Freshman Assessment Comes to a Complete Close

Zhang Lexuan, standing nearby, was thoughtful and perceptive. Seeing Yue Ling's pale, weakened expression, she immediately spoke up softly to dissuade them.

"Elder Xuan, Yue Ling has only just woken up and is still very weak. Let's not disturb his recovery."

"Right, right, right!"

Bei Bei was only eight years old at the time. He was lean and upright, with short dark-blue hair that gleamed like gemstones beneath the daylight. His sharp brows and eyes carried the bold, spirited edge unique to a young boy.

Hearing this, Elder Xuan looked somewhat embarrassed and hurriedly nodded.

Seeing that Yue Ling was safe and had awakened smoothly, the heavy burden weighing on his heart for so long finally lifted completely.

"Then rest well. We won't disturb you any longer. If you feel uncomfortable or need anything, call for us immediately!"

Yue Ling weakly nodded and answered softly, "All right, Master, Sister Lexuan, and little Bei Bei."

"Goodbye, big brother!" Bei Bei waved obediently.

"Goodbye."

Only after seeing that his condition was stable and his breathing calm, no different from usual, did the group finally leave in relief.

The door closed softly, and the room fell completely silent.

Yue Ling let out a long breath, his entire body finally relaxing.

He truly needed to rest properly.

Earlier, activating his domain to suppress the remnant soul had drained more than half his spiritual power.

The chill permeating his limbs and bones had yet to completely fade, leaving his entire body sore and weak.

Still, it was not enough to leave him unable to move. He was simply exceptionally exhausted.

Yue Ling slowly lay back down beneath the soft covers, a faint scent of grease lingering at the tip of his nose.

He did not think much of it, assuming it was the scent Elder Xuan had left behind when he came earlier, or perhaps he had simply grown used to Elder Xuan's smell. He paid it no mind.

In his mind, the thrilling scenes from the elimination round finals replayed over and over.

The life-and-death struggle from earlier felt like a dream—illusory, yet real.

Resting his head on his arm, Yue Ling gently closed his eyes and murmured, "I wonder how Xiaotao and Gongyang Mo are doing now..."

"I hope they didn't see anything strange when I activated my second domain."

As soon as the words left his mouth, his body inexplicably shuddered. A faint chill rose within him, and he subconsciously pulled the blanket higher.

Warmth slowly spread beneath the covers, dispelling the lingering cold in his limbs.

Extreme mental exhaustion swept through him. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and unable to resist the drowsiness, he slowly drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, in Freshman Class One at Shrek Outer Court.

Yue Ling was resting safely in bed.

All the other freshmen, meanwhile, sat miserably in the classroom, attending tedious and complicated lessons.

At the podium, homeroom teacher Wu Ya gave a light cough and raised a hand, signaling for the class to quiet down.

"Congratulations. Every one of you who remained has passed through layer upon layer of selection and proven yourselves qualified, outstanding first-year students of Shrek."

"Come on, give yourselves a round of applause."

Led by their homeroom teacher, the students clapped enthusiastically in delight. Warm applause instantly filled the classroom, and some students could not help whistling.

After several seconds of applause, Wu Ya raised a hand to signal them to stop, and the classroom quickly quieted down.

He cleared his throat, his expression solemn as he slowly said, "You have successfully passed the freshman assessment. Next comes the official class assignments. Those of the Power Attack Type and Control Type will be grouped according to similar classifications and will not be separated arbitrarily, so you need not worry about that."

"Next is the selection of core disciples."

At this, his expression became even more serious.

"Once you are chosen as core disciples of the Martial Soul Department, the Academy will devote extensive resources to cultivating you, fully supporting your further studies so that you may become even more exceptional and powerful Spirit Masters in the future."

"And precisely because of this, the Martial Soul Department will never permit its core disciples to divide their attention. From this point onward, you will no longer be able to take courses in the Spirit Guidance Department.

"At Shrek, the Martial Soul Department holds authority."

The freshmen below immediately understood the benefits, restrictions, and rules of becoming core disciples.

At his seat, Dai Yueheng clenched his fingers tightly, his eyes filled with determination and longing.

Core disciple... One of those spots will definitely be mine!

His heart brimmed with anticipation for the future. He was determined to cultivate diligently and become a powerful Spirit Master like his father one day!

Wu Ya's gaze unconsciously swept over the empty seat by the window—that was Yue Ling's seat, and it was especially conspicuous now that it stood vacant.

He sighed softly inwardly before explaining to the class, "Yue Ling was seriously injured during the final match and will temporarily be absent from subsequent lessons while he recovers in peace."

"However, he will definitely attend the later unified test on time."

As soon as he finished speaking, hushed discussion instantly broke out throughout the classroom.

Dai Yueheng and the others who had fought Yue Ling widened their eyes in disbelief.

The team that had fought them before was actually powerful enough to force Yue Ling, the Dancer of Chrysanthemums, into recovering from serious injuries?

At that moment, he truly understood that there was always someone stronger.

At the front of the classroom.

Ma Xiaotao rested one hand against her desk, looking listless and dispirited.

Gongyang Mo, beside her, kept his head lowered and sat quietly in his seat, his heart filled with bitterness.

Around him were the rising and falling discussions of his classmates; before him was an empty seat.

Gongyang Mo felt as if something was missing from his heart.

The once-lively dormitory had lost one person, and with it, all its former warmth. When he went to the cafeteria, there was no companion walking beside him, and even the food seemed to have lost some of its flavor. Every morning, there was no longer anyone to wake him on time.

Even staying up late to cultivate had become dull and meaningless.

Now, as soon as the sky darkened slightly, he could only lie down early and silently hope the days would pass faster, hoping Yue Ling would return sooner.

Gongyang Mo appeared calm on the surface, without the slightest sign of anything amiss, but his heart had long been crying out again and again:

Yue Ling, come back soon! I really need you!

At the podium, Wu Ya pondered for a moment.

Only then did he hurriedly add in a loud voice, "Everyone, remember this: tomorrow morning, all students who passed the freshman assessment are to gather at Shrek Square!"

"Got it!" the entire class answered in unison.

"Class dismissed."

"Goodbye, Teacher!"

Wu Ya nodded in acknowledgment and was the first to turn and leave the classroom.

As soon as the teacher left, the classroom immediately became lively. The students gathered in twos and threes, chatting and laughing as they rose and filed out of the room.

Gongyang Mo and Ma Xiaotao had not interacted much to begin with. Now that Yue Ling was no longer there to smooth things over and bridge the gap between them, they had even less to say to each other.

Ma Xiaotao gave him a faint nod before turning and leaving alone.

In the vast classroom, only Gongyang Mo remained. He sat quietly at his desk, letting out a soft sigh, his heart full of loneliness.

The following morning.

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and the dim, oppressive atmosphere seemed to weigh down even the air.

Shrek Academy stood beside Sea God Lake. Mist rose from the lake's surface, making the air throughout the campus especially damp and deepening the oppressive feeling.

All first-year students who had passed the freshman assessment gathered in the broad Shrek Square, standing in neat rows as they quietly awaited the upcoming class assignment ceremony.