Yan Renyi smiled. This rule had only been changed this year.
Qin Ze glanced toward where Zhong Han was and finally understood why she had come here.
Yan Renyi then briefly explained the rules. In summary:
There were twenty-five deacons. Each of them would be assigned four people, who would challenge the deacon one after another. Each challenge would last three minutes, after which the deacon would score the challenging disciple.
The assessment had been changed to this because these disciples were too young. Team battles were not yet for them; they needed at least a few more years of training.
As for how the participants would be assigned, that would be completely random.
The twenty-five deacons stepped onto the main Soul Fighting Platform in an orderly manner. Each wore a badge numbered from one to twenty-five.
The disciples taking the assessment would draw lots to determine which deacon would assess them.
In the end, Qin Ze drew the number five from the lottery tube in front of Yan Renyi!
The deacon corresponding to badge number five was a youth who looked to be around thirty. He was fairly handsome and carried himself with some poise. His name was Wen Fawei, a Level 43 Soul Ancestor.
Once the assignments were complete, Yan Renyi had the deacons lead the four people under their charge to their respective smaller Soul Fighting Platforms.
The main Soul Fighting Platform would not be opened. In other words, the matches would be held on the other smaller Soul Fighting Platforms.
Wen Fawei was number five, so his assigned arena was the number five small Soul Fighting Platform.
He led Qin Ze and the others away from the main platform and toward their destination.
"When the test begins, attack me with everything you have. Remember, do not hold anything back. I will evaluate your actual combat ability," Wen Fawei said as they walked.
"Understood!" everyone replied.
Looking at Wen Fawei's back, Qin Ze felt a flicker of interest. He had naturally considered challenging someone above his level, but he had not expected that day to come so soon.
When they arrived at the number five Soul Fighting Platform, the atmosphere abruptly grew quiet.
Wen Fawei smiled. "You do not need to be nervous. Just relax and attack me. Could a Soul Ancestor like me possibly be hurt by a Soul Master? This test is very important to you. It will determine how resources are allocated over the next three years, so you must take it seriously."
By the end, Wen Fawei's tone had turned stern.
Qin Ze and the other three nodded solemnly. Although he would be preparing to follow Xiao Kuangdao to Shrek Academy after the assessment, he would still receive the resources he was entitled to.
"Which one of you will go first?" Wen Fawei swept his gaze across them.
At his words, the three disciples beside Qin Ze looked at one another. Finally, Qin Ze stepped forward. "I'll go first!"
Wen Fawei's gaze settled on Qin Ze. He nodded lightly, then said to the other three, "Go wait to the side first."
The three disciples immediately nodded and left the Soul Fighting Platform, heading safely to the spectator area.
Wen Fawei said, "The battle will last three minutes. During those three minutes, I will evaluate you based on the intensity of your fighting. Understand?"
"Got it!" Qin Ze nodded. As his words fell, watery blue Soul Power Fluctuations flickered over his right hand. A blade condensed as the Soul Power spread outward, and with a hum, a Yellow Soul Ring lit up beneath him.
The Yellow Soul Ring suddenly flared. Qin Ze had activated his First Soul Skill.
Asura's Soul was originally a strengthening-type soul skill. After using it, Qin Ze's aura surged dramatically, and violent Soul Power Fluctuations rippled outward from his body.
"Whoosh!" Qin Ze stomped the ground and shot forward. This was different from fighting ordinary disciples. Against a deacon, he could not use ordinary methods.
Wen Fawei had not activated his Martial Soul, but dense Soul Power continuously surged around him.
Qin Ze quickly arrived before Wen Fawei. His body dipped slightly as he held the blade in a reverse grip with his right hand. With a movement of his muscles, he slashed out at tremendous speed.
As a Soul Ancestor, Wen Fawei could naturally see through Qin Ze's attack path. He merely predicted Qin Ze's trajectory in advance, shifted his body slightly backward, and easily avoided the slash.
But the next second, a trace of surprise appeared on Wen Fawei's face. After swinging his blade, Qin Ze seemed to have known that the slash would be evaded. His bent body directly twisted over, and his leg lashed fiercely toward Wen Fawei's head.
The attack came suddenly. Even Wen Fawei had not expected Qin Ze to use such a method.
But a Soul Ancestor was still a Soul Ancestor, and Wen Fawei's reactions were extremely fast. As Qin Ze's destructive side kick swept over, Wen Fawei directly reached out and caught Qin Ze's leg.
Bang!
"What strength!" The moment Wen Fawei forcibly caught Qin Ze's leg, a force beyond his expectations surged into his hand. The kick even left his palm slightly numb.
"Whoosh!" With one leg caught, Qin Ze immediately gripped his blade and slashed it toward Wen Fawei's neck.
The sight made the hearts of the spectators leap.
Soul Masters could fight like this?
"Ruthless!" Qin Ze's speed, precision, and ruthlessness truly startled Wen Fawei. He hurriedly released Qin Ze's leg and dodged the strike.
The blade swept past, sending faint ripples of Soul Power into the air. Wen Fawei had evaded the vicious move, yet Qin Ze curled his lips into a grin.
Asura's Soul gave him more than just speed and strength. It also granted an additional lightning attack.
Crackle, crackle!
Wen Fawei's pupils contracted. To his astonishment, arcs of electricity flashed across the strangely shaped blade.
Crack! In an instant, a violent bolt of lightning erupted from the blade and shot straight at Wen Fawei.
"Wolf Soul!"
The moment lightning appeared on the blade, Wen Fawei was shocked to find that he had no route left to evade. He could only summon his Martial Soul to block it.
Bang— The lightning's tyrannical power struck Wen Fawei directly.
Qin Ze quickly darted to the side. He did not believe Wen Fawei would be injured by that lightning.
Sure enough, once the blinding lightning dissipated, a pitch-black shield had appeared on Wen Fawei's arm. At the center of the shield was a roaring gray wolf, with cold light gleaming from its pupils.
Wolf Soul Shield!
Qin Ze immediately recognized Wen Fawei's Martial Soul. This Martial Soul was formidable in both offense and defense and could be considered a high-grade Martial Soul.
"Not bad, not bad. You actually forced me to use my Martial Soul." Wen Fawei did not feel embarrassed. Using his Martial Soul to defend was permitted by the rules; he simply could not counterattack. He had not expected Qin Ze's attacks to have reached the level of a Soul Grandmaster. If it had been another disciple, he could have easily dodged around for the full three minutes.
Qin Ze's actual combat ability also surprised Wen Fawei.
"The assessment ends here." Wen Fawei withdrew the Wolf Soul Shield and smiled at Qin Ze.
Qin Ze froze for a moment. He had been keeping track of the time, and only around two minutes had passed.
"Forcing the assessing deacon to use his Martial Soul to defend already earns the highest evaluation." Knowing Qin Ze's confusion, Wen Fawei explained.
Qin Ze nodded in understanding.
After stepping down from the platform, Qin Ze looked at the three disciples waiting to take their turns, only to find them all staring at him with admiration.
Shaking his head, Qin Ze casually found a seat and waited for the assessment to end.
I drank too much. My head feels a little numb!
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