Two Rewards

It was another bright, sunny morning. With Sea God Lake on campus, Shrek Academy's air was not only fresh but also pleasantly humid.

All the freshmen who had passed the assessment gathered at Shrek Square, awaiting their upcoming class assignments.

Du Weilun, the Martial Soul Department's dean of instruction, arrived before the students with more than ten teachers.

Wu Xuan looked up and saw that these teachers were the head teachers or theory instructors for the ten freshman classes. Only Zhou Yi was absent.

Hmph! Hmph! Wu Xuan sneered twice. It seemed Zhou Yi had already been dismissed by the Martial Soul Department.

Holding a folder, Du Weilun smiled and swept his gaze across the young students before speaking. "I believe everyone knows that the New Student Assessment elimination rounds have ended, and the final top three have been decided. I will now formally announce the results, as well as the rewards they will receive. Third place in the New Student Assessment goes to Huang Chutian's team. The members are Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo. Step forward."

Led by Huang Chutian, the three walked forward together and stopped before Du Weilun. Their youthful 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, only a little over three hundred first-year students remained, nearly two-thirds fewer than at the start of the term.

"Second place goes to Dai Huabin's team. The members are Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie. Step forward."

Applause rang out again, but when Dai Huabin and the other two stepped forward, there was not the slightest hint of excitement on their faces. Dai Huabin in particular had a tightly drawn expression and kept his head slightly lowered, as though preoccupied with something.

Applause rang out again.

After a brief pause, Du Weilun raised his voice slightly. "Now, please give a warm round of applause to the ultimate champions of this New Student Assessment. They are Wu Xuan's team from Freshman Class Nine. The members are Wu Xuan, Qian Gu Ming, and Nanmen Yun'er."

At once, enthusiastic cheers rose across the square.

Wu Xuan's name had long spread throughout the entire Outer Court. He had great talent, formidable strength, handsome looks, and an otherworldly temperament. He could control and fight, and even his support abilities surpassed those of ordinary support-type Soul Masters. He was practically the perfect teammate of legend.

The three quickly stepped forward, with Wu Xuan at the front while Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er trailed half a step behind.

Du Weilun smiled at the three and gestured for them to stand in the center.

Du Weilun continued, "All right, I will now announce the rewards for the top three teams in the New Student Assessment. All three teams will receive the Academy's standard reward. When each of you needs a soul ring, you may submit a request to the Academy. The Academy will assist you in obtaining a soul ring that you can withstand and that is best suited to you."

As soon as those words were spoken, the first-year students immediately burst into astonished exclamations. This reward was equivalent to the Academy promising that the next soul rings of those nine students would definitely be obtained at the limit of what they could endure.

"Director Du, can we designate the type of soul beast?" Wu Xuan asked.

Du Weilun froze for a moment, surprise appearing in his eyes as he looked at Wu Xuan. But remembering Yan Shaozhe's instructions before leaving, he answered decisively.

"For first place in the elimination rounds, your team may naturally designate the type of soul beast." Du Weilun smiled, then continued.

"Given Wu Xuan's team's outstanding performance and undefeated record throughout the competition, the Academy has decided to grant them two special rewards. The Academy will keep these rewards confidential. Once the class assignments are over, you may come with me to collect them."

Two special rewards?

This was the difference between the champions and the second- and third-place teams.

Below the stage, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao looked somewhat grim. They had only learned today that Teacher Zhou had been dismissed by the Martial Soul Department because they lost the match. She could only go to the Soul Tool Department as a teaching assistant and no longer even held the title of teacher.

Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao could not help but look at Wu Xuan with a trace of resentment.

"All right, you may return to your ranks."

Du Weilun waved his hand and faced the crowd again.

"This year's freshmen are of even higher caliber than in previous years. I hope you will keep striving. No matter how good your talent is, without hard work, you will gain nothing worthwhile. Shrek Academy is the continent's number one Soul Master Academy. I hope all of you can graduate successfully and achieve outstanding results. Since several exceptional freshmen have emerged during this year's freshman tournament, the Academy has specially approved a number of students to become Outer Court core disciples. I will now announce the list."

