Eve of the Freshman Assessment

Before he knew it, three months had passed. Perhaps because he had avoided the incident at Seagod Lake, no other unexpected developments had occurred on Huo Yuhao's side.

During this time, Tang Ya and Beibei often came to bond with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, the two new members of the Tang Sect, while also assessing how well they had mastered the Tang Sect's secret techniques.

Every time, Huo Yuhao gave them a different kind of pleasant surprise. What they did not know was that these so-called surprises were already the result of Huo Yuhao suppressing himself as much as possible.

After three months of nurturing by Soul Power and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual Power, the originally narrow and clogged meridians within Huo Yuhao's body had been completely cleared and stabilized. His cultivation speed had increased tremendously from its previous foundation.

Moreover, thanks to the improvement in Huo Yuhao's physical condition and the newly reinforced foundation of his nurtured meridians, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had begun, under Huo Yuhao's instructions, to open up those tiny meridians that had not been incorporated into the Soul Power circulation route of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Using the Eye of Truth to observe how other Soul Masters circulated their Soul Power, Huo Yuhao gradually pieced together and filled in the methods for using Soul Power to strike through and clear all sorts of miscellaneous meridians.

Although Douluo Continent had no systematic meridian circulation method apart from the Mysterious Heaven Skill, every school had its own approach. Even if they were all unorthodox methods, gathering bits and pieces from each was enough to make something workable.

With the assistance of the Soul Power Convergence Array and Soul Power Conversion Array, and as he gradually gained control over and opened those minute meridians, Huo Yuhao discovered that the density of his Soul Power had undergone a world-shaking change compared to Soul Power cultivated through the Mysterious Heaven Skill alone.

This should be what the first Douluo Continent called opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and materializing Soul Power. But this change actually comes from Soul Power circulation throughout the entire body finally becoming connected and condensed, forming a complete cycle.

Strictly speaking, it can only be considered gaseous Soul Power released externally, not true materialization. This can be regarded as completing the first step toward condensing a Soul Core later on.

However, an ordinary Soul Master's Spiritual Power at this stage simply cannot support such comprehensive circulation.

The original version of the Mysterious Heaven Skill must have merely taken a shortcut, using the Eight Extraordinary Meridians as the main trunk to connect the entire body, gradually inducing a qualitative change in one's Soul Power and completing the first step of releasing it in gaseous form.

The version of the Mysterious Heaven Skill currently possessed by the Tang Sect has completely lost this effect. It can only accelerate Soul Power circulation, with none of the later steps remaining. No wonder the Tang Sect has declined to this point.

Though I can now reverse-engineer the complete Mysterious Heaven Skill, there is no need for it anymore. After all, what I cultivate now is stronger than the original Mysterious Heaven Skill. Tang San did not have such immense Spiritual Power assisting him at this realm.

With my current cultivation method, even ordinary Soul Masters at the Soul Sage realm would likely struggle to achieve such detailed and profound Soul Power circulation.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm can accomplish this without expending much Spiritual Power only because he has taken a shortcut.

At this rate, I will soon open all the meridians in my body. Even those insignificant, branching meridians will soon be opened.

Once all the meridians throughout my body are linked as one, my Soul Power should be far stronger than that produced by the so-called orthodox Mysterious Heaven Skill.

In the terms of wuxia novels, the Mysterious Heaven Skill opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians should be the phenomenon of all meridians connecting, a Minor Circulation. Opening every meridian throughout my body and merging them into a single whole is the realm of Greater Circulation.

But I am not cultivating immortality in some xianxia world. There is no need to scrutinize the effects of this cultivation system too closely. As long as it can accelerate my cultivation speed, that is enough.

After these three months, even without the Profound Water Pill and Soul Ascension Pill from the original work to supplement him, Huo Yuhao's cultivation had reached Level Seventeen, close to Level Eighteen.

Although Huo Yuhao's cultivation was now slightly inferior to that of the original work, his actual cultivation speed was far faster than the original host's at the same time. After all, he had not taken any pills.

Raising his Soul Power by five levels in three months, everyone merely assumed that Huo Yuhao's physique was particularly suited to the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill, compounded by the fact that his Soul Power Level had been low to begin with. After all, the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill was famous for its cultivation speed.

