Word Count: 3,059 Words
******
"Damn, Elder Xuan is being completely unreasonable! How is this any different from dancing in shackles?"
Xu Sanshi clicked his tongue after hearing all the restrictions placed on Ling Bai.
He had personally witnessed Ling Bai going all out when he was at the 4-ringed rank, using various abilities in combination to thoroughly beat down the Spirit Emperor Ma Xiaotao. Now with his Angelic Domain, spirit bone skills, and Martial Spirit's innate talents all prohibited, even a God-level Martial Spirit would be half-crippled.
Ma Xiaotao had become quite familiar with Xu Sanshi in previous years due to his Mystic Deep Turtle's ability to neutralize her Evil Fire. She said calmly, "Ling Bai is being shackled to give you Reserve Team members a taste of combat experience. You'll understand when the battle starts. Elder Xuan not banning the Angel Sword already puts enough pressure on you little ones.
Dai Yueheng and I became captain and vice-captain because Ling Bai said he wasn't interested in the position. In fact, he could undoubtedly lead the Shrek Seven Monsters if he wanted. Even our Big Senior Sister's position as number one in the Inner Courtyard would be shaky in another five years. And he's the same age as Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong."
The Inner Courtyard students who had witnessed Ling Bai's combat prowess over the past year nodded in agreement. When the main Shrek Seven Monsters trained, Elder Xuan divided the seven into two teams but discovered a huge problem: Ling Bai's combat strength was too overwhelming, practically a weapon of mass destruction in small-scale battles.
He could suppress the Evil Fire Phoenix in aerial combat, his Angelic Domain restrained the Ice Element, his Holy Dragon True Form's roar was louder than even Yao Haoxuan's Ape, and his Angel Sword combined with the Seven Kill Sword Technique could rival the White Tiger, renowned on the Douluo Continent for close combat. His perception was absurdly keen; the moment the Lightning Leopard approached from behind, his Angel Sword would be at her throat the next instant.
Except for the auxiliary-type Gongyang Mo, the other five had all been beaten by him. Elder Xuan was forced to call in Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Wu Ming, and other members of the previous generation's Shrek Seven Monsters as regular opponents before the training plan could proceed smoothly.
"Sister Xiaotao is absolutely right." Yao Haoxuan recalled the bruises all over his body and started wiping away tears. "I truly experienced why the Seraphim is called a hexagonal warrior. The God-level Martial Spirit passed down from the Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago is truly this terrifying!"
"Tch, the Angel God was still defeated by our Sea God ancestor. The God Position was shattered and its whereabouts unknown. The Seraphim isn't that impressive, and neither is Ling Bai..." Wang Dong said, unconvinced.
Although Wang Dong had only met Ling Bai a few times, he felt an inexplicable hatred stemming from the depths of his soul—similar to his aversion to Spirit Guidance Devices. The animosity spread like wildfire, instantly igniting his emotions and making it impossible to suppress.
Before Wang Dong could utter even more shocking words, Huo Yuhao quickly pinched his thigh. The sharp pain made Wang Dong swallow back his offensive remarks, but his pair of pink-blue eyes still brimmed with stubbornness.
Ma Xiaotao frowned and spoke bluntly, "Ling Bai's talent surpasses the last Angel God's. That one was nearly thirty years old and only a Spirit Saint. At Ling Bai's current cultivation speed, breaking through to Titled Douluo at twenty-five would mean he's been slacking off. If anyone on the Douluo Continent can reach the God rank in the future, it would definitely be him."
She paused before adding, "Wang Dong, he's your senior. Moreover, acknowledging someone else's excellence isn't difficult."
"Don't forget how you got into the Reserve Team," Ning Tian said faintly.
Ma Xiaotao's righteous words broke through Wang Dong's defenses, and Ning Tian's follow-up stab went straight to the heart. Their perfect coordination instantly evoked the shame in Wang Dong about getting in through the back door. His face flushed red as he hid behind Huo Yuhao.
Ning Tian snorted coldly. She had endured it for the greater good when Wang Dong's group of four squeezed out Wu Feng. But now he actually had the nerve to openly provoke Ling Bai. There was a limit to her tolerance!
Ling Bai slowly curved his lips into a smile. The higher one stands, the more jealousy and resentment one attracts. He didn't care about Wang Dong's few harmless taunts, but Ma Xiaotao and Ning Tian's defense was somewhat unexpected, especially from the former.
