Eliminating Huo Yuhao in the Quarterfinals

Sea God Lake, Lakeheart Island, lakeside.

Teacher Wang Yan, who had been overseeing the New Student Assessment not long ago, was now standing here. However, the expression on his face was exceptionally respectful.

Not far in front of him sat an old man with disheveled hair. His appearance was truly a mess. What should have been a white robe had turned grayish-brown and was torn in several places. His hair was equally unkempt. His bare feet were soaking in the cool waters of Sea God Lake, while his right hand held an enormous gourd.

The gourd was purplish-red, and its material was unknown. From time to time, he lifted it for a drink, releasing a rich aroma of wine. In his other hand, he held a roasted chicken, carelessly eating and drinking, a mouthful of wine followed by a mouthful of meat despite the grease.

"Elder Xuan, that's the situation. Although these students are still young and are only freshmen, they are indeed worth watching."

"Mm..." After swallowing a mouthful of chicken, the slovenly old man called Elder Xuan turned to glance at Wang Yan.

"A Body Martial Soul and a Wind Element Martial Soul? That's somewhat interesting." Elder Xuan muttered, his voice hoarse and aged.

"Go tell Xiao Ning that I'll attend the New Student Assessment ranking matches. Have him save me a seat."

"Yes."

Early morning, the matches continued!

After just one day of competition, most of the freshmen had been eliminated. On the second day, only the top sixteen teams of this year's New Student Assessment remained, a total of forty-eight freshmen.

It could be said that they were all outstanding among the freshmen. They could even be considered some of the finest Soul Masters among their peers across the entire continent.

"Zone Two, New Student Class Nine's Wu Xuan Team versus New Student Class One's Huo Yuhao Team!"

"Wu Xuan? The other Soul Elder from Class Nine! What kind of luck is this?" Xiao Xiao looked bitter.

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Huo Yuhao did not know what to say. He still had a favorable impression of Wu Xuan, after all. He had obtained both his First Soul Ring and Head Soul Bone because of Wu Xuan.

Wang Dong looked at the lot in her hand and clenched it fiercely. Seeing that her teammates had fallen silent, she encouraged them, "It's only Wu Xuan. Don't be afraid. At the end of the day, he's just a Soul Elder. It's not as if we've never defeated a Soul Elder team before. As long as we work together, we may not lose."

In the spectator stands, a flash of delight passed through Mu Jin's eyes when she heard the drawing result.

"Teacher Zhou, what a coincidence. The seed team you selected has run into our class's seed team again, and this time it's our number one seed team. Should I tell my students to go easy on you? That way, your loss might look a little better?"

Mu Jin approached Zhou Yi with a beaming smile.

Zhou Yi looked disdainful. "What? You lost once, and now you want to lose a second time?"

The smile on Mu Jin's face vanished as well. She said coldly, "You're proud just because you beat our class's second-ranked seed team? Zhou Yi, you haven't forgotten, have you? The second- and third-ranked teams in your class were both eliminated by our class! I'd like to see how the students you taught are going to make it into the top four today."

Zhou Yi frowned deeply and turned her gaze toward the competition grounds below, locking onto Zone Two where Huo Yuhao's group stood. "Want to make a bet?"

Mu Jin's goal was to provoke and humiliate Zhou Yi. Upon hearing this, she immediately agreed without hesitation. "A bet? What do you have to wager?"

Zhou Yi turned to face her and said in a low voice, "A Soul Bone. Do you dare?"

Upon hearing the words "Soul Bone," Mu Jin's pupils abruptly contracted.

A hint of contempt rippled across Zhou Yi's lips. "If you're scared, stay away from me. Don't let me smell that disgusting perfume on you."

A cold gleam flashed through Mu Jin's eyes. "Fine, I'll bet with you. Empty threats won't work on me. But wagering just one Soul Bone is far too little. Let's add another condition."

"Whoever loses must not only hand over a Soul Bone, but also resign from Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department. Do you dare?!"

"Teacher Mu, Teacher Zhou, forget it. It really doesn't need to go this far!" Hearing the two of them make such a huge wager, several nearby teachers hurried over to mediate between them.

Mu Jin ignored the teachers trying to smooth things over, stepped forward, and repeated, "Zhou Yi, do you dare?"

"If you dare, why wouldn't I? I'll take the bet!" Zhou Yi said coldly, her eyes flashing with icy light.

Huo Yuhao's team had defeated Soul Elder teams before. The outcome was still uncertain, so what did she have to fear?

"Good! I'll serve as the witness." A deep voice rang out. The newcomer was actually Du Weilun, the Dean of Studies of the outer academy.

He had long disliked Zhou Yi's teaching methods. He had originally demoted her to teach first-years because he wanted to find a suitable reason to persuade her to resign. Now that the opportunity had arrived, he naturally intended to go with the flow and kick Zhou Yi out of the Martial Soul Department.

