Assessment Begins

"Only by passing the assessment can you officially become first-year students and members of Shrek Academy. Otherwise, if you fail, this will be your final period of time at the academy."

Zhang Lexuan's tone was gentle, but her words struck the students below like a blow to the head. This assessment was not like Zhou Yi privately expelling someone, where a student might be able to protest and remain in another class. Failing the freshman assessment meant they had truly been expelled from Shrek Academy.

Thus, while the students below felt nervous upon hearing Zhang Lexuan's words, they were also somewhat excited.

Zhang Lexuan raised a hand to signal for quiet before continuing, "The freshman assessment will be held across the entire grade. Since our academy has gained quite a number of students in recent years, nearly three hundred teams will be participating this time. Only the top one hundred and fifty teams will ultimately be allowed to remain."

Every student listened intently. To them, the freshman assessment was the key to whether they could stay. Once eliminated, they could only leave Shrek Academy and enroll in another advanced academy.

Yao Shi did not particularly care, because he had already decided that, regardless of whether he was eliminated, he would leave this place during the holiday after the assessment.

He had discovered that aside from its denser soul power, which allowed him to cultivate a little faster, Shrek Academy did not seem to have anything else to teach him. The training methods used by ordinary soul masters were not suited to him.

In the end, Shrek Academy—the so-called holy land of soul master cultivation—was merely the number one academy on the continent in name only. It gathered all the continent's top resources together, turned geniuses into greater geniuses, then had those geniuses become academy teachers who continued recruiting and cultivating more geniuses.

Over the past three months, Yao Shi had simply meditated step by step and absorbed the surrounding soul power. Without using any pills or treasures, he had risen five levels. He could have done that anywhere with slightly denser soul power, so there was no need to remain here and continue being restricted at every turn.

"Later, I will classify you according to the characteristics of your respective martial souls. After careful consideration, I will arrange you into teams. If anyone is dissatisfied, you may make changes after returning."

Zhang Lexuan continued explaining matters related to the assessment from the podium.

As expected, Yao Shi took Huo Yuhao's original place and formed a team with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao. Unlike the original trio, who had all chosen the control system, Yao Shi chose the auxiliary system, while Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao chose the assault system and control system respectively.

After dividing Class One's students into three-person teams, Zhang Lexuan smiled at the students below. "All right, that will be all. If anyone is dissatisfied with their team, you may come find me to make changes. You only have one day to consider it. Then, I wish all of you smooth success in the coming assessment and hope you become true members of Shrek Academy. Class dismissed."

"Yes!!"

The students below answered in unison before filing out of the classroom.

Just as Yao Shi and Wang Dong stood up to leave as well, Xiao Xiao walked over. She first glanced at Wang Dong, then looked at them both and gathered her courage. "Wang Dong, Class Monitor, shouldn't we discuss tactics or something?"

Yao Shi merely smiled at her. "No need. We can adapt to the situation on the field."

Yao Shi could tell that Xiao Xiao had actually wanted to speak with Wang Dong, but since he was there and they were in the same team, she had used discussing tactics as an excuse.

Wang Dong stepped forward at that moment, her face full of pride. "That's right, adapting to the situation is enough. With my strength, what tactics do I need? Yao Shi just needs to support me, and I'll take them down in no time. Winning the championship won't be a problem. You just need to stay obediently behind us and be a mascot."

"Y-You're looking down on me?"

Xiao Xiao felt a wave of disappointment upon hearing Wang Dong's words. It was obvious that Wang Dong did not think much of her martial soul.

"Just you wait! What's so great about you? Once the assessment begins, I'll let you see my hard work with your own eyes. I'm not the mascot you say I am!"

Xiao Xiao spoke heatedly to Wang Dong, then turned around and left the classroom without looking back.

"Weren't those words a little harsh?"

Seeing the young girl storm off in anger, Yao Shi teased Wang Dong.

Wang Dong waved her hands in explanation. "I-I didn't mean it like that. By mascot, I meant she could relax in the back and watch the two of us handle things. Maybe we can even become champions without her having to make a move."

Yao Shi rolled his eyes at what she said, feeling speechless. "Isn't that exactly the same as calling her a mascot?"

Wang Dong: "...Uh."

Yao Shi did not continue teasing her. After the two left the classroom, they ate a meal and returned to their dormitory.

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, two days had gone by, and today was the day the freshman assessment began.

The Class One students had no objections to the teams Zhang Lexuan had arranged. After all, as an expert at the Soul Douluo level, she possessed deep insight into different types of martial souls. The combinations she arranged might not have been the strongest, but they were certainly the most suitable.

The morning was for drawing lots, arranging the teams, and determining the matchups between classes. The assessment would officially begin in the afternoon.

Although Yao Shi's group had not discussed tactics, they still needed to understand one another's martial souls. Thus, before the assessment began, the three briefly introduced their martial souls to each other.

At that moment, a booming announcement rang out.

"Attention, all freshmen. Attention, all freshmen. Please enter the assessment area immediately and prepare for the freshman assessment. You have ten minutes remaining to enter. Anyone arriving late will be considered to have forfeited this assessment."

The loud broadcast spread throughout the entire outer academy, and the freshmen's expressions turned solemn. Some were anxious and uneasy, while others were already eager to get started.

The assessment area was located in the north-central part of the Martial Soul Department. It was oval-shaped and, unlike the Spirit Battle Area, was not a stadium enclosed by high walls. The assessment area was simply a vast open space paved with concrete, surrounded by a low wall. Inside, partitions divided it into separate sections, for a total of fifty assessment zones.

Yao Shi's team had been assigned to Zone Thirty-Three. Upon hearing the announcement, the three ran in that direction.

The areas were well laid out, and every field was clearly marked. Before long, the three found their assigned zone.

At that moment, a teacher in his forties walked up before the students in Zone Thirty-Three. "Very good. We have six teams of students taking the assessment here, and everyone has arrived. Before the assessment begins, let me introduce myself. My name is Wang Yan, and I will be your assessment teacher for the next two days."

Seeing that the students were already eager to begin, Wang Yan smiled and continued, "In that case, let us begin."

As he spoke, he took out a folder, opened it, glanced at it, and read aloud.

"First round, first match: Freshman Class One's Yao Shi, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao versus Freshman Class Three's Ouyang Junyi, Chen Junfeng, and Ou Haochen!"