The Six-Winged Angel's Path of Evolution (Part 1)

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sounds of blades and swords colliding echoed continuously through the Soul Arena.

The high speed granted by Angel Wings and the Soul Guidance Thruster turned both men into afterimages, while every streak of sword light and blade light they unleashed shone like the radiance of stars and moon, dazzling the spectators. Sparks flew whenever their weapons clashed, resembling blazing trees and silver flowers. Had the weapons in their hands been ordinary items, they would have shattered long ago under such immense force.

"Crack—"

A crisp metallic fracture suddenly rang out, and the two afterimages halted at the same time.

One gold, one black; one above, one below.

Ling Bai firmly occupied the upper position. The Angel Holy Sword had chopped a jagged notch into the dark-red warblade, and as the deadlock continued, the notch showed signs of spreading.

"..."

Qian Fufu desperately raised his warblade with both hands. The Soul Guidance Thruster behind him roared thunderously. On the surface, the two had seemed evenly matched, but he knew perfectly well that the Soul Tool he had painstakingly forged was no match for the Angel Holy Sword. Every collision brought the warblade's wail to his ears!

"Why could you cut open a high-explosive shell without making it explode?"

Qian Fufu forced out the question. Ling Bai's thigh was not even as thick as his arm, and he looked as fragile as a decorative vase. Where had this monstrous strength, like that of a human-shaped soul beast, come from?!

Compared with Qian Fufu's desperate struggle, Ling Bai seemed completely at ease. He said blandly, "It can't be helped. The purification brought by the sacred attribute is actually a form of dissolution. The instant the Angel Holy Sword cut it open, the core formation inside the high-explosive shell had already been purified, so naturally it would not explode again."

"That works too?!"

Qian Fufu practically squeezed those words out through clenched teeth.

Before Qian Fufu could think further, golden light flared brilliantly from the Angel Holy Sword. The fifth-level Soul Tool warblade was severed in two with a single slash. The next second, Ling Bai's left fist smashed heavily into the center of Qian Fufu's chest, which was as broad as a double-door refrigerator.

"Ah!"

With a scream, Qian Fufu's body flew backward, his mind completely blank.

What had just happened?

The moment that thought formed in his mind, Qian Fufu's body had already made intimate contact with the wall at the edge of the Soul Arena.

With a boom, Qian Fufu was embedded in the wall in the shape of a swastika.

By then, the separate small battlefields had gradually all concluded. Gongyang Mo, the Rainbow Dragon, hurried over and pried Qian Fufu out of the wall, looking at Ling Bai as though he were a monster.

The soul battles had ended. The results were as follows:

Ling Bai utterly crushed Qian Fufu, Ma Xiaotao defeated Dai Yueheng, Du Gu Lin defeated Ling Luochen, Xi Xi suppressed Chu Qingtian, Yao Haoxuan and Gongyang Mo trounced Zhou Sen and Pan Tao, while Tai Xing was toyed with by Chen Zifeng.

The seven official Monsters and the challengers each had mixed feelings. Although this did not represent the final elimination results, they had already understood one thing.

This generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters was about to change completely!

The Six-Winged Angel Ling Bai and the Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao were certain to be selected as Shrek Seven Monsters!

Relying on the ferocious poison of the five poisons combined into the Jade Phosphorous Absolute Poison, Du Gu Lin had crossed the gap of one soul ring to defeat Ling Luochen. However, the difference between them was not great, and within half a year, their win-loss relationship could completely reverse.

The remaining four challengers were unremarkable and would most likely end up as mere supporting players.

After the battle, most people's moods became heavy. In particular, Chen Zifeng of the Soul-Chasing Sword had been scowling the entire time. Defeating Tai Xing meant nothing at all—whether Ling Bai or Ma Xiaotao chose him in the end, he would have a hard time beating either of them!

"In six months, I will win back the captain's position fair and square."

