Lightning Left Leg Bone

Du Weilun continued, "In view of Bai Cai Team's outstanding performance and undefeated record throughout the competition, the academy has decided to grant them a special reward. The academy will keep the reward confidential. After the class assignments are finished, Bai Cai Team will come with me to claim it."

Bai Cai Team, a mix of Soul Masters and Soul Grandmasters, had first defeated the Soul Elder team led by Ning Tian of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, then defeated the Soul Elder team led by Dai Huabin of the White Tiger Duke's Estate. They had more than earned the special reward.

The three teams thanked the teachers one by one, then the nine students returned to their places. Du Weilun looked over all the students and encouraged them. "This year's freshmen are of even higher caliber than before. I hope you'll all continue to flourish and become outstanding graduates, living up to Shrek's name."

"This year's freshman assessment has brought a number of outstanding students to the fore. After deliberation, the academy has approved the promotion of some students to core disciples of the outer court. I will now announce their names."

Shrek Plaza fell silent. It wasn't only the students from the top three teams who had performed well.

Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo of Huang Chutian Team were certain to make the list thanks to their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Zhou Sicheng Team was the only other team of Soul Grandmasters besides Bai Cai Team to reach the top four, so its main members were bound to make the list.

By contrast, aside from Xie Huanyue, the members of his team, Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba, had been utterly useless, coasting through the entire competition. They had even performed worse than other students from the top eight.

Du Weilun opened his folder and read out the names. "Based on their performance during the freshman assessment, the academy's review committee has approved the following core disciples: Bai Cai, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Xie Huanyue, Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng."

Some rejoiced while others worried. Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo were overjoyed. Without their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they might not have made the list and become core disciples.

Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba wore bitter expressions. Third place was a height they could never reach. A stone was still a stone; it would never turn into gold.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng remained unmoved. In terms of potential, among support-type Martial Souls, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda stood above all others. Ning Tian was exceptionally gifted, having become a Soul Elder at the age of twelve. As for battle record, Wu Feng had nearly fought Wang Dong to a mutual defeat. She was no less capable than the main members of the champion team.

Seeing the students' varied expressions, Du Weilun added, "Although some students fall short in talent and strength, their performance during the assessment was still outstanding. The academy has agreed that certain students may temporarily enjoy the privileges of core disciples until the end of the first academic year. Then, based on their exam results next year, we will decide whether to promote them to core disciples."

"The following students have been approved: Cui Yajie, Huang Chutian, Long Xiangyue, Nanmen Yun'er, and Huo Yuhao."

The first four were outstanding Soul Grandmasters, with strong talent and decent battle records. Huo Yuhao's foundation was weaker, but his Spirit Eye was a Body Martial Soul with promising potential. In addition, his Soul Skills were extraordinary, so he had been added to the end of the list.

After announcing the names, Du Weilun and the teachers began assigning classes to the freshmen who had passed the assessment.

The first year was reorganized into four classes. Class One was for Power Attack and Control types, Class Two for Defense and Agility Attack types, Class Three consisted entirely of Support types, and Class Four was responsible for Food, Healing, and other special types.

Bai Cai, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, Wu Feng, Zhou Sicheng, Cao Jinxuan, Huang Chutian, and Huo Yuhao entered Class One. Xie Huanyue and Nanmen Yun'er entered Class Two, and Ning Tian entered Class Three. Class Four went unnoticed, like a transparent presence.

Of course, class assignments didn't necessarily reflect combat tendencies. There were countless oddballs: Agility Attack Soul Masters with unparalleled power, Defense Soul Masters who blew themselves up like kamikaze carts, Food Soul Masters who made dark cuisine, Healing Soul Masters who used Poison Heal, and Support Soul Masters who stacked armor and taunted their enemies.

Once the class assignments were complete, Du Weilun led Bai Cai, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao to the teachers' building behind the upper-year classroom building.

The director of studies' private office was on the top floor of the teachers' building. It was quite spacious, with simple furnishings. Four upright bookcases stood in the corners, filled with all kinds of books, including rare editions and ancient texts.

Du Weilun was amiable as the three members of Bai Cai Team took their seats one after another.

After a few words of encouragement, Du Weilun raised his right hand slightly. The ruby ring flashed, and a brown leather pouch appeared in his palm.

Dark patterns were etched into the brown leather pouch, which faintly gave off Soul Power fluctuations. It seemed to be a special Soul Tool.

Du Weilun handed the pouch to Bai Cai and said solemnly, "Children, since you defeated two Soul Elder teams and won the championship, the academy is making an exception and giving you an extremely precious reward."

Bai Cai untied the pouch. A blue-violet glow eagerly darted out and hovered in midair. A long, lustrous bone shimmered with a faint blue-violet light, and dense Soul Power fluctuations swept through the office.

A Soul Bone!

A Soul Bone, even a hundred times more precious than a Soul Ring!

The chances of a Hundred-Year Soul Beast producing a Soul Bone were practically zero. The chances for a thousand-year Soul Beast were only one in ten thousand, while those for a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast were no more than one in a hundred.

When a Soul Master fused with a Soul Bone, their strength would increase by a great deal. Their physical toughness and Soul Power Level would be enhanced across the board, and they might even gain an additional Soul Skill.

An ordinary Soul Master could absorb at most six Soul Bones from different parts of the body: a Head Soul Bone, a Torso Soul Bone, and four limb bones. External Soul Bones were hard to come by, and their specific forms were rarely known.

Among the six different types of Soul Bones, the Torso Soul Bone ranked first. It was priceless and rarely available. The Head Soul Bone ranked second and was extremely rare. Limb bones circulated more often, and their value varied considerably.

But even a relatively low-value Left Leg Bone still sold for more than a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins at auction houses across the continent. Most Soul Bone transactions didn't even accept Gold Soul Coins; they could only be traded for other goods.

Du Weilun poured himself a cup of tea and teased them. "Surprised? Didn't see that coming?"

"That's right, it's a Soul Bone, one of every Soul Master's ultimate dreams. There's no need to explain how precious it is. I hope you can discuss this reasonably and not let it undermine the trust between teammates. A lost Soul Bone can be replaced, but a rift between companions is hard to mend."

"Allow me to introduce it. This Soul Bone is called the Lightning Left Leg Bone. It comes from a Ten-Thousand-Year Lightning Rabbit. Once fused, it can slightly increase the strength of your left leg and comes with a movement Soul Skill."

"The Martial Soul of the Soul Beast whose Soul Bone you fuse with changes, and the Soul Skill you obtain changes accordingly. Of course, it will definitely be a Soul Skill suited to you."

"Also, a man who has done no wrong can still be guilty of possessing a treasure. Whoever obtains the Soul Bone should fuse with it as soon as possible. Lastly, this brown leather pouch can conceal Soul Power fluctuations. You can have it too."

Du Weilun gave them his earnest advice. Bai Cai, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao thanked him in unison, then respectfully said their goodbyes.

"You two decide who gets it."

Bai Cai handed over the brown leather pouch and said sincerely, "A movement Soul Skill is suited to charging in or dodging, which doesn't fit my team's role."

Ralts's role was similar to a mage's. She wasn't a close-combat mage like Gandalf, but a traditional artillery mage. A movement Soul Skill would be about as useful as a chicken rib.

The team would benefit more if Wang Dong or Xiao Xiao fused with the Lightning Left Leg Bone.