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After passing the preliminary matches, there was a one-month rest period. During this time, Li Luochen gave his team members a break—time to eat, relax, and enjoy themselves.
To be honest, the advancement round posed absolutely no challenge for Shrek Academy.
Li Luochen himself was quite relaxed. The so-called Four Elements Academies were nothing but jokes—they were no match for Shrek Academy.
Take Yu Tianxin alone—he alone was enough to take down an entire team.
Moreover, Yu Tianxin had always been close to his aunt Liu Erlong. Naturally, he was also fond of Flender, his uncle by marriage. As for his cousin, he doted on her endlessly.
Under these familial ties, Yu Tianxin could be considered one of Li Luochen's trusted inner circle.
Yes, "inner circle." There was no helping it—he had a good aunt and a good uncle. It turned out that nepotism could be this powerful.
During this time, aside from spending quality time with his two beloved wives, Li Luochen was busy preparing rewards for his team members.
He truly had quite a few soul bones on hand.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun had already been excluded—they had more than enough soul bones and didn't need anything below fifty thousand years to take up space.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, had a suitable "Swift Gale Right Leg Bone" with a lifespan exceeding forty thousand years.
Ye Lingling could receive the tournament reward—a "Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull."
As for Ning Rongrong, it was simple. Once Shi Nian was dealt with, she would obtain the "Spirit Condensation Illusion Skull." Although it was only twenty thousand years old, it was a gemstone-type head soul bone.
In Ning Rongrong's hands, its value was comparable to a fifty-thousand-year head soul bone—unless it was replaced by another gemstone-type head soul bone.
Niu Dun and Yang Wu's soul bones had long been prepared by Li Luochen—arm bones over twenty thousand years old.
As for Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Jiang Zhu, though they didn't have perfectly matching soul bones, Li Luochen could keep them at the academy and help them hunt for soul beasts with appropriate lifespans twice.
As for Yu Tianxin, Li Luochen truly didn't have any suitable soul bones for him. After all, it was a pity—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit didn't benefit much from soul bones under fifty thousand years. Honestly, it felt like a waste.
Moreover, Yu Tianxin's potential had already been fully unlocked by Li Luochen. Low-tier soul bones wouldn't make much of a difference for him. Li Luochen was a man with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
For this disciple, second only to Oscar and Ma Hongjun, Li Luochen believed equipping him with three soul bones around fifty thousand years each was still feasible.
However, there was no rush. Yu Tianxin was still at the Soul Ancestor level, and he had Yu Luo Mian backing him. Li Luochen didn't need to worry too much.
As for Dai Mubai? He didn't deserve any consideration. Allowing him to live was already the greatest mercy. Whether he would survive in the future was still uncertain.
To be honest, the current Shrek Academy team wouldn't lose much with or without him. His existence was entirely optional.
Even though he possessed the top-tier beast spirit White Tiger, he couldn't even defeat Huang Yuan now. What use was he?
Thus, Li Luochen had always adopted an indifferent attitude toward him. If he stayed obedient, he could live. If he misbehaved, then off to the cycle of reincarnation he would go.
---
A month passed quietly.
After the preliminary matches came the advancement round.
The advancement round followed a one-on-one rule, which was practically invincible for Shrek Academy.
Of course, there were still some teams that didn't know their place—for example, Barak Academy, which was completely crushed by Yu Tianxin in a seven-to-one battle.
On the dueling arena, Yu Tianxin stood there, while the captain of Barak Academy lay before him in a pitiful state, his body ravaged by lightning, convulsing uncontrollably.
Yu Tianxin retracted the lightning in his hand and turned around coldly, walking off the stage.
"Hmph! A clown who dares to insult my uncle-in-law?"
Few people heard Yu Tianxin's muttered words. Flender watched his nephew with satisfaction, realizing that Liu Erlong's family approved of their relationship. It seemed he would have to treat this nephew well in the future.
After defeating Barak Academy, they faced Blazing Fire, Tianshui, Plant, Thunder, and Divine Wind Academies.
