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During this time, Ye Wen and Huo Yu'er continued to linger in Suotuo City, occasionally wandering around and participating in matches. Their reputation in the surrounding area grew significantly.
However, while Huo Yu'er had initially found it boring to watch her ancestor struggle, she became curious about why Ye Wen was still staying in Suotuo City. One day, she asked:
"Ye Wen, I'm getting a bit tired of Suotuo City. Why don't we switch to another city for fun?"
Nearby, Xiao Wu, who was munching on a carrot-flavored candied haw, nodded in agreement. Her free-spirited nature made staying in one place for too long unbearably dull.
Ye Wen nodded, closing the book in his hands. "You're right. But let's stay a little longer. I have an idea and want to wait here for someone to test it."
Both girls knew Ye Wen was highly ambitious, so they didn't press further.
As time passed, news of Shrek's group, who had been thoroughly beaten by Ye Wen and his companions, reached their ears again—this time under a new name.
The name? Shrek's Seven Monsters.
Ye Wen was somewhat puzzled. Though he often joked that each member of Shrek's Seven Monsters was overrated, he couldn't deny that individually, they were all exceptionally talented. They were simply misdirected by Yu Xiaogang. So, who could this seventh person be?
Rather than waste time speculating, Ye Wen decided to buy tickets and watch a match.
Coincidentally, the match he attended turned out to be the famously depicted battle between Shrek's Seven Monsters and the Berserker Team from the original storyline.
In the Spirit Arena, aside from the most common one-on-one or two-on-two battles, the most eye-catching events were undoubtedly team-based soul master duels.
These team battles followed the rules of the Advanced Soul Master Tournament: the maximum team size was seven members, with no lower limit. A single participant was allowed, but advance notice was required. Otherwise, a seven-versus-one scenario would almost certainly end in a loss, raising suspicions of deliberately deceiving gamblers—a practice strictly prohibited by the Spirit Arena. Any soul master daring to attempt this would instantly lose their reputation in the soul master community.
Additionally, there was another rule for team battles: the team's tier classification was determined by the highest cultivation level among its members. Having a member one rank below was acceptable, but no higher-ranked soul masters were permitted.
As the referee announced the start of the match, the Berserker Team slowly entered the arena.
The Berserker Team was a typical civilian team, with ordinary martial souls. However, all its members were above level 35, making them a rare group of elite soul masters. This match was also their final battle in their ten-match winning streak to break into the Silver Combat Soul Tier.
The team consisted of a control-type soul master wielding the Ground Demon Pearl, a powerhouse with a rhinoceros martial soul, twin brothers with monkey and goat martial souls, and finally, an auxiliary soul master wielding the Wishful Disk.
At this moment, Ye Wen turned his gaze toward Shrek's side. He paid little attention to the familiar faces and instead focused on an unfamiliar newcomer.
With his tall, upright posture and snow-white hair, this individual instinctively gave off the impression of a sharp sword standing firm in place.
"This feeling… Could it be?"
Before Ye Wen could finish his musings, the referee signaled the start of the match. Both sides immediately activated their martial souls, and Shrek's team ostentatiously projected their martial soul images above the arena to draw attention.
Seeing the familiar patterns of their soul imprints, Ye Wen's eyes flickered as he realized the truth.
"Martial Soul: Seven Kill Sword. Another character not mentioned in the original story. This world is deviating more and more."
But Ye Wen wasn't surprised. Given how indulgent Sword Elder was toward Ning Rongrong, sending one of his descendants to help wasn't far-fetched. This person might even be one of Ning Rongrong's admirers.
Nor was Ye Wen shocked by the idea of Sword Elder having descendants. After all, Sword Elder's cultivation was inferior to both his father's and grandfather's.
Given their accomplishments, it was only natural for them to focus on continuing the family line. How could Sword Elder not do the same?
The reason this wasn't mentioned in the original story was likely because these descendants either had low cultivation levels or perished during the Spirit Hall's attack on the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect.
In Ye Wen's view, however, the main reason was likely that the author feared this cool and powerful martial soul would overshadow the protagonist, Tang San, and thus consciously downplayed it.
As the referee signaled the start of the duel, the battle began.
The rhinoceros powerhouse, captain of the Berserker Team, immediately activated his martial soul and charged straight toward Shrek's Seven Monsters.
As their captain, Dai Mubai didn't back down. He instantly activated the White Tiger Barrier and collided head-on with the rhinoceros powerhouse. The two locked arms and began a test of strength.
Though the rhinoceros powerhouse appeared bulky and brutish, his soul ring configuration—one white, two yellow—couldn't suppress Dai Mubai's strength for the moment.
Realizing he had the advantage in strength, Dai Mubai smirked and activated his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation. His muscles swelled once more, and his overwhelming power erupted.
But the rhinoceros powerhouse didn't yield. Activating his century-level soul skill, Savage Charge, he surged forward with great force, and the two became locked in a stalemate once again.
The others also engaged in combat.
This was when the auxiliary soul masters began to shine.
"Wishful Disk—"
"Seven Treasures Shine—"
Almost simultaneously, both sides' auxiliaries boosted Dai Mu Bai and the rhinoceros powerhouse.
"Radiant Light of Attack and Defense!"
Attack increased by 10%, defense increased by 5%.
"One: Strength!"
Strength increased by 30%.
Both sides' power surged dramatically. Realizing they couldn't continue this deadlock, Dai Mu Bai and the rhinoceros powerhouse instinctively broke apart.
The other fighters, now embroiled in chaotic battles, also received their respective boosts, intensifying the clash.
Watching Shrek's Seven Monsters fight individually, Ye Wen clicked his tongue.
"This is it?"
Shouldn't team battles emphasize teamwork? What was this disjointed mess? Moreover, Shrek's side had two auxiliary soul masters, meaning their frontline combatants were outnumbered.
As for cultivation levels, though Shrek's team had optimal soul ring configurations, under the sheer pressure of raw soul power, even the enhancement from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda couldn't turn the tide easily.
"A bunch of weaklings. Let me cut off your arm first!"
The Seven Kill Sword soul master, codenamed Deadly Seven Kills, deflected the two monkey soul masters entangled him and assumed a stance. With a sudden thrust, a powerful surge of soul power rushed toward the Berserker Team's auxiliary soul master.
But the Berserker Team, with nine consecutive victories under their belt, was no ordinary group.
A goat soul master battling Ma Hongjun immediately noticed this move. Planting his feet firmly, he surged back to assist.
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