The Seven Monsters Reserve Team: Huo Yuhao Was Left Out

[Riolu learned new moves: Swords Dance, Helping Hand, Mimic, Final Gambit, and Reversal.]

[Riolu's friendship increased by 20, reaching 62 (Friendly).]

Riolu was exhausted and covered in burns, but the surge in strength had it so excited that it looked ready for another fight!

"Riolu, well done. Eat this."

Chi Hong praised it and tossed it a sugar cube.

Using the last of its strength, Riolu leaped up, caught the cube in its mouth, and swallowed it whole.

[You used a Full Restore. Riolu recovered all its HP.]

In the blink of an eye, Riolu's injuries healed.

It gave a happy cry and looked at the people lying on the ground. Its tail wagged a few times, as if it wanted to fight them again.

"That's enough, Riolu. There's no experience left to get from them. Let them recover before we come back for more."

Chi Hong beckoned to it.

Riolu turned its gaze to Charizard. Its sudden leap in strength had given it another burst of confidence.

Charizard met its stare, sparks seeming to fly between their eyes.

The Ice Empress appeared as a phantom and looked at Chi Hong with mixed feelings.

One battle had taken Riolu from a hundred years to six thousand five hundred. If other Soul Beasts found out, they would probably fight to become this guy's pets.

"Of course they would. And if you listen to me too, Bingbing, you'll soon have the Snow Empress beneath your feet."

The Ice Empress froze, then demanded in embarrassed anger:

"How do you know what I'm thinking?"

Chi Hong smiled.

"Because we're getting closer. We're starting to understand each other without words."

The Ice Empress gave him a disgusted look. "Don't call me by such a sickening nickname."

Her phantom vanished. "Call me that again, and I won't speak to you!"

Chi Hong blinked and looked at the information before him.

[Ice Empress's friendship increased by 10, reaching 61 (Friendly).]

Outside the arena, Xuan Zi looked at the lone person left below and felt a headache coming on.

He had never expected this Soul Beast kid to eliminate everyone else in one go.

That made things awkward.

Yan Shaozhe chuckled.

"Xuan Zi, you said this kid wouldn't make the Seven Monsters. Now he's cleared the field by himself. What are you going to do?"

Xuan Zi snorted.

"My judgment wasn't wrong. This kid isn't suited to the Seven Monsters. He can't work with the others. But he'd make an excellent sparring opponent. He could train the Seven Monsters Reserve Team to handle the pressure of facing Soul Beasts."

Yan Shaozhe paused.

"So you don't intend to pick him for the Seven Monsters Reserve Team?"

"Of course not. I have a way."

Looking solemn, Xuan Zi flew down and announced:

"This selection match has only one winner: Chi Hong. However, Chi Hong, you cannot join the Reserve Team for the next Shrek Seven Monsters."

Chi Hong's heart leaped.

That's a pleasant surprise.

Xuan Zi continued:

"I know this is hard for you to accept, but the Martial Soul department dean and I have discussed it. Your Martial Soul is not suited to the next Seven Monsters. However, in recognition of your strength, the academy will allow you to compete in this year's All-Continent Advanced Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. You'll represent Shrek and win supreme glory!"

Chi Hong's face fell.

Elder, that's shameless. No benefits, not even a promise of future rewards—you just want me to fight for you for free?

Am I supposed to stand in the arena like everyone else and shout, "For the glory of Shrek"?

"Old man, I can live without being one of the Seven Monsters. But if you're offering no compensation at all, I'll have a hard time agreeing. You set the selection rules yourself. You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

Xuan Zi stroked his beard awkwardly.

"Ahem. What do you want?"

Chi Hong held up two fingers.

"Not much. Two hundred million Gold Soul Coins will do."

Rip!

Xuan Zi tore out a tuft of his beard and glared.

"Are you robbing us, kid? You can't just name a sum like that. Where would the academy get so much money?"

Chi Hong sighed.

"I didn't realize the academy was so poor. How about this? The tournament's in the Star Luo Empire. I want to buy three treasures at an auction. The academy can reimburse me."

Xuan Zi's mouth twitched. He gritted his teeth.

"Fine, but no more than one hundred million Gold Soul Coins."

"Oh?" Chi Hong thought for a moment. "All right, then. I suppose I can bring myself to compete."

Xuan Zi surveyed the wreckage around them and was left speechless.

You don't look reluctant to compete. You're clearly itching for another fight.

The healing instructors had already cast a group healing spell on the students, and those who had fallen began getting back to their feet.

Yan Shaozhe came down as well and asked Xuan Zi through a voice transmission, "Who will you choose for the next Seven Monsters Reserve Team?"

Xuan Zi looked around and said:

"The ones who performed best just now: Beibei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao."

Finally, his gaze settled on Huo Yuhao.

The student's soul skills were effective, and he had talent. But his second Martial Soul made him seem like an Evil Soul Master. It could spell trouble.

"Huo Yuhao... like Chi Hong, you may compete to gain experience, but you cannot join the Reserve Team."

Huo Yuhao had recovered a little strength. There was no disappointment in his eyes; this was hardly the first time the academy had overlooked him.

His outlook had changed long ago.

So what if the academy doesn't value me?

With Brother Sky Dream and Elder Yi helping me, I can still make my way to the top, one step at a time!

Wang Dong stared in disbelief and hurriedly protested:

"Xuan Zi, why can't Huo Yuhao be one of the Seven Monsters? He's strong too! Together, we're at least as good as Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu!"

Xuan Zi glanced at him.

"As you said, the two of you together."

Wang Dong gritted his teeth. Huo Yuhao reassured him and indicated that he didn't mind.

Dai Huabin walked past Huo Yuhao, his eyes gleaming with smug delight. He lowered his voice. "Trash will always be trash. You'll never measure up to me."

"Next time, I'll make you kowtow a hundred times," Huo Yuhao said calmly. Words alone could no longer provoke him. Since gaining the Holy Necromancer's power, his emotions had grown more subdued and his mind clearer.

Dai Huabin held back his anger, put an arm around Zhu Lu, and walked away.

A few steps later, he passed Chi Hong.

Dai Huabin fixed Chi Hong with a glare.

"Just you wait. Sooner or later, I'll grind you beneath my heel!"

Chi Hong glanced at him and smiled.

"Must be nice having no ability. You worked so hard, took a nap on the ground, and still got picked for the Seven Monsters Reserve Team. Should I call you the Nap Monster? The Luck Monster? Or a lucky little kitten? Come on, show me your belly, and Grandpa might let you join the Seven Monsters for real."

"Y-you..."

Dai Huabin spat out a mouthful of blood. His young, arrogant pride could not withstand an attack like that.

How could anyone have such a vicious mouth?