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 buzzing with voices.

News of their perfect score in the first team assessment spread through the Freshman District like wildfire. The moment Tang Wulin and the other six stepped out of the Soul Dou Arena, they drew countless gazes—some envious, some curious, and some carrying barely concealed malice.

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, as well as one opportunity to cultivate in the Inner Academy Secret Realm."

The teacher paused, sweeping his gaze over all seven of them. Rare praise filled his voice.

"You are the first team among this year's freshmen to pass the Hold the Line assessment with a perfect score. Keep it up. Shrek's future needs people like you."

"Thank you, Teacher!"

The seven thanked him in unison. Their youthful spirits soared, making even the sunlight seem brighter.

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

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

Before his words had even faded, a mocking sneer drifted over from nearby.

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

Everyone turned toward the voice.

A group of soul masters in upper-year uniforms was slowly approaching. The tall youth leading them had soul rings faintly flickering beneath his feet. His face was arrogant, his eyes full of contempt.

They were upper-year students from the Outer Academy.

Judging from their uniforms and the fluctuations of their soul rings, they were at least Soul Venerables, a whole major realm above these students who had only recently enrolled.

Ye Xinglan frowned slightly, a trace of Star God 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 receive double resources and occupy the Inner Academy Secret Realm?"

"Exactly. A bunch of freshmen who haven't even reached Soul Venerable—what makes you worthy of such treatment?"

"I think the assessment teachers are 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 closer. They had clearly come to make trouble and seize their resources.

Xie Xie immediately flared up. "We earned these rewards with our strength. What does it have to do with you? Since when did Shrek's rules become yours to decide?"

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

He reached directly for the silver token in Tang Wulin's hand, brazen and utterly unrestrained.

Tang Wulin's gaze darkened sharply.

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

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

Gu Yue raised her eyes. There was no warmth in her star-silver gaze as the air around her suddenly froze. Wind, fire, water, and earth surged at once, and an overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped the entire plaza.

"Let go."

Two simple words, yet they carried an authority that made hearts tremble.

The lead youth froze. Forced back half a step by the sudden elemental pressure, he was startled at first, then flew into a rage from embarrassment. "A support-type soul master dares act arrogant? Get out of my way!"

He raised his hand, gathering soul power, and struck at Gu Yue with a palm. The power of a Soul Venerable was unleashed without restraint.

"Don't touch her!"

Tang Wulin roared as Golden Dragon Power erupted instantly. Golden radiance surged as he took a step forward and met the opponent's palm with his fist!

Boom—!

Soul power collided and exploded, sending shockwaves sweeping in every direction.

The lead youth's expression changed drastically. A wildly violent force surged up his arm, numbing his entire body and driving him back several steps. His palm split open at once!

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

Tang Wulin shielded Gu Yue behind him, his eyes ice-cold. "Shrek does not seek trouble, but neither does it fear trouble. You bully freshmen and break the rules. Do you really think no one will deal with you?"

"Brothers, attack together! Teach these arrogant brats a lesson!"

Humiliated and enraged, the lead youth waved at the upper-year students behind him. Seven or eight Soul Venerable-level auras erupted at once as they charged toward the seven!

"Seven Monsters, join forces!"

Tang Wulin gave the command.

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

Yuanen Yehui charged forward first. Possessed by the Titan Giant Ape martial soul, she stood before them like a mountain. Her fists crashed out, directly knocking back two opponents.

With a flash of sword light, Ye Xinglan unleashed the extreme speed of an agility-attack soul master. The Star God Sword revealed its sharp edge, preventing their enemies from approaching.

Le Zhengyu spread his Sacred Twin Wings, pouring down the power of light. He suppressed the enemy's soul power while enhancing his companions.

Xie Xie became an afterimage, repeatedly launching surprise attacks with his twin hammers and disrupting the enemy formation.

Xu Xiaoyan's starlight eyes shone as countless Starlight Chains crisscrossed through the air, instantly binding three people.

Xu Lizhi swiftly threw out a large number of Enhancement Buns, and everyone's aura surged once more.

At the very center, Gu Yue lightly raised her fingertips.

Elemental Storm descended without warning!

Gales howled, blazing flames burned, massive rocks crashed down, and water froze into ice.

The four elements became toys in her hands, rampaging freely. In mere moments, they trapped every upper-year student within an Elemental Prison, leaving them unable to move.

Only ten breaths had passed.

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

The lead youth's face turned deathly pale. Looking at the freshman team before him, completely unscathed, he finally understood—

They had kicked an incomparably hard iron plate.

Tang Wulin slowly walked up to him. His voice was calm, but it carried an 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 Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan withdrew their power at the same time.

As if granted amnesty, the upper-year students scrambled to their feet. They did not dare leave behind another threat and fled the plaza in utter disgrace.

The surroundings fell silent.

All the watching freshmen stared wide-eyed, and their gazes toward the Seven Monsters changed completely—

Great Soul Masters had utterly defeated a group of upper-year Soul Venerables.

What freshmen were these? They were practically monsters among monsters!

Xie Xie put his hands on his hips, thoroughly satisfied. "Hmph, daring to provoke our Shrek Seven Monsters? They brought this on themselves!"

Xu Lizhi rubbed his stomach and chuckled foolishly. "Everyone is so amazing."

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

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

Gu Yue looked toward Tang Wulin. Her star-silver eyes softened, all the earlier chill melting away until only faint tenderness remained.

Tang Wulin returned her gaze and nodded gently. Everything was understood without words.

Sunlight once again spilled over the plaza, illuminating the seven figures standing shoulder to shoulder until they shone with incomparable brilliance.

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

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

And in a place hidden from all eyes, the figure watching gave a slight nod, pride overflowing in his eyes.

His companions, his team, had ultimately become their most dazzling selves.