Victory Rewards, Core Disciples!

The results of the Freshman Assessment finals quickly spread throughout the academy. That evening, Huo Yu Hao did not go sell grilled fish. Instead, she went into the wilderness with Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Bei Bei, and Tang Ya, where she specially grilled fish for them.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya had long expected Lin Yuan's group of three to claim the final championship. After all, Lin Yuan was already a rank thirty-nine Soul Elder. Even after learning that there were three three-ring Soul Masters among the freshmen, they had remained unconcerned. In other words, with Lin Yuan on a team, they could win even if they randomly brought along someone else.

"Wang Dong, do you still want to join our Tang Sect?" Tang Ya remembered the important matter only after finishing her grilled fish.

Wang Dong nodded quickly. "Of course I do!"

Tang Ya giggled. "Fine. Since you won the championship, this Sect Master will keep her word and specially approve your entry into the Tang Sect. What about you, Lin Yuan? Are you interested?"

Lin Yuan gently shook his head, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable resolve. "No, thank you, Sister Xiaoya. I'm used to being on my own. Joining a sect would tie my hands and feet, so it doesn't suit me."

The smile on Tang Ya's face froze for a moment before returning to normal. She waved her hand. "It's fine, it's fine. Everyone has their own ambitions! But we're friends, so if the Tang Sect ever needs your help, you can't refuse!"

"Of course." Lin Yuan smiled and nodded, picking up a grilled fish and handing it over. "Try this one. Yu Hao just finished grilling it, and she added special spices."

Bei Bei looked at Lin Yuan, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. He had long seen that Lin Yuan possessed an extraordinary bearing and was definitely not someone willing to live beneath others. Refusing to join the Tang Sect was only natural. He changed the subject. "You've passed the Freshman Assessment, so you'll be assigned to classes soon. The Assault System and Control System are grouped together, and since you're a team, you should be placed in the same class. There's no need to mention Yu Hao, but Wang Dong, you've probably heard that our Tang Sect is famous for Hidden Weapons. However, after Soul Tools appeared, Hidden Weapons gradually withdrew from the stage of history, which was also an important reason for the Tang Sect's decline. For the Tang Sect to rise again, we must revive Hidden Weapons. But we can no longer follow the old path of relying solely on them. Only by combining Hidden Weapons with Soul Tools can we possibly restore our former glory. What do you think of Soul Tools? Once you officially become first-year students, you'll be able to take Soul Tool courses as electives."

Wang Dong frowned slightly, while Xiao Xiao spoke softly from the side. "I think Soul Masters should still focus on cultivation. Aren't Soul Tools only something Soul Masters with poor talent or weak Martial Souls are willing to study? Besides, I don't want to learn Soul Tools either. There isn't even enough time for cultivation."

Tang Ya smiled. "As expected of an outstanding student of the Martial Soul Department. That's a typical Martial Soul Department student's way of thinking. Honestly, not just you—even Bei Bei and I feel there isn't enough time for cultivation, so we've devoted very little thought to Soul Tools. It's up to you. The Tang Sect won't restrict everyone's cultivation path. I was only asking whether you were interested. Your talents are so exceptional that splitting your attention really wouldn't be suitable. We can only wait until the Tang Sect recruits disciples who specialize in researching Soul Tools."

"Sister Xiaoya, I want to take Soul Tool courses." At that moment, Huo Yu Hao suddenly spoke.

Tang Ya's eyes lit up. "Yu Hao, you're willing?"

Huo Yu Hao nodded. "Soul Tools have their wonders. Since they can replace our Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons and become weapons valued by every nation on the continent, their power must be considerable. I want to try. If I have no talent for it, I'll give up, but if I do have that talent, I want to learn."

"Great, great!" Tang Ya was overjoyed. "Still, Soul Tools really are suitable for you. Your Martial Soul belongs to the Mental System and lacks offensive methods. With Soul Tools to support you, your combat strength can increase greatly. Moreover, in the field of Soul Tools, the deeper your understanding, the greater the power you can wield."

