Your Joke Isn't Funny

Over the next few matches, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao finally had the chance to make their moves.

Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul was indeed incredibly powerful in lower-tier battles.

Her two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, paired with those impossibly beautiful blue-gold butterfly wings, drew gasps from the spectators every time she appeared.

She was incredibly fast, and with Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron controlling the field, the two of them grew increasingly coordinated.

Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron was a top-tier tool Martial Soul. Although her Soul Power was not yet high, she could already exert considerable control in team battles.

Working together, the two of them actually managed to win several matches.

Of course, when they ran into truly tough opponents, Lin Yaoyang still had to step in.

Whenever he stood up, the opposing team would invariably wear expressions that said, "We're done for." Then Lin Yaoyang would walk over and take them out one punch at a time, ending the match cleanly and efficiently.

After several days, Lin Yaoyang's team advanced with a flawless record, without any suspense at all.

However, the next day, there was one more person in the stands.

Yan Shaozhe.

He sat alone on the highest viewing platform in the Assessment Zone.

He wanted to observe Lin Yaoyang's fighting style, his judgment in battle, and his mental fortitude.

He wanted to know how this young man reacted when facing different opponents.

Was he reckless or calm? Did he act alone or know how to cooperate? Was he arrogant because of his talent, or did he know when to advance and when to hold back?

He watched several matches.

Then he realized that he could see nothing at all.

Because Lin Yaoyang was not fighting seriously in the slightest.

In every match, he went up, knocked them down one punch at a time, and called it a day.

There were no tactics, no coordination, no on-the-spot adjustments. He could not even be bothered to release his Martial Soul.

It was like a tiger walking into a rabbit warren. There was no need for any technique; just standing there was enough to make his opponents lose.

Yan Shaozhe shook his head helplessly.

That brat would not even give him a chance to gauge his true abilities.

Several days later, the Freshman Assessment finally came to an end.

On the day the results were announced, the area in front of the bulletin board was packed with people.

First place went to Lin Yaoyang's team, second place to Dai Huabin's team, and third place to Huang Chutian's team.

Du Weilun personally announced the rankings at the New Student Assembly and declared the nine students from the top three teams to be core disciples of the Outer Court.

"Furthermore," Du Weilun said from the podium, his gaze sweeping across the hundreds of freshmen below, "when any member of the top three teams requires a Soul Ring, they may submit a request to the academy. The academy will assist them in obtaining one Soul Ring that they can withstand and that is best suited to them."

A wave of envious discussion immediately broke out below.

"This is incredible, isn't it? The academy will help them hunt Soul Rings?"

"And it has to be the one best suited to them... How much would that even cost?"

"The top three really are different..."

Du Weilun raised a hand to signal for quiet and continued, "In view of the outstanding performance and undefeated record of the champion team, Lin Yaoyang's team, the academy has decided to grant them a special reward. After the assembly, the three of you may come to my office to collect it."

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up at the same time.

"A special reward!" Xiao Xiao whispered. "What could it be?"

"It definitely has to be better than 'helping us hunt Soul Rings,'" Wang Dong analyzed confidently. "Otherwise, it would not be called a 'special reward.'"

Standing between them, Lin Yaoyang remained expressionless.

He knew what it was.

A Soul Bone. The Empty Bright Demon Leopard Left Leg Bone. Its quality was not high, and its attributes did not suit him.

But he did not say so.

Sometimes, letting others keep their expectations was also a kind of goodness.

After the assembly ended, the three of them went to the dean of studies' office.

The office door was open.

But there was an extra person on the sofa.

Yan Shaozhe.

He sat in the seat of honor, holding a cup of tea with a casual posture and a faint smile on his lips.

When he saw the three enter, he set down his teacup and beckoned to them.

"You're here? Have a seat."

Lin Yaoyang and the other two sat on the sofa opposite him. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were clearly somewhat restrained. Although they did not know Yan Shaozhe, they could tell from Du Weilun's attitude toward him that this man's status and cultivation were anything but low.

Yan Shaozhe did not speak immediately. Instead, he picked up a brown leather pouch from the table and weighed it in his hand.

The pouch was a Soul Tool. Dark patterns covered the brown leather, but there was nothing about it that seemed particularly unusual.

"Children," Yan Shaozhe said gently, as though speaking to his own juniors, "in light of your outstanding performance in this assessment, I specially applied to the academy to grant you this reward as an exception."

He handed the pouch to Lin Yaoyang.

"Although there is only one reward, the three of you will need to decide who receives it. Open it and have a look."

Lin Yaoyang accepted the pouch, did not even glance at it, and directly handed it to Wang Dong beside him.

Wang Dong froze for a moment. Taking the pouch, she instinctively untied its drawstring.

A mass of yellow light suddenly flew out of the pouch without warning and slowly floated in midair.

The light was gentle, like early spring sunshine. It was not dazzling, yet it possessed a strange power that made it impossible to look away. At the center of the glow was a small bone, only palm-length, milky white throughout, with a faint yellow radiance flowing across its surface.

"Th-this is..." Wang Dong's voice trembled. "A Soul Bone?"

Du Weilun stood to the side and explained with a smile, "Correct. This is a left leg bone known as the Empty Bright Demon Leopard Left Leg Bone. After fusing with it, a Soul Master's speed will increase dramatically, and they will gain an offensive skill activated through the left leg."

Wang Dong's eyes went wide as she held the pouch in both hands, as though she were cradling a priceless treasure.

A Soul Bone.

This was a Soul Bone.

On Douluo Continent, Soul Bones were far rarer than Soul Rings.

As long as powerful people offered assistance, Soul Rings could be obtained by killing Soul Beasts of sufficient age.

But Soul Bones were supreme treasures that had only a minuscule chance of condensing after a Soul Beast died. No amount of money could buy one.

She carefully put the Soul Bone back into the pouch and hugged it to her chest, as though afraid it might fly away.

Yan Shaozhe's gaze shifted away from Wang Dong and settled on Lin Yaoyang.

His expression changed.

It was no longer the gentle warmth he had shown toward juniors earlier, but something more serious and solemn.

"Student Yaoyang," he said, "I have prepared an even more special reward for you."

Lin Yaoyang looked at him.

Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath.

"I wish to take you as my final disciple. Are you willing?"

The room fell silent.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's eyes widened at the same time. Their mouths parted slightly, but neither could say a word.

A final disciple?!

Though they still did not know this man's exact identity, judging by the way he interacted with Du Weilun, his status was at least no lower than that of the dean of studies. Such a person was at least a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse.

A Titled Douluo wanted to take Lin Yaoyang as his final disciple?

Wang Dong instinctively looked at Lin Yaoyang.

He would agree, right?

This was a Titled Douluo. To be favored by someone like that was an opportunity countless people dreamed of.

Xiao Xiao also watched Lin Yaoyang nervously. She was happy for him, yet there was also a faint, indescribable reluctance in her heart.

If their class monitor became a Titled Douluo's final disciple, would he no longer have time to attend class with them?

Lin Yaoyang slowly opened his mouth.

"Dean Yan, that joke really isn't funny."