The Fateful Convergence

Shrek Academy's early autumn was always especially lively, colored by the fervor of the Freshman Assessment.

Three months into the school year, the autumn wind swept across the campus, carrying the damp scent of Sea God Lake into every corner of Shrek. Yet it could not dispel the tension and excitement that filled the entire academy.

As the most important trial for Shrek Academy's freshmen, the annual Freshman Assessment arrived right on schedule.

The assessment not only determined the freshmen's class assignments and access to resources for the coming year, but also decided who would receive a provisional place in the Inner Court. It was the first true battle every freshman faced since enrolling.

The rules had long since been posted on the academy's bulletin board, written clearly in black against a red background: all freshmen were to form teams of three and compete in a single-elimination team tournament.

The tournament used a single-elimination format. From the preliminary rounds to the final, the three teams that made it all the way to the end would receive provisional admission to the Inner Court and enjoy access to core-level resources.

At the very end of the rules, there was one special note: any freshman whose Soul Power had reached Soul Ancestor rank—level 40—before the assessment began could apply for an exemption.

In previous years, this rule had been little more than a formality.

Everyone knew that most freshmen admitted to Shrek Academy were around twelve years old. Those who could reach the level of a Soul Grandmaster in their twenties were already considered prodigies outside the academy, while Soul Elders at level 30 were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

As for a twelve- or thirteen-year-old Soul Ancestor, that was pure fantasy. In the academy's ten thousand years of history, no such monster had ever appeared.

But this year was different.

On the day the assessment rules were announced, the academy's Academic Affairs Office released a notice that set the entire Shrek Academy abuzz. Even the senior students of the Inner Court were startled.

The notice contained just one short line: Gu Yuan, Gu Yuena, and Jin Ruiqiu of Freshman Class One had all reached Soul Ancestor rank and qualified for an exemption. Their applications were approved.

The whole academy exploded as soon as the notice was posted.

"My god! Am I seeing things? Three Soul Ancestors! Twelve-year-old Soul Ancestors!"

"Oh my god! They've only been here three months, and they're already Soul Ancestors?!"

"I remember they were already over level 40 when they enrolled. After three months, they must be way past that! Are they even human? I hadn't even broken through to Soul Elder at twelve!"

In the little courtyard in the freshman dormitory area, Jin Ruiqiu bounced around with the newly posted notice in her hand, tugging at Gu Yuan's arm and grinning from ear to ear. "Your Highness, look! We don't have to take that Freshman Assessment!"

The little girl's golden curls bobbed as she moved, her face alight with delight. She had never been interested in squabbling and fighting among freshmen, so being exempted was exactly what she wanted.

Gu Yuan took the notice, glanced over it, and smiled faintly before handing it to Gu Yuena beside him.

If these three thousand-year-old monsters had entered a contest between children, the scene would have been impossible to imagine. Besides, Gu Yuan had no interest in taking part in the slightest.

"It was only a formality to begin with." Gu Yuena took the notice, her cool eyes utterly calm, and set it on the stone table.

"With our strength, taking the Freshman Assessment would be unfair to the other freshmen. An exemption is the best outcome."

Gu Yuan nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Huo Yuhao, who stood nearby clutching his Martial Soul handbook, looking somewhat distracted.

In three months, the boy had changed enough to astonish anyone.

His Soul Power had steadily risen from level 23 when he enrolled to level 25. His ultimate mental power had grown increasingly condensed, and his control over his Spirit Eye Martial Soul had improved beyond recognition.

His Soul Tool Technology had advanced by leaps and bounds. He had not only mastered the engraving of Level 2 Core Arrays, but could even craft Level 3 Soul Tools on his own. Even Fan Yu had remarked more than once that he had found a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius in Soul Tool Technology.

But at that moment, the usually composed and reserved boy seemed lost in thought, with a trace of tension in his eyes.

"What's wrong? Nervous?" Gu Yuan asked with a smile, breaking into his thoughts.

Huo Yuhao snapped back to his senses. Somewhat embarrassed, he scratched his head and nodded, then quickly shook it. "A little... It's not really nerves. It's just... you've all been exempted, Brother Yuan. I want to get a good result too. I don't want to let you down."

He meant every word. He was happy for the three of them, but their exemption and direct advancement also made him put pressure on himself.

He didn't want to live forever under Gu Yuan's protection. He wanted to earn a place in the Inner Court through his own strength and prove that he could stand here without relying on Gu Yuan to shelter him.

"Silly boy." Gu Yuan smiled and ruffled his hair, his voice gentle but certain.

"Your talent and strength are enough to get you the result you want in this assessment. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just treat it like an ordinary practical exercise."

"I understand, Brother Yuan!" Huo Yuhao nodded firmly. The confusion in his eyes vanished, replaced by a steady light.

