So what if you're a Soul Venerable? I'm fighting the elite!

After the three of them returned to the dormitory building together, Lin Yuan and Wang Dong went back to their room. Wang Dong, however, seemed preoccupied.

"What's wrong? Little Dong'er, what are you thinking about?" Lin Yuan asked, looking at Wang Dong. Even though, as a transmigrator, he already knew the reason.

Wang Dong said solemnly, "Lin Yuan, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of those twins today was really strong. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid we would have lost for sure today. Although Martial Soul Fusion Skills can't last long, their power is immense and their burst is extremely strong. As their soul power grows stronger in the future and they can sustain the Martial Soul Fusion Skill for longer, there will probably be no one of the same level who can contend with them. It would be great if we could also have such a skill."

After hearing this, Lin Yuan gently tapped his fingers on the table, a hint of understanding flashing in his purple eyes. "Martial Soul Fusion Skills are indeed a sharp tool for challenging higher levels, but they have a crucial requirement: the Martial Souls of both parties must have extremely high compatibility for it to possibly appear, which is considered one in ten thousand. If two people's Martial Souls have high compatibility, they will sense each other when they meet. Also, you might not know this, but I cannot form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with anyone."

Lin Yuan was not lying. His Martial Soul was the Dragon God. As the supreme existence at the origin of Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent, the essence of his Martial Soul was above all Soul Beasts and Tool Martial Souls, forming its own entity, invincible. This ultimate supreme attribute created a fundamental hierarchical gap between him and any other Martial Soul, making it impossible to build the resonance foundation required for fusion.

"Cannot fuse?" Wang Dong looked up abruptly, his pink-blue eyes full of surprise. "Why? Isn't your Elemental Dragon Martial Soul very compatible?"

"Strong compatibility doesn't mean it can fuse." A wisp of Nine-Colored Flowing Light appeared on Lin Yuan's fingertips, with a faint Dragon Might flowing within the light. "It can contain all elemental energies, but it won't resonate equally with any Martial Soul. Fusion requires both Martial Souls to accept and complement each other, but my Martial Soul, in essence, will not condescend to other Martial Souls."

Wang Dong stared intently at the wisp of Nine-Colored Flowing Light, clearly feeling the domineering pressure contained within it. It was a majesty that transcended all things, causing even his Goddess of Light Butterfly Martial Soul to tremble faintly. He opened his mouth, but in the end, only sighed softly, "So that's how it is... That's truly a pity."

Lin Yuan retracted the flowing light, a faint smile curving his lips. "There's nothing to regret. Although Martial Soul Fusion Skills are powerful, they also have limitations. Once one party's condition declines, the fusion will collapse. Our current cooperation might not be worse than a fusion skill." He paused, then changed the subject. "Besides, if we really encounter someone we can't beat, I can handle it alone. Why would we need to bother with a fusion skill?"

"You're bragging again!" Wang Dong glared at him, but the disappointment in his heart dissipated by more than half. He knew Lin Yuan wasn't exaggerating; his ten-win record spoke for itself. This guy's strength had long surpassed the scope of a freshman; some people would believe him if he were an upperclassman.

On the lakeshore of the island in 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 old man's originally white robe had now turned grayish-brown and was torn in several places. His bare feet were soaking in the cool Sea God Lake. He held a large gourd in his right hand, occasionally bringing it to his lips for a drink, while in his other hand, he held a roasted chicken, eating and drinking alternately.

"Elder Xuan, that's the situation. Although these few students are young and are freshmen, they are indeed worth paying attention to."

Elder Xuan swallowed a mouthful of chicken and looked at Wang Yan, muttering, "Body Martial Soul, a bit interesting."

Wang Yan asked, "Elder Xuan, does hair count as a main body martial soul?"

"It's close."

Wang Yan immediately became excited. "If that's the case, the sisters Lan Su Su and Lan Luo Luo should be worth your attention. These two young girls can also perform Martial Soul Fusion Skills. If they also have a connection to a main body Martial Soul, their future development potential will definitely be very strong."

Elder Xuan shook his head. "Hair? No. You claim to study theory, how can your understanding of the main body's martial soul be so poor?"

Wang Yan said with a wry smile, "There are simply no research subjects, and the information about the main body martial soul is pitifully scarce. Moreover, the Main Body Sect has always been reclusive."

