"Don't rush," Yu Xiaogang said, his expression stern and unhurried. "This time, when you enter the simulated universe, choose the team challenge mode. Flander and I will observe. If your performance is subpar, your training will be doubled afterward."
"Ah!" Everyone's faces instantly paled at his words. The usual training intensity already made them complain endlessly; doubling it was unimaginable. The thought of even more brutal training immediately ignited a fierce fighting spirit in the eyes of the seven Shrek Academy students. No matter how difficult the challenge mode in the simulated universe was, they absolutely could not lose.
Soon, under Ning Rongrong's guidance, everyone put on their blindfold-like soul tools. The soul tools fit snugly against their faces, emitting a slight coolness. As a gentle dizzying sensation washed over them, their consciousness gradually blurred, and they successfully entered the simulated universe.
Yu Xiaogang and Flander also took out their login devices and put them on. These were all generous sponsorships from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. This showed how much Ning Fengzhi had invested for Ning Rongrong's sake,
After all, the number of simulated universe login devices was limited, and the Spirit Hall was aggressively collecting them, so the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School truly couldn't acquire many.
The team challenge mode chosen by the Shrek Seven Devils would gradually increase in difficulty from the lowest level. Clearing a stage would grant rewards, and the further they progressed, the more generous and tempting the rewards would be.
As the young prodigies of their era, if the Shrek Seven Devils didn't have some tricks up their sleeves, how could they have entered Shrek Academy, that peculiar institution that only accepted monsters?
The initial few stages weren't difficult for them. From the thousand-year soul beasts they first encountered to seven-person soul master teams of the same rank, they relied on their coordination and excellent strength to overcome all obstacles, easily defeating opponents and successfully receiving completion rewards.
Although the rewards weren't substantial, Tang San keenly noticed changes in himself. Both his spiritual power and his physical constitution and soul power were quietly improving, like parched land receiving sweet rain, every inch eagerly absorbing nourishment.
While cleared stages could be challenged again, the rewards were only granted once. This rule completely stifled everyone's desire to farm for rewards, so they could only set their sights on more difficult stages. Feeling that his Purple Demon Eye and Mysterious Heaven Skill had both improved, Tang San eagerly anticipated the rewards from subsequent stages.
Soon, blue light spots gathered again like fireflies. Tang San and the others understood this was a signal that a new opponent was about to appear, as all previous opponents had debuted in this manner.
"Eh! Why is there only one?" Xiao Wu's nimble eyes were full of doubt. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the gradually appearing figure.
"Everyone, be careful. Something unusual is going on," Tang San frowned slightly, his expression instantly becoming solemn. As someone from an assassin sect, he knew better than anyone that behind unreasonable occurrences often lay fatal danger.
"Xiao San is right. Everyone, focus up, Xiao Ao, Rongrong," Dai Mubai said gravely, his voice low. At the same time, his tall, sturdy figure stood firmly at the very front of everyone. As the strongest assault-type soul master in the team, he rightfully stood at the vanguard.
"I have a big sausage, I have a small cured sausage, I have a mushroom sausage," Oscar reacted quickly, releasing his soul skills immediately. As his amusing and unique soul chant rang out, he rapidly waved his hands. In a blink of an eye, several big recovery sausages, small detoxification sausages, and flying mushroom sausages appeared in his hands. He skillfully handed them to his teammates.
"Seven Treasures turn out with glazed light, first strength, second speed." Ning Rongrong's right palm slowly rose, revealing a magnificent and dazzling glazed pagoda, with two yellow soul rings shining brightly.
She multitasked, simultaneously casting amplification soul skills on Dai Mubai, Tang San, and their main combat teammates, providing them with powerful strength and speed boosts.
Although they had won the previous stage, it hadn't been easy. So, when only one person appeared in this stage, they didn't relax their guard at all. Instead, their nerves tightened, like arrows about to be released from a bow, poised for action.
