Swift and Decisive

The next day.

Oscar ran excitedly toward Flender. "Dean, I've broken through to level thirty!"

Flender's face immediately lit up with delight. He promptly summoned the seven students and Zhao Wuji to the square, intending to take them to the Star Dou Great Forest to help Oscar obtain a Soul Ring.

Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin quietly followed along with the others to the Star Dou Great Forest.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Huo Yuhao immediately activated Spiritual Detection, locating the approximate position and direction of the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake.

He led everyone near the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake and swiftly arranged their tactics.

Hu Liena was the first to attack, using Fox Charm to control the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake.

Next, under Ning Rongrong's speed enhancement, Zhu Zhuqing quickly used Netherworld Hundred Claws to inflict real physical damage on the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake.

Meanwhile, boosted by Ning Rongrong's strength enhancement, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun respectively used White Tiger Radiant Wave and Phoenix Fireline to attack the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake, layering on the damage.

Zhao Wuji used Gravity Compression to immobilize the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake, while Xie Yue seized the opportunity to unleash Moon Blades in a relentless barrage.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhao Wuji immediately shouted, "Little Ao, strike now and give it the final blow! Don't let it get away!"

Oscar immediately drove a dagger through the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake's body, dealing it a fatal blow.

Under Huo Yuhao's arrangements, everyone acted with swift precision. The Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake had not even had time to use the flesh crest atop its head before it was completely subdued.

Having successfully slain the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake, Oscar immediately closed his eyes and began meditating as he absorbed his third Soul Ring.

Not far away, Snake Grandma and Meng Yiran, having heard the commotion from the battle, arrived at the scene. They discovered the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake's corpse and Oscar, who was absorbing its Soul Ring.

Meng Yiran protested indignantly, "Damn it, someone got such a good Soul Ring before us."

Snake Grandma frowned slightly. "It truly is a pity."

Tang Wulin looked at Huo Yuhao and grumbled inwardly:

Good thing Brother Yuhao used Spiritual Detection from the start and quickly found the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake. Without Brother Yuhao here, an unavoidable dispute would probably have broken out by now.

In the end, Meng Yiran gave a cold snort and could only helplessly follow Snake Grandma away to search for another suitable soul beast.

After an unknown amount of time, Oscar opened his eyes. Dai Mubai immediately stepped forward and asked, "What Soul Skill did you get this time? Hurry up and show us."

Oscar's mouth twitched. "Let's make this clear first—you're not allowed to laugh at me."

Ma Hongjun patted his chest. "Don't worry. We promise we won't laugh."

"Dream-Flying Mushroom Sausage!"

"Pfft, hahahaha—"

Dai Mubai burst out laughing. "We're professionals at holding in our laughter—unless we can't."

Ma Hongjun clutched his stomach and laughed as well. "Your incantations just keep getting more interesting."

Even Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth as she suppressed a laugh. "So, what exactly does this Soul Skill do?"

Oscar answered, "It lets you fly at the speed of a Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake for one minute. I can make around ten of these sausages at a time."

Ning Rongrong exclaimed, "Doesn't that mean we can all fly in the sky?"

Xie Yue also praised him. "The Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake is incredibly fast. This Soul Skill of yours is indeed impressive."

Hu Liena rested one hand on her hip. "Looks like this trip wasn't a waste. We gained quite a lot."

Zhao Wuji nodded with satisfaction. "Your coordination wasn't bad. As expected of the little monsters I personally trained. Let's return to the academy now. If we stay in the Star Dou Great Forest too long, who knows what danger we might suddenly encounter."

Thus, everyone returned to Shrek Academy together.

That evening, they went back to the Soto Great Soul Arena, once again wearing masks as they participated in individual and doubles matches.

Flender finally made up his mind to have the seven of them form the Shrek Team and enter the Great Soul Arena's seven-versus-seven team matches.

Ma Hongjun held his head and groaned, "What?! You want us to fight teams made entirely of Soul Kings? Dean, are you crazy, or am I?"

Since the seven-member team included Xie Yue and Hu Liena, both Soul Kings, the Great Soul Arena's matchmaking system would automatically assign them opponents composed entirely of Soul Kings.

Huo Yuhao smiled. "Don't you have Little Ao's Flying Mushroom Sausages? If you really can't hold on, just fly into the sky."

Oscar looked deeply troubled. "But what if we run into opponents who can fly? Wouldn't we be finished?"

Flender gave a wicked smile. "Didn't you say you didn't want to run laps to improve your physical fitness? Then I'll just have to help you improve your adaptability in actual combat."

He pushed up his glasses. "For this first match, you must last at least one minute in the arena. After one minute, if you truly feel you can't win, just jump off the stage. Hu Liena and Xie Yue can cover for you anyway."

Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement. "And in the matches afterward, the required survival time on the field will only get longer. Think carefully about how to respond in every battle."

Dai Mubai clenched his fists. "Compared to running laps, I prefer challenging my limits. Besides, increasing our team battle points will raise our Soul Fighting Badge rank, and our monetary rewards will increase as well."

Seeing this, Ma Hongjun could only compromise. "But let's make this clear first. The money from the team battle point rewards belongs to us. Dean, don't even think about taking a single coin."

A smile curled at Flender's lips. "Am I that kind of person? Don't worry. I promise I won't touch a thing."

What a joke! The money I win from betting will be far more than your point rewards. I'm really going to get rich this time! Hahahaha!

As he thought this, drool unconsciously trickled from the corner of Flender's mouth.

Tang Wulin reminded him, "Um... Dean, your drool is dripping onto the floor. Wipe it up quickly."

Flender snapped back to his senses and immediately wiped the drool from his mouth. Fortunately, the children had already gone to the waiting area and had not seen him drooling.

Flender immediately hurried to the betting area and placed a timely bet on the Shrek Team winning the match.

"Good thing I made it. I almost missed out on a huge fortune."

Flender let out a sigh of relief, then returned to the spectator area to wait for the children's first team battle.

Tang Wulin asked in confusion, "Why are all the opponents Soul King-level?"

Flender answered, "That's how the system works. For example, Mubai is level thirty-two, so the system will match him against a level thirty-seven opponent. The system likes large Soul Power gaps, making victory seem utterly inevitable."

Flender raised a brow. "You two are only twelve as well. How about joining the matches as substitutes?"

Huo Yuhao gently fanned himself with the folding fan in his hand and smiled. "You're overthinking it. Hu Liena and Xie Yue are enough. I'm not interested in competing."

Tang Wulin raised a brow. "Then why don't you compete yourself, Dean? I think you just want to make more money."

Flender's mouth twitched. "W-what are you talking about?"

He immediately changed the subject. "Watch the match. It's about to begin."