Chapter 34 Core Disciple SelectionSeveral days later, as the class bell rang, the day's lessons concluded.Their homeroom teacher, Zhou Yi, packed up her lesson plans, her gaze sweeping over the class as she said in a deep voice, "All core disciples, stay behind. We're going to the Douluo Combat Zone in a bit."At these words, the core disciples in the classroom immediately perked up, their eyes showing anticipation. They had been waiting for this day for a long time; the selection for the Shrek Seven Devils reserve team was finally about to begin!The number of core disciples in this year's second grade far exceeded previous years. In their class alone, there were nine: Dai Youheng, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Huang Chutian.Adding Dai Huabin, Xie Huanyue, Zhu Lu, and Wu Feng from Class Two, and the support system Spirit Master Ning Tian from Class Three, the total reached thirteen. This number was extremely rare in Shrek Outer Court history, even comparable to the combined core disciples of the third and fourth grades.The thirteen second-year core disciples, led by Zhou Yi, arrived at the Douluo Combat Zone in a grand procession.After a short wait, Dai Youheng saw several familiar figures. Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan arrived together. They were fifth-year core disciples and currently the most cultivated individuals in the Outer Court, all having reached the four-ring Spirit Ancestor level.At this age, four rings were a huge turning point.Additionally, one person came from the Soul Tool Department: He Caitou. He was tall and had an honest face. The original body hadn't really fawned over him much before, mainly because He Caitou was from the Soul Tool Department, so there were fewer opportunities to meet.Soon, all core disciples participating in the selection, from second to fifth grade, a total of twenty-seven people, stood neatly in a row.Dai Youheng's gaze swept over the crowd, and he could clearly feel two distinct waves of hostility: one from the sullen-faced Dai Huabin, and the other from the ill-intentioned Xu Sanshi."Interesting!" Dai Youheng immediately had a plan in mind. Perhaps he could make good use of the conflict between these two and their hostility towards him.Just then, Yan Shaozhe also arrived, but he did not immediately announce the start, seemingly waiting for something.Sure enough, a swaying, tottering figure slowly walked over from a distance. He held a large wine gourd in one hand and a greasy chicken leg in the other, reeking of alcohol, his face obscured by disheveled hair. He staggered with every step, as if he might fall at any moment."Xuan Zi?" Dai Youheng thought to himself. This was one of the true giants of Shrek Academy, the Gluttonous Douluo, Xuan Zi.In Shrek Academy, besides this person, who was jokingly called the "Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult," who else would fit this description?His Spirit, the Gluttonous Divine Ox, was a top-tier Beast Spirit, infinitely powerful, but its side effect was that it would give the host a gluttonous characteristic, like a gluttonous beast, always in a state of hunger.Therefore, Xuan Zi always had meat in his mouth and wine in his hand."Shao Zhe," Elder Xuan greeted, his eyes hazy with drunkenness."Elder Xuan," Yan Shaozhe immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully."Is everyone here?" Elder Xuan asked, taking a swig of wine."Reporting, Elder Xuan, everyone is here. Twenty-five core disciples from the second to fifth grade of the Spirit Department, one core disciple from the Soul Tool Department, and one dual-system core disciple, Huo Yuhao, totaling twenty-seven people," Yan Shaozhe reported."Hmm, then let's go in," Elder Xuan mumbled in response, then swayed and led the way into the Douluo Combat Zone.Many core disciples, especially those in lower grades, had never seen Elder Xuan and couldn't help but exchange glances and whisper. Dai Huabin even couldn't resist muttering to Xie Huanyue next to him, "Who is this drunkard?"Elder Xuan walked to the center of the Douluo Combat Zone, let out a burp, and slurred drunkenly, "Listen up, you brats! Today's assessment is very simple, it's called a collective free-for-all! Within this Douluo Combat Zone, you can fight however you want, there are no rules. Those who surrender, or are knocked out or rescued, are eliminated! The last seven people standing are the winners! Alright, teachers, get out. When I yell'start,' you can begin fighting!"Such simple and brutal rules left many students stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.The teachers, of course, dared not defy Elder Xuan and quickly exited the center of the arena.Just then, the ground of the Douluo Combat Zone emitted a faint rumble! Thick stone walls suddenly rose from underground, instantly dividing the entire arena, forming a complex and constantly changing mobile maze!"Brother Youheng!" Lan Susu exclaimed. She was standing right at the edge of a rising stone wall, trying to pull her sister Lan Luoluo towards Dai Youheng, but it was already too late. The moving walls instantly separated them and randomly divided everyone else into different areas of the maze.This maze was not only complex in structure and constantly changing, but its scope would also continuously shrink inward over time, eventually forcing all survivors into the central area for a decisive battle. To gain an advantage before the final melee, one had to eliminate more opponents as quickly as possible during the maze phase.Many low-grade students' first thought was to find and cling to the coattails of their senior classmates.But Dai Youheng had no intention of seeking out or protecting the Lan Sisters; he actually hoped they would be eliminated.This competition was destined to be turbulent. In the original work, the reserve team would soon encounter evil Spirit Masters after its formation, led by Elder Xuan, suffering heavy casualties. Keeping them in the academy to safely obtain their third spirit ring was far safer than letting them go on an adventure.He walked unhurriedly through the maze alone, not rushing towards the central area, but calmly observing and thinking."My goal isn't to win, but to be reasonably eliminated. But I can't be too obvious... It would be best to create some chaos and, while I'm at it, cause some trouble for those two guys who don't like me."As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he shall appear.Just as he rounded a corner, he bumped into someone he didn't want to meet at the moment: Dai Huabin.The moment Dai Huabin saw Dai Youheng, his eyes instantly erupted with fury and fighting Spirit, "Dai Youheng, I finally found you!"Dai Youheng was speechless, but his face showed a perfectly timed hint of "apprehension," and he turned and ran without hesitation!"Stop, you bastard! You're not getting away!" Dai Huabin roared, immediately activating his spirit power and chasing after him!However, the maze walls moved again at just the right time. A stone wall rose with a "boom," perfectly cutting off Dai Huabin's pursuit, leaving him to furiously punch the wall."Such bad luck, to run into Dai Huabin first." After shaking off his pursuer, Dai Youheng slowed his pace. "But that's good, I've confirmed his approximate location. Now I need to find—Xu Sanshi!"It would be best if Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin appeared together; only then could his plan be perfectly executed.
