Upgrade Assessment

For the remaining half month of the break, Feng Tianyu focused on stabilizing his current Soul Power. After half a month of cultivation, his Level 23 Soul Power had completely stabilized and even advanced by a significant margin.

On the first day of the new semester, Feng Tianyu unusually did not head to the Soul Guidance Department. Instead, he followed Beibei to Grade 1 Class 1... which was now Grade 2 Class 1.

After all, his student records were still with the Martial Soul Department, so he still had to complete his Upgrade Assessment there.

The Upgrade Assessment was the first trial Shrek Academy students had to face after returning from break.

Shrek Academy's breaks were not for playing around. They were meant for students to review what they had gained over the year and fully assimilate what they had learned.

In the new semester, they would be assessed through actual combat. Their opponents would be soul beasts, ranging from hundred-year soul beasts at the lowest to thousand-year soul beasts at the highest. They could choose freely, and the better their performance, the higher their score.

Thirty points counted as passing. Only those who passed could continue studying at Shrek Academy; those who failed would be expelled.

Naturally, Feng Tianyu was not afraid of expulsion, but he thought this Upgrade Assessment would also be a good opportunity to test Grey Wolf's combat strength.

After all, neither he nor Grey Wolf had experienced a true battle since he awakened his martial soul.

They first gathered in the classroom. Having been at the academy for so long, this was still the first time Feng Tianyu had seen his teacher and classmates.

Faced with the looks from his teacher and classmates, Feng Tianyu remained calm. He was neither particularly friendly nor particularly cold, merely taking a seat in the corner in silence.

To his classmates, Feng Tianyu was practically a legend. Back then, Zhou Yi had thrown her weight around in class, but when she tried to expel Feng Tianyu, she ended up being suspended herself.

After this news spread, Feng Tianyu's classmates had celebrated exuberantly, as happy as if it were New Year's.

Then word came that Feng Tianyu had transferred to the Soul Guidance Department, which left the students deeply regretful. They had intended to thank him in person for ridding Grade 1 Class 1 of a great scourge.

Now that they finally saw him in person, Feng Tianyu's classmates all gave him friendly, grateful smiles.

Wang Yan, the homeroom teacher standing at the podium, was also seeing Feng Tianyu for the first time, this student who had existed only in the records.

Wang Yan was a kind-hearted teacher. Facing Feng Tianyu, the Martial Soul Department's infamous troublemaker, he was also quite gentle.

"Everyone has surely heard of this student, Feng Tianyu. He is also a member of our Grade 2 Class 1. However, due to certain reasons, he went to study in the Soul Guidance Department. Now, let's welcome Feng Tianyu back with a round of applause."

Clap clap clap!

A burst of thunderous applause rang out. Clearly, no one had forgotten Feng Tianyu, who had rescued them from their misery.

Only after Wang Yan raised both hands and pressed them downward did the applause in the classroom finally die down.

Perhaps even he had not expected Feng Tianyu to be so popular in the class.

Wang Yan gave Feng Tianyu a deep look.

"Now that everyone is here, we will set out for the Great Beast Arena."

Under Wang Yan's lead, all the students of Grade 2 Class 1 set off in a grand procession toward the Great Beast Arena.

The Great Beast Arena was an oval-shaped structure, approximately 176 meters long at its longest point and 156 meters wide at its widest, covering an extremely vast area.

At the center of the Great Beast Arena was an open plaza, the arena where students fought soul beasts. It was covered in claw marks and craters.

Around the plaza stood a five-meter-high wall, meant to prevent soul beasts from charging out of the plaza and injuring students in the spectator stands.

Beyond the high wall were four tiers of steps. At a glance, these four tiers built around the Great Beast Arena could accommodate no fewer than ten thousand people.

Who knew what the upper ranks of Shrek Academy had been thinking when they built so many seats on a whim.

With Shrek Academy's efficiency at expelling students, its student body would never exceed three thousand even at its peak. There was no need for such a massive venue.

Beneath the Great Beast Arena were beast pens where soul beasts were kept. The weakest were hundred-year soul beasts, while there were even ten-thousand-year soul beasts at the highest level. The fact that Shrek Academy could keep such high-level soul beasts showed just how wealthy it was.

