Chapter 68: Shrek's New Generation
"Go on the road?"
Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly at Elder Xuan's words. The phrase didn't sit well with him—it sounded a little ominous.
"Is there a problem?"
Elder Xuan raised an eyebrow and took a sip of wine as he looked at Yan Shaozhe.
"Ah, nothing really… It's just that the phrase 'go on the road' doesn't sound particularly auspicious."
"Hmph." Elder Xuan snorted. "You overthink things. I'm a rank-98 Transcendent Douluo. Do you think I can't protect a group of rank-50 and 60 soul masters?"
"You're right, Elder Xuan. I was being overly cautious."
Despite the current concern over Zhang Lexuan's situation, Yan Shaozhe knew better than to voice it in front of Elder Xuan. If he brought it up and stirred old memories, what if Elder Xuan resigned out of grief? Would they have to beg Zhang Lexuan to get on her knees and ask him to return?
"Achoo!"
Back in the inner courtyard, Zhang Lexuan suddenly sneezed. Several male students who secretly admired her immediately gathered around in concern.
"Senior sister, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Just a sudden chill… Forget it. It's probably nothing."
Zhang Lexuan waved them off, feeling a little awkward. The thought that had flashed in her mind was of a time she'd once been tricked into kneeling and apologizing to someone. She quickly brushed the memory aside. No point in digging that up.
"By the way," Elder Xuan said, now focused on his food again, "have you decided who will serve as the substitutes for this year's Shrek team in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament?"
Yan Shaozhe straightened up. "I'm still considering the final lineup, Elder Xuan. But Beibei and Xu Sanshi are confirmed. Jiang Nannan's talent is also notable. Although her martial soul is just a Soft Bone Rabbit, her four soul skills are excellent—except the first one, Waist Bow, which is a bit weak. Still, she qualifies as a promising talent."
"Just a promising talent?" Elder Xuan frowned.
"It's rare to find students who can reach the fourth ring by age fifteen with both a decent martial soul and solid soul skills."
Elder Xuan slammed his palm on the table and stood up. "How have you been teaching these students? This is the worst group I've seen! The benchmark hasn't changed in years—it's not even difficult! Just eat well, train properly, and they should reach the fourth ring easily! Are they even working hard?"
Yan Shaozhe looked genuinely helpless. "You're right, Elder Xuan. But this batch… they really are disappointing."
For those with top-tier beast martial souls, failing to reach the fourth ring at fifteen was simply unacceptable. It should've been a given.
"Fine," Elder Xuan grumbled. "If this group isn't up to the task, how's the next one? They better not be worse."
"I've reviewed the candidates across the different batches," Yan Shaozhe said. "It seems the first-year students—especially Dai Huabin's group—have more potential to be the substitute lineup for the Shrek Seven Devils."
"Dai Huabin?" Elder Xuan asked. "Which year is he from again?"
"He's in the first year—Dai Yueheng's younger brother. He's only twelve, but already at the third ring. With the Zhu clan's support, he's capable of using the Martial Soul Fusion Technique. I believe he, the Zhu clan girl, and Ning Tian of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect make strong candidates. As for the last spot, either Xie Huanyue or Wu Feng with the True Dragon martial soul could fill it."
Just then, Qian Duoduo appeared out of nowhere, his face red with anger.
"Yan Shaozhe, you bastard! You ignored He Caitou from the Soul Guidance Department—he's already reached the fourth ring! And yet you chose a bunch of first-year kids who just hit the third ring? Wu Feng is still just a two-ring Great Soul Master! How can you justify this!"
"The upper limit of soul masters matters, Qian Duoduo," Yan Shaozhe replied calmly. "Besides, He Caitou doesn't quite fit the criteria I'm using."
"Don't give me that crap!" Qian Duoduo exploded. "He Caitou has higher soul power than Beibei and Xu Sanshi! In five years, he could be a six-ring Soul Emperor! Can Wu Feng or Xie Huanyue say the same? Do any of them have the potential to hit six rings? Does your Martial Soul Department have to suppress our Soul Guidance Department every single time?!"
"I don't care what you say. This time, the Soul Guidance Department must get two spots among the Shrek Seven Devils. If not, don't even think about getting a single cent of funding from us this year!"
"Hey now, Old Qian, aren't you going too far?"
"Too far? Hah! You tell me how it's too far! All I'm asking is for two out of seven spots! After all these years, can't I even get that much?!"
"One," Yan Shaozhe said firmly. "At most, I'll give you one spot—replace either Xie Huanyue or Wu Feng with He Caitou. No more."
"No! Two! I must have two! I've been waiting for years to get this, and now you want to shut me down again?!"
"But you're talking about spots on the Shrek Seven Devils! These aren't positions you can hand out like candy! One is the limit."
Their argument grew more heated, voices echoing down the hall, until Elder Xuan finally slammed his cup down and cut in.
"That's enough! Let He Caitou be the final pick. Four rings—it's settled."
"Elder Xuan…"
Qian Duoduo looked at him with an aggrieved expression, like a child being denied candy. He was already over a hundred years old, but now he looked like an old man scolded in public. Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe stood to the side, trying to hide the smile tugging at his lips. He knew Elder Xuan, born of the Martial Soul Department, would ultimately take their side.
"Fine," Elder Xuan sighed. "I'll give you a few more spots to observe. Choose who you want to include—even if it's Huo Yuhao. But stop pestering me."
With that, Elder Xuan waved them both off and went back to eating chicken legs and drinking his wine in peace.
After Qian Duoduo and Yan Shaozhe left, Elder Xuan casually picked up the substitute list Yan Shaozhe had handed him earlier. As he read through the names, a smile crept across his face.
"Not bad… not bad at all. Old Mu's great-great-grandson, a Black Tortoise divine beast bloodline… He Caitou as a Soul Mentor—his current soul power suggests he'll reach Soul Emperor in the future. Dai Huabin has a good chance of becoming a six-ring Soul Emperor before the next competition. Add in the Martial Soul Fusion Technique and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile's support…"
Elder Xuan chuckled to himself.
"This team… two Soul Emperors leading five Soul Kings, bolstered by the Rainbow Dragon's support—that's basically the power of six Soul Emperors. Throw in three to four backup Soul Emperors, the Fusion Technique, and the Glazed Tile boosts… This team could match the explosive power of a Soul Saint."
He took a deep swig from his gourd and grinned.
"With this setup, I'll personally send them on their journey. I'll ensure their safety myself. With this lineup, how could my Shrek possibly lose?"