Among those present, the only one familiar with Wang Dong was Huo Yuhao. The former's offensive behavior greatly lowered his standing in everyone's eyes, and they looked at him with meaningful gazes.
"Alright, alright, you're two generations of the Shrek Seven Monsters. What's the point of arguing at your first meeting?"
Seeing the situation deteriorate, Elder Xuan decisively stepped in to smooth things over. "Hurry up and choose your teams. Split into two groups; Ling Bai goes first."
Ling Bai, Ma Xiaotao, and Dai Yueheng each moved five meters to the left and right, creating distance as they sized up the new and old Seven Monsters, considering their team selections.
"Why did you provoke him for no reason?" Huo Yuhao pulled Wang Dong aside and asked softly, completely baffled.
"I just don't like him."
Wang Dong seemed like a toy programmed to dislike the Seraphim. Whenever his eyes met Ling Bai's, he would receive a command to bare his fangs and brandish his claws.
After a minute of contemplation, Ling Bai decided on his ideal team. "I choose Gongyang Mo."
"Hehe, you have good taste!"
Gongyang Mo sauntered over to Ling Bai's side, each step oozing charm. Compared to this Rainbow Dragon Martial Spirit queen, the ice and fire duo Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen were merely surface-level in femininity, falling far short in womanly allure.
"Ah, this..."
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng exchanged glances, seeing regret in each other's eyes. The Rainbow Dragon, known as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda among beast Martial Spirits, had auxiliary abilities that went without saying. They had originally intended to choose Gongyang Mo first, but Ling Bai had snatched him away.
"We choose Ling Luochen."
As they were both power attack-type Spirit Masters, their team needed a control-type to hold the line. The Ice Element user Ling Luochen was obviously the best choice.
"Yao Haoxuan."
Ling Bai quickly named his second Inner Courtyard teammate. The remaining Xi Xi automatically went to the other team, and then they began selecting from the Reserve Team.
"Your eyes are about to stare a hole through me. Come on over, Xiao Tian."
Ling Bai smiled as he saw Ning Tian's eager gaze and beckoned her over.
Hearing the good-natured laughter from Bei Bei and Jiang Nannan beside her, Ning Tian's beautiful face instantly turned red. However, her feet weren't slow as she ran to Ling Bai's side in a few steps and lightly punched him to express a girl's bashful annoyance.
"Bei Bei."
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng chose the Outer Courtyard's number one power attack-type Spirit Ancestor.
"Jiang Nannan."
The two sides seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, deliberately leaving the 'backdoor quartet' of Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong for last, using this method to express their stance.
A dam built over ten thousand years had collapsed in a single morning, and the hearts of the main Shrek Seven Monsters turned cold.
Ma Xiaotao was the direct disciple of the Martial Spirit Department's Dean. Due to her Evil Fire Phoenix causing problems, she hadn't been selected for the Reserve Team to participate in the previous Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament. Five years later, she defeated Qian Duoduo in a challenge match to become one of the Shrek Seven Monsters, following the rules every step of the way.
Dai Yueheng felt even more unbalanced in his heart. His White Tiger lineage had shed blood and laid down lives for Shrek Academy. Dai Huabin, a second-year student, was at Rank 37, second only to the four fifth-year Spirit Ancestors among the core disciples. The White Tiger lineage had a ten-thousand-year relationship with Shrek Academy. If Huo Yuhao and Xu Sanshi could enter through connections, why couldn't Dai Huabin?
Either everyone gets in, or no one does. Don't play favorites!
Ling Luochen, Gongyang Mo, and the others felt a sense of crisis. Now that a precedent had been set for the Reserve Team to enter through the back door, what if one day a Sea God Pavilion elder wanted his grandson to directly join the Seven Monsters, bypassing the challenge match? Would he suddenly appear and replace a Shrek Seven Monster with a weaker background?
From today onward, anything was possible.
Ma Xiaotao looked around, repeatedly weighing the 'backdoor quartet.' In the end, she locked onto the black-clothed youth who was lowering his head and fidgeting with his hands. She said fiercely, "Xu Sanshi, this young lady will trust you one more time."
"Big Sister Xiaotao, I want to be on the same team as Nannan..."
Xu Sanshi tried to refuse, but Ma Xiaotao silently raised her clenched fist. His face instantly changed drastically, and he obediently ran to stand behind her with a pitter-patter of footsteps.
