The Elder

"Hehe..."

The short-haired female teacher smiled with an odd expression and looked at Zhongli. "Your weapon is a spear. What makes you think you can be a Support System Soul Master? Do you have any support abilities? Don't tell me... killing all the enemies outright counts as the best support and the greatest help to your teammates? It sounds nice, but how is that any different from a Power Attack System Soul Master?"

"My Martial Soul can create shields and provide my teammates with powerful protection," Zhongli answered.

"Heh... hehe, so that's how you do it?" The short-haired female teacher smiled somewhat teasingly, then rested her chin on one hand and tilted her head slightly. "Fine. I'll give you a special form to test three categories at once. If your support ability score is lower than your combat ability score, then you'll have to properly become a Power Attack System Soul Master. Is that acceptable?"

"No problem."

Zhongli smiled faintly as he took a new red form.

"Then don't go back on your word~"

The buzz-cut male teacher also smiled. He crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and continued, "You're both geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power, talents that appear only once in a century. As long as you perform well at our Junior Soul Master Academy, you'll definitely be able to enter the Martial Soul Hall Advanced Academy in the future. You might even catch the eye of a Titled Douluo and be personally taught as their disciple. Your future would be limitless."

"But if you insist on being Support System, yet don't have much talent for it, then you might not receive such good treatment later on. You should think it over carefully."

Finally, the male teacher pointed directly toward the testing area. "Once you have it, go over there and take the tests one by one. Afterward, enter the largest teaching building. Remember, don't forget what you're supposed to do."

"Mm."

Zhongli nodded.

Although these two teachers did not understand him, they were still looking out for him overall. Their methods of teaching were not overly forceful, and they were relatively friendly. Regardless of their own abilities, strength, or knowledge, their professional ethics were certainly admirable.

Using practical results to convince someone after testing was far better than simply rejecting them outright, and it was easier for people to accept.

Martial Soul Ability Testing Area

Though this area was called the Martial Soul Ability Testing Area, it primarily tested a Martial Soul's theoretical combat power—what effects it could produce—and assigned a theoretical combat rating accordingly. Normally, Support System Soul Masters did not need to take these tests.

"Another new kid?"

A middle-aged teacher spoke softly.

There were quite a few teachers in the Martial Soul Ability Testing Area, along with all kinds of equipment, most of which was used to test Martial Soul damage. There were only three kinds of testing tools: a Wooden Stake Array for testing attack speed, a stone for testing attack power, and a track for testing movement speed.

Although this was Spirit Hall Academy, it was merely a branch academy established by Spirit Hall in a small city. Its educational resources were decent, but not exceptional. A rough assessment was enough; there were no particularly detailed evaluations.

"I'm a little nervous... Zhongli, my Martial Soul isn't weak, right?" Mo Yuqing's little hands trembled slightly, and her tone was full of doubt.

Because she had not met many people her age, she did not know much by comparison. The only time she had gone out to hunt a soul beast for a Spirit Ring, she had relied on Zhongli's shield to win. At this moment, she felt that her damage was not high enough.

Although she wanted to become an Agility Attack System Soul Master, Agility Attack System Soul Masters would most likely have to test their attack power as well, and she was somewhat doubtful of her own.

After all, she had encountered very few soul beasts. Other than the Lightning Leopard that had run into her on its own, there was only the Scarlet Armor Earth Dragon. The Scarlet Armor Earth Dragon's defense had left a deep impression on her, making her feel as though her offensive ability was useless...

In the end, it was Zhongli who made Mo Yuqing decide to become an Agility Attack System Soul Master. After returning that day, she had thought carefully about it. It had taken her twenty minutes just to break Zhongli's shield, so she definitely lacked the talent to become a Power Attack System Soul Master! There was no need to hesitate—she should just become an Agility Attack System Soul Master. She did not have the talent for Power Attack System, boohoo...