Zhou Yi had indeed produced quite a few outstanding students over the years, but even more talented students had been expelled and buried by her. Most geniuses were proud and unwilling to submit. With Zhou Yi's method of training students like dogs, what talented student could endure it? Those geniuses were all losses to the academy!

Elder Xuan cheerfully took a bite from a chicken leg and showed no intention of stopping them. He then looked toward the Zone Two arena, red light surging in his eyes as his brows rose unconsciously.

After stepping onto the Battle Soul Platform, Wu Xuan kept feeling that someone was secretly watching him. He scanned the surroundings and locked onto an old man in the stands who was drinking wine and eating meat. That should be Shrek Academy's Elder Xuan!

"Hm? This little fellow has such powerful Spiritual Power. Interesting, interesting." Elder Xuan took a huge swig of wine and looked at Wu Xuan with faint appreciation.

"Elder Xuan, you're here." Wang Yan respectfully walked over to the slovenly old man and greeted him quietly.

"Mm." The old man merely grunted before continuing to eat and drink.

Wang Yan pointed below the platform. "The four young people I mentioned are over there. Yesterday..."

Before he could continue, Elder Xuan impatiently waved his chicken leg. "I'll see for myself."

"Yes." Wang Yan did not dare say anything further and retreated to the side.

At this moment, the proctor had arrived at the edge of the arena. Seeing both sides in position, he called out loudly, "State your names."

The six people from both teams entered the spacious arena at the same time, taking their positions on opposite sides.

"New Student Class Nine, Wu Xuan. Level thirty-five Control System Soul Elder."

"New Student Class Nine, Nanmen Yun'er. Level twenty-four Agile Attack System Soul Grandmaster."

"New Student Class Nine, Qian Gu Ming. Level twenty-four Assault System Soul Grandmaster."

Upon hearing Wu Xuan's level, Huo Yuhao and the other two were shaken to the core, their pupils shrinking.

Even Wang Dong, who was always proud, could not help being astonished. Wang Dong had always been arrogant. Although her Soul Power Level was not high, she had always believed that if she had not slacked off in the past, she would certainly have broken through to Soul Elder by now.

He must have taken that Soul Ascension Pill, along with other cultivation-assisting medicines, to break through so quickly. His foundation must be unstable. Wang Dong secretly guessed.

She no longer hesitated and announced her own level.

"New Student Class One, Wang Dong. Level twenty-four Assault System Soul Grandmaster."

"New Student Class One, Xiao Xiao. Level twenty-three Control System Soul Grandmaster."

"New Student Class One, Huo Yuhao. Level seventeen Control System Soul Master." Huo Yuhao said somewhat awkwardly.

At this moment, the proctor had arrived at the edge of the arena. Seeing both sides in position, he called out loudly, "Both sides prepare—begin!"

Facing Wu Xuan's lineup of one Soul Elder and two Soul Grandmasters, Huo Yuhao's group still maintained their usual formation. Wang Dong stood at the front, Xiao Xiao in the center, and Huo Yuhao at the rear.

"First Soul Skill, Spirit Gathering Wind!"

"Second Soul Skill, Light Spirit Wind!"

Wu Xuan made the first move. One yellow and one purple Soul Ring flashed in succession. Naturally, he would not underestimate Huo Yuhao's group.

A breeze swept over Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er. The flames around Qian Gu Ming's Blazing Red Flame Staff suddenly burst and boiled, while the faint Gang Wind around Nanmen Yun'er instantly became solid, domineering, and biting.

"Is this my power? So strong!" Qian Gu Ming cried out strangely as he swung the long staff in his hand.

"First Soul Skill, Jadeite Blade!"

As an Agile Attack System Soul Master, Nanmen Yun'er naturally moved first. A layer of jade-green light spread from her palms to her arms, shining far more brightly than before.

Wang Dong snorted coldly and kicked off the ground, charging out with a single stride. As she rushed forward, her dazzling blue-gold wings abruptly unfolded.

No matter how much Wu Xuan despised Tang San's family, even he could not help silently praising the dazzling Light Goddess Butterfly wings before him as beautiful.

"First Soul Skill, Wing Guillotine!"

The sharp wing edges repeatedly clashed with Nanmen Yun'er's jade-glowing blades, and for a time neither side could gain the upper hand.

"First Soul Skill, Blazing Flame Boil!"

With a roar, Qian Gu Ming raised his incomparably crimson flaming staff and smashed it down toward Xiao Xiao.

"First Soul Skill, Cauldron's Tremor!"

Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron Martial Soul activated in time. A flash of black light appeared, and the enormous cauldron descended from the sky, striking the ground with a violent boom. A powerful shockwave swept toward Qian Gu Ming.

