"Alright, that's it. If anyone has objections, speak up now. I'll give you one day to think it over. The other classes are also forming groups, but none are moving as fast as we are. Let them dawdle. Hand over the papers you've filled out, and then you can all go. After you get back, make sure to rest well. No one is allowed to go off causing trouble. The results I want from tomorrow's newcomer assessment is for all twenty-two groups to advance. If anyone is eliminated, not only will you pack up and leave, but I will also leave you with some lasting memories."
As they looked into Zhou Yi's suddenly stern eyes, each student couldn't help but shiver. Undoubtedly, the memories Zhou Yi would leave them with were likely to be nightmares.
For a moment, the atmosphere among the students of the Newcomer Class One became incredibly tense. Even if it was just to avoid being tormented by Teacher Zhou, they had to try their best to pass the assessment!
"Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, the three of you stay behind."
After the other students had handed in the papers, which they had written their future training preferences on, they left the classroom and returned to their dormitories. Only Huo Yuhao and his two companions remained. At this point, the other classes were still enthusiastically discussing the grouping for the newcomer assessment.
"Give them to me. Wang Dong, what are you hiding for?" Zhou Yi asked for the papers from Huo Yuhao's group as Wang Dong immediately lowered his head and quietly stepped back, hiding behind Huo Yuhao.
Zhou Yi looked at the three pieces of paper in her hand, her eyes twitching, then looked up at Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao again.
Under her piercing gaze, Huo Yuhao and the others felt as if they'd been seen through.
"Well, well! The three of you are giving me a hard time, aren't you?" She picked up one of the papers and slapped it onto the desk.
"Bang!" The three students trembled simultaneously.
"Control-class," Zhou Yi said coldly.
Then she picked up a second piece of paper and slapped it down on the desk as well.
"Control-class!" Her voice noticeably rose. Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised as he looked at Wang Dong beside him. Clearly, this second piece of paper was his!
"Bang—" Zhou Yi's final slap almost shattered the desk, "Still control-class."
"What?" This time, both Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were surprised, and they both turned to look at Xiao Xiao, who was fiddling with the hem of her dress with her head down. In their memory, Xiao Xiao was supposed to be a support-class tool master. How had she become control-class?
Zhou Yi's mouth twitched along with the corners of her eyes, "Are the three of you little rascals doing this on purpose? Although the newcomer assessment limits each group to only one offensive member, it also stipulates that the three members' inclinations cannot be the same. But the three of you have given me control-class, is this deliberate? If it weren't for the fact that the competition starts tomorrow, I would have you run outside for ten hours to clear your heads. Huo Yuhao, you first, what's going on? Your spirit martial soul is perfect as auxiliary, what do you mean by going control-class?"
Huo Yuhao quickly said, "Teacher Zhou, I have always wanted to become a control-class Battle Soul Master. My Spiritual Detection can have a thorough observation of the entire field, and moreover, my spirit eyes will certainly absorb offensive soul skills from the soul rings I acquire in the future. Therefore, I don't want to simply be a support class. The control class should be more suitable for my future development."
Zhou Yi slowly nodded and said, "You make some sense. A control class has more prospects than a support class, so there's nothing wrong with your choice. You've passed. Wang Dong, what are you hiding for? Come out. It makes some sense for Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao to choose control class, but what about you? You're a direct-attack class Battle Soul Master and you write down control class, are you deliberately causing trouble?"
"Err..." Wang Dong cautiously stepped out from behind Huo Yuhao, with an apologetic smile, he said, "Teacher Zhou, please don't be angry. Actually, I think my abilities also suit being a control-class Battle Soul Master. Right, if I can use my offensive power to control the whole field, isn't that control? And, I can fly and attack from a distance, so it's not impossible for me to control the field."
"You..." Zhou Yi was almost amused to anger by Wang Dong, she glared at him with deep meaning, "Don't think that I don't know that you just don't want to be separated from Huo Yuhao. You may be a fool, but you are the highest in cultivation in the class and can barely be considered a genius. They say you're clever, but sometimes you are so stupid that bubbles could come out of your nose. When have you ever seen a direct-attack class Battle Soul Master and a control class Battle Soul Master be separated? It's fine to divide the classes, but direct-attack class Battle Soul Master and control class Battle Soul Master should be together. You fool, change it."
As she spoke, she tossed the white paper towards Wang Dong.
"Cough, cough..." Although he was called a fool, Wang Dong was still in high spirits, quickly changing control-class to direct-attack class, and then respectfully handed it back to Zhou Yi.
"Hmph!" Zhou Yi huffed angrily, her gaze finally turning to Xiao Xiao, "If I'm not mistaken, your Martial Soul is the rare Soul Calming Cauldron among Tool Souls, which can be considered top-tier. The main effect of the Soul Calming Cauldron is auxiliary, so why did you also choose control?"
Xiao Xiao glanced at Wang Dong and softly said, "Teacher Zhou, my Soul Calming Cauldron isn't quite the same as the ordinary ones, it integrates both offense and support, and it can barely be used for defense as well, so it's a variant called the Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron."
Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment, then said, "Xiao Xiao, don't you know that having too disparate of a focus can be detrimental to your future development? I suggest it's better for you to develop in one direction. Even with a mutant Martial Soul, you still need to have a focus when attaching soul rings."
Xiao Xiao nodded and said, "I know, that's why I chose mainly offense and defense for the abilities of the Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron."
Zhou Yi frowned and said, "That still has nothing to do with control!" It was clear that she was very patient with this girl named Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao quietly said, "But, I have another Martial Soul that can assist and control."
"What?" Not only Zhou Yi was greatly surprised, but Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong also widened their eyes. Wang Dong was especially shocked; he had always thought he was unmatched in power among the newcomers, but had not expected such a hidden talent in their midst.
"Twin Martial Souls?" Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong almost exclaimed in unison.
Xiao Xiao shyly bowed her head.
Zhou Yi's expression changed repeatedly. For the first time in the first-class newcomers, a situation beyond her control had occurred. After pondering for a moment, she said, "Alright, control class it is then. It will also facilitate your future coordination as a trio. Although the freshmen assessment is just your first assessment at Shrek Academy, it is very important for your path of cultivation to come. Only by getting good rankings in the freshmen assessment can you possibly appear on the cultivation roster of the academy. In our class, the three of you are the ones I have the highest hopes for, there's no need to mention Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao; you both have talent and strength that surpass the other students. As for Huo Yuhao, although your cultivation is not strong and your talent is average, you have perseverance that others cannot match and a special spiritual attribute martial soul. The three of your abilities already complement each other even without considering Xiao Xiao's second Martial Soul. I have a task for you: in the freshmen assessment, you only have one goal, and that is the championship. If you can't bring back the championship, forget about Xiao Xiao, but the two of you better get ready to keep training with me."
