Three Months Later

Early morning, Shrek Academy Training Ground.

At the sound of a bell, twelve students rushed out of their dormitory at the same time.

Ma Hongjun still had half a pancake in his mouth, and he only swallowed it when he reached the sidelines. Oscar's hair was a mess, and he had already made more than a dozen Recovery Sausage in his hand. Tai Long and the other three rushed over from the other side, and Jiang Zhu bandaged Jing Ling's scrapes from the previous night as she ran.

Flender stood on the high platform and glanced down at the timer Soul Tool.

"Seven breaths faster than yesterday. Fatty is the slowest; his breakfast is halved."

Ma Hongjun's face immediately fell. "Dean, I'm still growing."

You've grown wide enough by now.

Laughter erupted from all around the Training Ground.

The closed training has lasted for three months.

Since returning from the Crown Prince's Residence, Yuan Yu's Soul Power at level 63 has not stopped for a single day.

The mornings were for practical combat, the afternoons for cultivating elemental patterns, and the evenings for collaborating with Tang San's research team. After the initial awakening of the Sun Pattern, his absorption of Light Soul Power increased significantly, and the six awakened elements also benefited. By the end of the third month, he was only a thin layer away from level sixty-four.

The other Shrek members also showed significant improvement.

The medicinal power of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum continued to permeate Dai Mubai's muscles and bones. Tang San became even more adept at combining the Blue Silver Grass with Hidden Weapons. Zhu Zhuqing was always the first to arrive at the Training Ground and often left after midnight. After completing the basic training in Heart Separation Control, Ning Rongrong could simultaneously apply different buffs to three people. Ma Hongjun complained of being tired, but his Phoenix Flame had become significantly more refined than it had been three months ago.

Xiao Wu's close-quarters techniques have also changed. She no longer relies solely on soft techniques to close the distance, but has learned to use Blue Silver Grass, Mist, and her teammates' attacks to conceal her starting movements. In the actual battle the day before, she suddenly attacked Zhao Wuji from behind and kicked his newly bought coat, tearing the seam.

Zhao Wuji's face darkened for the entire day because of this.

Tang San led the team in training during the day and went to the East Courtyard to assemble Hidden Weapons at night; the first batch of one hundred sets had been sent to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the new furnace of the Strength Clan had also been built. Dai Mubai, Tang San, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing had all reached the level 40 threshold, only lacking a suitable fourth Spirit Ring. Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong had all reached level 39 and could advance further at any time.

Yuan Yu's training will be arranged separately.

Since ordinary students couldn't withstand the blade of Six-Ring Soul Emperor, Liu Erlong called Zhao Wuji and Qin Ming over. The three of them took turns sparring with him for two months, and today they sparred together.

The training rules are simple.

Three copper bells hung in the arena, one behind Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, and one behind Qin Ming. Within two incense sticks' time, Yuan Yu had to ring all three bells; the three teachers would not stand still and let him hit them, even if they did not use their Martial Soul Avatar.

Liu Erlong flexed his wrists. "You've been stuck at level 63 for two months. If you can't break through today, you'll have to practice extra tonight."

Yuan Yu drew his Sun Wheel Blade: "Dean, your way of comforting people is quite unique."

"Stop talking nonsense."

The battle began instantly.

Qin Ming was the fastest. Possessed by the Blazing Fire Wolf, he pounced from the right, his two wolf claws aimed straight for Yuan Yu's hand holding the knife. Zhao Wuji pressed forward head-on, his Gravity Enhancement him to land first, while Liu Erlong stopped behind, guarding the three copper bells.

The Rock Pattern beneath Yuan Yu's feet lit up, resisting Gravity. The Water Pattern followed the blade's rotation, pulling Qin Ming's right claw aside. Qin Ming's left claw followed closely, but Yuan Yu did not retreat. Instead, he thrust his scabbard upwards, causing both of their arms to tremble simultaneously.

Zhao Wuji's bear paw has arrived.

"Stone Breathing, First Form: Serpent-Pattern Rock Dual Extremes!"

Two Rock Ridge rose from the ground. Zhao Wuji shattered the first one with a palm strike, and the second one was slid back half a zhang by his impact. Yuan Yu used the rubble to obscure his vision, and Thunder Pattern exploded from his feet, heading straight for the copper bell on the far right.

Qin Ming pursued relentlessly.

A wolf and a man drew two lines of fire along the Training Ground. Yuan Yu turned and swung his sword, the water colliding with the wolf's claws, and a large cloud of white mist surged up. Just as Qin Ming was about to pass through the white mist, eight layers of light clouds spread out before his eyes.

"Later!"

Liu Erlong reminded him quickly.

As Qin Ming turned around, Yuan Yu's scabbard was already touching the first copper bell.

Clang!

Zhao Wuji swept a palm from the side. Yuan Yu had no time to dodge. He used Rock Pattern to protect his left arm, but he was still sent flying. He flipped in mid-air and landed, three stone bricks under his feet shattering. His left arm was also numb and he couldn't lift it.

