Hunting for Soul Rings

All seven were training on the training grounds. Tang Xuan had not appeared for several days, but they continued training on their own without needing to be told.

Today was the last day of training. As the seven trained, they eagerly awaited Tang Xuan's arrival. They looked reasonably composed, but waves were already surging in their hearts. Only they knew the hardships of those three months of hell. Their endurance had reached their bodies' limits. If they were not released soon, they would collapse completely.

Tang San saw that everyone was exhausted, clinging on desperately as they waited for Tang Xuan, yet he still did not appear. "Everyone, take a break! My brother should be here soon to let us know."

The moment Tang San finished speaking, Ma Hongjun slumped to the ground. "Brother San, you should've said that earlier. I couldn't hold on anymore."

Everyone sat down on the ground, leaning and sprawling every which way.

"Where's Xuan been these past few days? He hasn't even come to training. Could he have forgotten the date?" Oscar asked uncertainly.

"No way! Knowing how Xuan does things, he might forget to eat or sleep, but he'd never forget training. Something must have held him up," Dai Mubai said firmly.

"Exactly! Something must have held Brother Xuan up."

"Hasn't it occurred to you that Brother Xuan might have dreamed up some new trick? To extend our training!" Ma Hongjun said, lying on the ground. The moment he finished, a sudden sense of foreboding struck him. He looked up to find six people staring at him with hostile eyes. Ma Hongjun swallowed. "I was only joking! Just joking!" he said with an awkward grin.

"Hmph!" All six reacted in unison.

"Fatty, you'd better shut that crow's mouth of yours, or I'll let you feel the heat of Sister Xiao Wu's fists." Xiao Wu waved a fist at Ma Hongjun as she spoke. He made a show of wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead. Phew! Escaped disaster at last. I'd better keep my mouth shut.

"Instead of sitting here making wild guesses, why don't we go check on my brother? I don't think he's left his room these past few days," Tang San reminded them.

"San's right. Rather than waiting here, we should go find him. Come on, let's check Xuan's dorm." The Shrek Seven Monsters helped one another to their feet and were just about to leave when they suddenly felt the spiritual qi in the surrounding air rushing rapidly in one direction, as though something were drawing it in. The center of that gathering seemed quite close to them-apparently right inside Shrek Academy.

"That's... my brother's dorm!" Tang San suddenly realized, then dashed off. "Quick, let's follow him!" Dai Mubai called to the others when he saw Tang San run. They had all heard what Tang Shan had just said. Although the surrounding air held little spiritual qi, the power it formed when gathered together was enormous. For it to suddenly converge on Tang Xuan's dorm, something must have happened.

By the time Tang San arrived, Flender and Zhao Wuji were already there. They stopped him as he hurried over and told him Tang Xuan was fine.

"Dean, Teacher Zhao, is my brother really all right?" Tang San still could not believe them. Spiritual qi filled the area around Tang Xuan's dorm, flowing into it in streams visible to the naked eye.

"San, your brother really is fine. He should be making a breakthrough. Let's not disturb him," Flender told Tang San calmly. He had already probed with his spiritual power, and all the gathering spiritual qi had entered Tang Xuan's body. Absorbing such an enormous quantity had to be for a breakthrough. A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor is a student at my academy! That's enough to trounce the entire continent. It makes me look good, too, Flender thought, secretly delighted.

"I've never seen a breakthrough cause such a commotion. This kid really is a monster through and through," Zhao Wuji marveled.

Just then, the others following Tang San arrived as well.

"Dean, has something happened?" asked Dai Mubai, who was at the front.

"Nothing. Tang Xuan is simply making a breakthrough. Don't disturb him. Your training is over, too, so go back and rest. Once Tang Xuan finishes his breakthrough, he'll arrange the next stage of your training," Flender told them.

"A breakthrough!" the six exclaimed. They all knew that if Tang Xuan advanced again, he would become a Soul Ancestor. Heavens, a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor!

Before they could finish marveling, Flender sent everyone away. Even Tang San left reluctantly.

Seeing the spiritual qi around Tang Xuan's room begin to settle, Flender and Zhao Wuji left together as well.

Inside, Tang Xuan sat cross-legged, carefully savoring his insights. Flender had guessed correctly: he was making a breakthrough. But it was not his soul power level that was advancing-it was his sword way!

The sword techniques of the Nine-Turn God-Slaying Art contained the supreme sword way. It described four realms along that path: sword form, sword heart, sword force, and sword intent. Each realm opened up a whole new world. Sword form meant grasping the form of sword techniques, emphasizing moves and touching only the surface of swordsmanship; sword heart meant planting the heart of the sword way, having no sword in one's hand yet holding one in one's heart, bringing swordsmanship to life and attaining initial mastery of the sword way; sword force meant nurturing the great momentum of heaven and earth, forging an invincible conviction, and making heaven and earth bow before a drawn sword; sword intent meant comprehending the true essence of the sword way, manifesting the great Dao of the sword in every move, transforming the mortal into the divine, and suppressing an entire age and erasing everything with a single wisp of sword qi.

