"Ring ring ring!"
The class bell rang. Jiang Yi stood outside the door, watching Mu Jin's expression gradually darken as he scratched his head guiltily.
"Hmph! Do you know the entire class is waiting for you?"
Mu Jin shot him a glare.
Although his temper was good, this was only the second day of school and Jiang Yi already dared to be late. Was he going to blow up the school in the future?
"Teacher, I was actually helping a senior student cross the street on my way here, which delayed me a little. That's why I was late."
Jiang Yi explained with a straight face.
He had gotten carried away eating with Senior Xiao Ya. The dormitory building was also a bit far from here, so he had accidentally arrived late.
My little brother has led me astray...
"Stand at the door and wait."
Mu Jin glanced at him before turning to face the class.
"Today is practical combat training. At Shrek, whether you are nobility or a commoner genius... strength comes first."
"What we teach are monsters capable of actual combat, not clowns who only talk on paper. I hope you understand that."
"Now, everyone gather at the training grounds!"
Only after saying that did he turn back to Jiang Yi.
"You come too."
A genius approaching the Soul Elder rank—no matter how much that bitch hated him, she would not bear to expel such talent. Naturally, he was not truly giving up on Jiang Yi; he was merely teaching him a lesson.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Jiang Yi nodded repeatedly and quickly returned to the group.
Class Nine of the freshmen had nearly a hundred students, and they marched in a grand procession toward the Soul Fighting Zone.
The Soul Fighting Zone was located in Shrek's northwest corner. It fell under the jurisdiction of the Martial Soul Department and was an extremely important area within Shrek.
Fighting was legal here, and teachers stood by to prevent accidents.
The Soul Fighting Zone was divided into many sections. As Class Nine passed through, they could even see some upper-year students battling.
"Holy shit! Four soul rings!"
"That has to be a sixth-year student, right? Wait, why are there even five rings...?"
The Class Nine students cried out in shock, their eyes thoroughly opened.
At ordinary academies, someone with four soul rings could already be considered an outstanding graduate. Here, they were everywhere.
Jiang Yi's attention was focused elsewhere. Beside every match, there were people gathered around to set up betting pools.
This was also a good place to make quick money.
After Xiao Lan advanced to the thousand-year level, with Wind Thunder Extreme Speed, no one below four rings should be able to defeat him.
Just as he was secretly planning ways to make money, Class Nine arrived at the training ground Mu Jin had reserved in advance.
"Combat training, two people per group! Those whose names are called, step forward yourselves..."
Mu Jin looked over the roster in his hand and read out the groups that had already been assigned.
The freshman Class Nine had a total of ninety-three students. In pairs, that made forty-six groups, leaving one person alone.
Mu Jin's gaze fell on Jiang Yi.
"Jiang Yi, you'll be a group by yourself."
There were support-type Soul Masters in the class, so two-person battles were the most suitable. Jiang Yi could control Soul Beasts, so being alone would not be much of a problem.
"Yes!"
Jiang Yi nodded slightly.
Seeing him nod, a faint smile suddenly curled onto Mu Jin's lips.
"Good, then the first match begins! Ning Tian and Wu Feng versus Jiang Yi. Both sides, take your positions!"
Dare to be late?
It was time to properly temper this brat's attitude.
"Hahaha!"
Over on the other side, Ning Tian and Wu Feng were both stunned when their names were called, but Wu Feng quickly planted her hands on her hips and burst into laughter.
"Miss, let's go!"
Wu Feng cracked her knuckles and looked at Jiang Yi with a vicious grin.
She had finally found an opportunity. As long as she could crush Jiang Yi and ruthlessly humiliate him underfoot—
Once Ning Tian saw how pathetic he was, with her pride, she would definitely never consider this brat again.
I will protect the miss's happiness!
"Don't underestimate him!"
Ning Tian warned softly.
Earlier, she had spent a little money to obtain information on all the new students from the teachers.
Jiang Yi's second soul ring was already a thousand-year one. Compared to her, he merely lacked one hundred-year soul ring.
The difference between a thousand-year ring and a hundred-year ring was an entire tier.
"Don't worry, Miss. We won't lose. Leave it to me!"
Wu Feng confidently patted her chest.
Ning Tian nodded slightly. She was also extremely confident. The two had been together since childhood, and their understanding and cooperation were beyond reproach.
Soon, both sides took their positions.
The new students below watched the three of them and began discussing among themselves.
"Damn, they're starting with an ace matchup!"
"But there's no suspense, right? It's two against one, and the other side even has a Soul Elder."
"That's true... but are the boys of Class Nine going to get suppressed by two women? No way! Jiang Yi, show some backbone—"
Most people favored Ning Tian's team, but for some reason, the atmosphere on the field gradually became a contest between the boys and girls.
Clearly, although most of the boys did not dare openly oppose Ning Tian, their female class monitor, due to her strength, they were certainly still a little unconvinced in their hearts.
"Ning Tian! Wu Feng! Go!"
The girls, unwilling to be outdone, put their hands on their hips. Their cheers filled the air, no weaker than the boys' side.
Nanmen Yun'er, hidden among the girls, blinked as she watched Jiang Yi on the stage, unconsciously biting her fingertip.
"D-Do I need to cheer too?"
Mu Jin watched the students' emotions ignite. Rather than stop them, he revealed a faint smile.
