Ma Xiao Tao clenched her fists, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "An Outer Court student... could it be some hidden genius?"
Yan Shao Zhe shook his head. "I already had someone investigate. At first, I thought perhaps they were people sent by those two students' families to protect them in secret. But after looking into it, I found that was simply impossible. One of those students is named Wang Dong, and the other is Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan comes from Lin Manor of Star Luo City, which once held the lifeline of the continent, though the family later fell into decline. As for Wang Dong, her background is considerable, but she does not possess that kind of strength either."
Seeing this, Ma Xiao Tao said, "Teacher, forget it. Please stop looking into it."
Yan Shao Zhe raised his voice. "This concerns your future. How could I not be anxious? If we can find this person, and if he is male, having him become a suitable match for you could resolve the negative effects brought by the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul within you. Only then can you truly soar in the future. But now, you are completely constrained by your Martial Soul. Not only has your cultivation speed slowed, it may even endanger your life."
Hearing that, Ma Xiao Tao's pretty face reddened as she muttered, "I don't want to get married. I definitely won't marry someone I don't like just because of my Martial Soul."
Yan Shao Zhe sighed. "The problem is, once the evil fire in your body erupts, you simply cannot suppress it!"
Ma Xiao Tao gave a soft snort and said stubbornly, "I can definitely suppress it. Anyway, I'm not getting married."
"Ma Xiao Tao, if you keep being so willful, I won't acknowledge you as my disciple anymore!"
Seeing that her teacher was angry, Ma Xiao Tao immediately reined in her temper and said pitifully, "But, Teacher, I..."
Yan Shao Zhe stroked her head, his tone softening. "Silly girl, feelings can be cultivated slowly, but you only have one life. Besides, you are so outstanding. No matter what, I will find you a good match."
Meanwhile, after Lin Yuan and Wang Dong finished the grilled fish Huo Yu Hao was selling, they returned to the dormitory area. They had another dinner at the cafeteria before heading back to their room. Wang Dong had already moved her luggage into Lin Yuan's dormitory.
Inside the dorm, Wang Dong stared worriedly at the two large beds pushed together. Looking at the soft fur mattress spread over Lin Yuan's side, she hesitated for a moment before moving her belongings to the innermost part of the bed, keeping as much distance from Lin Yuan's area as possible.
When Lin Yuan turned around and saw how reserved she looked, he could not help teasing her. "What? Afraid I'll hug you again tonight?"
"Who's afraid?!" Wang Dong's ears reddened as she abruptly turned around. "I just think it's better to keep some distance!" Even so, she secretly nudged her pillow a little closer to Lin Yuan's side.
Lin Yuan smiled and shook his head. He did not tease her further, instead walking straight to the bed and sitting cross-legged. Closing his eyes, he began to meditate. Dragon God's Heart slowly began to circulate, drawing the surrounding essence of heaven and earth into his body like flowing streams and refining it into pure Dragon God Power.
Seeing this, Wang Dong also calmed herself and sat down on the other side of the bed. She took out the walnut-sized Soul Ascension Pill, put it into her mouth, and gently bit into it. Instantly, an exceptionally rich and fresh fragrance burst from the pill. She lightly inhaled, drawing the green liquid from the opening into her stomach. She did not even waste the pill's shell, chewing it a few times before swallowing it.
At that moment, the dormitory was filled with a rich natural fragrance, as though they had fallen into a sea of flowers. A faint bluish-green glow gradually emerged around Wang Dong's body, and a dense fresh aura lingered in the room. With the Soul Ascension Pill's help, her Soul Power was rising at an astonishing rate.
After two eventful days since the start of school, Lin Yuan's academy life gradually stabilized, and he slowly gained a reputation. Part of his fame came from his strength. At eleven years old, he possessed thirty-ninth-rank Soul Power and had easily suppressed a fifth-year Soul Elder, making him the "monster genius" spoken of by freshmen and upperclassmen alike.
The other part came from his appearance and temperament. Silver hair, violet eyes, and an aloof, otherworldly air, along with the occasional hints of laziness and gentleness, made him the "dream prince" of many girls at the academy. Every day, quite a few people deliberately took detours to pass outside Class One Freshman's classroom, just to catch a distant glimpse of him.
Even female disciples of the Inner Court were full of curiosity about this "silver-haired heartthrob" from the Outer Court. Inner Court disciples possessed profound cultivation and far broader horizons than Outer Court students, so they normally paid little attention to the bustle among lower-year students. Yet after news spread that an eleven-year-old with thirty-ninth-rank Soul Power had subdued a Soul Elder barehanded, even they could not help taking notice.
What made Lin Yuan even more helpless was that, for some unknown reason, someone had formed a fan support club for him. More and more people joined it, with upper-year female students accounting for more than half. Not only did people from the support club bring breakfast and love letters to the classroom door every day, they had also spontaneously formed the Yuan Guard Squad. Whenever they saw someone speak disrespectfully about Lin Yuan, they immediately stepped forward to argue, making it seem as though he had a flock of little tails following him everywhere he went.
In the blink of an eye, three months of study after the freshmen enrollment had ended. Under Zhou Yi's harsh, nearly brutal guidance, Class One Freshman had undergone a complete transformation. What greatly shocked the academy's higher-ups was that after three months under Zhou Yi's instruction, Class One Freshman still had sixty-seven students remaining, far more than the one-third the academy had expected to remain.
If there was a freshman who had changed the least over those three months, it was undoubtedly Lin Yuan. When he had first enrolled, his Soul Power had already reached rank thirty-nine. Three months later, it was still at rank thirty-nine without the slightest improvement. Even so, his position as the "combat power ceiling" of the entire freshman year remained unshakable.
