The Dragon God Douluo, who had usually stayed cooped up in Shrek Academy and had almost no public outings on record, suddenly appeared in Star Luo City with two young people. Even if they looked like they were simply there sightseeing, that was enough to draw Xu Jiawei's attention.
Despite the Star Crown clan's dwindling number of capable successors, Xu Jiawei had managed to remain firmly seated on the Star Luo Empire's throne and lead the empire's development at a pace that surpassed Heaven Dou Empire and Dou Ling Empire. This was due not only to his own abilities, but also to another power granted to him by his Star Crown Martial Soul.
An infallible eye for judging people.
With this ability, Xu Jiawei had thoroughly selected talent from the limited pool available to him—a pool narrowed by unfavorable factors such as Shrek Academy and the White Tiger Duke Mansion—and maintained the Star Luo Empire's comparatively more enterprising rule.
And once Xu Jiawei realized that the Dragon God Douluo had brought two young people to Star Luo City for a sightseeing trip, he quickly turned his attention to You Jie.
Zhang Lexuan's strength and standing within Shrek Academy were beyond question. By comparison, You Jie seemed rather ordinary.
His strange summoning-type Twin Martial Souls, along with an ability that could apparently summon a beast on the level of a Soul Douluo, might have made him an outstanding genius in other factions. But at Shrek Academy, that hardly seemed enough to earn him such preferential treatment—to travel with the Dragon God Douluo and the inner court's eldest sister.
Besides, he was apparently in a relationship with Zhang Lexuan. That wasn't something he could manage just by being a direct descendant of the Dragon God Douluo.
So, taking advantage of this top-tier auction, Xu Jiawei decided he would get a closer look at what kind of person You Jie was, and what impact he might have on the Star Luo Empire in the future.
In Xu Jiawei's eyes, Xuan Zi brought nothing but endless trouble, while Yan Shaozhe was a selfish, hypocritical, double-standard jackass to the extreme. Once the Dragon God Douluo passed away, if they really took power, Shrek Academy would most likely become a scourge upon the continent that didn't even bother pretending otherwise.
There was nothing Xu Jiawei could do but prepare as best he could. Winning over promising members of the younger generation in advance was naturally one way to do that.
However, when he formally used his infallible eye for judging people to look at You Jie, a storm immediately surged through Xu Jiawei's heart. If he hadn't been so thoroughly trained in the ways of an emperor, and learned not to let his emotions show so easily, he would probably have lost his composure on the spot.
Dragons—so many dragons. At the front was a Red Dragon, utterly unlike most Dragon Soul Beasts in appearance. Behind it followed giant dragons of all different shapes and colors. Then, amid a dazzling burst of light, they transformed into silver-white dragons—more powerful, more beautiful, and more imposing.
"Link those different dragons together, and turn them into a brand-new dragon to open up a brand-new path...
"Interesting. I never thought that, after Shrek Academy had produced two scourges, another such hero could appear.
"Perhaps this person can make some of the wishes I never dared to entertain come true...
"What a shame. With someone of his temperament, trying to win him over directly and crudely through a political marriage would probably only make him resent me.
"Then I'll have to take it slowly."
Noticing You Jie and Zhang Lexuan's fingers entwined, and the natural ease between them, Xu Jiawei abandoned some ill-conceived notions. Instead, he spoke calmly with Mu En, You Jie, and Zhang Lexuan.
Their conversation was nothing special, consisting of the usual social pleasantries. Yet, to You Jie's surprise, he sensed a kind of "sincerity" in Xu Jiawei's words that had no business appearing in a situation like this.
Even after You Jie and the others parted ways with Xu Jiawei and left Starlight Auction House for the Star Emperor Hotel, he still found it a little strange.
Xu Jiawei wasn't some incompetent ruler, so why would he...
"Because he wants to win you over, but doesn't want to make you uncomfortable, so he changed his approach."
Mu En explained calmly. Even though You Jie hadn't said anything, he knew what had puzzled him.
"True. If he'd dared to bring up a political marriage—a move more suited to political creatures—in front of Sister Lexuan, I might have gotten angry and done something irrational."
As You Jie answered, he raised his opinion of Xu Jiawei a little in his mind.
He didn't know how Xu Jiawei had managed it, but winning people's hearts with sincerity really was the easiest way to bring them together.
When the gathered stars become one, new bonds will light the way ahead.
"All right, you two should get some proper rest. We'll return to the academy tomorrow."
Mu En clapped his hands lightly, sending the two of them back to their rooms to rest.
Though the room's furnishings were still rather suggestive, neither You Jie nor Zhang Lexuan felt like staying up all night fighting.
After returning to the academy, Mu En didn't immediately have You Jie use Life Gold on him. Instead, he first went into seclusion in the Sea God Pavilion for a while to adjust his own physical condition.
You Jie, meanwhile, returned to the outer court and continued his academy life for the time being.
Before long, the true battle of life and death finally arrived for Shrek Academy's first-years.
It was the Freshman Assessment, held three months after the start of the school year.
Although Wang Yan had done his best to lighten the mood from the lectern, anyone with eyes could see that of the nearly one thousand first-year students, only four hundred and fifty would be allowed to stay. Even accounting for students who had been guaranteed a place in the Soul Tool Department and those who were unlucky enough to be expelled, the Freshman Assessment still had an elimination rate of over fifty percent.
As a result, all the freshmen in Class Seven were fired up, ready to give it their all in the Freshman Assessment.
After assigning the students who had been guaranteed places in the Soul Tool Department, Wang Yan immediately began arranging the teams.
"Team One: You Jie, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo!"
You Jie felt a little surprised by Wang Yan's arrangement, but he accepted it quickly enough.
It seemed Wang Yan had chosen the two of them as teammates for the championship team based on the characteristics of You Jie's Martial Soul.
You Jie looked toward the twin sisters. They turned to look at him too, and the three exchanged nods.
After class, Wang Yan made a point of keeping You Jie and the Lan Sisters behind.
"Teacher, we're the championship team for Class Seven, right?" You Jie asked bluntly.
"That's right. You're strong enough to make it into the final sixty-four, so your opponents won't be ordinary classmates. They'll be the championship teams from the other classes.
"Although I don't know what the other teachers have planned, I can make some educated guesses based on the information gathered when the freshmen enrolled.
"During the Freshman Assessment, I'll gather more detailed intelligence on the championship teams from the other classes. Your job is to work well together and win every match.
"If you take the championship in the end, I'll prepare a reward for you too."
Wang Yan spoke with a smile, his manner especially gentle.
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