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Teacher Zhou, even if I do win the championship, I am willing to keep following your training."
Zhou Yi was taken aback, "Silly boy, don't you think I'm very strict? I am very well aware of what they call me behind my back. You don't need to flatter me."
Huo Yuhao shook his head, seriously saying, "No, Teacher Zhou. I really am willing to keep learning from you. Although you are somewhat strict, it is only by following you that I can learn more useful things. I've occasionally observed students from other classes, and at least during these three months for the new students, their progress hasn't been as significant as our classmates'."
Zhou Yi's face finally showed a hint of a smile, although her aged face did not look particularly pleasant when smiling, it was still the first time Huo Yuhao felt a gentle emotion coming from her.
"Alright, you three go back and rest. Remember, the championship is something you must achieve. Moreover, I can tell you in advance, our Shrek Academy has never been short on resources, not just once or twice. Among all the assessments of the academy, the rewards for the freshman assessment champions and the outer court graduation assessment champions are the most generous. As for what they are, you will naturally know once you have won the championship. Go now, go back and adjust your condition, I believe in your strength."
"Yes." The three of them responded simultaneously, walking out of the classroom together.
No sooner had they left the room than Xiao Xiao seemed to muster up her courage, "Wang Dong, can I talk to you for a bit?"
But Wang Dong just waved his hand, "No need, I have to go back and prepare for tomorrow's match. Xiao Xiao, once the assessment starts, we'll all see the power of your Twin Martial Souls." Having said that, he grabbed Huo Yuhao's shoulder and headed out first.
Watching the disappointment in Xiao Xiao's eyes, Huo Yuhao smiled at her. Xiao Xiao forced a smile in return. They were both still very young, and any vague feelings for the opposite sex were mainly based on appearance. While Wang Dong's rejection did leave Xiao Xiao feeling somewhat disappointed, she didn't dwell on it much, only thinking to herself: What's so great about him? Once the assessment starts, he will see my capabilities. Hmph. Her pride was always hidden deep inside her heart.
"She has a good feeling for you, there's no need for you to reject her so blatantly," Huo Yuhao teased Wang Dong.
Over the past three months, the two had become very close, and the intense training life at the academy was a physical test for Huo Yuhao, but his mind felt more relaxed than ever before. Here, at least, every student was equal; there was absolutely none of that sense of class hierarchy like in the Duke's Mansion. With his mind liberated, his personality had become much more open, a far cry from the somewhat silent and shy youth he had been when he first arrived.
Wang Dong curled his lips, bragging, "There are plenty of girls who like me, should I respond to every single one of them?" He continued, with an air of false maturity, "We're still young, we should prioritize our studies; how can we be distracted by anything else? Huo Yuhao, your mentality is really unhealthy."
"I…" Huo Yuhao really couldn't argue with that, "You win!"
Wang Dong laughed, "Let's go, we got out of school early today. Let's get some grilled fish to eat. The official registration is tomorrow, and I guess the assessment won't start until the day after. Our time to shine has come."
Huo Yuhao complained, "You eat grilled fish every day, don't you ever get tired of it? Besides, the assessment is coming up; it's time for some last minute cramming."
Wang Dong snorted, "You and your stubborn mind, always training and training, aren't you afraid you'll train yourself silly?"
Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, "I have limited talent, so the early bird needs to catch the worm sooner to enter the forest. As you know, the reason my Soul Power has reached level seventeen is mostly due to medicinal aid. Now I finally have some chance of passing the assessment. Teacher Zhou has put you, Xiao Xiao, and me in one group, which is obviously taking care of me. If I don't work hard now, wouldn't I be letting down Teacher Zhou's kind intentions?"
Wang Dong pursed his lips and said, "Your talent may not be great, but your Martial Soul is pretty good. Don't worry, with this genius here, not to mention dealing with a few freshmen, even second-year students might not be able to beat me. When the time comes, you just need to cast your Shared Spiritual Detection, then stand back and watch. With this genius taking action, isn't the championship within easy reach?"
Huo Yuhao reminded, "Our Shrek Academy is known as the Best Academy Under the Heavens, always full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. You mustn't be careless. However, Xiao Xiao does seem to have good strength, so the two of you should cooperate well when the time comes."
He had four Spirit Skills, but Wang Dong only knew about his Shared Spiritual Detection. As for direct combat ability, although Huo Yuhao had laid some foundation after learning the Tang Sect ultimate techniques, he was still not enough for fighting powerful Soul Masters solely relying on the Tang Sect techniques and his Martial Soul. As Wang Dong said, his greatest utility in the assessments was truly his Shared Spiritual Detection.
Although Wang Dong could verbally overpower Huo Yuhao, he couldn't actually overrule his stubbornness. After returning to their dorm, they ultimately both practiced meditation and cultivation, but Huo Yuhao also promised Wang Dong to prepare extra grilled fish that night so he could eat his fill.
At Level Seventeen of Soul Power, one could already gather a white stream of energy within the body, circulating it along the pathway of the Mystic Sky Method, making one feel clear and warm throughout every meridian, not only comfortable but also showing obvious progress.
After three months of hard training, Huo Yuhao vaguely felt his meridians had widened substantially thanks to the dual nurturing effects of the Profound Water Pills and the secret methods of the Mystic Sky Method. They had become very elastic and resilient. Physically, he was now comparable to any of his peers. However, since he had entered the proper path later than others, catching up to Wang Dong seemed unlikely, leaving him to make progress together with his peers.
At this rate, Huo Yuhao was confident that by the time he graduated from the first year, his cultivation would break through to level twenty, allowing him to obtain his second soul ring. Brother Heavenly Dream had once said that once he had the second soul ring, his strength would leap forward, especially as his Ice Martial Spirit would truly obtain its own abilities.
Huo Yuhao was looking forward to that moment very much; when the time came, fighting side by side with Wang Dong again, he would undoubtedly be able to help him even more.
Time always flew by when meditating, and soon evening arrived. As usual, Huo Yuhao went to the cafeteria to buy processed green fish and headed straight for the academy's gate.
Today, the flow of people at the academy gate was visibly reduced, perhaps because of the impending freshman assessment, and the vast majority of newcomers had a sense of urgency and were staying in their dormitories for intensive cultivation.
However, Huo Yuhao's business was not affected by this. By the time he arrived, a line had already formed, and in first place, remarkably, was Xu Sanshi.
"Ding—" Xu Sanshi flipped a silver coin to Huo Yuhao and said, "Keep the change. Give me a big one."
Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, "Big Brother Xu, you really are undeterred by wind and rain!"
Any past grievances between the two had long faded, and seeing each other daily, they had become familiar. After becoming acquainted, Huo Yuhao found that though Xu Sanshi wasn't as gentle as Bei Bei and was somewhat hot-tempered, he was incredibly loyal and warm-hearted.
Xu Sanshi chuckled and said, "What can I do when I've taken a liking to this dish of yours? I can't enjoy my dinner without having some of your fish in the evening. I've eaten plenty of grilled fish before, but none had controlled the heat as well as you do. Even Jiang Nannan has praised your grilling skills. By the way, I heard you have a freshman assessment coming up?"
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, "Yeah!"
Xu Sanshi said, "Then you must work hard, and make sure you don't get eliminated. Otherwise, I'll have nowhere to enjoy grilled fish." Even now he didn't know that behind Bei Bei's victory over him was Huo Yuhao's influence. He thought Huo Yuhao was just mediocre in talent and it was all about the delicious grilled fish. In fact, Huo Yuhao's reputation for grilling fish at Shrek Academy definitely surpassed his strength by a lot.
"Little Xu," at this moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out. Hearing this voice, Xu Sanshi shivered and Huo Yuhao actually saw a hint of fear in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by helplessness.
The other diners lined up behind Xu Sanshi instantly fell silent like cicadas in winter.
A woman walked out of the academy gate and slowly approached, the crowd naturally parted to make way for her. Everyone was hesitant to even glance her way and lowered their heads instead. This reaction obviously went beyond what Jiang Nannan's appearance had caused.
Huo Yuhao looked up and saw a woman in red approaching. She had a shapely figure and the first thing one would notice was her somewhat exaggerated curves, but her waist was very slender, with the line widening abruptly at the hips, and her legs were straight, exuding a strong sense of youthful vitality.
Yet, her face couldn't be seen because she was wearing a red veil, but from the area around her eyes, one could tell she was definitely a beauty. Her light pink eyes could easily captivate and mesmerize people. Fortunately, her gaze was cold, which somewhat dampened the seductive power of her eyes.
Xu Sanshi obviously knew her, and, steeling himself, he turned around without looking into her eyes, slightly lowering his head, he said, "Sister Xiao Tao."
This surprised Huo Yuhao even more. Xu Sanshi was fierce and unyielding by nature, and as a fifth-year student, his status in the outer court was even higher than Bei Bei's. Due to his strong talent, many sixth-year students were somewhat in awe of him. Not even a teacher could make him behave like this! Who exactly was this woman in red? For some reason, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, who was beside him, felt like they had seen this woman before.
The woman in red glanced at Huo Yuhao's grill and slowly walked up to Xu Sanshi, saying, "Little Xu, are you out here to eat grilled fish?"
Xu Sanshi nodded, "Yeah! Yuhao's grilled fish is extraordinary, very delicious."
A trace of curiosity appeared in the woman's eyes as she said to Huo Yuhao, "I'd like to try one, too." She certainly wasn't some celestial being uninterested in the pleasures of the world; she spent most of her days cultivating, and naturally, she was interested in new and peculiar things.
Huo Yuhao unconsciously replied, "I'm sorry, I only sell thirty a day, and there are already enough people lined up for thirty today. Please come earlier tomorrow if you would like one."
The same words he didn't know how many times he'd said to numerous people. But this time, as soon as the words left his mouth, almost everyone in line suddenly looked up with terrified expressions, Xu Sanshi included.
Immediately thereafter, to Huo Yuhao's great surprise, the people who had been standing behind Xu Sanshi scattered in a tumult, leaving no one behind in an instant.
The woman in red smiled and said, "There, now the queue is gone, I suppose I should be able to get one."
```
Xu Sanshi kept making eyes at Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao wasn't unreasonable and nodded his head, continuing to grill the fish attentively.
Wang Dong, on the other hand, was not pleased and said somewhat resentfully, "Who are you, and why are you disrupting our business?"
The woman in red raised her right hand, revealing slender fingers like tender onion shoots. On her right index finger, there was a large ruby, its vivid, pigeon-blood red color was stunning, and with a flash of light, a golden soul coin appeared in her hand. She handed it to Wang Dong, "I'm covering the cost of today's grilled fish."
Wang Dong was far from polite as he took the golden soul coin without another word. Although the woman in red had forced many people away with her imposing manner, she did not seem unreasonable. Moreover, he had a vague feeling that something was off and felt a touch of fear towards the woman in red.
But Huo Yuhao was very straightforward, "There's no need for so much money; my grilled fish are five copper soul coins each."
The woman in red did not seem keen to talk more and said indifferently, "Consider it a deposit. Next time I want to eat and you refuse my money, that'll be fine."
"Okay," Huo Yuhao agreed while nodding and carefully continued to grill the fish.
The woman in red seemed to originally be looking for Xu Sanshi, but now she no longer paid attention to him and was instead engrossed in watching Huo Yuhao grill the fish.
After a moment, she let out a light exclamation, "The control of heat is so perfect—are you a fire attribute martial soul?" She herself was an expert at manipulating fire and could tell that Huo Yuhao was expertly adjusting the position of the fish and his control over the flames was flawless.
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
A short while later, the first batch of four grilled fish was ready. Since there were no other customers that day, Huo Yuhao handed two each to the woman in red and Xu Sanshi. He actually purchased more than thirty greenfish every day; the extras were naturally for Tang Ya and Wang Dong.
Xu Sanshi seemed somewhat perturbed by the presence of the woman in red and didn't eat his grilled fish with his usual enthusiasm. However, the woman in red slowly lifted her veil, revealing her stunningly beautiful face, and began to eat at a leisurely pace.
She ate carefully and elegantly, but what shocked Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong was that the fishbones vanished mysteriously from her hands without leaving a trace after she finished eating. Even though she was holding the fish directly, not a single trace of grease remained on her hands.
