"Test" 2

Long Yao's casual "thank you for the match," set off by his slightly heaving chest and the "beads of sweat" seeping from his brow, seemed utterly genuine. He walked down from the competition ground, and that look of someone who had "won only after giving everything he had" successfully dispelled the doubts in the hearts of most of the students in the square. The way people looked at him shifted from initial astonishment to heartfelt admiration—not only recognition of his strength, but praise for that calm, cool battle wisdom beyond his years.

As if nothing had happened, he returned to that familiar line once more and, neither too far nor too close, stood behind Wang Dong.

Sensing that familiar presence draw near again, Wang Dong's already tense body stiffened a little more without her realizing it. She had watched that battle clearly from beginning to end, not missing a single detail. The more carefully she watched, the stronger the shock and confusion in her heart grew.

Was that really something a Level 24 Soul Grandmaster could do?

Those dodges accurate to the smallest margin, that perfectly measured control of force every single time, that keen instinct for seizing fleeting openings... Every bit of it was like a mountain pressing down on her heart, shaking the understanding she had always held.

"Phew, finally over."

The quiet murmur from behind her, carrying a hint of relief, awakened Wang Dong from her thoughts. She could hear that the other party's voice and breathing were indeed a little unsteady, fitting the state after an intense battle, but for some reason, she always felt that beneath that steady breath was something deeper that she could not quite grasp.

"Looks like you're next, right?"

Long Yao's voice rang out again. He seemed to have already adjusted himself, his gaze passing over her shoulder toward the front.

Wang Dong subconsciously followed his gaze. Sure enough, there was only one person left in the line ahead, and after that, it would be her turn.

"Good luck."

A simple phrase, accompanied by an OK gesture, appeared at the edge of her vision.

This sudden encouragement was like a stone tossed into an Old Well, sending layer after layer of Ripples across Wang Dong's already surging Heart Lake. She snapped her head around, wanting to say something, such as "I don't need you cheering me on!" or "Don't get so proud!" But when she met Long Xiaoyao's clear eyes and kind smile, all the words she had prepared, brimming with Gunpowder Smell, stuck in her throat, and she could not get out a single one.

That face was too close—so close she could clearly see, reflected in the other party's dark pupils, her own slightly Flustered, red-faced appearance.

"Number 155, number 289, prepare to enter the field!"

The invigilating Teacher's ringing voice was like a heavenly decree, rescuing Wang Dong, who was about to explode from embarrassment.

"Hmph!"

She gave a heavy snort and practically fled out of the line, hurrying toward the designated competition ground without looking back. That rushed Back Figure—where was even the slightest trace of the Little Princess of the God Realm's composure and pride? She was clearly a Young Girl whose secret thoughts had been exposed, fleeing in defeat.

Watching her Back Figure, the smile on Long Xiaoyao's face grew even brighter. He leisurely folded his arms, ready to enjoy a dazzling performance from the "Goddess of Light."

The Danmu in the Livestream Room also went completely crazy because of this dramatic scene.

[Lust is the Primary Productive Force]: Aaaah! Instant kill! Streamer's OK sign was an instant kill! Look how he flirted Wang Dong into blushing like an apple! He's too good!

[I Really Only Know How to Give Freely]: Textbook! This is textbook-level flirting! Playing hard to get, tightening and loosening at just the right moments, suppressing first and then encouraging—one combo flowing like water! I've learned nothing!

[Keyboard Warrior Ninth-Rank Elder]: It's over, it's over, this pink-haired Kid has totally fallen. Look at him, his brain's a mess. Don't mess up when he gets on stage in a bit.

[Rich Women Love Me]: Little Handsome Guy's combo was beautifully done~ Big sister's heart is blooming from watching it!

[Rich Women Love Me] tipped [Starlight Sapphire Brooch] x1 (value: 1,000 yuan): Little Handsome Guy, whichever Younger Sister you take a liking to later, use this as a love token! It's way prettier than that lousy crystal of hers!

Wang Dong stepped onto the field. Her opponent was a boy who was also around eleven or twelve, but much taller and stronger than her. The moment that boy saw Wang Dong's overly handsome appearance, a trace of contempt unconsciously appeared in his eyes.

"Number 289, Li Hu, Level 21 Soul Grandmaster, Martial Soul: Great Strength Bear," Li Hu said in a Muffled Voice, showing off his two century-level Yellow Spirit Rings.

Wang Dong Took a Deep Breath, working hard to temporarily throw that annoying figure out of her mind. She slowly lifted her Eyes, and in those Pink Blue pupils, the pride and confidence belonging to a genius had already reignited.

"Number 155, Wang Dong." She coldly gave her alias, with no extra nonsense.

"Begin!"

"Roar!" Li Hu let out a bellow, his First Soul Ring lighting up. His body instantly grew a little taller, a thick layer of brown fur covering both arms, and he pounced fiercely toward Wang Dong with frightening momentum!

Facing this savage attack, Wang Dong merely stood quietly in place, her Pink Blue short hair drifting slightly in the Strong Wind. Only when Li Hu's huge palm, as broad as a cattail fan, was about to grab her did she move.