While releasing his martial soul and soul rings, Tang San opened the guardian's information. This was a courtesy provided by the challenge mode to challengers.
Name: Lu Jingming
Martial Soul: Black Abyss, White Flower
Soul Power Level: Level 37 Soul Elder
Though the information was sparse, only containing name, martial soul, and soul power level, it was enough for them. At least upon seeing the Level 37 soul power, a huge weight fell from Tang San's heart, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. A Level 37 soul power, while higher than most of them, was still within the range of a Soul Elder, and on the same level as Dai Mubai. Looked at this way, it didn't seem so terrifying.
Only that martial soul made him quite concerned. Why did it feel like two different martial souls? But then Tang San gently shook his head, dismissing the guess in his mind. His teacher had told him that he was the only dual martial soul possessor in their generation, apart from the current Spirit Hall Pope. In his understanding, how could anyone else possibly possess such a rare dual martial soul like him?
Spiritual consciousness, like a light bird, gracefully descended into the simulated universe, effortlessly replacing the virtual data body. Lu Jingming felt his soul power restricted to Level 37, as if an invisible shackles bound him. Looking up, he immediately saw the prepared Tang San and others, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
But in an instant, he received information from the simulated universe: Tang San and the others were currently attempting the challenge mode, and in this stage, his data body had been randomly selected.
As for why he was the sole opponent in a team challenge, it was because the simulated universe's AI, through calculations, had simulated Lu Jingming's Soul Elder-level data body, which perfectly matched the difficulty required for this stage.
After receiving the information and understanding the reason, Lu Jingming instantly became interested. The original Shrek Seven Devils, in his era, had all successfully ascended to godhood.
They were the original protagonist group, and their statues still stood proudly at Shrek Academy even now. And today, standing before him were their counterparts from a parallel world. Lu Jingming also wanted to see how strong the current protagonist group truly was.
"One versus seven, the advantage is mine," Lu Jingming's lips curled into a confident and slightly provocative smile. In an instant, dense black mist emerged around him, and a black long spear appeared steadily in his hand. He slowly raised the long spear, its tip precisely pointed at the prepared Shrek Seven Devils opposite him. He looked like an arrogant king gazing down at his subjects, his provocation evident.
"What an arrogant fellow! Let your Sister Xiao Wu teach you a lesson." Xiao Wu, already hot-tempered, instantly bristled upon hearing Lu Jingming's arrogant provocation. In her perception, she had always been the one acting arrogant in front of others. When had it ever been someone else's turn to be so presumptuous in front of her?
The Shrek Seven Devils weren't too surprised that Lu Jingming spoke. After all, in this simulated universe, simulated characters would be endowed with their real counterparts' personality traits. They had previously fought against virtual bodies that also spoke and displayed distinct personalities.
"Xiao Wu, don't be reckless." Tang San cried out inwardly, just about to stop her, but Xiao Wu's movements were too fast. Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, before Tang San could react further, she charged directly towards Lu Jingming like a pink lightning bolt, her furious demeanor as if she wanted to devour Lu Jingming alive.
Xiao Wu's martial soul was the Soft Bone Rabbit, which gave her astonishing jumping ability. At this moment, she was like a nimble and aggressive rabbit. The moment she approached Lu Jingming, she exerted force with her legs, leaping high into the air. Her two long, straight legs arced gracefully, aiming for Lu Jingming's neck, clearly intending to entangle him and unleash her First Soul Skill, Waist Bow.
Although this rabbit's first soul skill superficially seemed like a benefit for him, Lu Jingming had no interest in it. He merely shifted his body slightly, his movements seemingly casual, but with just a light turn, he ghosted past Xiao Wu. At the same time, the black long spear in his hand transformed into a black flood dragon in an instant, becoming an afterimage, carrying the whistling wind as it fiercely struck towards Xiao Wu.
