The enormous spikes resembled thorny bushes, blocking every escape route for the Nether White Tiger.
The dark blue silver grass vines, like unsheathed sharp swords, shimmered with cold light. Their pointed tips, poised to strike, entrapped the cornered beast that had fallen into the trap. The venomous spikes hovered mere millimeters from the Nether White Tiger.
If the Nether White Tiger weren't an energy manifestation, its fur would have bristled at this moment.
In the spiritual space, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai exchanged glances, filled with unwillingness and helplessness.
"We lost."
The first spar concluded!
The enormous Nether White Tiger began to emit light. Tang San, cloaked in darkness, raised his hand. The surrounding blue silver grass transformed into black spiritual particles and dissipated. Just as Tang San and Tang Sui were about to revert from their martial soul fusion technique, the Master, standing a short distance away, suddenly spoke, stopping Tang San's action.
"Wait, Xiao San, Sui Sui, don't revert from the martial soul fusion technique yet."
Tang San paused, standing still and looking at the Master, who stood with his hands behind his back beneath a tree.
A sharp glint flashed in the Master's eyes. "It hasn't been three minutes yet. Mubai, Zhuqing, you two attack Xiao San and Sui Sui again. Whether you use the Nether White Tiger is up to you. I want to test their current limits."
Having lost the first round, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai exchanged glances. With their spirit power largely depleted, they did not re-deploy the Nether White Tiger. Instead, they adopted an offensive stance.
The first round didn't last three minutes. This time, they would strive to last until Xiao San and Sui Sui's spirit power was exhausted!
With that thought, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai exchanged a look. Their figures flickered in place, turning into afterimages as they lunged towards Tang San.
...
Only six days remained until the Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
By now, everyone's cultivation had once again undergone a qualitative leap.
Captain Evil Eye White Tiger Dai Mubai, level 44, Assault System Battle Spirit Master.
Sausage Specialty Oscar, level 41, Food System Tool Spirit Master.
Thousand Hand Asura Tang San, level 42, Control System Battle Spirit Master.
Cherub Face Myriad Forms Tang Sui, level 48, Support System Tool Spirit Master.
Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Hongjun, level 41, Assault System Battle Spirit Master.
Soft Bone Charm Rabbit Xiao Wu, level 37, Assault System Battle Spirit Master.
Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Ning Rongrong, level 41, Support System Tool Spirit Master.
Nether Spirit Cat Zhu Zhuqing, level 41, Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master.
In just over a month, Tang San and Tang Sui's spirit power levels had increased by another rank due to their martial soul fusion technique training. Now, except for Xiao Wu, who had not consumed immortal herbs, everyone else had broken through the level 40 barrier.
On this day, the Master summoned everyone to the open grassland behind the teaching building to introduce four newly added substitute players to the Shrek Eight Monsters:
Level 35 Assault System Battle Spirit Master Huang Yuan.
Level 35 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master Jing Ling.
Level 35 Healing System Tool Spirit Master Jiang Zhu.
Level 37 Assault System Battle Spirit Master Tai Long.
These four had been diligently trained by Liu Erlong in preparation for this Spirit Master Elite Tournament. They would have graduated long ago if not for this tournament.
Everyone sat cross-legged on the grass, forming a circle, listening as the Master explained the tournament rules and the key points of team strategy. In the afternoon, the four new substitute players began integration training with the Shrek Eight Monsters.
A spirit master team requires time to mesh and for members to become familiar with each other, allowing for better adaptability in combat. The difficulty of integration was even greater with the addition of four new members.
Fortunately, with Tang San's arrangements and Dai Mubai's mediation, the four gradually adapted from their initial stiffness and unfamiliarity. Under their coordination, the newly added members like Tai Long also became familiar with the Shrek Eight Monsters' combat styles, and they could now cooperate with different lineups.
Until the finals, they were to conceal their true strength. Before that, at most four of the Shrek Eight Monsters would participate in matches. Tang Sui, unwillingly, was kept hidden as the ultimate trump card for the finals.
Watching Tang Sui huffing indignantly, Qin Ming, who was observing, found it amusing. Only at this moment could he feel the youthful vivacity that these juniors should possess at their age.
However...
The day before the tournament began, Flander excitedly approached him, carrying a specially custom-made chest of Shrek Academy uniforms.
This chest...
Thinking of something, Tang Sui's expression shifted slightly, and she took two steps back.
Tang San was still puzzled by his sister's reaction. Then, he saw Flander, beaming with excitement, lift the wooden chest's lid, revealing rows of new school uniforms interspersed with yellow and green.
Oh, dear...
Looking at the bizarrely colored school uniforms, everyone's eyelids twitched violently.
Could it be...?
"Come, come, come, let's see your new school uniforms! I specifically commissioned these to be made, unique uniforms!" Flander puffed out his chest proudly and picked up a sample to display for everyone.
The uniform, with a predominantly green base tinged with yellow, was fully presented. On the chest of each uniform, a monster Shrek pattern woven with emerald green silk thread looked fierce and distorted.
On the back of the uniform, six characters embroidered in prominent red silk thread, "诚招冠名广告" (Sincerely Recruiting Sponsorship Advertisements), were immediately visible. Below these six large characters was a line of smaller text, roughly stating that advertising fees should be discussed in person with Shrek Academy Dean Mr. Flander.
"Hehe! Little monsters, don't you think my creative idea looks great?!"
Completely unaware that he was being universally disliked, Flander was still beaming with pride over his creative design.
Tang Sui silently turned her head and looked at the partners chosen for the preliminary rounds, making a gesture of encouragement: "Brother, I think I'll just save myself for the finals. You all do your best."
By then, the team uniforms would probably have changed to black, she thought...
Ma Hongjun, who had initially been somewhat regretful about not being chosen for the preliminaries, shivered upon seeing his teacher's excited expression and muttered, "Thankfully, I only have to watch from the audience and won't have to publicly embarrass myself on stage."
The other individuals who would face public humiliation: "..."
Upon hearing this, Flander immediately put on a stern face. "Hongjun, what are you talking about? Don't you think my design is good-looking?! For the sake of the academy's finances, I specifically chose this base color that best highlights the sponsor's advertising space!"
Ma Hongjun: "..."
Ma Hongjun's eyes went dead, and he closed his mouth, but his gaze stubbornly conveyed: Teacher, your design is really not good! Even if you are my teacher, I will firmly say it's not good!