Moreover, ever since becoming Class One Freshman's class monitor, no one had ever challenged his position. It was not merely because his strength was astonishing, but because he always knew how to set the pace during training and help his classmates break through their limits. He never put on airs and treated everyone with gentleness and courtesy. Even the proud Wang Dong had gradually come to respect him, let alone the other students. This was also an important reason why two-thirds of Class One Freshman's students had remained despite Zhou Yi's strict teaching.
Over these three months, Lin Yuan had grown a little taller, and his once slightly youthful frame had become increasingly straight and upright. His long hair, tied back with a silver-white ribbon, fell to his shoulders. His violet eyes remained clear, yet carried a little more steadiness. Even dressed in the most ordinary white academy uniform, he could not conceal the innate nobility about him.
"Today's physical training class is suspended." Zhou Yi stood behind the lectern, her expression as calm as ever. "It has been three months since the school year began. You are about to face your first assessment since entering Shrek Academy. Only by passing it can you officially become first-year students and truly become part of Shrek Academy. Barring any surprises, you will all be able to remain at the academy and cultivate until at least the first-year graduation examination. The assessment begins tomorrow, so today I will first explain its key points. Lin Yuan."
"Here." Lin Yuan stood and walked to the lectern, taking the stack of papers Zhou Yi handed him and quickly distributing them to every student in the class.
Zhou Yi said slowly, "After the Freshman Assessment ends, instruction will be tailored to each student's talents. Write down your future cultivation direction and hand it to me later."
Lin Yuan returned to his seat and was the last to write down his goals: Control System, Assault Battle Soul Master. Then he signed his name. He did not notice that Wang Dong beside him glanced at what he had written before beginning to fill out her own preference. However, she did not read it all and missed the words "Assault" that came afterward.
"You are all students I taught. Although you will be reassigned to new classes after the Freshman Assessment, I hope you little brats will not forget what I taught you. Hand in the papers after class. Now, I will explain the rules of the Freshman Assessment."
"The Freshman Assessment will be conducted in team battles, with three people per team. The grouping requirement is that each team may have at most one Assault Battle Soul Master, while the other two members may be paired without restriction. During grouping, students from the same dormitory will be prioritized for placement together. The remaining students may form teams freely, while those who fail to form teams will be assigned by drawing lots. I will give you a reasonable grouping proposal shortly. If you are dissatisfied, you may adjust it yourselves after returning. But when I submit the final list tomorrow morning, if no one raises objections, you must strictly follow my arrangements. Otherwise, you know the consequences."
"This Freshman Assessment is conducted across the entire year. In recent years, the academy's student numbers have increased, so nearly three hundred teams will participate this time. In the end, only half will remain: the top one hundred and fifty teams. Rankings will be based on battle points. Each team must fight at least ten battles and will be ranked according to their number of victories. Among them, the top sixty-four teams will enter the elimination rounds. The top four teams in the elimination rounds will receive different rewards, with the champion team's reward being especially precious. Our class currently has sixty-seven students, enough for twenty-two teams with one person left over. I have already classified and analyzed you according to your Martial Soul characteristics and completed the grouping in advance."
"Song Qing Han," Zhou Yi called in a deep voice.
"Here." A small-framed student quickly stood up.
Zhou Yi said, "Every freshman class teacher may nominate one specially recruited student to pass the assessment directly. I chose you. After observing you, I believe you are more suited to continue cultivating in the Soul Tool Department. Do you have any objections?"
"I'm willing! Thank you, Teacher Zhou!" Song Qing Han was so excited he nearly jumped up. His purpose in coming to Shrek Academy had been to enter the Soul Tool Department.
Zhou Yi waved at him, signaling him to sit down, then said, "Now we will begin the grouping. Team One: Lin Yuan, Huo Yu Hao, Wang Dong. Team Two: Xiao Xiao..."
"All right, that settles it. Raise any objections now. I'll give you one day to think it over after you return. Now hand in the papers in your hands, and class is dismissed. Get plenty of rest when you go back. No one is allowed to run around causing trouble. When the Freshman Assessment begins tomorrow, I want all twenty-two teams to advance. Whoever gets eliminated will not only pack up and leave, I will also make sure you leave with some unforgettable memories. Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, Xiao Xiao, the four of you stay behind."
The other students handed in the blank papers containing their future cultivation preferences and left the classroom for their dormitories one after another, leaving only the four of them behind. At that moment, the other classes were still enthusiastically discussing their Freshman Assessment groupings.
"Hand them over. Wang Dong, what are you hiding from?" As Zhou Yi reached to take the four sheets of paper from them, Wang Dong immediately lowered her head, quietly took a step back, and hid behind Lin Yuan.
Zhou Yi looked at the four sheets of paper in her hand, and the corner of her eye twitched. Then she raised her head to look at the four of them. Swept by her sharp gaze, everyone except Lin Yuan felt as though their bodies had been seen through.
"Very good! You brats, are you deliberately trying to challenge me?" As she spoke, Zhou Yi picked up one of the papers and slapped it onto the desk. "Control System."
Then she took out the second paper and slammed it down heavily. "Control System!"
Her voice rose noticeably. Lin Yuan looked at Wang Dong beside him. The second sheet was clearly hers.
Bang! Zhou Yi's final slap nearly shattered the lectern. "Still Control System! And you, Class Monitor Lin, why did you write Control System too? You little bastards did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"Teacher Zhou, I think you may have misunderstood. I wrote Control System and Assault System." Lin Yuan stepped forward and pointed at the words on his paper, speaking calmly. "My Martial Soul is an Elemental Dragon, which falls between control and assault, so I wrote both."
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