Final Chapter of the Assessment

Du Weilun blocked Golden Path again.

He had taken two identical Martial Soul Fusion Skills in a single day.

"Any objections?"

Du Weilun looked at Huo Yutong and the other two, who had deactivated their Martial Soul Avatars.

"No."

Huo Yutong shook her head.

Du Weilun looked at An Zhen, a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes, and announced loudly, "I declare the champions of this year's freshman assessment to be the team of An Zhen, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng."

"The freshman assessment has now successfully concluded. The academy has witnessed your growth and progress. Tomorrow morning, we will hold the freshman assembly to award prizes and assign classes to the top three teams."

"Wow—"

A huge roar erupted from the audience.

Although they had already anticipated An Zhen's team winning, they hadn't expected them to win like this.

Two consecutive Martial Soul Fusion Skills.

And they were the opponent's Martial Soul Fusion Skills.

Holy Light Dragon, Heavenly Net, and that Golden Path.

Where did these monsters come from!

"An Zhen!"

The angry, pink-and-blue-haired youth sought out An Zhen, glaring at him fiercely!

Bad guy!

Using her abilities against her!

The finals ended very quickly.

Heavenly Net.

The First Soul Skill of the Nine Phoenix Coming to the Hall Flute, a slowing effect.

Both were control-type Soul Skills. Only the final Golden Path, besides its inherent abilities, possessed some offensive power, but it too was blocked by Du Weilun.

But it was precisely because of this that Wang Dong felt stifled. The tactics they had discussed beforehand and her own strength were not displayed at all before the battle ended.

"You told me to go all out."

An Zhen spread his hands, feigning innocence.

"Hmph."

Cornered, Wang Dong could only stomp her foot angrily.

Tonight, I'm going to crush you!

"Brother An Zhen, congratulations." Huo Loli showed no trace of dejection. In the girl's heart, Brother An Zhen was always meant to be first.

"An Zhen."

Ning Tian and Wu Feng strode forward. The golden-haired young lady's azure eyes were filled with joy as she looked at An Zhen. This was another great surprise. The control ability of Heavenly Net was undeniable, but An Zhen could actually also unleash Golden Path, which could eliminate the Soul Power protecting a Soul Douluo.

With the freshman assessment concluded, students who successfully remained at the academy enjoyed a rare period of leisure, a reward for their three months of hard work. Eliminated students could only leave and report to other advanced academies. Although they couldn't compare to the geniuses who stayed here, those who met Shrek's enrollment requirements were already elites.

An Zhen and his group happily went for a celebratory meal. Ning Tian chose a high-end restaurant. As the young lady of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she knew too well the importance of connections. Xiao Xiao with her Twin Martial Souls, Wang Dong with her Light Goddess Butterfly, and even Huo Yutong, who hadn't yet reached the second ring, regardless of her relationship with An Zhen, after experiencing the shared mental detection copied by An Zhen and that Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Ning Tian felt Huo Yutong was definitely worth befriending.

"Wow, this meal must cost several thousand Gold Soul Coins." Xiao Xiao was astonished by the dishes, which were made with ingredients from thousand-year Soul Beasts.

Wang Dong glanced at Ning Tian with some wariness. Is she really that rich? Wang Dong worried if An Zhen could resist the financial onslaught of a rich woman, her maiden's confidence in her boyfriend's resistance wavering.

Although the young lady of the Clear Sky Sect could also easily afford it, spending nearly ten thousand Gold Soul Coins on a single meal was indeed a bit extravagant.

Ning Tian offered a generous smile.

The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was literally as rich as a nation.

But having too much wealth required the ability to protect it. Every generation's clan leader of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan understood this principle. From small acts like sponsoring Soul Masters, to large-scale distribution of money to help children awaken their Martial Souls for free and seizing the opportunity to absorb commoner geniuses, to funding major imperial operations without seeking any reward or fame, and even making substantial donations to Shrek Academy every year.

The world wasn't about fighting and killing; it was about human relationships.

Ning Tian believed that when her father learned of An Zhen's recent performance, he would significantly increase the resources she could mobilize, perhaps even providing a high-quality Soul Bone. A timely helping hand was far more valuable than adding to existing riches, especially since An Zhen was already half considered family.

After the dinner, the group left satisfied.

Back at the Dormitory.

"After class assignment, the study load in the Soul Guidance Department will increase, won't it?"

Perhaps it was the ripple effect of the butterfly's arrival, or perhaps the world line had already shifted, but Huo Yutong did not, as in the original story, formally join the Soul Guidance Department after the freshman assessment. Instead, she joined after being brought there by Zhou Yi. After classes and dinner that afternoon, she sold milk tea for half an hour before rushing over. Huo Yutong had practically split every minute in half over these three months, but with the virtual world, she had perfectly completed her Martial Soul and Soul Guidance Department tasks.

"Mm."

An Zhen took out a card.

"There are twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins in here. You can stop setting up your stall from now on. This way, Huo Yutong will have more time to study."

They had already kissed before.

Although it wasn't exactly as planned, where he would gain confidence after obtaining a second Martial Soul from Huo Yutong and then confirm their relationship, things had already happened. But this was for the best; it provided a suitable reason and relationship for Yutong to accept his kindness.

"!"

Wang Dong eyed her warily, "Is that from Ning Tian?!"

"No."

The one from Ning Tian was in the bracelet on her wrist.

An Zhen handed the card to Huo Yutong, explaining, "This is part of the compensation the senior disciple gave earlier."

"No, Brother An Zhen, I can't accept it." Huo Yutong refused.

Reaching out, An Zhen pulled Huo Yutong into his embrace and then captured her soft, sweet lips.

"Mmph!"

Her bright eyes widened instantly. The girl subconsciously wrapped her arms around Brother An Zhen's body. Huo Yutong suddenly remembered something: Wang Dong was still here! However, the sudden assault left her mind blank, making her completely forget they were in front of her best friend, immersing herself in the intimacy with her lover.

"..."

With her hands on her hips, Wang Dong watched the two kissing.

Hey, hey, hey! Why are you doing this in front of me again!

"Hmph!"

Kicking off her shoes, Wang Dong, her slender feet clad in white socks, sat cross-legged on the bed, staring silently at the two.

After a while.

Although their relationship wasn't officially confirmed, under An Zhen's forceful demeanor, Huo Yutong still accepted the card.

An Zhen left the two girls' dormitory under the gaze of someone grinding her teeth in anger.

"Brother An Zhen..."

Huo Yutong stared blankly at the card in her hand.

She knew that Wang Dong and Brother An Zhen accompanying her to sell milk tea every night was out of care; they didn't have to do that at all. If she accepted, Brother An Zhen and Wang Dong wouldn't have to waste that time every night.

She had to work hard so that in the future, she would have the ability to stand beside Brother An Zhen, or even support Brother An Zhen.

Virtual World.

"An Zhen!"

Wearing a blue and white suspender dress, her dreamy, powder-blue hair flying in the air, a beautiful little butterfly charged forward. Her fair legs directly kicked the young man to the ground.

"You're finished!"

Her fair, jade-like slender foot stepped directly onto An Zhen's face.

Although An Zhen had designed the virtual world's outfits, he naturally knew what Wang Dong'er was wearing. But the direct visual appreciation felt surprisingly good. The pure white combined with the beautiful Light Goddess Butterfly.

"It's no use even if you call me 'sister'."