Buzz—!

Brilliant and gorgeous Butterfly Wings suddenly unfolded from her back! They were a pair of wings whose beauty could not be described in words. Their main color was clear blue, while the edges were brushed with faint gold. Countless intricate Golden Patterns covered the wings, as though they contained all the light and holiness in the world.

One yellow and one purple Spirit Ring rose with them, setting off her petite figure like a butterfly god Descending to the Mortal World!

"First Soul Skill, Side Wing Saber!"

Wang Dong's figure abruptly became illusory. She appeared at Li Hu's left side as though by Teleport, and the edges of those gorgeous Butterfly Wings shone at that moment with dazzling Golden Light, like two indestructible blades of a God, slashing fiercely toward Li Hu's waist!

The speed was so fast, the angle so tricky, and the light so intense that everyone could not help narrowing their eyes!

Li Hu turned pale with shock. No matter what, he could not have imagined that this slender, delicate-looking "little Handsome Guy" would erupt with such sharp and domineering attacks! In his haste, he tried to change moves and defend, but he was already half a beat too slow.

"Swish!"

The Butterfly Wings brought up a golden afterimage and flashed past his waist!

The bear fur and clothing on Li Hu's body were instantly cut open in a neat gash. Although he was not seriously injured thanks to his Martial Soul's defenses, that cold, razor-sharp aura had already scared him into a body full of Cold Sweat.

"Second Soul Skill, Butterfly God's Light!"

Without waiting for Li Hu to make his next move, Wang Dong's Second Soul Ring had already lit up. The Goddess of Light Butterfly Martial Soul behind her burst with radiance, and ring after ring of brilliant Golden Halos spread from the Butterfly Wings, enveloping the entire field. Within that Golden Light, Li Hu only felt golden stars burst before his eyes and his mind grow dizzy. His movements instantly became slow and sluggish.

Wang Dong seized the chance. Her figure flashed again, appearing behind Li Hu, and her right leg lashed out like a whip, kicking precisely into the hollow of Li Hu's knee.

"Thud!"

The poor Great Strength Bear boy followed in Luo Fei's Footsteps from the previous match, dropping to one knee without the slightest suspense and completely losing his ability to resist.

From the start of the match to the end, barely ten seconds had passed.

Clean and Crisp, without the slightest delay.

Wang Dong slowly withdrew her Butterfly Wings and Spirit Rings, that Proud expression returning to her Face once more. She subconsciously raised her head, her gaze crossing the crowd and meeting once again with the Black-Clad Youth by the wall, who had his arms folded and a look of approving amusement on his face.

At that moment, her eyes seemed to say: See that? This was what a genius's strength looked like!

Wang Dong's crushing victory stirred up quite a storm throughout the Second Assessment Area. That gorgeous yet domineering Goddess of Light Butterfly Martial Soul, that precise and lethal chaining of soul skills—every bit of it displayed a terrifying talent far beyond her peers. When she stepped down from the arena, what greeted her were countless gazes of awe, envy, and even worship. It let her reclaim the pride that belonged to the Little Princess of the God Realm. Her delicate chin lifted slightly, and a trace of aloof arrogance that seemed only natural hung on her face.

Subconsciously, she looked toward that familiar spot, about to challenge that Black-Clad Youth with her gaze, only to find that he had already come up to meet her with a bright smile on his face.

"Really amazing. Way better than me. You ended the fight so quickly."

Along with a burst of crisp applause, Long Yao's From the Heart praise clearly reached her ears. This frank admission satisfied Wang Dong's vanity at that moment far more than any flowery words could have. That bit of pride in her heart was like a flame doused in oil, instantly burning even brighter. She did not say anything, but the slight lift of her lips and the fleeting pride in her eyes had already said it all.

However, before she could enjoy the joy of victory enough, Long Yao had already walked to her side. He leaned forward slightly and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, carrying a hint of warm breath, whispered softly by her ear:

"Not only is your martial soul beautiful, you're beautiful too. Put together, the two of you are practically like a fairy."

Boom—!!!

If the praise just now had been a pebble tossed into a lake, then this whisper at this moment was practically a depth charge detonating directly in her mind!

Wang Dong's whole body went rigid on the spot as if struck by lightning.

Beautiful? He... he said I'm beautiful?

This compliment, which should have sounded perfectly ordinary to her, at this moment, in this place, spoken by this boy whom she both disliked and was curious about, in such an almost intimate manner, had its destructive power magnified countless times over!

An uncontrollable heatwave suddenly exploded from her heart and instantly swept through her Limbs and Bones. She could clearly feel that her cheeks, her neck, even those small and delicate earlobes, were being dyed a soul-stirring crimson at a visible speed. Her heartbeat hammered wildly against her chest like a war drum—"thump, thump, thump, thump"—so fast it was almost about to leap out of her throat.

She instinctively took a step back, wanting to put some distance between them, but because her mind was in chaos, she stumbled and nearly fell. Long Yao reacted quickly and reached out, gently supporting her arm. The warmth from his palm made her tremble again as if she had been shocked by electricity.

