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Word Count: 2,976 Words
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Western border of the Star Luo Empire.
The night was deep, stars and moon dimmed without light. A cold wind howled with mournful wails as a beam of earthy-yellow light streaked across the sky, leaving behind a brilliant tail like a dazzling meteor.
The earthy-yellow light expanded like a suddenly opened large umbrella with a diameter of several dozen meters. As the light slowly converged and dispersed, it revealed several figures clad in green.
"Bleugh~"
Sounds of retching rose one after another. The green-clad figures staggered about, leaning against tree trunks as they vomited profusely. Elder Xuan looked at the rainbow-colored substances on the ground, then at the chicken leg in his hand, and suddenly lost his appetite.
Time was tight and the assignment urgent, so Elder Xuan led everyone in flight for this leg of the journey. How fast was the speed of a Rank 98 Titled Douluo! They reached the western border of the Star Luo Empire within a day, but it placed a huge physical burden on the two generations of Shrek Seven Monsters. The Inner Courtyard students fared slightly better, at most looking pale, while the Outer Courtyard students vomited violently, nearly emptying all their lunch.
"The people from the Western Army are here," Elder Xuan muttered, looking up. "Little Wang, the Academy has already informed the Star Luo military in advance. I'll leave matters to you. I won't make an appearance."
"Yes, Elder Xuan."
Elder Xuan transformed into a stream of light and disappeared. About a quarter of an hour passed before a squad of warriors clad in black armor descended from the distant sky. On their chests flickered a majestic tiger head emitting a faint white glow. Yellow and purple spirit rings shone brilliantly around them. Each was a perfectly configured 4-ringed Spirit Ancestor.
"They are my father's White Tiger Guards."
Dai Yueheng stepped forward to communicate with the leader. Upon seeing the eldest young master, the White Tiger Guards immediately recognized that Shrek Academy had arrived and visibly relaxed.
"Ling-ge, they seem to really trust Shrek," Ning Tian whispered to Ling Bai as she wiped her rosy lips with a handkerchief.
Ling Bai, possessing the strongest physique, was the only student unaffected by the rapid journey. He smiled and said, "Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year reputation precedes it. They stand firmly on the side of the original Three Great Empires, and the Shrek Guardians are renowned as the nemesis of evil.
When the Three Great Empires deliberately hand thorny issues like wandering Evil Spirit Masters to Shrek Academy, they throw themselves into action regardless of the cost. This naturally creates mutual trust between them."
After Dai Yueheng finished his conversation, the White Tiger Guards invited the Shrek group to rest at the Western Military Region. The White Tiger Duke would personally receive them and provide information about the Evil Spirit Masters.
Everyone followed the White Tiger Guards and flew for less than an hour before densely packed military camps came into view. The Western Military Region made use of local resources and was built against the mountains, with some parts established on the Ming Dou Mountain Range that bordered the Star Luo Empire and Sun Moon Empire.
Through his Spider Emperor Sense, Ling Bai clearly perceived that the moment they approached the military airspace, the anti-air Spirit Guidance Devices below reacted intensely. At least one hundred and eighty Spirit Cannons locked onto their heads. No wonder Elder Xuan was unwilling to enter the military camp. Besides his lazy personality, there was no way a Taotie Douluo of his generation could tolerate having his head targeted without being able to retaliate.
At dawn, soldiers within the Western Military Region were already training in orderly formations. Like leader, like troops—the White Tiger Duke was upright and strict, governing the army with stern discipline, and the troops were equally awe-inspiring, embodying an iron-blooded military spirit.
In the central military camp, White Tiger Duke Dai Hao came out to greet them. His wild golden hair fluttered in the air, his tall stature nearly two meters. Years of guarding the borders had given him a body of bronze muscles. At first glance, he appeared to be only in his thirties, with a handsome and resolute face as if carved by knife and axe.
"Dai Yueheng, your dad is quite handsome! He must be very popular with women!" Ma Xiaotao's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Of course! Father is not only a household name and hero throughout the Star Luo Empire, but also the dream lover of countless women. However, he's deeply devoted to my mother—a couple for life."