Dai Yueheng's handsome, masculine face had been scorched black by Phoenix Flame, and a large section of his school uniform had burned away. Yet his evil eyes still gleamed brightly. After throwing those words at Ma Xiaotao, he turned and left, heading toward the Mimetic Cultivation Zone.

After Chen Zifeng and the other Monsters forced smiles as they bid the seven farewell, they charged toward the cultivation area and teaching building as though their lives depended on it. Their urgency further proved that the challengers had indeed threatened the Seven Monsters' positions!

Just as the challengers were preparing to return home, a white figure descended before them.

"Dean Yan?"

"Teacher?"

Everyone was greatly surprised. The newcomer was actually Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Spirit Soul Department.

"Ling Bai, I came to find you." Yan Shaozhe went straight to the point. "The Pavilion Master has agreed to your request. Starting today, move into Sea God Pavilion."

"Finally..."

Ling Bai felt as though dark clouds had parted to reveal the moon. The Death Prison Spider Emperor hung over his head like a blade, leaving him unable to eat or sleep in peace. At last, he had taken the first step toward solving this persistent ailment!

"The right to live in Sea God Pavilion... Eldest Senior Sister is the only one in the inner courtyard to have received such an honor!"

"The Academy really values Brother Ling!"

"Obviously. If you were an elder, wouldn't you value a monster of this level? You'd be afraid it would melt even if you held it in your palm!"

The others whispered among themselves, their voices filled with envy and longing for Ling Bai. With Shrek Academy's full support, once Ling Bai matured in another five years, the question of who was the strongest among the continent's younger generation would be settled once and for all.

"You're leaving? Is it... because of me?"

Clearly unlike the others, Ma Xiaotao's pink eyes flashed with a trace of regret. She thought that her loss of control over the evil fire that day had left Ling Bai with psychological trauma.

Hearing this, Ling Bai laughed. "Don't overthink it. Sea God Pavilion was carved within the Golden Tree and possesses the densest light aura on the continent. It is the most suitable blessed land for my cultivation, which is why I asked Dean Yan to arrange a room for me."

"I see..."

Ma Xiaotao felt slightly better.

"Sea God Pavilion lies at the center of Sea God Island, and the elders live there as well. You must be careful with every word and action. Do not disturb the elders' quiet cultivation." Yan Shaozhe instructed. "Your room is on the first floor above ground. Your name is carved on the plaque. Go there yourself."

"Yes, Dean Yan."

Angel Wings spread behind him, and Ling Bai rose into the air, flying toward the Golden Tree.

Seeing Ling Bai leave, Yan Shaozhe looked at Chu Qingtian and the others and deliberately put on a stern expression. "Xiaotao and I have something to discuss. You freshmen should hurry back and cultivate. The inner courtyard freshmen assessment begins in three months. If you fail the assessment mission, don't blame the Academy and me for showing no mercy."

At the mention of the freshmen assessment, the five of them immediately realized that they did not seem to count as true inner courtyard disciples yet. Only by passing the assessment could they gain a foothold in the Academy and compete for the title of Shrek Seven Monsters. After bowing to Yan Shaozhe, they hurried away.

"Xiaotao, has your Phoenix Evil Fire been stable these past two days?" Yan Shaozhe asked Ma Xiaotao kindly.

Ma Xiaotao nodded slightly. "Yes, more stable than ever before."

"Do you want it to remain stable forever?"

Yan Shaozhe's tone carried a faint hint of temptation, gently leading her on like the big bad wolf in a fairy tale luring a little white rabbit into opening the door.

"Forever? Hiss... I wouldn't even dare dream of that." Ma Xiaotao sucked in a breath.

"How unambitious. I dare to dream of it!"

"Teacher, just tell me what to do." Ma Xiaotao put on an obedient expression, ready to listen attentively.

"The key to solving this lies with you and Ling Bai. I have a brilliant plan. Listen carefully..."

Yan Shaozhe lowered his voice and explained it slowly, word by word.

As Ma Xiaotao listened, her exquisitely beautiful face gradually twisted, and her pink eyes seemed to widen slightly into tiny dot eyes...