Chapter 68 - 68: Changes

*Boom!* 5x

Several explosion like sounds sounded out to the yard of the Shrek Academy. In the yard showed clouds of dust while a certain group of youths were all grasping in all exhaustion, all except for one.

"What's the matter? Is that it?" Xiao Yan smugly said as he stepped out of the most clouded area, revealing only in his long black training pants and shoes, spreading his arms to show he was unarmed.

"Huu... Fourth brother, we've all been attacking you for the last half an hour and I'm just going to say that, that body of yours is just too bullshit!" Ma Hongjun complained, standing besides his elder sister, the pair of siblings were panting hard as they were both extremely exhausted in using their spirit fusion ability against Xiao Yan. Which was extremely taxing as it was harder to perform now that Ma Xiaotao's spirit had evolved.

Before Ma Xiaotao's spirit evolution, she and her brother's spirit fusion ability would not normally leave them this exhausted. But now her spirit did evolved, it had dropped their spirit harmonization percentage from the hundred percent rate to sixty percent. Enough to perform the spirit fusion without any worries except using more spirit power than their previous performance.

Everyone nodded in agreement with Ma Hongjun as they all stood straight once more in a ready position. Even Oscar and Ning Rongrong, after giving the team boosts with their respective spirits, the pair had their fists turn hard as black iron before turning into gauntlets, they were all ready to attack him.

Spirit power condensation armor. A revamped technique Xiao Yan got from Flame Emperor's memories life in his world. It was a state to be in where a person's energy will solidify on their body, like a secondary skin, to the point of becoming armor and it becomes possible to apply it to other objects.

Honestly, it was like an upgraded Armament Haki from a certain anime from Xiao Yan's past life.

Three months passed of the entire shrek students being trained till they collapsed, as they all had to go beyond their limits everyday by being crushed to near death with Zhao Wuji's gravity control while running from Shrek to Suotuo City without using their spirit power. Which was hell for every single one of them, though except for Xiao Yan who trained his body every single day by carrying his Heavy Xuan Ruler, with only his physical body strength, controlling it's weight to the limits of what his body could handle and increased it when he's being accustomed at the previous weight.

His first spirit, the Heavy Xuan Ruler, is a strange and mysterious spirit that would constantly be absorbing his spirit power, hence slowing down his speed of cultivation. Though Grandmaster had a theory of why it was doing that; is that Xiao Yan's Heavy Xuan Ruler's passive trait of absorbing his spirit power was so it would acc.u.mulate the gathered up spirit power enough for it to have a final awakening.

It may be, a final/third awakening of Xiao Yan's spirit. Grandmaster had came up with the theory as Xiao Yan's second awakening had came during the time when his spirit was too weak and had nothing great about it enough to actually have it's own second awakening. In fact, it should had been impossible for it to happened. As it was just a big and edgeless sword. But for it to undergo a second awakening, it should have been but here it is.

It had shocked Xiao Yan of what he had heard.

Anyways, back to the battle!

The group of students faced against one student, the formers' had looks of determination and courage while the latter was nonchalant.

Being support class type spirit masters, it was abnormal for Oscar and Ning Rongrong to participate in a fight but it was on the orders of Grandmaster. As monsters, they need to defy the common sense. Strengthening their bodies with physical training was just the beginning for the two, augmenting their bodies to fight spirit masters on the same rank as them regardless of their opponents type systems was the second.

With the help of Xiao Yan and Tang San's secret heaven defying techniques, hidden weapons and pills the two weakest of the students can fight those of the Spirit Elder realm and win easily, unless their opponents had some abnormal power that made them stronger than their own rank.

The two support type spirit masters was also able to get combat lessons from the most skilled fighters; Tang San and Dai Mubai. The two of them are the most skilled and suited in CQC(Close Quarter Combat) of students respectively.

Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Ma Xiaotao, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing are all could be said as experts in CQC in their own rights as well but Xiao Yan, Xun Er and the Ma siblings incorporates their fighting styles with flame based attacks while Xiao Wu's fighting style was mostly on her lower body and Zhu Zhuqing was about speed and assassination like style. All which, are not compatible with Oscar and Ning Rongrong's fighting capabilities. With Tang San and Dai Mubai however, being the only two that uses unarmed and physical skills of fighting, they were greatly compatible to teach the two support type spirit masters.

Tang San narrowed his eyes, countless plans and strategies flashed through his eyes as he observed Xiao Yan merely standing carefreely in front of them, as if he wasn't putting them in his eyes.

