Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament (Part Two)

"Everyone can challenge Soul Engineers..."

Ling Bai rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Is the academy that afraid Soul Engineers won't be eliminated?"

Hearing that, Ma Xiaotao snorted and said flatly, "Don't forget that Shrek is the continent's number one 'Soul Master' academy! The Shrek Seven Monsters can lack anyone else, but they can absolutely go without Soul Engineers!"

Ma Xiaotao put heavy emphasis on the words "Soul Master." Even an idiot could hear her intense prejudice against Soul Engineers.

Ling Bai revealed a meaningful smile. He could not be bothered to painstakingly explain the pros and cons to Ma Xiaotao when it would only earn him resentment. Shrek Academy had suffered too few setbacks. Once Soul Tools knocked out a couple of their teeth, they would know pain and naturally begin to value their development.

"Does anyone have any questions about the rules?"

After introducing the rules of the Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament, Xuan Zi called out loudly.

Everyone answered in unison that they had none. Xuan Zi nodded in satisfaction. At least this year's group looked like they were all smart people. He continued:

"The seven official Monsters, step forward and introduce yourselves in order. Let the challengers know your Martial Souls, Soul Power, and cultivation paths, so they can decide whom to challenge in the future! Dai Yueheng, you're first!"

"Yes, Elder Xuan."

The one Xuan Zi called upon was a tall, sturdy male student. His rugged features were sharply defined, and he possessed a pair of naturally sinister double pupils. He said in a deep voice, "Dai Yueheng. Martial Soul: White Tiger. Rank 61 assault-type Soul Emperor. Current captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters. I welcome everyone's challenge!"

As he finished speaking, those sinister double pupils fixed steadily upon Ma Xiaotao, who stood opposite him with her arms crossed. Fierce sparks of battle intent seemed to fly between them.

After Dai Yueheng, another male student stepped forward. He was not as powerfully built as Dai Yueheng, but he was still tall and slender. A somewhat forced smile tugged at his face. "Chen Zifeng. Martial Soul: Soul-Chasing Sword. Rank 54 assault-type Soul King."

Chen Zifeng had a simple reason for forcing that smile. Among the official Shrek Seven Monsters, only he and Dai Yueheng were assault-type Soul Masters. He knew his strength was far inferior to Dai Yueheng's, while Ma Xiaotao's reputation among the challengers was formidable. The Evil Fire Phoenix was precisely a top-tier assault-type beast Martial Soul!

The Inner Courtyard Living Volcano represented not only an explosive temper, but also the world-destroying power that would erupt once it blew!

For the team's overall strength, Ma Xiaotao might not challenge Dai Yueheng. More likely, she would choose between him and the Soul Engineer. Chen Zifeng silently prayed:

Big sis, pick him, not me! Pick him, not me!

The third student was a female disciple. Unlike Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng, she was not especially striking in appearance. She had neatly cropped short hair, an ordinary figure, and an ordinary face—the sort of person who would disappear completely in a crowd.

"Xi Xi, Rank 53 agility-type Soul King. Martial Soul: Lightning Leopard."

Her introduction was just as brief as Chen Zifeng's, yet Xi Xi drifted past like a fallen leaf in the wind, leaving little impression behind. Her plainness was astonishing.

Yet it was precisely this ordinary person who made Chu Qingtian, another agility-type Soul Master present, break into a cold sweat.

What was the purpose of an agility-type Soul Master?

Assassination!

Ambushes!

Like an assassin stalking through the night, striking from behind and seizing the throat for a single fatal blow!

Clearly, Xi Xi had grasped the true essence of the agility-type path. Her ordinariness was her most perfect camouflage. Once she tore through that disguise and revealed the fangs of the Lightning Leopard, her prey would surely have no escape!

As Xi Xi finished, another female student stepped forward. Her cold, aloof temperament and delicate, icy features stood in stark contrast to the utterly unremarkable Xi Xi beside her. Her skin was very pale, and she seemed weightless as she walked.

"Ling Luochen. Martial Soul: Ice Element. Rank 52 control-type Soul King."

