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The Seven Forbidden Techniques consisted of three moves in their initial stages, each represented by a single character:
Lock, Subdue, Suppress!
- Lock: Seals soul power.
- Subdue: Stuns spiritual energy.
- Suppress: Crushes blood and qi.
These three techniques corresponded to the three cultivation systems of essence, energy, and spirit. They could comprehensively anticipate and restrict all methods a soul master might use in the early stages of battle.
These were the same three techniques Xu Yuan had faced during his first assessment.
However, mastering the Seven Forbidden Techniques was no easy feat.
Though it appeared to be spear intent, this technique was, in fact, a method of harnessing the grand forces of heaven and earth. Yun Ming, its creator, naturally used spear intent as its foundation.
Intent to wield the momentum.
With my heart as the heart of heaven.
When Xu Yuan learned it, he also used spear intent as its foundation.
Nevertheless, the core of these seven techniques lay in the mastery of momentum, which formed the basis of everything. The inherent spear momentum of his martial soul provided him with this foundation, and the Five-Element Spear Spirit further amplified his training of the first three techniques. As a result, after only two and a half years, he had already achieved modest proficiency in them.
Though he couldn't replicate Yun Ming's ability to completely seal off all forces, he could still exert significant pressure, disrupting his opponent's essence, energy, and spirit.
"That person truly deserves to be called the undisputed strongest of his generation—and one of the most legendary Sea God's Pavilion masters in recent centuries. Just the first three techniques alone are capable of sealing the three domains of essence, energy, and spirit. It's said that the later techniques can even seal heaven and earth and impose restrictions on natural laws," Xu Shengqun marveled.
"Though I don't possess the inheritance of the Seven Forbidden Techniques, I can still see that these seven techniques are based on spear momentum. After this grand competition, stay at home for a while, and I'll personally teach you some techniques for controlling spear momentum. Better control of spear momentum will help you further learn his forbidden techniques."
Xu Shengqun didn't dare claim that his mastery of spear momentum rivaled Yun Ming's; in fact, he was certain that he fell short. However, he was confident that his unique techniques were something even Yun Ming lacked.
Void-Piercing.
This was his spear intent.
Under Xu Zhi's influence, before achieving Void-Piercing, he had studied and mastered spatial forces. His spear momentum had been refined during this process.
Understanding, mastering, and then shattering—this was Xu Shengqun's approach to exploring spear momentum, distinct from Yun Ming's, even though Yun Ming also possessed spatial attributes.
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Xu Yuan stayed at home for a day before heading to the stadium on the day of the competition.
As he approached the entrance, he spotted Ye Xinglan searching anxiously for someone.
"What's wrong?" he asked, already guessing the answer.
"Little Fatty is missing."
Since Xu Yuan also had an insatiable appetite, eating just as much as Xu Lizhi, Ye Xinglan stopped calling Xu Lizhi "Little Glutton." Instead, she and Xu Yuan both referred to him as "Little Fatty."
At this moment, Ye Xinglan stood with her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed.
"This little fatty must've gotten hungry again and wandered off to find food."
Xu Yuan scanned the crowd, quickly locating Xu Lizhi with Ye Xinglan's help.
"Little Fatty, the match is about to start. Why are you still here?" Ye Xinglan marched over, ready to grab Xu Lizhi by the ear.
"Sister Xinglan, I was so hungry I couldn't help it," Xu Lizhi said, looking pitiful.
"Didn't they feed you at the hotel?" Ye Xinglan was exasperated.
Running around asking for food in front of so many people.
Wasn't this embarrassing?
While Ye Xinglan scolded Xu Lizhi, Xu Yuan turned his attention to Tang Wulin and the others who had given Xu Lizhi dried fish snacks.
With large eyes, long lashes, and a straight nose, Tang Wulin's appearance was purely handsome.
Beside him stood Xie Xie, a strikingly handsome youth with short brown hair and a hint of aloofness.
Next to him was Xu Xiaoyan, a delicate and frail-looking girl.
If not for Gu Yue's exceptional spiritual power, Xu Yuan might not have noticed her immediately. She wasn't close to the group now, nor was she on Tang Wulin's other side. Instead, she stood on the opposite edge of Xu Xiaoyan, maintaining a noticeable distance from both Tang Wulin and the others.
Observing this situation, Xu Yuan nodded inwardly.
It seemed that some aspects of the original storyline had changed.
