"No way…?" Xie Xie gaped, disbelief plastered on his face.
Zhang Yangzi scratched his head, baffled.
Wang Jinxi remained silent, eyes flickering with surprise, chin in hand—pondering deeply.
Xu Xiaoyan covered her mouth, staring at Tang Wulin with wide-eyed curiosity.
Fang Yang smirked faintly—he'd expected this.
Gu Yue stood serene, though a glint of contemplation shimmered in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Tang Wulin asked, confused, innocent eyes scanning their odd stares.
He rubbed his neck, utterly lost.
"N-nothing!" they chorused—voices strained with forced calm.
Shen Yi watched, astonished.
"Next candidate!" Elder Cai rapped her cane, breaking the tension.
Her voice calmed, but her gaze lingered on Tang Wulin.
Fang Yang turned to Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi: "Go together."
"Understood," Zhang Yangzi nodded.
They strode to the center, side by side.
"Two at once?" Elder Cai arched a brow, cane tapping—amused.
They bowed to the examiners, then locked eyes—unspoken accord.
WHOOSH!
Zhang Yangzi's Shadow Phantasm Eagle martial soul surged, obsidian wings unfurling, feathers gleaming with abyssal light, hawk-eyes sharp as blades.
Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon King manifested, skeletal armor cascading over him, vertical pupils cold as death, black mist coiling like a wraith-king's aura.
"Decent martial souls… is that all?" Elder Cai leaned forward, testing them.
Then—Zhang Yangzi dissolved into black light, merging into Wang Jinxi.
ROAR! SCREECH!
Wang Jinxi swelled in size, a draconic tail lashing out, arms morphing into bone claws, eagle wings sprouting from his back.
A tidal wave of dark, undead dragon aura crashed through the hall.
"Hmph!"
Elder Cai snorted, Silver Moon martial soul blazing behind her—
Nine soul rings erupted: four purple, four black, one crimson-red.
A luminous moon halo shielded her, repelling the oppressive force.
"Martial soul Fusion Skill—excellent. Pass. Full marks," she declared, impressed.
Such fusion was rare even at Shrek!
As Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi returned, only Fang Yang, Gu Yue, and Xu Xiaoyan remained.
"You've got this, Xiaoyan," Fang Yang murmured, ruffling her hair gently.
Xu Xiaoyan inhaled deeply, nodding.
The Star Scepter bloomed in her palm, stardust swirling around her fingers.
She stepped forward, four black ten-thousand-year rings igniting beneath her feet.
"Another ten-thousand-year ring configuration…?" Elder Cai exchanged loaded glances with the judges.
"Are all seven of these children blessed with ten-thousand-year rings?!"
Xu Xiaoyan's Star Scepter blazed—
First Soul Skill: "Star Wheel Chains!"
Stellar shackles snared Elder Cai.
"An absolute-binding starlight technique!" Elder Cai gasped, surprised.
She tried channeling soul power—but it crawled like molasses, bound by cosmic chains.
"Star Scepter martial soul…" Elder Cai studied her, thoughtful.
"I recall the Xu Family once produced such specialists—though exceedingly rare. Child, are you of the Xu Clan?"
"Yes! You know my family?" Xu Xiaoyan blinked, amazed.
Elder Cai smiled faintly: "In the soul master world, little escapes Shrek's knowledge."
She flicked her cane—chains shattered. "Pass. Full marks."
"Thank you, Examiner!" Xu Xiaoyan bowed, beaming, skipping back to the group.
---
Next—Gu Yue.
She glided forward, silver light flashing in her eyes, four black ten-thousand-year rings rising—one by one—crushing the air with pressure.
Her palms flipped—earthy yellow light bloomed.
Soil element coalesced into a nine-petaled flower, each petal textured like living stone, spinning with primordial weight.
Elder Cai nodded, admiration dawning—her spiritual control was peerless.
Then—Gu Yue wove more elements:
- Water became dewdrops on petals
- Wind danced as emerald halos around the stamen
- Fire ignited as crimson flames in the core.
Four elements fused—a kaleidoscopic blossom floating midair, radiant, harmonious, divine.
"Magnificent!" Elder Cai leapt up, eyes alight with fervor.
Four-element mastery—transcendent!
She declared solemnly:
"Child—you need no further trials. By my authority as Dean of Shrek Outer Court, I grant you direct entry to the Inner Court!"
Gu Yue remained impassive, shaking her head softly: "Unnecessary."
Elder Cai wasn't offended—she admired the girl's defiance.
"Then… will you become my personal disciple?" she asked gently.
"With your talent and my guidance, you'll stand atop the soul master world!"
"Apologies," Gu Yue replied, calm as still water. "I already have a teacher."
Silence shattered the hall
Everyone froze—stunned by her refusal.
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