"Don't rush." Yu Xiaogang said sternly and slowly, "This time, you'll enter the simulated universe in team challenge mode. Flender and I will spectate. If you do poorly, your training will double when you come out."
"Ah!" Everyone paled.
Their usual training was already tough enough. The thought of it doubling was terrifying.
Thinking of the harsher training, the seven's determination blazed—they absolutely couldn't lose, no matter how hard the challenge mode in the simulated universe was.
Soon, under Ning Rongrong's guidance, everyone put on the visor-type soul tool.
The soul tool fit snugly, emitting a cool sensation.
With a wave of dizziness, their consciousness blurred and they entered the simulated universe.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender also donned login devices—evidence of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's generosity.
Clearly, Ning Fengzhi had spared no expense for Ning Rongrong.
After all, login devices were limited, and Spirit Hall was collecting them in bulk. The sect had snatched what it could.
The Shrek Seven Monsters chose team challenge mode, with difficulty increasing at each stage. Clearing a level earned rewards, and the further they went, the richer the prizes.
As top young talents, the Shrek Seven wouldn't have made it into the academy if they weren't exceptional.
The early stages weren't difficult for them.
From the first encounter with thousand-year soul beasts to fighting seven-person soul master teams of equal level, they advanced smoothly through cooperation and excellent strength, earning rewards.
Though the rewards weren't huge, Tang San noticed subtle improvements in himself.
Both spiritual power and physical soul power quietly grew, like parched land soaking up rain—every inch was nourished.
Cleared stages could be replayed, but rewards were only given once.
This rule killed any thoughts of farming rewards, forcing everyone to aim for harder levels.
Feeling both his Purple Demon Eye and Mysterious Heaven Skill improve, Tang San eagerly anticipated the next rewards.
Soon, blue lights gathered like fireflies.
The group knew this signaled a new opponent. Every prior foe had appeared this way.
"Huh? Only one?" Xiao Wu tilted her head, puzzled, as the new figure materialized.
"Everyone be careful, if something's off, there's a catch." Tang San frowned, his eyes instantly serious.
As a member of an assassin sect, he knew that unusual situations often hid deadly danger.
"Xiao San is right. Stay sharp. Oscar, Rongrong." Dai Mubai's grave voice sounded.
He positioned his tall, strong frame at the front—he was the team's strongest power-attack soul master, so it was his duty.
"I have a big sausage, a small sausage, and a mushroom sausage!" Oscar acted fast, releasing his soul skills with a comical incantation. In a blink, he handed out recovery, detox, and flying sausages to the team.
"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, first: Strength, second: Speed." Ning Rongrong's palm shone with a brilliant glazed tower, her two yellow rings dazzling. She multitasked, boosting Dai Mubai and Tang San's power and speed.
Though they'd won the last round, it hadn't been easy, so seeing only one new opponent made them even more tense, like arrows ready to be loosed.
As they released their martial souls and rings, Tang San checked the challenger's info.
This was a perk of challenge mode.
Name: Lu Jingming
Martial Soul: Black Abyss, White Flower
Soul Power Level: Level 37 Soul Elder
Not much info—just name, soul, and level—but enough for them.
Seeing the level—37—Tang San relaxed; it was within the Soul Elder range, the same as Dai Mubai.
It seemed there was nothing too frightening.
The martial soul's name was odd, though—two different ones?
But Tang San shook his head. His master had said he was the only dual martial soul bearer besides the Spirit Hall Pope. In his mind, no one else could have such a rare gift.
….
Lu Jingming's spiritual consciousness, like a light bird, descended into the simulated universe, easily taking over the data avatar.
Lu Jingming felt his soul power limited to 37 and sensed an invisible shackle.
He glanced up, spotting the wary Shrek Seven, and raised an eyebrow.
In a flash, he received information from the simulated universe: the Shrek Seven were in challenge mode and had randomly drawn his data avatar.
As for why he was their only opponent in a team challenge, the AI had calculated that his Soul Elder-level avatar matched the required difficulty.
