章節 99: Chapter 99: Planning the Main Selection, the Seven Oddities Mixed Match (4K)

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"Who understands, family!"

The bottle slammed onto the wooden table, Wu Feng's cheeks flushed as she shouted, "Shrek Academy is being unreasonable! I fought my way into the reserve team, and they just replaced me without a word!"

After saying this, Wu Feng grabbed the bottle and downed another swig, making Ning Tian pat her back with concern, "Don't drink anymore, Xiao Feng, it's bad for your health."

Wu Feng, with blurred vision from the alcohol, struggled to focus her eyes on Ning Tian's face. Her lips pouted and she leaned in, mumbling,

"Hehe, Ning Tian... my Ning Tian... kissy kissy!"

Ning Tian didn't resist, thinking it was normal for girls to be close. But the next moment, a hand intervened, blocking Wu Feng's impure kiss.

"Why are you sticking out your tongue!"

Ling Bai instantly retracted his hand as if electrocuted, grabbing a few napkins to wipe furiously.

"I'm willing!"

Wu Feng stuck out her tongue, emboldened by the alcohol, daring to challenge Ling Bai.

Ning Tian half-hugged Wu Feng, helping her straighten her clothes and messy red hair. Her azure eyes looked at Ling Bai with a bitter smile, "Brother Bai, don't take it to heart, the reserve team list for the Seven Oddities came out today, and she's upset."

"I understand."

Ling Bai activated his Level 8 Soul Conductor aura barrier to prevent the tavern guests from overhearing their conversation.

"Bei Bei, Xu San Shi, Jiang Nan Nan, He Caitou, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and you, Shrek Academy has removed four of the Great Brawl Selection winners and replaced them with people they believe will bring more benefits."

Looking at the distant, brilliantly lit Shrek Academy, Ling Bai shook his head in sigh. The continent's top academy was already hollow and on the verge of collapse. After Elder Mu, the Dragon God Douluo, fell two years later, Taotie Douluo Elder Xuan and Mingfeng Douluo Elder Yan Shaozhe took over. How much longer could this ancient institution, standing for ten thousand years, hold up?

No one knew.

"Ma Xiaotao got the reserve team list from Xu San Shi and told us. The other main selection members were all surprised, some even angry."

Ling Bai revealed the intelligence about the main Seven Oddities: "They all climbed their way up, risking their lives to secure a spot in the reserve team during the Great Brawl. For five years, they've been on edge, striving to defend their title as Shrek Academy's Seven Oddities in the Seven Monsters Challenge. This is a significant part of their lives from age fifteen to twenty. Now, it's being given away as a favor."

The intention of Shrek Academy's predecessors was clear: the Outer Academy Great Brawl Selection was to warn students that Soul Masters not only need to cultivate soul power but also possess wisdom, companions, cooperation, and luck.

Of course, the winners of the Great Brawl Selection are not necessarily the most powerful individuals among the core disciples. Therefore, the reserve team serves as an incentive for those who lost, allowing them to redeem themselves in the Seven Monsters Challenge five years later.

The losers fight hard to challenge, while the winners defend their positions. The Great Brawl Selection fosters a five-year healthy competition among geniuses.

However, Shrek Academy broke the rules for Huo Yuhao, Xu San Shi, and others, planting a seed of doubt:

If I defeat Huo Yuhao in five years, will I really replace his position among the Seven Oddities?

"What I'm most upset about isn't losing the reserve team spot, but not being able to go to the Soul Master Tournament with you guys!"

Wu Feng suddenly sat up, pointing at Ling Bai with a mix of sorrow and anger, "Only the two of you, Ning Tian will be at your mercy!"

"What are you saying!"

This time, Ning Tian was the first to react, her face turning beet red as she swiftly covered Wu Feng's mouth.

"Mumble mumble mumble!"

Wu Feng's voice was muffled.

Ling Bai glanced at Wu Feng with a smile, not bothering to argue. If he really wanted to take advantage of Ning Tian, what could she do? At best, she could share the burden.

Soul Masters, like anyone else, can get drunk. Wu Feng, who hadn't used her soul power to counteract the alcohol, soon fell asleep in Ning Tian's arms.

"Brother Bai, can you carry her back?"

Ning Tian looked at the unconscious Wu Feng, troubled.

"Sure."

Ling Bai placed his left hand under Wu Feng's shoulder blades, his fingers tucked under her left armpit, and his right hand under her knees, letting the sleeping Wu Feng rest her head on his shoulder.

With a gentle effort, he lifted her into a bridal carry.

Ling Bai exhaled, surprised at how light Wu Feng felt despite her tall and curvy figure.

"Actually, I said carry..." Ning Tian suspected she had said it wrong.