But after that resolve came, he couldn't help frowning again. "But... the assessment requires teams of three. You don't have to participate, Brother Yuan, and I still haven't found any teammates."

During his three months at the academy, he had spent most of his time in Martial Soul Department classes and the Soul Guidance Department's laboratories. Apart from Gu Yuan and the others, he had barely interacted with anyone in his class.

Now that the assessment was just around the corner, everyone had already found teammates and formed their own teams. Starting his search so late left him at a loss.

Just as he was fretting over it, two sets of footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.

Huo Yuhao looked up and saw two boys standing at the gate, peering into the courtyard.

The one in front was a pink-haired boy. He was exceptionally beautiful, with fair skin and delicate features like a porcelain doll. His blue fitted outfit accentuated his tall, straight frame. His bright peach-blossom eyes were fixed on Huo Yuhao, carrying a trace of nervous anticipation.

It was Wang Dong.

Behind him stood a little girl with her hair tied in a ponytail. With her round face, she looked sweet and adorable. She was Xiao Xiao.

Huo Yuhao stared at them in surprise, then hurried to his feet and went over. "Wang Dong? Xiao Xiao? What brings you here?"

He had seen Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao plenty of times in class, and they had sparred a few times during practical lessons, but they weren't close.

Wang Dong in particular seemed to sneak glances at him during every class. Whenever Huo Yuhao met his eyes, Wang Dong would immediately turn away. The whole thing had always struck him as a little odd.

Now, as Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao standing before him, his heart began to pound wildly, beyond his control.

He didn't know what was wrong with him. From the first day of school, when he saw this blue-haired boy sitting in the front row, he had felt an inexplicable familiarity that defied description.

They had never spoken before, yet whenever he looked into Huo Yuhao's eyes, his heart raced. He couldn't help wanting to get closer, to know him, to stand by his side.

That feeling had grown stronger with every practical lesson.

He had seen Huo Yuhao control the entire field with his mental power during combat. Even when three Soul Elders surrounded him, he remained calm and composed, turning the tide again and again with precise Spirit Shocks.

The more Wang Dong watched him, the more dazzling the boy seemed, and the stronger the strange feelings in his heart became.

When it came to the Freshman Assessment, Huo Yuhao had been the first teammate he thought of. Even though people said Huo Yuhao was only a Soul Grandmaster in his twenties and that, even with his ultimate mental attribute, he couldn't serve as the core of a team, Wang Dong still firmly wanted to team up with him.

"Huo Yuhao." Wang Dong took a deep breath, tamping down the flutter in his heart, and spoke. A trace of nervousness crept into his voice.

"We came to ask if you've found teammates for the Freshman Assessment."

Huo Yuhao shook his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Not yet. I was just worrying about it."

"Perfect!" Wang Dong's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly continued.

"Xiao Xiao and I haven't formed a team either. How about the three of us team up for the assessment? I'm a level 29 Soul Grandmaster in the Power Attack System, and my Martial Soul is the Light Goddess Butterfly. Xiao Xiao is a level 26 Soul Grandmaster in the Control System, and she has Twin Martial Souls. The three of us would make the strongest team!"

Xiao Xiao hurriedly nodded beside him, smiling as she said, "That's right, Huo Yuhao. We've wanted to team up with you for ages! Your Spirit Detection Sharing is practically unbeatable in team battles. With you on our team, our chances of winning will at least double!"

Looking at the sincerity in their eyes, Huo Yuhao felt warmth surge through him.

He had been worrying about forming a team, and he hadn't expected Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao to come to him of their own accord.

He looked up at them and nodded firmly, delight shining in his eyes. "All right! I'd love to team up with you. Thank you for inviting me!"

"What are you thanking us for?" Wang Dong laughed and patted him on the shoulder. The instant his fingertips touched Huo Yuhao, he snatched his hand back as if shocked by a jolt of electricity. The tips of his ears turned faintly red, but he kept his composure as he said,

"We're classmates. We should be supporting each other! With you on our team, we'll make it to the finals and earn a place in the Inner Court!"

"Yeah! We can do it!" Huo Yuhao nodded firmly, determination shining in his eyes.

Gu Yuan stood in the courtyard, watching the three of them chatting happily. A knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Those destined to meet would meet in the end. Even without sharing a dormitory and seeing each other every day, even without the misunderstandings and bickering of their first encounter, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao had still crossed paths because of the Freshman Assessment.

In the end, the threads of fate had bound the two of them together.

Gu Yuena came to stand beside him and watched the scene. "Looks like we don't need to worry about him."

When her gaze swept over Wang Dong, a trace of barely perceptible killing intent surfaced involuntarily.

"There was never any need to," Gu Yuan said with a smile, shaking his head.

"In the end, he has to walk his own path."

Besides, this was what the one above had arranged. He might as well go with the flow and grant that wish, letting him believe everything was still under his control.