In short, they encountered all the elemental academies. However, after defeating Tianshui Academy led by Shui Bing'er, a Title Douluo suddenly appeared, blocking Shui Bing'er.
This Title Douluo was none other than You Tianshang. At this moment, his soul rings began to emerge:
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red-black, red.
Nine soul rings appeared—one more Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. His released soul power revealed a formidable strength of level 95, causing Gu Douluo in the VIP box to shiver.
"Damn it, are hundred-thousand-year soul rings mass-produced now? How does everyone have them? I'm so damn jealous!"
Gu Douluo could only mock himself bitterly.
---
On the dueling arena
Shui Bing'er looked at You Tian Shang with fear but mustered the courage to ask:
"E-Elder, why have you stopped us sisters? Is there something you need?"
You Tianshang smiled at Shui Bing'er. "Little girl, your name is Shui Bing'er, right?"
"Mm-hmm~"
"Let me introduce myself. I am You Tianshang, titled 'Wind God.' I founded a sect called the Xuan Niao Sect. I see that you possess the Ice Phoenix spirit—I wish to recruit you into the Xuan Niao Sect."
You Tianshang laid out his purpose. This man was naturally free-spirited, and when he said he aimed to gather all bird-type soul masters under his banner, he meant every word.
"Elder, I'll need to discuss this with my mother."
Shui Bing'er was still somewhat afraid, but this powerful figure was actually recruiting her.
"No problem, no problem. I'll visit your Tian Shui Academy personally later. Oh, by the way, Ma Hongjun of Shrek Academy is my disciple, and the principal of Shrek Academy, Feng Ying Douluo (Flender), is the elder of my Xuan Niao Sect.
Joining the Xuan Niao Sect will be the best decision you ever make. Even if you need a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for your ninth soul ring in the future, I can arrange it for you!
Good! That's settled. I'll take my leave!"
With that, You Tianshang vanished at incredible speed. Even Gu Douluo didn't notice how he left, leaving him even more wary.
The interlude on the dueling arena ended.
Li Luochen had asked You Tianshang why he hadn't recruited the swan spirits from the Xue family.
You Tianshang replied, "I did recruit one—a little girl named Xue Ke. She's the only one I found tolerable. The rest of the Xue family are useless and unworthy of my recruitment."
Such words were typical of You Tianshang!
---
Meanwhile, outside the Hao Tian Clan…
After a long journey, Yu Xiaogang finally reached the Hao Tian Clan's territory. However, he couldn't ascend—it was too high, and his strength was too weak.
Moreover, he was stopped at the village at the foot of the mountain.
"Who goes there! Don't move!"
The disciples of the Hao Tian Clan summoned their Hao Tian Hammers, assuming battle stances.
Yu Xiaogang took out the token given to him by Tang Hao and tossed it to the Hao Tian Clan disciple.
"It's indeed our clan master's token. Wait here for now. I'll inform the clan master, but whether he comes or not is up to him." The disciple left after speaking.
Yu Xiaogang cupped his hands and thanked him. "Thank you!"
---
Inside the Hao Tian Clan, in the main hall of the clan leader.
A towering man over two meters tall stood there. Broad-shouldered and muscular, with chiseled features, grizzled short hair, and piercing, bright eyes, he resembled a massive mountain.
"Hmm? This is the token I gave to my younger brother Hao? Where is he? Take me there!"
Tang Xiao glanced at the token in his hand and immediately departed for the foot of the mountain.
When he saw Yu Xiaogang, his expression showed slight disappointment—it wasn't his younger brother.
"Master, may I ask why you've come bearing my younger brother's token?"
Yu Xiaogang cupped his hands and addressed Tang Xiao.
"The Hao Tian Douluo has gone missing—I don't know where he is. He has a son training under me, and something unexpected has occurred. By the way, here's a letter from the Hao Tian Douluo. He gave it to me along with the token."
Tang Xiao took the letter and began reading…
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