"Children, our academy's reinforcements have arrived!"
On the top floor of the Star Emperor Hotel, Wang Yan walked into the conference room with a joyful expression and announced the good news to the students who had been eagerly awaiting the academy's reinforcements.
Du Weilun stood up in surprise. "Who are the reinforcements? How many of them are there?"
The four members of the reserve team, Dai Huabin, and the public-funded sightseeing group—Wang Dong, Ning Tian, Xie Huanyue, and Huo Yuhao—all looked on with concern. They had been waiting for a long time.
The four members of Dai Huabin's team, who had miraculously survived, were already determined to fight with all their might in the Grand Competition to showcase Shrek's spirit. However, this didn't mean they didn't hope for reinforcements to achieve even better results.
Wang Dong, Ning Tian, and the others were even more eager. They had been told that their purpose in coming was for sightseeing and enjoying public-funded meals. Who would have thought that the main team would encounter an unexpected incident, and the reserve team would be half-crippled? They, the reserves of the reserve team, were temporarily promoted, becoming the new reserve team, or even the main team.
An ordinary person would have been overwhelmed by such a surprise, but they weren't fools. Those stronger than them had already been defeated.
Could these "inferior goods" in the eyes of the academy still fare well?
"Of course, it's Inner Courtyard disciples. The three of us are enough."
A boisterous yet domineering female voice came from outside the conference room, answering Du Weilun's question and the expectations of the students.
Three young men and women, dressed in the red uniforms of Shrek Inner Courtyard disciples, walked through the door. The one leading them was exceptionally beautiful, tall, and fiery, none other than Ma Xiaotao, who wore an expression that seemed to say, "All other academies are trash."
Two male disciples followed two steps behind Ma Xiaotao. One was as thin as a javelin, while the other was so stout he could be called fat. Both had a look of apprehension towards Ma Xiaotao in their eyes.
Cai Meier, the vice dean of the Martial Soul Department, and the two senior disciples, Zhang Lexuan and Bei Bei, entered one after another. Zhang Lexuan and Bei Bei were both pushing wheelchairs, carrying Ling Luochen and He Caitou, respectively.
Xiao Xiao couldn't help but cover her mouth. "Senior Sister Ling, Caitou, you two—"
Sitting in the wheelchair, with a blanket covering her legs, Ling Luochen managed a calm smile. "I'm fine. I'll be able to move normally in a few days."
He Caitou, who now shared the same style as Xu Tianran, who was far away in the Sun Moon Empire, patted his leg and said nonchalantly, "The academy has already installed Soul Tool Prostheses for me. I'll be fine after a few days of getting used to them. There won't be any problems. I can still cultivate and fight."
Xiao Xiao and the others' expressions eased slightly, but their eyes still held lingering worry.
Ling Luochen was fine, but He Caitou's new prostheses would certainly have a significant impact on his future cultivation. With one leg missing from his Soul Power Circulation route, everyone knew that the cultivation effect would be greatly diminished.
If nothing unexpected happened, He Caitou would likely have no chance of becoming a Super Douluo, and even becoming a Titled Douluo would be very difficult.
Du Weilun knew the strength of the three reinforcements. While he breathed a slight sigh of relief, he also felt some worry and changed the subject. "If it's just the three of you, it might still be difficult for us to win the championship."
Cai Meier smiled. "I believe our Shrek children are the strongest geniuses at their cultivation level. It doesn't matter if we're missing one or two Soul Kings."
"Xiaotao, why don't you and your junior brothers and sisters introduce yourselves? Get to know each other."
"Alright."
Ma Xiaotao stepped forward, her expression quite forceful. "Ma Xiaotao, Martial Soul Evil Fire Phoenix, Level 67 Assault Type Soul Emperor. I'm also the new captain of the main team. You will listen to my command in the upcoming battles. If anyone disagrees, speak up, and I'll beat you into submission."
As her voice fell, not only did the students' expressions change, but even the smile on Wang Yan's face froze.
