In an ancient castle in the Cloudless Depths, two middle-aged men looked at each other, bewildered, neither understanding the meaning of the decree that had been handed down.
"Big Brother, what does he mean? Why don't I understand?" the short-haired strong man asked, his eyes full of confusion.
"How should I know?" the long-haired strong man waved his hand, looking utterly perplexed. "What does 'suddenly rising powerhouse' mean? What kind of powerhouse rises suddenly?"
"Then what should we do?" the short-haired strong man scratched his head, asking.
"Wait!" the long-haired strong man spread his hands. "I think he'll probably send down another decree. He wouldn't just leave us to flounder without direction."
—
The next day, Zhu Ziyang woke from his sleep, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
The first trial of the God of Death required him to kill someone or a Spirit Beast who had usurped the God of Death's name and whose strength exceeded six spirit rings. Usurping the God of Death's name meant that any Spirit Master or Spirit Beast with 'God of Death' in their title could be his target. Such beings were not hard to find, especially with Evil Soul Masters rampant on the continent, and the name 'God of Death' was quite enticing to Evil Soul Masters.
Zhu Ziyang decided that after the Soul Master Competition concluded, he would begin his journey across the continent and complete his God Position assessment.
In the Inner Courtyard cafeteria, the Shrek main team members were all gathered.
"Ziyang, Jiang Nannan told me you broke through to Spirit Emperor?" Ma Xiaotao asked, her gaze filled with surprise and joy.
"Mmm-hmm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded with a smile. "I just absorbed my sixth spirit ring yesterday, so my spirit power is now level 63."
"Level 63!" Dai Yueheng's handsome face immediately showed shock and urgency upon hearing this. "Ziyang, you're too monstrous! How are us older folks supposed to live?"
"Hehe, Dai Yueheng, are you scared? Are you worried Ziyang will steal your thunder?" Gongyang Mo said with a teasing and mocking expression, his voice effeminate.
"Get lost!" Dai Yueheng's face darkened, then he angrily retorted, "If you talk to me like that again, I'll really shear your wool!"
Gongyang Mo, startled by Dai Yueheng's intensity, instinctively shrunk his neck and leaned closer to Ma Xiaotao. "Ma Xiaotao, look at Dai Yueheng, he's scaring me!"
"Uh~" Ma Xiaotao's expression was also a bit awkward, but as the captain, she needed to tolerate all her team members' personalities. So she could only say, "Gongyang Mo, rein it in! I'm afraid I might not be able to resist acting against you either!"
"Alright!" Gongyang Mo, hearing this, immediately put away his orchid-like hand gesture and sat up straight.
"With Ziyang, we now have three Spirit Emperor-level powerhouses," Ling Luochen said, her voice as indifferent as ever, but everyone noticed an unexpected hint of something different in her tone today. "Does this mean our tactics need to change?"
"Change what?" Ma Xiaotao directly rejected Ling Luochen's suggestion. "I, Ziyang, and Dai Yueheng will still be responsible for the main assault on the battlefield. Chen Zifeng and Jiang Nannan will handle battlefield support, and you and Gongyang Mo will serve as auxiliary and control. What needs to change?"
"I agree with Ma Xiaotao," Dai Yueheng chimed in.
Ling Luochen's expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of dissatisfaction glinted in the depths of her eyes. She said nothing more.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan saw this unfold, feeling a bit helpless. Although their status in the Inner Courtyard was high, their say in the team was not very significant. After all, they were younger and were not members of the previous preliminary team, but rather members who had joined midway.
Chen Zifeng was as silent as ever. He was like his Spirit, his entire being a sword, silent yet full of killing intent. He had always been this way, only listening to Ma Xiaotao's commands.
"I think it might be a bit too early to decide on tactics now," Zhu Ziyang broke the silence, saying, "After all, the final decision isn't in our hands, but in the hands of the accompanying teacher!"
"Ziyang is right, discussing these things now is indeed a bit presumptuous!" Gongyang Mo also smoothed things over, saying, "Ma Xiaotao, you're the captain. Do you know which teacher will be leading us this year?"
"No news yet!" Ma Xiaotao's tone also softened considerably. "But it's not hard to guess. There are only a few teachers in the Inner Courtyard. It's even possible that Sister Lexuan will be our accompanying teacher!"
