person who lost that main squad spot in the original work might even be secretly glad they were replaced.

Otherwise, they would have been caught in a blast and might not have even survived.

"We have arrived."

Yan Shaozhe's voice pulled him back from his wandering thoughts.

The two of them landed at the edge of a spacious martial arts arena in the outer courtyard.

Six figures stood in the center—four males and two females, all around fourteen or fifteen years old—representing every member of this year's reserve team besides Xia Ming.

"Dean Yan!"

A lean youth with sharp, piercing eyes spoke up first, his tone clearly laced with resentment.

"On what grounds does a seven-year-old child get to join our reserve team the moment he arrives?!"

The others remained silent, but they all clearly harbored some resentment.

If Xia Ming were a formal student of Shrek Academy, it might be one thing, but he was not only an outsider, he was only seven years old!

They had all been selected through layers of rigorous screening from thousands of students in the outer courtyard, fighting fiercely to earn these precious spots.

Now, a seven-year-old child had been parachuted in; such blatant nepotism made it difficult for anyone to remain calm.

"You will understand in a moment." Yan Shaozhe glanced at him without saying much more.

"Now, everyone introduce yourselves and get to know one another. Little Junior Brother, you go first."

Xia Ming stepped forward: "My name is Xia Ming, a Level 26 Assault-type Battle Soul Grand Master."

Level 26? Still just a Soul Grand Master?

The group exchanged glances, their confusion deepening.

But constrained by Yan Shaozhe's presence, they still stepped forward in order.

"Dai Yueheng, Level 47 Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor."

The tall, blond-haired youth spoke first, his voice steady, though his gaze landed on Xia Ming like a physical weight.

"Chen Zifeng, Level 42 Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor."

The black-haired youth standing to the side crossed his arms, his brow carrying a sharpness akin to a blade.

"Xixi, Level 41 Agility-type Battle Soul Ancestor."

The short-haired girl spoke with a brisk cadence, her posture like a cheetah ready to spring.

"Ling Luochen, Level 39 Control-type Battle Soul Elder."

The girl with long, ice-blue hair spoke in a cold tone, with a faint chill lingering around her.

"Yao Haoxuan, Level 39 Control-Assistance-type Battle Soul Elder."

This was the youth who had voiced his doubts earlier.

"Gongyang Mo, Level 45 Assistance-type Battle Soul Ancestor."

The final youth to speak was handsome, with a gentle voice.

It was an elite lineup of high-level Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors, with Dai Yueheng already nearing the threshold of a Soul King.

Such a lineup could be considered above average among all previous reserve teams.

Five years later, among the six people present, aside from the level 64 Dai Yueheng, Gongyang Mo held the highest Soul Power Level at level 59.

The others were all Soul Kings, with the lowest reaching level 55.

It was perfectly normal to have such levels by now.

Compared to the next generation's reserve team, this group appeared much stronger in terms of Soul Power Level.

Of course, in terms of actual combat prowess and talent, they were certainly far inferior.

The six people before us were merely at a standard level among the successive reserve teams of Shrek Academy.

If they played it safe and steady, reaching the Title Douluo realm would be a decent achievement, but becoming a Super Douluo was almost impossible.

As for the next generation, they were the main cast; they possessed thirteen martial souls alone, and excluding Jiang Nannan, every one of them had at least the potential to become a Super Douluo.

Not to mention the presence of Huo Gua and Wang Dong.