This student seems very difficult to manage, much harder to get along with than Dai Yueheng.
"Inner Courtyard disciple Yu Yang, Martial Soul Serpent Spear, Level 54 Assault Type Soul King. I'm a new member of the main team. Please guide me, junior brothers and sisters."
The thin male disciple's attitude was much more amiable, and everyone's expressions lightened.
"Inner Courtyard disciple Hu Yanbashan, Martial Soul Diamond Mammoth, Level 53 Defense Type Soul King. I'm a new member of the main team. When we fight, junior brothers and sisters can hide behind me. I can take a beating."
The last Inner Courtyard disciple's Martial Soul was surprisingly the Diamond Mammoth, a legacy Martial Soul of the Elephant Armor Sect from ten thousand years ago, one of the lower four sects.
His chubby, smiling appearance easily made people feel favorably towards him.
The atmosphere in the room lightened. Cai Meier smiled and announced, "The new main team has been decided. Besides Xiaotao and the four of them, Ling Luochen, Bei Bei, He Caitou, and Jiang Nannan, the three of you Soul Ancestors will be added."
"For the reserve team, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Xiao Xiao remain unchanged. Ning Tian, Xie Huanyue, Wang Dong, and Huo Yuhao, the four of you will join them. Any problems?"
Wang Dong raised her hand like lightning. "Dean, I have a problem."
Cai Meier frowned slightly. "What problem?"
"I don't want to participate in the competition with this senior sister. I request to withdraw from the reserve team." Wang Dong pointed at Ma Xiaotao without fear, indicating that she couldn't work with such a lunatic.
"What do you mean by that?" Ma Xiaotao's aura instantly sank, about to flare up.
"Xiaotao, calm down!"
Zhang Lexuan quickly reached out a hand and pressed down on Ma Xiaotao.
"It means nothing. I just don't want to put up with someone's attitude. Besides, my First Daddy and Second Daddy told me to stay away from certain dangerous people."
Wang Dong crossed her arms, tilted her head, and spoke with a sarcastic, playful tone, looking utterly indifferent, as if to say, "This is how I am, what can you do about it?"
These past few days, she had been having a blast in Star Luo City, eating, drinking, and playing. She had long heard about the valor of the Xuanming Sect attacking Shrek.
After hearing the news that Xuan Zi was crippled, Mu En died, and Yan Shaozhe was spun like a top, Wang Dong, besides secretly thinking, "Good riddance to that old geezer," also felt much more relaxed.
So-called Shrek, the number one academy, was nothing special after all. Hidden sects were the true kings of the Douluo Continent.
With the Clear Sky Sect backing me, who dares to touch me? Why should I put up with anyone's attitude?
Are they not afraid of my First Daddy and Second Daddy's iron fists, or are they not afraid of the Clear Sky Sect's heavy hammer smashing their heads?
If it weren't for Ma Xiaotao, she might have reluctantly fought for the academy. But now… You already have a high-level Soul Emperor. Whether I participate or not doesn't matter. You didn't even bother to call me Young Master Wang.
Reserve team? I'm not doing it!
Wang Dong, the Young Master of the Clear Sky Sect, looked uncooperative. Cai Meier's eyelids twitched, but she didn't press the issue, simply turning her gaze to the other students:
"Alright, in that case, you and Huo Yuhao can withdraw. Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, you two are up. No problem, right?"
"Huh? Us?"
The Lan Family Sisters, who possessed Hair Martial Souls, exchanged glances. They were just two-ring Great Soul Masters; were they really going to fight?
"Yes," Cai Meier said, clearly having a headache.
She had wanted Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao to fight because they had a Martial Soul Fusion Technique, but with Wang Dong refusing to cooperate, she had to settle for the Lan Family Sisters.
If anyone else refused to cooperate, she would certainly show her displeasure, but with Wang Dong, Cai Meier truly didn't dare. If he didn't want to fight, then so be it. If he got hurt again in the competition, and the Clear Sky Sect came to Shrek a second time, they'd be finished. They couldn't exactly beg the Clear Sky Sect for mercy again.
