Upgrade Assessment

Feng Tianyu spent the remaining half-month of his vacation stabilizing his current soul power. After two weeks of cultivation, his level 23 soul power was thoroughly consolidated and had taken a significant step forward.

On the first day of the new semester, Feng Tianyu did something rare: instead of heading to the Soul Guidance Department, he followed Beibei to Grade 1 Class 1... which was now Grade 2 Class 1.

After all, his official records were still held by the Martial Soul Department, so he had to complete his advancement assessment there.

The advancement assessment was the first major trial Shrek Academy students faced upon returning from their break.

The vacation at Shrek Academy was not meant for play; it was a time to summarize the year's gains and integrate everything one had learned.

In the new semester, the assessment was conducted through actual combat against soul beasts. Students could freely choose their opponents, ranging from the lowest century-level soul beasts to the highest millennium-level ones. The better the performance, the higher the score.

A score of 30 was the passing grade; only those who passed could continue their studies at Shrek Academy, while those who failed would be expelled.

Feng Tianyu certainly wasn't afraid of being expelled, but he saw this advancement assessment as a perfect opportunity to test the combat strength of Grey Wolf.

After all, from the moment he awakened his martial soul until now, neither he nor Grey Wolf had engaged in a single real battle.

He arrived at the classroom to assemble. Having been in the academy for so long, this was the first time Feng Tianyu had actually seen his teacher and classmates.

Facing the gazes cast by his teacher and peers, Feng Tianyu's expression remained indifferent. He was neither overly enthusiastic nor cold, simply sitting silently in a corner.

To his classmates, Feng Tianyu was a legend. Zhou Yi, who had once thrown her weight around in class, had been suspended precisely because she tried to expel him.

Once that news spread, his classmates had cheered and celebrated as if it were the New Year.

Later, when word came that Feng Tianyu had moved to the Soul Guidance Department, the students felt a deep sense of regret; they had intended to thank him in person for removing such a scourge from Grade 1 Class 1.

Now that they finally saw him in the flesh, his classmates all offered him friendly and grateful smiles.

Wang Yan, the homeroom teacher on the podium, was also seeing Feng Tianyu for the first time—a student who had previously existed only in files and records.

Wang Yan was a kind-hearted teacher. Facing Feng Tianyu, the famous "troublemaker" of the Martial Soul Department, he remained very gentle:

"I believe everyone has heard of student Feng Tianyu. He is a member of our Grade 2 Class 1, though for certain reasons, he went to study in the Soul Guidance Department. Now, let us all applaud and welcome student Feng Tianyu back."

Clap, clap, clap!

A burst of intense applause erupted, showing that everyone had not forgotten the Feng Tianyu who had saved them from their plight.

It wasn't until Wang Yan raised his hands and pressed them downward that the applause in the classroom finally died away.

He probably hadn't expected Feng Tianyu to be so popular in the class.

Wang Yan took a deep look at Feng Tianyu:

"Now that everyone is here, let us head to the Great Beast Arena."

Led by Wang Yan, the entire Grade 2 Class 1 set out, marching in a grand procession toward the Great Beast Arena.

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

In the center of the Great Beast Arena was a plaza, which served as the arena for battles against soul beasts; its surface was covered in various claw marks and pits.

Surrounding the plaza was a five-meter-high wall, designed to prevent soul beasts from charging out and injuring students in the spectator stands.

Behind the high wall were four tiers of seating. A rough glance suggested that these four tiers, built around the arena, could accommodate over ten thousand people.

One had to wonder what the higher-ups at Shrek Academy were thinking when they decided to build so many seats.

Given the efficiency with which Shrek Academy expelled students, the total number of students rarely exceeded 3,000, making such a massive space entirely unnecessary.

Beneath the Great Beast Arena were the beast pens where soul beasts were kept, ranging from century-level to even ten-thousand-year-level beasts. The ability to keep such high-level soul beasts showed that Shrek Academy was quite wealthy.

After all, Shrek Academy controlled the tax revenue of Shrek City, so it was impossible for them to be poor; it was just a mystery why they were so stingy toward their students.

The Tube Building dorms where 400 people fought over a single toilet, the empty cafeteria without a single table or chair—just thinking about it brought tears of bitterness.

Back to the main point!

Wang Yan brought Grade 2 Class 1 to the Great Beast Arena, where they could see that many students from other classes had already arrived, bustling about.

Wang Yan instructed the students of Grade 2 Class 1 not to wander off, then headed to the podium to report to Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, and Du Weilun, the Director of Education.

After a brief exchange between the three, Wang Yan returned to his class. He looked at Feng Tianyu with a solemn expression:

"Tianyu, originally, this advancement assessment should be led by the class monitor to set an example for all the students."

"That would be Beibei, but the Dean and the Director specifically named you to go first. Perhaps they have high expectations for you."

"Are you willing? If not, I can speak to the Dean and the Director. You only get one chance at this advancement assessment; if something goes wrong, it would be very disadvantageous for you."

Upon hearing this, Feng Tianyu glanced at the podium. He could see Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun watching him, their gazes filled with intense scrutiny, as if they wanted to see how much he had improved in the Soul Guidance Department.

Since they wanted to see, he would let them see clearly.

Feng Tianyu spoke indifferently:

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

Wang Yan looked slightly nervous, glancing between Feng Tianyu and the Grey Wolf at his side. He had never taught Feng Tianyu for a single day and didn't know the true strength of this mutated, externalized martial soul. Could he handle it?

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

"Then be careful. You only need 30 points to pass the assessment; you must act according to your ability."

"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 trotted after Feng Tianyu, raising a paw to make a fist-pumping gesture:

"With this Great King here, your upgrade assessment is nothing but a piece of cake!"

A moment later, Feng Tianyu led Grey Wolf through a passageway and into the plaza, where a teacher was already waiting.

The middle-aged teacher, dressed in grey, caught sight of Grey Wolf beside Feng Tianyu and immediately guessed the boy's identity: the special recruit who had jumped ship from the Martial Soul Department to the Soul Guidance Department.

He furrowed his brows and asked:

"You are Feng Tianyu, correct?"

"Are you participating in this assessment as a Soul Master or as a Soul Engineer?"

"If you participate as a Soul Master, you must demonstrate the methods of a Soul Master. If you participate as a Soul Engineer, you must demonstrate the methods of a Soul Engineer!"

"Furthermore, what age of soul beast do you wish to select?"

Feng Tianyu glanced at Grey Wolf before replying:

"I am participating as a Soul Master, and we wish to challenge a thousand-year soul beast!"

As soon as these words were spoken, those who knew something of Feng Tianyu—such as Yan Shaozhe, Du Weilun, Wang Yan, and Beibei—all wore expressions of astonishment.

Last semester, Feng Tianyu had only been a Soul Master. Even if he had become a Soul Grand Master now, that was hardly enough to contend with a thousand-year soul beast; even a Soul Elder would have to treat such a creature with extreme caution.

The middle-aged teacher's expression darkened as he looked at Feng Tianyu's youthful face, confirming once more:

"Are you certain?"

"This is no joking matter."

With a thought from Feng Tianyu, one yellow and one purple soul ring rose from beneath his feet. The magnificent purple soul ring left the entire audience in stunned silence.

"I am certain!"

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

On the rostrum, Yan Shaozhe saw Feng Tianyu's thousand-year second soul ring. His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, clenched into fists. His heart bled; this was supposed to be a genius of his Martial Soul Department, yet he had been given away to Qian Duoduo for nothing.

And he had even thrown in ten pieces of Whale Rubber over 3,000 years old!

Truly, he had suffered a double loss...