Team Selection

"First Group: Chen Junting, Qin Lan, Gao Ming."

"Whoosh—" The moment Stone announced the members of the first group, the eyes of nearly half the classroom turned toward Qin Lan and Gao Ming, filled with envy.

There was nothing but envy, even jealousy, in those gazes.

Chen Junting leaned halfway back in his chair, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Since he had fought everyone in Class Nine, he felt that the two of them ranked among the top ten in the class. Both were Soul Grandmasters.

Teacher Stone's arrangement was quite proper.

At that moment, Stone paid no attention to the restless class and continued announcing the members of the remaining groups...

"Second Group: Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Nanmen Yuner."

"Third Group: Wang Dong, Dugu Xin, Huo Yuhao."

"Fourth Group..."

"..."

"Those are the group assignments." Stone straightened the list in her hands and swept her gaze across the classroom. Only after everyone had quieted down did she speak again. "Does anyone have any objections to the assignments? If so, speak up."

Silence lasted for a long while...

"Looks like there aren't any."

Stone nodded in satisfaction, then pulled several sheets from the list. "I noticed some hesitation among you. I imagine some of you are wondering whether to go to the Soul Engineer Department. That's a good thing, because I hope you'll consider it carefully. Once you've made up your minds, come find me. I'll reassign the remaining members of those groups. The deadline is today. No exceptions after that."

"Class is dismissed. The first two groups stay behind."

Before long, everyone surged out of the classroom.

Some planned to work on their teamwork;

Others headed for the Soul Engineer Department, intending to broaden their horizons.

In the end, only seven people remained in the spacious classroom.

"Boss Chen." ×2

Facing their future captain, Qin Lan and Gao Ming hurried forward and greeted Chen Junting. Qin Lan had a well-proportioned build and long black hair with silver strands only at the front. He wore a black mask that concealed his face. Gao Ming, meanwhile, was somewhat thin and had an ordinary appearance, making him fairly inconspicuous.

"Please take care of us from now on."

A smile curved across Chen Junting's lips as he welcomed them.

Their Martial Souls were, respectively, the advanced mutation Martial Soul of the Ethereal Demonic Leopard—the Ethereal Ghost Leopard—and the Ruyi Plate. They were also the class's number-one Agility-Attack System Soul Master and number-two Support System Soul Master.

Most importantly, they were both commoners.

"Well? Satisfied with your teammates?"

Seeing that they had more or less familiarized themselves with one another, Stone walked down from the lectern and asked warmly. Although she seemed to be addressing "you," she was actually referring only to Chen Junting. Everyone present understood this perfectly. Qin Lan and Gao Ming were clearly much more restrained around their Class Teacher, while Chen Junting was somewhat more at ease.

"We've troubled you, Teacher."

Stone smiled faintly, then looked toward Ning Tian and sighed helplessly. "If Ning Tian weren't already a Soul Elder, I really would have arranged for you to be together. Then winning the Freshman Assessment would be as easy as reaching into a bag for you."

"What a pity..."

Chen Junting and the others remained silent.

They all knew that this was one of the academy's unspoken rules. However, it was only used when a class had two or more Soul Elders. After all, just like the explicit rule that a team couldn't have two Assault System Soul Masters, why was that?

Because two Assault System Soul Masters would disrupt the balance.

And if a team had two Soul Elders...

They might as well simply declare the champion in advance.

While Stone was still lamenting, Chen Junting suddenly spoke. "Teacher, don't worry. The championship isn't getting away from us." His tone seemed calm, but every word rang with conviction.

Stone couldn't help smiling at his words.

"Junting, you're truly arrogant to the bone. But being a little arrogant is fine. Bring the championship back. You said it yourself."

"And you."

Stone looked toward Ning Tian and raised three fingers.

"Top three. My requirement for you is a top-three finish."

Wu Feng, however, seemed to sense that the teacher was underestimating them. She immediately patted her chest and guaranteed, "Teacher, don't just say top three. With Ning Tian, Nanmen Yuner, and me working together, we'll bring you the runner-up spot!"

"Sister Feng!"

Hearing Wu Feng's words, Ning Tian appeared to scold her.

But there was no real reprimand in her voice.

After all, as the future Sect Master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she was equally proud to the core. It was just that Chen Junting had always been by her side, so she had never revealed it.

"I know you're all proud and ambitious." Having taught for so many years, Stone naturally knew the common flaw of geniuses. Her tone immediately became serious. "This year's teams include two other Soul Elders besides you. One is Xie Huanyue, the Defense System Soul Master from Class Two, and the other is Dai Huabin from Class Five, who possesses the White Tiger Martial Soul."

At those words, Ning Tian slowly closed her eyes and began to ponder.

Taking second place was still possible.

But Stone's next words made Ning Tian understand why Stone had only asked them to place in the top three.

"Dai Huabin also has a fiancée—Zhu Lu."

"Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger!"

The moment the name "Zhu Lu" was mentioned, Ning Tian understood the trump card of that team.

"No wonder."

Although Ning Tian was proud, she wasn't arrogant.

Beside her, Chen Junting recalled that a large portion of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill knowledge taught during the past three months had been devoted to this subject. He immediately understood Stone's purpose during this period.

A smile suddenly tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Teacher, it seems you knew about this long ago."

"I have to have my own channels." Stone smiled. "All right, I won't say more. Go back and work on coordinating with your teams."

After walking out of the Teaching Building.

"Brother Junting, Sister Xiaotian, Sister Feng."

Seeing that Chen Junting and the others had left the classroom, Huo Yuhao, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly greeted them.

Chen Junting turned to Qin Lan, Gao Ming, and Nanmen Yuner. "Come along with us. You can get familiar with one another."

Naturally, the three of them had no reason to refuse.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It wasn't that long."

Dugu Xin shook his head and picked up the conversation.

Wang Dong, standing nearby, asked curiously, "What did Teacher Stone say to you after keeping you inside?"

"Of course, about the seed team destined to win the championship."

Wu Feng put on an arrogant expression in front of Wang Dong, teasing him with a look that said You're no match for us.

"What did you say, big-chested woman?"

"Ahaha—"

Seeing that the two were about to start fighting, Ning Tian hurriedly stopped them.

Only after their commotion had mostly settled did they begin discussing serious matters.

"The assessment starts tomorrow afternoon. We should find a place later to coordinate with our teams and study our tactics."

Wang Dong, however, said carelessly, "We're already so in sync. There's no need to coordinate, and nothing to study. We can just fight our way through. Right?" As he spoke, he looked toward Wu Feng. Yet Wu Feng, who usually shared his temperament, remained silent.

Just as he was about to say something...

Wu Feng suddenly shouted with righteous indignation, "Wang Dong, correct your attitude! You're far too arrogant!"

"Huh!?"

Before Wang Dong could figure out what was happening, Chen Junting and the others had already finished discussing their plans without paying any further attention to them.

"Ordinary coordination training won't be enough." Chen Junting rubbed his chin with his left hand. Four figures then surfaced in his mind, and he suddenly thought of something. "How about this? We find Senior Brother Beibei and the others and have them train us. That'll help us coordinate."

"Four Soul Elders. That should be intense enough, right?"

"Then let's do that."

Ning Tian had no objections and agreed at once.

The others naturally had no objections either.

As for Wu Feng and Wang Dong...

Their opinions weren't important.