Ignoring everything, Qian Gu Ming charged toward Xiao Xiao through the shockwave. Strangely, he was not affected by the tremor at all, though the breeze around him had thinned somewhat.

In the blink of an eye, Qian Gu Ming closed in and smashed his staff against the cauldron before him. Under the heavy strike, the cauldron was instantly sent flying sideways.

Haha! Brother Xuan's Soul Skill is really awesome! Qian Gu Ming rejoiced inwardly, but his charging steps did not pause in the slightest.

"Mm!" Qian Gu Ming let out a muffled groan, and his charging steps abruptly stalled.

This idiot actually charged forward while forcibly resisting the opponent's Soul Skill? No matter how powerful a Soul Skill is, it can't continuously remove control effects from a long distance!

Wu Xuan's Third Soul Ring lit up as he dashed forward.

"Third Soul Skill, Jadeite Wind!"

"Condense!"

Jade-green breezes gathered in Wu Xuan's palm. In the next moment, his figure silently appeared behind Qian Gu Ming. The jade-green breezes gathered, and with a light grip of his hands, a jade-green long staff very similar to Qian Gu Ming's Martial Soul appeared in his grasp.

Before Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao could react at all, Wu Xuan swung his staff and directly swept Xiao Xiao off the Battle Soul Platform.

Now fully conscious, Qian Gu Ming looked at the already eliminated Xiao Xiao, curled his lips, and turned to charge at Huo Yuhao.

"Xiao Xiao, damn it! Second Soul Skill, Butterfly God's Light!"

Wang Dong's Second Soul Ring suddenly lit up. It was a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

The wings formed by her Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul also blazed brightly.

On the azure-blue wings, the golden patterns shone with brilliant radiance, like tiny suns that had been ignited.

All of those patterns concentrated on her forewings. Her left forewing abruptly twisted toward the rear, while her right forewing faced Qian Gu Ming and the others. The golden patterns on both wings erupted with light simultaneously.

At that moment, Wang Dong's entire body was dyed gold. Almost instantly, she became the most dazzling presence across all sixteen arenas currently in competition.

In the high spectator stands, even the teachers who had not been paying attention to this match immediately shifted their gazes. What they saw were those dazzling wings launching powerful attacks toward both the front and rear at the same time.

Wu Xuan unleashed his full momentum. The cyan hurricane sweeping across the Battle Soul Platform, enhanced by ten percent Wind Element from his First Soul Skill, completely transformed into Extreme Wind. Though it would last only one minute, it was still Extreme Wind.

As the Extreme Wind swept forth, the entire Battle Soul Arena seemed to slow down. The terrifying light patterns released by Wang Dong's wings also visibly faded and disintegrated beneath its blowing force.

Wu Xuan flashed forward and pulled Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er out of the area swept by the Extreme Wind.

Disintegration and slowing were precisely the unique traits of Extreme Wind.

"Hmph!" Wu Xuan sneered. He would not give his opponents any opportunity.

"Finger Wind Dragon!"

With a clear chime, a Dark Jade Breeze flew from Wu Xuan's fingertip.

The instant it flew out, the Dark Jade Breeze began expanding at an astonishing rate.

Within a few breaths, the breeze expanded into a lifelike wind dragon over ten meters long.

The wind dragon came howling forward. Wang Dong's eyes widened atop the Battle Soul Platform. She struggled desperately and used all her strength, but in that short time, she could only barely move half a step.

The proctor did not dare hesitate either. With a flash, he rushed into the arena, only to discover in shock that even his own speed had been reduced to an indescribable degree.

The moment the proctor grabbed Wang Dong by the collar, the wind dragon had already arrived. Left with no choice, the proctor forcibly turned around and presented his back to the wind dragon.

At that moment, an enormous suction force suddenly descended from the sky. Just before the wind dragon could strike the proctor who had stepped forward to block it, it changed direction and flew into the air.

At some point, an earthy-yellow giant hand had appeared in midair. It grabbed the wind dragon, seemingly kneaded it a few times, then crushed it with a pop.

Elder Xuan took a bite from his chicken leg and muttered, "Today's Orleans-flavored chicken leg is a little salty." As he spoke, he rose to his feet and slowly walked down from the high platform.

At this point, Huo Yuhao was the only one left on his team.

Without any effort, Qian Gu Ming swept Huo Yuhao off the Battle Soul Platform with one strike of his staff.

The assessment was over. New Student Class Nine's Wu Xuan Team had won and advanced into the top eight.

Huo Yuhao's group had been defeated, and Zhou Yi's expression changed repeatedly.

Mu Jin, however, refused to let the matter go. She loudly reminded Zhou Yi, "Teacher Zhou, please remember to prepare the Soul Bone and your resignation letter."

After finally venting the resentment that had built up in her for years, she felt indescribably refreshed all over.