Xiao Yan Arrives Late

Shrek Academy, Freshman Assessment, District 33.

Because Teacher Zhou Yi had been temporarily relieved of her duties, students from Class One and Class Nine were currently being led by Teacher Mu Jin. After three months of studying together, the students of the two classes could be considered as close as family.

At least, that was what most of the students believed.

At this moment, Teacher Mu Jin led the team that had drawn their lot for the day to the area beneath the competition stage, preparing to take the stage for their match according to the broadcast announcements.

"Damn it, what is wrong with that bastard Xiao Yan?"

Wu Feng looked at their leaderless team and cursed under her breath.

"I heard from his roommate that the class monitor went out to hunt for a soul beast. He wanted to obtain his second soul ring before the freshman assessment, but... it's been a week since he left, hasn't it? Could something have happened to him?"

Ning Tian spread her hands, looking somewhat helpless.

"It's infuriating! He values his status as a Core Disciple so much, yet now he doesn't even show up for the freshman assessment!"

"What are we supposed to do, facing three people all by ourselves?"

Wu Feng complained incessantly. During yesterday's match, Xiao Yan had been absent without cause, and since neither of them wanted to be eliminated and expelled, they had been forced to fight two against three.

Fortunately, Ning Tian was already a Soul Elder, and with the support of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, Wu Feng had barely managed to narrowly defeat the three opponents.

Ning Tian kept her hands at her sides and remained silent. In truth, given her upbringing, the fact that she hadn't stopped Wu Feng from complaining already indicated that she, too, was harboring a great deal of dissatisfaction.

"Has Xiao Yan from your group still not returned? Alright, I understand. I'll move your match further down the order so you can prepare as much as possible."

Mu Jin walked over, looked at the two girls who seemed out of place with their surroundings, and then helplessly rubbed her forehead.

"Thank you, Teacher. Is everything alright over at Class One?"

Ning Tian flashed a smile to show her gratitude. Mu Jin shook her head and said:

"It's fine. Although they've had some minor ripples, it's ultimately easier to handle."

"But even if Xiao Yan isn't coming to compete, he should at least have said something. To just leave for a soul hunt without a word—if something were to happen..."

Meanwhile, the spectator area was also in chaos.

Xiao Yulü stood on the stands, desperately scratching at the hand locked around his throat. The owner of that hand was none other than his teammate—Xiong Hui.

"Let go!"

"No way! The class monitor instructed me that if he didn't return, I had to keep an eye on you and not let you cause trouble! If you rush out now, your qualification for the assessment will be gone immediately!"

Xiong Hui stiffened his neck, his hand tightening even further around Xiao Yulü's throat.

"I'm being choked to death, damn it! Let go!"

"Huh? Oh!"

Xiong Hui finally released his grip in a daze, but the moment he did, Xiao Yulü prepared to vault over the stands, forcing Xiong Hui to quickly grab him back.

"Brother Xiao, you can't leave! If you leave and the class monitor comes to settle accounts with me, what am I supposed to do?"

"I don't care what you do! My brother's life or death is unknown right now, and I have to go find him!"

"The class monitor won't have any issues, Brother Xiao, don't be so anxious. Is it really that easy for someone who can challenge our entire class to fall to a few soul beasts?"

However, hearing this only made Xiao Yulü more anxious.

"You don't know anything! You have no idea how dangerous the Sunset Forest is. The world doesn't just have the Star Dou Forest, and there are places with kings of soul beasts far beyond just the core regions!"

"Besides, with Xiao Yan's personality, once he knew that guy existed, how could he possibly just let it go!?"

What Xiao Yulü was referring to was the Golden Blazing Lion King, but that creature was far too shocking; even Xiao Yulü didn't want to leak information about it.

After all, that was the bloodline of the ferocious Golden Lion Mastiff.

District 33 Competition Stage.

The referee opened the roster and announced loudly:

"Next match, Freshman Class Nine's Ning Tian team versus Freshman Class Three's Zhang Yang team. Both sides, please take the stage."

Even though Teacher Mu Jin had intervened to push Ning Tian and Wu Feng further down the order, it was now their turn.

There was no more room to delay.

Ning Tian stood up, straightened her collar, and walked toward the stage. Wu Feng gritted her teeth and followed.

At the other end of the stage, three boys walked over swaggeringly. The leader was named Zhang Yang, and he was tall and lanky. Seeing that there were only two people on the other side, he laughed exaggeratedly.

"Yo, isn't this the ace team from Class Nine? How come it's just you two delicate young ladies left?"