This could also be considered healthy competition.
If they were unconvinced, then let their fists do the talking.
"The match begins!"
Mu Jin announced loudly before stepping aside to watch.
On the field, both sides occupied one end, observing each other's movements without rashly attacking.
"Feng Mei!"
Ning Tian called out sharply.
No further words were needed. With just a glance, Wu Feng understood and suddenly charged forward.
To catch thieves, first catch their leader!!!
They had the advantage in intelligence. Jiang Yi's Martial Soul controlled Soul Beasts, so his body itself had to be relatively fragile.
As long as she got close to him, even if Jiang Yi's Soul Power was higher than hers, he could not possibly be her match!
Roar—!
While sprinting at high speed, Wu Feng let out a low growl. Fine crimson dragon scales spread down from the left side of her cheek, extending over her shoulder to cover her entire left arm.
Two yellow soul rings rose beneath her feet, and an intense scorching aura instantly filled more than half the arena.
A fire-attribute Martial Soul, the Red Dragon!
After Martial Soul Possession, her fiery figure became even more slender. Her school uniform tore apart, revealing the fitted leather outfit beneath.
"Seven Treasures turn, glazed light appears."
Ning Tian made her move as well.
She spun in place once, and dazzling seven-colored light erupted from her body, condensing into an exquisite, crystalline seven-colored pagoda in her palm.
Two yellow and one purple!
Three soul rings rose from Ning Tian's palm, rhythmically circling the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in her hand. Treasure light flowed, shrouding her whole body in a sacred halo.
"The Seven Treasures are named: first, speed!"
"The Seven Treasures are named: third, strength!"
Ning Tian rapidly chanted the incantation. One yellow and one purple soul ring flashed simultaneously. Two streaks of light shot out like meteors and entered Wu Feng's body.
In an instant, Wu Feng felt her body lighten, and her speed suddenly soared. In a flicker, she had already arrived before Jiang Yi.
"Scared stupid?"
Wu Feng looked at Jiang Yi, who still had not summoned his Martial Soul. Fury surged within her, and flames seemed to rise in her eyes.
What a useless piece of trash!
With that cowardly look... how could he possibly be worthy of the miss!!!
"Take my punch!"
Wu Feng gave a sharp cry. Her first soul ring flashed, and a thick layer of red flame ignited around her fist.
However, the next moment—
A massive Azure Shadow suddenly emerged behind Jiang Yi. It was a pair of wings vast enough to blot out the sky.
"Shriek—!!!"
A cry sharp enough to pierce gold and shatter stone rang throughout the arena.
A fierce, violent aura surged out like a tide, forcing the students in the front row to subconsciously take a step back.
"A thousand-year Soul Beast!!!"
The entire crowd cried out in shock, their eyes fixed on the azure figure slowly spreading its wings behind Jiang Yi.
It was a massive azure bird with a wingspan of six or seven meters. Crouching behind Jiang Yi, it resembled an azure guardian deity.
"T-Two thousand-year soul rings?!"
In the distance, Ning Tian's pupils constricted slightly as she stared at the two purple soul rings around Jiang Yi. The calmness had finally vanished from her face.
This information was wrong, wasn't it?
"I truly didn't expect this."
Mu Jin stood at the edge of the field. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, but there was even more delight.
He had merely intended to teach Jiang Yi a lesson. He had not expected this brat to really be hiding something.
"Go!"
Amid everyone's shock, Jiang Yi lightly waved his hand. The next moment, the Storm Thunder Eagle transformed into an Azure Shadow and shot forward.
"Looks like you aren't useless after all!"
Wu Feng's fighting spirit surged. She retracted some of her disdain as her second soul ring flashed, and her entire left arm transformed into a crimson dragon claw.
Second soul skill, Dragon's Fury!
But just as she prepared for an intense battle, she suddenly sensed that something was wrong.
That bird had flown right past her, its target directly behind her.
"Not good! Miss!"
Wu Feng was horrified and abruptly turned around.
But it was already too late. The Storm Thunder Eagle's speed far exceeded her imagination.
The azure figure cut through the sky like lightning. The instant its wings folded, its speed suddenly doubled again.
"..."
Ning Tian watched the Azure Shadow dive down from the sky and bit her lip, but she did not surrender.
Feng Mei had not lost yet. She could not become the weak point.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda spun in her palm as light burst forth. Two halos simultaneously settled around her body, accelerating and strengthening her.
But she was a support-type Soul Master. Even with two buffs, how could she possibly outrun a thousand-year flying Soul Beast?
There was no surprise.
The Storm Thunder Eagle precisely seized Ning Tian by both shoulders, its blue-brown talons glinting coldly beneath the sunlight.
"Crackle—"
The next moment, golden arcs of electricity sprang from its claws and spread from Ning Tian's shoulders across her entire body.
"Ahhh—!!!"
Ning Tian's body suddenly stiffened as she let out an uncontrollable moan, her voice trembling.
"Miss!!"
Hearing Ning Tian's voice, Wu Feng's heart ached terribly, and her eyes instantly reddened.
She suddenly turned back, her crimson eyes fixed on Jiang Yi as flames nearly burst forth from her gaze.
"You bastard—"
She roared and swung her dragonized left arm down at Jiang Yi's head.
"If you've got guts, come at me! Don't shock the miss—shock me!!!"
Before you continue