In Huo Yuhao's view, Elder Xuan's so-called "guidance" was utterly pointless. Once a week, under his supervision, the seven reserve team members simply fought one chaotic free-for-all after another.
Officially, this was supposed to help them display their past learning, familiarize themselves with one another's abilities, and allow Elder Xuan to offer correction or advice on their fighting styles.
In truth, the training only made the seven more synchronized as a unit — instilling reflexive cooperation and forcing each of them to recognize their role within the team.
It wasn't wrong, per se, but as Yuhao thought to himself, "Cattle and sheep move in herds; tigers always walk alone."
Training like this could only produce competent "academy duelists," not independent powerhouse Spirit Masters capable of standing on their own.
Three weeks had passed since the selection trials. Today was another of Elder Xuan's training sessions. The seven reserve members — Beibei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Ning Tian, Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong, and Huo Yuhao — arrived early at a sealed assessment field, awaiting his arrival.
Soon Elder Xuan appeared — but not alone. Seven more figures followed, all dressed in blood-red academy uniforms.
They were the official members of Shrek Academy's team for the upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament — the same group who, in the original timeline, would be wiped out in a farce of "tragic sacrifice," all so that Yuhao's own legend could unfold.
Under the will of the great world of Douluo, that "accidental mission" before the tournament — where a single Evil Soul Master Soul King annihilated most of them — had been a cosmic joke indeed.
Elder Xuan nodded and addressed everyone. "Everyone's here. In ten days, the tournament begins."
"You've likely guessed who each other are. These before you are the official representatives — you seven are the reserves. Today's purpose is simple: get acquainted."
He then turned to Yuhao's group. "Though you're substitutes, each of you will still see the stage. Against weaker opponents, you'll fight in place of the main team to conceal their true strength."
"Therefore, remember this well — victory is mandatory. I will not tolerate defeat. Shrek Academy produces no mediocrities. You understand?"
"Yes, understood!" the seven replied in unison.
Elder Xuan gave a satisfied grunt. "Good. I've always said fists are the best language. To help you all understand each other's strength and temperament, we'll begin with a friendly match."
His gaze shifted to the official team. "Before we start, introduce yourselves. Main team first."
A woman with dark-crimson hair tied in a high ponytail stepped forward. Her eyes blazed the same shade as if twin flames burned within them.
"Inner Court. Ma Xiaotao. Level sixty-seven, assault-type Battle Soul Emperor."
Without Yuhao's Ultimate Ice to suppress her as in the original story, Ma Xiaotao's cultivation wasn't any weaker — but through the Eye of Truth, Yuhao saw far more clearly what lay beneath her exterior. Her body seethed with soul power like magma beneath a crust of rock — unstable, burning, and turbulent.
Even the so-called "Ultimate Ice suppression" from the canon timeline, Yuhao realized, had only ever been a temporary fix. The problem wasn't her flames, but the evil taint within her Evil Fire Phoenix.
Ultimate Ice merely suppressed it by elemental hierarchy — a palliative, not a cure. The more that darkness was forced down, the greater the eventual eruption would be.
If one truly wanted to free Ma Xiaotao from the evil fire's influence, purification was the key.
Yet in this world, a Spirit Master's path was determined the moment their martial soul awakened. Even those with "Ultimate Attributes" could only dominate one element, not extend that supremacy across disciplines.
Abilities like purification or divine cleansing once belonged to the Angel Martial Soul — the most sacred of the Spirit Hall's legacies. If a high-ranking Angel Spirit Master still existed, purging the evil taint would be simple.
But after the fall of the Spirit Hall millennia ago at Tang San's hands, the angelic bloodline had scattered and weakened. What few remained were diluted derivatives — like the Healing Angel, powerful but lacking the purity of the original divine lineage.
With the angelic heritage hidden away, the only alternative to purification was refinement — when the host's own fire became so pure and overwhelming that the corrupted essence was expelled on its own.
But looking at Ma Xiaotao now, Yuhao's expression darkened. This isn't an Evil Fire Phoenix anymore… this is practically an Evil Phoenix outright.
'Elder Yi, what do you think?' he asked inwardly. Even he couldn't gauge how bad her state had become. If she lost control mid-fight, would anyone here survive?
'Look again, child,' Electrolux said calmly, his tone patient.
Yuhao frowned and focused his Eye of Truth more precisely.
He noticed something subtle — though Ma Xiaotao's energy looked chaotic, it was actually a patterned chaos. Her soul power moved in unstable cycles, but the fire itself acted as a contaminant within that flow — more impurity than essence.
'This girl's power has already been deeply tainted,' Electrolux explained. 'She's in a transitional state — not as unstable as you think. But when this process ends, the corruption will reach her mind. If she cannot hold onto herself, destruction is inevitable.'
