Word Count: 2,888 Words
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"With the five of us this strong, does it even matter who else we bring?" Wu Feng said lazily.
She genuinely didn't care who the final two teammates would be. With a Seraphim Spirit Douluo sitting in command, frankly speaking, they could tie two dogs to the arena entrance and still win!
Ling Bai and Ning Tian exchanged a helpless glance. Wu Feng's vision only reached as far as 'win the championship.' She failed to realize that with Jianmu Douluo's emergence and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's resurgence, countless eyes both inside and outside the clan were secretly watching them. Every move they made tugged on vast interests.
The two people who took the field with them at the Continental Youth Elite Spirit Master Grand Tournament would be formally entering their true inner circle. They would gain access to generous resources and tremendous authority.
As for Ling Qiuxi, she was a lone wolf with no one to recommend. The final roster would still be settled between Ling Bai and Ning Tian.
"The clan's younger generation just doesn't have the talent…"
Ling Bai mentally skimmed through the list of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's collateral disciples, then slowly shook his head.
Even if Wu Feng hadn't taken the Angel Essence, she would still rank first among them. That alone said enough about how lacking the clan's younger generation truly was.
Recruiting talented Spirit Masters from Shrek Academy had always been one of the main reasons the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan sent its direct descendants to enroll there, generation after generation.
"So we still have to choose from among the Shrek students willing to join us." Ning Tian quickly caught his meaning.
Ling Bai nodded slightly. "The standouts under twenty are either from Bei Bei's year or yours.
In Bei Bei's cohort, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou all joined the Tang Sect. Your year, though, actually has a few promising seedlings.
I remember during the last Outer Courtyard Grand Melee selection tournament, Xie Huanyue, the Lan sisters, and a certain someone were all kicked out. How about bringing them in?"
A certain Wu clenched her fists indignantly. "This old lady is definitely going to beat those Shrek people until their heads are covered in lumps!"
Ning Tian pondered for a moment before speaking. "Xiao Feng and I have been actively recruiting Shrek students lately. All three of them seem tempted, but Shrek Academy has noticed and started desperately trying to retain its own geniuses.
Especially Xie Huanyue. He's seventeen and already a high-rank Spirit King. His talent is almost on par with Dai Huabin's. He'll definitely break through to Spirit Emperor before twenty, a seedling for a future defense-type Titled Douluo."
"Rubber Elephant Xie Huanyue… if we can recruit him, it's worth paying a price."
Like a magician performing a trick, Ling Bai produced a spirit bone out of nowhere. Under the hotel's lights, it gleamed with a diamond-bright luster.
A 50,000-year Diamond Mammoth right arm spirit bone.
He had obtained it years ago in the Extreme North after slaying Vajra Douluo Xiong Mo.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng both gasped. Ling Bai always seemed able to pull a high-level spirit bone out of thin air. Ling Qiuxi, however, remained perfectly composed. She knew more of Ling Bai's secrets than they did; it gave her the faint air of someone standing above the mortal world, watching everything unfold in the palm of her hand.
"This spirit bone comes from a 50,000-year Diamond Mammoth. It's perfectly suited for defense-type Spirit Masters."
Ling Bai handed the bone to Ning Tian. "Diamond Mammoths are massive creatures. Their diamond-hard skin is said to be indestructible. Ten thousand years ago, the Elephant Armored Clan, one of the four lower sects, used the Diamond Mammoth as their inherited Martial Spirit.
Dean Yan is a master of painting castles in the air. Before Xie Huanyue makes any real contributions to Shrek, he'll never willingly give him a spirit bone.
Xiao Tian, you should understand how to handle this."
Simply dangling the spirit bone as bait would only inflate Xie Huanyue's arrogance. Ling Bai intended to wait until he had already agreed to join the team, then use the Diamond Mammoth spirit bone to win his wholehearted loyalty.
"There's no time to waste. Xiao Feng and I will go right now!"
The sooner they secured their new blood, the better. Ning Tian made a crisp decision, grabbed Wu Feng, and headed straight for Shrek Academy. That left Ling Bai and Ling Qiuxi alone in the room, looking at each other. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the space between them began to shrink.
Ling Qiuxi moved with liquid ease as she slid onto his lap, straddling him. Her hands glided up around his neck, fingers threading into his hair as she tilted his chin up with her thumb. Golden eyes blazing, she leaned in to pick up where they had been forced to stop in the Star Dou Forest…
An hour later, the two women returned, bringing with them a plump, rotund figure.
"Greetings, Brother Ling! Greetings, Sister Ling!"
Xie Huanyue flashed a guileless smile and bowed in a full ninety-degree salute, his forehead pressing all the way down against his own belly.
Ling Bai quickly helped him up. "No need for such formality. You've made the right choice. From now on, we're teammates and friends."
"Yes, Brother Ling!"
Wu Feng sat down and caught Ling Qiuxi's profile out of the corner of her eye. Those exquisite features so similar to Ling Bai's were tinged with a faint rose flush, as if she had just finished something intensely exhilarating.