Dai Yueheng proudly puffed up his chest. No matter where he went, he always took pride in being the son of White Tiger Duke Dai Hao.
"Not bad, not bad! I want to find a tall and strong-willed man in the future. A true man, cold and hard as iron, standing tall and unyielding!"
"Yikes—"
Gongyang Mo sucked in a sharp breath at her words. Pulling Ling Bai and Yao Haoxuan aside with a mournful expression, he lamented:
"Xiaotao's standards are pretty brutal. None of us three make the cut. Haoxuan's a shorty, I'm too girly, and Ling Bai's way too pretty."
"Get lost, you sissy!"
"If you can't speak properly, shut your mouth."
Yao Haoxuan was short and scrawny, resembling a malnourished kid. Ling Bai, influenced by his Seraphim Martial Spirit—where both the first and last Gods were female—was already exceptionally beautiful. After absorbing the Snow Empress's spirit bone, he grew even closer to pure, flawless beauty. The two simultaneously pointed at Gongyang Mo, cursing him out like cats whose tails had been trampled.
Feeling wronged, Gongyang Mo scurried to the side and sought comfort by squeezing He Caitou's muscular chest.
Ning Tian's worries that had persisted throughout the journey were half relieved upon seeing this. A woman's intuition told her that the way Ling Luochen and Ma Xiaotao—the ice and fire duo of the main team—looked at Ling Bai was anything but normal. The former was slightly more reserved, as if holding back words she was too embarrassed to say, while the latter's gaze was much more fiery.
Ma Xiaotao's looks, figure, Martial Spirit, and talent were near perfect. If Ning Tian, at her young age and not yet fully developed, had to vie against her... the mere thought made her break out in a cold sweat. But upon hearing that Ma Xiaotao's preferred type was men like White Tiger Duke Dai Hao, she turned to size up Ling Bai.
Hmm, a typical pretty boy—not at all like the White Tiger Duke!
Looks like smooth sailing ahead!
Meanwhile, Ma Xiaotao secretly glanced at the group and softly clicked her tongue.
Dai Yueheng jogged over to his father's ear to introduce his companions. Then Dai Hao strode forward and said heartily, "On behalf of the Western Military Region of the Star Luo Empire, I welcome Teacher Wang Yan and all elite students from the Academy. After your tiring journey of camping outdoors, I've prepared some food and wine. Let's eat and chat."
Dai Hao made a welcoming gesture, and the Shrek group entered the central military camp. Upon seeing Dai Hao's face, Huo Yuhao's fingernails dug deeply into his palms. He gritted his teeth so hard that a sweet, coppery taste filled his mouth as he inwardly roared: A couple for life? Then what was my mother to you!
Wang Dong wrapped both hands around his own, silently comforting his soul.
Midway through the banquet, hosts and guests were enjoying themselves. Although the military camp couldn't provide exquisite delicacies, heartily eating meat and drinking from large bowls had its own unique flavor. Wang Yan seized the opportunity to ask about the Evil Spirit Masters.
Dai Hao drained his cup and slammed the wine bowl heavily on the table with a sigh. "This band of bandits calls themselves the Hand of Death. They number over three hundred strong men without any elderly, weak, sick, or disabled among them. Their leader is a powerful 5-ringed Spirit King-level Evil Spirit Master known as the Death God Envoy.
The Hand of Death hides in the central region of the Ming Dou Mountain Range where the terrain is complex and steep. They specialize in ambushing merchants traveling between the two countries, committing murder, arson, and looting—every evil imaginable. They're cunning, ruthless, and leave no witnesses.
As you know, relations between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire have always been tense. Therefore, His Majesty dispatched me to lead Star Luo's most elite troops to be stationed year-round in the Ming Dou Mountain Range to prevent the Sun Moon Empire from launching surprise attacks on our border.
Under such circumstances, it's difficult for the two countries to conduct joint operations. Whenever one side dispatches a large army to suppress these bandits, those bastards flee to the other side. Once, the Death God Envoy even instigated a small-scale war while he himself remained alive and kicking.
The Empire is at its wits' end and can only seek help from the Shrek Guardians."
