Rampant

Time and things flowed away like water, the affairs of the world fell like blossoms in the morning breeze...

Time flowed like a murmuring stream. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed, and today was the day of the freshman assessment.

During this time, aside from cultivating and practicing Alchemy, Xiao Yi spent every day studying biology with Tang Ya and Tang Wutong. He had also helped Tang Ya refine several pills to stabilize her Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline.

By now, Xiao Yi had broken through to level 45. Even Mu En was astonished by his pace: an average of one level per month. What kind of speed was that?

In truth, Xiao Yi had suffered plenty, too. Over the past month, he had tried body tempering with Heavenly Flames twice, and it had been nothing short of excruciating. The feeling of his body being scorched by terrifying heat, of his flesh being burned away and then growing back, was enough to make his scalp tingle even in retrospect.

The results had been remarkably significant. The years of his Soul Rings had all increased considerably, and Xiao Yi almost regretted not starting sooner. But there was nothing he could do about that; he had only obtained the Three Thousand Burning Flame recently, so he could not have done this before.

His physical constitution boosted his Soul Ring years, the increased Soul Ring years spurred the Soul Beasts to evolve, and their evolution fed Soul Power back to Xiao Yi. By stepping on his own feet, he had gained a level in just one month, and Zi Ling and Chi Lin had evolved to boot, with very gratifying results.

The Purple Lightning Python had transformed into a Purple Lightning Flood Dragon. Then, after experiencing Whale Rubber, it had been driven to evolve by the Bright Sacred Dragon and the Frost Sacred Dragon. It had already been close to becoming a dragon, and Xiao Yi estimated that one more round of body tempering with Heavenly Flames would be enough to give him another true dragon.

However, Cang Ling, the Frost Sacred Dragon, and Zhao Lan, the Bright Sacred Dragon, had not changed at all. It seemed the next transformation might take more than a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring to trigger. Unless Xiao Yi could catch a Dragon King-level Soul Beast to spur the bloodlines of his other Soul Beasts.

That problem gave Xiao Yi a bit of a headache, but it was no major concern for now. Worst came to worst, he could catch Di Tian once he reached Soul Douluo. Heh heh heh.

Over the past few days, he had followed his earlier plans and taken part in the freshman assessment. He only needed to place somewhere in the middle—not too high, not too low—to claim the so-called legitimate qualification of Core Disciple. Aside from showing off and flirting with girls, he was supposedly doing it to uphold the academy's reputation. The old men had swallowed Xiao Yi's explanation hook, line, and sinker.

What a heaven-sent successor to Shrek. So loyal.

Xiao Yi stood on the stage in a simple black robe embroidered with blue-green scale patterns. His posture was straight as a pine, one hand resting behind his back. Four Soul Rings, radiating terrifying might, slowly rose and fell beneath him. Green light flickered in his eyes, releasing a terrifying mental pressure.

His physique was now comparable to a Soul Emperor's, and his spiritual power had reached the level of a Titled Douluo. Aside from his Soul Power, his actual combat strength was already impossible to gauge. Fighting these freshmen, whose highest level was only 30, was practically child's play.

Opposite him stood three pretty young women.

Ning Tian remained poised and elegant, her pretty face wearing a faint smile. Her features were clean and refined, with an effortless grace.

She wore the Shrek freshman uniform, her figure slender and graceful. The only difference from before was that her short golden hair had grown long, falling down her back and adding a lively touch to her elegant air.

Nearby, Wu Feng had tied her long red hair into a neat, high ponytail. Her features were delicate, her skin fair and luminous. Beneath her Shrek uniform jacket, she wore a one-piece black leather outfit. Its special material glinted in the sunlight, but it did nothing to conceal her breathtaking curves—slender branches bearing heavy fruit, as the saying went.

The girl on the other side was named Nanmen Yun'er. Her smooth, pale green hair fell down her back. Her brows and eyes were gentle and delicate, her face small and round, and her skin fair. When she smiled, the corners of her eyes curved slightly, giving her a gentle air. She also had a soft, frail look that instinctively stirred people's desire to protect her.

"Xiao Yi, long time no see." Ning Tian smiled, her voice soft, her eyes full of anticipation. I've even grown my hair long. You should look at me now, right?

Wu Feng stood to the side, her gaze gloomy, filled with resentment and unwillingness. But whatever she thought of, her cheeks suddenly flushed red. She looked at Xiao Yi without the gritted-teeth fury of before; instead, there was something strange in her eyes.

Nanmen Yun'er looked Xiao Yi up and down with curiosity and admiration. What a handsome big brother. Just like the rumors say, he's so strong, too. Look at me, big brother! I'm ready!

"Of course. We can talk about everything after the match." Xiao Yi smiled as he spoke. Yet rather than seeming approachable, his smile looked almost flirtatious. He did not mean it that way; he seemed to have that air about him by nature. After all, even he had never noticed that, whenever he activated his Martial Soul, blue-green scales flickered faintly across his hands.

"Okay." A hint of excitement entered Ning Tian's voice as she nodded gently. In her mind, she was already picturing the birth of their fifth child.

"Seven Treasures shine with colored glaze." Seven-colored light appeared in Ning Tian's hands, and a seven-colored glazed pagoda materialized. Two yellow Soul Rings and one purple Soul Ring rose beneath her feet.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda was known as the strongest support-type Tool Martial Soul. Originally, it had not included the word "Tool"—but in the end, it was only the Seven Treasures.

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

Wu Feng gave a sharp cry. A wave of heat spread outward from her, and her shout even carried a faint dragon's roar.

Two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath her feet. Her body grew even more slender than before, stretching the tight leather outfit until it seemed ready to burst. A layer of fine dragon scales began covering her from the left cheek, extending down from her neck to cover her left arm and hand. Compared with the terrifying might of Xiao Yi's two Sacred Dragon Martial Souls in possession, Wu Feng's Red Dragon looked like a hatchling—though that was only in terms of Martial Souls.

Nanmen Yun'er's overall appearance changed very little. Blue-green feathers appeared at the corners of her eyes, and a faint jade glow flowed over her body. Two yellow Soul Rings likewise rose slowly beneath her feet.

"Freshman Class Nine, Wu Feng, level 25 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

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

The three girls braced themselves and formed a formation, ready to meet Xiao Yi's attack. The academy had circulated many versions of the information about their opponent.

Some said he had an eye Martial Soul. Others claimed he had two Sacred Dragon Martial Souls.

When Xiao Yi heard the latter rumor, he nearly stumbled and fell over. Two Sacred Dragon Martial Souls reminded him of a remarkable man from ten thousand years in the future who was on par with Gang Zi.

But Xiao Yi did not release either of his Sacred Dragon Martial Souls. He simply raised one hand and smiled at the three of them. He had no intention of provoking them.

Unfortunately, in Wu Feng's eyes, already filled with indignation and anger, both his smile and his gesture were nothing but provocation.

After all, a stare was the most brazen challenge and declaration of war any living creature could make.

"How arrogant!" Wu Feng cried out. She could not stand the sight of this man, no matter how she looked at him. Even if it was the young lady's wish, conquering her would not be so easy.

The two Soul Rings beneath her feet flashed. Red flames erupted all over her body, and she charged straight at Xiao Yi.

Behind her, Ning Tian softly chanted,

"Seven Treasures shine with colored glaze. First, speed; second, dispel; third, strength." The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda shimmered, and three streams of light entered Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er's bodies, increasing their speed and strength by forty percent.

At that moment, the two girls' strength was no less than that of an ordinary Soul Elder.

But before Xiao Yi, they were just two little girls.