Xiao Xiao's Team

Soon, Du Weilun had finished calling out the names.

Next came the draw.

Since this was only the Freshman Assessment, the drawing ceremony was not especially elaborate. The captain of each team represented their group in drawing lots, dividing all sixty-four teams participating in the Elimination Tournament into thirty-two matches for head-to-head battles.

During yesterday's day of rest, the Assessment Area had also been renovated and divided into sixteen sections. This time, each section was several times larger, giving the students participating in the Elimination Tournament much more room to display their abilities.

The rules during the Elimination Tournament were simple: one match each morning and afternoon. The Top Thirty-Two, Top Sixteen, Top Eight, and Top Four would be decided over two days. On the final day, the Top Four would compete in the Semifinals and Finals, determining the top three in the assessment.

This morning's matches would decide the Top Thirty-Two.

As captain, Chen Junting stepped forward to draw.

He drew lot number seven, so he led the team to Area Seven.

However, their opponents were once again a team from Class One.

It was practically identical to the first match of the Round Robin.

Moreover, Chen Junting knew this Class One team. Their leader was none other than a petite, adorable, and delicate-looking innocent girl—the class monitor of Class One, Xiao Xiao.

She was also one of the top five names on his recruitment list.

"It's them!"

Xiao Xiao's expression turned bitter, even carrying a hint of despair.

Her two teammates were in no better shape.

Before the Elimination Tournament had even begun, their Class Teacher, Zhou Yi, had issued their team a death order. They had to secure a Top Four position in the Freshman Assessment.

Otherwise, they would be expelled!

The joy Xiao Xiao and the others had felt after passing the Freshman Assessment instantly vanished. Although they did not know whether the academy would truly approve the expulsion, the three of them absolutely did not dare gamble against that abnormal old hag, Zhou Yi!

One student after another had already served as a warning.

"Xiao Xiao, what do we do?"

Wu Yan, slender but capable-looking, moved closer to his class monitor. Fear showed in his eyes.

Xu Yue, the other burly student, was in the same state.

"What else can we do?"

As if encouraging herself, Xiao Xiao took one deep breath after another while her mind raced, constantly analyzing their opponents' information.

Yet she discovered that they knew very little about the three members of Chen Junting's team.

In the end, she could only settle for the least bad plan.

A solemn look appeared in Xiao Xiao's eyes. "When the time comes, I'll do everything I can to restrain their captain. The two of you will deal with the other two. We're all Soul Grandmasters, and one of them is even from the Support System. It should be fine, right?"

"We should be fine. I could even try handling one of them alone. But what about you? Your cultivation is far behind his."

Wu Yan had raised the most fatal issue.

What if Xiao Xiao could not restrain Chen Junting?

"Then there really won't be anything we can do."

Xiao Xiao understood the other meaning behind Wu Yan's words. "At most, Xu Yue can help me. You deal with the remaining two."

"That's the only option."

As the three exchanged glances, they tacitly looked toward the Spectator Stand.

Zhou Yi, standing on the Spectator Stand, had also turned livid.

Her most highly anticipated team might be eliminated in the battle to advance from sixty-four to thirty-two.

And the team blocking them was the strongest team in Class Nine.

Beside her, Mu Jin was already beaming.

"Teacher Zhou Yi, it looks like you're going to lose."

After observing several rounds of the Round Robin, Mu Jin already understood the situation of Zhou Yi's class team. She had never expected their luck to be this good. The moment they made the bet, her own class had run into them.

"You'd better not get cocky yet."

Zhou Yi's expression was icy as she stared downward.

"Even if I really lose this time, you still haven't won. Besides, my students might not lose." When she said the final sentence, her tone sounded confident, but in truth, she was merely putting on a brave front.

"Still clinging on."

A sharp glint flashed through Mu Jin's eyes, and a cold smile curled at the corners of her lips.

She wanted to see how long Zhou Yi could keep forcing herself to hold out.

At that moment, in Area Seven below—

"Are we really that terrifying?"

Qin Lan took in the performance of Xiao Xiao's team. Recalling the Class One team they had faced during the Round Robin, he found this situation not identical, but nearly so. He could not help feeling puzzled.

"Perhaps we aren't the terrifying ones."

Chen Junting glanced at the Spectator Stand. He might not have been able to hear what his Class Teacher was saying to Zhou Yi, but seeing Mu Jin and Zhou Yi confronting each other, he understood everything.

"The students of Class One are truly pitiful."

Under the puzzled gazes of Qin Lan and Gao Ming, he slowly said this. Though the two did not understand why their leader had suddenly said that, they deeply agreed with him.

Then they followed behind Chen Junting and slowly stepped forward.

At that moment, the invigilating teacher arrived at the designated position.

"State your names."

"Freshman Class Nine, Chen Junting."

"Freshman Class Nine, Qin Lan."

"Freshman Class Nine, Gao Ming."

"Freshman Class One, Xiao Xiao."

"Freshman Class One, Xu Yue."

"Freshman Class One, Wu Yan."

Seeing both sides take their positions, the Referee Teacher shouted,

"Both sides, prepare—match start!"

Two yellow rings of light rose beneath Xiao Xiao's feet.

Without hesitation, she pointed toward the Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron!

The Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron trembled slightly. Immediately afterward, the pitch-black Great Cauldron split into three, forming a tripod formation as they shot toward Chen Junting at their fastest speed!

At the same time, the First Soul Ring lit up!

With a thunderous boom in the air, the air within a dozen square meters around the three cauldrons distorted violently under the shock, attempting to envelop Chen Junting completely.

"You're getting serious right from the start?"

As the Seven Kills Sword gave a soft hum, a sharp surge of Soul Power swept across the entire field. Facing that force of vibration, Chen Junting raised the Seven Kills Sword and swept it out in a single stroke!

The distorted air seemed to be cut open in an instant!

"Clang—"

Sword Qi struck the Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron.

A white mark appeared on the front of the cauldron.

At the same time, the tremendous force knocked the front cauldron back several meters. Perhaps because the Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron was a heavy weapon, the strike failed to break the tripod formation.

The dizzying discomfort also affected Chen Junting.

But Xiao Xiao felt no joy at all.

Instead, a powerful sense of foreboding surged through her heart!

"Xu Yue! Attack together!"

His sturdy body charged forward. Xu Yue possessed the Heavy Armored Beetle Martial Soul, making him extremely formidable in both defense and strength. He leaped into the air and actually grabbed one of Xiao Xiao's Soul Suppressing Cauldrons. Using it as a weapon, he smashed it down toward Chen Junting's head!

At that moment, Xiao Xiao's Second Soul Ring also lit up.