Assessment Passed

Gu Han and Xiao Wu walked into the interior of Shrek Academy. Although the environment remained crude, it finally looked a bit like an academy compared to the gate outside.

Very few people had passed the previous rounds, and adding Gu Han and Xiao Wu to the mix, only Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were currently standing in the open space waiting for the fourth round.

Ning Rongrong looked at Gu Han with curiosity; the five soul rings he had displayed outside earlier had left them in a state of great shock.

Although Zhu Zhuqing maintained her usual cold demeanor, she would occasionally glance toward Gu Han.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a short stature but broad shoulders and a muscular build walked over while yawning.

He looked somewhat lazy, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp; he was none other than the Immovable Bright King, Zhao Wuji.

"Hmm? Four little monsters made it to the fourth round this year. Not bad, not bad."

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over the four of them, lingering on Gu Han for a moment; clearly, Li Yusong had already informed him of the situation.

However, no strange expression appeared on his face. He simply grinned, "I am Zhao Wuji, your examiner for the fourth round."

"My test is very simple: just hold out for the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn under my hands. No matter what method you use, as long as you are still standing after the incense burns out, you pass."

He casually stuck a stick of incense into the ground and lit it.

"Teacher Zhao, isn't that a bit unfair? You are a Soul Saint, and we..."

Ning Rongrong couldn't help but speak up. Although she was only an auxiliary-system soul master, she was well aware of the gap between them and a Soul Saint.

Zhao Wuji grinned:

"Don't worry, I will suppress my soul power to a level similar to yours. Of course, if you feel that one person isn't enough, you can all come at me together."

His gaze rested primarily on Gu Han, carrying a hint of provocation.

A thirteen-year-old Soul King had piqued his great interest.

"We'll go together," Gu Han said calmly, looking at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

Ning Rongrong's martial soul was the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, which could provide significant amplification. Zhu Zhuqing was extremely fast and could draw his attention; this combination was indeed quite good.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance and nodded. Facing a Soul Saint, joining forces was the only option.

"My name is Ning Rongrong, my martial soul is the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, a level twenty-six auxiliary-system tool soul master," Ning Rongrong introduced herself first.

"Zhu Zhuqing, martial soul Nether Civet, level twenty-seven agility-attack system battle soul master," Zhu Zhuqing said simply.

"Xiao Wu, martial soul Soft Bone Rabbit, level thirty-four power-attack system battle soul master," Xiao Wu said with a giggle, two yellow and one purple soul ring rising beneath her feet.

"Level thirty-four?"

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing looked surprised; this lively-looking girl actually had higher soul power than them.

"Gu Han, martial soul Sky Frost Sword, level fifty-three power-attack system battle soul master," Gu Han said last. His five soul rings appeared once more, the configuration making even Zhao Wuji look a bit more solemn.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda? Good, it seems Flender will be happy."

Zhao Wuji looked at Ning Rongrong, then shifted his gaze back to Gu Han. "Level fifty-three. Kid, you are the most monstrous 'little monster' I have ever seen. I hope you don't disappoint me."

"Seven Treasures turn out glazed light, one: Power! Two: Speed!"

Ning Rongrong reacted quickly. Her two yellow soul rings lit up, and four beams of colored light were injected into Gu Han, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and herself simultaneously.

Strength and speed increased by thirty percent instantly!

Zhu Zhuqing flashed to Zhao Wuji's side, her sharp claws extended, aiming straight for his vitals. Xiao Wu used her waist-bow strength, closing in as if teleporting, her long legs wrapping toward Zhao Wuji's neck.

Zhao Wuji did not dodge or evade, his skin taking on a bronze luster.

"Bang! Bang!" With two sounds, Zhu Zhuqing's claws and Xiao Wu's kick landed on him, producing the sound of clashing metal, yet it only made him sway slightly.

"Good power, but it's still far from enough." Zhao Wuji's large hand swiped directly at Xiao Wu.

Just then, a biting chill descended abruptly.

"First soul skill, Frost Blade Slash."

Gu Han moved. The Sky Frost Sword swung out, a crescent-shaped ice-blue sword aura carrying a bone-chilling cold slashing toward the arm Zhao Wuji was using to strike at Xiao Wu.

Before the sword aura even arrived, the extreme cold had already caused frost to faintly appear on Zhao Wuji's arm.

Zhao Wuji's eyes narrowed; he withdrew his palm and punched toward the sword aura.

"Sshhh."

The sword aura collided with the force of his punch, emitting a shattering sound.

The soul power on the surface of Zhao Wuji's fist had actually condensed into a layer of frost. Although it was shattered instantly, he felt that the chill had slowed his movements down.

"Good kid, interesting." Zhao Wuji was not alarmed but delighted. His third soul ring lit up.

A powerful gravity instantly enveloped the entire area. Ning Rongrong let out a muffled groan, and the speed of Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu slowed down.

Gu Han also felt his body sink, but his soul power was deep, so the impact was smaller. He shifted his sword stance, thrusting the Sky Frost Sword into the ground.

"Second soul skill, Ice Crystal Barrier."

A thick wall of ice rose from the ground instantly, blocking the path in front of Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing while also cutting off Zhao Wuji's line of sight.

"You think you can stop me with this?"

Zhao Wuji laughed heartily, his fifth soul ring lighting up as he prepared to unleash an even more powerful attack.

Gu Han's gaze sharpened; he knew he couldn't remain on the defensive. The third black soul ring on his Sky Frost Sword suddenly flared to life.

"Third soul skill, Frost Bloom."

He slammed the Sky Frost Sword into the ground behind the ice wall, using the wall as an anchor point.

Countless ice spikes erupted from the ground beneath Zhao Wuji's feet, spreading upward before instantly detonating. The range covered nearly every inch of space surrounding him.

Zhao Wuji hadn't expected Gu Han's attack to have such a massive area of effect. In his haste, he instinctively activated his Avatar of the Martial Soul to defend himself, momentarily forgetting to suppress his soul power.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The ice spikes exploded in rapid succession, and an intense, frigid aura permeated the surroundings. Ice crystals continuously formed on Zhao Wuji's body, only to be shattered an instant later.

Although the attack failed to break his defense, it left him looking somewhat disheveled and completely pinned him to the spot.

"Now's our chance."

With Ning Rongrong's support, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu braved the gravity and launched another attack from both flanks.

Gu Han also gripped his Sky Frost Sword, pointing the blade directly at Zhao Wuji as he searched for a weakness to secure a decisive victory.

However, before they could strike, Zhao Wuji conceded the match himself. He had violated the rules; he was supposed to suppress his soul power to match their level, but by using his Avatar of the Martial Soul, he had already lost.

Just as Gu Han and the others finished their assessment, a commotion erupted outside Shrek Academy.

"Let me in! My disciple is a genius; his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, but he's different!

He was clearly at level twenty-nine before—there must have been a mistake somewhere!"