Vacation

The Soul-Chasing Sword curved through the air again, landed on Chen Zifeng's cellphone, then turned and swung at Ma Xiaotao.

At that moment, Ma Xiaotao was focused on dealing with Dai Yaoheng and Yao Haoxuan's attacks, completely neglecting her back.

"Sister Xiaotao, watch out!"

"Fifth soul skill, Ice Prison."

Hearing Huo Yuxi's warning, Ling Luochen raised both hands, and an ice prison swiftly surrounded Ma Xiaotao. This was a group control skill. With Ling Luochen's current abilities, controlling just one prison should have been enough to block Chen Zifeng's attack.

However, with Dai Yaoheng and Yao Haoxuan attacking from the front as well, it would most likely only buy her a moment and could not provide real protection. It all depended on whether Ma Xiaotao was agile enough.

Ma Xiaotao was not an Agility-Attack Soul Master after all. Though she blocked Chen Zifeng's attack, she still failed to evade Dai Yaoheng's fists and palms.

"Xixi, third soul skill!"

After shouting that, she said to Ling Luochen, "Luochen, cover her and buy her time to prepare."

She and Ling Luochen quickly separated and surrounded the three attackers.

Seeing their movements, Gongyang Mo lowered his head and met Ma Xiaotao's eyes. He instantly understood what she meant and directly directed his support at Huo Yuxi.

"Orange Soul, Azure Flourish."

"Third soul skill, Soul Devouring Spider Thorns."

With Gongyang Mo's support, Huo Yuxi's entire body warmed up in an instant. Her third soul skill was unleashed at her peak condition.

Faced with the merciless barrage, only Gongyang Mo, who was in the air, escaped unscathed. Everyone else fled frantically.

Ma Xiaotao could not hold back any longer and shouted, "Control them! Are you a fake control-type Soul Master? How did you manage to fire indiscriminately?"

When the two had discussed it before, Ma Xiaotao had not noticed any issue. Only now did she realize that Huo Yuxi did not know how to control it?

After they stopped, everyone reached out and pulled the spider thorns from one another's bodies. Huo Yuxi guiltily stood off to the side.

It was not that she did not want to control them. She simply could not! There were too many spider thorns. If she wanted to control them in batches, she needed more practice.

But after obtaining her third Soul Ring, she had been training her physical fitness nonstop. Then came the assessment, and during that time, the Douluo Zone had been sealed off, leaving her no way to practice.

Once the assessment ended, they had immediately come here for the trial. She simply had no time or opportunity to familiarize herself with this "new" skill.

Ma Xiaotao thought of that too and could not say anything more.

Only Gongyang Mo, who had escaped disaster, laughed until tears nearly came out. "This is too tragic! Who told you to underestimate our little friends? Did you not consider that anyone who hangs around with little sister Xiaotao could hardly be weak?"

As expected, he was beaten up by the group.

Watching everyone rush at him, Huo Yuxi was terrified that Gongyang Mo's handsome face would be ruined.

In the end, Ling Luochen had Huo Yuxi learn small control techniques from her. Yao Haoxuan was also skilled in support and control, so Huo Yuxi gained two free little teachers.

The days afterward returned to peace. Huo Yuxi continued attending her academic classes as usual and occasionally made time to train with Ma Xiaotao and the others.

After school in the evenings, she went with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao to learn the Tang Sect's secret arts from Tang Ya. During that time, Huo Yuhao went to study in the Soul Tool Department.

Whether it was Huo Yuxi, Huo Yuhao, or Xiao Xiao, they all found such days exceptionally fulfilling. Only Wang Dong had been forced into becoming a diligent little bee.

After enduring eight months like that, they finally welcomed their first vacation.

Shrek Academy's vacation lasted one month every year. However, that month was not meant for students to relax, but to integrate everything they had learned over the previous eleven months.

Once school began, they would directly undergo advancement assessments. Those who failed would be eliminated immediately. Thus, that month instead became the busiest time for the students. With the competition here so intense, no one dared to truly rest.

They had to seize every opportunity to surpass others.

The day after tomorrow would be the official day to leave the academy. Teacher Zhou would probably hold a meeting tomorrow to remind them of vacation matters and the new requirements for the next semester.

With no classes today, Huo Yuxi went to Lake Center Island to say goodbye to Ma Xiaotao and the others. Huo Yuhao told her that he was going to the Soul Tool Department for a ranking assessment today and that she did not need to wait for him to eat, so she simply stayed on Lake Center Island for the meal.

The next morning.

The students all arrived at the classroom early to wait. By the time Huo Yuxi and Xiao Xiao arrived, it was already full.

Without exception, all of them wore excited smiles. It was clear that everyone was looking forward to this vacation.

It made sense. After being away from home for the first time for so long, no one would not miss home. Of course, Huo Yuxi and the others were exceptions—they had no home!

"Students, vacation officially begins tomorrow. I have seen all your hard work over the past year. So, on the final day of this school year, I want to tell you this: you are the finest class I have ever taught."

Hearing that, the students below the platform were all thrilled. What teachers from other classes often said was, "You are the worst class I have ever taught."

Teacher Zhou's contrast made it impossible for them not to be excited.

"Why do I feel like Teacher Zhou is praising us before criticizing us?" Wang Dong muttered from her seat.

Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement. "I feel the same. This does not seem like Teacher Zhou's personality. What she says next probably will not be good news."

After spending so long together, they could not claim to understand Zhou Yi's personality completely, but they could still roughly guess it.

Sure enough, Zhou Yi's "but" came in the next moment.

"However, whether you can remain at Shrek Academy next school year and become qualified second-year students will depend on the results of your advancement assessments next semester."

The students below looked at one another and began to grow nervous. So many students had been eliminated during the freshman assessment, and there would be another one next school year!

Wang Yan, who had been standing beside them with an extremely low presence, stepped forward and explained, "The primary requirement for participating in the advancement assessment is reaching Rank 20 in Soul Power. Students who have not reached it yet must work harder."

"And those who have already reached Rank 20 but have not yet obtained their second Soul Ring must do their best to acquire one during this vacation. Otherwise, they will not be qualified to participate in next school year's advancement assessment."

Zhou Yi added indifferently, "And a warning: if anyone fails the assessment and makes me lose face, bear the consequences yourselves!"

As soon as those words came out, every student below could not help shuddering with goosebumps. The academy was ruthless, and Teacher Zhou was ruthless too! They would not be able to rest peacefully even after going home.

Seeing their reactions, Zhou Yi curled her lips in satisfaction. "All right, go back and pack your things. Get ready to go home!"

The moment she finished speaking, the students vanished in a flash.

Only Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong calmly packed their things. Huo Yuxi rested her chin in both hands at her seat as she waited for her brother, while Xiao Xiao waited to return to the dormitory with her.

Wang Yan called out to them, "Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, come up here."

"Huo Yuxi and Xiao Xiao, you come up too," Zhou Yi added.

The four exchanged looks and walked over.

"Yuhao, will there be any problem with your second ring?" Zhou Yi asked Huo Yuhao sternly as she looked at him standing at the front of the group.

Huo Yuhao replied seriously, "I have no problem."

"Good. We called you up because the advancement assessment format is rather abnormal. I will need to give you some points to watch out for then, so I hope all of you can return early."

"Yes."

After the four said goodbye to the two teachers, they ran into Tang Ya and Bei Bei waiting for them outside the classroom. They decided to find a place to grill fish and have a gathering to celebrate the vacation.

Huo Yuhao also invited his senior brother from the Soul Tool Department, He Caitou. He Caitou was a talkative person and quickly became familiar with them. The seven of them chatted until very late.