"No problem, carrying and holding are about the same."

The three left the tavern, the vendors' cries filling their ears.

"Candied haws!"

"Selling coal... selling bags! Top-quality soul beast leather bags!"

"Brother Bai, should we report this to Mother and ask the sect to intervene?" Ning Tian asked.

Ling Bai thought for a moment and shook his head, "Shrek Academy's approach is very cunning. Removing your position has severed the thousand-year friendship between the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower and Shrek Academy. But Wu Feng is from a collateral branch of the sect. Ignoring her relationship with us, she's often treated like a high-level slave, and few would offend a massive institution for a collateral disciple."

He referred to the four major single-attribute clans of the Hao Tian Sect from ten thousand years ago.

"Moreover, the Great Brawl Selection winners as the Seven Oddities reserve team is an unwritten rule. If they don't want to play this year, what can you do?"

"So Xiao Feng has to suffer..." Ning Tian gritted her teeth.

Seeing her best friend treated unfairly and having to endure it herself was a bitter pill to swallow.

"We're not soft targets to be toyed with." Ling Bai's eyes flashed with determination, "We're all in this tournament. If Shrek Academy loses, we'll be remembered as the ones who ended their ten-thousand-year glory, becoming a laughingstock and stepping stone for the Sun Moon Empire. So, Shrek Academy must win this time.

But for the next tournament, we can start our own team. You, me, Wu Feng, plus Xie Huanyue and the Lan sisters, and one more person. Since Shrek Academy looks down on them, we'll defeat Shrek Academy and bury their most cherished ten-thousand-year glory."

"Xie Huanyue and the Lan sisters are close to me, so we can absorb them into the sect in the future!" Ning Tian said firmly.

Talented geniuses with weak backgrounds are liked by both Shrek Academy and the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower.

"Brother Bai, are there any seniors from the Inner Academy who want to join the sect?"

Ling Bai smiled mysteriously, "You don't need to worry about the Inner Academy, everything is going smoothly."

"You can't bring a bunch of pretty seniors back to the sect, can you?" Ning Tian asked suspiciously, remembering what Ning Fengya had said about Ling Bai playing with different Inner Academy female students in Shrek City.

Ling Bai's expression froze, "Do I look like a lecherous ghost to you!"

"Regardless of gender, talent and benefits come first." Ling Bai said seriously, "Be bold, let's plan the main Shrek Academy Seven Oddities."

"Mother was able to take Father and Uncle Xie, two of the Seven Oddities, which was already a miracle..." Ning Tian hesitated, "Can we do it?"

"Shrek Academy gives us the opportunity when we're sleepy, focusing on benefits but ignoring the coldness of the heart. Disappointment accumulates gradually, and the collapse of a building doesn't happen overnight. We need to take advantage of the situation, and...

A crucial opportunity is coming soon..."

"Mmm..."

As Ling Bai and Ning Tian were planning, Wu Feng's crimson eyes opened slightly. From this angle, she suddenly noticed how handsome Ling Bai's profile was, like a warm winter sun, clear and gentle. His golden hair, gently brushing against her face, felt ticklish and soothing. Then she realized her current state.

Wait, a bridal carry?

Wu Feng was stunned. It was her first time experiencing a bridal carry, and the feeling of being completely held by a man was both unfamiliar and strangely exciting.

Ning Tian, I'm not pure anymore!

...

Two weeks passed, and Elder Xuan visited the Outer Academy every day to guide the reserve team. The seven members were divided into different groups for battles to build teamwork.

Ning Tian wasn't targeted or ostracized. She had earned her spot in the reserve team through her own efforts. Initially, the four backdoor entrants—Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xu San Shi, and He Caitou—felt a bit uneasy around her, but they gradually relaxed and focused on training.

Today's reserve team training was different. Seven students in blood-red uniforms stood in the center of the Soul Duel Arena. Huo Yuhao squinted, recognizing only one person: Ling Bai, who had single-handedly defeated four hundred students from his year.

Standing with Ling Bai, and being seven in number, the answer was obvious.

Elder Xuan said, "Everyone is here. I'll be brief. In ten days, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament will begin. You can probably guess each other's identities—the main Shrek Academy Seven Oddities and the reserve team. Today, you'll get to know each other's abilities."

He turned to the reserve team, "Don't think you're just spectators in this tournament. Each of you will have a chance to participate. The early matches usually have weaker opponents, and your appearances will better conceal the main team's abilities, especially Xiao Tao and Ling Bai. They, like you, are first-time participants in the Soul Master Tournament."

The seven were both surprised and delighted, never expecting the reserve team to have a chance to represent Shrek Academy.

"Alright, introduce yourselves, stating your soul beasts and soul power levels. Reserve team, you go first." Elder Xuan smiled.

