"Freak Academy, this is a famous high-level academy near Soto City. Every student's spirit defense is astonishingly strong."
"Not just defense—physically, the students of the Frenzy Academy are also extremely formidable."
"The Liu Xi in their team is even a fourth-grade genius, reaching the eighteenth level of spirit power at only fifteen years old. Although Xiaochen and Dai Mubai aren't as terrifying as him, they're both celebrated prodigies in Soto City."
Flanders, Yu Xiaogang, and the others, sitting among the spectators, showed faint smiles as they watched the four figures facing off against Yuchen and his team.
The stronger the opponent, the greater the benefits for Yuchen's group.
"It's the Frenzy Academy team! This four-person squad has maintained a 90% win rate since registration! Just one more win and they advance to Bronze level. A truly formidable team!"
"By comparison, although those Shrek newcomers are impressive, they're still a little green against the Frenzy Academy!"
"No way! Even if I'm dead, I won't believe those little kids can defeat Frenzy Academy! I bet they can't even break their defenses! I'm all-in on Frenzy Academy—this is my comeback!"
...
As Yuchen and the others entered the arena, waves of chatter broke out among the spectators.
Most of the crowd had only seen glimpses of Yuchen and his team's abilities. By contrast, they had witnessed Frenzy Academy's power multiple times.
Some desperate gamblers, having lost previously, were borrowing money left and right to bet everything on Frenzy Academy for a comeback.
After all, the crowd had only seen Yuchen showcase his strength once, while Frenzy Academy had crushed multiple teams!
Naturally, the eight people now standing on the arena stage couldn't hear these noisy discussions.
"Brat, I know you guys."
"I've watched all four of your matches."
The young man named Liu Xi, the leader of the Frenzy Academy squad, looked confidently at Yuchen's group.
"Oh?"
Yuchen's gaze lightly swept across the four before him, his expression calm and without any emotional fluctuations.
"You have good abilities and excellent talent. At such a young age, achieving this level of spirit power is remarkable."
"Especially you," Liu Xi's eyes narrowed slightly at Yuchen, "Against Yu Tianpeng, you didn't even use your martial soul—your strength is admirable."
"But it's a pity. Today, you're facing us, the Frenzy Team. If you know what's good for you, surrender now."
Liu Xi, arms folded across his chest, spoke with full self-assurance.
"Your good intentions are appreciated."
Yuchen smiled and shook his head in reply.
"You don't know what's good for you!"
Liu Xi's expression darkened. Behind him, a huge rhino martial soul condensed, and a bright white spirit ring gleamed at his feet!
Martial Soul—Ironhoof Rhinoceros!
Whoosh!
The moment Liu Xi spoke, the three others behind him also unleashed their martial souls.
Their martial souls, just like Liu Xi's, were all beast-type spirits boasting immense durability and brute strength!
Upon spirit possession, all four were covered in thick scale armor, appearing like impenetrable iron walls!
Indestructible!
"Wow!"
"The martial souls of the Frenzy Team really are terrifying in defense and strength! Those masked kids are finished!"
"Exactly! Even if they have talent, they're still just twelve or thirteen! They can't possibly win against the Frenzy Team! Frenzy Team! Frenzy Team!"
The surrounding spectators, seeing the Frenzy Team activate their martial souls, cheered loudly, brimming with excitement.
"Brother Chen, can you let us try first?"
"Otherwise, once you make a move, we won't even have a chance!"
Facing the roaring aura of Frenzy Academy, Xiao Wu lightly tugged at Yu Chen's sleeve, speaking coquettishly.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, standing behind Yuchen, didn't speak, but their eager expressions clearly showed they wanted to battle too.
"Ding! Three-choice system activated! Host, please make a choice:
1. Allow Xiao Wu and the others to fight first, reward: spirit power +1!
2. Refuse their request, reward: 300 gold coins!
3. Ignore the request and directly defeat the opponents, reward: high-grade storage soul guide!"
"Please make your decision within 30 seconds!"
Hearing Xiao Wu's soft plea, the system's prompt resounded in Yuchen's mind.
"Alright, be careful."
After glancing at the system rewards and then at the four approaching opponents, Yuchen smiled and nodded.
Given the options, Yuchen naturally made his choice quickly.
"Thank you, Brother Chen!"
Upon receiving his agreement, Xiao Wu and the others beamed with joyful smiles.
"You're looking down on us!"
Seeing their whispered conversations, Liu Xi and the others grew even more furious. The spirit rings at their feet gleamed brighter, and their skin took on a greyish luster as they rushed forward!
"I'm going up first!"
Giggling, Xiao Wu took the lead, summoning her martial soul.
Martial Soul—Soft Bone Rabbit!
Martial Soul—Ghost Shadow Cat!
Martial Soul—Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
"I'll boost you! Qibao shines brightly, first boost: power!"
At the same time as Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu summoned their spirits, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda emerged, her yellow spirit ring flashing brilliantly.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"
"Shrek Academy has someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?!"
Seeing Ning Rongrong's martial soul, both the spectators and the Frenzy Team members were stunned.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—one of the Three Great Sects of the Heaven Dou Empire, possessing a revered status—appearing here? Unthinkable!
"A Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda member? Then ignore her for now! Take out the other three first—we'll secure victory that way!"
Liu Xi and his team, after recovering from their shock, quickly adjusted their plan, continuing their charge toward Yuchen's side.
They dared not attack someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan lightly!
Boom!
But before Liu Xi could close in, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's spirit rings glowed, and in a flash, they appeared right in front of him, attacking with coordinated strikes!
First Spirit Ability—Waist Bow!
First Spirit Ability—Ghostly Thorn!
Two flashes, one red, one black, cut through the air at stunning speeds!
With Ning Rongrong's power boost, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's strikes blasted Liu Xi back seven steps before he managed to stabilize himself!
The other three from Frenzy Academy quickly regrouped, shielding Liu Xi and blocking further attacks.
"Monsters! Every one of them!"
"If they grow two more years, who could stop them?!"
The crowd gasped in awe as they witnessed the devastating speed and power of Shrek Academy's students.
Moments ago, they thought Yuchen's team couldn't even breach Frenzy Academy's defenses. Yet just a single exchange, and Liu Xi was pushed back hard!
"Protect the captain!"
Seeing their leader forced back, the other members of Frenzy Academy activated their first spirit abilities!
Buzz!
Their spirit rings flared, creating translucent shields in front of them.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, then launched continuous attacks!
Bang! Bang!
Their strikes hit the shields, causing ripples, but failing to break through!
The two were both agility-attack type soul masters. Facing high-defense types, direct damage was limited—even with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification.
The Frenzy Team members, coordinating tightly, made it nearly impossible for Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to breach their line.
Even with boosts, it was clear: defense-type martial souls still had a huge advantage against agility-based ones!
"Brother Chen, looks like we'll need your help after all!"
Realizing they couldn't break through alone, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing retreated obediently to Yuchen's side.
"Alright."
Yuchen looked at the two girls with a smile, then stepped forward calmly.
I'll be posting advance 30+ chapters on my patreon account when this book reaches chapter 36