During his three years in the inner court, although he hadn't apprenticed under Yun Ming, he had interacted with Na'er, who had been brought to the Sea God's Pavilion by Yun Ming and Cloud Mist since infancy. At six years old, she awakened her Silver Dragon Spear martial soul.
This had once puzzled Xu Yuan.
Now, seeing the cold dynamic between Zero Class members Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue, it didn't seem like a temporary estrangement.
Xu Yuan realized that something he didn't know about must have happened.
What could it be? Could it be that simply by having his soul integrated into this world, he had caused such turbulence in fate?
"Thank you for feeding Little Fatty."
"No problem, no need to thank us," Tang Wulin waved dismissively.
Because he too had a voracious appetite, he had hit it off with Xu Lizhi earlier, never expecting anything in return for the dried fish.
"Little Fatty, didn't I promise to take you to try Tianhai City's delicacies? After the match, let's treat your friend to a meal as thanks."
Xu Yuan addressed Xu Lizhi.
There was no avoiding eating together. When Xu Yuan had walked over, he'd already glimpsed Xu Lizhi exchanging contact information with Tang Wulin.
Rather than avoid it, he decided to have Xu Lizhi invite Tang Wulin along.
First, it gave him a chance to observe Tang Wulin's bloodline fluctuations up close.
Second, it saved Little Fatty and Ye Xinglan from being abandoned by Tang Wulin, as happened in the original story, and left behind to wash dishes in the hotel as repayment.
"Oh, no need, no need," Tang Wulin began to decline, but Xu Yuan and the others had already left.
The match was about to begin.
Little Fatty had wasted too much time.
Hurrying to the preparation area, it was soon Shrek Academy's team's turn to take the stage.
The host breathed a sigh of relief. After a lengthy commentary, they received confirmation from both teams that they were ready, and finally announced the start of the exhibition match.
"Next up is the exhibition match prepared by the organizers to kick off this grand competition."
"This time, we have invited a team composed of seven students under the age of fifteen from Shrek Academy. They will face off against a local team in an exhibition match."
As the host finished his passionate announcement, the venue erupted in cheers.
Shrek Academy!
This year's Tianhai Grand Competition had actually invited a team from Shrek Academy for an exhibition match.
"Wulin, it's a team from Shrek Academy!" Xie Xie exclaimed.
"Yes, I've never seen a student from Shrek Academy before. I wonder how big the gap is between us and them," Xu Xiaoyan murmured softly.
Gu Yue pursed her lips, lost in thought about the brief encounter she'd had with Xu Yuan earlier.
Such powerful spiritual energy!
"Even though I've hidden my abilities and sealed away all my previous cultivation, and haven't yet fused any of the Silver Dragon King's bloodline, how is it that my innate spiritual energy talent can't compare to that human boy!?"
Tang Wulin's gaze was filled with anticipation as he wondered about the gap between himself and the students of Shrek Academy.
"In this exhibition match, the team facing Shrek Academy will be last year's youth division champions from Tianhai College—the Tianhai Team!"
"What? Last year's youth division champions? That means they're at least twenty years old!"
"Shrek's team consists of students under fifteen—they're practically a junior division. And our side is sending last year's youth division champions, meaning they're all over twenty!"
"At least a five-year age gap! Aren't they afraid of losing?"
Many spectators were shocked.
Tang Wulin was equally astonished by Shrek Academy's confidence.
Such a matchup must have been pre-approved.
How could they dare?
"Captain, look, isn't that the little fatty from earlier and his two friends?" Xu Xiaoyan exclaimed, tugging on Tang Wulin and pointing toward the Shrek Academy team, who had already taken the stage.
"What?"
Are those three also students from Shrek Academy?
And are they participating in this exhibition match?
Their ages should be similar to ours.
Tang Wulin was stunned, reflecting inwardly.
"If it were me, would I have the confidence to defeat a genius soul master ten years older than me, with triple my cultivation time?"
Forget defeating them—even holding their own would leave him without confidence.
After the initial shock wore off, the audience's excitement grew.
They eagerly anticipated this exhibition match.
"I bet this fight will be exciting. Maybe they'll be evenly matched!"
"Yeah, I think so too. After all, this is Shrek Academy we're talking about!"
"Hey, don't forget, their opponents are last year's youth division champions from the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition! Evenly matched? I don't believe it!"
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