The two lively Soul Fights had given the freshmen a taste for fighting.
At the same time, no one would ever again dismiss Ji Siyuan as a mere one-ring Soul Master.
With a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his First Soul Ring, he was now widely recognized as having the strength of a three-ring Soul Master.
"Siyuan, don't tell me you're already level 19?"
Huo Yuhao looked at Ji Siyuan enviously.
A week had passed since the Soul Fights. He had finally reached level 16 and caught up with Ji Siyuan.
"How could I be? I advanced so quickly earlier because the medicine's effects were still lingering. These next two levels won't come so easily."
After Xu Sanshi had "sponsored" them with a large number of Gold Soul Coins, they no longer needed to make money by selling barbecue.
They had more time to cultivate.
In his daily life, Huo Yuhao stuck close to Ji Siyuan, and they even cultivated in the same bed.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: "Yes, just like that. Stick close to him! The effects of this Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the effects of those Nine Lotus Seeds around him—I'm so envious."
Huo Yuhao's growth had also exceeded Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's expectations, but the general direction remained the same.
It hadn't affected its plans at all; it just meant that some things would happen sooner.
Ji Siyuan's performance, however, had gone beyond the plan Yan Shaozhe had laid out for him. The path they'd prepared needed a few adjustments.
Yan Shaozhe sat at his desk, writing and sketching.
"My perception can't be wrong. He's already reached level 18. That's fast enough. But his combat strength really is a bit too formidable, especially with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill in the mix. Forget it. I'd better call a meeting. I can't be the only one worrying about this."
The previous plan had changed, and he wasn't sure whether they needed to make adjustments. It would be easier to reach a decision with others involved.
And so the second Sea God Pavilion Meeting concerning Ji Siyuan was convened.
Yan Shaozhe: "I'll briefly explain the situation. Ji Siyuan and Huo Yuhao have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Ji Siyuan also has the ability to fight across ranks. He used the Martial Soul Fusion Skill in his fight with Xu Sanshi, and demonstrated his individual strength in the Soul Fight with Dai Huabin."
Lin Huiqun: "He's level 18 already? He's cultivating that quickly? Did you give him some kind of pill?"
"Earlier, Xiaotao lost control of her Evil Fire and almost hurt the two of them. Lexuan stopped her, then found an excuse to give them a Soul Ascension Pill." Yan Shaozhe explained where the pill had come from, then clarified how it had been used. "His roommate Huo Yuhao definitely absorbed it. Ji Siyuan himself didn't use it."
"Good."
Qian Duoduo remembered Huo Yuhao. "Now I remember. That Huo Yuhao is already working under me. He has a talent for Soul Tools, and I was planning to train him properly. The Martial Soul Department isn't going to ask for him back, is it?"
"Of course not. We'd never take back someone we've already handed over." Yan Shaozhe had no idea how long that remark would come back to haunt him. For now, Huo Yuhao's value was nowhere near Ji Siyuan's.
Yan Shaozhe: "If Ji Siyuan's roommate has enough talent with Soul Tools, we could simply have him help activate their Martial Soul Fusion Skill in the future."
Xuan Zi considered this. "I went to see the boy before. He has a Body Martial Soul, but there are no signs of a Second Awakening. He really can't compare to Ji Siyuan. We can just train him alongside Ji Siyuan. But was this really worth calling a meeting over?"
A Martial Soul Fusion Skill and a cultivation speed beyond expectations were significant, but not enough to warrant a Sea God Pavilion Meeting.
"There are two matters. First, I want him to enter the Inner Court early and see if his presence can subtly purify Xiaotao's Evil Fire. Second, can we change this year's Freshman Assessment?"
The first matter came from Yan Shaozhe's personal concern as a teacher. He cared deeply about Ma Xiaotao.
After all, Ma Xiaotao had been one of their key students.
The second matter involved changing tradition.
Mu En: "Xiaotao needs an ice-attribute Soul Master more. If there's a Soul Master with Ultimate Ice, we can discuss it. As for Ultimate Fire, it would be better not to put them together. That could have the opposite effect."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Let's talk about the second matter. How are you planning to change the Freshman Assessment?"
Yan Shaozhe stood up. "Ji Siyuan defeated Dai Huabin on his own. His combat strength is formidable. At his rate of cultivation, he'll definitely have his Second Soul Ring by the Freshman Assessment in a little over two months. He also has a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Huo Yuhao. They're practically guaranteed to win."
"I want to prevent a massive free-for-all, rather than stick to the usual three-on-three matches. We could put the students in a free-for-all and select the core disciples based on who performs best. It would work better."
This idea would change the tradition. Naturally, it had its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that it would make it easier to showcase the students' abilities in actual combat. The downside was that it wouldn't be as safe.
There were a great many freshmen, and in a massive free-for-all, who knew whether someone might unleash a large-scale destructive Soul Skill?
Take the Martial Soul Fusion Skill Ji Siyuan and Huo Yuhao had, for example. If they used it, even several teachers wouldn't be able to save everyone in time, let alone keep track of who performed best.
Mu En: "We can combine the two ideas. Don't make it a complete free-for-all. Put a few selected teams together and have them fight. The four of you, the Outer Court deans, can work out the details."
He had specifically included the Soul Tool Department because he wanted them to take part.
Yan Shaozhe was clearly reluctant, but couldn't turn him down.
Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo were delighted. Getting involved early meant they could pick their students early.
"As for the reward, let's offer a Soul Bone."
"A thousand-year fire-attribute Soul Bone?"
It was obviously meant for Ji Siyuan, but the intent was too obvious.
Xuan Zi: "So what if it's meant for him? Who's going to complain?"
"The main concern is the risk of things going wrong."
Yan Shaozhe spoke frankly.
The quality of this year's freshmen was excellent, and Ji Siyuan's cohort was the best of all.
Wang Dong'er had an extraordinary Soul Ring configuration, and all three Soul Elders had the best possible configurations.
They even had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
If everyone focused their attacks on them at the start of the free-for-all, there was still a chance things could go wrong.
"Then prepare a few more. If they don't win, we can just give the other Soul Bones to someone else. We don't have to announce the reward before the competition."
That was reasonable, but there was another problem. Ji Siyuan might not even be interested in a thousand-year Soul Bone.
His First Soul Ring was already a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and he could even secure the slots for his Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings in advance.
At a minimum, he'd have three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, which meant three corresponding Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones.
There were only six slots in total, and three were already filled. Who could say he'd care about anything else?
Xian Lin'er: "We could offer a Soul Tool as the reward. I can personally make one for the champion."
As if we'd let you take the spotlight!
You're lucky we aren't putting you down, and you still want to show off?
Xian Lin'er's suggestion met with immediate resistance. Yan Shaozhe would rather produce a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone than let a Soul Tool become the reward.
Yan Shaozhe decided to offer the Soul Bone indirectly, through something like the Treasure Appraisal Fair.
He would give them a card with an enormous limit that they wouldn't need to repay, and let them buy whatever they wanted at the Treasure Appraisal Fair.
Whatever Soul Bone or other item they chose, its quality had nothing to do with him.
As long as they put the items out for display, there was no need to worry that Ji Siyuan wouldn't come.