Shrek Square instantly fell silent. Core disciples had never been limited to members of the top three teams. Though Du Weilun did not say it outright, who did not know that Outer Court core disciples would receive preferential access to the Academy's resources? With their own interests at stake, every young student listened intently, afraid of missing their own name.

Du Weilun opened the folder in his hand and read, "Based on the Academy's assessment of the freshmen's performances in the evaluation, the following students have been approved as core disciples: Wu Xuan, Qian Gu Ming, Nanmen Yun'er, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Xie Huanyue, Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng."

As soon as he finished, all the students below the stage broke into applause.

Having just recovered from his resentment toward Wu Xuan, Huo Yuhao discovered that his name was absent from the list of core disciples. The resentment and unwillingness in his heart immediately erupted.

Seeing Huo Yuhao's bloodshot eyes, Wang Dong was just about to step forward and comfort him, but with Huo Yuhao's state of mind collapsing, how could he care about such things?

The applause ended!!

Du Weilun continued, "Although some freshmen in the New Student Assessment may be lacking somewhat in talent and ability, they have still demonstrated excellent performance. The Academy has decided to grant them provisional core disciple treatment until the end of this academic year. If they make breakthroughs during next year's advancement examination, they will be considered for promotion to official core disciples. The list is as follows: Cui Yajie, Long Xiangyue, Huo Yuhao."

Upon hearing his own name, Huo Yuhao, whose emotions had been thrown off balance, suddenly calmed down. That's right! The Academy still recognizes my abilities. My strength is simply still lacking.

Next came the class assignments. The entire first year was divided into four classes. Class One consisted of strong attack and control-system battle Soul Masters; Class Two consisted of defense and agility attack-system battle Soul Masters; Class Three consisted of support-system battle Soul Masters; and Class Four consisted of other special-attribute battle Soul Masters and tool Soul Masters, including food-system and healing-system Soul Masters.

Without question, Class One had the strongest overall strength. Wu Xuan, Qian Gu Ming, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao were all assigned there. Class Two's strongest student was undoubtedly Xie Huanyue, who specialized in defense. His Rubber Elephant martial soul was truly one of a kind.

As for Class Three's support system, it had far too few core disciples, such as Ning Tian, the owner of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.

Class Four consisted of mixed-type Soul Masters. Comparatively speaking, they did not possess much combat strength, but they often had remarkable abilities in certain specialized areas. The two most important systems among them were the food system and the healing system.

Almost every grade was divided this way. However, the higher the grade, the fewer students there were in each class. Shrek Academy's elimination rate had always been extremely high.

Next came the assignment of class head teachers. Theory teacher Wang Yan became the head teacher of Class One, while Mu Jin became Class One's assistant head teacher after Zhou Yi was dismissed.

"All right, everyone, return to the Teaching Building under the guidance of your respective class head teachers according to the new assignments. Wu Xuan, you three come with me to collect your rewards." After making the announcement, Du Weilun led Wu Xuan and the other two to the Teacher Office Area behind the upper-year Teaching Building.

Du Weilun's office was on the top floor. There were not many lavish decorations, but there were as many as four bookcases. Each bookcase was filled with books.

After sitting down, the large ruby ring on Du Weilun's right hand flashed. Two wooden boxes and a leather pouch appeared on the desk before him.

A faint medicinal fragrance drifted over, and Wu Xuan immediately knew what kind of pills were inside the boxes.

Du Weilun waved his right hand, and under the control of his powerful Soul Power, the two wooden boxes landed accurately in Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er's hands.

When they opened the boxes, a refreshing medicinal fragrance spread out. The pills were entirely jade green, with a faint glow seemingly flowing within them. They were crystal-clear and brimming with the aura of life.

Having recognized the pills, Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er both clearly showed interest.

