First Battle Victorious, Overwhelmingly Powerful

The first round of the freshman assessment began promptly at dawn.

The entire Shrek Grand Playground had been divided into eight competition zones, each marked off with white boundary lines. Referee teachers and medical staff stood around them. The competing teams headed to their assigned arenas according to the drawing results.

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao's Group C had been assigned to Arena Three.

Their first opponents were a team from Class Two of the second year. All three opponents were two-ring Soul Masters, their martial souls being the Gale Wolf, Ironclad Rhinoceros, and Green Vine respectively—one assault type, one defense type, and one control type. Their lineup was quite balanced.

The referee stood at the center of the arena. After confirming that both sides were ready, he raised his right hand. "Begin!"

The moment his words fell, Wang Dong moved first.

The wings of the Light Goddess Butterfly abruptly unfurled behind her, golden radiance bursting forth almost tangibly and bathing the entire arena in dazzling light. She had no intention of probing her opponents. She charged straight at their assault-type Soul Master.

The Soul Master with the Gale Wolf martial soul clearly had not expected Wang Dong to be so decisive. Caught off guard, he could only cross his arms to block.

But Wang Dong's impact far exceeded his expectations. With a muffled bang, he was knocked backward several meters, his feet carving two long furrows into the ground.

"Left!" Huo Yuhao's voice rang directly in Wang Dong's mind—the effect of Spiritual Detection Sharing.

Without even thinking, Wang Dong instinctively darted to the right. A green vine brushed past her shoulder by a hair, striking the ground with a crisp snap.

The enemy control-type Soul Master had tried to launch a sneak attack from the flank, but Huo Yuhao had spotted it in advance and warned her.

"Xiao Xiao, front right. Sonic interference." Huo Yuhao's voice sounded again.

Xiao Xiao immediately raised the Nine-Phoenix Flute to her lips, and a melodious flute note rang out.

Yet to the opposing team, that tune sounded like a piercing swarm of bees, visibly slowing their movements for an instant.

The Green Vine Soul Master had been preparing to unleash a second control skill, but the sonic interference disrupted his soul power, directly interrupting the skill.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Dong took a single stride and appeared before their defense-type Soul Master. Her right leg swept out, trailing golden soul power as it slammed fiercely into the shell formed by the Ironclad Rhinoceros martial soul.

Crack

A fine fracture appeared on the shell.

The defense-type Soul Master's expression changed instantly. His Ironclad Rhinoceros was famed for its defense. Opponents of the same rank would need at least several full-force attacks to break through it. Yet Wang Dong had cracked his shell with a single blow. Just how powerful was this girl's attack?

"It's over." Huo Yuhao's voice sounded calmly in his teammates' minds.

The next second, a gentle golden light lit up in his Spiritual Eyes. All three opposing Soul Masters felt a wave of dizziness wash over their minds, their movements freezing in unison—Spiritual Interference.

Though it lasted only two short breaths, that was more than enough for Wang Dong.

Her figure flashed, and she appeared before the Gale Wolf Soul Master. She pressed a palm against his chest and sent him over the boundary line.

Then, using the same method, she sent the Green Vine Soul Master out of bounds as well. The last remaining Ironclad Rhinoceros Soul Master was still resisting stubbornly, but in a three-against-one situation, he soon followed his teammates out.

After confirming both sides' condition, the referee announced, "Group C, first match: Team Huo Yuhao wins!"

It had taken less than five minutes.

Wang Dong withdrew her martial soul and dusted off her hands, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "Not bad. Just right for a warm-up."

Huo Yuhao did not reply. He simply replayed the battle silently in his mind.

This was his first time combining Spiritual Detection Sharing and Spiritual Interference in actual combat, and the results were better than he had expected.

But there were still details to improve. For instance, the timing of the Spiritual Interference could be more precise, and it could coordinate more tightly with Wang Dong's attack rhythm.

"Let's go. Our next match is in the afternoon." Xiao Xiao put away the Nine-Phoenix Flute, a faint smile on her face. "Let's wait in the rest area first."

Meanwhile, at Group A's arena.

Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Cui Yajie had already finished their match as well.

If Huo Yuhao's team had won cleanly and efficiently, then Ning Tian's team had won with utterly overwhelming force.

After the match began, Wu Feng did not even wait for Ning Tian's buffs to take effect before charging directly into the opposing three-man formation.