(๑ŏ﹏ŏ๑)

"It's fine. You're actually very strong, so believe in your own abilities. How about this? I'll go first. Once you understand what it's like, there'll be nothing to fear."

Zhongli gave her a dependable smile, then turned and walked toward the testing platform. He took out the red form and handed it to the teacher there. "I'd like to test my Martial Soul abilities here. What do I need to do?"

"Oh? Innate Full Soul Power!"

The teacher glanced at Zhongli's red form, and his expression immediately changed. His lazy demeanor instantly turned enthusiastic. However, he did not take the form. Instead, he revealed a kind smile and said, "Very simple. First, run one lap around the track. You can use any ability you want during the process, and you can prepare beforehand as well. The shorter your time, the better."

"After you finish running, attack the Wooden Stake Array. The more stakes you hit within ten seconds, the higher your score... Of course, if you feel that you don't have the talent for the Agility Attack System, you can skip this test and go directly to the third part."

"The third part is to attack the stone over there. The greater the damage you deal, the higher your score. Every area has a teacher responsible for scoring. Once you've received your scores, come back to me for an overall evaluation, and you'll be done."

"Oh, thank you, Teacher."

Zhongli smiled politely, withdrew the red form from his hand, and turned toward Mo Yuqing. "Let's go. We'll test our speed at the track first."

"Mm!"

Mo Yuqing nodded. She blinked as she looked at Zhongli, thinking, This guy's shield may be tough, but he's never shown any other abilities. His speed and attack power probably aren't higher than mine. After all, everyone specializes in different things.

I should be a little stronger than him, right? Hehe, that makes me kind of happy~ But then again, I feel like my attack power might be really weak... Ah, this is awful. My feelings are so complicated!

(๑ŏ﹏ŏ๑)

The two soon arrived at the track. The teacher in front of it was an elderly man. He was not overly surprised when he saw Zhongli and Mo Yuqing's red forms. After taking them, he merely flicked his hand and said, "Alright, go run. You can run together. It'll be faster that way."

This guy doesn't seem ordinary...

Zhongli and Mo Yuqing exchanged a glance, then nodded at the same time. Without saying anything else, they walked straight onto the long track.

Behind them, the elderly man stared at Zhongli's back with a deep frown and muttered, "What is going on with this kid's aura? He's clearly human, but he doesn't feel human to me. He doesn't carry the aura of a soul beast, so he doesn't seem to be a soul beast that has rebuilt itself. What a troublesome brat."

The elderly man rested both hands beneath his chin and silently watched Zhongli, as though trying to discern something more. Zhongli seemed to sense his gaze as well and turned back to give him a deep look.

At that instant, the old man's mind was overwhelmed. His pupils widened slightly as he seemed to see a Divine Dragon stretching tens of thousands of miles long, so enormous that it could blot out the sky and cover the sun. The Divine Dragon's golden eyes were like suns hanging in the heavens, silently watching him—a mere mortal, a mere ant.

The Divine Dragon made no movement, yet its mere existence was enough to unleash an incomparably terrifying Mental Impact upon the old man, leaving his entire body drenched in cold sweat.

"Huff... huff..."

The elderly man gasped for air. He closed and opened his eyes, returning to reality. Everything he had just seen seemed false, and the child named Zhongli had not turned around at all. He was still encouraging the girl beside him.

"Was that an illusion?"

The elderly man instinctively touched his forehead, only to find a handful of cold sweat. The sensation of having stared directly into great terror rose within him again, and he could not help but wonder once more: was that Zhongli really human?

If he truly was not human, then he definitely was not a soul beast either. He was a god! A god whom all the Soul Masters in the world combined could not possibly rival! A god who possessed absolute power!

I, the mighty Golden Crocodile Douluo, a Level 98 Super Douluo, actually felt fear. This is simply unbelievable. But no matter what, this kid is far too dangerous. I can't just leave him alone like this. I must find a suitable way to deal with him...