"I choose..."
"He Caitou! He Caitou!" Just as Ling Bai opened his mouth, Gongyang Mo suddenly whispered beside him.
"Ning Tian also studies Spirit Guidance Devices. If we let He Caitou go to the other side, wouldn't it be great for us to gather the 'Golden Road' synergy?" Ling Bai explained.
"You're not choosing He Caitou?" Gongyang Mo narrowed his eyes, his tone neither happy nor sad.
Seeing his strange expression, Ling Bai felt a chill but firmly shook his head. "My decision is made and absolutely cannot be changed."
"Alright."
Gongyang Mo smiled—a radiant smile like blooming flowers—and gently said:
"Xiao Bai, I see you're quite charming yourself!"
"You... He Caitou! It has to be He Caitou!"
Curse this guy for shattering my Dao heart!
"Huo Yuhao."
Spiritual Detection Sharing was an auxiliary-type spirit skill. Huo Yuhao filled the last vacancy in Ma Xiaotao's team, and Wang Dong automatically joined Ling Bai's team.
Wang Dong slowly shuffled toward Ling Bai's group with a dark expression. He hadn't expected to be the last one picked, let alone end up on the same team as Ling Bai!
Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, Xi Xi, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao.
The seven-person team had clear divisions of power attack, defense, agility attack, control, and support. It was a perfect configuration encompassing all five types of Spirit Masters.
Ling Bai, Gongyang Mo, Yao Haoxuan, Ning Tian, Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, Wang Dong.
At first glance, this team seemed extremely unbalanced. Gongyang Mo, Yao Haoxuan, and Ning Tian all leaned toward support roles, lacking a proper control-type Spirit Master. The power attack-type Spirit Masters were Ling Bai and Wang Dong, but Wang Dong's mere Rank 31 spirit power was hardly useful. The entire team's burden rested solely on Ling Bai's shoulders.
Elder Xuan took a satisfying sip of wine and said, "I'll give you five minutes to discuss your tactics. When time's up, the friendly match will begin immediately! Oh, by the way, there's a punishment for the friendly match. Nothing serious—the losers just have to shout 'I am a pig' three times."
"Elder Xuan still has such a twisted sense of humor..."
Both sides gathered to discuss tactics. Ma Xiaotao brought her team together and laid out the plan:
"Our goal is clear. Dai Yueheng and I will work together to suppress Ling Bai. If we lock him down, their side is crippled. Xi Xi and Bei Bei, intercept Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong. Xu Sanshi, block the Spirit Guidance Devices. Ling Luochen, you're in charge of using the Ice Element to control the field and target their three support members. Huo Yuhao...
Your Ice Jade Scorpion is Ultimate Ice. I've heard that Ultimate Martial Spirits have an 'Ultimate Transformation'..."
On the other side, Gongyang Mo finally got his hands on the tall, muscular He Caitou he'd been longing for. He poked He Caitou's granite-like muscles all over while asking, "What should we do? Having three supports grouped together is tough!"
"You and Xiao Tian don't need to think about anything else; just focus on fully amplifying me," Ling Bai instructed. "Yao Haoxuan, do what you're good at. He Caitou, use your Spirit Fortress for firepower suppression. Jiang Nannan, prevent Xi Xi from ambushing our support members. Wang Dong..."
Ling Bai's voice trailed off because Wang Dong was glaring at him with his pink-blue eyes, his face practically engraved with three big words:
I Won't Listen!
"Just act according to the situation and fill in any gaps."
It didn't matter; Ling Bai had never expected Wang Dong to do anything significant anyway.
Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and both sides faced each other from opposite ends of the Spirit Dueling Arena.
Elder Xuan announced, "Compete for the right not to be called a pig. You don't need to hold back, give it your all. I'll ensure your safety. The match begins!"
The two sides were quite far apart. Both teams moved with tacit understanding after the signal to start the match.
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng charged forward through air and ground like two arrows shooting toward Ling Bai. Under the amplification of Bathing Fire Phoenix and White Tiger Vajra Transformation, the oppressive aura of the Evil Fire Phoenix and the White Tiger—two top-level power attack-type Martial Spirits—came surging forward.