But Tang San knew, that was just a facade to draw them in. Making them lose their cool, which then would have them create mistakes and openings. The whole team had already tasted that kind of strategy from Xiao Yan several times and they weren't about to fall to it once more.

'But seriously, the guy is f.u.c.k.i.n.g annoying!' Tang San and everyone inwardly thought with scowls on their faces. Xiao Yan's act of being an a.s.s is so overbearing, that even though they had already been deceived by it they just can't help losing themselves to anger.

Heck, even Xun Er, who everyone knew that would always be on Xiao Yan's side, was also annoyed and irritated at the guy to the point of giving him the finger.

Tang San, calmly taking a short deep breath in, revolved his Mysterious Heaven Skill to send his spirit power to his back.

This match of nine versus one was ordered by Grandmaster, after he and the teachers spar against Xiao Yan, only to find out that his tyrannical body could now tank attacks of Spirit Sages after he took severe beatings from them. So, all the teachers decided that Xiao Yan would be able to handle all the other students.

And they were right. As this marks as the 49th battle they have to date, with 49 - 0 of Xiao Yan's favor.

The group was determined that they would not lose today, no, they will rise and defeat the tyrannical emperor that had been plaguing their nightmares with his gloating and boasts.

'No more!' They all thought, their eyes burning in determination.

"Xun Er, this time, don't hesitate to use your third spirit ability! When she does, Ma Xiaotao and Ma Hongjun, prepare to use your spirit fusion ability once more. While the rest of us; me, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong and Xun Er once more would hit him with everything that we got!" Tang San immediately gave out his plan, as he used spirit power condensation armor on his torso, legs and eight spider lances. Taking a darker purple blue shade, becoming a slick, cool and powerful looking armor.

The others followed his lead, each condensing their spirit power to armor on their bodies. Oscar and Ning Rongrong armored their two pairs of legs with

grieves, with silver and pink color on them respectively. Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai had their torso and arms condensed into armor. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Xiaotao however had armor on their torso and legs. While Xun Er however, had her torso and four entire limbs become a golden shin slick beautiful almost complete set of armor.

Xiao Yan merely watched as he saw his friends ready to try and beat him up. He knew that they were both frustrated and annoyed at him for being now unbeatable, body wise, for the last dozens of spars they had. Though he knew as much as durable his body was, it wasn't able to defend much against spirit powered base attacks. His body was still mortal after all. It was just thanks to his spirit power and heavenly flames, cancelling and burning their attacks that he was virtually unbeatable and unkillable.

Right now, Xiao Yan was about 60% of his total spirit power repertoire, his vigor 100% as he still hasn't used his second spirit or any skills that uses the vigor within his body, his spiritual power was about 70-80% as it took a toll on defending against Tang San's spiritual attacks using his Purple Demon Eyes, that he somehow managed to recreate a f.u.c.k.i.n.g Tsukyumi! Thankfully his spiritual power was above his so Xiao Yan was able to escape in time before he was sieged by them, again. While the Dragon Qi within his body remained untouched until he really needed to us it. It was a hidden ace of his after all.

Currently, Xiao Yan wanted to test out how much his body could handle and do. At the first couple of spars, he had used his first spirit and it's two spirit ring abilities.

By this time, he would have already had them down on the ground in defeat.

So for the last dozens and now spars, Xiao Yan decided to see how much his limits lay with his peers.

Now that he calculated his energy reserves and finished his line of thinking, there's only one thing Xiao Yan could do now.

Smirk arrogantly and taunt the hell out of them.

"Oho, so you wanna beat me huh? Well? I'm here! Come on! Beat me! I'm right here!" Xiao Yan loudly exclaimed as he spread his arms high up and almost quoted the line of his favorite actor in his previous life.

Throbbing veins appeared on all the group's foreheads. A malicious like aura started to leaked out of the bodies of the group. Their mouths turned into crooked smile and evilly chuckled as their eyes were locked on the standing Xiao Yan.

As the nine students were preparing to try and beat up one student, the teachers were just standing on top of the roofs of the academy.

Grandmaster and the teachers watched in both fascination and twitching expressions. The former especially was feeling like he should get angry that one of his students is currently being arrogant and stupid during combat, but knowing that it was just that student's one of many annoying strategies that would ultimately lead him to victory most of his battled had made him let it go.

"What have we done..." Zhao Wuji muttered in horror along with the three teachers nodding. "We, we created a monster! A unstoppable, unkillable, undefeated monster! Xiao Yan truly deserves the title, King of Monsters."

