"AIYA, YOUYOU IS TRULY EVEN MORE MONSTROUS THAN WE THOUGHT!!!!"
All of a sudden, he had gone from being the least strongest to the third strongest. Even the Golden Iron Triangle could barely believe it.
Yu Xiaogang stated, "That Origin Energy Immortal Grass has benefited you a lot. Just remember: Immortal Herbs can help, but do not depend on them. You must still put in the work and effort to achieve great things."
Fang Youyou bowed his head. "I understand, Grandmaster."
"This is good," Flender praised. "Now all of our little Tyrants are Spirit Kings or higher."
Liu Erlong added, "Go find the others and pack up. We'll return to Shrek Academy before heading over to Sunset Forest."
Seven voices echoed, "Yes, Vice Dean Liu."
Seven figures dashed out of the main tent, racing for their separate tents. After quickly packing up their belongings, ten students met their teachers out in front of the main tent. The group set off and left the Heaven Dou Palace. They returned to Shrek Academy where a figure was waiting for them.
As Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang drew closer, they recognized who the person was. Their eyes widened. Yu Xiaogang held up his hand, halting the kids behind him.
Liu Erlong sent all ten a private message saying, "Guard Xiao Shen."
Knowing how coveted Ru Shenqi would be if word got out about her, the other nine closed in on her, circling her, keeping her protected in the center. The person noticed and began to question their act.
Just who is this little white-haired girl?
Flender stepped forward and asked, "Ambassador Xie, what does Spirit Empire want with Shrek Academy?"
Indeed, the visitor was Xie Yue.
He replied, "I'm curious about two of your spirit masters. The tall boy and the short girl."
Liu Erlong's protective instincts kicked in. Blue flames flared around her as she said, "Spirit Empire has caused enough trouble on the Continent. Can't you leave two children alone?"
Xie Yue raised an eyebrow at her. "Spirit Empire is investigating both of them. We know the boy is from the Gu family and is the Crown Prince of Guang Kingdom under Star Luo Empire. But this girl... what did she say her name was? Xiao Nuhuang? Well, we haven't found anything on her. Not even records of her joining a Primary Academy."
Yu Xiaogang's mind worked quickly. "Does your sister know you're investigating them?"
If Hu Liena knows her brother is looking into Xiao Shen, then why hasn't she said anything? Or does she assumes Xiao Shen died in Slaughter City?
"No, we haven't discovered much, so we haven't bothered Nana with it yet."
Flender looked pensive. Liu Erlong's eyes blazed with fury. Yu Xiaogang kept his stoic expression.
Suddenly, they heard a high-pitched voice cry, "If you want to know who I am, then I'll just say I'm your grandmother!"
Nine snickers broke out around the voice. The Golden Iron Triangle's eyebrows twitched. Xie Yue stepped forward, hands clenching into fists.
"What did you say?!"
"I said, I'M YOUR GRANDMOTHER!"
Two yellow, two purple, and four black rings suddenly condensed around Xie Yue's body. His Moon Blade spirit appeared in his right hand. But before he could launch an attack on Ru Shenqi, the Golden Iron Triangle formed their array.
"LUO SAN PAO!"
Yu Xiaogang's spirit appeared in the center of their triangle as each of the three became bathed in pillars of gold light. Surrounding both Liu Erlong and Flender were eight spirit rings of two yellow, two purple, and four black. Around Yu Xiaogang, five rings bounced: two yellow, two purple, and one black. After having received the Nine treasure Purple Zoysia from Tang San he had been able to become the fifty third ranked Spirit King that he was now.
Other than Gu Xingyun and Ru Shenqi, the eight kids also released their spirits. All together, fifty three spirit rings glowed brilliantly. Against fifty three rings and a legendary spirit fusion ability, what could a Spirit Sage do?
Xie Yue noticed that two kids did not show their spirits or rings. "Do you dare look down upon Spirit Empire?!"
Gu Xingyun answered, "Since you already know I'm the Crown Prince of Guang Kingdom, then you should know that I, along with the rest of my family, will never bow to Spirit Empire."
Ru Shenqi remained silent, her hatred for this spirit master organization silently brewing in her heart.
Flender cut in, "Ambassador Xie, if you don't leave now, then don't blame us for being rude."
Of course, Xie Yue had heard of the Golden Iron Triangle and their powerful Golden Dragon. Not wanting to tangle with that, he grumbled and recalled his spirit. Upon doing so, the Golden Iron Triangle did as well. Seeing their teachers relax, the kids recalled their spirits but kept close to Ru Shenqi.
"I'm interested to see who will compete in the Finals Round," he said as he stalked off.
Once he was gone, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang let out a breath of relief.
Flender turned around and said, "Xu Tian, Gong Xi, Han Niansui, go on inside and get settled in. Don't wait for us."
The three bowed their heads. "Yes, Dean Flender."
When they had entered Shrek, the Golden Iron Triangle led the others to the cottage out back. When they had dropped off their belongings, the ten person group set out for Sunset Forest.
<><><>
After entering the spirit beast habitat, they walked deeper to get to the territory of the ten thousand year spirit beasts. Since five had reached the fiftieth rank, they could get their first black spirit ring.
Bai Shanxin and Flender kept an eye out from above while Ru Shenqi used her spirit to see far and wide. But for a long while, no spirit beasts appeared.
The group kept wandering before finally setting up camp for the night. Ming Yong and Liao Suyin volunteered to keep the first watch, so everyone else decided to get some sleep while they could.
Just as Ru Shenqi was about to drift off to sleep, she sensed something. Peeking out from the girls' tent, she used her Clear Crystal Eyes to scan their surroundings once more. Far off to the left, she latched onto something.
