"Prepare," the supervising teacher announced.
The six competitors from both sides released their Martial Souls in unison.
Dai Huabin's White Tiger emerged with a roar, accompanied by two yellow Soul Rings and one purple. He had already broken through to the Soul Grandmaster level.
Beside him, Zhu Lu's Hell Spirit Cat appeared. Sleek black fur, sharp feline ears, and deadly claws extended from her hands. Two yellow Soul Rings shimmered around her. Her cultivation had reached level twenty-nine — just a step away from advancing to Soul Grandmaster. Among the incoming freshmen, she ranked among the top thirty in Soul Power.
Shrek Academy recruited elites from across the continent. Even among the new students, there were multiple Soul Grandmasters, and over two dozen students sat at level twenty-nine. This was no ordinary class.
Behind Shi Yu, a swirling space vortex opened, revealing two Soul Rings — one yellow, one purple. His Soul Power was only at level twenty-two, the lowest among the three on his side. But no one dared to underestimate him — not with the battle records he had already built. Even Dai Huabin, a Soul Grandmaster himself, treated him with caution.
Across from them, the opposing trio revealed their own Martial Souls — each bearing two Soul Rings. Their leader, Qin Liwei, was a level twenty-six Attack-type Battle Soul Master with the Lone Wolf Martial Soul. His teammates were a Control-type Thorn Vine user and an Agility-type Wind Shadow Cat.
"Begin!" the teacher declared.
Qin Liwei's team immediately took a defensive stance, backs together. The Thorn Vine Soul Master lit up both Soul Rings, sending waves of thorny vines snaking outward. Layers of vines — three inner, three outer — wove into a barrier, even covering overhead, creating a spiked fortress.
Shi Yu had been ready to use Instant Transmission to teleport inside, but seeing the dense wall of thorns, he abandoned the idea instantly.
"Want to go in?" he asked Dai Huabin.
"Sure," Dai Huabin replied without hesitation, activating his first Soul Skill — White Tiger Body Barrier — to reinforce his defenses.
Shi Yu's second Soul Ring flared as he used Displacement. He didn't intend to enter himself — instead, he would swap Dai Huabin's position with someone inside. His target: the Control-type Thorn Vine Master. Without him, the fortress would lose its keeper.
A flash — Dai Huabin vanished, replaced by the startled Thorn Vine Soul Master.
"Ah—!" The man barely had time to cry out before Shi Yu's space-compressed fist struck him squarely, sending him flying. Against a defense-specialist like Xu Sanshi, the blow might have been minor, but against a lightly armored controller, it was devastating.
Shi Yu's mastery of the Imperial Sky Technique made his body unnaturally light, letting him knock opponents airborne where they couldn't muster any counterforce.
Zhu Lu, who had been lying in wait, pounced like a shadow. Her claws slashed with lethal precision, forcing the teacher to intervene, whisking the injured Thorn Vine Master out of the arena.
Inside the vine fortress, Dai Huabin was unscathed thanks to his barrier. He exploded forward the instant he arrived, driving a powerful punch into Qin Liwei's chest. The attack sent the Lone Wolf Master stumbling, his skin grazed by the very vines meant to protect him.
Ironically, the vines restricted not only Shi Yu's side, but Qin Liwei's team as well. The Agility-type Soul Master couldn't maneuver freely, and both he and Qin Liwei found themselves locked in a two-versus-one against Dai Huabin — and losing ground.
A resounding boom echoed as Dai Huabin traded blows with Qin Liwei. The Lone Wolf staggered backward, his arm numb, while Dai Huabin remained mostly unharmed.
With their controller gone, the vines persisted but could no longer adapt. Rules forbade eliminated Soul Masters from withdrawing their skills — any lingering effects were allowed to remain until they naturally dissipated. What was meant as a shield had become a prison.
Within minutes, Dai Huabin crushed both Qin Liwei and the Wind Shadow Cat user, securing an easy first-round victory for their team.
"Congratulations!" Jiang Nannan's cheerful voice rang out as she approached Shi Yu.
Shi Yu smiled back, turning to leave with her — only for Dai Huabin to call out,
"Let's all eat together. Senior Sister Jiang too. My treat."
Shi Yu hesitated. "That's not—"
"We're roommates and teammates. You won't even give me face for one meal?" Dai Huabin pressed.
Shi Yu paused, then nodded. "Alright, I'll take you up on it."
"We're brothers, no need for formalities," Dai Huabin replied warmly.
They skipped the Academy cafeteria, heading instead to the city's best hotel. The lavish private room Dai Huabin booked overflowed with dishes, easily worth over a thousand gold soul coins — far beyond what Shi Yu could afford to spend casually.
Not that he lacked wealth. The items in his storage ring were worth hundreds of millions, including a mech he'd bought for three million, now valued conservatively at a billion. But he wasn't foolish enough to flaunt such treasures — they would draw greed faster than a Soul Bone.
After the extravagant meal, Shi Yu and Jiang Nannan excused themselves, strolling aimlessly through the city until they wandered into its most famous landmark — the Gathering Treasure Pavilion.
Normally, entry required an invitation, but the doormen stepped aside immediately. Shi Yu's portrait had already been circulated — he was now a privileged guest. Not only could he enter freely, but he was also entitled to bring companions and select any item from the Pavilion once every six months, free of charge.
It was yet another perk of becoming Mu En's disciple.
Shi Yu thanked the staff member and asked to browse alone. The Pavilion brimmed with rare treasures — even Soul Bones glimmered behind glass. His fingers itched to claim something, but nothing called to him strongly enough.
Better to wait, he decided. Opportunities like this were wasted on impulse.