"Xi Xi, Nannan, are you ready?" Zhang Lexuan stood in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, asking Jiang Nannan and Xi Xi, who were on either side of her.
"We're ready, Sister Lexuan." Jiang Nannan replied with a calm smile, not at all nervous despite her opponent's spirit power being higher than her own.
"No problem, Senior Sister." Xi Xi, an ordinary-looking, petite and quiet girl, answered Zhang Lexuan's question expressionlessly.
"Alright, the match begins!" Zhang Lexuan announced without hesitation.
With Zhang Lexuan's command, Xi Xi launched her attack first. She instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging towards Jiang Nannan, with four spirit rings flashing behind her. Her speed was so astonishing that onlookers gasped.
However, Jiang Nannan, Xi Xi's opponent, showed no panic. While Xi Xi's speed was fast, it was still ordinary to her, because her own speed was even faster! Her legs exerted a slight force, and she instantly transformed into a silver flash, directly meeting the lightning that Xi Xi had become. At a speed that others found hard to perceive, the two girls' fists and palms rapidly connected, even striking out dazzling sparks due to the extreme speed, which was astonishing.
The exchange between the two girls happened in an instant. After a single strike, they quickly widened the distance between them. This was a crucial skill for agility-attack system Spirit Masters. Both were top students of Shrek Inner Courtyard and naturally understood how to precisely control the timing, never lingering in battle. After retreating several tens of meters, Jiang Nannan and Xi Xi's gazes were calm and unwavering as they quietly observed each other. But in the next second, they once again transformed into silver light and lightning, colliding with each other, repeating this for several rounds.
Xi Xi was the first to use a Spirit Ability. Her first spirit ring lit up, and swift electric arcs enveloped her body. Her hands transformed into bright yellow cat claws, and a long tail extended from the base of her spine. Her Spirit was the Lightning Leopard.
After the Spirit Ability possession, Xi Xi's speed increased even further, and her attacks became more aggressive. Her claws, glowing with electric arcs, lunged directly at Jiang Nannan.
Seeing this, Jiang Nannan showed no fear. Her first Spirit Ability, Silver Moon Profound Spirit Body, was instantly released. Her delicate figure radiated a faint silver glow, transforming her into an aurora invisible to the naked eye. She charged towards Xi Xi's attack.
The figures of the two collided again. This time, the offensive was even swifter. Dai Yueheng and the others watching the battle could only focus intently on the arena, and Zhu Ziyang could only barely catch Jiang Nannan's figure through his powerful mental force. He could tell that Jiang Nannan and Xi Xi were currently evenly matched, and neither could overcome the other in a short period.
If neither side made a mistake in this battle, it would likely continue for a while.
The silver light and lightning clashed for an unknown number of rounds when the lightning suddenly let out a leopard's roar. A swift, yellow-skinned, black-striped leopard's phantom suddenly appeared, opening its bloody maw, full of fangs, and pouncing towards the silver stream of light.
The leopard's surprise attack precisely caught the silver stream of light. However, just when everyone thought Jiang Nannan was at a disadvantage, the silver stream of light suddenly transformed into gold! The leopard and the golden stream of light immediately stalemated, revealing the figures of the two.
Dai Yueheng and the others were very surprised because Jiang Nannan was now wearing a golden armor. Although the armor was simple in form, it was clear that it was purely energy condensed.
Xi Xi's leopard claws, like curved blades, carried the momentum of a rapid charge, yet they failed to break through Jiang Nannan's suddenly appearing armor. Instead, they revealed a flaw, giving Jiang Nannan an opportunity. Jiang Nannan's second spirit ring lit up, and her jade hand instantly seized Xi Xi's waist. Amidst Xi Xi's struggles, she leaped into the air. After a full rotation, she fiercely threw her to the ground.
With a "bang," Xi Xi fell heavily to the ground, immediately feeling her internal organs shift. The sensation of the world spinning impacted her brain, making it impossible for her to stand up for a while, let alone launch an effective counterattack.
Jiang Nannan, however, pressed her advantage. After accelerating again, she charged directly at Xi Xi, grabbing her once more, preparing to give her another aerial spin.