"These are Soul Ascension Pills. I will not explain their effects in detail. If you do not know, you can ask your class head teacher." After saying this, Du Weilun handed the leather pouch to Wu Xuan.

The leather pouch also seemed to be a Soul Tool. Dark patterns covered its brown leather surface, and faint Soul Power fluctuations emanated from it.

"Actually, this is the champion's reward for the New Student Assessment that I prepared for you earlier. There is only one reward, and the three of you must decide who receives it. However, this is also the most precious prize the Academy has awarded in the New Student Assessment in at least the past thousand years. Open it and take a look."

Wu Xuan untied the string on the pouch.

A ball of pale cyan light emerged from the pouch without warning. Under the gazes of Wu Xuan and the other two, it slowly floated in midair.

"Th-This is... a soul bone?" Qian Gu Ming leaned forward, his eyes nearly popping out. Although Du Weilun had previously hinted that their reward would be substantial, he had never imagined it would be a soul bone. To a Soul Master, a soul bone was a hundred times more precious than a soul ring!

Du Weilun smiled. "This soul bone is a right leg bone. It came from a forty-thousand-year wind-attribute soul beast known as a Wind Tiger. You should have learned about this soul beast in your freshman theory classes. The Academy has determined that after a Soul Master fuses with this soul bone, they will obtain a wind-attribute offensive soul skill."

"You may keep this pouch as well. It can conceal Soul Power fluctuations. Fuse with it as soon as possible after you return. Also, you must keep the matter of receiving a soul bone reward confidential for the Academy. I trust you know what to do."

Though Du Weilun did not say it directly, Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er both understood that this soul bone had clearly been specially prepared by the Academy for Wu Xuan.

However, Wu Xuan had no interest in this soul bone at all. It was merely a forty-thousand-year soul bone with only a wind-attribute offensive soul skill attached. It would not be of much help to Wu Xuan, and fusing with it would be a complete waste of a soul bone slot.

But he would not foolishly give the soul bone away either. After all, a soul bone at the ten-thousand-year level could be sold for nearly ten million Gold Soul Coins.

Du Weilun's office was on the top floor of the Teacher Office Area building. After Wu Xuan and the other two left, they walked down the stairs. As soon as they reached the floor below, they encountered Mu Jin waiting there.

"Teacher Mu?" the three said almost in unison.

Mu Jin smiled faintly. "I was promoted to senior teacher a few days ago, so my office has been moved here. You won first place among the freshmen, so I also have a prize for you." As she spoke, the silver pendant in Mu Jin's hand flashed, and a leather pouch appeared in her hand.

"No way?" Other than Wu Xuan, Qian Gu Ming and Nanmen Yun'er spoke almost in unison.

Mu Jin was also stunned. "What do you mean, no way?"

Wu Xuan coughed lightly and took out the pouch he had just put away.

"This is? Could it be the reward the Academy gave you?" Mu Jin asked in surprise.

Wu Xuan and the other two nodded.

"So that's how it is. No wonder Director Du was being so mysterious. The reward he prepared for you is actually this valuable." As she spoke, Mu Jin could not help but shift her gaze to Wu Xuan. Given Wu Xuan's talent, such a reward from the Academy was only natural.

Mu Jin did not ask any further questions and simply opened the pouch. A streak of fiery red light burst out from within.

"By my judgment, this Left Arm Soul Bone came from a Flame Ape with seven thousand years of cultivation. Although this soul bone is of relatively poor quality, it is still an invaluable treasure to Soul Masters with fire-attribute martial souls. Also, I won this soul bone in a bet with someone. The person I bet against was Zhou Yi from Freshman Class One. You won the match because you did me proud, so there is no need to feel burdened by it."

After saying that, Mu Jin put the soul bone back into the pouch and handed it to Wu Xuan.

"How to distribute it is up to the three of you. All right, go back to class now."

"Thank you, Teacher Mu." All three bowed to Mu Jin, then continued toward the next flight of stairs.