March

Time passed slowly. Three months later, only sixty-seven students remained in Freshman Class One.

Bai Cai had taken two Mystic Water Pills, and Wang Dong had gradually become more diligent.

The two still kept their secrets. Wang Dong seemed to have forgotten about the pink Soul Ring and never asked about the ring-shaped Soul Tool or the Mystic Water Pills worth a fortune. Bai Cai continued to honor their promise by cleaning the dormitory, putting up with Wang Dong's occasional fussy words and deeds.

The class monitor position remained unchanged. Wang Dong had cleanly defeated every student who dared challenge him. Bai Cai kept up his habit of keeping a low profile and became a regular at the library.

"The other classes have already started assigning teams for the assessment." Wang Dong lounged lazily against the soft fur blanket. He hadn't slacked off for a moment in defending his position as class monitor; it was only when chatting that he felt at ease.

With his handsome looks and great strength, Wang Dong had become the dream lover of most of the girls in Freshman Class One. Even girls in nearby classes had sent him love letters.

Surrounded by admirers, Wang Dong was very well informed. He had even managed to learn how the other classes had assigned their assessment teams.

Only a handful of classes still hadn't assigned their teams, including Freshman Class One, taught by Zhou Yi.

Wang Dong could vaguely guess who his future teammates would be, but with the freshman assessment drawing near, every day Zhou Yi delayed assigning teams left him tossing and turning.

"Going by past practice, barring special circumstances, the seed teams are basically always made up the same way: one Power Attack System Soul Master, one control-type Soul Master, and one defense- or support-type Soul Master."

Sitting on his bed and reading a basic text on Soul Tool theory, Bai Cai remarked casually, "Your teammates should be Xiao Xiao and me."

Xiao Xiao was a petite student with delicate features. Her fighting style leaned toward counterattacking from a defensive position, and her awakened Martial Soul was the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, which could serve both defensive and support roles.

Among the defensive Soul Masters in Freshman Class One, Xiao Xiao's Soul Power and practical combat results ranked near the top. Her overall ranking was middle of the pack. She had challenged Wang Dong once, for reasons unknown.

Though he kept a low profile, Zhou Yi surely knew that he had entered through the special recruitment process. He was a control-type Soul Master whose Soul Tool had even impressed the academy's upper ranks enough to earn him a gift.

When Zhou Yi formed the seed teams, she would follow the principle of using the best steel on the blade. She would surely put him, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Dong on the same team.

"That's easy for you to say," Wang Dong complained. "What if Zhou Yi suddenly goes crazy and insists on—"

Before he could finish, a sonorous bell rang. Wang Dong cut off mid-sentence and fell silent.

The classroom was much emptier. As usual, Bai Cai and Wang Dong went straight to their seats.

Zhou Yi arrived right on time. "Physical training is suspended. Tomorrow is the freshman assessment. I know you've been looking forward to it for a long time."

"It's been three months since the start of the term, and soon you'll face Shrek Academy's first assessment."

"Pass the assessment, and you'll become official first-year students. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll be able to keep cultivating at the academy until the first-year graduation exam."

"The assessment focuses on combat. That's right—even support-type and food-type Soul Masters will have to fight."

"The freshman assessment will be held as team battles. The rules are the same as in previous years: teams of three."

"Each team can have at most one Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. The other two members can be of any type. When assigning teams, I'll first consider students in the same dormitory. The rest can form teams freely or decide by drawing lots."

"Nearly three hundred teams are taking part in this year's freshman assessment, but only half will be allowed to stay at the academy. In general, that means the top one hundred and fifty teams."

"The assessment uses a points system. Opponents will be chosen by lot, and each team will fight at least ten matches. Teams will be ranked by their number of wins."

"The top sixty-four teams will enter the knockout rounds. The top four teams in the knockout rounds will each receive a different reward from the academy. The champion team's reward is exceptionally rare, so I hope you'll make the most of this opportunity."

Zhou Yi continued coolly, "There are currently sixty-seven students, so we can form twenty-two teams, with one student left over. I've already assigned you based on your Martial Souls."

"If you're dissatisfied, you can discuss it among yourselves after you go back and submit a new request by tomorrow morning. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."

"Now, class monitor, collect the questionnaires on everyone's future cultivation direction." Zhou Yi's voice turned icy.

Wang Dong had handed out the questionnaires on future cultivation directions yesterday. Each student had checked their answers several times before handing the form to him.

After collecting the forms, Zhou Yi waved. Wang Dong carried the stack to the lectern, then returned to his seat.

"Team One: Wang Dong, Bai Cai, and Xiao Xiao."

"Team Two: Zi Hao, Ma Qingshuang, and Leng Leng."

"If you have any objections, work it out among yourselves or come to me. You must submit any request to change teammates by tomorrow morning."

"Lastly, Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao, stay behind." Zhou Yi smiled, her face as cold as frost.

Bai Cai and Wang Dong left the classroom and waited by the stairs for Xiao Xiao. Without Xiao Xiao's cooperation, the freshman assessment would likely be full of extra complications.

A well-coordinated team of three could achieve an effect greater than the sum of its parts.

No matter how Bai Cai and Wang Dong created an advantage, two fists could never fend off four hands. If they ran into another class's seed team, they would still be defeated.

As they waited for Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong grew bored and suddenly suggested, "Xiao Bai, it's been a month. Want to try fighting me?"

Wang Dong was about a year older than Bai Cai. When he was in a good mood, he called him Xiao Bai; when he was in a bad mood, he called him by his full name.

After their first fight, though, Wang Dong was rarely in a bad mood.

"I can't beat you," Bai Cai declined tactfully.

Without that blue-gold power, Bai Cai had a seventy percent chance of winning. When they sparred in private, Bai Cai could usually keep Wang Dong suppressed.

Unfortunately, by "fighting," Wang Dong meant individual Soul Fighting. Once Wang Dong got serious and blue-gold light swirled around him, Ralts's Confusion was rendered useless.

A mage caught flat-footed by a warrior—that was more or less how it went.

"Wang Dong?" Xiao Xiao had just left the classroom. Seeing him by the stairs, the girl asked shyly, "Were you waiting for me?"

"Xiao Bai was waiting for you, not me," Wang Dong denied immediately.

"Xiao Xiao is an important teammate. Of course you're worth waiting for," Bai Cai said, closing his notebook as he comforted the delicate girl.

"Honestly, the two of us could take the other team on our own." Wang Dong patted Bai Cai on the shoulder. "Why go out of our way to train as a team of three?"

"Arrogant," Xiao Xiao judged.

Since beating Bai Cai in Soul Fighting, Wang Dong's studies and daily life had gone smoothly, and he hadn't encountered any setbacks. He was getting a little swollen-headed, so he immediately retorted, "Want to try a one-on-one?"

"Pah." Xiao Xiao's expression shifted. "If you've got the guts, take on Bai Cai and me together."

"Boring." Wang Dong turned around and shoved Bai Cai along with him as he left.

Although Wang Dong was getting cocky, he hadn't lost his mind. If two of his Soul Skills were Sealed, fighting Xiao Xiao would be no different from courting death.