Soon, Xiao Lin and the others arrived at the training ground of the Emperor Battle Team.
This training area was huge. It had simulation environments specially built for various academies to train in, as well as specialized Soul Arena platforms for battles.
At this moment, as Xiao Lin and his group arrived, several members of the Emperor Battle Team paused their training and looked curiously at the three newcomers.
But very quickly, they spotted the three instructor-level figures behind them, including Meng Shenji, and immediately greeted them respectfully.
"Tianheng, what's going on? Teacher Qin Ming doesn't seem like someone who would compromise so easily."
In the crowd, Dugu Yan, dressed in a green skirt, asked curiously, turning to Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng, who had also stopped his dragon transformation training, looked at Xiao Lin's group with interest.
So domineering...
As the strongest among them, Yu Tianheng had already taken an interest in Xiao Lin, sensing the immense energy contained within his body.
"Yanyan, they're probably here to challenge us. Teacher Qin Ming already approved them."
Aside from Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, many others were also curious about Xiao Lin and his companions.
Undoubtedly, as students who trusted Qin Ming's judgment, they felt a bit of pressure. It was clear — someone had come to challenge them.
In the crowd, the youngest member, Ning Rongrong, peeked out from behind Ye Lingling, her curiosity piqued.
These people… they look really young?
Ning Rongrong had grown up around many of her clan's younger generation and had played around with more than a few of them.
But people who looked as young and inexperienced as Xiao Lin and his group, while still clearly in their early to mid-teens, were rare.
Now, she was curious — could these three really be that young?
"They're probably just here to be substitutes."
Ning Rongrong muttered to herself.
Ever since Yu Xiaogang stopped being regarded as a master, her father, Ning Fengzhi, had never mentioned Shrek Academy around her again.
While Shrek did produce someone like Qin Ming, with the emergence of new soul ring limits and new theories, Ning Fengzhi obviously hoped Ning Rongrong would study somewhere more advanced.
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, while not perfect, was already highly suitable compared to other high-level institutions.
And so, Ning Rongrong came here to study.
"I don't think so."
Ye Lingling gave a completely opposite assessment.
She could tell that Xiao Lin and the others were extremely proud — a kind of pride she had only seen in Yu Tianheng after he obtained his fourth soul ring.
As for others their age, she couldn't say.
"Clap! Clap!"
Qin Ming clapped his hands, and soon, all members of the Emperor Battle Team gathered.
He introduced Xiao Lin and the others to the whole team — including their ages, soul power levels, and martial spirits.
Naturally, this left everyone stunned.
These Emperor Battle Team members were all geniuses from prestigious clans, hailed as prodigies.
And yet, compared to these unknowns from a backwater town like Nuoding City, they suddenly felt overshadowed — like starlight before the bright moon.
Were they really from a small place like that?
Noticing their shifting emotions, Qin Ming was secretly pleased.
Perfect. This'll help deflate some of their overconfidence.
"Alright, they're officially substitutes on our team now. But of course, Xiao Lin and the others don't want to just be substitutes. To become full members, they'll need to spar with you."
As soon as Qin Ming said this, aside from Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling, the rest of the members felt intense pressure.
Crap, it's aimed at me.
That was the shared thought among them.
"So, who wants to go first?"
Qin Ming smiled at Xiao Lin's group.
"I'll go!"
From the beginning, Xiao Wu had been eager for battle.
She never won against Xiao Lin or Tang San at the academy — but here? No way she was going to lose!
Yearning for victory, Xiao Wu raised her hand and looked excitedly at the Emperor Battle Team members.
"Xiao Wu, you're an agility-type battle soul master, right? Then do you want to fight Oslo or Yufeng? They're both Level 39 agility-types."
Qin Ming chuckled, then gave her a brief rundown of their martial spirits.
One was a Ghost Leopard, the other a Wind Bell Bird.
Xiao Wu chose the Ghost Leopard, of course — picking the fragile flying bird wouldn't showcase her strength.
After all, if she instant-killed the bird in midair with a teleport, that would be kind of embarrassing. A tougher opponent like the Ghost Leopard was better — the fight would last longer.
Soon, after Xiao Wu made her choice, Qin Ming led everyone to a Soul Arena platform.
"Alright, the arena has a barrier strong enough to withstand Soul King-level attacks. Don't worry about getting hurt."
He reassured Xiao Lin and Tang San before officiating the match.
"Oslo, Martial Spirit: Ghost Leopard, Level 39 Soul Exalt.""Xiao Wu, Martial Spirit: Soft-Boned Rabbit, Level 38 Soul Exalt."
After exchanging respectful introductions, the battle officially began.
Almost immediately, Oslo activated his three soul rings — two yellow, one purple — glowing beneath his feet.
Then, in a flash, he completed his Martial Spirit possession and lunged toward Xiao Wu's side with explosive speed.
He was so fast, it rivaled bullet trains from Xiao Lin's previous life. (Note: In the original story, the Shrek Seven Devils already had speeds like this. If not, just accept this setting.)
As an agility-type fighter, Oslo always aimed to end battles quickly — it conserved stamina and let him harass other enemies.
Using only his second soul ring, his speed was already ghost-like. Within moments, he had closed the distance to Xiao Wu's flank.
But then…
Xiao Wu smirked mischievously.
In the blink of an eye, she activated her second soul ring — a purple ring flashed — and she vanished from Oslo's vision.
"Impossible!"
Oslo was stunned. Even agility-types at the Soul Ancestor level shouldn't be able to disappear from view unless they used their fourth soul skill.
What just happened?
"Idiot leopard! Behind you!"
Outside the arena, Yufeng couldn't help but shout a warning.
Sure enough, just as Oslo lost sight of her, Xiao Wu had already reappeared behind him.
But she didn't use her teleportation technique — that trump card was one Xiao Lin had told her to save for the final tournament.
No, this dodge was purely from using her second soul skill.
Why was it so effective?
Simple — Xiao Wu's speed had become absurd.
With her third soul ring derived from the Lightning Rabbit, which emphasized extreme speed and mechanics, her base movement had increased tremendously.
Normal agility-types only get a boost to movement speed.
But Xiao Wu had boosts to everything: movement, reaction, attack speed — the whole package.
So when Oslo thought he saw her using a soul skill, it was really just an afterimage — a visual ghost left behind.
Because Oslo's second skill, Ghost Step, only improved movement, not reaction time, he couldn't keep up.
Author's Notes:
On the Female Lead:
Most readers seem to prefer the Three-Eyed Golden Lion as the female lead — or no female lead at all.
So for now, I'll continue writing it as no romance, while subtly incorporating the Three-Eyed Golden Lion storyline. They'll just be normal friends for now, no emotional drama.
On Power Levels:
The male lead took ~10 months to go from Spirit Awakening to Level 20.
By Level 25, it was about one semester later — around four months, so roughly 2 levels in 4 months (1 level every 2 months).
At that pace, it would take 10 more months to reach Level 30 — that's nearly 2 years.
Currently, he's Level 39. Gaining 2–3 levels per soul ring is plausible, considering the far southern volcanic region quest and a month-long journey.
Plus, with his compressed soul power, soul core, second dantian, and external spirit bones, his progression makes perfect sense.