Douluo Continent: My name is Lu Mingfei, and my martial soul is Lu Mingze.

Elder Xuan's hair was still as messy as a bird's nest, but the two eyes peeking out from behind the messy hair shone with a strange light, staring straight at Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. After staring at them for a long time, he stared at Lu Mingfei for a while longer.

With the help of the teachers, the students who had been unconscious regained consciousness one after another.

Some were still rubbing the back of their necks, while others limped to their feet, supporting their backs.

No one left; all eyes were on Elder Xuan.

One of the bolder students couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "I haven't even used my soul skill yet..."

Old Master Xuan took a bite of his chicken leg, and upon hearing this, he snorted, "You're not convinced?"

No one spoke, but the silence itself was the answer.

Elder Xuan's gaze swept over the disgruntled students, then he took another bite of the chicken leg. As he chewed, fat dripped from the corner of his mouth, which he casually wiped away with his sleeve.

"Do you think my chaotic selection process is unfair? That many of you lost without even being able to perform to your full potential?"

Silence remained.

Old Master Xuan curled his lip, casually tossed the chicken bone aside, and the bone traced an arc in the air before landing squarely in the corner.

He sucked the oil off his fingers and said, "But isn't this really unfair? This free-for-all is against each and every one of you. If it were a battlefield, could you decide the number of enemies and the situation you'd face?"

More people are remaining silent.

"You cannot," Elder Xuan answered for them.

"At least this chaotic battle puts you all on the same starting line, rather than in a desperate situation. None of you are qualified to become inner court disciples with your current mindset."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word contained a powerful spiritual force, like an invisible hammer striking the hearts of the trainees on the sidelines.

"This seemingly unfair free-for-all is actually the best way to test your overall strength. In this brief free-for-all, I have seen your ability to cooperate, your individual strength, and even your character. The saying 'Those who are virtuous will receive much help' is not something you should just listen to."

"To get help, you first need to be well-liked, and secondly, you need to have sufficient ability. A person with a withdrawn personality can never achieve great things."

"These chaotic assessments are commonplace in the inner academy. If you don't even have this much reaction speed, what qualifications do you have to become inner academy disciples?"

Old Master Xuan's voice suddenly turned somber. He stopped gnawing on the chicken leg, and his gaze behind his disheveled hair became deep and heavy.

"Do you know what kind of situation the inner court disciples faced during their most difficult time? Once, twelve inner court disciples faced a 100,000-year-old soul beast after being separated from their teachers. Eight of the twelve died in battle. But the four who survived became the top talents in the inner court, and one of them even obtained the soul ring and soul bone of that 100,000-year-old soul beast."

Lu Mingfei's lips twitched.

He thought to himself, "How dare this old man bring up these things?"

However, he didn't expose him, but simply lowered his eyelids and let him continue.

Elder Xuan has already lost enough by being removed from his position as head of the inspection team and being punished by having his offerings reduced and being banned from drinking. There's no need to embarrass him again in front of so many people.

Elder Xuan's gaze seemingly casually swept across Lu Mingfei's face, and seeing that he didn't intend to speak, he continued.

"Don't think that becoming a core disciple guarantees becoming an inner court disciple. Becoming an inner court disciple is not an honor, but rather means you have just stepped through a gate—a gate of life and death."

"Do you know what the first thing students do after becoming inner court disciples is?"

The entire room fell silent.

"It's signing a life-or-death agreement," Elder Xuan said, emphasizing each word.

"In pursuit of the ultimate Soul Master, one must disregard life and death to achieve what others cannot. No matter your background, once you enter Shrek Academy's inner court, you become a true member of Shrek, and the mark of Shrek will be imprinted on you for life."

"But similarly, we will face enormous crises at every moment, and there is always the possibility of losing our lives."

The trainees on the sidelines unconsciously straightened their bodies.

"While you are in the outer courtyard, the academy will do its utmost to ensure your safety. But if you enter the inner courtyard, you will face the most brutal test. What is it that allows Shrek Academy to remain the number one academy on the continent for millennia?"

"It's all thanks to the relentless hard work of Shrek Academy's inner court disciples. I can tell you definitively that Shrek Academy rarely has more than fifty inner court disciples. That's because almost every year, an inner court disciple dies."

At this point, Elder Xuan paused, his gaze sharpening again as he swept his gaze across each student's face.

"Does anyone else have questions?"

No one spoke. The previous expressions of resentment, frustration, and desire to complain had all turned into silence.

Seeing this, Elder Xuan nodded slightly and then magically produced a new chicken leg—no one knew how many he had hidden on his person.

"Since there are no problems, then everyone go home. You seven," he gestured with a chicken leg towards Lu Mingfei and the others.

"Leave."

The trainees at the edge of the venue gradually dispersed.

Dai Huabin was the last to leave, supported by two students. When he reached the door, he looked back and his lips moved, but in the end he didn't say anything.

After everyone left, Elder Xuan finished gnawing on the second chicken leg, leaving not a single shred of meat on the bone, and then let out a satisfied burp.

"The seven of you are the newly selected core disciples." Elder Xuan looked at the seven people in front of him, his tone unusually serious.

"From today onwards, you are the new generation of Shrek Seven Devils."

The words "Shrek Seven Devils" seemed to weigh heavily in the air, like stones hitting the surface of water.

Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly lit up, and his breathing became a little rapid.

Wang Dong was also excited, her fists clenched, while Xiao Xiao beside her pursed her lips, her eyes slightly red.

It seems that all the hard work we've put in over the years has finally been recognized.

Beibei still wore a gentle smile, but joy still shone through her eyes.

Even Jiang Nannan's usually indifferent eyes now had a bit more brilliance.

Lu Mingfei stood on the far side, his hands in his pockets, his expression calm.

He was already an inner disciple and was still cultivating under Elder Song's tutelage, so whether or not he participated in this competition didn't really matter to him.

If it weren't for Qian Duoduo and Old Song holding him back, he really wouldn't have wanted to come. A fight would be too easy and pointless.

Seeing how happy Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were, he didn't say anything to spoil the mood, but just slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

Elder Xuan continued, "You were chosen for two reasons: one is to serve as the reserve team for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, and the other is to serve as substitutes for the main participants. The main participants are inner court disciples, and although you are only on the reserve team and as substitutes, being able to go and watch the games together will be an extremely valuable experience for you."

He then changed the subject: "However, today's selection competition doesn't represent everything. In the coming days, you will be subject to constant scrutiny, and only those with sufficient strength will ultimately be able to represent the academy. You will undergo multiple assessments in the process."

"So if you really want to represent the academy in the competition, the first thing you need to do is make sure you can get into the inner academy."

Huo Yuhao and the others still couldn't hide the excitement on their faces.

Representing Shrek Academy and becoming the new generation of Shrek Seven Devils is undoubtedly the highest honor they can obtain in the academy, more significant than any medal or title.

Lu Mingfei, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi are basically already inner court disciples, so this requirement does not pose a pressure on them.

But for Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Jiang Nannan, and Xiao Xiao, entering the inner courtyard was a hurdle they had to overcome.

Elder Xuan then took out another oil paper package from his pocket, this time containing a whole roasted duck.

He tore off a duck leg, took a bite, and mumbled, "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Let's call it a day. Starting tomorrow, the seven of you will train together. Stop training individually. Our goal for this competition is to defeat the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy."