True to His Image

Wang Yan understood the meaning on her face, and black lines rose across his forehead.

"Of course, that isn't the only benefit. When comparing Martial Soul Fusion Skills, their power is naturally the most obvious difference."

"According to the rules of Martial Soul Fusion Skills, the higher the compatibility, the greater their power. That's why I was curious about their Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Zhou Yi nodded. This was a major matter, and it happened to be time to select senior teachers again. If she reported the discovery of two such promising seedlings, that position would be hers for sure.

"Teacher Wang, shall we report this together?"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled. "No need. They're students from your class to begin with, and you were the one who discovered them. I won't steal your credit."

"With your ability, you should have been promoted to senior teacher long ago. It's just that personality of yours..."

Zhou Yi snorted and looked at Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. "I won't be the only one benefiting from this report. The two of you are also very likely to be approved as Outer Court core disciples."

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance, their delight impossible to hide.

"Don't celebrate too early." Zhou Yi added flatly, "I said very likely. Shrek has never lacked geniuses. Those with Martial Soul Fusion Skills may be few, but they aren't unheard of."

"Your ranking in the elimination rounds will greatly affect your approval. Work hard." Zhou Yi glanced at the three standing against the wall in a neat row. "The three of you as well."

Huo Yuxi and the other two had been listening with great interest, never expecting Zhou Yi to suddenly call them out.

"Entering the circle of core disciples means you will receive preferential access to the academy's teaching resources. At the same time, you will gain the qualification to apply for the Inner Sect."

"Among Outer Court core disciples, half have the chance to continue their studies in the Inner Sect. Before that, you must obtain this application qualification. Do you understand?"

"Understood," they answered in unison.

Wang Yan watched for a while, quite astonished. Because of Zhou Yi's teaching methods and personality, most students only submitted to her out of fear of her authority. Very few genuinely obeyed her.

Yet these five children truly trusted her from the bottom of their hearts.

Having seen enough of the spectacle, he smiled, greeted Zhou Yi, then turned and left.

"Alright, I didn't call you here just for this." Zhou Yi took a notebook from her desk drawer. "These are detailed records on the three-ring Soul Elder teams from the other classes."

"At the same time I received this information, your information was also delivered to them. But don't worry, I'll prepare battle plans for you."

"Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, remember to attempt your Martial Soul Fusion Skill once every day and confirm the exact cooldown interval. It may very well be the key to your victory."

The two nodded at the same time. Their team's combat strength was not particularly impressive, but considering the power of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they would still have a chance even against a three-ring assault-type Soul Elder.

Zhou Yi continued, "By now, the strength of the other teams has mostly been revealed. Among the three-ring students, only Huo Yuxi has yet to use her third soul skill. At most, they can guess its general type, but they won't know the specifics."

"Among the freshmen of our year, there are five students who have reached the Soul Elder level. Aside from you, the other four are all children of major families. Since childhood, they have received the best support in every respect."

"This isn't to deny their talent or hard work. It is to tell you that it doesn't matter if you lack exceptional talent, material support, or connections."

Zhou Yi's gaze fell on Huo Yuhao. "If you invest more time and effort than others, you can still reap the rewards."

Everyone present could tell that those words were directed at Huo Yuhao.

"Teacher Zhou, I understand. I'll definitely work even harder."

Huo Yuhao's promise satisfied Zhou Yi. She continued, "Those with money and talent shouldn't be lazy either. Don't let yourselves end up with lower cultivation than people without money or talent, even after having resources others lack."

In just a few sentences, she had taken a jab at everyone present.

"I only turned eleven not long ago. Before I turn twelve, I'll definitely reach three rings too." Wang Dong protested.

"If I remember correctly, Huo Yuxi is only eleven as well?"

Wang Dong remembered that she was only three months older than her, and her face reddened from holding it in.

She had always known her talent was outstanding, which was why she had been lazy about cultivating. Now that she learned someone with talent as monstrous as hers was working even harder than she was, her mindset nearly collapsed.

"Alright, you're all the same. No matter what, Shrek's cultivation resources are excellent. Make full use of them and strive to become core disciples."

"Yes."

There were still matches in the afternoon, so Zhou Yi did not keep them long. After finishing, she quickly sent them back to eat and rest.

The morning matches had eliminated half the competitors. After another drawing in the afternoon, they each went to the assessment area they had drawn and waited.

Sitting in her seat, Huo Yuxi looked around and noticed a platform supported by six enormous metal pillars to the north, roughly twenty meters above the ground.

From below, she could not clearly see what was happening on it. She could only vaguely make out several people, apparently watching the matches.

Huo Yuxi had guessed correctly. This platform was for spectating. From above, one could clearly see every battle stage.

In the previous round of sixty-four to thirty-two, Class One had fielded fourteen teams. Now, in the round of thirty-two to sixteen, only six teams remained.

At that moment, Huo Yuxi's opponents also arrived at the assessment area.

What surprised her even more was that the three students approaching them were exactly the three who had gone crazy in the cafeteria before the freshmen assessment began.

"Huo Yuxi? Not bad. I didn't expect you to make it into the top thirty-two. But this is as far as you go."

The burly boy at the front spoke with blatant disdain. His Martial Soul was a rare combination of assault and agility, and he had just stepped into the Soul Elder realm the day before yesterday. Naturally, he had reason to be proud.

Especially since, before enrolling, his family had hired sparring partners for him. He could defeat even assault-type Soul Elders, let alone a little control-type girl.

Although she had the strength of a Soul Elder, judging from how she had rather been injured than use her third soul skill during the earlier round-robin matches, either she was an idiot or her skill was useless.

That line of thinking was not entirely wrong. At the time, Huo Yuxi had lacked practical combat experience, and with the Soul Devouring Spider as her trump card, not many people still knew about her third soul skill.

"Both sides, enter the stage and prepare."

The proctor was a cold-faced woman. Standing on the stage, she swept her icy gaze over both teams.

Huo Yuxi was the first to step onto the stage, taking the front while Luo Ling and Lu Wanwan followed closely behind, forming a triangle.

Yin Zhicai gave a disdainful chuckle, rolled his wrists, and led two girls slowly onto the stage.

"The assessment begins."

After saying that, the proctor stepped aside to observe.

"First soul skill, Dawn Wind Fist."

Yin Zhicai's Martial Soul was the Wind Pattern Leopard, a wind-attributed Martial Soul with incredible speed. Most soul masters with this Martial Soul chose the agility-attack path. Who would have thought this hulking fellow would choose the assault path instead?

To be fair, his Martial Soul did not quite suit his brawny image, though the assault path certainly made up for it.

His Martial Soul really didn't match his appearance, Huo Yuxi thought, but she did not relax her guard because of it.

His fist tore through the air as it shot toward her face. Worthy of being called an assault-type soul master with innate agility-attack attributes, Yin Zhicai was incredibly fast.

In the blink of an eye, his fist was already before her. Soul Power surged wildly around Huo Yuxi, forming an invisible shield of Soul Power.