Core Disciple

Flames scorched the Mysterious Jade Hand, emitting a sizzling sound, yet Mu Chen's expression remained unchanged.

He tightened his five fingers, firmly gripping his opponent's fist in his palm, then casually slammed the Trident in his right hand onto the ground.

"You fought well," he said. "Better than any other group."

The captain of the Blazing Lion froze.

Mu Chen released his grip, stepped back, and nodded at him: "Keep it up."

The referee announced the victory of Mu Chen's group. The Blazing Lion captain stood on the arena, watching Mu Chen's retreating back as he walked off the stage, and suddenly shouted: "Mu Chen! Good luck in the finals!"

Mu Chen did not look back, merely raising his hand to wave.

Wang Dong followed behind him, muttering: "How are you so gentle with everyone?"

"Gentle?" Mu Chen turned his head to look at her. "I didn't hold back much just now."

"That's not what I meant." Wang Dong pursed her lips, as if weighing her words. "I mean, you could have beaten them into a pulp, made them walk the other way whenever they saw you. But you always left them a way out, so even though they lost, they didn't feel like trash. Dai Huabin was an exception because he deserved it, but with everyone else, you never humiliated them to the point of no return."

Mu Chen was silent for a moment before saying: "They are classmates, not enemies."

Wang Dong looked at him, a flicker of indescribable light dancing in her pink-blue eyes.

The finals were held the next morning.

Before the match began, the opposing captain looked at Mu Chen with an expression that could be described in four words: resigned to his fate.

"Classmate Mu Chen," he said. "We know we can't beat you. But it wasn't easy to reach the finals, so please, let us finish a complete match."

Mu Chen nodded: "Alright."

And he truly let them finish a complete match.

There were no instant kills, no crushing blows; instead, he slowed the tempo, allowing Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao to fully participate in every phase.

Wang Dong's Radiant Goddess Butterfly and Mu Chen's frontal assaults alternated, while Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing covered the battlefield throughout. The coordination between the three was as smooth as flowing water, showcasing every detail of a team battle to perfection.

This was no longer a match; it was more like a teaching demonstration, showing exactly how a perfect three-person squad should coordinate in combat.

Zhou Yi, watching from below the stage, gave a rare nod.

She could certainly tell that Mu Chen was holding back, but she appreciated the way he did it even more.

He didn't make his opponents look pathetic, nor did he turn the match into a boring formality; instead, he transformed the final into a coordination drill for his own team, granting his opponents dignity while demonstrating his team's strength.

The match lasted for a full incense stick's time. When the last opponent was sent off the arena by Wang Dong's Radiant Goddess Butterfly, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.

This applause was not just for the victors, but also for the defeated. Their strength was indeed lacking, but to hold out for an entire incense stick's time against an opponent of Mu Chen's caliber was enough to prove their resilience.

The referee raised Mu Chen's right arm high: "Freshman assessment champions, Freshman Class One, Mu Chen, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao!"

The applause was like thunder.

Mu Chen stood on the arena, his expression still calm.

Wang Dong stood beside him, smiling like a blooming flower.

Huo Yuhao stood on Mu Chen's other side with a faint smile on his face. His Spirit Eye reflected the gaze of the entire crowd and the applause, yet there was not a hint of pride or restlessness.

Xiao Xiao stood in the crowd below the stage, her green twin tails swaying gently in the breeze.

She looked up at the blue-haired boy on the arena, her large eyes filled with complex emotions—admiration, longing, and a trace of regret she couldn't quite name.

She looked down at her own hands, then clenched them into fists, as if she had made a certain resolution.

Three days after the freshman assessment ended, all freshmen gathered in the academy auditorium.

This day was the most nerve-wracking and anticipated day for every freshman: the announcement of the core disciple list.

The status of a core disciple at Shrek Academy meant superior cultivation resources, guidance from higher-ranking teachers, and a priority path into the Inner Court.

Every freshman had dreamed of this upon enrollment, but those who truly secured a core disciple spot were always few and far between.

The auditorium was packed. Students from Freshman Class One sat in the front, as the champion team came from their class, casting a reflected glory upon the entire group.

Wang Dong sat to Mu Chen's left, and Huo Yuhao sat to his right. The three sat in a row, drawing the gaze of the entire hall.

Zhou Yi stood at the very back of her class, arms crossed over her chest, her expression unreadable.

However, her position was subtle; she was perfectly placed to see the backs of Mu Chen and his two companions.

Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Soul Department, walked onto the podium.

This top-tier Super Douluo of the current era wore a white robe and appeared full of vigor. As his gaze swept across the hall, everyone felt as if they were being seen through.

Yan Shaozhe's speech was brief—so brief it was almost perfunctory.

He first affirmed the overall quality of this year's freshmen, then praised the groups that had performed exceptionally during the assessment, and finally produced a list.

"The following students have earned the status of core disciple."

He began to read the names.

The first name was Mu Chen. There was no surprise in the hall; if the champion of the freshman assessment wasn't a core disciple, the list would have no credibility.

The second was Wang Dong. This was also expected; the talent of the Radiant Goddess Butterfly martial soul ranked among the best of all the freshmen, and her performance in the champion team was plain for all to see.

The third, the fourth, the fifth... name after name was read aloud by Yan Shaozhe.

The students whose names were called were ecstatic, while those who weren't clenched their fists in tension.

Xiao Xiao's name was the seventh. She froze for a moment, then her green twin tails whipped as she sprang from her seat, nearly letting out a cry.

Only after a classmate tugged at the corner of her uniform did she sit back down, face flushed, though the radiance in her large eyes could not be hidden.

The list was finished.

Huo Yuhao's name had not been called.

The atmosphere in the auditorium turned subtle. Some whispered, while others stole glances toward Huo Yuhao's direction.

A member of the champion team from the freshman assessment failing to receive the status of core disciple was a result that exceeded everyone's expectations.

Huo Yuhao sat in his seat, his expression unchanged. His hands rested on his knees, his fingertips tightening slightly, yet his face remained calm.

It had been three months; he had long since grown accustomed to this feeling of being overlooked and underestimated.

But just because he could get used to it didn't mean others could.

Mu Chen frowned.

Wang Dong's reaction was more direct. He stood up abruptly and shouted toward the podium, "Dean Yan!"

The entire hall erupted. Interrupting during a speech by Yan Shaozhe was something that had rarely happened in the history of Shrek. From the back, Zhou Yi hissed, "Wang Dong, sit down!"

Wang Dong clenched his fists, a fire burning in his powder-blue eyes. He opened his mouth to say something more, but a hand pressed down on his shoulder.