The Freshman Assessment semifinals were about to begin. The matches were supposed to start as soon as the draw was over, but Zhang Lexuan's heavy-handed influence had changed the schedule. The matches had only been pushed back by half a day, to accommodate Shrek Academy's tradition of holding both the semifinals and the finals on the same day.
After talking with Ning Tian, You Jie simply headed to the Assessment Zone with her and Wu Feng. They could chat a little more along the way about Soul Tools.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had quite a few Soul Engineers who researched and made Soul Tools. You Jie couldn't trust them the way he trusted Qian Duoduo, or share his odd ideas with them and ask them to help bring those ideas to life. But if they had questions about technology Qian Duoduo had already sold them, You Jie didn't mind answering.
Besides, Ning Tian was very eager to become a Soul Engineer. She only wanted to learn how to use Soul Tools to protect herself, though. She had no interest in joining the Soul Tool Department and starting with blacksmithing.
What's more, she would most likely become a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department, which meant she couldn't go to the Soul Tool Department and ask its teachers about using Soul Tools. So she could only turn to You Jie for answers.
You Jie was exceptionally patient about it. Of course, that was also because Ning Tian was earnest about learning and quick-witted. Unlike some classic Martial Soul Department students, she wasn't shackled by absurd misconceptions that led them to spout all kinds of ridiculous nonsense.
"That's strange. Feng is usually so wary of men, but she never seems to look at you that way..."
After the three of them reached the Assessment Zone, they chatted for a while longer. Just as they were about to split up and warm up, Ning Tian suddenly made the remark, catching both You Jie and Wu Feng off guard.
You Jie recovered first and explained to Ning Tian and the somewhat flustered Wu Feng, "It's probably because of our Martial Souls. My Second Martial Soul can also summon a Red Dragon with the power of fire, so it's similar to Wu Feng's."
"Is that so? I don't think that's the whole story..."
Ning Tian chuckled softly, but her smile seemed a little mischievous, completely unlike the impression You Jie had of her.
"All right, stop tormenting your little sidekick. Or are you trying to vent your frustration with your own gender?"
You Jie helplessly called out Ning Tian's hidden intentions, then went to meet Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, who had just arrived at the Assessment Zone. They were going to do their final warm-up before the match.
Meanwhile, Ning Tian and Wu Feng's final teammate, Nanmen Yun'er, had arrived. Seeing the strange expressions on Ning Tian and Wu Feng's faces, she was at a loss for a moment.
Though she came from a minor noble family, she could tell that Ning Tian and Wu Feng's relationship was anything but ordinary. But after learning about Ning Tian's background, she didn't dwell on it.
The relationship between a young lord and her companion was common among great nobles. Though the Nanmen family was only a minor noble family, they still had some experience with such things.
Just as You Jie and the others had finished warming up, their opponents for the day—the Dai Huabin team from Freshman Class Five—finally arrived at the Assessment Zone.
The moment Dai Huabin saw You Jie, who had just finished warming up, his usually stern expression darkened even further.
He knew very well that You Jie was the most dangerous opponent in the Freshman Assessment.
According to information sent by his elder brother, who had already entered the inner courtyard, when You Jie had just become a Soul Elder, the creatures summoned by his Martial Soul could already defeat Soul Ancestors.
Now, You Jie's Soul Power had reached level thirty-eight. In a one-on-one fight, unless they started very close to each other, Dai Huabin had to admit he had no chance of beating him.
But this semifinal was a three-on-three match. At his side stood Cui Yajie, a Soul Grandmaster from the Spiritual Control System, and his fiancée Zhu Lu, with whom he could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
With the Dai and Zhu families' invincible, generation-spanning Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Hell White Tiger, Dai Huabin was confident he could defeat You Jie.
As for what he'd eat that afternoon after using the Martial Soul Fusion Skill in the morning—no, what he'd use—Dai Huabin didn't need to think about that.
In Dai Huabin's eyes, neither Ning Tian's team nor Wang Dong's team was worth mentioning. He could defeat them easily without using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
So Dai Huabin felt no reservations about using their precious Martial Soul Fusion Skill directly against You Jie.
After a while, more teachers arrived. Zhang Lexuan, who was hosting the semifinals, and the director of studies, Du Weilun, had also come.
Perhaps to avoid any suspicion, however, Du Weilun—not Zhang Lexuan—was assigned to referee the match between You Jie and Dai Huabin's team.
You Jie paid no attention to such details. He entered the arena with Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, locking eyes with Dai Huabin.
Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, meanwhile, turned their attention to Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie, recalling the tactics You Jie had just laid out.
"Lan Susu, once the match starts, keep Zhu Lu occupied. Don't rush to use your First Soul Skill to control her. Just separate her from the others.
"Lan Luoluo, you're responsible for taking down Cui Yajie, but watch out for the charm skill she probably has.
"As for Dai Huabin and the Martial Soul Fusion Skill he can likely perform with Zhu Lu, leave them to me."
Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo didn't quite understand, but they trusted You Jie and followed his instructions without question.
After both sides exchanged names, Du Weilun announced the start of the match.
The two teams moved in completely different ways as soon as it began.
You Jie and his two teammates released their Martial Souls, then stood motionless as if they were waiting for their opponents to come to them.
Dai Huabin and his teammates released their Martial Souls too, then charged toward You Jie's team.
As they ran, Cui Yajie, the Nine-tailed Fox Soul Master, suddenly looked at You Jie and smiled sweetly. She blew him a kiss and gave him a seductive wink.
At the same time, the First Soul Ring behind her lit up, though faintly. In the bright sunshine, it was easy to miss.
But faced with Cui Yajie's charm Soul Skill, You Jie merely smiled. The next moment, the Speed Warrior appeared in front of him and shot toward Cui Yajie at a sudden burst of speed.
Clearly, that level of charm had no effect on him. Besides, Cui Yajie hadn't fully matured yet, and You Jie wasn't some Quattro Bajeena with a particularly embarrassing last words.
At the same time, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo each used their First Soul Skill, Hair Net, and attacked Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie, leaving Dai Huabin alone.
That made Dai Huabin feel especially annoyed.
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