Bei Bei reminded her, "Junior sister, you must also maintain a proper cultivation rhythm. Your Martial Soul has great potential. Don't place too much emphasis on Soul Tools. Soul Power and Soul Rings are the foundation of a Soul Master. Even powerful Soul Tools require sufficient Soul Power to use."

"Yes, Senior Brother." Huo Yu Hao quickly agreed.

At that moment, Tang Ya suddenly said, "However, even if you want to take courses in the Soul Tool Department, it may not work out. Do you know what the reward for winning the Freshman Assessment is?"

At the word "reward," Huo Yu Hao and Wang Dong's eyes immediately lit up. Shrek Academy was the number one Soul Master Academy in the world, and they were champions of the Freshman Assessment. The reward certainly would not be poor.

"The rewards for each Freshman Assessment differ slightly, but they are generally similar and are usually decided based on the overall quality of the freshmen. I don't know about anything else, but in all my years at Shrek Academy, I've never seen freshmen with the strength of Soul Elders. You're the first group. So I estimate your rewards will be generous. I don't know exactly what they will be, but one reward is certain: becoming Core Disciples. As Freshman Assessment champions, becoming Core Disciples of the Martial Soul Department should be no problem. But once you become Core Disciples of the Martial Soul Department, the academy will invest more resources in you. Under those circumstances, the Martial Soul Department naturally won't allow you to split your attention by taking Soul Tool Department electives. At our academy, the Martial Soul Department has always held the dominant position."

Only then did Huo Yu Hao and Wang Dong understand. At the thought that becoming a Core Disciple meant she could at least eat the most nutritious meals every day, Huo Yu Hao could not help revealing a delighted expression. Bei Bei glanced at Huo Yu Hao, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes, but he ultimately said nothing.

Lin Yuan watched all of this from the side. She thought to herself, The reward for the freshman championship should be that Soul Bone, unless something unexpected happens. If it changes, that would be interesting.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly. With Sea God Lake on campus, the air at Shrek Academy was not only fresh but also exceptionally moist.

All freshmen who had passed the assessment gathered at Shrek Plaza, waiting for the impending class assignments. Soon, Du Wilun, director of the Martial Soul Department's Academic Affairs Office, arrived before the students with more than a dozen teachers.

Du Wilun held a folder in his hand. After smiling and sweeping his gaze across the students, he said, "I believe everyone knows that the Freshman Assessment elimination rounds have ended, and the final top three have been decided. I will now officially announce the results and reveal the rewards they will receive. Third place in the Freshman Assessment goes to the Huang Chu Tian Team. Its members are Huang Chu Tian, Lan Su Su, and Lan Luo Luo. Please step forward."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three of them stepped out of the ranks under Huang Chu Tian's lead and came before Du Wilun. Their young faces were slightly flushed with excitement. Winning third place had already exceeded their expectations!

Thunderous applause erupted from all the first-year students. After the elimination rounds, more than three hundred first-year students remained, nearly two-thirds fewer than at the start of the school year.

"Second place goes to the Dai Hua Bin Team. Its members are Dai Hua Bin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Ya Jie. Please step forward."

Applause rang out again, but when Dai Hua Bin's group stepped forward, there was not the slightest excitement on their faces. Dai Hua Bin in particular had a tightly drawn expression, her head slightly lowered as though she were pondering something. Her eyes even held faint traces of bloodshot veins.

After a brief pause, Du Wilun raised his voice. "Now, please welcome the final champions of the Freshman Assessment with a round of enthusiastic applause! They are the Lin Yuan Team, whose members are Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, and Huo Yu Hao."

At once, passionate cheers erupted across the plaza. Immediately afterward, Lin Yuan's group of three strode forward.

Seeing them approach, Du Wilun revealed a faint, approving smile and gestured for them to stand in the center. At that moment, Dai Hua Bin was staring at Lin Yuan, but not a trace of emotion could be discerned in her eyes.

