Crushing Victory

With Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena absent, the flow of the freshman assessment proceeded exactly as envisioned.

The Golden Road clashed with the Hell White Tiger, securing an immediate victory.

A single freshman assessment had produced three Martial Soul Fusion Skills, a Twin Martial Souls user, and several Soul Elders.

It was enough to show that the quality of this year's freshmen was exceptionally high.

Yet, the end of their battle did not mark the end of this freshman assessment.

Du Weilun announced in a loud voice, "The champions of this freshman assessment are the team of Wang Dong."

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong wanted to argue something, but Du Weilun quickly announced the arrival of the final stage.

"The final stage of this freshman assessment: challenge the strongest freshmen."

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao stood on the competition stage, watching as Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena stepped up.

"Senior brother, senior sister, please go easy on us." Huo Yuhao knew that Mu Xuanheng was already a Level 3 Soul Engineer, with strength at least equal to a three-ring Soul Elder. It was only natural that they wouldn't be able to win in their current state.

Mu Xuanheng replied, "We'll try."

Gu Yuena was not nearly as tactful: "Just jump off yourselves."

Wang Dong was instantly incensed: "We haven't even fought yet, do you think you've already won?"

With tempers rising, the freshmen off the stage, despite not favoring Huo Yuhao's team, began to cheer them on.

"First step: the champion team challenges the strongest freshmen. The match begins."

As Du Weilun's voice fell, soul rings began to float up on the stage.

"Black, black, black... a black third soul ring?"

"What is going on with that orange soul ring? Aren't white, purple, black, and red the only colors for soul rings?"

"What exactly is going on with their soul ring configurations?"

As Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena activated their Martial Souls, the soul ring colors, standing out like cranes among chickens, shocked everyone present.

Even Du Weilun stood frozen on the spot; a three-ring black configuration was something one wouldn't even dare to dream of, but what was up with an orange soul ring?

Huo Yuhao was also frantically questioning Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Brother Sky Dream, what is going on with that orange soul ring? Is it a million-year soul beast like you?"

Tian Meng had no idea; it was just a soul beast that had reached a million years by eating and sleeping.

Moreover, an orange soul ring was beyond everyone's comprehension.

Gu Yuena was accustomed to it, but even she didn't know the specifics of this soul ring.

"Junior brother, be careful." Mu Xuanheng offered a warning, not delaying his movements as he used the Chaofeng Dragon Claw to instantly grab Xiao Xiao from a distance.

Following this, a terrifying wind pressure bore down on Huo Yuhao, stripping him of his ability to resist.

Gu Yuena struck again, the gale slicing toward Wang Dong's wings like a sharp blade.

Mu Xuanheng raised his hand, and ice spikes sprouted like thorns, completely sealing off Wang Dong's escape route.

He could also control elements; aside from ice, all others were slightly weaker than Gu Yuena's.

Gu Yuena raised her hand, and flames burned atop his ice crystals, forming a vortex ready to crush Wang Dong.

It forced Du Weilun to step in personally, tearing through the flames to rescue Wang Dong.

Du Weilun announced helplessly, "The first round is over, the champion team has lost. Students, please move to the larger area; we are entering the final melee."

It was simply too fast; Huo Yuhao and his team were defeated without having any chance to fight back.

And this was the champion team—even without their trump card of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they were a squad that had fought their way out from among all the other teams.

Wu Feng exclaimed, "Are you kidding me! They aren't even Soul Elders, are they?"

Zhu Lu clenched her hands, not daring to make a sound.

Ning Tian watched Mu Xuanheng's figure: "This is the strength my Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Guardian Douluo should have when weak, this is the strength my husband, Ning Tian's husband, should have."

Her voice was not loud, but she immediately felt the pressure of a gaze.

Gu Yuena on the stage was already looking at her.

Hundreds of people arrived at the arena, with Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena at the very center.

An entire grade of freshmen was to face the two strongest individuals.

The homeroom teachers of each class also arrived, as they were responsible for the students' safety.

Du Weilun had specifically waited for some time, just to allow the two Martial Soul Fusion Skills to recover.

"This battle is truly worth watching."

Yan Shaozhe also arrived: "It is indeed worth watching, but you had best not hold too high expectations. It is impossible for this to be a back-and-forth fight."

"Oh?"

He would soon understand everything, as the voice rang out: "The final item of the freshman assessment, the all-out challenge is ready. The match begins!"

As the voice fell, everyone activated their Martial Souls, with yellow being the absolute dominant color. Among them were a sparse two or three purple soul rings, as well as Huo Yuhao's white one.

However, their opponents had black spirit rings flashing, and the orange spirit ring was even more terrifying.

Gu Yuena raised her hand, and a gust of wind immediately swirled around them.

Huo Yuhao shouted, "Be careful! That wind is powerful; spirit masters below the second ring should not get close."

As a control-type, he prepared to begin directing the entire field.

But at times like this, there was always someone who would step out and stick their neck out.

