Zhu Zhuqing's whisper lingered in the night of Star Luo, the page still open to the words "Dai Mubai."
That same night, preparations for leaving Notting Academy had already begun.
Early the next morning, Teacher Zhao walked into the Training Ground with a stack of assessment forms, looking worn out from staying up late to grade papers.
"The departure qualification assessment has two parts."
"You need passing marks in all of them: cultural studies, Martial Soul fundamentals, Soul Beast knowledge, and continental history. You two have already passed those. Not bad."
"But you also need to demonstrate stability in actual combat, especially if you're planning to leave early."
Xiao Chenyu crouched outside the wooden railing, holding a flatbread and grinning.
"Leaving early is this much trouble?"
Wang Sheng leaned against the railing with his arms crossed and chimed in.
"You think the academy hands out Travel Permits for free? If you go out and get beaten back, it's Notting's face that takes the hit."
Xiao Wu stood beside Su Hang, holding a piece of pastry.
"Brother Su Hang, this assessment is way too easy for you, isn't it?"
Ning Rongrong hugged a small bag, the Seven Treasures Token at her waist tapping against her skirt.
"Easy or not, today's focus is definitely Tang San."
Tang San and Yu Xiaogang entered from the other side.
Tang San's sleeves were neatly fastened, and the cloth pouch at his waist had been replaced with one of the styles registered with the academy.
Yu Xiaogang stopped beside him and lowered his voice.
"Don't use any unregistered Poison Needles this time."
Tang San nodded.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I'll only use the registered demonstration Hidden Weapons."
Yu Xiaogang continued to remind him.
"Use Blue Silver Grass to block the path, hit the targets with the short arrows, and keep your rhythm steady."
Tang San looked toward the wooden targets in the center of the Training Ground.
"This time, I'll prove that the control-type path is the right one."
Teacher Zhao opened the score sheet and looked up at everyone.
"Tang San, Su Hang, you've both applied to leave early. You'll demonstrate together today."
Tang San stepped forward of his own accord.
"Teacher Zhao, I'd like to be assessed alongside Su Hang."
The edge of the Training Ground immediately erupted in chatter.
"Together again?"
"Tang San's still got the nerve?"
"They confiscated his Poison Needles. He should play it safe today, right?"
Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose on the spot.
"What's he trying to pull now?"
Ning Rongrong raised a hand and touched the Seven Treasures Token.
"Uncle Ning Chuan, keep an eye on his sleeves."
Ning Chuan stood at the back of the crowd and stepped forward.
"Don't worry, miss. No unregistered items will get into the arena."
Tang San heard him and paused for a moment.
Xiao Chenyu immediately grinned.
"Having the Seven Treasures clan oversee the test really raises the stakes."
Wang Sheng quickly chimed in.
"If Tang San wants to hide something today, he'll have to get past Uncle Ning Chuan first."
Teacher Zhao tapped the wooden target rack.
"The rules are simple."
"There are four moving wooden targets. Scores are based on hits and control stability."
"You may use registered equipment. No adding anything on the spot."
Xiao Wu immediately added, "You heard him. No adding anything."
Tang San didn't answer her. He simply raised his right hand.
A Yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet. Blue Silver Grass sprouted along the ground and wound toward the first moving target.
The target slid along its track.
The Blue Silver Grass blocked its path first, leaves twining around its base and successfully slowing it down.
A mechanism clicked in Tang San's sleeve.
Whoosh.
A short arrow struck the edge of the target, lighting up one square on the scoring board.
Teacher Zhao made a note.
"First target: control successful, hit near the edge."
Yu Xiaogang immediately straightened up.
"Good. Keep going."
Tang San turned, splitting the Blue Silver Grass into two strands. One blocked the path while the other pulled at the second target.
This time, his rhythm was steadier than before.
The short arrow struck just below the target's center.
Several students at the edge of the Training Ground murmured among themselves.
"He's actually pretty steady today."
"Much safer without Poison Needles flying everywhere."
"Those short arrows are still accurate."
Ning Rongrong watched the arena, tapping the Seven Treasures Token with her finger.
"Take away all that nonsense, and he's still got something to show."
Xiao Wu wasn't convinced.
"Showing something doesn't help if he's got such a twisted mind."
Su Hang stood by the wooden railing without hurrying into the arena.
"Let's see the third target."
Hearing that, Tang San moved his right hand even faster.
The third target sped along its track.
The Blue Silver Grass curled around it from the side, its leaves tightening and slowing the target for half a beat.
The short arrow shot out.
Smack.
Its tip struck the outer ring of the target.
Teacher Zhao looked down and made a note.
"Third target: control effective, hit low."
Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief.
"This is the result of his training."
Tang San recalled the Blue Silver Grass and finally looked toward Su Hang.
"Your turn."
Su Hang walked into the arena at an unhurried pace.
Xiao Wu immediately followed him to the edge.
"Brother Su Hang, watch out in case he tries another trick."
Ning Rongrong spoke up too.
