Only Cowards Avoid Trouble

A month had passed quietly amidst the various spirit battles of the Imperial Dou Team.

Through their relentless efforts in the arena, every member of the Imperial Dou Team had finally become a Silver Spirit Fighting Badge holder within that month.

In team spirit battles, few squads could hold their own against them, so their opponents were often repetitive. For instance, the Jade Maiden Fighting Team had faced the Imperial Dou Team in team battles multiple times, though each encounter ended in a crushing defeat.

During these team battles, aside from when their opponents were the Jade Maiden Fighting Team, Di Lintian would leave the front lines to Yu Tianheng while he took responsibility for protecting Ye Lingling.

By now, the seven members of the Imperial Dou Team had become the golden brand and star attractions of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena:

One sword drawn, ten thousand ghosts mourn—Sword Demon Di Lintian.

Controller of the Five Elements—God of Elements Na'er.

Sovereign of Thunder—Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Yu Tianheng.

Source of Ten Thousand Poisons—Jade Phosphorus Snake Dugu Yan.

Nether Hunter—Ghost Leopard Oslo.

Wings of the Storm—Wind Bell Bird Yu Feng.

Reversing Life and Death—Nine Heart Begonia Ye Lingling.

"Just now, a message arrived from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, hoping we can head to the Soto City Great Spirit Arena for spirit battles." Xu Shui pushed open the door to the lounge and walked in slowly.

"Head to Soto City? Why?" Ye Lingling asked, puzzled.

"I don't know." Xu Shui shook his head. "However, we are currently heading to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for Lin Tian's fourth spirit ring, so we can stop by on the way back."

"The Boss has broken through to Spirit Ancestor!" Oslo quickly arrived at Di Lintian's side, resting his palm on his shoulder.

Di Lintian nodded calmly.

"I'm close to breaking through as well," Yu Tianheng said with a smile.

"Lin Tian is right; your next stage of training is to head to the Star Dou Forest and help Lin Tian hunt a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast," Xu Shui said.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's set off." Yu Feng, still leaning against the wall and feigning a melancholic air, spoke up.

"Once the Boss obtains his fourth spirit ring, our team will have two Spirit Ancestors, and Tianheng is close to breaking through as well," Dugu Yan said, standing beside Yu Tianheng with a radiant smile.

"Let's go!"

Di Lintian said softly, took Na'er's hand, and walked out of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, heading in the direction of the Star Dou Forest.

At the same time, in Soto City, the Shrek Seven Devils, led by Zhao Wuji, were also heading toward the Star Dou Forest. However, unlike the Imperial Dou Team who traveled by carriage, they were running the entire way.

At dusk, in the small town outside the Star Dou Forest, three carriages bearing the flag of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy arrived from Heaven Dou City and drove into the town.

Most spirit masters heading to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for spirit rings would perform their final preparations here, and the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was no exception.

"Rest here for the night; we enter the Star Dou Forest tomorrow morning." After leaving this instruction for the seven members of the Imperial Dou Team, Xu Shui vanished.

"Let's go get something to eat; I'm exhausted from sitting in the carriage all day." Oslo stretched and looked toward the only inn in the small town not far away.

"We should eat something. Are you hungry?" Di Lintian turned to look at Na'er.

"Not hungry."

Na'er remained as cold as ever, only occasionally showing a different side when she was alone with Di Lintian.

"Boss, Big Sister is definitely hungry too, let's go." Yu Feng extended the wings on his back and actually flew directly toward the inn.

"Yeah, yeah." Oslo also transformed into a streak of black light.

Di Lintian shook his head with a smile and looked toward the inn, wondering if Shrek had already headed to the Star Dou Forest and if they would run into them there.

If they did meet, then Tang San would likely have to say goodbye to his Eight Spider Lances.

Di Lintian walked into the inn and scanned the room, but he did not see any guests resembling the Shrek Seven Devils.

He walked to the table where Yu Feng and Oslo were sitting and sat down. "Order the food."

"You got it!"

Hungry for the entire day, Oslo called over a server. "This, this, and this." He pointed his finger at several of the cheapest dishes. "Aside from those, bring me one of everything else."

"Since the Academy is paying anyway, we have to fleece them hard," Oslo said with a grin.

Not long after, servers brought out the dishes Oslo had ordered, and soon the table was full.

Di Lintian's gaze fixed on the entrance, where the figures of the Shrek Seven Devils walked into the shop.

That fatty was Ma Hongjun, the golden-haired youth leading them must be Dai Mubai, along with the older man Oscar, and... Di Lintian looked at Zhu Zhuying, who was wearing leather clothing with a full chest, and found it hard to believe she was only twelve years old.

Following them were Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the little witch Ning Rongrong, who was wearing a blue dress.

Tang San, it seems the fortune of the Douluo Continent isn't leaning toward you anymore.

Di Lintian thought wickedly to himself.

"Boss, you eat too." Oslo said, his mouth stuffed full.

Di Lintian turned back, tore off a chicken leg, and placed it in Na'er's bowl.

"You try some too."

Na'er nodded gently, wrapped her fair, jade-like hand in spirit power, picked up the chicken leg from the bowl, and ate it in small bites.

"Big sister is truly a lady; even eating is so elegant," Yu Feng teased as he watched Na'er's movements.

The next moment, he shrank his neck in fright at the look in Na'er's eyes.

Just as the Imperial Dou Team was about to finish their meal, seven people wearing Canghui Academy uniforms walked in arrogantly, led by an old man.

"That little girl looks pretty good, Boss Dai," Ma Hongjun said with a frivolous tone.

"A tiny Canghui Academy, acting so damn flashy," Dai Mubai said loudly and dismissively.

Before Canghui Academy could speak, Yu Tianheng said without any attempt to hide his disdain, "Rustic bumpkins."

Dugu Yan looked at the Shrek Seven Devils with eyes full of disgust.

"Yo, how did I not see it earlier? There are three such pretty little girls here," Ma Hongjun said, his gaze sweeping greedily over Na'er, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling.

The Imperial Dou Team's uniforms were quite conspicuous, giving off a noble air at a glance, but because they were heading to the Star Dou Forest, the seven of them were not wearing them.

Di Lintian's eyes turned cold. His soul power surged, and the chopsticks in his hand transformed into a sword. With a tangible, concentrated sword intent, he launched them through the air toward Ma Hongjun.

"Boss started the fight, follow up!" Oslo quickly swallowed the food in his mouth, two yellow and one purple soul ring appeared, and his Ghost Leopard martial soul instantly possessed him.

"I ask everyone to please leave this place first. All expenses and damages for today will be covered by the Heaven Dou Royal Academy!" Yu Tianheng stood up from his seat. His eyes held a trace of killing intent as he looked at Ma Hongjun, yet he spoke calmly to the bystanders.

Facing the incoming chopsticks, Ma Hongjun didn't even have time to react before he was sent flying backward at high speed, only stopping when he slammed into the wooden wall and slid to the floor.

"It's over, it's over. Although the Dean says that not daring to cause trouble makes one a mediocre person, we can't cause such a big disaster," Oscar said, trembling as he rapidly produced Recovery Big Sausages in his hands.

The Shrek Seven Devils stood up instantly—no, the Shrek Six Monsters, because Ma Hongjun had already passed out.