What was this ability? Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
The two grilled fish were quickly consumed, and the woman in red nodded to Huo Yuhao, "Your grilled fish are very tasty, flavorful, and there is a sense of earnestness to them. Let me see your martial soul."
Her words carried a tone that brooked no refusal. Last time, when the flames inside her burst forth and were suppressed by that strange ice attribute, it relieved her of the need to worry about her own martial soul's overbearing evil fire for the following three months. However, as time passed, the ice attribute aura was gradually refined by her own Phoenix Flame, and the backlash began to appear again. She came looking for Xu Sanshi because, among the current students, Xu Sanshi's Profound Nether Tortoise Martial Soul was the best water attribute one, and she could use it to help suppress the evil fire within her body. This process was beneficial for Xu Sanshi, like tempering steel, but the experience was extremely painful. That was why Xu Sanshi had such a distressed look on his face when he saw her. It wasn't the first time he had been tormented by it.
```
Huo Yuhao's brow furrowed slightly, and Wang Dong by his side was even more indignant but was stopped by Huo Yuhao's raised hand. He slowly raised his head to look at the woman in red, and a pale golden light shone in his eyes. At the same time, a purple hue rippled through the deep blue of his irises.
Among the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques, Huo Yuhao's Purple Demon Eyes had improved the fastest. When he absorbed the eastern purple qi each morning, his spirit eyes naturally experienced a siphoning sensation. He could progress more in one day of cultivation than what Bei Bei and Tang Ya could achieve in ten days, so his Purple Demon Eyes advanced very quickly.
The woman in red's long eyelashes lifted slightly as she felt the magic of Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection.
As his cultivation improved, the power of Huo Yuhao's Soul Rings started to increase as well. Just as the Skydream Ice Silkworm had said, the first Soul Ring would be as powerful as Huo Yuhao's capacity to endure.
The initial first Soul Ring contained four skills equivalent to the effects of approximately four hundred years' Soul Rings. But now, the first Soul Ring had the power of about six hundred years. The range of Spiritual Detection and spiritual disturbance had reached a diameter of fifty meters, becoming more detailed and into the micro.
A part of the first seal inside Huo Yuhao by the Skydream Ice Silkworm had opened, and as long as there was a breakthrough in Huo Yuhao's cultivation, the power of the first Soul Ring would naturally enhance further. This was something most Soul Masters would not even dare to dream of. With Huo Yuhao's cultivation progress, his first Soul Ring would only become more terrifying in the future.
The Skydream Ice Silkworm couldn't gift Huo Yuhao with immense power all at once, but it had given him a future of astonishing talent and brilliance.
The Shared Spiritual Detection lasted only about ten seconds before Huo Yuhao withdrew it. The woman in red seemed to freeze for a moment before nodding at Huo Yuhao and taking another deep look at the only white Soul Ring rising from his feet. She said, "This is the most powerful ten-year Soul Ring I've ever seen."
Huo Yuhao replied naturally, "No matter how powerful, it's still a ten-year Soul Ring."
The woman in red chuckled and said, "My name is Ma Xiaotao, I'm pleased to meet you, and I'll come back for your grilled fish if I have the chance. Little Xu, let's go."
Xu Sanshi made a bitter face and said, "Sister Xiao Tao, can you take it easy today?"
Ma Xiaotao glanced at him coldly, and Xu Sanshi immediately changed his tune, "No problem, I have no problems at all." While speaking, he quickly walked ahead, making a gesture to lead the way for Ma Xiaotao.
Not until the two entered the Academy did Wang Dong whisper, "Her name is so tacky."
Huo Yuhao said, "What can a name prove? Don't you find her a bit familiar?"
Wang Dong suddenly startled, "Could it be that person we met before? In red clothes, could she be an inner court disciple?"
Huo Yuhao shrugged his shoulders, indicating he did not know.
No sooner had Ma Xiaotao and Xu Sanshi left than people rushed back to queue up again, with a senior from the outer court's fourth year overhearing the two's conversation and immediately whispering, "Keep your voices down, juniors. Inner court disciples are not to be discussed lightly, especially Senior Sister Xiao Tao."
Huo Yuhao was surprised and said, "So she really is from the inner court?"
The senior replied, "Of course. Here at Shrek Academy, those who wear red are seniors from the inner court. I do not know how many people are in the inner court, but it is true that seniors from the inner court rarely come out. There are rankings within the inner court, and the competition is fierce. Senior Sister Xiao Tao is ranked among the top ten, and her strength is something we cannot match. It seems that Senior Brother Sanshi has a good relationship with Senior Sister Xiao Tao, perhaps she will recommend him for the inner court in the future."
Wang Dong asked curiously, "Recommendations are needed to enter the inner court?"
The senior said, "Of course! But I'm not too clear on the exact process. However, it is said that every outer court student who wants to enter must have an inner court student's recommendation."
The grilled fish sold smoothly, and as the business was winding down, Bei Bei and Tang Ya arrived together. Huo Yuhao took out the fish he had prepared for them and treated them to the meal.
"Little junior brother, the freshman assessment starts tomorrow. I have accurate information that registration is in the morning, and the assessment will begin in the afternoon. You must prepare well," said Bei Bei, ever so gentle as always.
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, "Big senior brother, I will definitely do my best to pass the assessment."
Bei Bei smiled, and Tang Ya at his side said, "Little Yuhao, I can't just eat your grilled fish for free. Here's something good for you to use." As she said this, she handed Huo Yuhao something that resembled a Treasure Bag. "Classify them into your Twenty-four Bridge Moonlit Night when you get back. When you use them, be careful not to hit vital spots. Also, after you pass the freshman assessment, you will start elective courses on Soul Guidance Device crafting, and then Teacher will teach you more unique skills."
"Thank you, Teacher Xiao Ya," Huo Yuhao said as he took the Treasure Bag, roughly guessing what was inside.
Wang Dong asked with curiosity, "Teacher Xiao Ya, aren't Soul Guidance Devices forbidden in the freshman assessment?"
Tang Ya replied irritably, "Use Soul Guidance Devices? Don't you know what my Tang Sect is famous for?"
When Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong returned to their dormitory and opened the Treasure Bag, they were nonetheless shocked. It was filled with hidden weapons, including throwing knives, firing needles, bone-penetrating nails, and many more, each type numbering in the hundreds. This bag could be considered an arsenal of hidden weapons.
