Truly Tyrannical

Yu Xiaogang answered, "This time, we should look for a suitable beast spirit. That way your defense or regeneration can be achieved. I'm thinking perhaps the Thousand Ton Tortoise would be good for defense. For regeneration, perhaps a snake type spirit beast since they're able to shed skin and regrow."

Fang Youyou nodded. The group set off, heading deeper into the forest.

As they walked, Ru Shenqi asked, "What are you new spirit skills?"

The other five grinned. Liao Suyin explained, "Other than Xingyun, we all got millennium year spirit rings."

Fang Youyou turned to Gu Xingyun. "What did you get then, Xingyun?"

"A decade millennium spirit beast became my fourth ring."

Ru Shenqi's eyes lit up. "Hey, you're still trying to compete with me?!"

He chuckled and patted her head. "How could I compare with Hell's Little Empress?"

Pleased, she turned to Fang Youyou. "You'll surely get a millennium year spirit ring or better. We'll all help you."

The other Shrek Seven Tyrants all nodded in agreement. Watching them, the Golden Iron Triangle smiled.

"Xiaogang, they've become just as close as the Shrek Seven Devils back in their day," Flender noted.

"Yes. And this is what we need. There's only two and a half more years until the Advanced Spirit Master Grand Competition. These little monsters need to work hard and grow as much as possible. We need to find at least three good substitutes. One substitute must be permanent."

Liu Erlong's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Xiao Shen. Similar to what we did with Rongrong, Xiao Shen should not compete until the finals. She's too powerful, and we don't want to reveal our full strength until we go up against the Heaven Dou Empire Imperial Team, the Star Luo Empire Imperial Team, and Spirit Empire's Team. Hu Liena has been training the new generation, and I've heard they're stronger than the Golden Generation." Shaking his head, Yu Xiaogang sighed. "I fear these Shrek Seven Tyrants will have a harder time than the Shrek Seven Devils did."

"Who can we get to replace Xiao Shen for the preliminary and ranking rounds?" Flender asked.

"You're the Dean!" Liu Erlong snapped. "Don't you know if any of your students are any good?!"

Her outburst caught the attention of the Shrek Seven Tyrants. They turned around.

"Vice Dean Liu, is something wrong?"

Liu Erlong glared at Flender. "No, children. Your Dean is just getting lazier in his old age."

"Erlong!" Flender cried despondently.

She hmphed and turned her back to him. Just as they were about to start walking again, there came a forest-shaking roar.

"What sort of spirit beast roars like this?!" Flender and Liu Erlong gasped.

Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "I don't know. The King and Emperor of the Forest are Tang San's rings. What other spirit beast could take their place... I really don't know."

Seven pairs of eyes widened. Seven mouths screamed.

The Golden Iron Triangle spun around to see an Asura Hydra looming over them.

"LUO SAN PAO!"

Golden light suddenly enveloped the three teachers. A triangle pattern appeared on the ground as pillars of golden light shot up from each corner. Luo San Pao rose up into the air and turned into the Golden Saint Dragon Luo San Pao.

"Children, be careful!" Flender yelled.

Bai Shanxin released her spirit and flew up. Shu Jiaxiang shot forward, disappearing. Liao Suyin released her eight legs. Fur sprouted all over Gu Xingyun. An ebony black qin appeared in front of Ming Yong, and the Rainbow Colored Flowering Lotus appeared in Fang Youyou's hand. Ru Shenqi's eyes flashed, turned transparent and lucent.

"Grandmaster!" she called out. "Would this Asura Hydra be suitable for Youyou?!"

The spirit beast roared again.

"Yes! It should be a millennium year spirit beast, and its regeneration ability is unparalleled."

"First spirit skill, Flowering Lotus Blossom!"

Everyone gained a five percent stamina boost. From somewhere in front of them, they heard Shu Jiaxiang call, "Third spirit skill, Shadow Cheetah Fog!"

Soon, a black poisonous fog spread towards the Asura Hydra. The fog condensed around it, poison activating.

Liao Suyin explained, "This is Jiaxiang's third spirit skill. Her fog can spread for three meters and is poisonous. She's also the only one who can detoxify it."

Fang Youyou and Ru Shenqi looked amazed.

"First spirit skill, Dragon Qin Vine!"

Qin strings shot out towards the spirit beast, wrapping the seven heads together momentarily.

"Second spirit skill, Dragon Qin Twist!"

Ming Yong tried to control the Asura Hydra's movements, but since his spiritual power still was too low, his mental strength began to wane quickly.

"Third spirit skill, Swift Charm!"

The spirit beast fell into Bai Shanxin's trap and was stunned momentarily.

