Shrek Academy Feels the Pressure

"Hey, have you heard? They say the champions of the youth group from the last Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition, who were supposed to have an exhibition match against the people from Shrek Academy at the opening ceremony, were actually defeated by a group of eleven-year-olds!"

"Yeah, and it only took them half a minute! According to the official inspection by Tianhai City, each of them used less than ten percent of their soul power!"

"Your information is way behind! Those kids are students from Eastsea Academy in Eastsea City. They've already issued a challenge to Shrek Academy, using the exact same declaration they made when they took down the previous youth group champions!"

"Really? But that's Shrek Academy, the number one institution in the world! Are they actually planning to bet their lives on this?"

"Brother Li, don't you think what they said is cool? 'Ten percent soul power, within half a stick of incense, if we don't defeat Shrek, we leave our heads!' Every opening ceremony of the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition, we have to watch those young Shrek Academy brats crap on the heads of us Tianhai City folks. The tides have to turn eventually, right? It's about time we in Tianhai City held our heads high!"

"Watch your tongue, Zhang San! That's Shrek Academy. Aren't you afraid that the Shrek Inspectorate will suddenly come and drag you away? Even if you're saying what we're all thinking, keep your voice down..."

As the video of Lan Kai leading the Zero Class to crush the previous youth group champions of the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition in half a minute using only five percent of their soul power was released by the official organizers, Lan Kai and his team instantly became the center of attention for the entire event.

Even when they went out to eat, they had to disguise themselves and avoid moving as a group, otherwise, they would be swarmed by citizens with all sorts of reactions, leading to endless trouble.

One must realize that Shrek Academy's status on the continent is currently higher than it has ever been, and the declaration Lan Kai and his team issued to them was, in the eyes of Shrek's fanatic supporters, equivalent to dragging Shrek's honor through the dirt and stomping on it repeatedly.

Naturally, quite a few soul masters wanted to "teach them a lesson" in person.

Lan Kai didn't know how the others in Zero Class were handling it, but he had already stuffed fifty-six soul masters who tried to pick a fight with him into trash cans all over the streets and alleys of Tianhai City. Only four of them saw the situation turning sour, immediately sold out their companions, and bolted, thus escaping the fate of being shoved head-first into a trash can.

Now, as Lan Kai and Xie Xie, slightly disguised, headed to a famous seafood restaurant in Tianhai City, they could hear people discussing the incident in every shop they passed. This made Xie Xie, who had been constantly tallying up his record of getting beaten down, feel somewhat incredulous.

"Brother Kai, do you really think we can beat the people from Shrek Academy? That's the legendary Shrek Academy we're talking about!"

Perhaps because he had been humbled too many times, Xie Xie's self-confidence was nearly shattered. Even hearing that many people were willing to support Eastsea Academy's Zero Class in defeating the Shrek Academy team, he still doubted whether they could actually pull it off.

Even now, he would subconsciously turn to Lan Kai for reassurance.

Lan Kai reached up and adjusted the brim of his hat. His current outfit, identical to Kurenai Gai's, would definitely make Juggler's blood pressure skyrocket even further. If he practiced the harmonica a bit more, it would be even easier to give Juggler nightmares.

"Xie Xie, have you been humbled so much that you've eaten your own brain into a state of disrepair?"

"So what if it's Shrek Academy? Are you going to be afraid just because of a name?"

"Neither the strength of a Martial Soul nor the amount of soul power can directly determine the outcome of a battle between soul masters."

"Since you feel your soul power and Martial Soul are lacking, you should find ways to make up for it, whether by working hard to improve your cultivation or by refining your combat techniques."

"In short, since you've decided to fight, don't go into battle thinking you can't win. At the very least, set a goal for yourself and strive toward it."

"Alright, we need to hurry. We already took a long way around; if we're any later, you'll only be left with the scraps Tang Wulin didn't finish."

Lan Kai patted Xie Xie on the shoulder, gave him a nudge from behind, and picked up his pace.

Before long, they arrived at the restaurant and reunited with the rest of Zero Class.

Ordering was naturally left to Tang Wulin, the veteran foodie. Upon learning that all their food and lodging expenses during the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition were covered by the official organizers, Tang Wulin quickly ordered a massive spread of various delicacies.

However, just as the waiters began bringing out the food, a little fatty suddenly appeared at the table next to theirs.

Though he was a fatty, he looked incredibly haggard, as if his body had been completely drained. One could even see obvious bruises on him, as if he had been beaten up by someone.

What was puzzling, however, was that he was wearing green clothes—a color scheme not everyone could pull off.

He seemed truly famished. He followed the waiter right up to the table where Lan Kai and his friends were sitting, his eyes locked onto the mountain of food in front of Tang Wulin, drool streaming uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth.

"Is that... a Shrek Academy uniform?"

Zhang Yangzi, who had the best eyesight, recognized the clothes the little fatty was wearing, and his expression immediately turned grave.

However, Lan Kai raised a hand, signaling Zhang Yangzi and the others not to panic.

"Don't be nervous. Just keep eating."

Although he hadn't met this person before, Lan Kai recognized him instantly; this little fatty had to be Xu Lizhi.

As for his current disheveled state, Lan Kai already had a guess.

It was likely that the other members of Shrek Academy with Xu Lizhi had already felt the pressure Lan Kai was exerting on them, or rather, the pressure coming from the Shrek Academy administration.

To deal with arrogant people like Lan Kai and his team, they had to use overwhelming force to crush and humiliate them, thereby upholding the honor and dignity of Shrek Academy.

Therefore, despite being invited to participate in an exhibition match at the Tianhai Alliance, the Shrek Academy team had begun a period of insane, grueling training.

Xu Lizhi had it the worst. As a two-ring food-type soul master, he not only had to participate in combat training with the others, but his status as a food-type soul master didn't stop him from getting beaten up.

Soon, he had been reduced to this refugee-like state, sneaking out during a break to find some food to replenish his nutrients.

And the food-type soul master's sensitivity to the flavor and nutrition of food had led him straight to this spot.

Watching Lan Kai and his team happily enjoying their meal, and seeing Tang Wulin's gluttonous display, Xu Lizhi couldn't help but gulp hard.

"Boss, give me the exact same order as that table, same portions!"