"Nannan, that's enough!" Zhang Lexuan stopped Jiang Nannan in time. With a strange expression, she called out, "You win."
"Oh, oh!" Jiang Nannan immediately stopped her actions upon hearing this and very considerately stabilized the swaying, unsteady Xi Xi, saying, "Senior Sister Xi Xi, thank you for the match!"
"Wuwuwu~" Xi Xi shook her head repeatedly, wanting to say something but unable to. After taking a long, deep breath, she finally replied with a trembling voice, "I'm convinced!"
Xi Xi was taken away by Zhang Lexuan to rest, while Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan were led by Xian Lin'er to the other four main team members.
Xian Lin'er looked at Jiang Nannan with great satisfaction, filled with admiration and joy for her performance. Her gaze then swept over Zhu Ziyang and the other four, and she said, "Starting today, you are the main team members for Shrek Academy's Soul Master Competition. For the next two years, you must diligently cultivate and build your teamwork."
"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.
"I believe you all understand what being a main team member for the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition means," Xian Lin'er said with a smile.
"Shrek Seven Devils!" Dai Yueheng said with longing.
"Exactly! The Shrek Seven Devils, the legendary title that began Shrek Academy's ten thousand years of glory!" Xian Lin'er said proudly. "The significance of this title to Shrek, and to the Douluo Continent, needs no further explanation from me. However, acquiring this title is not so easy. Only by winning the championship of the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition will you be qualified to be bestowed the title of Shrek Seven Devils!"
Everyone's eyes became fervent, and even Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but feel a little excited. Titles, like wealth, were something one could never have too much of.
"Speaking of the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition, from the emergence of the Original Shrek Seven Devils ten thousand years ago until today, Shrek Academy has only failed to win the championship in a few isolated sessions. In the past hundred years, across more than twenty sessions, we have held the title consecutively. I hope you will uphold the glory of Shrek Academy and strive forward!" Xian Lin'er exhorted.
"Yes!" Everyone shouted in unison.
"Alright, if you have any questions, you can ask them. If not, you are dismissed." Xian Lin'er was very pleased with everyone's attitude and said with a smile.
"Elder Xian, why are there only six of us?" Dai Yueheng immediately raised a question, saying, "Who is the other person?"
"The other person is a Soul Tool Department student. He hasn't yet been admitted to the Inner Courtyard and cannot be present at the moment." Xian Lin'er's tone carried a hint of helplessness and regret. Although since the previous two sessions, Shrek Academy's participating team had to include a Soul Engineer, the Soul Engineer members in the previous two sessions were, without exception, the weakest in their teams. This session was even worse; they could only select a member from the Soul Tool Department students of the Outer Courtyard. This invariably highlighted the weakness of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department. As the head of the Soul Tool Department, she was truly somewhat ashamed!
"..." The six fell silent collectively, unsure what to say.
"Alright, that student might not necessarily join us anyway," Xian Lin'er forced a smile and said, "After all, there's still Ma Xiaotao. If her Spirit problem is resolved within two years, she will rejoin the team. You don't need to worry."
Upon hearing that Ma Xiaotao would return, even Dai Yueheng's brows relaxed. Although he didn't like that hot-tempered madwoman, and he knew he would become the vice-captain if she returned, he had to admit that Ma Xiaotao's strength was indeed greater than his own!
Xian Lin'er took in the changes in everyone's expressions, feeling a touch of emotion, then said, "Any more questions? If not, you may disperse."
"Yes!" Everyone responded.
Xian Lin'er left, but the six, including Zhu Ziyang, remained in place.
"Ziyang, Nannan, welcome to the team!" Dai Yueheng, as the acting captain, welcomed Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, and the other three also showed welcoming expressions.
"Senior brothers and sisters, please guide us in the time to come!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, and Jiang Nannan echoed him.
"Yueheng, since we have two new companions, why don't we have a gathering at Tianying Pavilion tonight to get to know each other? What do you think?" Gongyang Mo suggested.
"I think that's fine," Chen Zifeng said, and Ling Luochen also nodded silently.
Upon hearing this, Dai Yueheng also had an idea. He looked at Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, asking for their opinions.
"Yes!" Both nodded simultaneously.