Arrogant

Time and things drift away like flowing water; worldly affairs are like blossoms falling in the morning breeze...

Time flows like a babbling brook, and in the blink of an eye, over a month has passed. Today happens to be the day of the freshman assessment.

During this time, aside from cultivation and alchemy, Xiao Yi has spent every day accompanying Tang Ya and Tang Wutong in their biological studies. During this period, he even helped Tang Ya refine a few medicinal pills to stabilize her Blue Silver Emperor bloodline.

Xiao Yi has now broken through to level 45. This speed left even Mu En full of astonishment; gaining one level per month on average—what kind of speed is this?

In reality, Xiao Yi has suffered quite a bit. Over this past month, he attempted to temper his body with the Exotic Flame twice, and it truly tortured him severely. The sensation of his body being roasted and scorched by terrifying high temperatures, the feeling of his flesh being incinerated and then regenerating—even recalling it makes his scalp tingle.

The results, however, were extremely significant. The age of his Soul Rings has increased quite a bit. Xiao Yi even regrets not starting sooner, but there was no helping it; he hadn't possessed the Three Thousand Burning Flame for long, and he hadn't been able to do this before.

Physical fitness drives the increase in Soul Ring age, and the increase in Soul Ring age prompts the Soul Beast to evolve, with the evolution feeding back soul power to Xiao Yi. By stepping on his own feet like this, he managed to level up once this month, and the evolutions of Zi Ling and Chi Lin were also very gratifying.

The original Purple Lightning Python transformed into a Purple Lightning Flood Dragon, and after consuming the Whale Rubber, it was driven to evolve further by the Bright Sacred Dragon and the Frost Sacred Dragon. It was already not far from becoming a true dragon; Xiao Yi estimates that one more round of Exotic Flame tempering will allow him to obtain another true dragon.

However, the Frost Sacred Dragon Cang Ling and the Bright Sacred Dragon Zhao Lan have not shown any changes. It is estimated that their next transformation might not be something that ten-thousand-year Soul Rings can drive, unless Xiao Yi can catch a Dragon King-level Soul Beast to use for stimulating the bloodlines of his other Soul Beasts.

This problem gives Xiao Yi a slight headache, but it is of no great consequence for now. At worst, he will just catch Di Tian once he reaches the Soul Douluo realm. Hehehe.

These past few days, he has followed his previous arrangements to participate in the freshman assessment. He only needs to secure a ranking that is neither too high nor too low to obtain the so-called legitimate status of a Core Disciple. Aside from showing off and flirting, it is also about maintaining the academy's reputation. The old men are deeply convinced by Xiao Yi's rhetoric.

He truly is the heaven-chosen successor of Shrek; loyal.

Xiao Yi stands on the stage, dressed in a simple black robe embroidered with cyan scale patterns. His posture is as upright as a pine, one hand behind his back. Beneath him, four ten-thousand-year Soul Rings exuding terrifying might slowly rise and fall, while green light flickers in his eyes, emitting terrifying mental fluctuations.

His current physical body is comparable to a Soul Emperor, and his mental power has reached the level of a Titled Douluo. Aside from his soul power, his true combat strength is already immeasurable; fighting this group of freshmen, whose highest level is only 30, is practically child's play.

Opposite him are three pretty young girls.

Ning Tian remains dignified and elegant, her pretty face carrying a faint smile; she is refined and graceful, possessing a natural charm.

Wearing the Shrek freshman uniform, her figure is slender. The only difference from before is that her original short golden hair has been replaced by long golden hair, draped behind her back, adding a touch of liveliness to the girl's elegant temperament.

Beside her, Wu Feng has her long red hair tied into a capable high ponytail. Her features are exquisite, and her skin is fair and translucent. Underneath her Shrek uniform jacket is a one-piece black leather suit; the special material reflects light in the sun, yet it cannot hide the girl's breathtaking curves. Slender branches bearing heavy fruit—that is likely the meaning.

The girl on the other side is named Nanmen Yun'er. Her soft, light green hair is draped behind her, her brows and eyes are delicate and gentle, her face is round and small, and her skin is fair. When she smiles, the corners of her eyes curve slightly, carrying a gentle temperament, and that soft, fragile feeling makes one involuntarily feel pity for her.