Zhang Yang crossed his arms, his eyes sweeping over Ning Tian and Wu Feng as he chuckled:

"Where is that arrogant-beyond-measure captain of yours, Xiao Yan? I heard he even dared to talk back to Teacher Zhou Yi and challenged an entire class by himself. I thought he was some big shot. How come when it's time for the real deal, he's turned into a coward?"

Wu Feng had a fiery temper; how could she listen to this? The phantom of a Red Dragon flickered behind her, and the temperature in the air rose sharply:

"Watch your mouth! You three pieces of trash—the Young Mistress and I are more than enough to handle you!"

"Big talk."

Zhang Yang stepped forward, lowered his voice, and spoke in a mocking tone:

"Ning Tian, I suggest you just forfeit. That way, you won't get hurt when we start fighting."

"After all, we brothers don't know the first thing about being gentle with the fair sex."

Ning Tian remained expressionless, though a hint of disgust flickered across his features.

"Such a foul mouth, such a foul mouth—Young Master, I can't stand it! Can we start now?"

Wu Feng covered her nose, feigning a retching motion, and Ning Tian turned to look at the referee.

"If you do not intend to concede, then please proceed."

The referee raised a hand, signaling for both sides to begin the match.

"Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Brothers, summon your Martial Souls and show them what we're made of."

Six soul rings lit up as Zhang Yang and his two companions each released their Martial Souls; all of them were two-ring Soul Grand Masters. Three distinct waves of soul power intertwined, surging directly toward Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

Wu Feng did not yield in the slightest. With her Red Dragon possessing her, a scorching current of air began to radiate from her center.

Two against three—the situation was extremely disadvantageous for them, yet she did not retreat even half a step.

So what if there are no other teammates? I alone shall protect Princess Ning Tian from any harm! Let my Blazing Fire incinerate those who dare to lay a finger on the Young Master!

Tensions were high, ready to snap at any moment!

Just then, a gale of wind whipped up without warning. The trees surrounding the arena shook violently, their leaves rustling in a chaotic frenzy.

Zhang Yang's Martial Soul was a Wind Wolf. At this moment, the phantom of the Wind Wolf began to tremble uncontrollably, whimpering as it tried to shrink back into his body.

He stood stunned, desperately pushing his soul power, only to find that his Martial Soul was acting as if it had encountered a natural predator, refusing to obey his commands.

Every student present with a beast-type Martial Soul felt their own soul trembling beyond their control.

It was a fear rooted in their very bloodlines, an irresistible instinct felt by the lowly when facing an absolute ruler.

Mu Jin stood up abruptly, scanning her surroundings.

In the distant sky, a black dot appeared.

The dot magnified at an incredible speed, accompanied by a dull, piercing whistle through the air. A giant beast of exaggerated proportions was leaping down from the outer wall of Shrek Academy in a barbaric display, heading straight for the District 33 arena.

"Scatter!" the referee roared, his figure retreating rapidly.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng reacted with lightning speed, quickly pulling back to the edge of the arena. Zhang Yang and his two companions, however, were paralyzed by the sudden turn of events; their legs went weak, and they remained rooted to the spot.

BOOM!

The granite arena instantly collapsed into a deep crater. Stone slabs shattered into pieces, and countless shards flew outward with violent force. Dust rose thirty feet high, obscuring everyone's vision.

A shockwave cleared the air. Zhang Yang and his two companions were sent flying, crashing heavily against the edge of the arena, dazed and battered.

As the dust settled.

A male lion, over five meters in length and wreathed in golden flames, appeared in everyone's field of vision.

Its gilded mane, burning like a raging fire, shimmered in the sunlight. Its limbs were as thick as pillars, and its sharp claws were embedded deep into the stone floor.

The Golden-Haired Blazing Lion King!

It swept its gaze around casually, a low growl rumbling in its throat.

That single sound sent several timid students in the front row tumbling to the ground. As for Zhang Yang and his two companions, they were deathly pale, scrambling and crawling off the arena in a panic.

"Help! There's a soul beast!"

"A... a ten-thousand-year soul beast?!"

The referee stammered, his hand already reaching for the signal flare at his waist, preparing to summon the academy's upper echelons.

Within Shrek Academy, a soul beast of this caliber should never have appeared.

Just as everyone braced themselves for a life-or-death battle, a lazy voice drifted down from the lion king's broad back.

"Don't be nervous, we're on the same side."

Everyone followed the sound.

Sitting on the back of that majestic lion king was a person.

Xiao Yan was wearing a slightly tattered school uniform that hadn't been washed in days. His hair was a mess, and he was holding half a bitten apple in his hand.

He patted the lion king on the head, and the beast obediently lowered itself, allowing him to hop down.

"Sorry, am I late?"

The youth looked at the crowd, the corners of his mouth curling upward.