Blind Box

The referee raised his right arm and his voice resounded throughout the arena. "Shrek Academy wins!"

On the first tier of the stands, Ning Fengzhi deliberately glanced at Salas beside him. "Bishop Salas, what a pity. It seems that Elephant Armor Academy is ultimately no match for Shrek."

Salas snorted but didn't reply. He turned his head and glanced at a burly figure sitting in the second row— Elephant Armor Sect, the sect leader of the Elephant Huyan Zhen Sect—and said in a cold tone, "The Elephant Armor Academy has disappointed me greatly."

Huyan Zhen's expression was complicated. His lips moved, but he didn't say anything. What could he say? He had no other choice. He was completely outmatched from beginning to end. He couldn't hit anyone, couldn't break free from the vines, and his Soul Power was constantly being drained. It would have been the same for anyone in this battle.

The entire audience chanted in unison. "Shrek! Shrek!"

Ma Hongjun was the first to slip off the stage, head down, his steps quick, completely unlike the peacock-like posture he had displayed the previous two days.

Ever since the audience recognized him as the handsome guy from the Shrek Academy who freeloaded off others, he now reflexively feels guilty whenever he hears cheers, fearing that someone in the crowd will shout, "You fatso, give me back my feelings! Give me back my ice cream!"

This is really damaging to his handsome image.

Everyone returned to the lounge. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Ning Rongrong were already waiting at the door, as were Flender and the Grandmaster. Flender, with a rare, undisguised smile on his face, pushed up his glasses. "Little Monster, well done!"

Dai Mubai Tang San and Wang Xingyu a thumbs up. "So handsome."

Xiao Wu was somewhat disappointed. According to their previously agreed-upon strategy of concealing their strength, she, Dai Mubai, and Ning Rongrong all advised against going on stage. She turned to the Grandmaster and said directly, "Grandmaster, why don't we stop hiding? I want to go on stage."

Before the Grandmaster could speak, Flender waved his hand, "No, the trump card is well hidden—"

"Okay," the Grandmaster interrupted him.

Flender paused for a moment. The Grandmaster looked at everyone and said calmly, "I've thought about it carefully. Everyone's strength is already strong enough, so there's no need to hide it too much. Showing a little bit appropriately can boost your morale and make your opponents feel intimidated."

We already have enough trump cards— Xiao Wu's Moonfall combined with Teleportation, Tang San's Eight Spider Lances, the three-person Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Dai Mubai's Soul King level, and the Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Zhu Zhuqing. The only one who can't be used is Dai Mubai."

Dai Mubai's smile froze instantly. He opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head with a sorrowful expression. "The world where only I am injured has been achieved."

Flender pondered for a moment, then nodded. "That's true."

Xiao Wu raised her arms and shouted happily.

In the following matches, Shrek Academy swept through the competition, winning every game. The audience was more and more shocked each day—this little-known academy team actually had seven Soul Ancestor, a total of seven.

The day Xiao Wu revealed her eternal fourth ring, the entire arena erupted in cheers. On the field, she activated her Invincible Golden Body and charged directly into the enemy formation. With Moon Shadow leaving afterimages, Waist Bow, and Moonfall, she almost instantly killed someone with a combo, and then Teleportation back without even letting anyone touch the hem of her clothes.

Some teams tried to bypass the front line and cut straight to the back line support. They finally managed to rush to Ning Rongrong, but before they could even make a move, Ning Rongrong opened her mouth and unleashed a Phoenix Fire Line, blasting them back.

Ning Rongrong turned her head and gave Wang Xingyu and Ma Hongjun a thumbs up.

Ma Hongjun looked smug. Oscar shouted loudly from behind, "I want to try it too!"

Unfortunately, not all opponents are willing to take a beating. Some teams forfeited as soon as they saw Shrek's lineup.

Flender certainly has a business mind.

It's possible that his experience selling fans at the Great Soul Arena inspired him—the competition had only been going on for a few days when he seized the opportunity to launch Shrek- branded soap.