Wu Feng was highly resistant to Huo Yuhao's command and rushed forward the moment she activated her martial soul.

"You coordinate with me." Gu Yuena struck immediately, causing spikes to erupt from the ground toward Wu Feng.

The speed of the spikes was not fast, giving Wu Feng a chance to dodge, but this opportunity was the greatest danger.

The final section of the spikes exploded, and what burst out was not soil debris, but flames.

Under the enhancement of the gale, a massive firestorm formed instantly.

Mu Xuanheng immediately manipulated the fire to throw it at Wu Feng.

All the meticulous operations beforehand were completed by Gu Yuena, while he was responsible for the final strike.

But this was not called coordination; it was purely stealing the credit, so their attacks never ended.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, turn! Seven Treasures has a name, the second is Speed!" Ning Tian immediately buffed Wu Feng, allowing her to escape the attack.

Mu Xuanheng: "Wind aids the fire, fire creates a vortex. Gu Yuena, I'll leave the rest to you." The flame vortex spun faster and larger; everyone knew it couldn't be allowed to grow any further.

Huang Chutian charged first, only to be kicked away by Mu Xuanheng: "Sorry, I'm not a battle mage who manipulates elements, but a thorough close-combat assault-type."

The fighting style displayed earlier was all long-range attacks, and now you say you're a close-combat specialist?

"Bastard, if you're a close-combat assault-type, then fight me." Dai Huabin's first and third spirit rings flashed as he activated both the White Tiger Protection Barrier and the White Tiger Vajra Transformation.

Mu Xuanheng didn't even look at him, turning instead toward the viewing platform: "Teacher, prepare to save people."

The flames accumulated by Gu Yuena were unleashed, and the terrifying temperature made every freshman feel the threat of death.

A beam of bright spirit power dispersed the flames and dissolved the heat within them.

"Wang Dong, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Ning Tian stay; everyone else, get out." Yan Shaozhe let out a breath; the power of this flame vortex was too great. Originally, these few shouldn't have been left either, but to see the strength of Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena, he kept a few people behind.

Once everyone had exited, the command of the battle fell into Ning Tian's hands.

"We can't give them another chance to use that move, scatter them! Seven Treasures has a name, the first is Power." The buff from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fell upon Dai Huabin, who was the strongest among them.

Gu Yuena: "Why would you think the flame vortex from just now required time?"

With a wave of her hand, the same flames ignited across the arena, only without the vortex.

The seven people remaining on the field showed expressions of shock; they hadn't expected Gu Yuena to be able to unleash such an attack alone.

"Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Heavenly Net!"

The twin sisters attempted to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to neutralize Gu Yuena's flame attack.

Du Weilun once again acted as a power evaluator, then carried the Lan sisters off the field.

Dai Huabin steeled his heart, deciding to break them one by one: "Hey, Mu Xuanheng, if you're a man, don't hide behind a woman."

Gu Yuena stepped back to the side, handing the battlefield over to Mu Xuanheng.

She smiled slightly: "Let me see the battle of the Phantom Scale Dragon."

Mu Xuanheng stepped forward, standing before her: "Fine, I also wanted to have a go against a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

If he was going to show off, he would show it all.

A flash of killing intent instantly suppressed Dai Huabin, who had just mustered his courage.

"Take your fiancée and use your Martial Soul Fusion Skill, otherwise I can't guarantee whether you'll be able to withstand one of my claws."

"Hmph, I am the son of the White Tiger Duke; I don't need your reminders." His voice was loud, suppressing his own cowardice.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu once again unleashed the Hell White Tiger.

"Seven Treasures has a name, the first is Power, the second is Speed, the third is Soul!" He poured all his spirit buffs into the Hell White Tiger. At this moment, even a Spirit King might not dare to take the hit.

"Senior brother, remember to save them." Mu Xuanheng's second spirit ring lit up: "Phantom Dragon Demon Body!"

Chaofeng spread its wings, ice crystals shattering, dazzling under the light.

At this moment, all the freshmen were on edge, longing for the final result.

The Hell White Tiger was dismantled into two people by a single claw.

The long-range claw restrained the vomiting Zhu Lu, while the close-combat claw raked across Dai Huabin's body, exposing neatly fractured white bones.

The entire arena was silent; even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.

"Dai Huabin, you're something else, letting a woman take my attack for you."

He had used the long-range claw on Zhu Lu precisely because she had already borne the damage from their collision. She was already heavily injured and unconscious; one more claw would have killed her.

Gu Yuena walked up to him and reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth: "Why force it? You'll get hurt."

The residual blood on his body was washed away by water. She didn't want to touch anyone else's blood.

Two Martial Soul Fusion Skills had been easily dismantled by the pair; victory no longer needed to be spoken.

The remaining Wang Dong, Huang Chutian, and Ning Tian could only admit defeat.

Du Weilun smiled bitterly: "This freshman assessment is over; the challenge against the strongest has failed."