"Get it together man!" Flender yelled, slapping Zhao Wuji's face then grabbing his collar, he continued. "Be proud! This monster we're all seeing, this, King of Monsters, is our greatest creation that will make us all proud as he shake this entire continent!" He then let go of Zhao Wuji and turned to looked back.

Zhao Wuji and the three teachers looked at each other, realization on their eyes, they all nodded and turned back towards the one-sided massacre.

Grandmaster remained silent as he continued surveying the battle but inwardly, he was extremely satisfied and terrified at the growth of the students.

The students with the lowest ranks; Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing that were all at the Spirit Grandmaster rank had just brokethrough to the thirtieth rank, which makes them unofficial Spirit Elders. Within just three months, they had reached the Spirit Elder realm from spirit ranks 26 - 27. Three to four ranks of rise.

Which is terrifying to have the three reached such spirit rank within three months, while doing physical training and practicing their techniques at the same time. It should have been impossible for the trio to brokethrough a lot of spirit ranks.

But with the help of Xiao Yan alchemy, concocting two separate pills, which are called tier 3 Increased Spirit Power Absorption Pill and tier 3 Increased Mentality and Comprehension Pill. The names are pretty explanatory, the former pill lets the user have an increased of absorbing spirit power and the latter increases their mentality and comprehension to have a faster speed in concreting their minds to easily achieved a breakthrough.

The other seven students had one or two increased of spirit ranks within the three months, but that was because they all were more focused in developing their bodies, and also they didn't take the Increased Spirit Power Absorption Pill and only took the Increased Mentality and Comprehension Pill so they have a faster time to understand the new techniques that was given to them. Though Dai Mubai had asked for a Increased Spirit Power Absorption Pill after his skills on his techniques were satisfactory for him, which enabled him to be the second to unofficially reached the Spirit Ancestor just a week ago.

Yup. Second. Xun Er had finally brokethrough to the Spirit Ancestor Realm a couple months ago. Making her the first and youngest Spirit Ancestor in the history of Shrek Academy. Weirdly enough, Xun Er had gotten herself a fourth spirit ring two days after her breakthough towards the Spirit Ancestor Realm and it was also a ten thousand year old spirit ring!

Though everyone was confused, as they don't know who his grandfather and how powerful he is, especially Tang San and Xiao Wu, they met the old guy before and they hadn't known he was a powerful expert and just knew he was a great alchemist.

It was just thanks to Grandmaster waving off their worries and gave a small explanation of who Xiao Yan's grandfather really is. Mostly saying that Yao Lao is a powerful spirit master and is mostly infamous as an alchemist.

This further confused most of them with only Flender, Zhao Wuji and Ning Rongrong paling and kept their mouths shut. As the former two was more active in the past matters in the continent, of course they knew who Yao Lao was. While Ning Rongrong knew, as she had heard of him from her father.

Back to the pills, it was especially great for Xiao Yan. As there was a few techniques that was downloaded to his brain, memories from Flame Emperor, that it took a bit of a toll for him to digest them all. So he took one or a few pills of Increased Mentality and Comprehension Pill so he could easily digest and understand the techniques in his head.

The pills had really surprised Grandmaster and the teachers. It was the first time they heard such a pill and the latter were further shocked that Xiao Yan was the one who created it, especially as the originator.

But Grandmaster wasn't surprised, as he already knew that the kid was the surrogate grandson at the frankly number one alchemist in the entire continent. So it wasn't a stretch to say that he would be shocked that Xiao Yan wasn't a genius alchemist.

Grandmaster looked down at the scroll on his hands. On it was the current written spirit ranks of the students.

Dai Mubai – Spirit Rank: 40 Unofficial Spirit Ancestor

Ma Xiaotao – Spirit Rank: 38 Spirit Elder

Tang San – Spirit Rank: 34 Spirit Elder

Xiao Yan – Spirit Rank: 36 Spirit Elder

Ma Hongjun – Spirit Rank: 30 Unofficial Spirit Elder

Xun Er – Spirit Rank: 42 Spirit Ancestor

Xiao Wu – Spirit Rank: 34 Spirit Elder

Ning Rongrong – Spirit Rank: 30 Unofficial Spirit Elder

Zhu Zhuqing – Spirit Rank: 30 Unofficial Spirit Elder

A smirk appeared on Grandmaster's face, muttering.