Ling Qiuxi turned her head away, feigning interest in the view outside the window. Her delicate tongue slipped out to trace across her bright red lips, savoring the lingering taste of that intoxicating thrill.
In her mind, she was the one in control. If not for not knowing exactly when Ning Tian and Wu Feng would return, she would already have devoured the fresh, juicy Ling Bai whole.
"We also approached the Lan sisters, but they politely declined," Ning Tian said regretfully.
"Mm."
Ling Bai remained unperturbed. The Lan sisters were currently only Spirit Ancestors, and their Body Martial Spirit, Spirit Hair, was at best iron-rank. Whether they could even achieve a second awakening remained unknown. Their only noteworthy strength was their Spirit Fusion Skill, Inescapable Net.
The Lan sisters' ceiling wasn't high. Everyone had their own aspirations, and Ling Bai had no intention of forcing them to change allegiances. He said calmly:
"Xiao Tian, do you have someone in mind for the last slot?"
"Nanmen Yun Er. She was the first Shrek student to agree to join us. She was once our classmate and teammate during the freshman examination."
Ning Tian answered without hesitation. She had obviously thought this through already.
"Jade Azure Bird Nanmen Yun Er. She'll do."
With that, the team roster was set!
Ling Bai, Ning Tian, Ling Qiuxi, Wu Feng, Na Na, Xie Huanyue, and Nanmen Yun Er!
...
Meanwhile, in the Tang Sect's meeting hall.
Bei Bei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong Er. All seven members were present.
As the Tang Sect's Big Senior Brother, Bei Bei took the lead. "I've gathered everyone to discuss the new Spirit Master Tournament.
Word from the Sea God Pavilion is that the tournament system is changing. The age limit remains under twenty, but the scope of participants has expanded. All sects across the Douluo Continent can now take part. The tournament has been renamed the Continental Youth Elite Spirit Master Grand Tournament."
"Sects can participate…"
The Tang Sect members' eyes all sharpened. Allowing sects to enter would greatly increase the difficulty for Shrek Academy to claim the championship. A certain Body Sect would be itching to make their name ring across the continent, and the Spirit Master Tournament held every five years was the perfect stage.
They weren't sure how strong the Body Sect's younger generation was, but there was one clan whose registration would guarantee a monstrously powerful lineup.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
There were still over two months until the tournament. By then, Ling Bai would be guaranteed to have broken through to Spirit Douluo.
An eight-ringed Seraphim standing on the arena platform would be a hell-difficulty BOSS. Paired with the continent's number one auxiliary Tool Martial Spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Tang Sect Seven's expressions immediately twisted into knots, as if they could already picture Ling Bai dominating the field with a single sword.
On top of that, there was Ling Qiuxi, possessor of Ultimate Strength. This six-ringed Golden Dragon Spirit Emperor was also terrifyingly strong. Even Xu Sanshi with his awakened Xuanwu had no confidence in defeating her.
As for Bei Bei, he could forget about 'bumping into' Ling Qiuxi and profiting from it. Though both carried dragon-type Martial Spirits, the Golden Dragon was far more ferocious than the Light Holy Dragon.
Watching the worried faces and low morale of his junior brothers and sisters, Bei Bei hurriedly clapped his hands for attention. Then he said solemnly, "Whether the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan participates isn't our concern. I want to hear everyone's opinion. Should we enter this tournament under the Tang Sect's name?"
He Caitou raised a question. "With Ling Bai graduated and Ning Tian and Wu Feng having withdrawn, the seven of us should be the academy's ideal choice for the official Seven Monsters. If we represent the Tang Sect, what will the academy do?"
"If we compete for the Tang Sect, the academy will field a different team," Bei Bei replied.
Wang Dong Er's slender brows furrowed slightly. "But among Shrek Academy's eligible students, there are no other Spirit Emperors. The highest cultivation belongs to White Tiger Spirit King Dai Huabin.
With sects participating, the difficulty of winning has already gone up. Shrek Academy's strength, however, would actually be lower.
Whether they lose to us or to some other team, it would mark the end of Shrek's ten-thousand-year glory."
Jiang Nannan said softly, "We fought desperately in the last tournament to defend Shrek's honor. If we lose it this time… I really can't accept that…"
Xu Sanshi was still playing the 'licking turtle' after failing to get together with Jiang Nannan at the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival. He immediately seized the chance to speak. "Nannan, anyone can see we're from Shrek Academy. In a way, this is like sending out two teams!"
Xiao Xiao remained silent. She held the lowest position among the seven and rarely spoke up.
"Senior brothers and sisters, I think we should fight for the Tang Sect."
After a long silence, Huo Yuhao finally voiced his thoughts. "Just like Third Senior Brother said, our participation is double insurance for the academy. We can even help protect the official Shrek team.
Outsiders only know that Dong Er and I have the Spirit Fusion Skill Golden Road. In truth, our real trump cards have always been hidden. Even against Ling Bai, we might not be without a chance!
In the end, the Tang Sect's tactics and teamwork will defeat any team that relies only on individual heroes!"
"Yuhao's right. The Tang Sect will win, and Shrek will win!"
Wang Dong Er lifted her chin proudly. They were concealing three Spirit Fusion Skills. Three!
