Three Months Later

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Freshman Class One classroom, every face was brimming with confidence and drive.

Not a single student had dropped out; on the contrary, everyone was filled with high spirits.

This was not only due to Teacher Wang Yan's precise guidance on their martial souls, but even more so because of their class monitor... Cao Longyan!

A youth whose talent, strength, and appearance far surpassed them all, yet who worked harder than any of them.

He did not act with the condescension or arrogance typical of powerhouses in other classes; instead, he was approachable, often taking the initiative to guide his classmates in their cultivation and pointing out errors or even flaws in their methods.

Under this atmosphere, the entire class had achieved significant improvement.

Now, not a single person's soul power level was below twenty.

Even Huo Yuhao, who had the lowest cultivation upon enrollment, had successfully broken through to level twenty-one and obtained his second soul skill—the same Simulation soul skill as in the original story.

Wang Dong's soul power had also reached level twenty-nine, just a step away from level thirty.

What surprised Cao Longyan most was that Xiao Xiao had actually caught up to Wang Dong, also reaching level twenty-nine.

Cao Longyan had seen the effort Xiao Xiao put in over these three months.

Moreover, under Wang Dong's constant "hints," he, a novice in matters of the heart, had finally become slightly enlightened.

Although those hints might have been a bit improper... they were certainly practical.

He knew that Xiao Xiao was pushing herself so hard mostly because she didn't want to be left too far behind by him.

She wanted to stand by his side, and the only way was to cultivate with all her might.

As for Cao Longyan himself, he was in a league of his own.

His soul power level had broken through to level forty-five, and he had successfully obtained his fourth soul ring—a red, hundred-thousand-year soul ring—which had also restored a glimmer of light to his Ten Halls of Yama martial soul and the fireball within his spiritual sea.

In these three months, Huo Yuhao had also promoted to a level-two soul guidance master, an achievement that should have broken the record for the youngest ever.

Unfortunately, in front of a monster like Cao Longyan, everything paled in comparison.

As early as two years ago, at the age of ten, Cao Longyan had already become a level-two soul guidance master, shocking the entire Soul Guidance Department with his ability to master level-two devices at a glance.

And now, he was already a level-five soul guidance master.

Huo Yuhao could only sigh endlessly at this.

Cao Longyan was simply too strong. He had originally thought Cao Longyan was only strong as a soul master, but he never expected him to be this way as a soul guidance master too... He was truly on the verge of tears; the confidence he had finally built up had been ruthlessly extinguished by Cao Longyan.

But complaints aside, he was still very grateful to Cao Longyan.

He knew that his ability to reach level-two soul guidance master in such a short time was inseparable from Cao Longyan's precise guidance.

Whenever Cao Longyan was around, the techniques and experience he taught him regarding soul device construction were more thorough and practical than what Fan Yu and He Caitou taught him, allowing him to build an incredibly solid foundation while progressing at a rapid pace.

That day, the bell rang, and Freshman Class One prepared for their morning theory class as usual.

Wang Yan walked onto the podium, looking at the crowd below with a serious expression.

"Students, the three months of freshman life at the academy have ended. Next, you will face the incredibly strict Shrek Freshman Assessment."

The classroom went silent instantly, and everyone held their breath.

Then, Wang Yan explained the Freshman Assessment exactly as it was in the original story, while also adding his own insights.

"The assessment format is a three-person team battle."

Wang Yan continued, though his voice dropped significantly lower.

Everyone in the class, except for Cao Longyan, swallowed hard involuntarily.

"There are one hundred students in our Freshman Class One, which means... there will be one person left over who cannot form a team and will be directly eliminated."

As soon as Wang Yan finished speaking, the classroom was immediately filled with the sound of buzzing discussions.

No one wanted to be that unlucky person who was directly eliminated.

Some guessed it would be the student with the lowest cultivation in the class... others felt it would be the student with the weakest overall strength.

However, Wang Yan's next words left everyone dumbfounded.