"Yong, Suyin, off to the left!"
At her words, everyone went flying out of the tents. Approaching them, at an insane speed was a bird. But it wasn't just any bird. It was the emperor of all birds, the Emerald Demon Bird.
Known as the fastest bird-type spirit beast, it was said that the Emerald Demon Bird could fly as fast as lightning. And it preyed on humans.
Having smelled the Shrek group's scent, the spirit beast had come flying over.
Yu Xiaogang said, "Shanxin, this spirit beast suits you the best. Erlong!"
Catching his meaning, she leapt up and released her Scarlet Dragon spirit. Immediately launching her seventh spirit skill, Scarlet Dragon Avatar, she roared fire at the bird. Bai Shanxin's wings appeared as she released her spirit and flew up. Ru Shenqi's Ultimate Darkness Wings stretched out, and she also took to the skies.
"Fourth spirit skill, Swift Dance! Air Strike!"
"Ultimate Darkness Straight Line!"
Flender also flew up and launched his seventh spirit skill, Four Eyed Owl Avatar. From the ground, Shu Jiaxiang activated her third spirit skill and released her poisonous fog. The Emerald Demon Bird screeched again as all the attacks went barreling towards it. As it flapped its wings, it deflected each attack.
Alarmed, Ru Shenqi cried, "Third spirit skill, Clear Crystal Armor!"
After protecting Liu Erlong, Flender, Shanxin, and herself, she called, "Suyin!"
Understanding, Liao Suyin said, "Fourth spirit skill, Tarantula Web!"
A sticky, durable web went flying towards the spirit beast. It clung to the feather wings, causing the bird to fall to the ground.
As the four landed on the ground, Ru Shenqi asked, "Can everyone circle the spirit beast?"
The bird screeched again, wanting to devour their brains to improve its cultivation.
Both kids and adults surrounded the Emerald Demon Bird.
"Youyou!"
Having an idea of what she wanted, he boosted her with his first, third, and fourth spirit skills. After the help from the Origin Energy Immortal Grass, he was able to grant her a ten percent stamina boost, a seventy-five percent return of spirit power, and a twenty percent boost of strength.
After receiving his support, she called out, "Sixth spirit skill, Clear Crystal Pack Hunt!"
Soon, all ten glowed as pillars of spirit power. Sixty four spirit rings appeared as their spirit power condensed above them into one powerful attack.
"Pack Howl!"
Their combined attack shot down towards the Emerald Demon Bird as it just started to lift off from the ground. It gave a cry of dismay as their strike hit.
But Ru Shenqi knew how strong they all were. She had trained with her friends for so long now and had seen how the Golden Iron Triangle operated. Using her mental strength to the max, she controlled the force of Pack Howl.
When the attack finished, the Emerald Demon Bird was stunned and heavily injured. She swayed on her feet, heavily drained.
"Second spirit skill, Flowering Lotus Eternity! Third spirit skill, Flowering Lotus Regrowth!"
Suddenly revitalized, Ru Shenqi nodded towards Fang Youyou in thanks.
Flender said, "Shanxin, kill it quickly."
Bai Shanxin flew up and used her first spirit skill to kill the Emerald Demon Bird. Soon after, a deep black spirit ring materialized above the spirit beast's corpse. She reached out, taking the ring. Sitting down, she assumed the lotus position and began to meditate, absorbing the decade millennium spirit ring.
Suddenly, something caught Ming Yong's eye. "Grandmaster, what's that?"
He pointed to something glowing from the head of the bird.
Yu Xiaogang walked over and held out his hand. A small, emerald green, triangular bone with tiny wing embellishments stretching out from the left and right side flew into his palm. His eyes widened.
"This is a skull bone."
Flender slid over. "Emerald Demon Birds cultivate by eating the brains of other spirit beasts and humans. It's no wonder it left a skull bone. This time around, Shanxin is quite lucky. Not every decade millennium spirit beast leaves behind a spirit bone."
<><><>
Four hours later, Bai Shanxin stood up. She released her spirit, and five rings danced around her feet.
"Everyone, I'm now a fifty second ranked Spirit King."
"Congratulations, Shanxin," Liu Erlong smiled.
Yu Xiaogang asked, "What's your fifth skill?"
Bai Shanxin looked at all of them and grinned. "When I launch my fifth skill, I get a fifty percent increase in straight-line speed. As for the skill itself, I call it Swift Cry. I'll give a screeching sound that attacks the eardrums, causing opponents to be temporarily debilitated."
"Good, a crowd restriction is a good skill for you. It'll give you time to escape by delaying your opponents," Yu Xiaogang said. "Also... the Emerald Demon Bird left this."
He held out the skull bone. Bai Shanxin's eyes widened.
"A spirit bone?"
He nodded. "Absorb it now."
She took it from him and closed her eyes. She lifted off of the ground, her five rings suddenly appearing. The skull bone flew towards her forehead beginning to merge with her own skull.
After another hour, she had fully merged with the skull bone. When she returned to the ground, her eyes opened.
"Grandmaster, my skull bone is quite tyrannical."
"What ability did it give?"
"It gives an aura-sucking ability, causing opposing spirit masters to lose their spirit power."
"This sounds like my Flight of Nine Stars."
"Two spirit masters with spirit power draining abilities! How amazing!" Flender cried.
Bai Shanxin continued, "After merging with the skull bone, my spirit power rose a level. I'm now a fifty third ranked Spirit King."
Liu Erlong shook her head and muttered, "You seven really are Tyrants."
