Don't Be Mad, We're All Good Brothers

Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong jumped in fright, hurriedly pulling apart and racing back toward the dormitory. Both their hearts were pounding fiercely, perhaps because of that one line Zhou Yi had shouted about dating.

Running in iron vests had become a habit in Class One. Running for an entire lesson was easier for the two little ones than eating bean sprouts.

The two ran with practiced ease until the dismissal bell rang, only stopping when Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao came to find them on the field.

"How was it? What did Teacher Zhou say?" Jiang Yuheng asked after catching his breath.

Huo Yuhao shrugged. "She didn't really say much. She just encouraged everyone, gave us that kind of momentum where we'd kill anyone in our way and slay any god who blocked us, then analyzed our opponents."

"I think winning the championship this time will be pretty difficult. The Round-Robin Tournament really was only a preliminary round. Shrek Academy has never lacked geniuses."

Worry was obvious on Huo Yuhao's face, but Wang Dong was unconcerned. "What's there to fear? If they're geniuses, then we're geniuses among geniuses! Have some confidence in yourselves!"

Xiao Xiao said, "Don't get careless! Teacher Zhou just said that among the undefeated teams in the other five Round-Robin Tournament groups, three teams have Three-Ring Spirit Elders!"

"Soul Elders?!" Wang Dong looked utterly incredulous.

Jiang Yuheng, on the other hand, looked calm. He even yawned lazily, clearly not taking it seriously.

After all, ever since the competition began, he had not even revealed his Martial Soul. A Soul Elder would only make him take things a little more seriously. There was nothing to be surprised about.

The Three Little Ones did not notice the change in Jiang Yuheng's mood and continued to frown deeply.

Xiao Xiao continued, "That's right. If they were opponents at the same level, you'd definitely be champions. But against Soul Elders, that might not be the case. The gap of one Spirit Ring isn't something combat experience can make up for!"

Wang Dong gave a soft snort. "So what if they have Three Rings? Soul Elders aren't invincible! We have our own advantages too! Jiang Yuheng's Absolute Ice Attribute Control has never failed! And with Huo Yuhao's Body Martial Soul and Spiritual Martial Soul, the three of us joining forces might not lose!"

Jiang Yuheng nodded in agreement and smiled. "That's right. In the Round-Robin Tournament, Soul Power Level represents a team's strength, but coordination is what determines victory or defeat."

"Others have their advantages, and we have our own tacit understanding. Besides, we still haven't used our full strength."

As he spoke, a faint deep-blue gleam flashed through his black eyes, and his tone carried an irrefutable confidence.

Huo Yuhao said excitedly, "Brother Yuheng is right! Don't forget, we're the champions Teacher Zhou has chosen!"

He extended his right hand. Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong exchanged a tacit glance. Wang Dong tilted her head, signaling for him to put his hand down first. Jiang Yuheng did not hesitate and placed his hand over Huo Yuhao's. Only then did Wang Dong satisfyingly add hers.

Seeing the three of them so confident and proud, Xiao Xiao felt rather miserable inside. She envied the atmosphere between Jiang Yuheng and the other two. If they had been her teammates, how wonderful would that have been...

Unfortunately, that was only an ideal.

"Xiao Xiao, what are you standing there for? Your turn," Jiang Yuheng suddenly said.

Xiao Xiao froze, staring blankly at the three before her. They said nothing, merely winked at her. Their meaning was already obvious.

Over the past three months, they had developed an extraordinary tacit understanding. Though it was regrettable that they had not become teammates this time, they had long since become one another's best partners.

At noon before the match, Zhou Yi generously decided to treat the Three Little Ones to lunch as a reward. Following the principle that free food should never be refused, they also brought Xiao Xiao along.

Zhou Yi was not stingy. She treated them to the finest dishes in the cafeteria. Not only was it Huo Yuhao's first time eating such good food, but it was Xiao Xiao's as well.

The cafeteria's finest dishes were extremely expensive. The menu changed completely every day, and the ingredients were all exceptionally costly, so the prices were calculated in Gold Soul Coins.

There were two premium dishes available that day. Zhou Yi ordered four servings of each, spending a full one hundred and twenty Gold Soul Coins.

Xiao Xiao was a little foodie by nature. At the sight of the two delicious dishes, she could no longer suppress her excitement and began eating with gusto.

Zhou Yi adjusted her glasses and gestured for the three not to stand on ceremony. Eating while the food was hot was best for their bodies.

Only then did the Three Little Ones begin eating, taking one bite after another at an unhurried pace.

"If it isn't enough, we'll order more. Eating these two dishes will stabilize the energy in your internal organs, which will be greatly beneficial to your cultivation."

"I mentioned in class today that among this year's New Students, three have reached the cultivation level of thirty-ranked Soul Elders. They are highly talented, hardworking, and disciples of great clans. Their food and medicinal pills are of the finest quality, which is why they have achieved their current cultivation."

"Jiang Yuheng, Wang Dong, I believe you two may also have received this kind of treatment before coming to the academy. As for why you have not reached Three Rings, I doubt anyone understands better than you yourselves."

"You are the two most gifted students in the class, so my demands of you will be stricter and harsher. As I said before, you are not trying to become the Freshman Assessment champions. You must become them."

The two nodded in tacit agreement, rose together, and promised Zhou Yi that they would certainly win glory that belonged to them alone.

Zhou Yi nodded approvingly. "Remember your promise. All right, eat quickly. After lunch, go rest for a while so you can handle this afternoon's match. You must bring honor to Class One and win us a Core Disciple!"

"Yes!" Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong answered in unison, then immediately began feasting.

As expected of premium food, it not only looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful, but the instant it entered their stomachs, a warm current spread through their limbs and bones, leaving them indescribably comfortable.

You really did get what you paid for!

The Freshman Assessment Elimination Tournament, the round of thirty-two to sixteen, officially began in the Assessment Area when the afternoon class bell rang.

Compared to the morning, half the students participating in the Elimination Tournament had already been eliminated. The Captains or students from the remaining teams drew lots again before heading to their designated areas to compete.

Since it was the same day, the venue had not changed at all. Just as in the morning, only the first sixteen numbered arenas were being used.

"What number did we get?" Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong hurriedly stepped forward to ask Huo Yuhao when he returned.

The reason they had sent Huo Yuhao to draw the lot was entirely because Jiang Yuheng's luck was terrible. There had been a free-order lottery in the cafeteria before. Almost everyone had drawn a buy-one-get-one-free prize, while he alone had drawn a guaranteed twenty-percent discount.

If Jiang Yuheng had gone to draw the lot, it would have been an insult to that face of his if he did not draw a Soul Elder team.

"You still don't trust my luck? It's absolutely top-notch. Number eight!"

The moment his words fell, the big screen displayed the teams competing in Area Eight. Aside from them, there were also the Ning Tian Team and the Xie Huanyue Team, with conspicuous star symbols after their names.

That meant they had been incredibly honored and incredibly lucky enough to draw two of the only three Soul Elder teams in the entire New Student year.