The Grand Competition for Newcomers (1)

After handling the commotion at the freshman training grounds during the day, Su Ming exchanged brief farewells with Huo Yuhao before parting ways with the others.

He turned a corner and strolled toward the male dormitory of the Shrek outer courtyard.

The events of that day—standing firm against Zhou Yi, the awe-inspiring display of the Snow Mastiff Armor, and the dual pressure of soul power and a Soul Tool against a six-ringed Soul Emperor—had made him the talk of the entire academy.

As he walked, many passing students couldn't help but steal glances at him. Their eyes held a mix of reverence, curiosity, and a wariness that dared not provoke him. Su Ming remained entirely indifferent, his expression calm as he continued on his way.

Returning to the dormitory building, he pushed open the door to the courtyard. As he stepped into the corridor, he immediately spotted Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi waiting for him.

The two were leaning against the wall, whispering to each other with serious expressions, seemingly discussing something of great importance.

The moment they saw Su Ming, they stopped talking and turned to look at him.

Xu Sanshi, whose personality was always boisterous and straightforward, strode forward and slung an arm around Su Ming's shoulder, his tone laced with teasing.

"Oh my, our academy's busy man has finally decided to return to the dorm! I thought you were so busy playing the big shot at the freshman tournament that you were planning to skip the grade advancement exams in two days."

Su Ming was left with a head full of question marks. What was this? Why did he have no memory of such a thing?

Bei Bei, being steady, mature, and meticulous, noticed the confusion on Su Ming's face. Realizing he was unaware of the exam schedule, he stepped forward to explain patiently.

"It's the annual grade advancement assessment for us senior students in the outer courtyard. The timing happens to clash with the freshman tournament."

"In two days, we have to enter the Shrek Beast Arena to select soul beasts that match our cultivation levels, battle them, and receive a score. This is crucial for us seniors; it cannot be delayed."

After listening, Su Ming realized it was nothing more than a trivial matter. He felt completely unbothered, his tone light and indifferent.

"I thought it was something major. It's just an assessment; are you two really this nervous and excited?"

"The soul beasts kept in the arena are weak and pathetic to begin with; they pose no threat at all. It's a minor task that can be solved with a few punches."

"You two should just worry about your own exams. I still need to find time to watch the freshman tournament."

"I want to see if there are any good prospects worth cultivating or recruiting, and maybe secure some sponsorship for my career."

Hearing Su Ming's breezy remarks, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were left speechless. They exchanged a look, filled with inner turmoil.

Indeed, having true strength meant one could do whatever one pleased.

Neither of them thought Su Ming was being arrogant or blowing hot air. After all, everyone had witnessed the entire process of that battle at the training grounds.

By relying solely on soul power, a Soul Tool, and the Snow Mastiff Armor, Su Ming had forcibly suppressed Teacher Zhou Yi, a six-ringed Soul Emperor. He had become famous overnight, and now, who in the outer courtyard didn't know that a monstrous talent had emerged among the freshmen?

Furthermore, Su Ming's physical combat prowess was absurdly strong. The two had sparred with him in private before, and even when they both went all out, they couldn't break through his defenses in the slightest.

If Su Ming were even slightly serious, a few casual heavy punches would leave them lying on the ground for half a day, unable to crawl back up. They were simply not on the same level of combat power.

Listening to Su Ming's incredibly relaxed tone, Xu Sanshi couldn't help but laugh bitterly and shrug his shoulders helplessly.

"Fine, fine. You're strong, so you're right. You can slack off all you want. We aren't like you; we're going to cultivate honestly. The exam is coming up, and we can't afford to be lax."

Bei Bei nodded gently, his expression turning serious as he added, "I'm going to focus on refining my soul power to ensure I pass the assessment."

For a moment, a stark contrast formed in the dorm. Su Ming stood relaxed and calm, showing no signs of pre-exam tension, while Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were on high alert, their minds entirely occupied by the upcoming arena assessment.

Time flew by. The two days of rest passed in a blink, and soon, the day of the outer courtyard senior grade advancement assessment arrived.

Early in the morning, the Shrek Beast Arena was bustling with noise. The entire assessment area was enclosed by a massive beast-containment cage, with thick, beast-patterned barriers isolating the inside from the outside. From within, the low, guttural roars of soul beasts echoed, creating an atmosphere of grim tension.

Su Ming, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi walked together toward the arena. Along the way, every student looked tense, their footsteps hurried, and their faces etched with anxiety and apprehension. This assessment was vital for obtaining soul rings and advancing in rank; it was the most important exam for senior students, and no one dared to take it lightly.

The trio pushed through the crowded area, preparing to queue for the assessment, when Xu Sanshi's sharp eyes locked onto a figure on the side of the crowd. His eyes lit up instantly.

At the edge of the crowd, Jiang Nannan stood quietly in her elegant school uniform. Her figure was graceful, her brows cold and aloof. She was also there to participate in the advancement assessment, waiting silently for entry.

Xu Sanshi's footsteps faltered instinctively. He immediately grabbed Su Ming and Bei Bei, pulling them over as his face filled with irrepressible joy, his tone eager and excited.

"Nannan! What a coincidence! I didn't expect us to be in the same batch! This is so lucky!"

He was overjoyed, acting as if fate had brought them together, and eagerly crowded around Jiang Nannan to strike up a conversation.

Bei Bei and Su Ming stood side-by-side behind him. Watching Xu Sanshi lose his composure the moment he saw Jiang Nannan, they exchanged a look of mutual helplessness.

Everyone knew Xu Sanshi's heart was entirely set on Jiang Nannan, but unfortunately, the falling flowers had the intention, while the flowing water remained indifferent.

Even with Xu Sanshi being so enthusiastic and proactive, Jiang Nannan's expression remained flat. She merely glanced at him coldly before withdrawing her gaze to look quietly at the assessment field ahead, her demeanor distant and detached, revealing no emotion.

Seeing Jiang Nannan's coldness, Xu Sanshi felt deeply hurt, but no one paid him any mind.

After a few brief exchanges, the referee on the field announced in a loud voice that the outer courtyard beast-arena advancement assessment had officially begun.

The assessment required groups of five to enter in sequence, with opponents decided by drawing lots. Soon, the results were out, and Xu Sanshi was the first of their group to take the stage.

When the referee announced Xu Sanshi's opponent, a wave of hushed gasps rippled through the crowd.

His assessment soul beast was actually a thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard!

The Ghost Shadow Leopard was famous for its extreme speed, erratic movements, and skill in stealthy ambushes. Its fur could almost blend into the shadows, and its movements were unpredictable. It was the most troublesome type of beast; soul masters of the same level often found themselves exhausted and drained when facing one.

Su Ming watched the thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard in the arena and silently offered a second of mourning for his good brother.

This luck was truly absurd. Everyone else was getting docile, clumsy, and manageable soul beasts, yet Xu Sanshi had drawn the one most adept at ambushes and the most headache-inducing of them all.

Bei Bei also frowned, sighing in a low voice, "Sanshi is in trouble this time. This Ghost Shadow Leopard is too fast and excels at ambushes from the dark. It's incredibly hard to defend against; it really won't be easy to handle."

Inside the assessment field, the gate of the beast cage slowly opened. From the pitch-black shadows, a lithe black figure lunged out.

Covered in jet-black fur, with strong, sharp limbs and cold, bloodthirsty vertical pupils, it landed without a sound. Surrounded by a faint aura of shadow soul power, it was indeed the thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard!