"Joining the Shrek Supervisory Group means risking your life. There's no glory in it—and no compensation either."
Xuan Lao's voice was solemn as he swept his gaze across the group. "Now, the nine of you from the outer courtyard, give me your answer. Join, or quit."
"Join!"
The reply came loud and unanimous.
Xuan Lao chuckled, genuinely pleased. The seven inner courtyard students and even Wang Yan looked at them with renewed respect.
"Good," Xuan Lao nodded. "I knew you brats weren't cowards." He turned slightly. "Xiaotao, explain the mission. Xiao Wang, distribute the gear."
"Yes, sir."
Wang Yan stepped forward, opening a special soul guide and producing a set of silver-white rings. Each bore a green gem as vivid as life itself, and engraved on the surface was the emblem of Shrek's dragon head.
"These rings aren't just symbolic," Wang Yan said, passing them out to the reserve team. "They're a mark of your entry into Shrek's hidden arm. Wear them with care."
Huo Yuhao looked at his ring thoughtfully, then silently pulled out a similar token from his own belongings—something he had received from Elder Zhiyong before his trip to the extreme north.
Chen Junting noticed.
"Every top-tier force has their version of this," Junting said casually. "The functions vary, but if you're ever causing trouble outside, remember—they might be tracking you too."
"Come on, Brother Junting, I'm not that kind of guy," Huo Yuhao chuckled sheepishly.
Junting clicked his tongue. "Not yet. Just don't forget what I said."
As the others admired their new gear, Junting turned back to Ma Xiaotao. But only Wang Dong noticed something strange—Yuhao staring at the ring, eyes hardening with an emotion he rarely showed: hatred.
Then Ma Xiaotao began her mission briefing.
"This group calls themselves the Hand of Death. They're bandits—but worse. Led by an evil soul master known as the Death Messenger. This isn't a capture mission. We eliminate everyone. No survivors."
Her tone was cold. Merciless.
"Kill everything," she said bluntly. "Even the eggs. Even the earthworms. There are no innocents among them."
Her words made many of the outer courtyard students visibly tense.
Except Chen Junting and Ning Tian.
They had already seen blood spilled firsthand. During their vacation, Elder Zhiyong had executed an evil soul master in front of them—split the man's skull, leaving blood and brains across the floor.
Still, something about this mission gnawed at Junting. The Death Messenger...
The strongest Soul King.
If memory served, this fight was a disaster in the original timeline. Yao Haoxuan died, and the rest were nearly wiped out. Only three walked away in the end.
His eyes scanned the group. Chen Zifeng. Xixi. Gong Yangmo.
Were they the ones who survived?
Wang Yan stepped up next. He asked He Caitou to prepare cigars—the kind powered by his first soul skill. Mental focus enhancers. Essential when facing twisted evil soul masters whose abilities could warp the senses or corrupt the soul.
Even Ma Xiaotao nodded in agreement.
Then came Wang Yan's last point.
"If you have soul tools, prepare them—especially for defense. Gong Yangmo, Xixi, Yao Haoxuan, Chen Zifeng—you all tend to rush into the fray without protection."
"Tsk."
The sound of scorn wasn't subtle.
Junting turned. It came from Ma Xiaotao. Her face held open disdain—not just for soul tools, but for Wang Yan himself.
Wang Yan heard it. Everyone did.
He froze for a second. The polite smile faltered, but he held himself together. Just barely.
Then, like rubbing salt in the wound, Yao Haoxuan added with a nervous glance at Ma Xiaotao, "I'll skip the soul tool too, Teacher Wang…"
That hit harder than the sneer.
Thankfully, Chen Zifeng had better sense. He'd been on the wrong end of a soul tool before and knew better than to dismiss them. He turned to Gong Yangmo.
"Got a spare shield?"
"Sorry," Gong Yangmo replied. "I only brought ranged gear. Defense wasn't on my list."
He wasn't kidding.
He had gone full offense—picked out the strongest long-range soul tools and ignored everything else. Even Xixi, though a bit more thoughtful, had skipped defensive tools under the assumption she could dodge everything.
"If I can't dodge it," she'd said, "a shield wouldn't help anyway."
Junting sighed.
Who taught her that? What kind of nonsense is that?
He Caitou and Huo Yuhao stepped in quickly, explaining the importance of balancing offense and defense. Xixi blinked, clearly hearing this for the first time.
"Want to head back to Shrek City to stock up?" she asked hopefully.
Wang Yan looked toward Xuan Lao for permission.
But before anyone could answer, Junting spoke up.
"No need. We've got spares."
He and Ning Tian each retrieved an invincible shield soul guide from their storage rings.
He Caitou's jaw dropped. "Two of them?! Those are insanely rare!"
Then he paused, remembering. Right. Nine Treasures Glazed Sect. Of course they'd have top-tier gear.
As the news spread, Chen Zifeng and the others hesitated.
These things weren't cheap.
"Junior brother," Chen Zifeng said finally, "We'll buy them from you."
Junting and Ning Tian nodded and sold them at market price. No discounts, but no price gouging either.
And just like that, the team was better equipped.
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(End of Chapter)
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