Outer Academy Provocation and the Seven Monsters' Edge

Outer Academy Provocation and the Seven Monsters' Edge

The glow from the completed assessment had yet to fade when Shrek Plaza was already bustling with noise.

News that they had earned full marks on their first team assessment spread through the Freshman District as if it had wings. The moment Tang Wulin and the others walked out of the Soul Dou Arena, they drew countless gazes—some envious, some curious, and some concealing ill intent.

The teacher in charge of the assessment personally approached and handed Tang Wulin a silver waist token engraved with the Shrek emblem.

"This is your team's core token. With it, you may claim double cultivation resources for this month, and you will also have one opportunity to cultivate in the Inner Academy Secret Realm."

The teacher paused, sweeping his gaze over all seven of them. Rare approval colored his tone.

"You are the first team among this year's new students to pass the Hold the Line assessment with full marks. Keep it up. Shrek's future needs people like you."

"Thank you, Teacher!"

The seven of them thanked him in unison. Their youthful spirits soared, and even the sunlight seemed a little brighter.

Xu Lizhi stared at the silver token, his eyes sparkling. "Double resources... does that mean I can buy more meat bun fillings?"

Xie Xie slapped him on the shoulder and laughed smugly. "All you know is eating! We're a star team now. In the Freshman District, who won't give us some respect?"

Before he could finish, a mocking sneer drifted over from nearby.

"A star team? You only passed a basic assessment by luck, yet you dare brag here?"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

A group of Soul Masters in upper-year uniforms slowly approached. The tall youth at their head had Soul Rings faintly flickering beneath his feet. His expression was arrogant, and his eyes were filled with disdain.

They were upper-year students from the Outer Academy.

Judging by their uniforms and the fluctuations of their Soul Power, they were at least Soul Elders—an entire major realm above these students who had only recently enrolled.

Ye Xinglan frowned slightly, a trace of Stargod Sword aura leaking out. "What do you want?"

"What do we want?" The lead youth sneered and stepped forward, looking down at Tang Wulin. "Shrek's resources are limited. Why should a bunch of brats who just enrolled get double resources and occupy the Inner Academy Secret Realm?"

"That's right. A bunch of new students who haven't even reached Soul Elder rank—what makes you worthy of such treatment?"

"I'd say the assessment teacher is playing favorites. Do you really think you're heaven's chosen?"

The upper-year students behind him chimed in one after another, their words harsh as they pressed forward. They had clearly come looking for trouble and to seize resources.

Xie Xie immediately flared up. "We earned these rewards with our own strength. What does it have to do with you? Since when was it your turn to dictate Shrek's rules?"

"Rules?" The lead youth's gaze turned cold. "At Shrek, strength is the rule. You're too weak to hold on to such good resources. Hand over the token obediently, and maybe you'll suffer a little less."

He reached out to grab the silver token in Tang Wulin's hand, his actions domineering and utterly unrestrained.

Tang Wulin's eyes darkened instantly.

He could tolerate being looked down upon, but he would never tolerate anyone coming to provoke their entire team.

Before Tang Wulin could make a move, a cool, slender figure had already stepped in front of him.

Gu Yue raised her eyes. There was not a trace of warmth in her silver-starred gaze. The air around her abruptly solidified as wind, fire, water, and earth elements stirred at once, and an overwhelming pressure instantly blanketed the area.

"Let go."

Two simple words, yet they carried a chilling authority.

The lead youth paused. Forced back half a step by the sudden elemental pressure, he was startled, then immediately flew into a rage from humiliation. "A support-type Soul Master dares act arrogant? Get out of my way!"

He raised his hand and gathered Soul Power, striking toward Gu Yue with a palm attack that held nothing back, its Soul Elder-level power fully unleashed.

"Don't touch her!"

Tang Wulin roared as Golden Dragon Power erupted. Golden light surged around him, and he took one step forward, his fist crashing head-on into the other's palm!

Boom—!

The collision of Soul Power exploded, and a shockwave swept through the surroundings.

