Zhang Lexuan looked at Qian Chen and explained earnestly, "Qian Chen, when Xuan Zi specially invited you to Shrek Academy, it was so you and Bing Ling could represent Shrek in the Continental Soul Master Tournament a year later. There isn't much time left now. The team members need time to get familiar with one another and coordinate."
Qian Chen replied calmly, "Don't worry, Sister Lexuan. As long as I stand on the Soul Fighting stage, I won't lose."
"Of course I trust your strength," Zhang Lexuan continued explaining. "But before you returned, Xuan Zi had already ordered that your information be kept secret. Only Ning Ke'er leaked information about you to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Later, Mu En directly classified your information as the academy's highest secret, and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was also strictly ordered to keep quiet. So apart from the students who have met you and the Sea God Pavilion Elders, no one knows your true capabilities."
Zhang Lexuan's tone grew a little graver. "Shrek must win the championship every time. That is Shrek's glory. The tournament doesn't just have individual matches and team battles, but also the two-two-three format. We can't afford to lose. Go meet the team members and give them some reassurance."
Qian Chen suddenly asked in return, "Meeting the team members is no problem. But Sister Lexuan, can you tell me what Shrek's glory really means to you?"
Bing Ling also leaned over and asked curiously, "That's right, Sister Lexuan. What exactly is Shrek's glory? Every one of you seems to value those words more than your lives."
Zhang Lexuan froze for a moment, then smiled wryly. "Actually, after getting to know you two, I've become a little confused about this glory myself. Especially after Dean Yan made that bet with you... Never mind, let's not talk about that. Let's go meet your teammates first."
Qian Chen and Bing Ling exchanged a look, then nodded and followed.
After breakfast, the three arrived at the Shrek Team's exclusive training ground.
Seven students of eighteen or nineteen, along with six students of thirteen or fourteen, were warming up on the field. At the edge stood a slovenly old man with his hands behind his back, watching the thirteen with a cold gaze. It was none other than Xuan Zi. He checked the time and frowned. "Where's Ma Xiaotao? Why isn't she here yet?"
Zhang Lexuan was just about to step forward to explain on Ma Xiaotao's behalf when a breathless voice came from the training ground's entrance. "Reporting, Xuan Zi! I'm here!"
Xuan Zi glanced at her and said expressionlessly, "Half a minute late. Thirty laps around the field."
Ma Xiaotao's eyes were still red; she had clearly just cried. Yet she offered not a word in her defense, gritting her teeth as she said, "Yes, Xuan Zi."
With that, she turned and began running laps, her retreating figure so stubborn it made one's heart ache.
Bing Ling and Ma Xiaotao shared a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Though he took the lead, he could clearly feel the grievance in her heart. He immediately stepped forward. "Xuan Zi, Xiaotao had a reason for being late today!"
Xuan Zi said nothing and merely lifted his eyelids. A terrifying pressure of Soul Power abruptly descended, instantly pinning Bing Ling in place and making even breathing difficult.
"My rule is that if you make excuses after doing something wrong, your punishment doubles," Xuan Zi said unhurriedly. "But it wasn't Ma Xiaotao making excuses. It was you, Bing Ling. So you'll take this doubled punishment. Thirty laps, not a single step less."
Being suppressed like this sent Bing Ling's anger shooting three feet high. He was about to talk back when he heard Qian Chen remind him in a low voice, "Go run. Keep talking and it might double to sixty laps."
Bing Ling shuddered and forcibly swallowed the words on his tongue, saying in frustration, "Fine, I'll run!"
Watching Bing Ling sheepishly follow Ma Xiaotao to run laps, Xuan Zi secretly curled the corners of his mouth and chuckled inwardly. Yan Shaozhe, this is all I can do for your disciple. If you want more, you'll have to give me an extra meal.
Zhang Lexuan walked naturally to Xuan Zi's side and began reporting the day's training arrangements. Anyone with eyes could tell that Xuan Zi was the head coach and Zhang Lexuan his assistant.