Obviously, Tang Ya had prepared these because Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul did not possess much in the way of offensive methods. Over the past three months, Huo Yuhao had made progress in the Tang Sect ultimate techniques and begun to delve into Hidden Weapons Hundred Solutions. Being bright and eager to learn, he had now mastered two or three techniques, so using hidden weapons with accurate aim was no problem. They posed a significant threat to the new students with only one or two Soul Rings.
After seeing Huo Yuhao's hidden weapons, Wang Dong couldn't help but curl his lip, "Your Teacher Xiao Ya obviously underestimates me. With me around, there's no need for you to lift a finger."
Huo Yuhao said somewhat speechlessly, "Pride leads to downfall, be more modest."
Wang Dong snorted, "Do you think my Martial Soul can be low-key?"
"Uh..." That's right! His Bright Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul was always a showstopper whenever it appeared, making it indeed difficult to stay low-key.
The night passed without conversation, spent in cultivation. The next morning, after breakfast, the two of them arrived at the teaching building. As soon as they entered the classroom, they sensed an intense atmosphere.
Following Teacher Zhou's grouping yesterday, today everyone was huddled in groups of three, whispering something to each other.
Xiao Xiao had arrived earlier than them and was already waiting there, and she quickly waved at them when she saw them come in.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong walked over, and Xiao Xiao said, "The assessment will officially start this afternoon; let's discuss our tactics."
Wang Dong spoke carelessly, "There's nothing to discuss, just fight our way through."
Xiao Xiao shook her head gently and said, "It's not that easy. I've heard that each class has formed elite teams composed of exceptionally outstanding students all aiming for the championship. They're not easy to deal with. We must have good coordination to have a chance."
Wang Dong wanted to say something else but was stopped by Huo Yuhao, "Wang Dong, get serious, or I'll ask Teacher Zhou to let me change teams."
Xiao Xiao, perhaps holding some grudge against Wang Dong for being rejected yesterday, immediately agreed, "Exactly, too much confidence is arrogance."
Wang Dong snorted but said no more.
Huo Yuhao put an arm around his shoulder and said, "Alright, don't be angry. If we cooperate well, won't it be easier to defeat our opponents during the assessment? Let's each talk about our strengths."
Although they had been classmates for three months, they studied together but cultivated separately, and they didn't even know much about each other's Martial Souls.
Huo Yuhao said, "I'll start. I have a spiritual attribute Martial Soul, good at Shared Spiritual Detection, which allows you to be aware of any movement within a fifty-meter radius during the fight, as well as anticipate the enemy to a degree."
Wang Dong said, "I'm a direct-attack class Battle Soul Master, capable of both close and long-range attacks, and I can also fly." Although somewhat arrogant, he did indeed have the capital to be proud. In terms of soul power cultivation, Martial Soul, and soul skills, he stood unrivaled among his peers. Being the owner of a Millennium level second soul ring in the entire academy was probably unmatched as well.
Xiao Xiao nodded and said, "My Main Martial Soul is the Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron, an integrated offense and defense tool with some battlefield control, mainly to strike and shock the enemy. Once it hits the enemy, it can cause dizziness and produce an attack effect. My second Martial Soul is the flute, the Nine Phoenix Flute, focusing on auxiliary control. Currently, my second Martial Soul only has a Centennial Soul Ring which can slow down the opponent during combat."
Wang Dong said in surprise, "Isn't your auxiliary Martial Soul supposed to enhance our allies?"
Xiao Xiao smiled proudly and said, "Not necessarily. Sometimes, weakening the opponent can be more effective than boosting ourselves. You'll understand when the time comes. However, I won't use my second Martial Soul lightly; we should keep some of our strength hidden and take it slow."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong realized something, Xiao Xiao might be stronger than they thought.
What they didn't know was that when Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao formed a double control field, they would unleash astonishing control power.
"Bang, bang, bang." Three knocks sounded, and in the next moment, the whole class became as quiet as death, you could hear a pin drop.
Teacher Zhou stood at the classroom door, her right hand just let go after knocking, the sound had come from her hitting the door.
Straightening to the lectern, Teacher Zhou maintained her usual iciness, "I have already reported the teams for the competition. The matches officially start this afternoon. During the ten rounds of round-robin matches, you won't encounter each other but will face students from other classes. I have only one piece of advice for you: If anyone stands in your way during the assessment, beat the hell out of them. That's it, dismissed. Gather in the assessment area this afternoon." With that, the cool old lady turned and walked away.
Wang Dong whispered to Huo Yuhao, "Don't you think Old Lady Zhou is becoming more and more charismatic?"
Huo Yuhao glanced at him and said, "It's not charisma, it's domineering."
Xiao Xiao walked over with a giggle and said, "What Teacher Zhou has is presence. Come on, let's find a place to rehearse first, or how will we coordinate this afternoon?"
Huo Yuhao agreed immediately before Wang Dong could speak, "Classmate Wang Dong, if you still want to eat grilled fish in the future, I request that during the freshman assessment, you obey all the orders of the class leader. Do you agree?"
"Uh..." Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao's resolute gaze and said with a face full of grief, "Huo Yuhao, you're taking advantage of me."
Huo Yuhao said nonchalantly, "You can choose not to eat."
After hesitating for a while, Wang Dong eventually gave in, "I'll endure it, I'll listen to you. But from now on, you're in charge of cleaning the dorm."
Huo Yuhao looked at him disdainfully. "Did you clean up in the past three months?"
"That...," Wang Dong replied speechlessly, "you're ruthless."
Xiao Xiao seemed to have completely taken Huo Yuhao's side now and chuckled, "Laziness is a sin."
Out of the blue, Wang Dong blurted out something that made Xiao Xiao's pretty face turn crimson, "Xiao Xiao, you switch affections really quickly, don't you!"
"You—" Xiao Xiao pointed at Wang Dong, her face full of anger and even a hint of hurt.
"Alright, alright. Weren't we going to practice? Let's hurry up and go. I think we should head outside the academy. There are a lot of woods outside, so we won't be disturbed by others."
Wang Dong stuck out his tongue at Xiao Xiao and ran off. Huo Yuhao comforted Xiao Xiao for a while, and she finally broke into laughter. The two then chased after Wang Dong, taking the lakeside path out of the academy.
Finding a quiet place outside Shrek Academy was easier than ever. Although there were many main roads crisscrossing the area, the sides of these roads were filled with a large number of plants. Some grew naturally, while others were artificially planted.