'And once destroyed… what emerges may no longer be her. Whether that new being is monster or rebirth, no one can say.'
Then his tone grew casual again. 'Still, you needn't worry. Even if she loses control, this old man could shield you easily. No matter how the evil grows, unless she fully masters it, it remains nothing more than a trifle to me.'
Reassured, Yuhao's focus shifted toward the other Inner Court members. One in particular caught his attention — Gongyang Mo.
Level fifty-nine. Martial Soul: Rainbow Dragon.
Among Spirit Masters, it ranked alongside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as one of the greatest auxiliary spirits — but just like that pagoda, it suffered from the same fatal limitation: the seventh ring ceiling.
Yet, unlike the Pagoda — an artifact-type spirit — the Rainbow Dragon was a beast-type, one with true living counterparts.
In ancient times, Rainbow Dragons were famed among dragonkind for their beauty and mastery of multiple elemental magics, granting unmatched status among their kin.
But when such a soul appeared within humans, that multicolored potential became a curse. Upon reaching seven rings — the moment of complete chromatic balance — its growth halted forever.
That was why Gongyang Mo had chosen the path of a support-type Spirit Master.
The irony wasn't lost on Yuhao. The Rainbow Dragon was strong enough to function as attack, control, or auxiliary — a perfect martial soul. Yet its bottleneck forced its wielder into compromise. To enter the Inner Court, Gongyang Mo had no choice but to specialize — Shrek demanded either overwhelming strength or unique utility.
Still, to Yuhao, it was a waste. The dragon bloodline within that spirit was among the purest remaining on the continent. If he could analyze its structure, perhaps he could adapt some of its multi-elemental affinity for himself — a step toward mastering magic beyond ice.
After all, though Electrolux styled himself as a Saint Necromancer, his memory contained vast knowledge of other elemental magics as well. Yuhao's own body, however, limited him; beyond his ice-based techniques, he struggled to channel other elements properly. The potential was there, but inaccessible — a treasure house he couldn't yet open.
The rest of the Inner Court team was less remarkable.
There was Dai Yueheng, Level 64 assault-type Battle Soul Emperor — older brother of Dai Huabin, heir to the White Tiger Duke, and, by extension, another name on Yuhao's personal list of vengeance targets.
The others: Yao Haoxuan, Level 55 control-support hybrid with the Giant martial soul; Xi Xi, Level 56 agility-type; and Chen Zifeng, Level 57 assault-type.
Together, these three and Gongyang Mo formed the ill-fated quartet who, in the original course of history, perished in that "Death God Envoy" ambush — paving the way for Yuhao's dramatic rise later. Only Ling Luochen, the fifth member — a Level 55 control-type Spirit King sharing Yuhao's ice attribute — would survive, spared by the world's will to preserve the plot.
After the main team finished their introductions, the reserve team did the same in order of age, listing their levels and specialties.
When everyone was done, Elder Xuan clapped his hands. "Alright. Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng — you'll each lead a team. Ma Xiaotao, your cultivation is higher, so you'll only take two main-team members, but you get first pick — one from the main team and one from the reserves."
Ma Xiaotao's crimson gaze swept the group. "Gongyang Mo," she said coldly, then after a pause, added, "Beibei."
Her second choice drew murmurs — Beibei's reputation in the Outer Court rivaled Xu Sanshi's; together they were known as the Twin Stars.
"Your turn," she said curtly to Dai Yueheng.
He immediately chose Chen Zifeng and Xu Sanshi — both among the strongest remaining. It was only natural: apart from Beibei and Xu Sanshi, most second-years were still relative unknowns.
Xu Sanshi grimaced. He was all too familiar with Ma Xiaotao — after months of helping suppress her evil fire, he knew her temper better than anyone. Being on the opposite side didn't thrill him.
Ma Xiaotao's next choices were Ling Luochen and Jiang Nannan, completing her share of Inner Court members. Dai Yueheng, in turn, took Xi Xi and Yao Haoxuan.
Yuhao couldn't help thinking, Not sure why he still got to pick two Inner Court students even after Ma Xiaotao used up her quota… but fine, I'll let logic rest in peace.
Ma Xiaotao then selected Ning Tian and Wang Dong, the two strongest of the second-year Spirit Elders, leaving Yuhao and Xiao Xiao to be placed automatically under Dai Yueheng's team.
With teams settled, Elder Xuan chuckled, hugging his wine gourd. "Excellent. You've got ten minutes to discuss tactics. After that, the sparring match begins."
He took another swig and grinned wickedly. "Oh, and to make it interesting — the losing side just has to shout, 'I'm a pig.'"
(End of Chapter)