"Xiao Yi, long time no see." Ning Tian's lips curl into a smile, her tone soft, and there is a hint of anticipation in her eyes. I've grown my hair out; you should look at me now.

Wu Feng, standing to the side, has gloomy eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness. However, not knowing what she thought of, her cheeks suddenly flush red. The way she looks at Xiao Yi is no longer as gnashing-of-teeth as before; instead, it is a bit strange.

Nanmen Yun'er looks at Xiao Yi with curious and yearning eyes. What a handsome boy, just like the rumors say, and his strength is so great. In her heart, she screams, Big brother, look at me, I can do it.

"Of course, we can talk about everything after the match." Xiao Yi smiles, but that smile lacks approachability; instead, it feels like he is teasing. This is not Xiao Yi's intention; he seems to naturally possess this temperament. After all, even he himself has never noticed that when he activates his Martial Soul, cyan scales appear faintly on his hands.

"Okay." There is a clear hint of joy in Ning Tian's tone as she nods gently, her mind already imagining the scene of their fifth child being born.

"Seven Treasures turn out a Glazed Pagoda." Seven-colored light emerges in Ning Tian's hand, and a seven-colored glazed pagoda appears. Two yellow and one purple Soul Ring rise beneath her feet.

Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, known as the strongest support-type tool Martial Soul. Originally, the word "tool" wasn't there, but this is only the Seven Treasures after all.

"Freshman Class Nine, Ning Tian, level 31 support-type tool Soul Elder."

Wu Feng lets out a sharp cry, and a wave of heat spreads from her as the center. That soft cry even contains a trace of a dragon's roar.

Two yellow Soul Rings rise beneath her feet. Her body becomes even more slender than before, stretching the leather suit to the point of bursting. A layer of fine dragon scales begins to cover her from the left side of her cheek, extending down from her neck to cover her left arm and hand. Compared to the terrifying might of Xiao Yi's two Sacred Dragon Martial Soul possessions, Wu Feng's red dragon looks like a cub—of course, referring only to the Martial Soul.

Nanmen Yun'er's overall changes are not significant; cyan feathers appear at the corners of her eyes, and a faint jade luster flows over her body. Two yellow Soul Rings also rise slowly beneath her feet.

"Freshman Class Nine, Wu Feng, level 25 assault-type battle Soul Master."

"Freshman Class Nine, Nanmen Yun'er, level 24 agility-type battle Soul Master."

The three girls stand ready, forming a formation to prepare for Xiao Yi's attack. There are many versions of the opponent's intelligence circulating in the academy.

Some say it is an eye Martial Soul, while others say it is a dual Sacred Dragon Martial Soul.

Upon hearing the latter rumor, Xiao Yi almost stumbled and fell to the ground. A dual Sacred Dragon Martial Soul reminds him of a god-like man from ten thousand years later who was comparable to Gang Zi.

However, Xiao Yi does not release his two Sacred Dragon Martial Souls. Instead, he raises one hand and smiles at the three of them, signaling them. He does not mean to provoke them at all.

But in the eyes of Wu Feng, who is already unwilling and angry, his smile and actions are nothing but provocation.

As the saying goes, eye contact is the most naked form of provocation and declaration of war for all living creatures.

"Arrogant!" Wu Feng lets out a sharp cry. She finds this man in front of her unpleasant no matter how she looks at him. Even if it is the young lady's intention, it won't be so easy to conquer her.

The two Soul Rings beneath her feet flicker, and her whole body ignites with red flames as she charges toward Xiao Yi.

Behind her, Ning Tian chants softly.

"Seven Treasures turn out a Glazed Pagoda; first, Speed; second, Cleansing; third, Power." The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda flickers with light, and three streams of light fall into the bodies of Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er, bringing a forty percent increase in speed and power.

At this moment, the strength of Wu Feng and the other girl is not inferior to that of ordinary Soul Elder powerhouses.

However, in front of Xiao Yi, they are just two little girls.