"That's true!" Ling Luochen spoke, her face expressionless.
"Sister Lexuan can't come with us," Jiang Nannan said. "She left the Academy this morning and will probably be gone for three or four months."
"Ah? Why? Did she take on a mission?" Zhu Ziyang was surprised, asking.
"Sister Lexuan didn't say, but judging by her expression when she left, it seems so," Jiang Nannan said, a helpless expression on her pretty face.
The atmosphere in the room grew cold again. Everyone buried their heads in their food, and after eating, they all left.
"Sigh! Brother, why do I feel like the atmosphere in our main team isn't as united as Sister Lexuan said it would be?" Jiang Nannan walked alongside Zhu Ziyang, a hint of worry on her pretty face. "In our current state, can we really win the championship? Sister Lexuan said that a very formidable individual has appeared in the Sun Moon Empire!"
"Haha! Even if you don't trust anyone else, don't you trust me?" Zhu Ziyang reached out and pinched Jiang Nannan's cheek, feigning anger. "Your brother is also a very formidable individual!"
"Oh dear! You know I didn't mean it like that!" Jiang Nannan said indignantly.
"Yes, yes, I know what you mean," Zhu Ziyang said, looking at the pouting girl. "Everyone is a living person with their own thoughts. You and I can't control their thoughts and preferences. We can only take it one step at a time. As the saying goes, 'the boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge.' We just need to do our best."
"Alright!" Jiang Nannan waved her hand helplessly.
This generation's Shrek main team was one of the best among all previous main teams. Captain Ma Xiaotao, with the Fire Phoenix Spirit, was a level 69 Spirit Emperor; Vice-captain Dai Yueheng, with the White Tiger Spirit, was a level 65 Spirit Emperor; the five team members were Zhu Ziyang, a level 63 Spirit Emperor; Gongyang Mo, a level 59 Spirit Master; Chen Zifeng, a level 59 Spirit King; Ling Luochen, a level 57 Spirit King; and Jiang Nannan, a level 55 Spirit King.
Despite being a team with an average level exceeding sixty, they had a fragmented atmosphere. The bonds between the team members were pitifully weak, the captain and vice-captain were outwardly harmonious but inwardly estranged, and conflicts existed between the captain and some team members. Such a team, if not for being from the Shrek Inner Courtyard, would probably have fallen apart instantly.
Zhu Ziyang had no intention of reorganizing the team, as all members except him and Jiang Nannan would only be around for this one term. Next term, he would need to reassemble the team himself. At that time, the new team would be entirely under his control, and he could do whatever he wanted. Why bother with the thankless task of helping his seniors mend this disunited team?
In three months at most, the team would disband. By then, everyone would be free. There was no need to cause trouble in these final moments.
The two arrived at the Golden Ancient Tree and happened to encounter Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er. The two deans of Shrek Academy, both Super Douluo-level powerhouses, were arguing heatedly. Upon seeing Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan appear, they reined themselves in somewhat, but still refused to yield to each other.
"Grand-disciple, Junior Sister, what's wrong?" Zhu Ziyang asked, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, feeling a bit surprised.
"Grand-disciple, you've come at just the right time. You be the judge for me. How can Cai Meier do business like this?" Xian Lin'er said, hands on her hips, fuming.
"I don't care. Even if the Grandmaster comes today, your Soul Tool Department must give thirty more fixed-soul tool cannon shells, otherwise don't even think about me letting them go!" Cai Meier retorted, completely unyielding and righteous.
Hearing this, Zhu Ziyang instantly understood. The reason these two were arguing so fiercely was definitely because Huo Yuhao had revealed his second Spirit, which made Cai Meier dissatisfied, feeling that she had lost out.
"Another thirty shells! Cai Meier, don't be too greedy!" Xian Lin'er exclaimed, looking at Cai Meier with an incredulous expression.
"Xian Lin'er, I'm already being very fair! That's a student with twin spirits, and from what I know, he's also the target of your Soul Tool Department's Extreme Solo Soldier plan. This price is already very fair!" Cai Meier said.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan exchanged glances, carefully bypassed them, and quickly fled the scene. When women argue, it's best to avoid it if possible.
Didn't they see Qian Duoduo also hiding in a distant tree branch?