Another Kind of Genius

Motivated by Yu Xiaogang's words, the Shrek Seven Tyrants all cultivated hard and fought well in the Grand Spirit Arena. Just four months later, they were preparing for their last battle in Heaven Dou City's Grand Spirit Arena.

"Do your best, children," Flender encouraged. "If you win this last battle, you'll all be levelled up to a platinum spirit battle team. Then, you're one step closer to graduating."

Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong suddenly entered the waiting area. In his hands was the information on the opposing team.

"Grandmaster?" Bai Shanxin began. "Who are we fighting this time?"

"The Heavenly Septet Battle Team. Let me tell you all this right now: fight fairly, but don't be harsh on this team."

Ru Shenqi's eyebrows furrowed. "The only time we didn't let anyone off was that Barbarian Battle Team. Everyone other team has left without minimal injuries."

"Yes, but don't leave them injured. Shu Jiaxiang, Liao Suyin if you poison them, once the team concedes, detoxify them. Bai Shanxin, be careful on the intensity of your third spirit skill. Ming Yong, don't use your third spirit skill. Gu Xingyun, don't use your spirit bone skill. Xiao Shen... I don't want you using your wire in this battle."

Flender stepped forward. "Xiaogang, are you asking them to concede before they even fight?"

"Flender, the captain of this team has the Heavenly Swan spirit."

Flender choked and nodded. "Very well, very well."

Gu Xingyun's eyes flashed down. Ru Shenqi noticed but didn't say anything.

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When the Shrek Seven Tyrants ascended the stairs of the main stage, waiting for them was the Heavenly Septet Battle Team. Each of their members were dressed in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's uniform. Looking around, the Shrek Seven Tyrants saw no spectators. The only audience members were the Emperor of Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Beng, and the Golden Iron Triangle.

Xue Beng turned to Yu Xiaogang. "I've heard about these Shrek Seven Tyrants. They're truly worthy of Shrek Academy, and I can't wait to see how they do."

"Your Majesty is too kind. It's your younger cousin that's the captain, right, Xue Ziyou¹自由 - "Freedom"?"

Xue Beng nodded. "Now, is there anyone I should especially watch for?"

Flender grinned mischievously. "All seven are spectacular. But... there are two from this group that you should pay attention to. After the battle, Erlong and Xiaogang will bring them to greet you."

"Alright. I'll wait and watch the battle."

Down on the stage, Ru Shenqi stepped forward to greet Xue Ziyou. Xue Beng noticed her height difference.

"How old are your Shrek Seven Tyrants?"

"Our oldest is sixteen. Our youngest... is eleven."

"ELEVEN?!"

Liu Erlong added, "Yes, the captain of the Shrek Seven Tyrants is eleven."

"Release your spirits!" the announcer cried.

Both teams' sides lit up. On the Heavenly Septet's end, fourteen yellow rings and fourteen purple rings shone brightly. On the Shrek Seven Tyrants' side, twelve yellow rings, six purple rings, and one stunning black decade millennium ring glared. Ru Shenqi instead released her external spirit bone, black scales quickly lighting on fire.

The captain with the Heavenly Swan was their strongest team member. Their vice captain displayed her impressive tool spirit, Blight Fan. Another spirit master released their tool spirit, White Rose Scepter.

A gasp escaped from Ru Shenqi's lips. Could he be related to Teacher Cang?

A female spirit master released her Fire Crane beast spirit and flew up. 

Shanxin is going to have her hands full. I'll see what I can do to help her.

Two other spirit masters released their Yellow Monkey spirits.

Two agility attack spirit masters.

"Jiaxiang, Suyin, watch those two agility system spirit masters."

They nodded.

The last spirit master on the Heavenly Septet Battle team revealed her elemental spirit, Chilling Snowflake. Ru Shenqi swallowed.

"Yong, you have to control. I'm restricted by that snowflake over there."

"Alright."

"Let the spirit battle begin!"

"Now!" Ru Shenqi yelled.

Bai Shanxin took to the air. Fang Youyou boosted them all with a five percent stamina boost. Ming Yong's black ebony qin appeared in front of him. Liao Suyin's Jade Poison Tarantula legs sprouted from her back. When Gu Xingyun released his Golden Heavenly Lion spirit, Xue Beng's eyes widened. Xue Ziyou looked equally shocked.

"The Crown Prince of Guang Kingdom?" Xue Beng inquired, curious.

The Golden Iron Triangle looked at him. "Who?"