The three of them found a relatively flat clearing in the woods, and Wang Dong asked, "How do we practice? Should each of us just use our soul skills once?"
Xiao Xiao immediately replied, "What's the point of that? The best way to practice is to have some opposition. You're a direct-attack class Battle Soul Master, so you'll be on your own side, and the class president and I will be on the other. We'll have a confrontation."
"You two against me?" Wang Dong shook his index finger and said, "No chance, you stand no chance at all!"
Xiao Xiao coldly retorted, "How do you know if you don't try? But since you're a direct-attack class Battle Soul Master, it wouldn't be fair to start the fight in close quarters. Let's start with some distance, say, thirty meters."
Listening to their banter, Huo Yuhao increasingly realized how clever Xiao Xiao was. His Shared Spiritual Detection had a diameter of fifty meters, so by having Wang Dong start thirty meters away, he would enter his Spiritual Detection range the moment he made a move.
Wang Dong agreed without hesitation.
Xiao Xiao added, "You can fly, we can't. This is a practice, so don't you fly away if you lose."
Wang Dong casually replied, "I just won't fly more than five meters off the ground. There, I'll move now. You can say when to start." As he spoke, he had already backed away.
Xiao Xiao immediately turned to Huo Yuhao and said, "Class president, we're going to 'fly a kite'. Just keep using Shared Spiritual Detection to assist me. Let's make that smug guy suffer."
If this had been before Huo Yuhao came to Shrek Academy, he would have no idea what 'flying a kite' meant, but now he understood that it was a tactic of fighting while retreating.
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, "Okay, I'll coordinate with you." He was curious to see how powerful Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong really were. In three months, he had not seen Wang Dong really use his Martial Soul in battle. But, he was very aware that although Wang Dong was a bit arrogant, what he actually had was confidence, not conceit. Confidence comes from strength.
They quickly put some distance between them, and Wang Dong leaned casually against a big tree, looking at Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao thirty meters away. He even moved back a little further. He waved to Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, signaling that he was ready.
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao stood side by side. She was petite, even among the shorter members of the class and had the nickname of a 'pocket-sized beauty'. She turned her head and nodded to Huo Yuhao, "Class president, help me."
"Sure."
Only then did Xiao Xiao turn to Wang Dong and shouted, "Start!" At the same time, she rapidly unleashed her Martial Soul.
Two yellow circles of light shone beneath Xiao Xiao's feet and rose instantly. She was also a Grand Soul Master above level 20, which made Huo Yuhao beside her secretly ashamed.
Two soul rings rose from beneath Xiao Xiao's feet, but her body remained unchanged. Instead, a black silhouette quickly took shape above her head. It was a cauldron with three legs and two ears, about a meter in diameter. It was Xiao Xiao's Main Martial Soul, the Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron.
Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection was simultaneously activated. A white soul ring rose from beneath his feet, making Xiao Xiao feel somewhat insufficient by comparison and secretly thinking, no wonder the class president was so desperate to cultivate; his talent really was lacking!
However, Xiao Xiao was soon stunned by the strange scenery Shared Spiritual Detection revealed to her.
With their bodies as the center, everything within a fifty-meter diameter instantly appeared in her mind as a three-dimensional pattern. She didn't even need to think, as all sorts of information rapidly popped into her mind, including every blade of grass within the range. It was like a panoramic 3D map with an extra brain helping her to think.
Xiao Xiao was shocked and cast a glance at Huo Yuhao, while Wang Dong had already made his move on the other side.
Although Wang Dong appeared to look down on Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, in reality, he was taking no chances. He had experienced Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection and was fully aware of its powerful ability to predict the opponent's moves.
The splendid blue wings unfurled in a flash behind him, and a strange hue that shifted between blue and purple enveloped Wang Dong. Golden spots lit up on his massive wings, forming a V shape. One yellow and one purple soul ring rose, releasing the Bright Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul.
With a flicker, Wang Dong charged forward at high speed. Soul power burst from the golden spots on his wings, boosting him to high speed in an instant.This was not a soul skill, but an innate ability of his Bright Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul, which illustrated the strength of this Martial Soul.
Wang Dong, who had suddenly accelerated, covered a distance of over ten meters in nearly an instant, and was about to reach Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao. One could imagine, when a direct-attack class Battle Soul Master got close to two control-class Battle Soul Masters who lacked melee capabilities, the outcome seemed inevitable.
Just as Wang Dong rushed to within twenty-five meters of Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, the data of his movements instantly appeared in Xiao Xiao's mind, including his trajectory, physical changes, Martial Soul changes, and she could even faintly sense the operation of the soul power within his meridians.
Xiao Xiao did not seem flustered at all; the soul skill generated by Huo Yuhao's white ten-year soul ring had already given her a great surprise. As she watched Wang Dong approach in an instant, she made her move.
Pointing her right hand at Wang Dong, the one-meter diameter cauldron shadow above her head immediately rushed forward. The cauldron shadow didn't collide directly with Wang Dong but struck where he had to pass. Likewise, she used the innate ability of her Tool Soul, not triggering a soul skill right from the start.
What made Wang Dong feel awkward was that the black cauldron flew exactly where he had to pass. Undoubtedly, this was the ingenious use of Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection. Otherwise, Xiao Xiao could only rely on her sight and soul power fluctuations to judge, and couldn't possibly pinpoint the position as accurately as she did now.
With no other choice, Wang Dong slightly retracted his left wing, his body tilted slightly in the air as he attempted to change his course. But what frustrated him more was that the black cauldron swiftly moved sideways, still blocking his way.
Anticipating the enemy's move.
Xiao Xiao instinctively turned to look at Huo Yuhao beside her, whose eyes were shining with a golden light. With Shared Spiritual Detection, she didn't even need to use her eyes to look at Wang Dong; she simply followed the guidance of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection to execute her attack. It couldn't get any simpler than this.
Wang Dong stubbornly refused to believe it, flapping his wings and maneuvering in the air, even accelerating several times. But Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection could even detect the operation of his soul power, always enabling him to anticipate the enemy's move. It was clearly unrealistic for him to avoid Xiao Xiao's freely-moving Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron in mid-air.
How frustrated Wang Dong was! Unable to help it, he exclaimed, "Huo Yuhao, don't you have any humanity! Fine, if I can't avoid it, I'll just force my way through."