Just then, Yu Xiaogang cried, "Break wind like striking thunder, rumble the heavens and split the earth Luo San Pao!"

The Golden Saint Dragon Luo San Pao sent an enormous shockwave in the direction of the spirit beast. After being hit, the spirit beast retaliated.

As the Asura Hydra prepared to strike, Ru Shenqi cried, "Third spirit skill, Clear Crystal Armor!"

Everyone was suddenly surrounded by an invisible shield. Liao Suyin enhanced hers even further by crying, "Third spirit skill, Tarantula Reign!"

A full set of jade armor covered her body and tarantula legs. She leapt up and ran forward. getting closer to the spirit beast, she used her poisonous legs to stab into the Asura Hydra's feet. It let out a roar of pain, shaking the ground.

"Second spirit skill, Heavenly Lion Thunder!" Bright white light surrounded Gu Xingyun as his attributes increased. "Fourth spirit skill, Raging Heavenly Lion!"

His strength and defense both increased by another fifteen percent. He roared, "Third spirit skill, Battering Heavenly Lion!"

Dashing forward, he rammed right into the front left leg of the Asura Hydra, breaking its bones. With the other half of his fourth spirit skill, he swiped at the leg with his front claws, drawing blood. The spirit beast roared again. Gu Xingyun yelled, "Jiaxiang!"

She appeared by him, grabbed him, and shot off. Back twenty meters, they stopped.

Ru Shenqi roared, "Death God Domain, Evolved Skill: Demon Hell!"

The entire area went cold. Ice covered the ground, stretching out towards the Asura Hydra. She trapped its feet in ice and smirked.

"First spirit skill, Clear Crystal Scatter!"

Her eyes flashed up at the spirit beast, temporarily stunning it.

"Death God Domain, Evolved Skill: Demon Hell!"

Another layer of coldness seeped into the ground, the trees, and everywhere else around them. Ru Shenqi and Gu Xingyun shared a glance, nodding at each other.

"King Tiger left arm bone skill, King Tiger Halberd!"

Ru Shenqi watched as a golden halberd form in Gu Xingyun's hand. Aiming at the Asura Hydra's chest, his spirit bone skill locked on its opponent. With a roar, he threw the halberd. It's speed and attack power grew the further the halberd flew. When it hit the spirit beast, the halberd had accumulated the attack power of a Spirit Saint's tool spirit. The Asura Hydra screeched and fell forward.

To keep it from attacking them further, Ru Shenqi called out, "Swift Demon Cougar skull bone skill, Swift Demon Attack!"

Other than Fang Youyou, no one had seen her spirit bone's skill yet. When each of the Asura Hydra's heads fell under her effect, it roared, going crazy.

"First spirit skill, Flowering Lotus Blossom!"

"First spirit skill, Dragon Qin Vine!"

Fang Youyou boosted Ming Yong while he tied up the fallen spirit beast. Everyone relaxed, and the Golden Iron Triangle's Golden Saint Dragon Luo San Pao disappeared.

Knife in hand, Fang Youyou walked forward and stabbed the spirit beast in its chest again, killing it. Moments later, a purple millennium spirit ring appeared. He sat down and began to absorb the ring.

Flender looked at the kids. "Tyrannical Tyrants. You truly are too tyrannical. The spirit master world will quiver under your feet someday."

Yu Xiaogang added, "Well done. You coordinated well and helped catch this Asura Hydra for Youyou."

"Dean Flender, Vide Dean Liu, Grandmaster..."

"What is it, Xiao Shen?" Liu Erlong asked.

"I- I've broken through to level fifty."

"A SPIRIT KING?! ALREADY!" the other kids cried and gasped.

She nodded. "After fighting this spirit beast, I broke through the bottleneck I've been at for a year now."

"Good, good," Flender nodded.

"Well, we'll stay to get your spirit ring too, Xiao Shen," Yu Xiaogang said. "Another beast with good eyesight will be beneficial for you."

"If we don't come across any suitable spirit beasts, don't worry. I can wait and keep accumulating spirit power."

"The higher your spirit power level, the harder it will be to level up. The spirit ring will help your level fifty growth."

"Xiao Shen understands."

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After two hours, Fang Youyou stood up. He grinned.

"Everyone, thank you," he said as he saluted. "I got what I wanted."

"What is your third spirit skill?" Flender asked.

"Third spirit skill, Flowering Lotus Regrowth!"

Lotus petals flew over to everyone. They instantly felt revived and at their peak again.

Fang Youyou explained, "My third skill doesn't use up as much spirit power. It also grants up to ten spirit masters a guaranteed fifty percent return of spirit power."

"EH, WHAT?!"