"Uncle Ning Chuan, keep watching. Don't let certain people turn a makeup exam into an accident."
Ning Chuan nodded.
"Miss, I've had my eye on him the whole time."
Teacher Zhao replaced the wooden targets and raised a hand to signal.
"Su Hang, begin."
The moment the first target moved, a Deep Purple Soul Ring rose beneath Su Hang's feet.
Dark Purple Lightning spread along the ground.
He made no unnecessary movements.
As soon as Thunder Pressure descended, all the remnants of Blue Silver Grass in the center of the Training Ground flattened.
Tang San stood to one side. The Blue Silver Grass he had just withdrawn into his palm stirred under the pressure, its movements immediately slowing.
His wrist went numb, and the last trace of composure on his face shattered.
Yu Xiaogang immediately warned him.
"Tang San, don't let it affect you."
Tang San gritted his teeth and urged his Soul Power onward.
"I can hold steady."
But the Poison Pattern in his incomplete Soul Ring was jolted by the Thunder Pressure, and the backlash surged up his right arm.
As he tried to regain control of the Blue Silver Grass, the short arrow had already been released.
Whoosh.
The arrow grazed the target and buried itself in the sandbag beside it.
Sand spilled through the split fabric.
The Training Ground fell silent for half a breath, then someone couldn't hold back.
"That sandbag took a pretty solid hit."
Xiao Chenyu slapped the railing and shouted, "Tang San controls the target, Boss Su controls the whole arena!"
Wang Sheng laughed so hard his flatbread nearly fell.
"That line belongs on the academy gate."
Xiao Wu lifted her chin.
"See? He falls apart as soon as he faces Brother Su Hang."
Ning Rongrong nodded too.
"That's what actual combat stability looks like. Teachers, make sure you write that down."
Teacher Zhao held his pen still in midair.
"Well, Tang San was affected by the Soul Power in the arena, causing his arrow to miss the target."
Yu Xiaogang hurried a step forward.
"You can't compare different paths directly."
"Su Hang specializes in suppressive offense, while Tang San relies on control and coordination. They should be assessed by separate standards."
Ning Rongrong folded her arms.
"Grandmaster, Tang San was the one who asked to be assessed alongside Su Hang."
Xiao Wu piled on.
"If he loses, you want them judged separately; if he wins, he gets to prove himself. How can things be that convenient?"
Xiao Chenyu immediately raised a hand.
"Teacher Zhao, I'd like to request that you add that line to the assessment notes."
Teacher Zhao ignored him and looked at Su Hang.
"Continue, Su Hang."
The second and third targets started moving at the same time.
Su Hang raised his right hand, splitting the lightning at his fingertips in two.
Smack.
Two bolts of lightning pierced the centers of the targets, bringing them to a halt at the end of their tracks.
The fourth target had barely popped out and moved half a foot before the lightning pinned it to the target line.
This time, Teacher Zhao didn't even remember to put pen to paper.
Wang Sheng murmured in awe.
"What's the point of testing him? The targets didn't even make it out of the tutorial zone."
Xiao Chenyu puffed out his chest.
"Get it now? Boss Su's already settling the score ahead of time."
Tang San stood motionless, his right hand still numb.
Yu Xiaogang immediately lowered his voice.
"Don't lose your head. This is only one part of the assessment."
Tang San didn't answer. He only stared at the short arrow stuck in the sandbag.
Ning Rongrong walked over to Teacher Zhao and pointed at the score sheet.
"Teacher, you have to write down the score, don't you?"
Only then did Teacher Zhao put pen to paper.
"Su Hang: combat stability, excellent."
He looked over at Tang San's section again and paused for a moment.
"Tang San, your control events were effective, but your stability suffered under interference, and your strikes with objects lacked accuracy."
Yu Xiaogang spoke up at once.
"Teacher Zhao, this kind of interference is well beyond what ordinary first-year students are expected to handle."
Teacher Zhao closed the score sheet, his tone firmer than before.
"Mr. Yu, if you leave the academy early for Shrek, no one out there will guarantee that you won't face interference."
Xiao Wu was quite pleased to hear that.
"That's fair."
Ning Rongrong tapped the Seven Treasures Token lightly.
"If you can't even withstand Brother Su Hang's Thunder Pressure, the Soul Saint test at Shrek will be an even bigger headache."
Xiao Chenyu shouted again.
"Tang San should pay for the sandbags first!"
Wang Sheng patted him.
"You've got your priorities all wrong, but you've got a point."
Teacher Zhao took out two documents.
"Su Hang, you passed the cultural exam, met the Soul Power requirement, and passed the practical stability test. You can claim your Recommendation Pass."
Xiao Wu immediately turned to Su Hang with a smile.
"Brother Su Hang, you've got this in the bag."
Ning Rongrong stepped closer as well.
"I'll go with you to Shrek and check things out."
Tang San looked up.
"Teacher Zhao, what about me?"
Teacher Zhao opened another form and paused before speaking.
"Student Tang San, you'll need to take a makeup exam, or have a guarantor approved by the academy sign for you."
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