The Fire Dragon Martial Soul condensed into a blazing phantom behind her, scarlet flames scorching the surrounding air until it warped and twisted.

The opposing assault-type Soul Master tried to intercept her head-on, but after just one exchange, Wu Feng sent him flying with a punch. He rolled across the ground several times before finally stopping.

The expressions of the remaining two Soul Masters turned pale.

Cui Yajie did not join the frontal battle. She circled around to the flank and silently released her Nine-Tailed Fox martial soul. A faint pink mist spread soundlessly through the air. Just as the enemy control-type Soul Master was about to use a skill, he suddenly felt his eyelids grow heavy, and the movements of his hands involuntarily slowed. The illusion had taken effect.

"Wu Feng, leave the one on the right to you." Ning Tian's voice came from behind her as a streak of colored light descended onto Wu Feng.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—strength amplification, speed amplification.

Wu Feng felt a rush of heat surge into her limbs. Her whole body seemed to grow lighter, while her strength increased dramatically.

She grinned and shot toward the second opponent like a cannonball. One punch shattered his defensive martial soul, sending him flying over the boundary line as well.

Seeing that things had gone badly, the final Soul Master promptly raised his hand and surrendered.

When the referee declared the match over, the timer read: three minutes and twelve seconds.

Wu Feng retracted her martial soul and rolled her wrist, still unsatisfied. "That's it? I haven't even had my fill yet."

"There are two more matches this afternoon. You'll have plenty to fight." Ning Tian put away the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her tone gentle but carrying a hint of warning. "But don't be too impulsive. Conserving your strength is more important."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Wu Feng waved a hand dismissively.

Cui Yajie stood to one side and quietly let out a breath. That had been her first time using an illusion in actual combat, and its effect was better than she had imagined.

Although there was still plenty of room for improvement, it at least proved this path was viable.

After all the morning matches ended, the homeroom teachers gathered their respective students for a brief review.

Huo Chen stood before Class One, his gaze lingering briefly on the two victorious teams before he spoke. "I watched this morning's matches. You did well, but there were also quite a few problems."

His tone was calm, neither praising nor criticizing them. He was merely stating the facts.

"Wang Dong, your frontal suppression is powerful, but your defensive awareness still needs work. If Huo Yuhao hadn't warned you in advance, you would have been hit by that vine at least once."

Wang Dong opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but ultimately shut it again. She knew Huo Chen was right.

"Wu Feng, your offensive power is excellent, but you burn through soul power too quickly. If you end up in a prolonged battle, the later stages will be very difficult for you." Wu Feng snorted but did not argue.

"Xiao Xiao, your timing with sonic control was good, but its area of coverage could be wider. Ning Tian, your support was excellent, but your positioning could be more flexible. Cui Yajie, for your first use of illusion techniques in actual combat, that result deserves recognition, but you still need more practice to improve its consistency."

Huo Chen pointed out each person's strengths and shortcomings one by one, his tone level and devoid of emotion.

Finally, he concluded, "The matches this afternoon will be even more intense, because your opponents will adjust their tactics based on your performance this morning. Don't let one victory make you careless, and don't lower your guard just because an opponent seems weak. Fight steadily and treat every match like the finals."

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

The afternoon matches began on time at 1 p.m.

Huo Yuhao's team's second opponent was a team from Class Three.

This team was somewhat stronger than their morning opponents, and their coordination was more seamless as well.

But before Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing, their tactical intentions were almost completely exposed. Every attack was predicted in advance and neutralized.

In the end, Huo Yuhao's team claimed their second victory at the cost of Xiao Xiao suffering minor injuries and Wang Dong using up more than half her soul power.

With two wins in two matches, they secured a spot in the next round ahead of schedule.

At the same time, Ning Tian's team also crushed their second-round opponents, advancing early with two straight victories as well.

As the sun set, the first day of matches came to an end.

Huo Yuhao sat on the edge of his dormitory bed, holding the beginner's guide to necromancy Electrolux had given him, but he did not open it.

He gazed at the evening glow outside the window, replaying every detail of the day's matches in his mind.

Spiritual Detection Sharing worked very well, but it still had room for improvement. The duration of his spiritual interference was too short and needed to be strengthened.

Wang Dong's offensive rhythm was fast, but her defense was indeed a hidden danger.

Xiao Xiao's support was stable, but when facing high-speed opponents, her reaction speed still needed improvement.

He silently noted all these areas that needed work.

Tomorrow, there would be tougher battles ahead.