"Bang!" A dull thud, like a heavy hammer, struck everyone's hearts. Xiao Wu couldn't dodge in time and took a heavy blow to her abdomen. She couldn't help but groan, and like a kite with a broken string, she flew backward.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's face instantly changed, his eyes filled with anxiety and worry. He was burning with impatience and immediately unleashed his First Soul Skill, Binding. In an instant, several tough Blue Silver Grass vines rapidly emerged from the ground, precisely catching the retreating Xiao Wu.
"Third Brother, be careful. His strength is so strong, stronger than Boss Dai's," Xiao Wu clutched her abdomen, her face full of pain, a trace of crimson blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. Enduring the pain, she spoke with difficulty in a deep voice.
Seeing Xiao Wu injured, an uncontrollable anger flashed in Tang San's eyes. And when he heard Xiao Wu's words, his pupils suddenly constricted, shocked. Stronger than Dai Mubai? One must know that Dai Mubai's martial soul was the top-tier assault-type beast martial soul, White Tiger, which had always been known for its strength, rarely having an equal at the same level.
And Lu Jingming's martial soul was merely a long spear, clearly a tool martial soul. Logically speaking, how could its strength compare to a White Tiger martial soul? Moreover, their soul power levels were the same.
"I'll go," just as everyone was shocked, a cold voice suddenly sounded. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Zhu Zhuqing charging out like a black lightning bolt, her speed extreme, leaving a string of phantom afterimages as she moved.
"Netherworld Spike, Netherworld Hundred Claws." As Zhu Zhuqing's two yellow soul rings shone with dazzling light, she simultaneously unleashed her two great soul skills. In an instant, her advancement speed doubled, and she approached Lu Jingming like a ghost.
She rapidly spun, her speed so fast it was dazzling. The sharp claws in her hands rapidly swung through the air, tearing it apart and producing bursts of ear-piercing explosions. Innumerable claw shadows flew, like dense raindrops, scratching wildly at Lu Jingming.
"Powerless, senseless, clueless!" Lu Jingming said calmly, looking at Zhu Zhuqing's fierce attacks. His body, however, was exceptionally flexible under Zhu Zhuqing's seemingly sharp attacks, like a feather drifting in the wind, cleverly dodging all attacks. Not even a corner of his clothes was touched by Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San's expression instantly became solemn, secretly marveling. This footwork, how could it feel even more profound than his own Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps? Zhu Zhuqing was, after all, only a two-ring Great Soul Master, and her soul power and stamina would eventually be depleted. As the effects of her soul skills gradually weakened, her attack frequency also decreased.
In that instant, Lu Jingming's left hand swiftly clenched into a fist, sending a punch towards Zhu Zhuqing's abdomen with a whooshing sound.
But the next moment, a Blue Silver Vine suddenly broke through the ground beneath his feet, coiling around his body with lightning speed, abruptly stopping his movement.
At the same time, a tall figure also instantly appeared in front of him. It was Dai Mubai, his second soul ring shining with dazzling yellow light, as he spewed a thick white beam of light from his mouth.
"White Tiger Intense Light Wave."
Not only that, a red-haired fatty also appeared beside Lu Jingming, spewing a scorching line of fire from his mouth towards him.
"Phoenix Fire Line."
For a moment, Lu Jingming was caught in a desperate pincer attack from front and back, and his body was also tightly bound by the Blue Silver Grass, unable to move. In that instant, he seemed to be trapped in an invisible net, unable to break free.
"Well done!" Seeing this scene, Ning Rongrong's little face flushed with excitement. She fiercely waved her tender fists, her eyes full of thrill and joy.
"Not bad." Yu Xiaogang, who was observing, also nodded slightly, a satisfied look on his face. This was how a team challenge should be. Regardless of how many opponents there were, teamwork was the key to victory. Only by working together and utilizing each other's strengths, could they defeat powerful enemies.
Just as he was about to be hit by two powerful long-range soul skills, Lu Jingming's lips suddenly curled into a smile, and he murmured, "That's more like it, otherwise it would be too boring."