"Y-you... what nonsense are you saying!" she retorted almost incoherently, but her voice was soft and sweet, sounding not at all intimidating. Instead, it was more like acting cute. Flustered, she shook off Long Yao's hand and abruptly turned away, not daring to look at him again at all.

The surrounding students were dumbfounded. They only saw that black-clad handsome guy step forward and whisper a few words by the ear of that ice-cold handsome guy with pink blue hair, and then that ice-cold handsome guy, who had just been so proud as to seem untouchable, visibly turned red from head to toe, looking completely at a loss and almost about to cry.

What... what was going on?!

In the Livestream Room, the danmu had already completely drowned the entire screen.

[I Really Only Know How to Give Freely]: Nuclear! Bomb! Level! Offensive! Streamer, you're not human! You're a devil! That whole whispering-in-the-ear move completely stunned her!

[Lust is the Primary Productive Force]: Her defenses are broken! Completely broken! Look at her! Embarrassed and angry, but she doesn't dare lash out! Ah~ that damn delicious feeling! Streamer, I hereby call you the master of signature moves!

[Keyboard Warrior Ninth-Rank Elder]: Too ruthless! The essence of this move lies in "intimacy"! Creating a little secret that belongs only to two people right in front of everyone—this feeling is a special attack against tsunderes! Learned it, learned it!

[Defeat the Hypocritical Tang San]: I said it, didn't I? When dealing with a little princess spoiled rotten by her family, you can't indulge her! What you need is exactly this kind of unexpected straight-ball attack! Nicely done!

Meanwhile, far away in the God Realm, a certain middle-aged man who had been resting with his eyes closed suddenly furrowed his brows slightly. He could clearly sense that the mark he had left within that strand of Divine Sense, connected to his daughter's soul, had just produced extremely intense emotional fluctuations—those complex feelings mixed with shyness, flustered shock, and even a tiny trace of joy she herself had yet to notice were something he had never sensed from his daughter before.

"What's going on?" He opened his eyes, his majestic gaze seeming capable of piercing through countless times and spaces. His Divine Sense immediately began sweeping wildly through the area of Shrek City, trying to find the source that had triggered his daughter's emotional fluctuations. However, he found nothing. The "dangerous coordinate" he had previously locked onto, the one that had made killing intent rise in him, had completely vanished from his perception as if it had never existed at all. This feeling made the unease in his heart grow even stronger.

Just as Wang Dong was about to be completely cooked by the steam inside her own head, Long Yao's calm voice sounded again like a lifeline.

"Let's go. We'll see what the third test is."

After saying that, he no longer paid any attention to Wang Dong, who was standing dazed on the spot, and turned directly, walking toward the next assessment area. He did not walk fast, as if certain the person behind him would follow.

Wang Dong stood in place with her head lowered, her hands helplessly clutching the hem of her clothes. Only after several seconds did she finally calm that nearly exploding heart a little. She secretly lifted her eyes and saw that the Black-Clad Youth's back figure had already gone more than ten meters away. She bit her lower lip, and in the end, like a little tagalong, she stepped forward on somewhat weak footsteps, following closely behind him.

Only this time, she could no longer maintain that proud disguise. She simply walked with her head lowered, and the crimson on her cheeks did not fade for a long time.

Time: Douluo Calendar Year 2030 Season: Autumn Next morning 9:10

Location: Shrek Academy, on the road from the Second Assessment Area to the Third Assessment Area

Audience: 51,224

Equipment: True Vast Sea Ring (Divine Artifact)

Items: Silver Soul Coin x8, Copper Spirit Coin x90

First Martial Soul: Soul Breaking Spear [Traits: Armor Breaking, Soul Devouring, Penetration]

Second Martial Soul: Chaos Holy Dragon (Hidden) [Traits: Strength, Time, Space]

Soul Power: Level 45 (Soul Ancestor) [Status: True Vast Sea Ring Shielding, External Perception is Level 24]

Soul Rings: [Soul Breaking Spear] First Soul Ring (Yellow Hundred-Year), Second Soul Ring (Purple Thousand-Year), Third Soul Ring (Black Ten-Thousand-Year), Fourth Soul Ring (Black Ten-Thousand-Year)

[Chaos Holy Dragon] First Soul Ring (Black Thirteen-Thousand-Year), Second Soul Ring (Black Twenty-Eight-Thousand-Year), Third Soul Ring (Black Forty-Six-Thousand-Year), Fourth Soul Ring (Rose Gold Hundred-Thousand-Year)

Soul Skills: [Soul Breaking Spear] First Soul Skill: Swift Shadow Stab, Second Soul Skill: Whirlwind Spear, Third Soul Skill: Armor Breaking Spiral, Fourth Soul Skill: Thousand Spirit Spear Rain

[Chaos Holy Dragon] First Soul Skill: Star Ring, Second Soul Skill: Holy Dragon Claw, Third Soul Skill: Void Claw, Fourth Soul Skill: Time and Space Roar

Soul Bones: None

Soul Spirits: None

Reward Stash: [Million-Year Spirit Beast Inverse Scale] x1 [Hallucinatory Perfume] x1 [Starlight Sapphire Brooch] x1