Elder Xuan chuckled, stood up, and said, "Then I'll teach you something useful. To discern the strength of a Body Martial Soul, you need to look at the importance of the corresponding body part to the body. The more important the body part that serves as the Martial Soul is to the human body, the better the Body Martial Soul. Therefore, what truly moved me was that Spiritual Eye boy. Hair can regrow if lost, but what about eyes? Moreover, he is of the spiritual attribute, meaning his Martial Soul is actually his eyes and brain. You are quite lucky to witness the top-tier Body Martial Soul in this life. However, I guess his Body Martial Soul hasn't been fully awakened, otherwise, why would he only use a ten-year soul ring? Go tell Xiao Ning that I will attend the freshman assessment ranking matches and have him reserve a spot for me."

"Yes."

The next morning, Class One Freshman.

Zhou Yi walked to the podium and looked at the students below. She said calmly, "After three days, the freshman assessment has concluded. The final results were tallied last night."

Hearing her say this, all the students in Class One immediately perked up. Not every group was as confident as Lin Yuan's in passing the assessment.

A faint smile appeared on Zhou Yi's aged face. "I must say, you have indeed worked hard and brought me honor. All twenty-two groups of students from Class One who participated in the assessment have passed the freshman assessment."

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire Class One Freshman erupted. Cheers echoed through every corner of the classroom.

This time, Zhou Yi did not stop them. She simply watched these children cheer with a smile. They truly had the right to. Last night, all the assessment teachers and the homeroom teachers of the ten freshman classes completed the results summary. Almost all the assessment teachers stated that the students of Class One Freshman had more resilience than those in other classes. In the intense assessment matches, they displayed astonishing willpower and combat strength, and were the group that staged the most comeback victories among all classes. The most significant point was that the students of Class One Freshman won almost all evenly matched competitions.

This was the first time Zhou Yi had received public praise from the academy since becoming a teacher at Shrek Academy. Originally, Class One Freshman had the fewest students, but after the round-robin stage, half of the freshmen who participated in the assessment were eliminated. Now, Class One Freshman had become the class with the most students among the ten freshman classes.

"Passing the assessment only ensures that you can stay in the academy, and at least you won't be easily eliminated before the end of your first year. But this is limited to the first year. If you put in less effort in the future, I'm afraid I won't see you around in your second year. Moreover, it's just passing the freshman assessment, nothing to be overly happy about. Among your twenty-two groups, fourteen groups have not yet finished their freshman assessment because you have entered the top sixty-four and will participate in the subsequent knockout rounds. And the knockout rounds are the true moment to prove your excellence. In this freshman assessment round-robin stage, a total of six groups achieved a perfect win record, and our class has one such group."

Zhou Yi's gaze swept across the entire audience, finally settling on the three of them: Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, and Huo Yu Hao. Her tone carried undisguised praise. "Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, the three of you, with a record of ten wins and zero losses, have become the only undefeated team in our class, and one of the six undefeated teams in the entire grade. In the upcoming knockout rounds, you must continue this momentum."

The classroom immediately erupted in warm applause, all eyes focused on the three of them. Huo Yu Hao scratched his head somewhat sheepishly, Wang Dong straightened his back, a hint of unconcealed pride on his face, while Lin Yuan remained calm, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Zhou Yi raised her hand to signal for quiet, and the applause gradually subsided. "The knockout rounds will be single-elimination, from sixty-four to thirty-two, thirty-two to sixteen... until the champion, runner-up, and third place are decided. The competition rules are the same as the round-robin stage: a team battle of three people per group. Winners advance, losers are eliminated. Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, I must tell you that among the other five undefeated teams from the round-robin stage, three of them have three-ring Soul Elders. You undefeated teams will have preferential treatment in the first two rounds of the knockout stage; you will not face each other. However, starting from the third round, you may encounter these strong teams at any time, so you must be fully prepared."

"We fight elites. Besides, who isn't a Soul Elder? I'm even a Soul Elder about to break through level forty," Lin Yuan said casually, tapping his finger lightly on the table. A nine-colored stream of light flashed and disappeared. "A three-ring Soul Elder is nothing. If we really face one, they might not necessarily win against me."

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. "Confidence is a good thing, but don't be careless. Gather at the assessment area before the school bell rings tomorrow. No lateness. Alright, dismissed. Go back and adjust your state, and give it your all tomorrow."