Xiao Wu Seizes the Initiative

Zhao Wuji's Soul Power erupted all at once. Golden Soul Power rapidly expanded, transforming into a Great Strength Vajra Bear True Body several meters tall.

The trees wrapped around him were directly shattered by the violent Soul Power.

In this state, all of Zhao Wuji's enhancements increased severalfold, reaching a terrifying level.

At this point, the test itself had little meaning left.

Mu Yuan had forcibly driven a Soul Sage to unleash his Martial Soul Avatar. His strength was already enough to pass any assessment, and it would not be an exaggeration to call him the number one genius on the continent.

Even if he chose to give up now, it would not affect the final test result.

However, since one should see things through from start to finish, Mu Yuan did not choose to give up directly.

At this point, only the last bit of incense remained. The test was about to end.

He could take advantage of this final stretch to go all out and test his own strength.

Mu Yuan mobilized all the Soul Power in his body, increasing his Soul Power output to the limit.

Bolstered by the immense Soul Power, both the number and toughness of the trees immediately doubled.

Thick roots tore open the earth as massive, twisting trees grew wildly, crushing and winding toward Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji laughed heartily.

"Come on, kid! Use whatever moves you've got!"

Zhao Wuji unleashed all kinds of powerful soul skills.

In his Martial Soul Avatar state, the power of his previous soul skills had increased greatly.

His Great Vajra Palm swung through the air, smashing apart large numbers of nearby trees.

Mu Yuan said nothing. As his Soul Power was rapidly consumed, even more trees sprang forth and surged toward Zhao Wuji like a tidal wave.

Zhao Wuji's palms danced in an impenetrable blur as he dealt with Mu Yuan's attacks.

For a time, the battlefield roared with explosions, even fiercer than a real clash between Soul Sages.

Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others all retreated to the edge of the field, staring at the battle in astonishment.

Two streams of light silently entered Mu Yuan's body, enhancing some of his attributes.

Ning Rongrong turned her head aside and said:

"Hmph, don't misunderstand. I just don't want to lose!"

However, Mu Yuan paid no attention to it.

Ning Rongrong was too weak. The gap between them was too great, and after he fully unleashed his power, her support had become negligible.

Mu Yuan was now fully focused on controlling Tree Realm Descent.

At the center of the forest, Zhao Wuji roared at the sky. Under the endless assault of trees, his Soul Power was also being rapidly consumed.

The constant impacts had left his palms aching badly.

After Mu Yuan went all out, the trees had become even tougher, and they were constantly absorbing his Soul Power. They were truly difficult to deal with.

Zhao Wuji tried repeatedly to break out of the forest, but Mu Yuan's Soul Power seemed inexhaustible. Trees kept growing and blocking his movements.

Zhao Wuji was considered a powerhouse even among Soul Sages, yet facing Mu Yuan, who was only at the Soul Ancestor level, he felt as though he were fighting a Soul Sage even stronger than himself.

If this continued, he would not be able to hold on much longer.

Second by second, Zhao Wuji's Soul Power was heavily depleted, and he was already close to being unable to maintain his Martial Soul Avatar.

However, just as Zhao Wuji was about to reach his limit, the trees on the field suddenly stopped growing.

Zhao Wuji hurriedly rushed out of the forest.

Mu Yuan stood outside with a pale face and beads of sweat on his forehead, no longer as composed as before.

In the battle just now, Mu Yuan had exhausted a tremendous amount of Soul Power. Less than thirty percent remained. He knew that even if the fight continued, he would not be able to maintain it for much longer, so he chose to stop on his own.

Mu Yuan looked at Zhao Wuji, who had emerged from the forest, and said:

"Teacher Zhao, my Soul Power is basically exhausted. You won. But that incense has already burned out, so the test should count as passed, right?"

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji felt a surge of relief.

Good thing this kid had run out of Soul Power. Otherwise, in a little while, I wouldn't have been able to hold on anymore. That would have been truly humiliating.

As for the test, Mu Yuan's talent was the greatest Zhao Wuji had ever seen. Calling him the number one genius on the continent would not be excessive. Tang San and the others were also outstanding talents. Forget the incense having burned out—even if it had not, he would have found an excuse to declare them passed.

Zhao Wuji answered without hesitation:

"Of course. All of you have passed the test!"

Next, Zhao Wuji took out a register, completed everyone's enrollment, and assigned their dormitories.

Then, under Dai Mubai's lead, they prepared to head to the dormitories and familiarize themselves with the surroundings.

As they were about to leave, Ning Rongrong looked at Mu Yuan's pale face and wanted to step forward to thank him, but she felt too embarrassed to do so.

After all, she had always disliked this guy the most!

Just as Ning Rongrong hesitated, Xiao Wu ran over to Mu Yuan first.

Xiao Wu asked with concern:

"Mu Yuan, your Soul Power is exhausted, so moving around must be inconvenient. Let me help you."

Mu Yuan froze for a moment. Looking at the concern-filled Xiao Wu before him, he felt somewhat puzzled.

Was Xiao Wu this helpful in the original story?

He could not remember clearly.

Still, he felt that Xiao Wu seemed to care about him in a special way. He did not know whether it was just his imagination.

Mu Yuan said to Xiao Wu, "No need to trouble yourself. I actually still have just a tiny bit of Soul Power left."

But Xiao Wu shook her head and said:

"Don't push yourself. You just used such a powerful soul skill, so the expenditure must have been severe. You should rest properly now. Having your Soul Power exhausted feels awful!"

Zhao Wuji also looked over and said:

"Xiao Wu is right. Exhausting one's Soul Power is a serious injury for a soul master. You must recuperate properly, or it could cause permanent damage to your body."

They were indeed right, but it was difficult for Mu Yuan to explain that he still had some Soul Power left. Moreover, in this short time, some of the Soul Power in his body had already recovered on its own.

At that moment, Tang San, who was standing nearby, watched Xiao Wu hold Mu Yuan's arm and inexplicably felt a strange sensation in his heart.

Just as he was about to say something, Xiao Wu turned around, waved at Tang San, and said:

"Third Brother, don't just stand there watching. Come help me support Mu Yuan. He became like this for all of us, so we should thank him properly!"

Tang San fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward and supported Mu Yuan's other arm.

Maybe he was overthinking it.

Xiao Wu was kind by nature. There was nothing wrong with her liking to help others.

Thus, Xiao Wu and Tang San supported Mu Yuan from either side as they headed toward the dormitories.

Only after they arrived at the dormitory entrance did Xiao Wu let go of Mu Yuan's arm.

The dormitory before them was an ordinary little wooden house. The others' dormitories were also mostly nearby.

Shrek Academy's poverty was plain for all to see. Even such crude dormitories required two people to share a room. (The dormitory arrangement here was part of the original story, not fabricated by the author. The specific plot appears in Chapter 20, Section 3 of the original.)

According to the assignments, Mu Yuan and Tang San were in the same dormitory; Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong were in another dormitory not far from here; Zhu Zhuqing had a dormitory to herself.

Xiao Wu waved goodbye and said:

"I'm leaving first. Mu Yuan, remember to rest well. If you need anything, ask Third Brother for help. Third Brother is a really good person!"

With that, Xiao Wu went to find Ning Rongrong and headed to their dormitory.

As Mu Yuan watched Xiao Wu's departing figure, a sense of gratitude naturally rose in his heart.

No matter what, from their interactions so far, Xiao Wu had been quite good to him.