The corners of Ling Bai's mouth curved upward slightly. This White Tiger Duke was no honest man either. The mighty Star Luo Empire, helpless against a mere Spirit King? Forced by desperation to request Shrek Academy's assistance? Pure nonsense to fool idiots! The Imperial family's Titled Douluo weren't just for show.
It was simply that Evil Spirit Masters typically cultivated all sorts of bizarre secret techniques, some including devastatingly powerful trump cards. The Star Luo Empire was unwilling to risk casualties, so they decisively passed the buck to Shrek Academy.
When Shrek Academy heard this, their response was essentially: What!
Evil Spirit Masters!
Stand back and let us handle this!
And so, a group of dutiful souls found themselves sitting in the central military camp of the Western Region.
"Thank you for your trust, Duke," Wang Yan said solemnly. "We absolutely cannot be careless when dealing with Evil Spirit Masters. Our targets this time are not good people. The Academy has issued orders to annihilate every last one of them. Everyone must experience slaying Evil Spirit Masters firsthand—that is, killing people!"
Killing people—these words were very foreign to the Outer Courtyard students. Killing spirit beasts and killing humans were two entirely different matters. Upon hearing about killing people, their hearts began to race and their palms became damp with sweat.
The main Shrek Seven Monsters remained calm. Ma Xiaotao and the other five had been Inner Courtyard students for many years; executing surveillance assignments and slaughtering Evil Spirit Masters was routine for them. Ling Bai was even more composed; after all, his hands had once been stained with the blood of a Titled Douluo, and the Death Abyss Spider Emperor Martial Spirit had given him an incredibly resilient and detached heart.
…
After a day of travel, everyone adjusted their physical condition to peak state before departing. They meditated on the spot to recover. The Shrek group bid farewell to White Tiger Duke Dai Hao and stepped into the Ming Dou Mountain Range where the Evil Spirit Masters were hiding.
"Maintain formation. Main team in front, reserve team behind. Yuhao, use your Spiritual Detection Sharing to expand our field of vision. We'll advance slowly," Wang Yan commanded.
"Teacher Wang, there's no need for such trouble," Ling Bai spoke up. "As is well known, the Seraphim and evil are mortal enemies.
The Seraphim has innate abilities to discern and track evil. I can sense that the evil aura is most concentrated to the east. The Hand of Death is likely hiding there."
"Let's go, to the east."
As soon as Ling Bai finished speaking, Ma Xiaotao waved her jade-like hand, and the other main team members followed closely behind. No one cared about the decision of Wang Yan, a mere Spirit King.
"Teacher Wang!"
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, who had been personally taught by Wang Yan, immediately stood up for him. In their view, Teacher Wang was knowledgeable and theoretically proficient. He shouldn't be ignored by the main team members.
"It's alright, let's follow them..."
Wang Yan showed a helpless smile. He understood his own shortcomings. The Inner Courtyard students believed that strength was the ultimate truth. Ma Xiaotao had fought and subdued Dai Yueheng, who then willingly gave up the position of Seven Monsters' captain. As for Ling Bai, he had beaten everyone individually, earning their absolute trust.
Following Ling Bai's guidance, the group gradually discovered subtle traces: broken branches, shallow footprints in the mud, torn cloth on tree branches, and bloodstains on thorny bushes. Everything indicated they were heading in the right direction. The Hand of Death was close at hand!
"We're here," Ling Bai pointed ahead.
They saw a cave entrance concealed by hanging vines. Without doubt, the Hand of Death and the Death God Envoy were hiding within.
"The Seraphim makes finding Evil Spirit Masters so convenient. Leave the rest to us!"
A wild flame seemed to suddenly rise and burn in Ma Xiaotao's enchanting pink eyes. Evil Spirit Masters deserved to be eliminated; she couldn't wait to begin the slaughter.
"Wait, where's Elder Xuan?"
Yao Haoxuan raised his hand to ask with a grin, "Is the old man not joining us inside?"
"Seems like he won't..." Dai Yueheng frowned.
"Brother Yueheng, those are Evil Spirit Masters you know! What if we get wiped out?"