"One," Yuan Yu said, shaking his hand. "There are two more."

As the first incense stick burned out, Tang San, who was in charge of keeping time on the sidelines, replaced it with a second one.

"There's only one incense stick left."

Yuan Yu glanced at the positions of the three teachers. Liu Erlong was in the middle, Zhao Wuji was on the left, and Qin Ming could cover the right side at any time. The three were not standing close together, but the distance between them was still within their support range.

There's not enough time to charge straight at them.

He kicked up a piece of gravel, which flew straight towards the bronze bell behind Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji slapped it down with his palm, and as the stone dust scattered, more than a dozen Lightning Flash simultaneously streaked along the ground.

"Using this trick again?" Zhao Wuji raised his foot, using Gravity to press all the Lightning Flash into the ground.

Yuan Yu, however, had already used the water flow to slide towards Qin Ming. The two clashed head-on, the Sun Wheel Blade and the Wolf Claw colliding three times. The copper bell behind Qin Ming swayed high in the wind, but its clapper was held up by a stream of clear water, so it did not make a sound.

Just as Qin Ming breathed a sigh of relief, Yuan Yu flicked the scabbard, and the water flow dispersed. The bell tongue fell downwards, about to crash into the bronze wall.

Qin Ming grabbed the bell with his backhand, securing it just half an inch from the top.

"Almost."

"It won't be worse next time."

Yuan Yu raised his sword and left. Liu Erlong had already charged at him from the front, flames brushing past his clothes and forcing him back to the center of the arena.

Liu Erlong sneered, "Keep your knife safe first."

With her Fire Dragon Martial Soul fully activated, she personally charged into the arena. Flames swept in from the front, Qin Ming blocked the right flank, and Zhao Wuji's Gravity locked the left flank. The three of them had worked together extensively over the past three months and already knew how to dismantle Yuan Yu's Shadow of Clouds.

As soon as Eightfold Mist appeared, Liu Erlong covered the entire area with a wave of fire. The real and fake figures were simultaneously pierced by the firelight. Zhao Wuji stared at the footprints on the ground, while Qin Ming followed the scent to pinpoint the location.

Yuan Yu changed direction three times in a row, but was still forced back to the center of the field.

The second incense stick had already burned halfway.

The Shrek members on the sidelines remained silent. Dai Mubai stared at the positions of the three teachers, Tang San watched Yuan Yu's every step. They knew very well that if they were on the field, they would have a hard time even touching the first bell.

When Liu Erlong unleashed his Dragon Claw for the fourth time, Yuan Yu no longer scattered a large expanse of Rosy Glow.

The Sixth Spirit Ring lit up.

Fine Mist flew outwards along the blade's edge, each drop of vapor carrying an extremely thin layer of blade energy. The flames were sliced open with hundreds of tiny gaps, and the previously continuous blockade also dissipated.

"Mist Breathing, Third Form: Mist Scattering: Flying Spray"

Yuan Yu passed through the gap.

Qin Ming turned to intercept, Lightning Flash had already swept past him. The second copper bell rang, Yuan Yu did not stop. Wind Pattern propelled his blade forward, aiming straight for the last bell behind Liu Erlong.

Liu Erlong crossed her arms, her Fire Dragon scales blocking the blade. Zhao Wuji and Qin Ming caught up from behind at the same time, their three Soul Power trapping Yuan Yu in the middle.

Yuan Yu took a breath.

The Sun Pattern shone with a faint golden light behind the six elemental patterns, and the Soul Power accumulated over three months broke through the last obstacle along the hilt of the sword.

Level 64.

The moment his Soul Power surged, Yuan Yu lowered his wrist, the blade slid past Liu Erlong's arm, and the scabbard went around her waist.

Clang!

The third copper bell rang.

Zhao Wuji's slap landed on Yuan Yu's back, slamming him directly into the sandpit next to him.

Ma Hongjun was the first to laugh out loud, "You won, and you landed pretty quickly too."

Yuan Yu looked up from the sand. "Fatty, we're adding one more exercise to today's training."

"What?"

"Practice your sword with me."

Ma Hongjun turned and ran, but Zhao Wuji grabbed him and pulled him back.

The Training Ground erupted in laughter. Only after the laughter subsided did Flender post a list filled with names next to the platform.

Yuan Yu climbed out of the sandpit, and Oscar handed him a Recovery Sausage. He had just taken a bite when Dai Mubai walked over and bumped fists with him.

"Level 64. How many more levels do you plan to reach before the competition begins?"

"Promote as much as you can."

"You don't give anyone else a single chance."

Yuan Yu the sand off his shoulder. "There can only be one champion, why leave any chances?"

Dai Mubai smiled, a fighting spirit flashing in his wicked eyes. "That's right."

"Three months of training are over."

"From today onwards, the Shrek Academy Soul Master Tournament team is officially formed."