After the three returned to the dormitory building together, Lin Yuan and Wang Dong went back to their room. Wang Dong, however, looked weighed down by her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Little Dong'er? What are you thinking about?" Lin Yuan asked as he looked at Wang Dong. As a transmigrator, he already knew the reason.
Wang Dong said in a low voice, "Lin Yuan, that pair of twins' Martial Soul Fusion Skill was really powerful today. Without you, we probably would have lost for sure. A Martial Soul Fusion Skill can't last long, but its power and explosive force are enormous. As their Soul Power grows stronger, they'll be able to sustain it longer. At the same level, I'm afraid no one will be able to stand against them. It would be great if we had a skill like that too."
After hearing this, Lin Yuan lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers. A flicker of understanding flashed through his violet eyes. "Martial Soul Fusion Skills really are powerful tools for challenging opponents above one's level, but there's one crucial requirement: the two Martial Souls must have an extremely high degree of compatibility for one to appear. They're one in ten thousand. If two people's Martial Souls are highly compatible, they'll sense it when they meet. Besides, you may not know this, but I can't form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with anyone."
Lin Yuan was not lying. His Martial Soul was the Dragon God, the supreme existence from which the soul beasts of Douluo Continent had originated. The essence of his Martial Soul stood above all soul beast and tool Martial Souls, complete unto itself and unrivaled. That ultimate, supreme attribute created an innate gap in rank between it and every other Martial Soul, making it fundamentally impossible to establish the resonant foundation needed for fusion.
"Can't fuse?" Wang Dong abruptly raised her head, her pink-blue eyes filled with surprise. "Why? Isn't your Elemental Dragon Martial Soul highly compatible with others?"
"High compatibility doesn't mean fusion is possible." A strand of Nine-Colored Flowing Light glimmered at Lin Yuan's fingertips, and a faint draconic might flowed within it. "It can contain the elements of all things, but it won't resonate with any Martial Soul as an equal. Fusion requires both Martial Souls to accept and complement each other, but my Martial Soul, by its nature, will not yield to any other."
Wang Dong stared intently at that strand of Nine-Colored Flowing Light, clearly sensing the domineering pressure contained within it. It was a majesty that stood above all things, enough to make even her Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul tremble faintly. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she merely sighed. "So that's how it is... What a pity."
Lin Yuan put away the flowing light, a faint smile curling at his lips. "There's nothing to regret. Martial Soul Fusion Skills may be strong, but they have their limitations. Once one side's condition declines, the fusion collapses. Our current teamwork may not be any worse than a fusion skill." He paused, then changed the subject. "Besides, if we really run into someone we can't beat, I can just handle it myself. Why bother with a fusion skill?"
"You're bragging again!" Wang Dong glared at him, but most of the disappointment in her heart had already faded. She knew Lin Yuan was not exaggerating. His record of ten straight victories was right there for all to see. This guy's strength had long surpassed the level of a freshman; people would believe he was an upperclassman.
On the shore of the island at the center of Sea God Lake, Wang Yan, who had been presiding over the Freshman Assessment not long ago, stood there with an exceptionally respectful expression.
Not far in front of him sat a disheveled old man. The elder's robe, which should have been white, had turned grayish-brown and was torn in several places. His bare feet soaked in the cool waters of Sea God Lake. He held a huge gourd in his right hand and occasionally brought it to his lips for a drink, while his other hand gripped a roasted chicken. He drank a mouthful of wine, then took a bite of meat.
"Elder Xuan, that's the situation. Although these students are young and only freshmen, they are indeed worth watching."
Elder Xuan swallowed a mouthful of chicken, turned to glance at Wang Yan, and muttered, "A Body Martial Soul. That's somewhat interesting."
Wang Yan asked, "Elder Xuan, does hair count as a Body Martial Soul?"
"It barely qualifies."
Wang Yan immediately grew excited. "If so, then the sisters Lan Su Su and Lan Luo Luo should be worth your attention. Those two girls can also use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. If they're connected to Body Martial Souls as well, their future potential must be tremendous."
Elder Xuan shook his head. "Hair? No. You call yourself a theory researcher, yet your understanding of Body Martial Souls is this poor?"
Wang Yan gave a wry smile. "There simply haven't been any subjects to study, and materials on Body Martial Souls are pitifully scarce. The Noumenon Sect has also remained hidden from the world."
