Advancement Assessment

Just as Lin Yao was about to leave the Star Dou Great Forest, the God of Destruction's second divine trial descended.

[Second Trial of the God of Destruction: Comprehension of the Power of Destruction]

[As one who is to inherit the God of Destruction's divine position, you must possess a thorough understanding of the Power of Destruction. Using the affinity for the Power of Destruction obtained in the first trial, create a wisp of Power of Destruction that belongs to you and design it into a Self-Created Soul Skill.]

The corner of Lin Yao's mouth twitched. What kind of second divine trial was this? Was the God of Destruction in that much of a hurry to retire?

But while the God of Destruction wanted to retire, Lin Yao was in no hurry to complete this trial. He was still wandering around near the Star Dou Great Forest. If he caused too much of a commotion and drew Di Tian over, that would ruin the fun.

He was still planning to make Di Tian his eighth or ninth soul ring. If he alerted Di Tian now, then if the God of Destruction ignored him, he would die outright. If the God of Destruction intervened, then his eighth or ninth soul ring would most likely be gone for good.

If he wanted to study it, he would have to wait until he was near Shrek Academy, find somewhere deserted, and research it quietly.

After returning to Shrek Academy, a peaceful stretch of days passed, until the final day before the end-of-term break.

Shrek Academy had a month-long holiday every year. Of course, that month was not for the students to relax or go sightseeing. It was meant for them to integrate everything they had learned over the previous eleven months and cultivate diligently.

After the month-long break came the advancement examination. Students who failed to pass it would be eliminated directly. Thus, the annual break was actually the hardest and busiest time of the year for most students. Who would really dare to relax?

During class that day, Wang Yan wrote four large characters on the blackboard: "Advancement Examination."

Standing at the podium, Wang Yan spoke at length. "Students, today is the final day of your first year. The academy has assigned no teaching tasks, so I'll say a few simple words, and then you may go back and pack your things."

"Over the past year, Teacher Mu and I have seen all of your performances. You have all been outstanding. It can be said that you are the finest students Teacher Mu and I have ever taught. Here, on behalf of Teacher Mu and myself, I thank you all for your hard work."

At this point, Wang Yan shifted the subject. Lightly tapping the four words "Advancement Examination" on the blackboard with his finger, he said, "I imagine that some of you who enjoy exchanging learning experiences with upperclassmen already know that Shrek Academy has no final examinations. What we have instead is this advancement examination.

"As the name suggests, this examination bears some resemblance to the freshman assessment. If you fail it, your journey of study at Shrek Academy will come to an end. Naturally, you will not receive a graduation certificate either, and can only return with an incomplete record."

"Therefore, I'm sure everyone understands the importance of this assessment. Next, I'll briefly go over some of its key points."

After Wang Yan said this, the students who had been eager to go home and had begun whispering among themselves all sat up straight in unison.

Lin Yao, sitting in the back row, lightly spun the pen in his hand as he observed Wang Yan. He had to admit that the man's pacing over those last two passages had been quite good. In just a few sentences, he had drawn everyone's attention to himself.

The old guy was, at the very least, an expert speaker.

"Now, I'll go over some key points of the advancement assessment. You must remember them well.

"First, the most important point—and one with no trick to it whatsoever—is absolute strength. That is, your Soul Power.

"To advance from the first year to the second, every student must reach Rank 20 Soul Power. If you still do not have two soul rings by the time of the advancement assessment, then I suggest you need not return next school year.

"No matter how outstanding your performance is in the other assessments, failing to reach two rings is useless. No one can change the academy's rules.

"Therefore, those students who have not yet reached Rank 20 Soul Power must give it everything they have over the next month.

"Moreover, you must obtain a soul ring to prove that your strength has reached the Soul Grandmaster level."

After Wang Yan finished the first point, the students of First-Year Class One could not help turning to look at Lin Yao and Ye Guyi. While they were discussing how the requirement to enter the second year was at least two rings, these two—one with four rings and the other with five—were especially eye-catching.

They were like cranes walking into a chicken coop. They did not need to deliberately hold their heads high; their basic height alone completely overshadowed the rest.

Lin Yao gave a light cough, then said to Wang Yan, "Teacher Wang, I think there's really no need to mention that requirement. Everyone has worked very hard this year. Even those who haven't reached two rings yet are already at the peak of Rank 18, or even Rank 19 Soul Power. With a month of effort, reaching it won't be a problem."

Wang Yan nodded, then continued, "Good, very good. Next, I'll discuss the second point."

"Having two rings does not mean that you will definitely pass the advancement examination. The specific content of the examination is currently under absolute confidentiality; even teachers like us do not know it.

"However, this is not my first time serving as a teacher at Shrek Academy. Based on my experience, I can responsibly tell you that its difficulty will be no lower than defeating a hundred-year soul beast alone.

"Remember clearly: alone. There will be no possibility of assistance. The moment a supervising teacher intervenes, the assessment is over.

"That was last year's assessment process. If this year's assessment is the same, then you should count yourselves fortunate, because it tests only your pure strength.

"Beyond that, there may also be more difficult assessments that require luck, strength, and wisdom to work together.

"However, assessments of that level generally appear in the upper years. At the same time, the advancement assessment is not only a matter for each of you individually; it also concerns our class.

"Our Class One must advance as well, and that advancement assessment will require the top students in the class to complete it."

As he said this, Wang Yan's gaze swept over Lin Yao and Ye Guyi, who remained as steady as ever, before moving to several students beneath them in achievement—such as Xiao Xiao, who had already broken through to Soul Elder and was preparing to use this month to apply to the academy for assistance in obtaining her third soul ring.

After Xiao Xiao switched to cultivating the Nine-Phoenix Flute and acquired a thousand-year second soul ring, her Soul Power cultivation speed seemed to have increased by a great deal. Clearly, the soul ring she had obtained was exceptionally compatible with her.

Lin Yao saw Wang Yan nod at him and said easily, "Don't worry, Teacher Wang. With us around, nothing major will happen during the class advancement assessment—unless they assign an absolutely impossible task, like making us duel a Titled Douluo one-on-one..."