"The golden era... This is the time where geniuses rise and set changes upon the world. And those kids, no, monsters would be the ones to go beyond and above to change this world."

Back to the group. Xun Er's eyes blaze in golden flames, four spirit rings appeared underneath her feet surrounding her body. Golden flames surrounded her body and her third spirit ring lit up in blackened color.

The world slowed down to a crawl ominously, all the colors of the surrounding slowly turned gold. The grass, trees, skies, houses, the teachers and Xiao Yan distorted between their natural colors until everything stopped and turned completely golden.

This is Xun Er's third spirit ring ability, Golden Distortion World. Stopping time in a certain range around her while turning everything around her golden. She can also control who to freeze and not in time within her ability.

Xun Er let out a breath out, her spirit power reserves now being drained, she turned towards her friends and nodded.

Without any hesitation, the Ma siblings hugged each other with their spirits activated. Their spirits projected themselves behind them, a fiery Phoenix appeared behind Ma Hongjun while a Phoenix with dragon like features appeared behind Ma Xiaotao, then the two spirits merged with each other.

Everyone jumped back as a vortex of torrential flames appeared where the Ma siblings were and a moment later, a gigantic 15m flaming bird with scales for feathers and a pair of horns on it's head appeared towering over a frozen smirking Xiao Yan with it's dark purple eyes looking down on him.

This is the spirit fusion ability, the Evil Dragonian Phoenix. With Ma Xiaotao mostly in control as she's the one with the higher spirit rank between the two. In this form, the Ma siblings have the combat prowess of a Spirit Emperor and they could only handle this form within under a minute. And with the boosts of 30 increased% in both power and speed, it could be said that their current combat prowess could now equal a Spirit Sage!

It was enough more than enough for them to unleash hell upon a completely frozen and defenseless opponent.

In any normal situation, they and the others would have never condone this kind of act. As it was both dishonorable and brutal. But the frustration of their numerious defeats and knowing first hand that Xiao Yan's body is powerful enough that they couldn't even put a scratch on him normally, had made them decide that they don't care anymore.

Because, they were all fresh out of mercy.

Without any hesitation, the Dragonian Phoenix opened it's beak and let out torrents of crimson purple flames on Xiao Yan's flames while also stomping on his body with their clawed feet. After an entire minute of spewing flames and stomping, the spirit fusion ability of the siblings came undone as they dropped to the ground, both unconscious. But Tang San noticed something before Ma Xiaotao had succ.u.mbed to darkness.

Realization and resignation had momentarily flashed through her eyes and a small mutter that he was able to caught, albeit barely.

"Fak.." Was what Tang San had heard. That rang alarms within his mind and heart as he turned back towards Xiao Yan. He now felt suspicion and doubt at the current situation. He used his Purple Demon Eyes but noticed nothing strange. But he still felt the same uncomfortable feeling in his instincts. Normally he would thought this further through, but they're in a tight schedule of dealing with Xiao Yan so he doesn't have the time to deal with this issue.

As Tang San was momentarily distracted, the others helped the two up while they stare back towards where Xiao Yan is.

The entire body of Xiao Yan continued to be ablaze in crimson purple flames, burning and melting the remaining clothes on himself until he was fully b.a.r.e n.a.k.e.d.

But even when he was bathed in the flames, he remained unharmed and uninjured.

Everyone clicked their tongue and Tang San said.

"The flames was useless, that wasn't a surprise, but I had hoped that stomping Xiao Yan that could equal a Spirit Sage power could have at least give some damage on him but, shit! Looks like plan B, everyone, beat up Xiao Yan with everything you got!"

Then beat up Xiao Yan they did with everything they got. Oscar gave everyone his first spirit ability sausages while Ning Rongrong boosted them while sending punches and kicks at Xiao Yan's, more specifically, his pressure points. Tang San also followed after in attacking Xiao Yan's body's pressure points and used his spider legs to absorbed his energies till he couldn't anymore, his poison was useless on the guy after all as his heavenly flames would burn it, to further weakened his overall defenses. After which Xiao Wu grabbed Xiao Yan's body and tossed him to the air, her third and first spirit rings lit up, she teleported around while viscously crushing her brother's body and tossing him all around as she teleported around till she got tired.

Then, as Xiao Wu sent Xiao Yan's still frozen body flying down, both Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing appeared in their spirit transformations their spirit rings lit up with white and black condensed spirit power wing on their backs as they struck Xiao Yan with their claws, with the former using his third spirit ability transformation and second spirit ability light attacks that send the body crashing down the ground.