The lead youth's expression changed drastically. He felt an incomparably violent force rush up his arm, numbing his entire body and forcing him back several steps. The web between his thumb and forefinger split open!

He stared at Tang Wulin in disbelief. "You... you're only a Soul Grandmaster. How can you possess such strength?"

Tang Wulin shielded Gu Yue behind him, his gaze icy. "Shrek does not seek trouble, but we do not fear it either. You bully new students and break the rules. Do you really think no one will stop you?"

"Brothers, get them! Teach these ignorant brats a lesson!"

The lead youth shouted furiously, waving at the upper-year students behind him. Seven or eight Soul Elder-level auras erupted at once as they charged straight at the seven of them!

"Seven Monsters, join forces!"

Tang Wulin gave the order.

In an instant, the seven figures moved into formation, their coordination as seamless as if they were one person.

Yuanen Yehui charged forward first, entering Martial Soul Possession with the Titan Giant Ape. She stood like a mountain against the frontal assault, her fists smashing out and directly sending two opponents flying back;

Ye Xinglan's sword flashed as her agility-attack speed burst forth. The Stargod Sword revealed its sharp edge, preventing the enemies from drawing near;

Yue Zhengyu spread his Sacred Twin Wings, pouring down the power of light to suppress the enemy's Soul Power while enhancing his companions;

Xie Xie turned into an afterimage, repeatedly launching surprise attacks with his twin hammers and disrupting the enemy formation;

Xu Xiaoyan's starlit eyes brightened, and countless Starlight Chains crisscrossed the field, instantly binding three people;

Xu Lizhi quickly threw out a large number of Enhancement Buns, causing everyone's auras to surge once more;

At the center, Gu Yue lightly raised her fingertips.

Elemental Storm descended without warning!

Gales howled, blazing flames burned, boulders crashed down, and streams froze into ice.

The four elements moved through her hands like toys. In but moments, she trapped every upper-year student inside an Elemental Prison, leaving them unable to move.

Only ten breaths had passed.

The upper-year students who had been arrogant just moments ago were now all sprawled miserably across the ground, tightly bound by starlight and elements, their faces filled with terror and unwillingness.

The lead youth's face was deathly pale. Looking at this unscathed team of new students before him, he finally understood—

They had kicked an iron plate harder than anything they could possibly break.

Tang Wulin slowly walked over to him. His tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable force.

"Remember this: Shrek relies on strength, not bullying the weak. Today is only a warning. If you dare provoke us again, bear the consequences yourselves."

He raised a hand and waved. Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan withdrew their powers at the same time.

As though granted a reprieve, the upper-year students scrambled to their feet. They no longer dared leave behind a single threat and fled the plaza in utter disarray.

The surroundings fell silent.

All the watching new students were dumbstruck. The way they looked at the Seven Monsters had completely changed—

Soul Grandmasters had wiped out a group of Soul Elder upper-year students.

Were these really new students? They were simply monsters among monsters!

Xie Xie put his hands on his hips, thoroughly satisfied. "Hmph, provoking the Shrek Seven Monsters? They brought this on themselves!"

Xu Lizhi rubbed his stomach and gave a simple, silly grin. "Everyone is so amazing."

Ye Xinglan sheathed her sword, the corners of her lips lifting slightly as a genuine smile rarely appeared on her face.

Yue Zhengyu, Yuanen Yehui, and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged smiles as well, the understanding in their hearts deepening further.

Gu Yue looked at Tang Wulin. Her silver-starred eyes softened, and all the coldness from before faded away, leaving only a faint tenderness.

Tang Wulin looked back at her and nodded gently. Everything was understood without words.

Sunlight once again spilled over the plaza, illuminating the seven figures standing side by side with incomparable brilliance.

The silver token in their hands gleamed beneath the sunlight, symbolizing the honor they had defended through their strength.

From this day onward, the name Shrek Seven Monsters was truly etched into Shrek Academy's memory for the first time.

And in a place no one could see, the figure watching from the depths of time gave a slight nod, eyes overflowing with pride.

His companions, his team, had ultimately become the most dazzling version of themselves.