The two lightning-attribute Spirit Masters, Xi Xi and Bei Bei, advanced from the flanks, both attacking and preemptively intercepting Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong. Xu Sanshi, as the defense-type Spirit Master, chose to guard the rear, while beneath Ling Luochen's feet, five spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—pulsed rhythmically. Her first and second spirit rings flashed, covering her entire body with a layer of ice crystal armor as she wielded a two-meter-long blue staff.
Ice Element First Spirit Skill: Ice Staff! Second Spirit Skill: Ice Armor!
"Huo Yuhao, amplify me," Ling Luochen called out in her cold voice.
Huo Yuhao nodded firmly. His second Martial Spirit, the Ice Jade Scorpion, manifested. Ling Luochen immediately felt an extreme cold far surpassing her Ice Element surge into her body. Her own ice rejoiced, welcoming the arrival of this profound chill!
Ultimate Transformation, Attribute Amplification!
The Ice Element transformed into an existence of another level. The primordial extreme cold of Ultimate Ice caused her entire appearance to change. Ling Luochen's jet-black long hair turned snow-white; her expression became as cold and indifferent as the Ice Goddess of the Extreme North!
"So this is an Ultimate Martial Spirit... so powerful."
Ling Luochen let out a sigh. The Ultimate Ice Element within her made her feel unprecedented strength. Gazing at Ling Bai across the arena, she said softly, "I've been defeated by you for a whole year. This time, I will definitely win!"
Her fifth spirit ring shone brilliantly. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and an ice and snow storm descended!
Ultimate Ice Element Fifth Spirit Skill: Ultimate Ice Sky Fury!
"Wow, a 5-ringed Ultimate Ice is truly formidable."
Gongyang Mo's words were full of envy and jealousy, but his hands didn't slow down at all. A pair of broad wings spread out behind him. The Rainbow Dragon lived up to its name; its feathers displayed the colors of the rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—crystal clear and translucent. When he took flight, it was like a rainbow soaring through the sky.
"Red for Strength, Orange for Spirit, Yellow for Speed, Green for Recovery, Blue for Attribute!"
The dazzling seven-colored light shone as Gongyang Mo's five spirit rings lit up simultaneously. The five-colored halos of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue suddenly expanded, enveloping all his teammates.
Strength, Spirit Power, Speed, Recovery, Attributes!
60% Amplification!
"The Seven Treasures have names. The first is: Strength! The second is: Speed! The third is: Attack!"
A seven-colored pagoda floated above Ning Tian's palm—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda took over from Gongyang Mo!
Strength, Speed, Attack!
40% Amplification!
"ROAR!"
A heaven-shaking roar rang out as Yao Haoxuan's terrifying muscles bulged frantically. In an instant, he transformed into a giant with exaggerated proportions. The surface of his skin had thick, keratinous leather, his whole body presenting an iron-gray color, as heavy as a small fortress.
Martial Spirit Manifestation: Ape!
With heavy breaths, Yao Haoxuan puffed out his pectoral muscles that resembled double-door refrigerators. Two yellow spirit rings lit up as his hammer-like fists pounded his chest, his big mouth continuously letting out roars.
First Spirit Skill: Battle Roar!
Grants teammates a 10% all-attribute amplification!
Second Spirit Skill: Sound of Weakening!
Group weakening of enemy all attributes by 10%!
Suddenly, a brilliant golden light illuminated the entire Spirit Dueling Arena. The ice and snow storm of Ultimate Ice Sky Fury shattered and dispersed. From the broken ice and snow rushed out a dazzling golden figure. It was a creature that perfectly embodied both beauty and majesty. Under the radiance of the Rainbow Dragon and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's auxiliary halos, its skin appeared a magnificent golden color, as if draped in a layer of golden brocade. Among the five spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, black—the third purple spirit ring shone brightly. Four wings spread out behind it; with a single flap, it flashed before Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng!
BOOM—
The two Spirit Emperors were instantly sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the ground. Xi Xi and Bei Bei didn't dare to continue their attack, looking in fear at the golden figure that embodied both beauty and majesty.
"That's... four wings!"
The Seraphim awakened four wings upon reaching the Spirit Saint rank and unlocked six wings upon breaking through to Titled Douluo. At this moment, under the quadruple amplification of Holy Heart, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Rainbow Dragon, and Ape, Ling Bai directly stepped into the threshold of a Spirit Saint, unleashing the radiance of the Four-Winged Angel!