Xue Beng nodded downwards. "That boy who released that Golden Heavenly Lion. Is he your eldest?"

"Yes," Yu Xiaogang answered.

"Then he should be the Crown Prince of Xing Luo Empire's Guang Kingdom."

Four pairs of eyes rested on Gu Xingyun.

Ru Shenqi lifted off the ground just enough to keep an eye on every member of the Heavenly Septet Battle Team. Shu Jiaxiang activated her first spirit ring and disappeared. Liao Suyin rushed forward.

Ru Shenqi flew up next to Bai Shanxin. Calling down, she said, "Watch out for that White Rose Scepter tool spirit. It has powerful control and power attack abilities."

With her warning, Gu Xingyun let out a growl and activated his second spirit skill, Heavenly Lion Thunder, increasing all of his attributes by five percent. Then, he said, "First spirit skill, Heavenly Lion Roar!"

He roared, temporarily deafening the opponents. Quickly taking the opportunity, Ru Shenqi cried, "Yong!"

"Second spirit skill, Dragon Qin Twist!"

Suddenly, three qin strings shot out. As Ming Yong played a song on his qin, he was able to direct the Chilling Snowflake spirit master, the Fire Crane spirit master, and the White Rose Scepter spirit master off of the stage.

Ru Shenqi thought, It's a pity Yong can only control seven at a time. Since there's only seven strings on his qin, he can't go over that limit, and that's the biggest problem with his second spirit skill. For now, while we're battling seven spirit masters, it's fine. But if the future... if there's more than seven, this restriction is too great.

Now left with the two agility spirit masters and the vice captain and captain, Bai Shanxin and Ru Shenqi descended to the ground.

"Retreat!"

Liao Suyin, Shu Jiaxiang, and Gu Xingyun returned to the others. They formed their usual 3-4 formation.

Ru Shenqi said, "Xingyun, use your halberd to scare off the agility attack masters. Just lockdown near them, but not on them."

"But Grandmaster said not to use it."

"How are we supposed to deal with those two agility attack spirit masters? Jiaxiang and Shanxin can only wind up chasing those monkeys. Even with Youyou's boost, it'll be difficult to catch up with their stamina. And... they're Spirit Ancestors whereas five of us are Spirit Elders. The spirit power level different is wide. I don't want any of you to get hurt. Not under my command."

A bird cry went up, and the first spirit skill of the Heavenly Swan activated. "Wind Gust!"

"One line!" Ru Shenqi cried.

The formed one line with Gu Xingyun in front. Then, Liao Suyin, Bai Shanxin, Shu Jiaxiang, Ru Shenqi, Ming Yong, and lastly Fang Youyou.

"Third spirit skill, Raging Heavenly Lion!" After his strength and defense boost, Gu Xingyun called out, "Second spirit skill, Battering Heavenly Lion!"

He leaned forward and prepared to barge. As the wind gust reached them, Gu Xingyun ran straight forward into it, splitting the wind to each side.

"Tiger King Halberd!"

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and sighed. Flender's eyebrows furrowed.

"Wasn't Xingyun not supposed to reveal the halberd?"

"Xiao Shen must've chosen to do it anyways for a reason."

Liu Erlong knew better. "Those agility attack spirit masters. The halberd's for them."

Just then, the halberd flew. It went flying towards the two monkeys. They dodged out of the way, with nowhere to go but off the stage. Xue Ziyou and the vice captain gaped in surprise. Even Yu Xiaogang was stunned.

"Jiaxiang!"

Shu Jiaxiang smirked. "First spirit skill, Shadow Cheetah Silence."

She disappeared and made her way over to the last two. Second spirit skill, Shadow Cheetah Claw. Her nails lengthened even further, and she swiped out at Xue Ziyou, but got blown back by the Blight Fan.

Seeing his teammates wearing down, Fang Youyou called, "Third spirit skill, Flowering Lotus Regrowth!"

After reinvigorating the others, they all nodded in thanks.

Bai Shanxin flew forward. "Second spirit skill, Swift Flight!" As her speed increased, she called, "First spirit skill, Swift Dive!"

She tucked and came diving down towards the vice captain.

"Mimi²高秘密 - "Secret", watch out!" Xue Ziyou called.

Gao Mimi looked up, but she was a moment too late. Bai Shanxin's hands swiped at her, talons knocking her off the stage.

"Go!" Ru Shenqi roared.

Xue Beng watched in confusion as the five Spirit Elders on the Shrek Seven Tyrants' team dove off the stage.