The packaging was printed with the Shrek Academy's green monster hat emblem, and it's said that the first batch sold out as soon as it hit the shelves.

When Wang Xingyu saw the bar of soap in the lounge, he picked it up and examined it twice.

He put the soap back, and suddenly some things from his past life popped into his mind.

The soap can be made into merchandise, serving as a future source of income for the Tang Sect.

He'll print the images of Shrek Academy members on them—fan designs, regular outfit designs, team uniform designs—and make them all into blind boxes. The small hidden item will be a thinner version of Ma Hongjun; as for the big hidden item, he hasn't decided yet.

Anyway, the slimmer version of the chubby guy is definitely good-looking, so keeping him as a hidden gem is a sure win.

As for whether Shrek will ask for copyright fees, it can only be described as a collaboration between two major IPs.

But after so many days, there was one thing Wang Xingyu still couldn't figure out— Shi Nian still hadn't come to deliver the package.

They should have found an opportunity to attack Tang San long ago in the original story, but they haven't even seen a trace of him yet.

After thinking it over carefully, he roughly guessed the reason: the three of them had been going in and out together all this time, and no matter how cunning Shi Nian was, he wouldn't dare to make a move under the noses of three inseparable people, so he simply couldn't find an opportunity to be alone.

So, after the competition ended that day, on the way back to the academy, Wang Xingyu suddenly said, "Little San, you go back to the academy first. Xiao Wu and I will catch up in a bit."

Tang San glanced at him, then at Xiao Wu, looking somewhat puzzled, but didn't press the matter. He nodded and left first.

After Tang San's figure disappeared around the street corner, Xiao Wu turned her head and asked, "Xingyu, what's wrong?"

Wang Xingyu strode forward, his tone relaxed. "Little San has a package to sign for. We'll go find him after he gets it."

As for the danger—he had already confirmed it; Tang Hao was always there. If Shi Nian dared to touch Tang San, he would be the one who got instantly killed.

Wang Xingyu and Xiao Wu waited at the street corner for a while, estimating that it was about time, and then hurried towards the academy. The two walked slowly, but halfway there, they saw a familiar figure kneeling on one knee by the roadside in the distance.

Tang San clutched his chest, breathing rapidly, his forehead beaded with sweat, and his face was several shades paler than usual.

Wang Xingyu rushed over, his Blue Silver Grass wrapping around Tang San's wrist, and activated Willow Shade Shelter to its maximum. The emerald green willow branches enveloped Tang San, but Tang San's complexion did not improve significantly—the mental strain ultimately had limited effect on restoring his vitality.

"Let's go back first." Wang Xingyu squatted down and carried Tang San on his back. Tang San didn't refuse—the fact that he didn't even need to be polite meant that he was genuinely unaware.

The three returned to their dormitory, Tang San rested on his bed for a while before his condition gradually stabilized.

"Third Brother, what exactly happened?" Xiao Wu asked with concern.

"On the way back, I fell into Shi Nian's illusion." He briefly recounted what had happened, then took out the blue Soul Bone and placed it by the bedside.

Xiao Wu leaned closer to examine the Soul Bone, then suddenly remembered something. She turned her head, put her hands on her hips, and stared directly at Wang Xingyu: "No wonder Xingyu said Third Brother was going to pick up some package—did you already know?"

Wang Xingyu was also observing the Soul Bone. When she asked him this, he scratched his head and said, "I did notice that Shi Nian is somewhat hostile towards Little San."

"Then why did you let Third Brother walk alone!" Xiao Wu took a step forward.

"The Little San is bound to win. He has the Purple Demon Eye, which is especially effective against illusions." Wang Xingyu moved back half an inch. "And he has bodyguards."

"Bodyguard?" Xiao Wu was taken aback. "Tai Long? What good is that! That's too risky! It's not allowed!" Xiao Wu didn't give him a chance to explain; her finger was almost poking his nose.

Wang Xingyu nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay, I won't do it again next time."

Tang San leaned against the headboard, watching Xiao Wu stand with her hands on her hips lecturing Xingyu, and found it quite amusing.