Du Wilun said, "Good. I will now announce the rewards for the top three teams of the Freshman Assessment. When members of the top three teams need Soul Rings, each of them may submit a request to the academy. The academy will assist them in obtaining one Soul Ring that is within their capacity to bear and best suited to them."

As soon as those words were spoken, the first-year students burst into astonished exclamations. This reward meant that the academy was guaranteeing that the next Soul Ring for each of these nine students would definitely be a limit Soul Ring.

Du Wilun continued, "In view of the Lin Yuan Team's outstanding performance and undefeated record throughout the competition, the academy has decided to grant them a special reward. The academy will keep this reward confidential for them. After the class assignments are complete, you may follow me to collect it. All right, you may return to your positions."

Once he finished speaking, Lin Yuan and the other eight returned to their original places and stood properly.

Du Wilun went on, "The quality of this year's freshmen is better than in previous years. I hope you will continue to strive forward. No matter how great one's talent is, without hard work, there will be no good result. Our Shrek Academy is the continent's number one Soul Master Academy. I hope that all of you will eventually graduate successfully and achieve outstanding results. In light of the group of exceptional students that emerged during this year's Freshman Tournament, the academy has specially approved certain students to become Core Disciples of the Outer Court. I will now announce the list."

"After the academy's final review based on the freshmen's performance during the assessment, the Core Disciples are: Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Dai Hua Bin, Zhu Lu, Zhou Si Chen, Cao Jin Xuan, Lan Su Su, Lan Luo Luo, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng. In addition, some freshmen in the Freshman Assessment may have been slightly lacking in talent and ability, but they performed exceptionally well. The academy has decided to allow them to temporarily receive the treatment of Core Disciples until the end of this academic year. If they can make breakthroughs in next year's advancement examination, they will be considered for promotion to formal Core Disciples. The list is as follows: Huo Yu Hao, Cui Ya Jie, Huang Chu Tian, Long Xiang Yue, and Nanmen Yun'er. That concludes the announcement."

Huo Yu Hao did not feel much upon hearing this. She knew that she truly did not have the qualifications to become a Core Disciple. After all, among these people, she alone was a One Ring Soul Master. She lightly clenched her fists. Rather than feeling disappointed, she was filled with even stronger fighting spirit. The gap between us now will eventually be closed through hard work.

Lin Yuan sensed her emotions and turned to give her a comforting look, certainty filling her violet eyes.

Wang Dong, however, frowned and muttered softly, "Why? Don't they see how useful Yu Hao's Spiritual Detection is?"

Lin Yuan gently patted her shoulder, signaling for her to remain calm.

Next came the class assignments. The entire first year was divided into four classes: First-Year Class One consisted of Assault System and Control Battle Soul Masters; Class Two consisted of Defense System and Agile Assault System Battle Soul Masters; Class Three consisted of Support System Battle Soul Masters, referring to Battle Soul Masters and Tool Soul Masters who could directly provide support in battle, such as Ning Tian, possessor of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul; Class Four included Food System, Healing System, and other special-attribute Battle Soul Masters and Tool Soul Masters. Their combat strength was weaker, but they often possessed remarkable abilities in specialized fields. Among them, the Food System and Healing System were the most important.

Without question, First-Year Class One had the strongest overall strength. Lin Yuan, Huo Yu Hao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and the others were all assigned there. The strongest student in Class Two was Xie Huan Yue, who excelled in defense.

Every grade was almost always divided according to this standard, but the higher the grade, the fewer students there were in each class. Shrek Academy had always maintained an extremely high elimination rate. Even among students who successfully graduated from the Outer Court, fewer than fifty did so each year. In other words, among these three hundred-plus students, it would already be impressive if twenty percent made it to the end.

Next came the introductions of each class's homeroom teachers. Zhou Yi became one of the homeroom teachers of First-Year Class One. Each class was assigned two homeroom teachers, and the other was Wang Yan, who thought highly of Lin Yuan's team of three. Even Zhou Yi did not know that Wang Yan, who had originally taught upper-year students, had been transferred to First-Year Class One because of Lin Yuan's group, to teach alongside her.