Achieving this much at the Soul Master level was still fairly normal. Level Seventeen Soul Power had also barely reached the minimum standard of most Shrek Academy students, so he would not stand out too much among the others.

"Today's physical training class is suspended." Zhou Yi looked expressionlessly at the fifty-five students seated before her. Without Huo Yuhao's influence, there were more than a dozen fewer students remaining compared to the original work.

The number fifty-five had also been deliberately preserved by Zhou Yi, ensuring that they could form three-person assessment combat teams. The one student left on his own was someone she favored, who had joined the Soul Engineering Department.

"Three months have already passed. Shrek Academy's first assessment for you is about to begin. Only by passing this assessment can you officially become first-year students and members of Shrek Academy."

"If you pass this assessment, then barring any surprises, you will be able to remain in the academy and continue studying until the first-year graduation examination."

"The assessment begins tomorrow. Today, I will focus on explaining its key points to you."

"Wang Dong, hand these out." Zhou Yi handed a stack of papers to Wang Dong, who swiftly distributed them among everyone present.

Everyone was feeling somewhat nervous now. Most of them already knew what Zhou Yi was about to say.

"Once the Freshman Assessment is over, you will be taught according to your aptitudes. Write down your future cultivation direction and hand it to me later."

Huo Yuhao did not hesitate. He directly wrote down Agility Assault Type, determined to be a nobody at Shrek Academy and avoid drawing attention.

Wang Dong, beside him, secretly poked him, but Huo Yuhao ignored her.

Zhou Yi then began to explain in detail the various matters regarding the Freshman Assessment, including the team formation rules, the standards for passing, and finally the grouping of Martial Soul classifications.

As expected, Zhou Yi used her special admission quota as the freshman class's homeroom teacher to send one student to the Soul Engineering Department.

Looking at that unlucky child still cheering happily in place, Huo Yuhao secretly shook his head. But it made sense. Aside from coming to Shrek Academy, people from the three great empires had no way to join the Sun Moon Empire to study Soul Tools.

And within the original Douluo Continent, while Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department was not particularly impressive, it was still much better than the private academies in the other three great empires.

Only then did Zhou Yi continue assigning the students into groups.

"Group One: Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao."

"Group Two: ..."

The group assignments were quickly completed. Over these three months, Huo Yuhao had also learned quite a bit about some of his classmates, especially the composition of their Martial Souls and Soul Skills.

As someone with a certain degree of fame in the original work, Xiao Xiao had naturally received his special attention.

However, unlike in the original work, Xiao Xiao had not yet added a Soul Ring to her second Martial Soul when she first enrolled. It was only Zhou Yi's brutal training, and her desire to avoid elimination, that had made her waver.

Huo Yuhao had even offered her a few extra words of advice and warning. In his eyes, Xiao Xiao's advantage as a Twin Martial Souls wielder could not be wasted. Unlike cheats like Huo Yuhao, who had acquired Twin Martial Souls and could even possess three Martial Souls, innate Twin Martial Souls held extraordinary significance for ordinary Soul Masters.

They could also give their possessors advantages far beyond those of their peers, and should not be squandered like this. Besides, Xiao Xiao herself was worth recruiting.

Upon hearing her group assignment, Xiao Xiao turned and smiled at Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao behind her. Yet amusingly, just as in the original work, Xiao Xiao appeared to have been captivated by Wang Dong's appearance.

"Alright, that is all. Go back and take a day to think it over. Report any objections as soon as possible."

"Hand in your cultivation preferences, and class will be dismissed. Do not embarrass me in tomorrow's Freshman Assessment. If anyone gets eliminated, hmph, do not blame me for failing to warn you in advance."

Zhou Yi's icy tone was especially frightening in everyone's ears.

"Alright, class dismissed. Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao, the three of you stay behind."

After looking over the three of their cultivation preferences, Zhou Yi's eyes shifted slightly. Then she said, "Wang Dong, explain to me what you mean by Agility Assault Type."

"Aren't the first two Soul Rings of your Martial Soul both assault-type Soul Rings? Other than that pair of wings, what about you resembles an agility assault type?"

Then, after seeing Huo Yuhao's cultivation preference, realization appeared in Zhou Yi's eyes. "No wonder. Huo Yuhao, you want to enter the Agility Assault Type too?"

Huo Yuhao nodded. "My first Soul Skill mainly enhances myself, and I do not have powerful assault or support abilities. Combined with the Tang Sect's methods, I believe the Agility Assault Type suits me better."

