Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament (Part 1)

Having finalized the candidates and various details for recruiting talented Outer Courtyard students, Ning Tian's thoughts gradually became more active, and she proposed an idea:

"Bai Ge, do you think the sect has a chance of attracting Inner Courtyard disciples?"

Compared to Outer Courtyard students, who were like uncut jade and required time and effort to polish, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect coveted the Inner Courtyard students even more—those who had already been tempered into sharp brilliance and possessed even greater talent.

Hearing this, Ling Bai gave a bitter smile. "You dare to think even bigger than I do. There are fewer than a hundred people in the Inner Courtyard, and every one of them is a monster chosen from millions across the continent. The three great empires, the major sects, even Shrek Academy itself... who knows how many forces are eyeing these juicy prizes.

Xiao Tian, you don't need to worry about the Inner Courtyard. I definitely won't let go of anyone we have a chance to recruit. Just handle your task in the Outer Courtyard well."

"Alright."

Having received Ling Bai's promise, Ning Tian's pretty face blossomed into a radiant smile. By then, it was gradually growing late. After wishing Ling Bai good night, the three went their separate ways and returned to their dormitories.

Crossing Sea God Lake, Ling Bai returned to his little cabin. He sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and immersed himself in meditation, his state entirely unaffected by the matter involving Huo Yuhao.

Wrong was wrong.

So what if he was the protagonist?

If he had truly feared the protagonist's plot armor, Ling Bai would not have seduced Electrolux and taken the Tianmeng Iceworm Slough in the Star Dou Great Forest.

He never believed in chosen sons of destiny. He only believed that people could shape their own fate.

A ray of morning light shone through the window lattice onto Ling Bai, bathing his slender figure in gold. As he breathed, streams of golden Soul Power rose like vapor, gradually flowing back into his body.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone suddenly knocked on the door. Ling Bai instantly woke from meditation, got out of bed, and opened it. A rich fragrance swept over him, accompanied by a peerlessly beautiful face as bright as fire that forcefully burst into his view.

"Ma Xiaotao?"

Ling Bai was not particularly eager to see this beautiful neighbor of his. Who knew when the Inner Courtyard Living Volcano would erupt?

"What is it?" Ling Bai asked.

"Xuan Zi has summoned us to the Soul Arena."

Ma Xiaotao parted her cherry-red lips. Her abrupt, contextless words left Ling Bai stunned for a moment before he smiled helplessly.

To be honest, he did not want to see the Chicken-Leg Douluo either. The old man always seemed to be up to no good. But when one lived under another's roof, one had no choice but to bow one's head. The two unfurled their brilliant golden Angel Wings and fiery red Phoenix Wings, flying toward the Inner Courtyard Soul Arena.

As Ling Bai landed in the Soul Arena, he unexpectedly saw two clearly separated groups, including quite a few familiar faces.

Du Gu Lin, Chu Qingtian, Tai Xing, Pan Tao, Zhou Sen—these freshmen who had entered the Inner Courtyard alongside him had long been waiting on one side. Upon seeing Ling Bai, Du Gu Lin secretly winked at him, looking utterly charming and playful.

On the other side stood seven people in a neat row, all dressed in the Inner Courtyard's blood-red uniforms. They appeared eighteen or nineteen years old, each one vigorous and spirited, their presence soaring like a rainbow.

Ling Bai recognized two of them: Ice Element Ling Luochen and Qian Duoduo's adopted son, Qian Fufu. Combined with the way Chu Qingtian and the others, who had arrived earlier, stood ramrod straight and looked at the seven with nothing but envy and burning eagerness in their eyes, he seemed to have guessed their identities.

In stark contrast to the restraint of the Inner Courtyard freshmen, Ling Bai and Ma Xiaotao were clearly far more unrestrained. The latter in particular could not stop sizing up the double-pupiled young man at the head of the opposing group, the word "provocation" written plainly across her face.

After sweeping his gaze around, Xuan Zi nodded and said, "Everyone's here, so let's cut the nonsense! One year from now, the new Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament will officially begin. You are all Inner Courtyard students, clever and quick-witted. I believe you can guess one another's identities!"