Bei Bei, the oldest, stepped forward, "I'm Bei Bei, soul beast Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus, Level 42 Strong-Attack Soul Master."

"He Caitou, Level 4 Soul Conductor."

"Xu San Shi, soul beast Mystic Turtle Shield, Level 43 Defense Soul Master."

"Jiang Nan Nan, soul beast Flexible Bone Rabbit, Level 41 Agility-Attack Soul Master."

"Ning Tian, soul beast Seven Treasures Crystal Tower, Level 36 Support Soul Exalted."

Seeing Jiang Nan Nan and Ning Tian step forward, the Inner Academy students' eyes lit up. Long suppressed by the Inner Academy's live volcanoes, these two girls looked exceptionally beautiful.

"I'm Huo Yuhao, dual soul beasts Spirit Eye and Ice Azure Scorpion, Level 23 Control and Strong-Attack Grand Soul Master."

The last one, Wang Dong, puffed out his chest proudly, "Wang Dong, dual soul beasts Light Goddess Butterfly and Heavenly Sun Hammer, Level 31 Strong-Attack Soul Exalted."

The first to step forward from the Inner Academy was Ma Xiaotao, who always tried to act ladylike in front of newcomers. The number one live volcano was much calmer compared to her usual fiery self.

"Ma Xiaotao, soul beast Fiery Evil Phoenix, Level 68 Strong-Attack Spirit Emperor."

When she said Level 68, the reserve team members who didn't know Ma Xiaotao sucked in a breath. Level 68 at age twenty was an impressive talent.

"Dai Yueheng, soul beast White Tiger, Level 64 Strong-Attack Spirit Emperor."

"Huh?"

Ning Tian felt a chill beside her. Huo Yuhao looked a bit strange, but he was trying hard to suppress his hatred. Compared to the deep-seated blood feud with the White Tiger Duke's family, the conflicts with Ning Tian and Wu Feng were minor.

After Dai Yueheng, Ling Bai stepped forward, his handsome face with a gentle smile, "Ling Bai, soul beast Six-Winged Angel, Level 55 Strong-Attack Soul King."

The reserve team members had all met him at least once, especially He Caitou, whom Ling Bai had encountered when visiting Ning Tian in the Soul Conductor Department.

"Xi Xi, soul beast Lightning Leopard, Level 56 Agility-Attack Soul King."

"Ling Luochen, soul beast Ice Element, Level 56 Control Soul King."

"Yao Haoxuan, soul beast Heaven-Shaking Ape, Level 55, dual-specialized Control and Support Soul King."

"Gongyang Mo, Level 59 Support Soul King."

The reserve team members memorized the main Seven Oddities' soul beasts and soul power levels. Even though they were only auxiliary participants, remembering these details would definitely be beneficial.

All under twenty and above Level 55, with two over Level 60 Spirit Emperors—this was the pinnacle of the Inner Academy's same-age cohort.

The extremely high configuration of all Soul Kings and Spirit Emperors both intimidated and inspired the reserve team. Being the next Shrek Academy Seven Oddities, seeing the main team was like seeing their own future. Breaking through to Soul King in five years, what would that be like?

Elder Xuan continued, "Only through battle can you better understand each other's abilities. Today's training task is a friendly match, the Seven Oddities Mixed Match.

Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, you two lead one team.

Ling Bai, you lead the other team, with priority to choose one main and one reserve team member each time."

"Why?" The reserve team was instantly confused.

Shouldn't the two Spirit Emperors each lead a team?

Why are the two Spirit Emperors teaming up to PK a Level 55 Soul King like Ling Bai!

"You don't understand. Don't look at Xiao Tao and Yueheng being Level 6 Spirit Emperors; the strongest in the Shrek Academy Seven Oddities is actually Ling Bai." Yao Haoxuan chuckled.

"Level 55 Six-Winged Angel, tsk tsk tsk, if he goes all out, you few Soul Kings below him won't last ten seconds. To be precise, the Mystic Turtle Shield with Black Tortoise lineage might last ten seconds at most."

"Wait, Brother Yao, how do you know I have Black Tortoise lineage?" Xu San Shi noticed the detail.

"Uh..."

Yao Haoxuan realized he had slipped up and immediately covered his mouth, glancing furtively at Elder Xuan. He had watched the battle without Elder Xuan's knowledge!

Elder Xuan didn't notice, instead looking at Ling Bai with a mischievous smile, "By the way, you have restrictions. No Angel Realm, no Six-Winged Angel's suppression of sky soul beasts, and no Soul Bone Skills."

Ling Bai: ???

Not allowed to use this, not allowed to use that!

Why don't you just ban me completely!

(End of Chapter)