Zhou Yi's expression changed slightly. After all, she planned to become the homeroom teacher of Class One in the second year. Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao were both promising talents in her eyes, tied to her teaching record. How could she simply let them go?

As for Xiao Xiao's Control Type preference, it was not something worth worrying about at this point.

Thus, Zhou Yi said, "Enough. Wang Dong, change yours back immediately. Why would a perfectly good Assault Type Soul Master go to the Agility Assault Type?"

"As for you, Huo Yuhao, I suggest you consider this more carefully. As a spiritual-type Martial Soul, your Martial Soul is inherently poor at strengthening your body."

"Even if you cultivate the Tang Sect's secret arts, your disadvantage will become increasingly obvious the further you travel along the Soul Master path. You might as well learn about the principles of Control Type Soul Masters. Like our ancestor, Seagod Tang San, being a versatile all-rounder is not bad, is it?"

"Mm, alright, Teacher. I agree." Though he wanted to refuse, Huo Yuhao saw the golden Rune emerge within Wang Dong's Spiritual Sea.

Huo Yuhao ultimately held himself back. So Tang San just wants me to have more contact with his precious daughter? Fine, I'll have contact with her. But I, Huo Yuhao, will remember this grudge.

"Alright, let me continue." Satisfaction flashed through Zhou Yi's eyes before she continued. "Though this Freshman Assessment is merely your first assessment in the academy."

"It is extremely important for your future cultivation paths, and it is also an opportunity for you to make an appearance before the academy's upper ranks."

"Only those who achieve good rankings and perform outstandingly in the Freshman Assessment can enter the academy's cultivation roster. The three I think most highly of are you."

"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao. I have a task for you. Your only goal in this Freshman Assessment is the championship."

"If you fail to bring back the championship, then starting from your second year, you will stay by my side. I will teach you properly." Zhou Yi sneered.

Though he felt extremely speechless, Huo Yuhao could not be bothered to argue. He merely nodded, while the other two hurriedly agreed as well.

I really do not know how Zhou Yi has the nerve to assign such a task. Still, with what I have on hand now, handling this Freshman Assessment should not be a problem. The Soul Bone will be perfect for seeing what a Soul Bone is made of.

"Alright, you three may go back. Adjust yourselves properly."

As they left the classroom, Xiao Xiao hurriedly said to Wang Dong, "Wang Dong, I want to—"

Wang Dong quickly pushed Huo Yuhao beside her and said, "Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao and I are going back first to prepare for tomorrow's matches. Good luck!"

Watching Wang Dong's fleeing figure, Xiao Xiao stomped her foot in irritation.

"What, feeling shy?" Huo Yuhao teased.

"Damn it, did you deliberately not leave because you already knew this would happen?" Wang Dong asked through gritted teeth.

"I also wanted to see whether this young lady disguised as a man joined Shrek Academy as a boy because she was interested in young girls."

"Damn it, stop talking! If you say another word, I'll kill you!" Wang Dong said in embarrassment and anger.

Over the course of their three months together, Wang Dong had learned a few days ago that Huo Yuhao had seen through her identity as a girl. Naturally, Huo Yuhao did not hide anything from her.

Though she was embarrassed and angry, Wang Dong did not immediately move out. Otherwise, who knew what gossip the other students would spread.

And personally, Wang Dong did not really want to move out either. During these three months, she had become increasingly interested in Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao always seemed as though he had everything under control. Even though he was usually lazy and carefree, often just reading a huge pile of books instead of cultivating much.

Yet at crucial moments, he could always suppress everyone else and stun the crowd with his abilities. This had made Wang Dong curious about him.

After all, Huo Yuhao had discovered her greatest "secret," yet her understanding of Huo Yuhao seemed to have always remained on the surface.

"So how exactly did you discover my identity?" Wang Dong asked curiously.

"Read more books, read more newspapers. There is a boring book in the Outer Academy library, Mainland's Hundred Most Beautiful Martial Souls. On page thirteen: Light Goddess Butterfly, praised as the most beautiful butterfly Martial Soul on the mainland."

"Though the book's contents are somewhat ridiculous, all the Soul Masters representing the Light Goddess Butterfly mentioned in it are women. Combined with how you usually behave, it was enough to deduce it."