Shrek was going to be destroyed anyway. Since that was the case, this generation of the Shrek Seven Devils would be Xu Yuan's best choice for a core team.
Stop all of this?
Before the true tide of events, there was no stopping it.
Even warning Yun Ming in advance would only create other problems. Helping Shrek evade the God-Slaying Missile attack was impossible.
Because Xu Yuan was not certain whether that Plane Master had been involved behind this matter.
The Plane Master had possessed a body, but what about Ah Yin?
Rather than calling it possession, it would be more accurate to say that Plane Master Tang Hao had usurped the position of Plane Master. Originally, the Douluo Plane had neither a Plane Spirit nor a Plane Master.
Ah Yin, on the other hand, had truly possessed something—she had possessed the Golden Ancient Tree.
That was likely incompatible, which was why she needed rebirth.
The old Golden Ancient Tree would be destroyed, and a new Life Ancient Tree would be born. With the Blue Silver Emperor's endless vitality, a seed would be condensed, ultimately forming a Life Ancient Tree Plane Core that belonged to her alone. Could that not also be part of a scheme?
Xu Yuan could only speculate based on his own thoughts. There was no way to verify any of it.
He could only bury it in his heart.
Before becoming strong enough, he would not touch upon these matters.
Making use of the situation was what he should do.
Since Shrek was destined to perish, why could the rebuilt Shrek not serve him?
Who said Shrek had to belong to Tang San?
Of course, there were still many aspects of this plan that needed verification.
For example, how much the Plane Master could interfere, how much strength he had recovered, and how lucid he had become.
But Xu Yuan had no good answer yet for how to probe those things.
Back to the matter at hand.
Inside the valley.
Driven by his own ambitions, Xu Yuan gave the Dark Gold Terror Claw to Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi, avoiding a conflict.
Xu Lizhi looked at the Dark Gold Terror Claw without hesitation and said directly, "Give it to Sister Xinglan. I'm only a Food-Type Soul Master."
Ye Xinglan shook her head.
"The Dark Gold Terror Claw doesn't suit me. Everything I have lies in the Stargod Sword. Li Zhi should absorb it instead. Precisely because he is from the food type, he needs this Soul Bone even more."
Xu Yuan reached out to touch the Fate Skull and prepared to attempt fusion. The surrounding illusion vanished in an instant.
Xu Yuan recalled the details of that trial without much surprise. Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan were the same; after a moment of daze, they returned to normal.
All three of them knew the contents of the test.
Yet during the test, it was as though they had forgotten all the details. Their intelligence had practically been lowered, and they had been guided into placing great importance on the premise that the Soul Rings and Soul Bones in the test could be taken out. As for the memories they had known beforehand concerning the truth behind this test, all of them had been blurred, guiding them away from thinking about them.
Masterful Illusion Arts.
Xu Yuan was certain that Shrek must have had an Ultimate Douluo generation that specialized in Illusion Arts in order to develop such a powerful illusion method.
"Your performances were acceptable. But Xu Yuan, why didn't you take both Soul Bones for yourself?" Cai Yue'er looked at Xu Yuan curiously. "With your strength, you should have had the ability to do so."
They were all Soul Masters?
With the combat strength Xu Yuan had displayed, he absolutely could have subdued Ye Xinglan.
Even for the sake of the test, he could have refrained from killing her. If Xu Yuan, under the effects of the illusion, had considered that possibility, he would also have been guided into considering this point: With my uncle's connections, even if this round leaves a bad impression on the examiners, I can still enter Shrek.
Two Soul Bones—who would not want to monopolize them?
Especially when the two people beside him were merely possible future classmates he had only just met?
Facing Cai Yue'er's question, Xu Yuan answered openly, "The Dark Gold Terror Claw doesn't suit me. Besides, even if I gave it to them, they might not necessarily be outsiders."
"Oh?" Cai Yue'er's gaze shifted as she looked at Xu Yuan, understanding his intentions.
But your uncle is a Spirit Transfer Envoy.
The two of them would have no problem entering the next generation of Shrek Seven Devils, but what about you?
Though she had thought of that, she did not continue questioning him.
This Xu Yuan was interesting.
"You are not a true team, and you had no emotional foundation beforehand. Being able to do this earns you full marks, Xu Yuan."
If they had been teammates for a long time, Xu Yuan's actions would have merely been acceptable. But the three of them were clearly strangers. Even though they had gone through several tests together and were no longer complete strangers, they still had no emotional foundation whatsoever.
On the contrary, being able to invest for future goals showed considerable ambition. That sort of personal charm alone was enough to earn full marks.
"Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan also receive full marks."
They were only seven-year-old children, yet their performance had already been satisfying.
It was enough that their natures were kind.
Next, she only needed to give them the green light to enter the Inner Courtyard.
Cai Yue'er was thoroughly familiar with that process.
As for putting on a stern face and angering the examinees?
Cai Yue'er was the Dean of the Outer Courtyard. Doing that during Outer Courtyard examinations was one thing, but there was no need to do so before several children who were about to enter the Inner Courtyard.
"Come. The final test is next. The examiners will evaluate you and assign scores." Cai Yue'er took over the task from Wang Hao and the others, directly bringing Xu Yuan's group to the final room.
At that moment, inside the final examination room, two elderly men were already seated on either side of the three examiners' seats, leaving the central seat vacant.
Cai Yue'er stepped forward, sat in the middle seat, and looked at the three children.
"This is the final round. The three of us will comment on your performance in the previous nine trials and assign your scores."
"First, Xu Yuan. There is nothing to criticize about your performance. To reach this level after only one year of cultivation following your martial soul awakening, while also possessing such outstanding spear technique, elemental control, and combat talent... Since you received full marks in the previous nine trials, I will not hold back your score. You receive full marks for this final round as well."
"Agreed." ×2
"In Shrek's examinations, whether for the Outer Courtyard or the Inner Courtyard, any examinee who receives full marks in every trial may make one request to the Sea God Pavilion. As long as it is reasonable, we can fulfill it." Cai Yue'er looked at Xu Yuan. "Think carefully about what you want to request."
"Of course, although you have received full marks, there are still some things I must say. Trying to learn too much will leave you mastering nothing. Your talent for learning is very strong, but you are studying too many things, and they are too varied. I still advise you to streamline your cultivation in the future and choose one or two paths to pursue." Cai Yue'er changed the subject and offered Xu Yuan her final advice.
Xu Yuan nodded, but there was no sign that he was moved.
Cai Yue'er sighed and turned to Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan to evaluate them.
For the tenth trial, Xu Yuan received full marks, Ye Xinglan received nine points, and Xu Lizhi received full marks. Cai Yue'er repeatedly mentioned how young the three of them were.
As for their total scores, Xu Yuan received a perfect one hundred, Ye Xinglan received eighty-six, and Xu Lizhi received eighty-five.
All three entered the Inner Courtyard and became Inner Courtyard students.
After finishing the evaluations, Cai Yue'er looked at Xu Yuan.
"Well? Have you decided what you need?"
Please keep reading!!!
Please keep reading!!!
Please keep reading!!!
Brothers, you absolutely have to keep reading these next two days. I'm also releasing extra chapters these days—three chapters a day. Please, keep reading, or this book won't make it to the second round and it'll be finished.
You have to keep reading!!!
Before you continue