Fourth Trial Assessment

The white crystal was used to test Soul Power cultivation below Level 30. Now that it had shattered, it could only mean one thing—the little girl before them had already attained Soul Elder cultivation!

The murmurs within the group instantly vanished, replaced by incredulous gasps.

Nan Li, however, thought, Given how money-grubbing Flender is, he won't make me pay for it later, will he?

Having been shocked twice in a row, Dai Mubai no longer wanted to say anything. "Teacher, I'll take her to the fourth trial first."

When Dai Mubai enrolled last year, his Soul Power had happened to be Level 25. After a year of hard work, he had only recently broken through to Level 29, and the teachers had specifically called him to the academy entrance to assist with recruitment.

He had originally been very satisfied with his talent, but today, every bit of pride and confidence Dai Mubai had in his own talent was effortlessly crushed by this girl named Nan Li.

Dai Mubai felt somewhat discouraged.

The group arrived at the fourth trial, where Nan Li saw a bearded man waiting ahead.

The man had one foot on a stone, one hand propping up his forehead in a thoughtful pose. Hearing them arrive, he raised his other hand, several sausages spread out in a fan between his fingers.

"Come take a look! Don't miss out!" The man spun around and smugly brushed back his hair. "Oscar-brand sausages—delicious, sweet, and quality guaranteed! Would you like a sausage? Just five Copper Soul Coins each. Eat an Oscar-brand sausage..."

"Drop dead." Dai Mubai shot the man an irritated glare. "This is this year's applicant, Nan Li. She's here for the fourth trial assessment."

"So you're Nan Li." The man leaned close to Nan Li and continued his vigorous sales pitch. "Want a sausage? Eat an Oscar-brand sausage, and I guarantee you'll have an easier time passing the entrance exam!"

"Oscar!" Dai Mubai could no longer bear it and shouted him down. "Get to work. Keep hawking those things, and you'll only dig your own grave!"

"If I'm not mistaken, those sausages should be your Martial Soul." Nan Li's expression did not change as she casually glanced at the sausages in Oscar's hand. "You're a Food System Soul Master, aren't you? What, are you the examiner for the fourth trial?"

After being scolded by Dai Mubai, Oscar wore an awkward expression. But upon hearing Nan Li's question, his spirits immediately rose again. "That's right! I'm one of the fourth trial examiners!"

"Hm?" Looking at the strange Oscar, Nan Li chose to turn to Dai Mubai instead.

Dai Mubai looked as though he did not know him and said with distaste, "His name is Oscar. He's twelve this year, and he, Fatty, and I are in charge of the fourth trial assessment."

"Twelve... and he looks like that?" Even though Jiang E Li had told her about Shrek Academy beforehand, seeing Oscar's full beard in person was still rather visually shocking to Nan Li.

Oscar scratched his head sheepishly.

"Right, where's Fatty?" Dai Mubai looked around but failed to find the person he was looking for. "Oscar, hurry up and call Fatty over."

"That won't be necessary, Boss Dai. I think the two of us are enough." Oscar was full of confidence.

"If I tell you to go, then go. Why are you talking so much?"

While Oscar went to fetch someone, Dai Mubai spoke with a serious expression. "I'm a Power Attack System Soul Master, and Oscar is Food System. As for Fatty, who hasn't arrived yet, he's also a Power Attack System Soul Master."

"The requirement for the fourth trial is to withstand a stick of incense's worth of time under Fatty's and my combined attacks. During that time, Oscar will support us. If you can last until the incense burns out, or defeat us, you'll have passed the assessment."

As he spoke, Oscar came running over with a short-haired, chubby boy.

"Alright." Nan Li nodded. "I can begin at any time."

Seeing this, Dan Hong flew into the air to clear space for the four of them, while the five Soul Rings beneath her feet were exposed to everyone's eyes.

"A Soul King!" Oscar and the newly arrived chubby boy exclaimed in unison.

"Her Soul Ring configuration is way too..."

"Shouldn't I be the one taking the assessment right now?" Nan Li interrupted their discussion, an inscrutable smile curling her lips.

Because of Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire, Dai Mubai had originally planned not to let him participate unless necessary. However, Nan Li's situation put him under immense pressure.

Dai Mubai exchanged a look with the other two. The three quickly retreated several steps, opening up distance as they released their Martial Souls.

"Dai Mubai, Level 29 Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster. Martial Soul: White Tiger." A pale white glow suddenly erupted around Dai Mubai. Under its shroud, the muscles across his body swelled, while his hands rapidly expanded into tiger claws tipped with sharp nails. What drew Nan Li's attention most was his pair of differently colored eyes—one red and one blue—which appeared even more sinister under Martial Soul Possession.

"Ma Hongjun, Level 19 Power Attack System Soul Master. Martial Soul: Evil Fire Phoenix." Purple-red light surged from the chubby boy named Ma Hongjun. Long feathers extended from his arms, and his hands transformed into claws.

This was... a pheasant? Nan Li blinked, careful not to smile too obviously.

"Oscar, Level 24 Food System Soul Grandmaster. Martial Soul: Sausage." Oscar stood behind the two and swiftly chanted his Soul Incantation, making sausages in case they were needed.

Nan Li stepped forward, and three Soul Rings—yellow, purple, and black—appeared beneath her feet in succession.

It was the first time Oscar and Ma Hongjun had seen Nan Li's outrageous Soul Ring configuration. Their hearts shook with alarm, and they could not help worrying for themselves. The dean had said that if the three of them joined forces and still failed, they would be punished after recruitment ended!

"Nan Li, Level 39 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder. Martial Soul: Flame Feather Vermilion Bird." After absorbing her third Soul Ring, Nan Li had spent all her time training in the Star Dou Great Forest. In battle, she did not rely solely on Soul Skills, often engaging in close combat with her Physical Body as well, leaving her less time to cultivate Soul Power.

However, while she and Dan Hong had been researching Soul Beast Soul Rings, she had also absorbed several century-level and Decade Soul Rings. Most importantly, the head Soul Bone her father had left her... was definitely not as simple as a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. It should not have been a Soul Bone that came from her father's body!

In the brief moment she spent thinking, the three across from her had already made their move.

The three had received instructions from their teacher beforehand. Though they were astonished by Nan Li's Soul Elder cultivation, they quickly suppressed their strange feelings and focused wholeheartedly on the battle.

Oscar took out a stick of incense and lit it, marking the official start of the assessment.

"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Blazing Light Wave!" Nan Li's Soul Power Level far surpassed theirs, so Dai Mubai did not dare be careless in the slightest. He immediately used his Second Soul Skill, intending to strike first.

As the white light wave shot toward Nan Li, Ma Hongjun rushed at her, his clawed hands poised to attack.

One stick of incense lasted roughly half an hour, while half a shichen was one hour.