Fortunately, there were many talented individuals this year, with three sets of Martial Soul Fusion Techniques, and the Lan Family Sisters' Body Martial Souls also had significant cultivation potential.
Although she didn't know how to make their Hair Martial Souls undergo a Second Awakening, cultivating them into Titled Douluo would be a very good trump card. These two girls didn't come from powerful backgrounds, so it would be easy to make them loyal.
Jiang Nannan looked conflicted and raised her hand, asking, "Dean, how is Xu Sanshi doing now?"
Cai Meier's face darkened considerably, and she said coldly, "He was taken away by a Xuanming Sect expert when the Xuanming Sect attacked Shrek. From now on, he has no relation whatsoever with Shrek. The Shrek Outer Courtyard has already processed all his files."
"You all remember this too: from now on, this person is a taboo in the academy. It's best to forget him completely and not mention him in front of me or any other dean or elder. Those elders aren't as easy to talk to as I am."
With that, Cai Meier said to Wang Yan and Zhang Lexuan, "Please take care of the competition matters. I'm leaving now."
In an instant, she didn't wait for Wang Yan and Zhang Lexuan to respond. A flash of soul light, and she vanished into thin air.
A strange silence descended upon the conference room. Suddenly, Zhang Lexuan broke the deadlock.
"Everyone, let's go register. A stroll through Star Luo City might help clear our minds."
"Okay."
...
Next door, in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's resting area.
Xiao Hongchen, who was scanning east and west with binoculars, noticed something noteworthy and quickly waved to Xu Tianxi, who was meditating nearby.
"Old Xu, Old Xu, the Shrek people have appeared! Come take a look!"
Xu Tianxi opened his eyes, looked in Xiao Hongchen's direction, and after a few glances, retracted his gaze, waving his hand.
"I saw them. Not much of a threat. Instead of looking around, you should cultivate more and strive to become a Soul Emperor sooner."
He hadn't found any dangerous individuals. It was just Ma Xiaotao leading the team, so it wasn't a big problem. However, Ling Luochen was out in a wheelchair, but Dai Yueheng still hadn't appeared. It seemed he was truly finished.
The difficulty of fighting Shrek this time wasn't high. With his thorough preparations, there might even be a one-sided outcome. When that happened, the spiritual totems of the Original Three Kingdoms would be destroyed, which would have a significant impact and be excellent for publicity.
Zhang Lexuan was also here. He wondered if she would still recognize him.
Lin Jiayi also saw Shrek's lineup, rubbing his nose as he said, "Now I feel that the dean's preparations before leaving were a bit excessive. With these old, weak, sick, and disabled people, it'll be hard for us to even lose."
Xu Tianxi nodded, his consciousness sinking into his Sea of Spirit to call Brother Tianmeng for his daily increased investment and to chat with Electrolux.
"Brother Tianmeng, I can now withstand Soul Rings of over five ten thousand years. Please help me raise the age of my first four Soul Rings."
"Elder Yi, how is your research on Soul Spirits and Soul Bones coming along? I suddenly have a premonition that I might encounter good things of the Gold of Life level in Star Luo City this time. I'll need your help to appraise them then."
In the Sea of Spirit, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm surfaced, completely releasing the energy of the first golden light mass, then opening the second light mass and integrating it into Xu Tianxi's first four Soul Rings, saying casually:
"Done. From now on, Tianxi, you'll be a Soul Ancestorwith four fifty-thousand-year Soul Rings. I'm sure you'll sweep through the competition this time."
Electrolux said, "I have a lead on Soul Spirits. After I return this time and do some practical research, I should succeed."
"As for Soul Bones—I have two directions: one is to condense the essence of Soul Beasts into Soul Bones, which is the path your Secret Method Soul Bones take. The other is Soul Bone fusion, which requires experiments with Soul Bones of the same or similar types..."
-----------
Translation by: randomtranslator.com
Read 2500+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: randomtranslator.com