Understanding the situation, Lu Jingming grew interested.
The original Shrek Seven, in his own timeline, had all become gods. Their statues still stood at Shrek Academy.
Now, facing their parallel world selves, Lu Jingming was curious to see how strong the protagonist team was at this stage.
"One vs. seven, the advantage is mine." Lu Jingming's lips curled in a confident, slightly provocative smile.
Thick black mist rose around him, and a black spear appeared in his hand.
He slowly raised his spear, pointing it at the wary Shrek Seven—a king looking down at his subjects, brimming with challenge.
"How arrogant! Let Big Sister Xiao Wu teach you a lesson!" Xiao Wu, fiery by nature, exploded at Lu Jingming's provocation.
In her world, she was always the one being arrogant, never the target.
The fact that Lu Jingming's avatar could talk didn't surprise the Shrek Seven. In the simulated universe, avatars were given their original personalities.
They'd fought data avatars that talked before.
"Xiao Wu, don't!" Tang San tried to stop her, but Xiao Wu moved too fast, shooting at Lu Jingming like a pink lightning bolt, intent on tearing him apart.
Xiao Wu's martial soul was the Soft Bone Demon Rabbit, giving her incredible jumping power. She leaped, legs arcing beautifully toward Lu Jingming's neck, ready to unleash her first soul skill—Waist Bow.
Though this looked like she was giving him a freebie, Lu Jingming wasn't interested.
He shifted slightly, a casual move, but with a light twist he ghosted past Xiao Wu.
At the same time, his black spear swept out like a black dragon, smashing into Xiao Wu with a heavy thud.
Xiao Wu couldn't dodge; hit hard in the abdomen, she let out a muffled groan and flew back like a broken kite.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's face changed instantly, filled with worry.
He quickly released his first soul skill—Bind.
Blue Silver Grass shot from the ground, catching Xiao Wu as she flew back.
"Xiao San, careful, he's really strong, even stronger than Boss Dai!" Xiao Wu clutched her stomach, pain on her face, blood at her lips, but spoke through gritted teeth.
Seeing Xiao Wu hurt, Tang San's eyes blazed. Hearing her say Lu Jingming's strength exceeded Dai Mubai's shocked him.
Stronger than Dai Mubai? Dai's White Tiger was a top-tier beast martial soul, famous for strength.
Lu Jingming's was just a spear, clearly a tool soul. How could his strength surpass a White Tiger, especially at the same level?
"I'll go."
A cold voice sounded. Zhu Zhuqing shot out like a black bolt, leaving afterimages.
"Nether Spike, Nether Hundred Claws." Her two yellow rings flared as she attacked with both skills.
Her speed doubled, and she spun, claws slashing the air with whistling sounds, a rain of strikes falling on Lu Jingming.
"Weak, mindless, foolish!" Lu Jingming said flatly.
His body moved with feather-light agility, dodging every attack, not even letting Zhu Zhuqing touch his clothes.
Tang San grew more cautious—this movement skill seemed even better than his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step!
Zhu Zhuqing, only a two-ring Soul Master, soon ran out of stamina.
When her skills faded and attacks slowed, Lu Jingming's left fist shot toward her gut.
But at that moment, Blue Silver Grass shot from the ground, binding Lu Jingming and halting his move.
Simultaneously, a tall figure appeared—Dai Mubai. His second ring flashed yellow as he unleashed a white beam.
"White Tiger Light Wave!"
At the same time, a red-haired fat guy—Ma Hongjun—attacked from the side, spitting a fiery line.
"Phoenix Fire Line!"
For a moment, Lu Jingming was trapped, bound by Blue Silver Grass, facing attacks from both front and back.
He seemed caught in an inescapable net.
"Well done!" Ning Rongrong cheered, pink fists pumping, eyes bright with excitement.
"Not bad." Yu Xiaogang nodded, satisfied.
This was how a team challenge should be—teamwork was the key to victory.
About to be hit by two powerful long-range skills, Lu Jingming suddenly smiled, muttering, "Now this is interesting. Otherwise, it'd be too boring."