Mid-Year Assessment Begins

The Mid-Year Assessment arrived as scheduled!

Liu Xinghan confidently took the Written Test. With his outstanding memory and pre-exam revision, he was bound to rank among the best this time.

The day before the Combat Test.

"Liu Xinghan, come over here!" the Homeroom Teacher called out to Liu Xinghan.

"Teacher, what do you need me for?" Liu Xinghan followed him and asked curiously.

The Homeroom Teacher was silent for a moment before saying, "The higher-ups have decided that you'll be assigned to the Second Year group for your Combat Test, together with the Second Year students."

Liu Xinghan raised a brow in surprise. "Why?"

The Homeroom Teacher also looked astonished. "The Vice Dean said this was His Holiness the Pope's arrangement. He also said that as long as you take first place in the Second Year Combat Test, you'll be able to study at the Papal Palace in the future and become His Holiness the Pope's Disciple!"

Even as he said it, the Homeroom Teacher was shocked.

This was the first time he had encountered such a thing.

The Pope was the person with the highest status in Spirit Hall. At the same time, he was one of the continent's strongest experts, a powerful Title Douluo, a legend among legends!

If one became the disciple of such a figure, wouldn't future success be guaranteed?

With Liu Xinghan's talent, he could become a powerhouse even through normal development. But with the support of such a powerful backer, it would undoubtedly become much easier!

"Really?"

Liu Xinghan was overjoyed.

After three months, the purpose behind his joining Spirit Academy was finally about to be achieved!

"It's true, Liu Xinghan. This concerns your future, so you must seize this opportunity." The Homeroom Teacher spoke solemnly.

In his eyes, Liu Xinghan was only a six-year-old child. He might not yet understand the importance of this matter. As his Homeroom Teacher, he needed to remind him.

"I understand, Teacher!"

Liu Xinghan took a deep breath and nodded seriously.

This time, even if he had to use every method at his disposal, he would take first place!

He wanted the status of Pope's Disciple, and no one could stop him!

The next day, the Combat Test began.

Liu Xinghan arrived at the examination grounds for the Second Year students to take part in spirit battles.

The Combat Test used a lottery system. Contestants fought one-on-one spirit battles, and the winners advanced through continuous victories. Whoever lasted until the end would be the first-place winner of the Mid-Year Assessment Combat Test—and that was Liu Xinghan's goal.

There were over four hundred Second Year students. The first round was divided into two hundred groups. Liu Xinghan drew number fifty-one, and his opponent was a Second Year student named Chen Ke.

"Hey, kid, why are you here?"

As Liu Xinghan waited, a burly figure built like an iron tower walked over and asked him in confusion.

Liu Xinghan followed the voice and immediately spotted an acquaintance.

He did not know the other person's name, but he had once defeated him. In order to complete missions and earn Points, Liu Xinghan had challenged several Second Year students, and this person was one of them.

"What else would I be here for? Of course, I'm taking the assessment!" Liu Xinghan replied with a smile.

The iron-tower-like figure immediately said, "You came to the wrong place. This is the Second Year assessment area, not your First Year one."

Liu Xinghan said seriously, "I'm here to take the Second Year assessment."

The iron-tower-like figure asked doubtfully, "Why?"

Liu Xinghan smiled. "Because the First Year students are too weak for me!"

Naturally, he would not explain the reason. Becoming the Pope's Disciple was simply too shocking a matter, so it was better not to spread it around.

The iron-tower-like figure's eyes widened. Remembering how he, a Two-Ring Great Spirit Master, had been instantly defeated by the One-Ring Spirit Master before him, his expression turned awkward.

He pretended to cough to hide his embarrassment and asked, "Would the academy agree to something that breaks the rules?"

"Of course they agreed. Otherwise, would I be standing here in line?" Liu Xinghan said.

"True." He scratched his head awkwardly.

After chatting for a while, Liu Xinghan learned the man's name: Zhou Yong.

The Second Year examination area.

Ten Battle Stages stood there, allowing ten spirit battles to take place at once. Soul Grand Masters did not have much Soul Power or many spirit skills, so the battles ended quickly.

"Brother, it's my turn. I'll head up first." When the referee called his name, Liu Xinghan said goodbye to Zhou Yong and stepped onto the Battle Stage.

As a well-known figure among the First Year students, Liu Xinghan had earned the nickname Battle Maniac. He was also quite famous among the Second Year students.

At first, while he was mixed into the crowd, no one noticed him.

But the moment he stepped onto the stage, many people who knew him immediately recognized him.

"What's going on? Why is a First Year student here to take the Second Year assessment?" someone shouted at once.

As soon as those words were spoken, many Second Year students were taken aback and quickly echoed the sentiment.

The referee announced loudly, "Although Liu Xinghan is a First Year student, he is too strong. Having him take the assessment in the First Year would affect the balance of the competition. Therefore, with approval from the academy's leaders, Liu Xinghan has been assigned to the Second Year assessment."

The moment those words fell, the area became silent.

"How arrogant! A new student with the cultivation of a One-Ring Spirit Master actually came to take the Combat Test with us Second Years. He clearly doesn't take us seriously."

On the southern side of the Battle Arena, a small group stood out from the crowd. The other Second Year students all kept a certain distance from them, their gazes filled with reverence.

They were the students of the Elite Class in the Second Year.

One of them glared at Liu Xinghan on the Battle Stage, fists clenched in fury.

"Just let me meet him. I'll definitely beat him flat!"

On the Battle Stage.

"You're that new student known as the Battle Maniac, the one who can send Second Year students flying with a single slap?" Chen Ke asked. He had also heard of Liu Xinghan's feats, but he did not believe them.

How could a One-Ring Spirit Master possibly instantly defeat a Two-Ring Spirit Master?

He assumed the rumors had become exaggerated through repeated retelling.

"That's right." Liu Xinghan nodded.

"I heard you've never lost. Today, I'll be the one to end your winning streak." As he spoke, Chen Ke completed his martial soul possession.

Two yellow spirit rings rose around him. His body did not change, because he did not possess a Beast Martial Soul, but a Tool Martial Soul. His martial soul was a golden broadsword.

"Chen Ke, martial soul: Spirit Severing Blade. Level 25 Assault-type Battle Spirit Master."

Hearing that, Liu Xinghan said, "Liu Xinghan, martial soul: Summoning Tome. Level 15 Assault-type Battle Spirit Master!"

After the formalities, Chen Ke was the first to charge forward, swinging his broadsword.

Knowing that the opponent before him had defeated a Two-Ring Great Spirit Master, Chen Ke did not dare underestimate him. He immediately used his First Spirit Skill.

First Spirit Skill, Armor Break!

As his spirit ring lit up, a layer of golden light covered the blade of the Spirit Severing Blade, and its sharp aura surged.

This was Chen Ke's First Spirit Skill, Armor Break, which ignored fifty percent of the opponent's defense.