Conspiracy Theory? (Please Keep Reading!!!)

Since Shrek was destined for destruction anyway, this generation of the Shrek Seven Devils was Xu Yuan's best choice for building his core team.

Stop all 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 the scenes.

The Plane Master had possessed a body, yes, but what about Ah Yin?

Rather than possession, it was more accurate to say that Plane Master Tang Hao had usurped the position of Plane Master. Originally, the Douluo Plane had possessed neither a Plane Spirit nor a Plane Master.

Ah Yin, on the other hand, had truly possessed a body—the Golden Ancient Tree.

It was very possible that the two were incompatible, which was why she needed rebirth.

The old Golden Ancient Tree would be destroyed, and a new Life Ancient Tree would be born. Using the Blue Silver Emperor's endless vitality to condense a seed and completely form a Life Ancient Tree Plane Core of her own—could that not also have been a scheme?

Xu Yuan could only use his own thoughts to speculate. It was nothing more than baseless conjecture, impossible to verify.

He could only bury it in his heart.

Before becoming powerful, he would not touch upon these matters.

Turning circumstances to his advantage was what he should do.

Since Shrek's destruction was inevitable, why could the rebuilt Shrek not be used by him?

Who said Shrek had to belong to Tang San's faction?

Of course, there were still many aspects of such a plan that needed verification.

For example, how much influence the Plane Master could exert, how far he had recovered, and how awake he was.

And Xu Yuan currently had no good answer for how to test those things.

Back to the matter at hand.

Inside the valley.

Driven by his own ambitions, Xu Yuan yielded 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's Food-Type, he needs this soul bone even more."

Xu Yuan reached out and touched the Fate Skull, preparing to attempt fusion. The surrounding illusion suddenly vanished.

Xu Yuan recalled the details of that trial and was not overly surprised. Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan were the same; after a brief daze, they returned to normal.

All three knew the contents of the assessment.

Yet during the assessment, they had seemed to forget the details. It was as though their intelligence had been lowered, and they had been guided into placing great importance on the setting that the Soul Rings and soul bones obtained in the trial could be brought out. As for the memories they had known beforehand concerning the truth behind this assessment, all of them had been blurred, and they had been guided not to think about them.

A masterful Illusion Arts technique.

Xu Yuan was certain that Shrek must have once had an Ultimate Douluo proficient in Illusion Arts in order to perfect such a powerful illusionary method.

"Your performances were acceptable. But Xu Yuan, why didn't you keep both soul bones for yourself?" Cai Yue'er looked at Xu Yuan with considerable curiosity. "With your strength, you should have been capable of doing so."

They were all Soul Masters.

With the combat strength Xu Yuan had displayed, he absolutely could have defeated Ye Xinglan.

Even for the assessment, he could have avoided killing her. If Xu Yuan, under the illusion's influence, had considered that possibility, he would also have been guided to consider that, 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 other two were merely potential future classmates he had 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 what he meant.

But your uncle is a Spirit Transfer Envoy.

The two of them would have no problem joining the next generation of Shrek Seven Devils, but what about you?

Though she had thought of this, she did not continue asking.

This Xu Yuan was interesting.

"You are not a true team, nor did you have any emotional foundation before this. To manage this much, Xu Yuan, you receive full marks."

If they had been teammates for a long time, Xu Yuan's actions would only have been passable. But the relationship among the three was clearly unfamiliar. Even though they had gone through several assessments together and were no longer strangers, they still had no emotional foundation whatsoever.

On the contrary, being willing to invest for future goals showed no small ambition. That sort of personal charisma 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 performances had already been satisfactory.

As long as their natures were kind, that was enough.

Next, she merely needed to give them the green light to enter the Inner Courtyard.

Cai Yue'er was quite familiar with handling such matters.

As for putting on a harsh face to anger the examinees?

Cai Yue'er was the Dean of the Outer Courtyard, so it was one thing to do that during Outer Courtyard assessments. But doing so before several children about to enter the Inner Courtyard was completely unnecessary.

"Come. The final assessment comes next. The examiners will evaluate you and assign scores." Cai Yue'er took over Wang Hao and the others' duties, directly bringing Xu Yuan's group to the final room.

At that moment, two elderly men were already seated in the final assessment room, occupying the seats on either side of the three examiners' positions, leaving the middle seat empty.

Cai Yue'er stepped forward, took the middle seat, and looked at Xu Yuan's group.

"This is the final round. The three of us will comment on your performances in the previous nine stages and give you scores."

"First, Xu Yuan. Your performance is beyond reproach. To reach this level after only one year of cultivation following your Martial Soul awakening, while possessing such outstanding spear technique and elemental control, as well as such high combat talent—combined with full marks in the previous nine stages, I won't hold back your score. You receive full marks for this final stage."

"Agreed." ×2

"In Shrek's assessments, whether for the Outer Courtyard or the Inner Courtyard, any examinee who receives full marks in every stage may make one request of the Sea God Pavilion. As long as it is reasonable, we can fulfill it." Cai Yue'er looked at Xu Yuan. "Think about what request you wish to make first."

"Of course, although I've given you full marks, there are still some things I need to say. Trying to learn too much will leave you unable to master any of it. Your learning talent is strong, but you cultivate too many things, too broadly and too miscellaneously. I still suggest that you streamline your cultivation in the future and choose one or two paths to pursue," Cai Yue'er added, offering 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, beginning their evaluations.

For the tenth stage, Xu Yuan received full marks, Ye Xinglan received nine points, and Xu Lizhi received full marks. Cai Yue'er repeatedly mentioned that the three of them were young.

As for their overall 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?"