After all, Shrek Academy controlled Shrek City's tax revenue. It was impossible for it to be poor, though no one knew why it was so stingy with its students.

Those Tube Building dormitories where four hundred people fought over one toilet, and that empty cafeteria without a single table, chair, or bench—just thinking about it brought tears to one's eyes.

Back to the point!

Wang Yan led Grade 2 Class 1 to the Great Beast Arena, where they saw that many students from other classes had already arrived, filling the place with activity.

Wang Yan instructed the Grade 2 Class 1 students not to wander off, then headed to the area before the main platform to report to Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department, and Du Weilun, the director of academics.

After a brief exchange, Wang Yan returned to the class. His expression was somewhat grave as he looked at Feng Tianyu.

"Tianyu, normally, the class monitor should be the first to take the Upgrade Assessment and set an example for everyone."

"That should have been Beibei, but the dean and the director of academics specifically named you to go first. Perhaps they have high expectations for you."

"Are you willing? If not, I can speak with the dean and the director of academics. There is only one chance for the Upgrade Assessment. If something goes wrong, it would be far too disadvantageous for you."

Upon hearing this, Feng Tianyu glanced toward the main platform. He could see Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun both watching him, their gazes carrying a strong sense of scrutiny, as though they wanted to know how much he had improved in the Soul Guidance Department.

Since they wanted to see, then he would let them see openly.

Feng Tianyu spoke calmly.

"I have no problem with it. I can go first."

Wang Yan looked slightly nervous. He looked at Feng Tianyu, then at Grey Wolf beside him. He had not taught Feng Tianyu for even a day, nor did he know how strong Feng Tianyu's mutated detached martial soul truly was. Could he handle it?

But since Feng Tianyu had agreed, he could only say,

"Then be careful. You only need thirty points to pass the assessment, so make sure you know your limits."

"Don't push yourself. Safety comes first."

Feng Tianyu nodded and turned to leave.

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Wang!"

"Grey Wolf, let's go. It's time for our performance!"

Grey Wolf followed Feng Tianyu, raising a paw and making a fist.

"With this king here, your Upgrade Assessment will be a piece of cake!"

A moment later, Feng Tianyu and Grey Wolf entered the plaza through a passageway. A teacher was already waiting ahead of them.

The middle-aged teacher in gray immediately guessed Feng Tianyu's identity when he saw Grey Wolf beside him—the specially recruited student who had transferred from the Martial Soul Department to the Soul Guidance Department.

He frowned and asked,

"Your name is Feng Tianyu, correct?"

"Are you taking the assessment as a Soul Master, or as a Soul Engineer?"

"If you are taking it as a Soul Master, demonstrate the methods of a Soul Master. If you are taking it as a Soul Engineer, demonstrate the methods of a Soul Engineer!"

"Also, what age of soul beast do you intend to choose?"

Feng Tianyu looked at Grey Wolf before replying,

"As a Soul Master. We want to challenge a thousand-year soul beast!"

The moment he said this, Yan Shaozhe, Du Weilun, Wang Yan, Beibei... and everyone else who knew a little about Feng Tianyu revealed looks of surprise.

Last semester, Feng Tianyu had only been a Soul Master. Even if he had now become a Soul Grandmaster, that should not be enough to contend against a thousand-year soul beast. Even Soul Elders had to deal with thousand-year soul beasts cautiously.

The middle-aged teacher's expression darkened as well. Looking at Feng Tianyu's young face, he confirmed again.

"Are you sure?"

"This isn't a joke."

With a thought from Feng Tianyu, two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, rose from beneath his feet. The resplendent purple Soul Ring rendered the entire venue silent.

"I'm sure!"

"I want to use a thousand-year soul beast to test our strength!"

On the main platform, Yan Shaozhe saw Feng Tianyu's thousand-year second Soul Ring. His hands beneath his sleeves clenched into fists, and his heart bled. This had originally been a genius of the Martial Soul Department, yet Qian Duoduo had gotten him for nothing.

And they had even thrown in ten pieces of Whale Rubber over three thousand years old!

What a complete loss...