The next second, a chicken bone descended from above and struck Yao Haoxuan's head.
From the sky above, Elder Xuan let out a satisfied belch and said, "Each of the Shrek Seven Monsters is an elite among elites in the Inner Courtyard. If you could be wiped out by a mere Spirit King, this old man would unscrew his head and place it on your grave as an offering."
Ling Bai smiled lightly. This was hard to say—after all, different fields had different rules. He walked to Ning Tian and softly instructed, "When the main team charges ahead, make sure to stay far away from us. Keep the Class 7 Rechargeable Spirit Guidance Barrier that Dean Xian gave you ready to activate at any moment."
"Mm-hmm!"
Ning Tian nodded repeatedly, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Ling Bai's concern made her extremely happy.
"I'll take point. Dai Yueheng and Xi Xi guard the flanks. Ling Luochen, Yao Haoxuan, and Gongyang Mo in the center. Ling Bai covers the rear."
Ma Xiaotao swiftly arranged the formation. The main Shrek Seven Monsters slipped into the cave. After five minutes, Wang Yan gestured for the reserve team to follow. He understood that the Academy did not require the reserve team to participate in the killing. Instead, they hoped the reserve team would witness the scene of the surveillance assignment eliminating Evil Spirit Masters to accelerate their psychological growth. The main attackers were still the seven Inner Courtyard students.
"Drip... drip..."
Over a hundred human skins hung from the walls on both sides of the cave. The pierced corpse of an infant was suspended on a stalagmite. The sound of dripping blood echoed incessantly.
"Evil Spirit Masters... damn them!"
"Who's there... AHHH!"
Ling Bai, positioned at the very back, heard angry curses from the front, followed by the brilliance of spirit rings. Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix erupted with scorching flames that swept across like an unstoppable force, instantly clearing out an open space. More than a dozen corpses lay sprawled on the ground. The Hand of Death bandits frantically surged out to join the battle.
However, this group of bandits, with an average cultivation of only 2-ringed rank, were like eggs striking rocks when facing the Shrek Inner Courtyard students. The main Shrek Seven Monsters' battle strength rose to 6-ringed ranks with Gongyang Mo's Rainbow Dragon providing support.
Phoenix Meteor Shower, White Tiger Intense Light Wave, Ice Prison... Powerful spirit skills were unleashed in succession. The bandits were sent flying, with blood splattering everywhere.
Over a dozen bandits crawled out from the stone caves at the back. The Angel Sword swept out a beam of sword light, and the bandits, along with their weapons, were instantly reduced to dust. It was like the rising sun dispelling all demons and monsters in the darkness, highlighting the Seraphim's suppression of evil.
Suddenly, several ice sculptures appeared in front of Ling Bai, vividly capturing the horrified expressions on the bandits' faces.
This was Ling Luochen's handiwork. Three question marks popped up over Ling Bai's head.
Ling Luochen said coolly, "I heard that the Seraphim can increase spirit power by killing Evil Spirit Masters. I froze them for you to kill."
Well, aren't you considerate!
"Thank you."
Ling Bai smiled and expressed his gratitude. The Holy Sword Energy shattered the ice sculptures into countless shards.
The Seraphim Martial Spirit's innate talent was Holy Evil Purification. When slaying Evil Spirit Masters or evil spirit beasts, it could absorb a portion of their spirit power and convert it into his own. The members of the Hand of Death were too weak, however, and even if he killed them all, he wouldn't get any noticeable improvement. Nevertheless, he didn't want to reject Ling Luochen's kind intentions.
"How dare you destroy my Hand of Death! You all deserve to die!"
A figure leaped out from deep within the cave. His eyes became bloodshot as he stared at the corpses on the ground. A series of spirit rings rose up, and the fifth ring at the end of the sequence shone brilliantly. The corpses on the ground began swelling and turning red at an alarming rate!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Terrifying explosions echoed outward from the cave. The entire cavern began to shake violently. A splash of clear wine spilled from Elder Xuan's gourd. His aged eyes flashed with unprecedented panic and dread:
"This kind of explosion... No! It can't be, it absolutely can't be!!!"