Star Sword Returns to the Team, Edge as Sharp as Ever

Leaving the tree-lined path, I held Gu Yue's hand and headed toward the Martial Soul Training Ground with Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xu Lizhi. This was the core training ground for the outer court's assault- and agility-type students. The sounds of Sword Qi and soul power colliding rose and fell constantly. It was also where Ye Xinglan spent most of her time.

Gu Yue walked quietly at my side, her silver-blue hair falling around her shoulders. Her star-silver eyes swept lightly over our surroundings, the aura of the Silver Dragon restrained until it was nearly imperceptible. Only when her fingertips touched mine did faint elemental ripples gently flow. She did not speak much, yet she never strayed more than half a step away, like a cool, solitary moonlit laurel that revealed its tenderness only to me. Xie Xie had recovered his usual alertness, his twin-dagger martial soul hidden in his sleeves. From time to time, he turned back to check on Xu Lizhi, afraid the little fatty would fall behind while fussing over his meat buns. Soft starlight surrounded Xu Xiaoyan as she silently cast a faint protective glow over us. Her brows and eyes remained as gentle as ever.

Before we even entered the training ground, a fierce yet pure Sword Qi came straight at us.

It carried no hostility, only focus and pride. It was unmistakably the aura of Ye Xinglan's Star God Sword.

My heart settled. In the original story, Ye Xinglan had been an inner court genius: proud by nature, devoted to the sword, and deeply concerned with strength and honor. Though there had been friction when we first met, she had always upheld the bottom line of loyalty to her teammates and the academy. The sharpness of her Sword Qi was at its peak now, showing that she was immersed in her daily rigorous training, just as she had been when we first met.

As we stepped onto the grounds, a tall, upright figure immediately came into view at the center.

The girl wore a white training uniform, her black hair tied high. Her face was cool and distant, and her gaze was as sharp as a sword. The Star God Sword floated before her, blue light interwoven with starlight. Every slash was precise and clean, and the gusts from her blade swept over the bluestone floor, leaving fine but restrained marks. Students around her paused to watch, but none dared approach and disturb her—her focus and strength naturally inspired awe.

It was Ye Xinglan.

"Xinglan," I called, my tone calm and without deliberate excitement, more fitting for the composure expected of a captain in the original story.

Ye Xinglan sheathed her sword and turned around. Her gaze first passed over Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan before falling on me, her brows drawing together slightly. She could sense the weight of my soul power and the faint fluctuations of my Golden Dragon bloodline, yet she did not lose her composure. She merely asked, "Tang Wulin? What are you doing here?"

Her pride had never been rudeness. It was the confidence and strictness carved into her bones. I stepped forward and spoke frankly. "We're forming a team to train. We came to find you. The Shrek Seven Monsters can't be complete without you."

Ye Xinglan's hand tightened slightly around her sword. She had always acknowledged strength, responsibility, and teammates. She never let personal feelings make her hesitate, but neither would she ever abandon those who fought beside her. She looked at me, then at Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and the honest-looking Xu Lizhi. Her cool face showed no unnecessary emotion as she gave a slight nod.

"My sword only travels with those who are worthy." Her voice was crisp, every word resolute. "Since the captain has asked, I'll join the team."

There was no sentimental display and no unnecessary promise. This was Ye Xinglan's style—proud, decisive, and true to her word.

Xie Xie grinned and lightly tapped his twin daggers together. "That's what I was waiting to hear!" The starlight in Xu Xiaoyan's eyes grew gentler, while Xu Lizhi hugged his meat bun and nodded vigorously. "Sister Xinglan is the strongest!"

Gu Yue raised her eyes and glanced at Ye Xinglan. There was no hostility in her star-silver eyes, only faint approval. She never took the initiative to grow close to others, but she would silently accept the companions I had chosen.

I looked at the five people before me: Xie Xie, the agility attacker; Xu Xiaoyan, the control and support type; Xu Lizhi, the food support type; Ye Xinglan, the assault type; and Gu Yue at my side, whose elemental control had reached the extreme. Their auras blended together. Though we had not yet gathered all seven, the Shrek Seven Monsters had already begun to take shape.

Golden Dragon Power circulated steadily within me, neither flashy nor violent, perfectly suited to my current state with the seal not yet fully lifted. I looked toward the other side of the training ground, where faint fluctuations of holy soul power and the Titan Giant Ape bloodline could be sensed—Le Zhengyu and Yuanen Yehui were nearby.

The Star Sword had returned to its place, the silver moon remained by my side, and starlight and food support stood together. The bond of the Seven Monsters was steadily becoming complete.

I said softly, "Let's go find Yuanen Yehui and Le Zhengyu. This time, we'll set out as a complete team. We won't be scattered anymore."

The Sword Qi withdrew, the starlight turned warm, and the auras of the Golden Dragon and Silver Dragon gently intertwined as we headed toward our next companions.