"After discussion by the academy, the person who will be removed from the groups and does not need to participate in the assessment is... Class Monitor Cao Longyan."

"What?!"

"The class monitor?!"

"How is that possible!"

The whole class was in an uproar, and everyone looked at Cao Longyan in disbelief.

He was the strongest in the class, even the strongest in the entire freshman year; how could he be directly eliminated?

But some people reacted and caught a detail.

"Wait, did Teacher Wang Yan say the class monitor doesn't need to participate in the assessment?"

Cao Longyan, however, remained calm, as if he had already anticipated this result.

Wang Yan looked at the shocked crowd and smiled, explaining slowly.

"The purpose of the freshman assessment is to select core disciples and prepare them for entry into the Inner Court... but Cao Longyan's strength has already far exceeded the assessment standards."

"After careful deliberation, the academy has made an exception to directly select Cao Longyan as a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department and has pre-emptively secured his qualification as an Inner Court disciple."

"Even in a 1v3, he can instantly defeat any freshman... The academy feels there is no longer any need for him to participate in the assessment with such strength."

Silence...

A deathly silence...

Immediately following it, the entire class erupted into even more frantic discussion and exclamations.

"Holy crap! The class monitor is just too fierce!"

"Directly appointed as a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department and entering the Inner Court ahead of schedule! This is just too absurd!"

"I won't say anything else, just one sentence: Class monitor, you're awesome, you are our god!"

Wang Dong puffed out his cheeks, his face filled with friendly jealousy, as he turned to look at Cao Longyan and pouted at him.

"Longyan, you monster, it's truly unreasonable to have such strength!"

Cao Longyan spread his hands with a helpless expression, though he did not respond to Wang Dong.

However, Cao Longyan's series of actions and expressions were telling Wang Dong something else.

There was nothing he could do; he wanted to keep a low profile, but... his strength simply wouldn't allow it!

Wang Dong's breathing suddenly became rapid.

"You... you..."

The shock in Huo Yuhao's heart was far greater than that of the others.

He knew that Cao Longyan was not only a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department but also a core disciple of the Soul Guidance Department!

A dual-department core disciple was unprecedented in the entire history of Shrek.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao, standing in the crowd, lowered her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.

She had originally hoped that by training desperately, she might be able to form a team with Cao Longyan and participate in the assessment together.

Now, that was completely out of the question...

Wang Yan continued to announce the groupings for the freshman assessment.

Without any surprises, just like in the original story, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao were placed in the same group.

"As for student Cao Longyan..."

Wang Yan looked at him with a smile.

"Dean Yan and the others have their own arrangements... Classes are suspended this afternoon, and they will come to find you during the assessment preparation period."

After the bell rang, Wang Dong was still chattering away, teasing Cao Longyan from the side.

Cao Longyan, however, ignored him, his gaze falling on the dejected Xiao Xiao nearby.

He walked over, bent down in front of Xiao Xiao, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Xiao Xiao, it's okay... Even if we can't team up for the assessment, I will always be with you, and I will go to cheer for you when you compete."

Xiao Xiao jerked her head up, her eyes still glistening with moisture, which was instantly replaced by a blush.

Looking into Cao Longyan's gentle eyes, her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.

Before she could react, Cao Longyan had already reached out and gently taken her small hand.

He knew everything Xiao Xiao had done for him, and he had also heard from Su Yao about the reason why a tearful Xiao Xiao had said those strange things to him that night in the Soul Fighting Zone.

Xiao Xiao was a wonderful girl, and he would naturally not let her down...

Holding Xiao Xiao's hand, Cao Longyan turned to Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong and said.

"Tonight, I'll come back and make you some barbecue to cheer you on for your freshman assessment!"

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's eyes lit up, and they nodded repeatedly.

Xiao Xiao's cheeks were so red they looked like they were about to bleed. With her small hand held by Cao Longyan, feeling the warmth of his palm, the disappointment in her heart was instantly filled with sweetness, and she couldn't suppress the corners of her mouth from curling upward.