She passed everyone else and looked only at Ling Bai. Her pearly teeth unconsciously bit her red lip, and her gaze was extraordinarily complicated, as though it were a mixture of shyness, anger, curiosity, fear, and countless other emotions.

Ling Bai met her eyes and tried to analyze the gaze that resembled a pie chart. After three seconds, he decisively gave up.

Sorry, I don't understand any of it!

The fifth person was a small-framed male student, barely over 1.6 meters tall. He was thin and short, with looks that had nothing whatsoever to do with words like handsome or dashing. He was practically a living monkey.

"Yao Haoxuan. Martial Soul: Sky Shaking Ape. Soul Power Rank 52. I cultivate both control and support. Since my circumstances are rather special, I'm paired with this sissy beside me as a two-man team. Anyone hoping to take two Seven Monsters spots at once, come challenge us!"

Yao Haoxuan grinned as he patted the delicate-looking male student at his side.

"You bastard, who are you calling a sissy!"

The male student shot Yao Haoxuan an enormous eye roll, raised an Orchid Finger, and said in a soft, affected voice:

"Gongyang Mo. Martial Soul: Rainbow Dragon. Rank 56 support-type Soul King."

Ling Bai could already be described as beautiful, but Gongyang Mo had nearly reached the point of femininity. His voice twisted and turned with endless affectation, making everyone who heard it shudder as countless goosebumps rose all over their bodies!

The final student slowly stepped forward. Tall and burly, he stood like an iron tower holding up the sky. His double-door-refrigerator-sized pectorals were especially eye-catching, though utterly out of place with his massive build was the small, exquisite object attached to his wrist.

A Soul Tool!

"Qian Fufu, Fifth Level Soul Engineer."

His name carried an inherent comedic quality, and Pan Tao, whose threshold for laughter was low, could not hold it in and burst out with a snort. Unlike Soul Masters, who announced their Martial Souls and Soul Power, Qian Fufu only needed to state his Soul Engineer rank.

Hostility?

Spider Emperor Sense told Ling Bai that Qian Fufu seemed to be coming at him aggressively.

Do we... know each other?

Ling Bai had been innocently caught in the crossfire and was utterly baffled. He lightly patted Ma Xiaotao on the shoulder and asked:

"Do you know Qian Fufu?"

Ma Xiaotao froze. "Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

"We clicked."

Yeah right, as if I'd believe that!

Ma Xiaotao forcibly suppressed the urge to mock Ling Bai and said, "He's the adopted son of Qian Duoduo and Xian Liner, the two deans of the Soul Guidance Department. The Inner Courtyard's number one Fifth Level Soul Engineer, the Inner Courtyard's number one simp—and the person he simps for is actually the ice queen, Ling Luochen!"

Case closed!

Ling Bai recalled Qian Fufu's pitiful appearance yesterday as he begged Ling Luochen to open the door. He had probably heard from somewhere that Ling Bai had brutalized Ling Luochen in the Soul Arena, and now he was preparing to become her knight in shining armor and avenge his goddess.

"Come to think of it, is Shrek's feng shui a little off? Why does it produce nothing but lovesick fools..."

Ling Bai began to question it. Qian Fufu and Xu Sanshi—the two greatest simps of the Inner and Outer Courtyards!

Huo Yuhao was an even heavier case. Tang San had practically tortured him to death, yet after becoming a god, he still kept calling him Father-in-law!

After the official Seven Monsters finished their introductions, Xuan Zi gulped down some wine and drunkenly told the challengers, "That's the situation. Who you challenge in the end is up to you. Six months from now, at the Soul Arena, the Seven Monsters Challenge Tournament will officially begin."

Having delivered his instructions, Xuan Zi staggered out of the Soul Arena. Only the official Seven Monsters and the seven challengers remained, staring at one another. Dai Yueheng suddenly broke the silence:

"Junior brothers and sisters, although the challenge tournament is an individual competition, everyone happens to be gathered at the Soul Arena today. I propose we have a friendly team battle. What do you all think?"