As he spoke, his first soul ring suddenly glowed brightly. Huo Yuhao's eyes shone abruptly with golden light; through Spiritual Detection, he could clearly feel that Wang Dong's soul power was surging in an explosive manner, crazily infused into his front wings. His rear wings were completely spread to maintain the balance of his body.
One could see that his front wings turned completely blue, while the clusters of golden patterns on them spread out golden light, instantly forming a three-inch wide golden edge around the wings' periphery, extremely sharp.
Xiao Xiao's expression also changed slightly. Through Huo Yuhao's Spirit Share, she could clearly feel that Wang Dong's soul skill-enhanced wings possessed astonishing destructive power.
Wang Dong raised both hands simultaneously, each grabbing the inside of his front wings, and with a fierce pull, the wings unfolded at his sides. Combined with the golden edges, they were like two large cleavers. With a violent twist of his body, his right wing swung towards the Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron. Just as he had said, if soft approaches failed, he'd resort to force.
However, he still underestimated the formidable coordination between Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao as a twin control team. The Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron didn't directly withstand the attack but moved back two meters instantly, just evading his right wing's chop, then charged forward fiercely, striking the flat of his wing.
With a loud boom, Wang Dong's body was sent flying over ten meters away, while Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul Calming Cauldron remained fixed in mid-air.
Wang Dong was truly frustrated. He believed his strength was definitely superior to Xiao Xiao's, but when faced with the combined assault from Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao, he just couldn't exert his power, rendering his actual strength unusable. Suddenly, his eyes brightened, and instead of advancing, he retreated. With a flash, he broke away from Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao's twenty-five-meter range, naturally escaping the range of Spiritual Detection.
"Hehe, Huo Yuhao, I'd like to see how you detect me now. Brother here has a remote attack." As he spoke, his second soul ring lit up.
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly and said, "Did you forget that I can detect in a fixed direction? Right now, I can detect up to about a hundred meters. If you believe your attack can exceed a hundred meters in distance and can lock onto us, feel free to try. Moreover, when your remote attack enters the range of my Spiritual Detection, I'll have enough time to help Xiao Xiao block it. Unless your strength can shatter Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul Calming Cauldron. And don't forget, Xiao Xiao still hasn't used her second Martial Soul yet."
Wang Dong was stunned. Yes, his second soul skill, although at the Millennium level and quite formidable in power, would significantly weaken if it exceeded a hundred meters. Besides, Huo Yuhao did have enough time to assist Xiao Xiao in blocking it. However, he couldn't admit defeat verbally, "My remote attack is still an area-of-effect attack; your detection will be useless against it."
Xiao Xiao laughed and said, "Don't be so smug, Wang Dong. Don't forget, I haven't used my two soul skills yet. Do you even know what the soul skills of my Three Lives Soul Calming Cauldron are? To be honest, you might not necessarily be a match for me one-on-one. As for your so-called remote attack, it might be powerful, but I only need to buy enough time for myself and the class president to dodge. Just watch."
As she spoke, she pointed with her right hand towards the Three Lives Soul Calming Cauldron again, and immediately, the caldron trembled slightly. Following that, it split into three, instantly spreading out above her and Huo Yuhao's heads, forming a tripod stance. Simultaneously, Xiao Xiao's first soul ring lit up.
A thunderous boom echoed in the air, as the space above their heads, spanning roughly ten square meters, began to distort amidst the violent shaking.
The three cauldrons merged back into one and quietly landed in front of Xiao Xiao.
This time, both Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's expressions changed. Such a strong Martial Soul it was—the Three Lives Soul Calming Cauldron's division into three was instinctive, and the final tremor was the actual attack. Through Spiritual Detection, Huo Yuhao could clearly sense the terrifying force of that vibration.
Wang Dong's complexion quickly returned to normal, "Let's stop fighting. I indeed can't handle the two of you together. However, Xiao Xiao, you'll realize in the future that you're definitely not a match for me one-on-one. But, under similar cultivation levels, whoever has Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection has almost guaranteed victory. His skill leaves no room for survival to the opponent. Unless one's cultivation far exceeds and can overwhelm with absolute power, they will always be at a disadvantage."
Although Xiao Xiao was unwilling to admit Wang Dong's claim that he could win against her one-on-one, she agreed with the latter part of his speech and nodded, "Indeed! With the class president's Spiritual Detection, I only need to simply use my skills in battle. Class president, your skill is really powerful. The feeling of cooperating with you is fantastic. I'm sorry I underestimated your ten-year soul ring!" She was a straightforward girl, expressing whatever was on her mind without beating around the bush, immediately winning Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's favor.
Huo Yuhao extended his right hand to Xiao Xiao, and with a beaming smile, she placed her right hand on his, while Wang Dong walked over and stacked his right hand on top.
Huo Yuhao said, "From now on, we are partners in a team. In the freshman assessment, we're aiming for the championship."
"We're aiming for the championship!" The three of them shouted in unison. Their relationship instantly became closer, with Xiao Xiao naturally being the happiest, feeling that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had genuinely accepted her. As they say, among Soul Masters, strength is always the simplest, most direct, and effective way to speak.
The examination area of Shrek Academy was located in the northern-central part of the Martial Soul Department, adjacent to the Soul Fighting Area. Compared to the Soul Fighting Area, the examination area was much larger. For the students of Shrek Academy's outer court, it was a paradise for outstanding students to showcase themselves, but a nightmare for those with lower cultivation. Every year, a large majority of students would be eliminated for failing to pass the assessments, most of which took place in this examination area.
```
The assessment area was oval-shaped and didn't resemble the enclosed stadium of the Soul Fighting Area; rather, it was an open space. Around the perimeter was a low wall, while the interior was divided into individual sections by partitions that could be removed at any time to change the size of the areas.
The annual new student assessment always had the most divided areas, not only because of the large number of new students but also because the students' destructive power and attack range were limited, meaning a smaller area was sufficient for them to show off their abilities.
In total, the assessment area was about twenty thousand square meters, which was already divided into fifty sections by now, each section being approximately four hundred square meters, forming a square with a side length of twenty meters. For the new students, who typically had a cultivation of the 1st or 2nd Ring, this was already enough.
After the tense grouping in the morning, the official assessments began in the afternoon. Since today was the first day of the assessment, to allow new students to adapt, each team was only required to participate in one match before leaving. The academy dispatched fifty teachers to register assessments in the fifty areas. The opponents for today's assessment had already been drawn and grouped at noon. This was done to ensure teams from the same class would not encounter each other in the ten matches of the upcoming cycle.
