First Assessment (Part 1)

"Brother Mo, look at their expressions. Heh, it's exactly the same as when they first saw your soul ring configuration. They all look like they've seen a ghost," Bai Yi said cheerfully. Although he appeared nonchalant, a strong fighting spirit surged in his eyes. As a genius, no one would refuse to showcase themselves under the gaze of thousands.

As soon as Moyuan and the other two arrived at Area Nineteen, the teacher and referee for their section also arrived. He was a young male teacher who looked under thirty, with an ordinary appearance and a serious, unsmiling expression.

"There are a total of six groups of students being assessed in our area. Since everyone is here, let's not waste any time. Prepare to enter the assessment. However, before that, I need to make one thing clear: injuring your opponent during the assessment is not allowed. Otherwise, you will be directly disqualified. Don't even think about trying any tricks. If you're caught, you'll be expelled immediately." The male teacher's tone was very serious, even a bit cold, when he said the last sentence. In previous years' New Student Assessments, referees usually didn't add this statement. But after the cheating incident involving Huo Yuhao three months ago, all teachers spontaneously added this sentence to all matches. It's easier to dodge an open spear than a hidden arrow; they were truly afraid that students might get hurt under their watch due to someone cheating. The students below didn't seem surprised by this statement.

The male teacher scanned the crowd with satisfaction, then flipped open his folder. "Nineteen Area, Round One, Match One. Newborn Class Two: Qu Hun, Han Li, Li Feiyu. Newborn Class Nine: Moyuan, Bai Yi, Nanmen Yun'er."

"You can go on stage. The two teams should stand in opposite corners."

Hearing this, Moyuan, Bai Yi, and Nanmen Yun'er exchanged glances. They hadn't expected their team to be scheduled for the first match. But that was all. With their strength, it didn't matter which match they were in. However, the group from Newborn Class One was in for a tough time. Upon learning they had to face Moyuan in the first match, the three of them couldn't help but show a wry smile, lamenting their bad luck.

"Let's go. What's coming will come," Han Li said calmly to his teammates. On the field, the three from Newborn Class Two took their positions in the northwest corner. Their formation was classic: the assault-type soul master Qu Hun stood at the front, the control-type Han Li stood at the back to manage the overall situation, and the agile-type Li Feiyu was on the flank. All three were male and had distinct personalities. Qu Hun was burly and muscular, his school uniform bulging, his expression somewhat stiff. Han Li had an ordinary appearance, a standard common face. He looked at Moyuan's group with a solemn gaze, seemingly pondering something, indicating he was a steady person. Li Feiyu had the best appearance and physique among the three, with a somewhat cold expression.

When the three took their positions and looked at Moyuan's group opposite them, they couldn't help but be stunned. Bai Yi and Nanmen Yun'er stood side-by-side at the front. Moyuan, the strongest, stood at the very back with his hands behind his back, showing no intention of making a move. The three couldn't help but frown slightly. They had indeed researched Moyuan and knew he was incredibly strong. However, as the rumors grew more exaggerated over the past three months, the oppressive feeling from Moyuan's strength, coupled with various tales, no longer felt as heavy. Furthermore, since no one outside of Class Nine had seen Moyuan fight, people were still wary of him, but not as terrified as they were three months ago.

"Don't be nervous. Stick to the original plan. Qu Hun, use your physical prowess to attack that girl. Li Feiyu, use your speed to quickly approach Bai Yi. Although I don't know what his martial soul is, judging by his build, close combat will likely be to your advantage. As for Moyuan... I'll stall for as long as I can," Han Li calmly instructed his teammates in a low voice. In this team, he, the one who least looked like a captain, was acting as the captain. Qu Hun nodded blankly, while Li Feiyu quietly stretched his muscles, appearing ready to act as soon as the fight began.

On the other side, after sizing up the three opponents, Moyuan looked at Bai Yi and Nanmen Yun'er in front of him and said, "Just like we agreed yesterday, until we encounter a team led by a Soul Elder, you two will handle it." This was the plan Moyuan had set yesterday. The reason was simple: the New Student Assessment was not only a selection process for outstanding students by the academy, but also a way for the academy to identify and cultivate a small group of the most promising students. The more outstanding a student performed in the assessment, the more training and resources they would receive later. While he could easily push through with his own strength, it wouldn't be very friendly to Bai Yi and Nanmen Yun'er.

"Understood, Brother Mo. Don't you trust my strength? It's a piece of cake," Nanmen Yun'er replied gently, sounding much more composed than Bai Yi.

Seeing that both sides had taken their positions, the male teacher nodded and said, "Assessment begins." As soon as he spoke, except for Moyuan who remained motionless, the other five instantly released their martial souls, and their soul rings rose from their feet.

A chilling white mist was gently exhaled from Bai Yi's mouth. His normally gentle expression turned cold, a blue light flashed in his eyes, and the next moment he reached out and clenched the empty space in front of him, holding a longbow nearly half his height. The longbow appeared crystal clear, as if made of the purest ice, emitting a bone-chilling white mist. Two yellow soul rings rose from his feet. However, upon closer inspection, one could see faint wisps of purple around the edge of the second soul ring, indicating that Bai Yi's second soul ring's age was very close to a thousand years.

A verdant light flashed behind Nanmen Yun'er. As the light dissipated, a pair of emerald green wings appeared on her back. The wings were not large, but they endowed Nanmen Yun'er with incredible speed. Her hands also turned emerald green, as if carved from jade. The moment her two yellow soul rings rose from her feet, her figure vanished from her spot. In the blink of an eye, she appeared before Qu Hun and struck out with her palm!

Without time to be surprised by the strength of Bai Yi and Nanmen Yun'er, Han Li, the captain, immediately released his martial soul and shouted, "Be careful!" Fortunately, Li Feiyu, also an agile-type, reacted immediately. As the sound of fluttering wings exploded, a yellow soul ring rose.

Under the Martial Soul Avatar, Li Feiyu's head sprouted two slender horns, his school uniform ripped down the back, and three pairs of wings as thin as cicada wings and dark gold in color flapped rapidly.

Li Feiyu's Martial Soul was an insect called the Golden Eater Insect. This insect was renowned among soul beasts of the insect class for its extreme speed and defense far surpassing its peers.

As a Martial Soul, it was also a rare Martial Soul that could possess both speed and defense.

Bang!

The sound of flesh colliding echoed. Li Feiyu, who had reacted, stood in front of Qu Hun, firmly blocking Nanmen Yun'er's decisive blow.

"I'll hold her off. Qu Hun, take my place."

Li Feiyu said indifferently without looking back. Nanmen Yun'er's lightning-fast attack had completely disrupted their original plan. To prevent Nanmen Yun'er from directly threatening Han Li, he had no choice but to use his speed to restrain her for a while.

After speaking, he looked at Nanmen Yun'er, who had immediately retreated after her attack missed. Without a word, his expression cold, he charged forward and began to fight her.

He knew very well that this was a battle without suspense, but there was nothing he could do. All they could do was give their all, and even if they lost, they had to lose with dignity.