Zhang Lexuan whispered a few words into Xuan Zi's ear. After thinking for a moment, he nodded slightly.
"Everyone, come here!" Xuan Zi clapped his hands.
The thirteen on the field immediately stopped training and quickly gathered around.
Xuan Zi pointed at Qian Chen and introduced him calmly. "This is our new team member, Qian Chen. The one who went off to run laps just now is Bing Ling. Starting today, they're officially joining the team."
The previous official Shrek Seven Devils had lost four members. Although replacements had later been brought in temporarily, none had been granted the Seven Monsters title, leaving the team's roster constantly changing and its members unsettled.
Of the four new team members brought in now, three were from the Martial Soul Department's inner court and one from the Soul Tool Department's inner court. They had been nursing a grudge over not receiving the Seven Monsters title.
One of the substitute members immediately pointed at Qian Chen and asked indignantly, "Xuan Zi, does he have the Shrek Seven Devils title?"
As though deliberately fanning the flames, Xuan Zi said with a smile, "Not yet. But if he wants it, I can give it to him right now."
The four new members instantly erupted.
"Why?!" another member demanded angrily. "We've spent so many years training hard in the inner court! Why should a newcomer get the Seven Monsters title right away?!"
Not one person who could enter the inner court was a pushover, and their tempers were fiercer than the last. A burly substitute stepped forward and said in a deep, muffled voice, "Xuan Zi, I won't accept this! Let me fight him! If he beats me, I won't say another word!"
Wu Ming and Ning Ke'er looked at their fellow student as though he were an idiot, then quietly took two steps back, putting some distance between themselves and him.
Qian Chen knew perfectly well that he had to show his skills today.
First, he had to cow these troublemakers; second, he had to give the whole team confidence. Only then could he go to the Shrek Inspection Corps, obtain intelligence, and wipe out Evil Soul Masters. Qian Chen's greatest difficulty right now was that he knew of too few Evil Soul Masters.
Qian Chen raised his eyes and swept his gaze across the field, then lifted a hand to point at everyone, his tone calm. "All thirteen of you, come at me together. Let's not waste everyone's time."
The entire field fell deathly silent.
Everyone thought they had misheard.
Wu Ming was the first to react, immediately waving her hands. "I'm not feeling well today, so I'll sit this out."
Ning Ke'er followed suit. "Gongyang Mo's effects are similar to those of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, so I'll sit this out too."
Han Ruoruo's face reddened with anger as she shouted sharply, "Wu Ming! Ning Ke'er! What are you doing?! This brat is already riding on our heads and shitting on us! We're the only official Seven Monsters left from this generation! We have to teach this brat who doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is a proper lesson today!"
Ning Ke'er said with a perfectly straight face, "So many people fighting one person would be too embarrassing if word got out. Wu Ming and I won't get involved."
Han Ruoruo stamped her feet in anger, but failed to hear the unspoken second half of Ning Ke'er's words: having so many people fight one person and still losing would be truly embarrassing.
Xuan Zi and Zhang Lexuan stood off to the side with their arms folded, making no move to stop them. They had intended to use this opportunity to let Qian Chen show his skills in the first place, both to cow the team's troublemakers and to build the whole team's confidence in certain victory.
The remaining eleven were beside themselves with fury. They summoned their Martial Souls one after another, Soul Rings lighting up as the atmosphere on the training ground instantly tightened to the breaking point.
Qian Chen, however, did not summon the Seven Kill Sword. Its killing power was too great. These were all students of the academy, and the gap between their strength and his was too vast. If he truly drew his sword, blood would be spilled.
His gaze swept around, and he spotted a wooden-handled broom leaning against the wall. He walked over in a few strides and casually snapped it.
Crack.
A wrist-thick length of wood fell into his hand.
Carrying the wooden stick, Qian Chen walked back before the eleven, hefted it to test its weight, and said casually, "My Martial Soul's killing power is too great, and I count as a sword cultivator too. Using a wooden stick instead is perfectly reasonable, right?"