Besides Class One of the new students, which only had twenty-two teams, the other classes generally had more than thirty teams. Unless a student showed particularly poor performance during the new student period, the teachers of the new student classes were not likely to eliminate students from the assessment easily; they always provided an opportunity for them to undergo the assessment.
In the end, there were a total of three hundred and ten teams, adding up to nine hundred and thirty students participating in the new student assessment. Out of these, only one hundred and fifty teams would remain, officially becoming first-year students to continue their studies, while the rest would be eliminated.
Study at Shrek Academy undeniably embodied fierce and cruel competition. However, it was precisely because of this environment that students were driven to work harder and better tap into their potential. This has led to Shrek Academy's enduring, ever-victorious state for ten thousand years.
There were a total of fifty areas for the new student assessment, which meant each area was allocated to six or seven teams. Not only today, but they also would need to compete with other teams allocated to the same area tomorrow, continuing until they had faced each other, and then would be regrouped to complete the ten rounds of the competition for each team.
Huo Yuhao and his teammates were assigned to Area Thirty-Three. After having lunch together, the trio returned to the dormitory for a brief meditation before setting off together. The division of areas was easy to find, each marked clearly, and soon they found the section they belonged to.
Other students from different classes who were there to compete had also arrived, some looking anxious, some ready to fight, raring to go. They were all eleven or twelve-year-old kids, unable to hide their emotions, and when they looked at each other, their hostility was crystal clear. After all, there was a chance that only half of them could remain. And even though there were as many as ten matches in the assessment, each one was crucial to their future.
"Attention all new students, attention all new students, please proceed to the assessment area to prepare for the new student assessment. There are ten minutes left to enter the area; latecomers will be considered to have forfeited the match," announced a loudspeaker voice that resounded throughout the outer court, loud enough to reach every corner. The new students' expressions became serious; their first assessment match was coming up, and it would be false to say they weren't nervous.
Huo Yuhao also unconsciously clenched his fists, touching the Twenty-four Bridge Moonlit Night at his waist from time to time. The use of Soul Guidance Devices was not allowed during the assessment, but hidden weapons were just ordinary weapons and not included in this restriction. Generally, Soul Masters rarely used weapons unless they were operating Soul Guidance Devices, but as a Tang Sect disciple, Huo Yuhao was an exception.
Wang Dong rested his left hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, leaning against him at an angle, "Don't be nervous, it's a piece of cake," he said.
This time Xiao Xiao did not comment on Wang Dong's arrogance and simply nodded at Huo Yuhao. Today, during their sparring, Wang Dong might not have revealed his true strength, but his final words were very firm, indicating that his cultivation was at least not inferior to her own. Add to that the class leader's astonishing Spiritual Detection capability, and indeed very few fellow students could pose a threat to their team.
In a low voice, Huo Yuhao said, "We are going to be champions."
```
Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong both nodded at him, and their palms stacked together once more. Although they were young, they all understood that passing the examination might not be difficult for them, but if they wanted to win the final championship, unity was the most important aspect. Therefore, even Wang Dong reined in his pride.
The importance of the freshman assessment couldn't be overstated, and the academy's broadcast reminders through Soul Guidance Devices actually had little effect, as all the students had already arrived at their designated areas and were prepared.
A teacher who appeared to be around forty years old arrived at Area 33. He looked very ordinary, with no imposing aura, his face all smiles, presenting a friendly demeanor, a far cry from Zhou Yi's sternness. After counting the number of students, he nodded with a smile, "Good, we have a total of six teams of students here for the assessment, and everyone has arrived. Let me introduce myself; my name is Wang Yan, and I will be your teacher for the next two days of this assessment."
"Good day, Teacher Wang," the students hastily greeted him with a bow.
Wang Yan chuckled and said, "No need for so many formalities, my teaching habit is to treat everyone like friends. From now until the end of the assessment, you'll all be my little friends. So, I don't want to see anyone getting hurt. The assessment will indeed determine whether you can stay and continue your studies at Shrek Academy, but I must remind everyone that this is an assessment, and you must not cripple your opponent, or else I will have to regretfully ask him to leave and report it to the academy."
He spoke gently and understatedly, not mentioning the consequences of crippling an opponent, but the students capable of entering Shrek Academy were all sharp individuals. They could discern the implication in his words and nodded in understanding.
Wang Yan smiled and said, "With that in mind, let's begin. Ending the matches earlier means you can go back and prepare sooner. A sense of urgency is good for young people."
While speaking, he took out a folder and opened it, looking at it before lifting his head to say, "For the first round of the first match of the assessment, freshman Class 1: Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao; freshman Class 3: Ouyang Junyi, Chen Junfeng, and Zhao Haochen. You may enter the field now, each taking a corner. You can only release your Martial Souls after I give the signal to start. Enter the field."
The six groups of students would undergo three matches today in Area 33, and Huo Yuhao and his team hadn't expected to be the first ones up. After exchanging glances, they quickly entered the field and took their positions in the northwest corner.
Their positioning was very particular; Wang Dong was at the very front, Xiao Xiao was second, and Huo Yuhao stood at the back corner. The other team naturally chose the southeast corner.
The three students from freshman Class 3 were all male and quite good-looking. The tallest among them was Ouyang Junyi, who also had the most attractive features. Although he still fell short compared to Wang Dong, his physique seemed to be much stronger. Next to him stood Chen Junfeng, not short, but very slender. And Zhao Haochen at the back was a little chubby, with a round belly and an honestly cheerful smile.
Seeing that both sides had taken their positions, Teacher Wang Yan nodded and announced, "The assessment begins."
Both sides immediately released their Martial Souls at the first opportunity, and although Huo Yuhao stood in a corner, he deliberately controlled his Spiritual Detection not to encompass the area behind him but only the entire Soul Fighting Area. Xiao Xiao also released her Three Lives Soul Suppression Cauldron, and the black cauldron quickly took shape above her head.
Wang Dong's action was even more direct. He dashed out with a flash, and in mid-air, a pair of stunning blue-purple wings unfolded. The dazzling golden patterns and the magnificent wings took everyone by surprise, including the watching Teacher Wang Yan. His wings were so beautiful that it overshadowed any attention Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao might have garnered.
Their opponents were also fully prepared and released their Martial Souls at the first instance.
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