A few days later, Soul Fighting Zone.
With the finals arriving, the Soul Fighting Zone was noticeably livelier today than it had been in the previous days.
After several days of elimination matches, the atmosphere surrounding the Freshman Assessment had grown increasingly heated.
Now that they had reached the final day, any team able to stand on the finals platform had proven not only its own strength, but also that it had truly entered the sight of the academy's upper ranks.
Around the stands, besides the freshmen who had come to watch, quite a few upperclassmen had gathered as well.
For a time, the place was deafening with voices.
"Dai Huabin's team has this in the bag, right? White Tiger Martial Soul, a three-ring Soul Elder... how could they possibly lose?"
"Not necessarily. Huo Yuhao's team is pretty strange too. Wang Dong's thousand-year second Soul Ring is ridiculously powerful, and Xiao Xiao has Twin Martial Souls."
"It's a pity Huo Yuhao's Soul Power is too low. Otherwise, this team would really be hard to judge."
"Don't underestimate him. In the previous rounds, he actually used Tang Sect Hidden Weapons that hadn't been seen in a long time.
"I heard several contestants were seriously injured by his hidden weapons. If the referees hadn't acted quickly, something terrible might really have happened."
"He only knows how to use underhanded sneak attacks. He definitely can't beat Dai Huabin!"
The discussions continued without end.
At the highest point of the stands, Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo stood side by side.
One looked calm and composed, while the other had excitement he could barely conceal in his eyes.
Qian Duoduo looked down at the Soul Fighting Platform and suddenly chuckled.
"Old Yan, your Martial Soul Department has some interesting ones this time. That kid from the White Tiger Duke Mansion, that pretty child with a thousand-year second Soul Ring, and that little spiritual-type fellow... tsk, it's certainly rare for freshmen to fight to this level."
Yan Shaozhe said blandly, "What? Are you trying to poach people from my Martial Soul Department again?"
"Don't make it sound so ugly." Qian Duoduo waved a hand. "What do you mean, poach? The reasonable flow of outstanding students between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department is for the academy's future.
"Besides, you Martial Soul Department already got Long Yaochen. What's wrong with letting my Soul Tool Department have a little soup?"
Yan Shaozhe glanced at him.
Naturally, he understood the reasoning and did not argue.
After all, even if every freshman in the entire Martial Soul Department were tied together, they still could not be exchanged for a talent like Long Yaochen.
"Speaking of that kid, the real spectacle will have to wait until this afternoon." Qian Duoduo's gaze swept toward the nearby stands.
Long Yaochen was lazily resting a hand on the railing, seemingly lost in thought.
"How about we make a bet? Do you think that kid can win?" Qian Duoduo withdrew his gaze, stroked his chin, and spoke with a wicked grin.
"I bet on him winning," Yan Shaozhe said calmly.
If he did not even have that much confidence, the academy would never have prepared that prize.
"Hey, Yan Grass Chicken. That's no fun. I wanted to bet on him winning too!" Qian Duoduo said at once, displeased.
They were both Title Douluo. How could they not know the gap between Long Yaochen and the others?
"Forget it... since we're betting anyway, if Long Yaochen wins, how about you let me choose a core disciple for the Soul Tool Department from the other team?" Qian Duoduo abruptly changed his tune, speaking as though he were willing to suffer a loss.
"Does that even count as a wager?" Yan Shaozhe gave him a cool look.
He had known the other man was up to no good.
Sure enough, his fox tail had shown itself in the blink of an eye.
"Never mind that. Are you betting or not?" Qian Duoduo looked utterly justified.
Yan Shaozhe chuckled and shook his head. "Consider it a gift."
Just then, Du Weilun stepped onto the chief examiner's platform.
The moment he appeared, the noise throughout the Soul Fighting Zone quickly died down, and everyone's attention focused on him.
Du Weilun swept his gaze around and spoke in a deep voice:
"The Freshman Assessment has proceeded to this point, and the teams able to remain until the end have already proven their strength.
"Today, the final match will take place."
As soon as his words fell, cheers erupted across the Soul Fighting Zone.
Dai Huabin and Zhu Cuiyajie looked somewhat nervous, while Zhu Lu remained cold and proud. When Dai Huabin's gaze landed on Huo Yuhao, it carried a few more traces of contempt.
That little bastard actually made it to the finals against me?
Are Shrek's people all this useless?
On Huo Yuhao's side, despite reaching the finals, the atmosphere had somehow become even worse.
Wang Dong stood to one side of the team with her arms folded, her face expressionless.
Over the past few days, she had come to utterly despise Huo Yuhao.
For the sake of victory, he had even resorted to such despicable methods as hidden weapons, and every attack had been aimed at vital points.
He was simply insane!
Wang Dong did not consider herself someone overflowing with saintly compassion, but seeing the miserable state of the other freshmen still made it difficult for her to accept.
As for Huo Yuhao, he merely lowered his head at that moment, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Du Weilun paused before his voice rang out again. "However, the rules for this year's Freshman Assessment have been slightly adjusted."
The moment those words were spoken, the entire venue fell briefly silent.
Du Weilun continued:
"Today's final winner will become the outstanding team of this Freshman Assessment.
"However, being outstanding does not mean becoming the champion."
After a brief dead silence, the Soul Fighting Zone instantly exploded into uproar.
"What?"
"The outstanding team isn't the champion? What does that mean?"
"They've fought all the way to the finals, and they still aren't champions?"
"Then how is the champion decided?"
"Did the academy change the rules at the last minute?"
The discussions spread like a tide.
Du Weilun did not immediately suppress the noise. Instead, he waited for everyone to discuss it for a moment before continuing, "Among this year's freshmen, there is a special team that did not participate in the earlier elimination rounds."
The winner of the finals would challenge that team in the afternoon.
Only the victor would become the champion of this Freshman Assessment.
And as a reward, the academy had decided to offer a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone with both light and fire attributes."
The moment Du Weilun finished speaking, the entire Soul Fighting Arena erupted.
What?!
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone?!
This was a treasure of the Blood River!
For the first time, the freshmen were stunned by Shrek's extravagance.
Even quite a few older students, upon hearing that the academy was being so generous this time, beat their chests in regret, each one wishing they had enrolled in this year instead.
Upon hearing the Soul Bone's attributes.
Huo Yuhao almost instantly guessed that the academy had surely prepared this Soul Bone for Long Yaochen.
Jealousy burned in his heart like raging flames.
Why... do you all think he'll win so certainly?
You even prepared such a fitting reward, a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone with light and fire attributes...
Are you just waiting to hand it to Long Yaochen?
Then what did all my effort along the way amount to?
Just wait. I'll definitely make you understand who truly knows how to invest!
I'll definitely make you regret it!
Having also heard about the Soul Bone with light and fire attributes, Wang Dong instinctively looked toward the stands.
Long Yaochen, who was leaning against the railing, noticed Wang Dong's gaze and smiled at her.
The tension in Wang Dong's features visibly eased.
But in the next instant, her eyes widened again.
Because a figure dressed in red had suddenly appeared beside Long Yaochen.
"You really aren't nervous at all."
A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind Long Yaochen.
Without even turning around, Long Yaochen knew who had come.
"Why did you leave the Inner Court and come here?"
Ma Xiaotao came to his side, folding her arms over her chest. A flash of anger instantly appeared in her captivating eyes.
"You haven't come to see me for days!
"You'd rather watch this boring match than spend time with me!
"What, were all those things you said about taking responsibility just meant to coax me?"
Long Yaochen: "..."
Before you continue