Challenge the Deacon! (Please Vote)

Yan Renyi smiled. This rule had only been changed this year.

Qin Ze glanced toward where Zhong Han was standing and finally understood why she had come here.

Yan Renyi then briefly explained the rules. In summary:

There were twenty-five deacons, and each of them would be assigned four people. The four would challenge the deacon one after another, with each challenge lasting three minutes. After the three minutes were up, the deacon would score the challenging disciple.

The assessment had been changed because this batch of disciples was too young. Team battles were not yet their concern; they would need at least a few more years of training.

As for how they would be assigned, that would be random.

The twenty-five deacons orderly stepped onto the main Soul Fighting Platform. Each wore a badge numbered from one to twenty-five.

The disciples taking part in the assessment would draw lots to determine their assessment deacon.

In the end, Qin Ze drew 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 forty-three Soul Ancestor.

After the assignments were completed, Yan Renyi had the deacons lead the four people under their respective groups to the smaller Soul Fighting Platforms.

The main Soul Fighting Platform was not open. In other words, the matches would be held on several smaller Soul Fighting Platforms instead.

Wen Fawei was number five, so he had been assigned Small Soul Fighting Platform Number Five.

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 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 spark of interest. He had naturally considered challenging someone above his level, but he had not expected that day to come so soon.

Once they arrived at Soul Fighting Platform Number Five, the atmosphere suddenly quieted.

Wen Fawei smiled. "Don't be nervous. Just relax and attack me. Could a Soul Ancestor like me possibly be hurt by Soul Masters? 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 all nodded solemnly. Although he would be preparing to follow Xiao Kuangdao to Shrek Academy after the assessment, the resources due to him would still be delivered.

"Which of you will go first?" Wen Fawei swept his gaze over them.

At that, the three disciples beside Qin Ze looked at one another. In the end, 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 immediately nodded and left the Soul Fighting Platform, calmly jogging over to the spectator area.

Wen Fawei said, "The battle lasts three minutes. During those three minutes, I will evaluate you based on the intensity of your combat. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Qin Ze nodded. As his words fell, watery blue Soul Power Fluctuation shimmered from his right hand. A blade condensed along with the spreading Soul Power. With a hum, a Yellow Soul Ring beneath him lit up as well.

The Yellow Soul Ring flared brightly. 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 Fluctuation rippled outward from his body.

"Whoosh!" Qin Ze stomped the ground and shot forward. This was different from an ordinary fight between disciples. Against a deacon, he could not fight in the usual way.

Wen Fawei had not activated his martial soul, but dense Soul Power continuously surged around him.

Qin Ze swiftly arrived before Wen Fawei. His body dipped slightly as he gripped the blade in reverse in his right hand. With the movement of his muscles, he slashed out at high speed.

As a Soul Ancestor, Wen Fawei could naturally see through Qin Ze's attack path. He merely predicted the trajectory in advance, shifted his body slightly back, and easily dodged the slash.

But in the next second, surprise appeared on Wen Fawei's face. After swinging his blade, Qin Ze seemed to have known the strike would be evaded. His bent body flipped around, and his leg fiercely kicked toward Wen Fawei's head.

The attack came abruptly. Even Wen Fawei had not expected Qin Ze to choose such a method.

But a Soul Ancestor was still a Soul Ancestor, and Wen Fawei's reactions were incredibly quick. As Qin Ze's destructive side kick came at him, Wen Fawei directly reached out and caught Qin Ze's leg.

Bang!

"So much strength!" The instant Wen Fawei forcibly caught Qin Ze's leg, a force beyond his expectations surged into his hand. The kick left his palm faintly numb.

"Whoosh!" With one leg caught, Qin Ze immediately gripped his blade and chopped toward Wen Fawei's neck.

The spectators' hearts jolted at the sight.

Soul Masters could fight like this too?

"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, stirring faint ripples of Soul Power. Wen Fawei had evaded the vicious move, yet Qin Ze curled his lips into a grin.

Asura's Soul gave him more than speed and strength. It also granted him an additional lightning attack.

Crackle!

Wen Fawei's pupils contracted. To his astonishment, arcs of electricity flickered across this strangely shaped blade.

Crack! In an instant, explosive lightning burst from the blade and shot straight toward Wen Fawei.

Wolf Soul!

The moment the lightning appeared on the blade, Wen Fawei was shocked to discover that he no longer had any route to evade. He could only summon his martial soul to block it.

Bang— The tyrannical lightning struck Wen Fawei directly.

Qin Ze quickly darted aside. He did not believe Wen Fawei would be injured by that lightning.

Sure enough, once the blinding lightning faded, a pitch-black shield had appeared on Wen Fawei's arm. At its center was a roaring gray wolf, with a cold gleam flashing from its eyes.

Wolf Soul Shield!

Qin Ze immediately recognized Wen Fawei's martial soul. It was powerful in both offense and defense, a high-grade martial soul.

"Not bad, not bad. You actually forced me to use my martial soul." Wen Fawei did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. 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 already reached the level of a Soul Grandmaster. Against any other disciple, he could have easily dodged around for 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 about two minutes had passed.

"Being able to force the assessment deacon to use his martial soul to defend is already the highest evaluation." Knowing Qin Ze's confusion, Wen Fawei explained.

Qin Ze nodded in understanding.

After stepping down from the platform, Qin Ze glanced at the three disciples waiting for their turns, only to find them looking at him with admiration.

Shaking his head, Qin Ze casually found a seat and waited for the assessment to end.

Drank too much. My head feels a little numb!

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