What's going on? Xue Ziyou thought.

Ru Shenqi and Gu Xingyun stood side by side. Together, their voices blended to say, "Death God Domain, Evolved Skill: Demon Hell!"

Xue Ziyou's pupils contracted.

"Two Death Gods?" Xue Beng asked. "Amazing. Teacher should meet them."

"If Xiao San can meet Xiao Shen, that would be great for her," Yu Xiaogang said.

"The girl?"

He nodded.

"Why?"

"You'll see when you meet her."

The whole stage was covered in ice. A freezing coldness enveloped Xue Ziyou. He was locked in their doubled domain.

Ru Shenqi's golden eyes flashed black. "Ultimate Darkness Straight Line!"

Her Fire Dragon Domain activated. With an explosion of purplish-black flames, she shot a direct attack of fire straight towards Xue Ziyou, shocking the Golden Iron Triangle. Using her Fire Dragon Domain, she concealed her black spirit ring.

"Third spirit skill, Clear Crystal Armor," she whispered under her breath.

Secretly, Ru Shenqi launched a shield around Xue Ziyou. When the fire attack hit, it didn't harm the Imperial Prince. When the flames died away, Xue Ziyou bowed his head.

"We concede."

Grinning from ear-to-ear, Ru Shenqi turned towards Gu Xingyun and nodded. The announcer flew down.

"What an amazing battle! The undefeated Shrek Seven Tyrants have continued their winning streak!"

The last two Tyrants hopped down from the stage and walked over to their teammates.

"Xiao Shen, how did their captain block your attack?" Liao Suyin asked. "And we've never seen your external spirit bone release an attack before."

"I was able to make the attack by combining my Ultimate Darkness Wings with my Fire Dragon Domain. And that Swan didn't block my attack. I did."

The other six stared at her in shock. "What do you mean?"

"Like with the Barbarian Battle team, I concealed my third spirit ring and covered him in my shield. I knew he wouldn't be able to take a combined attack from an innate domain and a century millennium spirit bone."

Six jaws dropped. "You protected the opponent?"

"He's a prince of Heaven Dou Empire. That's why Grandmaster said to go easy on them," Gu Xingyun added.

"Well, let's go meet up with Dean Flender, Vice Dean Liu, and Grandmaster," Ming Yong said.

The others nodded, and they set out to go find their teachers. On the way, they came across the specialized point calculation area. There, they received their new badges. All had advanced to the platinum level. As the Shrek Seven tyrants turned around to go, they were stopped by the Heavenly Septet Battle Team. Their captain saluted them.

"The Shrek Seven Tyrants really are capable. We've lost in strategy to you."

Ru Shenqi asked, "Yes, with all of you being Spirit Ancestors, your spirit power totaled is perhaps greater than ours. But don't forget... we have one Spirit Ancestor as well."

Gao Mimi glanced at her haughtily. "I noticed you never showed your spirit rings. I'm sure Ziyou could beat you in a one-on-one with no problem."

"Mimi," he scolded. "She saved me during the last attack."

Shock splashed across the faces of the other Heavenly Septet Battle Team members.

"So I don't know if I could. What rank are you at?"

Ru Shenqi saluted. "Ru Shenqi greets Your Royal Highness. I'm a level fifty nine Spirit King."

Seven teenagers choked.

"WHAT?!"

She smirked and turned to the spirit master who had released the White Rose Scepter.

"Senior, what is your name? I recognized your spirit the moment you released it."

"Cang Wutian³雾天 - "Foggy"."

Cang... could it be?"

"Are you related to Cang Huaban? She's a teacher at Vast Sea City Primary Academy."

He nodded. "She's my paternal aunt. How do you know her?"

"I studied under Teacher Cang. She was always very nice to me and helped me get my first two spirit rings."

"That's good. My aunt is very kind."

"Xiao Shen!" Liu Erlong called.

The Shrek Seven Tyrants turned to see their teachers approaching. Yu Xiaogang said, "Xiao Shen, Xingyun, Your Royal Highness, please come with us. His Majesty would like to see all of you."

Flender added, "I'll take the rest of you back to the academy first."

The Shrek group turned and walked away. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong led the three children to the VIP box for the main stage.

As they entered, he said, "Your Majesty."

Xue Beng turned around. "Ziyou."

"Older Cousin."

The door shut behind them. Xue Beng looked at Gu Xingyun.

"Young man, are you the Crown Prince of the Guang Kingdom in Xing Luo Empire?"