At those words, the mood in the room immediately lightened. Huo Yuhao continued:
"For the public good, the Tang Sect has already become independent of Shrek Academy. If we want to restore the Tang Sect to the peak glory it had ten thousand years ago, the first step is to make our name ring across the entire continent. Stepping on old sects to climb up is the simplest, most direct method.
On a personal level, without Big Senior Brother and Teacher Xiao Ya, I might have died in the Star Dou Forest. You all gave me a second life. Even my entry to Shrek Academy came through the Tang Sect.
I'm a Shrek student, but even more so, I'm part of the Tang Sect. I'm willing to fight for the Tang Sect, to fight for Teacher Xiao Ya. Her dream was to revitalize the Tang Sect. Once she hears that the Tang Sect has won the championship, she'll definitely come back and reunite with us!"
"Xiao Ya…"
At the mention of Tang Ya, tears couldn't help but well up in Bei Bei's eyes. Tang Ya had been missing for nearly five years now, without a single word. How slim were the odds of her still being alive?
For five years, Bei Bei had kept his worries locked in his heart. He rarely spoke of them, but the pressure he carried was something only he knew. He wanted to do more for Tang Ya, and every day he silently prayed she was still in this world.
He would give everything if it meant he could bring her back.
Bei Bei was Tang Ya's boyfriend; Jiang Nannan, her roommate and best friend; Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan's licking turtle. The three of them naturally leaned toward entering the tournament under the Tang Sect's banner.
Huo Yuhao didn't need to say more. He was all in, hands and feet raised in agreement. Wang Dong Er had her own special attachment to the Tang Sect and expressed her support as well.
He Caitou and Xiao Xiao weren't especially close to Tang Ya, but their resistance was just as weak. After all, Tang Ya was still their Tang Sect Master on the surface. It was only right and proper for disciples to serve their sect master.
Bei Bei took a deep breath and said solemnly, "This time, we'll fight for the Tang Sect's glory!"
The next day, the seven of them went together to the Ancient Golden Tree and stated their position to Elder Xuan.
After Elder Xuan understood their decision, Shrek Academy began selecting its own participants. The final Shrek team roster was as follows:
White Tiger Dai Huabin, Hell Spirit Cat Zhu Lu, Vigorous Ape Huang Chutian, Time Elapsing Clock Cao Jinxuan, Treasured Book Zhou Sichen, and the twin Spirit Hair sisters Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.
...
Early morning. Shrek City, Glazed Hotel.
The hotel staff maintained their professional smiles as they attended to arriving guests. Suddenly, amid the bustling crowd, one woman drew every eye.
Her skin was snow-white, and a pair of jade-green eyes brimmed with seductive mischief. Delicately arched brows and cherry-red lips framed a face that, in terms of beauty, was only half a step short of the golden-haired woman who had checked in two days earlier.
But what truly set her apart was her innate allure. The sway of her hips as she walked resembled a beautiful serpent dancing through the crowd. Her mannerisms were soft and elegant, yet from inside out she radiated a soul-stealing, captivating charm.
The woman did not stop at the front desk. She went directly to a certain room on the top floor and knocked.
Creak—
Ling Bai opened the door and paused for a heartbeat when he saw who it was. "Dugu Lin, you've already finished your graduation examination?"
Among the Inner Courtyard students sent out to complete their graduation assessments, Dugu Lin had surprisingly been the fastest, taking only six days.
Dugu Lin stepped closer, the tip of her nose twitching delicately as she sniffed him. She analyzed in all seriousness: "You have four different women's scents on you. One is very, very faint… barely any contact there.
Another is only on the surface. That one was just a taste.
But those other two…"
Her lips curved wickedly. "The three of you had quite the wild night, didn't you? I never knew you were into that kind of fun!"
"Stop talking nonsense."
Ling Bai's face darkened. Trust a Jade Phosphor Serpent wielder to have a nose sharper than a dog's.
The first scent was from the withdrawn Nanmen Yun Er, the second from Ling Qiuxi, and the final two were Ning Tian and Wu Feng.
He had first gone to Ning Tian's room last night. After they enjoyed some passionate time together, he was getting ready to rest when he turned and saw Wu Feng right there against his window. Her eyes burned with unbearable heat as she beckoned him over.
He couldn't refuse a lady's earnest request and was caught up in another steamy session. But Wu Feng wasn't satisfied with simply savoring Ning Tian's lingering taste; she urged Ling Bai to hurry and bring all three of them together. In her opinion, three bodies tangled as one was far more entertaining than taking turns.
"You know exactly what you did."
Dugu Lin snorted. "You promised you'd go somewhere with me."
"Changed my mind~"
Ling Bai's expression turned deliberately smug as he made a show of closing the door.
Dugu Lin panicked instantly. Ling Bai could afford to wait; she couldn't! Her supple body squeezed through the narrowing gap as she forced herself into the room. Clinging to his arm, she shook it hard, her voice a pitiful whine:
"No, please! I'm begging you! I just want to survive!
After this, I'll do anything. I'll even let you personally catalogue every single way this body can bend!"