*Boom!*

It created a giant crater with Xiao Yan, some light injuries on his body, in the center of it all.

"Six minutes and thirty seconds... Half a second left but I think this will be enough." Xun Er muttered as she walked and stood at the top corner of the crater. Golden spirit power surrounded her body and she raised her right hand.

Her eyes narrowed, inwardly counting.

'20...'

"Forgive me Yan, but this is all your fault you know? Being a douche and all. So, I'm going to, borrow, this skill you've been secretly working on for the last couple of months to use it on you. Don't worry, I know that you'll survive this, I know you do."

'9, 8, 7...'

A golden flame ball appeared on her palm at the size of a basketball. Slowly, her spirit power spiraled and surged towards her golden flame letting it grow in size. From a small ball, it had grown a hundred times it's size, easily filling the crater. It's golden molten flames of heat was so great, that it had melted her surroundings. It made the others to immediately jumped back as well.

Dai Mubai stared in shock at Xun Er, saying in a scared tone of voice.

"What the hell is she thinking?! Has she gone insane!? Xun Er's using too much of her spirit power! Shit, I think even a Spirit Sage wouldn't survive that." Everyone, except the unconscious siblings that was carried by Tang San and Xiao Wu, nodded in agreement.

"What the hell did Xiao Yan do, that made her so pissed off?!" Zhu Zhuqing wondered out loud, her eyes clearly afraid as she stared.

Back at Xun Er, with a big golden ball of flames on her palm, she closed her eyes, tilted her head, and smiled sweetly.

'5, 4, 3...'

"Yan, next time, don't be such a douche, especially to me." She then unhesitatingly tossed the gigantic nuke like golden flame ball at Xiao Yan's still frozen body, with the same smirk plastered on his face.

While the others panicked and tried to stopped her, Tang San finally notices something strange.

Using his Purple Demon Eyes that enhances his vision, Tang San caught a miniscule, glitch?, on Xiao Yan's face, specifically the small twitched of his smirk.

'No...' Realization dawn upon Tang San's daze expression and he immediately used his entire spiritual power reservoir to further enhanced his Purple Demon Eyes and...

"Cruel Sun."

'2, 1...'

Then, the whole world burned and the reality around had finally been destroyed.

========================================================================================

Omake 4: Defenders of Soul Land?

Xiao Yan, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang fiercely glared at the purple smirking Titan before him, who had a golden gauntlet with six powerful stones embedded on the piece of armor.

The purple being, holding up high his arm that held the golden gauntlet on, evilly said towards Xiao Yan.

"Ah, Flame Emperor, no matter what you do. You can't stopped me. For I," The stones in his gauntlet shone in their respective lights. "am the inevitable!"

A shadow cast upon the trio, with Xiao Yan raising his right hand up in the air.

The smirk on the being widened, as he thought the three had submitted to him, but it slowly fell as he heard a sudden booming sound.

Now he felt a sudden fierce gust of wind coming behind, causing him to looked behind to see a big black object coming towards him, with the speed that broke the speed barrier, it was only thanks to his battle experience and instincts that he was able to dodged in time as the object passed through him.

He then turned back in anger to the trio, only to crossed his arms in front of him as he felt a searing heat force of torrential flames and lightning rammed towards him.

The purple being gasped then tilted his head to see Tang San in lean sleek fully suited armor with his armored eight spider legs out of his back and Yu Xiaogang was also in a fully suited golden complete body armor with the hundred meter tall Luo San Pap standing behind him snarling at the Titan.

But the Titan's focus was on Xiao Yan, who was wielding a long and thick black edgeless giant sword on hand and his entire body was completely bathed in multicolored flames and other elemental laws of the universe.

Xiao Yan's eyes crackled with his power as he stared defiantly at the purple being. Then he raised his weapon high straight, and smiled.

Alarm bells rang in the being's head, as he quickly communicated with his subordinates to order his army to attack, but it was too late.

As behind the trio, portals made out of golden flames appeared that held a large amount of people with Xun Er leading them, wearing golden and red beautiful robe, floating in the air with both of her hands covered with golden flames.

Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Xiaotao, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Flender, Zhao Wuji, Liu Erlong, a fat green-skinned guy with weird ears, etc etcetera followed behind Xun Er, all of them doning on their battle clothes and had their spirits activated.

Xiao Yan smirked as he lowered his weapon to point it to the ground and embedded it there, while continuing to stare at the purple Titan, and loudly proclaimed.

"Shrek, assemble!"