Trouble Arrives

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Xu Sanshi jumped up and down in excitement. He had finally sent that Calamity God away.

Poor Jiang Yuheng, though—he had to take his place and endure the scorching Evil Fire.

But from another perspective, helping Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire was not exactly a loss.

After all, the benefits were plentiful.

"Senior Xu, Jiang Yuheng, he...!"

Wang Dong was frantic. The words I care about him, I'm worried about him might as well have been written across her face.

Xu Sanshi grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, Wang Dong. I guarantee that when Yuheng comes back, he'll be refreshed and full of vigor. He won't suffer the slightest injury."

Wang Dong hurriedly shook her head. "No, Senior Xu, that's not what I mean! I, I...!"

Wang Dong's face flushed red. For a moment, she had no idea how to explain the turmoil in her heart and could only stamp her feet furiously where she stood.

Damn it, Ma Xiaotao! Of all the people you could have grabbed, why did it have to be that idiot Jiang Yuheng?!

Huo Yuhao stepped forward and patted Wang Dong's shoulder, consoling her. "Don't worry. Don't you know Brother Yuheng's strength? He'll be fine. Let's go back first and prepare for tomorrow's Freshman Assessment."

Wang Dong asked, "But what if Ma Xiaotao has improper intentions toward him?"

Huo Yuhao was visibly taken aback. "No way, right? They only met for the first time, and their age gap is so huge. How could they possibly fall for each other?"

Wang Dong punched her palm in frustration. "What if she does?! That idiot is fairly handsome too, but I'm worried he..."

Huo Yuhao smiled, his tone utterly certain. "She won't. Ever since I met Brother Yuheng, no one but you, Wang Dong, has ever made him so gentle."

"So don't worry. To him, you're the most special person."

Hearing that, it felt as though something inside Wang Dong had suddenly been plucked. An indescribable emotion spread through her entire body. Her pink-blue eyes trembled slightly, and she unconsciously clenched her fists.

Wang Dong murmured to herself, "I'm the most special to him."

Shrek Academy's Assessment Area was located in the north-central part of the Martial Soul Department, adjacent to the Spirit Fighting Zone. It was far larger than the latter.

For Shrek Academy's students, this was a grand stage for displaying themselves. But for students with lower cultivation, it was practically more terrifying than Zhou Yi.

Every year, Shrek Academy eliminated a great number of students for failing their assessments, and most of those assessments were conducted in the Assessment Area.

Following the morning's grouping, the assessments officially began that afternoon.

Today was the first day of assessment. To give the new students time to adapt, each group only needed to complete one match before they could leave.

The academy had dispatched fifty teachers to register assessments in fifty separate areas. The matchups for today's assessments had already been determined by drawing lots at noon, ensuring as much as possible that teams from the same class would not encounter one another during the upcoming ten rounds of the Round-Robin Tournament.

Studying at Shrek Academy meant facing intense and brutal competition. Yet it was precisely because of this that such a tense atmosphere drove students to work harder and better unleashed their potential. Thus, survival of the fittest had become the secret behind Shrek Academy's enduring prosperity for ten thousand years.

The Three Little Ones were assigned to District 33. After a simple lunch, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao arrived early at their designated area to wait for Jiang Yuheng.

Students from other classes competing here had also arrived. Some looked nervous and uneasy, some were eagerly flexing their fists, while others kept pacing back and forth to conceal their inner anxiety.

They were all only eleven- or twelve-year-old children, unable to hide what they were thinking. Whenever their eyes met, hostility was plainly visible in their gazes.

After all, only half of them would be able to stay. Though there were only ten assessment matches, nearly every one of them concerned their futures.

"Attention, all new students! Attention, all new students! Please enter the Assessment Area immediately and prepare to take part in the Freshman Assessment."

"There are ten minutes remaining to enter. Those who arrive late will be deemed to have forfeited this assessment!"

The broadcast echoed throughout the entire Outer Court, its voice reaching every corner. The new students' expressions instantly grew more solemn. Their first assessment was about to begin. Anyone who said they were not nervous would definitely be lying.

"That idiot, why isn't he back yet?" Wang Dong anxiously scanned the area. If he did not enter soon, he would be considered to have forfeited!

"The idiot's right here!"

At the same moment the voice rang out, Jiang Yuheng's figure landed steadily in front of them.

After not seeing him for a night, Jiang Yuheng truly was as energetic as Xu Sanshi had said. There was an indescribable change in the aura of Soul Power around him, and even his New Student Uniform had been changed to dark blue.

"Sorry, I was late because I had to change clothes," Jiang Yuheng said, slightly out of breath.

"It's good that you're back. Hurry and get inside!"

With that, Wang Dong grabbed his arm and ran toward the Assessment Area, with Huo Yuhao following closely behind.

The Freshman Assessment was extremely important. The academy's reminders through Soul Tool broadcasts did little in practice; the students had all arrived at their designated areas more than ten minutes early to prepare.

Just then, a teacher who appeared to be around forty arrived in District 33. His appearance was very ordinary, without any imposing air about him. He wore a pleasant smile, giving off a kind and calm feeling. He was the complete opposite of Zhou Yi.

After counting everyone and confirming that no one was missing, he nodded with a smile. "Very good. There are six groups of students taking the assessment here, and everyone has arrived. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Wang Yan, and I'll be your assessment teacher for the next two days."

"Hello, Teacher Wang!" The students hastily greeted him and bowed.

Wang Yan chuckled. "No need to be so reserved. My teaching habit is to treat students as friends. From the start of the assessment until its end, you are all my little friends."

"So, I do not wish to see anyone get hurt. The assessment will determine whether you can remain at Shrek Academy to continue studying, but I must remind you all: this is an assessment, and you absolutely must not harm anyone."

"Otherwise, I can only regretfully ask that person to leave and report the matter to the academy."

He spoke gently and casually, without even stating what the consequences of crippling or seriously injuring an opponent would be.

But which student capable of entering Shrek Academy was not clever? Naturally, they understood what he meant.

Wang Yan smiled. "In that case, let us begin. A little urgency is a good thing for young people like you."

As he spoke, he took out a folder and opened it. After glancing at it, he raised his head to look at the students.

"First match of the first round: Class 1 of New Students—Jiang Yuheng, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao—versus Class 3 of New Students—Ouyang Junyi, Chen Junfeng, Zhao Haochen."

"You may enter the field now. Take positions at separate corners of the arena. You may only release your Martial Souls after I announce the start of the match. Enter the field."