Ever since he began practicing the cultivation art, Tang Xuan had trained in swordsmanship and walked the sword way. To him, the sword was his favorite weapon. Thus, from the moment he began learning it, he had never abandoned diligent practice. The results proved that he truly possessed talent for the sword way. After nine years, once he broke through level thirty, his sword cultivation reached major mastery of the Sword Soul Realm! His sword cultivation surpassed his soul power cultivation, which was why he had been able to drive Zhao Wuji back with a single strike.

Over the past few days, Tang Xuan had intended to continue consolidating and compressing his soul power. Unexpectedly, inspiration struck, deepening his understanding of the sword until he gradually touched the threshold of the sword heart realm! His sword cultivation had already reached perfection in the Sword Soul Realm. He needed only one final step to enter the sword heart realm! This brought an immense improvement in his strength. He felt he was now at least twice as strong as before. Once his sword heart took shape, the foundation of his great Dao of the sword would be established. The road of cultivation was long, and he still needed to continue practicing with single-minded devotion, Tang Xuan reminded himself.

Tang Xuan had finished cultivating. The phenomenon I caused earlier must have alerted everyone. I need to let Dean Flender know, he thought first. During his breakthrough, he had sensed a strand of spiritual power probing him. If his guess was right, it had belonged to Flender. Tang Xuan stood and opened his door. Outside, the bright moon was already high in the sky. He set off toward Flender's residence, his figure gradually disappearing into the night.

The next day,

"Clang, clang, clang!" The strangely compelling bell rang through the academy once more. Three days had now passed since Tang Xuan triggered the surge of spiritual qi. Some of the Shrek Seven Monsters had long since met the requirements for advancement, and after continuing to build up their strength during this period, all seven had made considerable progress. Dai Mubai was level thirty-nine; Oscar, level thirty; Tang San, at the peak of level thirty-seven; Ma Hongjun, level thirty; Xiao Wu, at the peak of level thirty-three; Ning Rongrong, at the peak of level twenty-nine; and Zhu Zhuqing, level thirty. Tang Xuan's cultivation remained firmly at the peak of level thirty-nine, but his strength was beyond anything the seven could match. Even together, they were no match for him.

They had gathered today to acquire soul rings. Flender assigned Zhao Wuji and Tang Xuan to lead the Shrek Seven Monsters to the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Little Monsters, are you all ready? If you are, let's set off for the Star Dou Great Forest," Zhao Wuji said.

"We're ready!" The seven were already rubbing their fists and flexing their hands. After three months of tedious training, they had long been eager to show what they could do, and hunting for soul rings was a perfect opportunity.

"Good. Everyone, get into the carriages. We're leaving." Tang Xuan had prepared three carriages at the village entrance. He and Zhao Wuji shared one, the three girls took another, and the four boys squeezed into the last.

The three carriages sped toward the Star Dou Great Forest. By evening, they reached a bustling town at the forest's edge. The party of nine checked into a small inn.

They were now out of step with the original story's timeline. The Shrek Seven Devils had come to the Star Dou Great Forest later, allowing them to avoid the conflict with Blue Sunshine Academy and the incident involving the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny. It was not that Tang Xuan feared trouble; he simply considered these matters unimportant. There was also something wrong with them, especially the incident involving Blue Sunshine Academy. Shrek Academy encouraged its students to stir up trouble. While that could strengthen their fearlessness and benefit their cultivation, it could also lead them astray. Shrek Academy had a problem when it came to recklessly provoking trouble. Now that Tang Xuan was here, that had to be corrected. The conflict had stemmed from Ma Hongjun's lust at the sight of a pretty girl. The Mind-Clearing Pill Tang Xuan had given him had effectively suppressed his evil fire, so he had been much better behaved lately.

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Early the next morning, everyone ate breakfast, then began advancing into the forest. The Shrek Seven Monsters moved swiftly through the woods in an orderly battle formation. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun led the way, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu covered the flanks, Oscar and Ning Rongrong stayed in the middle, and Tang San brought up the rear, controlling the entire formation. Tang Xuan and Zhao Wuji followed behind everyone else. Unless a critical moment arose, neither would intervene. The atmosphere was tense and solemn-except for Xiao Wu. She skipped along as they advanced, showing not the slightest trace of nervousness. Zhao Wuji wanted to reprimand her, but out of consideration for Tang San, he could only turn a blind eye. They had already ventured deep into the forest's outer region, where young soul beasts began appearing frequently.