After a brief pause, Xuan Zi turned toward Ling Bai's group and said solemnly:

"That's right. Standing before you are the students under twenty who represent Shrek Academy's strongest combat power—the Shrek Seven Monsters! Time and time again, they have upheld Shrek Academy's glory and spread the brilliant deeds of the continent's number one academy throughout the land!"

The Shrek Seven Monsters!

A title passed down for ten thousand years!

A synonym for monsters!

Chu Qingtian and the others instantly ignited with passion. They realized that they had been granted an opportunity that came only once in a lifetime—an exceptional chance to become Shrek Seven Monsters!

Having said that, Xuan Zi turned to the seven main team members.

"In the previous tournament, you were only the reserve team. Even now, you are merely provisional Shrek Seven Monsters. Having experienced the baptism of that tournament, you should understand even better that from the captain to the support, every member of the Shrek Seven Monsters must be outstanding among Soul Masters of their respective type!

Brats, don't think you've got it in the bag!

Those who lost to you during the selection for the reserve team have returned five years later, carrying their unwillingness and drive, to become the strongest opponents blocking your path to becoming the Seven Monsters!

I'll give you six months to prepare. Six months from now, the Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament will officially begin. The winners will become the true Shrek Seven Monsters and represent the academy in this Soul Master Competition!"

The moment his words fell, battle intent shot into the heavens!

All fourteen people on both sides locked their eyes on the formidable opponents across from them, their auras continuously rising. Soul Power surged madly through the air, as though a black dragon were ascending from within the Soul Arena and soaring straight into the clouds!

"Good, good, good! This is exactly the fighting spirit I wanted to see!"

Xuan Zi burst into laughter, taking a bite of chicken leg and a gulp of wine in sheer delight. "I know you're eager, but don't be too eager yet. I haven't told you the rules of the Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament."

"Another team battle?"

The Great Strength Gorilla, Tai Xing, could not resist asking.

His regretful defeat in the Great Melee Selection Tournament had carved a deep scar into his heart. Even years later, the memory still ached faintly. Countless times, he had awakened abruptly from dreams in the middle of the night. If we had formed a strong team sooner, would I have been the one to become a reserve team member?

"How could it be?"

Xuan Zi's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly extinguishing half of Tai Xing's fighting spirit. He scratched his head in confusion. "Elder Xuan, seven against seven is just right, isn't it?"

A chicken bone struck Tai Xing on the head, making him stagger half a step. Xuan Zi spoke in exasperation:

"You brat, do you think this is selecting a reserve team? How could the main Shrek Seven Monsters be chosen so casually?"

Tearing off a piece of chicken with force, Xuan Zi mumbled, "To avoid luck becoming a factor, forget about seven-versus-seven team battles."

Just imagine it: Ling Bai, Ma Xiaotao, and Du Gu Lin. With four deadweights in tow, the three of them would surely have a chance to defeat the main Shrek Seven Monsters. But the Soul Master Competition did not consist solely of team battles; there were also individual matches, two-versus-two matches, and other formats. If the deadweights performed poorly then, it would still be Shrek's reputation that suffered!

Xuan Zi continued, "The rules of the Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament are similar to a gauntlet. The main Shrek Seven Monsters will act as the reigning challengers, with one-versus-one and two-versus-two modes. The two-versus-two mode is open only to support-type Soul Masters!

To prevent excessive overlap among the same type of Soul Masters, one-versus-one challengers must follow the same cultivation path as the reigning challenger. In other words, control-type faces control-type, assault-type faces assault-type, agility-type faces agility-type. There are no restrictions for Soul Engineers; anyone can challenge a Soul Engineer..."

PS: Ma Xiaotao never participated in the Soul Master Competition and was not part of Dai Yueheng's generation of reserve team members. After controlling her evil fire, she replaced a Soul Engineer. It was noted in the original work screenshot posted in the comments. (The backend scheduled the update for nine o'clock. Hopefully I can get up and post the screenshot.)

The unlucky Soul Engineer who never appeared in the original work was reimagined in this book as Qian Duoduo's adopted son, Qian Fufu.