Elder Xuan chuckled and rose to his feet. "Then I'll teach you something. To judge the strength of a Body Martial Soul, you have to look at how important the corresponding body part is to the human body. The more important the body part that becomes the Martial Soul, the better the Body Martial Soul. So the one who truly interests me is that Spiritual Eye boy. Hair can grow back after it's gone, but what about eyes? What's more, he has a spiritual attribute. In other words, his Martial Soul is actually his eyes and brain. You're lucky. To see the most top-tier Body Martial Soul in your lifetime is no small thing. But I suspect his Body Martial Soul hasn't been fully awakened. Otherwise, why would he only use a Ten Year Soul Ring? Go tell Little Ning that I'll be watching the Freshman Assessment Ranking Tournament. Tell him to save me a seat."
"Yes."
The next morning, Class One Freshman.
Zhou Yi walked to the podium, looked over the students below, and said calmly, "After three days, the Freshman Assessment has completely concluded. The final results were compiled last night."
At her words, every student in Class One Freshman immediately perked up. Not every team was as certain of passing the assessment as Lin Yuan's group.
A faint smile appeared on Zhou Yi's aged face. "I have to say, you truly worked hard and did me proud. All twenty-two teams from our class that entered the assessment passed the Freshman Assessment."
The moment she finished speaking, Class One Freshman erupted. Cheers rang through every corner of the classroom.
This time, Zhou Yi did not stop them. She simply watched the children cheer with a smile. They had earned the right. Last night, all assessment teachers and the homeroom teachers of the ten freshman classes had completed the score summaries together. Nearly every assessment teacher stated that the students of Class One Freshman had more resilience than those of the other classes. During the intense assessment matches, they displayed astonishing willpower and fighting strength. They had pulled off more comebacks than any other class. Most notably, the students of Class One Freshman had won nearly every evenly matched battle.
Since becoming a teacher at Shrek Academy, Zhou Yi had received public praise from the academy for the first time. Class One Freshman had originally been the class with the fewest students, but after the round-robin matches, half the freshmen who took part in the assessment had been eliminated. Now, Class One Freshman had instead become the largest of the ten freshman classes.
"Passing the assessment only ensures that you may remain in the academy. At least until the end of your first year, you will not be easily eliminated. But that only applies to the first year. If you become less diligent in the future, then by your second year, I may no longer be able to see you here. Besides, merely passing the Freshman Assessment is nothing worth celebrating too much. Of your twenty-two teams, fourteen teams have not yet finished their Freshman Assessment because you entered the top sixty-four and must take part in the upcoming elimination rounds. The elimination rounds are when you will truly prove your excellence. In this Freshman Assessment round-robin stage, six teams achieved perfect records, and one of them came from our class."
Zhou Yi's gaze swept across the room before finally settling on Lin Yuan's trio. Her tone carried undisguised praise. "Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, the three of you became our class's only undefeated team with ten victories in ten matches. You are also one of the six undefeated teams in the entire year. Keep this momentum going in the elimination rounds."
Warm applause instantly filled the classroom, and everyone's eyes focused on the three of them. Huo Yu Hao scratched his head a little awkwardly. Wang Dong straightened her back, pride impossible to conceal on her face. Lin Yuan remained as calm as ever, merely giving a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Zhou Yi raised a hand, and the applause gradually faded. "The elimination rounds use a single-loss format. From sixty-four to thirty-two, thirty-two to sixteen... until the champion, runner-up, and third place are decided. The rules are the same as in the round-robin stage: three-person team battles, with winners advancing and losers eliminated. Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, I need to tell you this: among the other five teams with perfect round-robin records, three have Soul Elders with three Soul Rings. In the first two rounds of the elimination stage, your undefeated teams will receive preferential treatment and will not face each other. But from the third round onward, you may encounter these strong teams at any time. You must be fully prepared."
"We're here to fight the elites. Besides, who isn't a Soul Elder? I'm a Soul Elder who's about to break through level forty." Lin Yuan's tone was relaxed as he lightly tapped the tabletop with a finger. Nine-Colored Flowing Light flashed and vanished. "They're only three-ring Soul Elders. Even if we face them, they might not be able to beat me."
Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, a trace of amusement flashing in her eyes. "Confidence is a good thing, but don't be careless. Gather in the assessment area before the bell rings tomorrow. No one is allowed to be late. All right, dismissed. Go back and adjust yourselves. Give it your all tomorrow."
Before you continue