After dealing with the commotion at the freshman class training grounds that day, Su Ming briefly said goodbye to Huo Yuhao, then went his separate way with the others.
He turned down a path and headed toward the boys' dormitories in Shrek Outer Court at an unhurried pace.
The clash with Zhou Yi, when Snow Mastiff Armor had shaken the entire crowd, had caused an uproar throughout the academy. The spectacle of Soul Power and Soul Tools together overpowering a Six-Ring Soul Emperor had become known to everyone.
As he walked, quite a few passing students couldn't help sneaking glances at him. Their eyes held awe, curiosity, and a hint of wariness, as if they didn't dare provoke him. Su Ming paid them no mind, his expression calm as he went on his way.
When he reached the dormitory building, he pushed open the door and entered the courtyard. As soon as he stepped into the corridor, he spotted Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi waiting there.
The two were leaning against the wall, quietly discussing something with serious expressions. They seemed to be planning something rather important.
The moment they saw Su Ming, they stopped talking and both turned to look at him.
Xu Sanshi was always carefree, warmhearted, and straightforward. He immediately strode over, grabbed Su Ming, and slung an arm over his shoulder, his tone laced with teasing.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to come back to the dorm! I thought you were so busy acting like a big shot at the Freshman Grand Competition that you weren't even planning to take the upgrade exam in a couple of days."
Su Ming was utterly baffled. What was he talking about? He didn't remember anything about that.
Bei Bei was steady and mature, with a thoughtful nature. Seeing the question in Su Ming's eyes, he realized Su Ming clearly didn't know the exam arrangements, so he stepped forward and patiently explained.
"It's the Outer Court's annual level-up assessment for returning students. The timing just happens to clash with the Freshman Grand Competition."
"In two days, we'll have to enter the Beast Enclosure and choose a Soul Beast suitable for our cultivation level. We'll fight it, then be graded. This is extremely important for us returning students. We can't afford to put it off."
Su Ming had thought it was some great ordeal. Once he heard the details, he understood at once and didn't take it seriously at all. He looked unconcerned, his tone light and calm.
"I thought it was something major. It's just an assessment like this. Why are you two so nervous about it?
"The Soul Beasts kept in the enclosure are already pitifully weak. They're no threat at all. A few punches will take care of them.
"You should worry about your own assessments. I'll have to make time to watch the Freshman Grand Competition.
"I'll see if there are any promising newcomers worth cultivating and bringing into the fold, and maybe drum up some sponsorship for my venture while I'm at it."
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were both at a loss for words after hearing Su Ming speak so casually. They exchanged a glance, their hearts full of rueful admiration.
As expected, when you were strong enough, you really could do whatever you wanted.
Neither of them thought Su Ming was bragging or being arrogant. After all, they had watched the entire battle at the training grounds with their own eyes.
With nothing but Soul Power bolstering a Soul Tool and Snow Mastiff Armor covering him, Su Ming had forcefully suppressed Teacher Zhou Yi, a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, head-on. He had made a name for himself in a single battle. By now, everyone in the Outer Court knew that an absurdly powerful menace had appeared among the freshmen.
What's more, Su Ming's physical strength was absurdly formidable. The two of them had once sparred with him together in private, and even when they both gave it everything, they couldn't so much as scratch his defenses.
If Su Ming got even a little serious and landed a few heavy punches while they weren't paying attention, the two of them would be flat on the ground, unable to get back up for ages. They weren't even in the same league.
Hearing how utterly relaxed Su Ming sounded, Xu Sanshi couldn't help laughing helplessly and spreading his hands.
"Fine, fine. You're strong, so you're right. Go ahead and slack off all you want. We're not like you. We'd better get back to cultivating. The assessment's coming up, and we can't afford to let our guard down."
Bei Bei nodded slightly, his expression turning more serious as he chimed in. "I'm going to focus on getting my Soul Power under control too. I want to make sure I pass."
The dormitory presented a striking contrast. Su Ming stood at ease, his expression calm, not the least bit tense about the upcoming assessment. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, on the other hand, were both on high alert, their minds occupied with the Beast Enclosure assessment ahead.
Time flew by. The brief two-day break passed in a flash, and soon it was time for the Outer Court's returning students to take their upgrade assessment.
Early that morning, Shrek Beast Arena was packed with people. The entire assessment ground was enclosed by enormous beast cages, their thick, beast-patterned walls sealing off the inside. Every so often, low growls from Soul Beasts drifted out, lending the place a tense, murderous air.
Su Ming, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi headed to the arena together. All around them, students hurried along with taut expressions. Every face showed signs of nerves and uncertainty. This Beast Enclosure assessment concerned Soul Ring acquisition and advancement in rank. It was the most important assessment of the year for returning students, and no one dared take it lightly.
The three pushed through the crowd and were about to join the queue when Xu Sanshi's sharp eyes suddenly settled on one side of the crowd. His eyes lit up at once.
At the edge of the crowd stood Jiang Nannan in a simple school uniform, her graceful figure and cool features drawing the eye. She had come to take the upgrade assessment too and was quietly waiting to enter.
Xu Sanshi stopped as if on instinct, then immediately pulled Su Ming and Bei Bei over with him. His face lit up with undisguised delight, and he spoke with eager excitement.
"Nannan! What a coincidence! I can't believe we're in the same group for the assessment! We're so lucky!"
Overjoyed, he eagerly sidled up beside Jiang Nannan to strike up a conversation, as if fate had brought them together.
Bei Bei and Su Ming stood shoulder to shoulder behind him. Watching Xu Sanshi lose all composure the moment he saw Jiang Nannan, they exchanged a knowing glance, both looking helpless.
Everyone knew how Xu Sanshi felt. His heart and soul were set on Jiang Nannan, but it seemed to be a case of one-sided affection.
No matter how warmly and eagerly Xu Sanshi approached her, Jiang Nannan remained impassive. She gave him a brief glance, then turned her gaze back to the assessment grounds, cool and distant, betraying no emotion.
Jiang Nannan's cold response left Xu Sanshi heartbroken, but no one paid him any mind.
After they had chatted briefly, the referee called out loudly, announcing that the Outer Court's Beast Enclosure upgrade assessment was officially underway.
The students would enter in groups of five, taking turns, and draw lots to determine their opponents. The results came through quickly, and Xu Sanshi was the first in their group to take the field.
When the referee announced Xu Sanshi's Soul Beast opponent, a ripple of gasps went through the crowd.
His assessment opponent was a thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard!
Ghost Shadow Leopards were famous for their incredible speed, elusive movements, and skill at hiding and striking from ambush. Their fur nearly blended into the shadows, and they moved unpredictably, making them extremely troublesome opponents. Soul Masters of the same level who faced one were often worn down until they were utterly exhausted.
Su Ming looked at the thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard in the arena and silently mourned for his good friend for a second.
His luck was truly unbelievable. Everyone else had drawn docile, slow-moving Soul Beasts that were easy to handle, but Xu Sanshi alone had picked the Ghost Shadow Leopard, the one most skilled at ambushing people and most likely to give anyone a headache.
Bei Bei furrowed his brow and murmured, "Sanshi's in trouble this time. That Ghost Shadow Leopard is incredibly fast and specializes in attacking from the shadows. It's extremely hard to defend against and won't be easy to deal with."
Inside the assessment arena, the beast-cage doors slowly opened. From the pitch-black shadows, a lithe black figure suddenly burst out.
Black fur covered its entire body. Its four limbs were lean and powerful, its vertical pupils cold and bloodthirsty. It landed without a sound, faint shadow Soul Power swirling around it. It was a thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard!