Facing Xiao Xiao's slightly shy gaze, Wang Dong blinked.
He did not understand why this girl liked Li Qingming. For some reason, it made him feel a little displeased, yet he did not know what to say at that moment.
After their group sat down, Zhou Yi announced the second group, followed by the third.
Once every group had finished, Zhou Yi said calmly, "The rewards for winning the elimination rounds are extremely generous. Our academy is famously wealthy."
"Remember this: I want all of you to advance. If anyone gets eliminated, not only will they have to leave, but I'll also leave them with some unforgettable memories. Understood?"
As Zhou Yi spoke, her voice abruptly turned cold. Bone-chilling killing intent flashed through her purple eyes. Feeling that gaze, quite a few students shuddered instinctively and hurriedly responded.
Li Qingming, standing on the platform, did not care much. After Zhou Yi said, "Prepare yourselves well. The freshman assessment begins tomorrow afternoon," school was dismissed.
Shrek Academy's freshman assessment would begin the following afternoon, giving them an afternoon and a morning—an entire day—to prepare.
For everyone else, these days were needed to familiarize themselves with one another and formulate tactics.
But Li Qingming already knew Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's martial souls well, so there was no need for that. Still, after some thought, he brought the two of them outside.
Being able to go out with two handsome guys made Xiao Xiao a little shy.
Especially when she felt the gazes of the surrounding girls, who seemed ready to "kill" her, she slightly turned her head and did not dare look at either of them.
At that moment, the three stood quietly amid the grass in the forest. Li Qingming looked at Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, his expression calm.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Li Qingming. Wang Dong and I are roommates, so you should already know that. I won't say much else. I intend to take first place in this competition, and all you need to do is not hold me back."
Li Qingming's tone was extremely serious as he spoke. If anyone else had said those words, they would have sounded boastful, perhaps even like they were trying to show off.
But coming from Li Qingming, neither Wang Dong nor Xiao Xiao felt anything strange about it. It seemed perfectly natural for the young man to say such things.
Hearing Li Qingming's words, both of them nodded heavily.
"As for tactics, I'll explain those as well. It's simple. Wang Dong and I will handle the direct assault, though Wang Dong will take the lead. I'll control the middle, while the rear will be left to Xiao Xiao."
"Now, introduce your martial soul."
As Li Qingming spoke, he gestured to Xiao Xiao. Under the gazes of the two boys, Xiao Xiao began introducing her martial soul somewhat awkwardly.
Li Qingming naturally knew all about it. Whether it was the mutated Three-Life Soul-Calming Cauldron or the vertical flute, both possessed powerful effects.
Although their control abilities were not particularly strong, they were enough for him. After all, he himself was the best controller. He could win this match without even needing his teammates' assistance.
After they had familiarized themselves with one another, Wang Dong and Li Qingming returned to their dormitory together.
The moment they returned, Wang Dong sat down and yawned. Clearly, he was looking forward to tomorrow's freshman assessment.
"What do you think our first-round opponents will be like? Will they be strong?"
"Sigh, no matter how strong they are, they probably won't be stronger than you. You're already at three rings."
As Wang Dong spoke, he sighed at Li Qingming. Others did not know, but Wang Dong was aware that Li Qingming had previously possessed twenty-eighth-rank Soul Power.
Yet in just three short months, his Soul Power Level had broken through to rank thirty. Without absorbing a soul ring, he had somehow acquired a third soul ring.
Li Qingming could not hide such things from his roommate Wang Dong, but Wang Dong did not dwell on them. Due to his own circumstances, he had always taken matters of "fortunate opportunities" rather openly.
Li Qingming did not react much. The academy's end-of-term reward this time should be a secret-art Soul Bone, but he did not care much about it.
Although he did not currently possess a single Soul Bone, if he were to attach one, it would have to be one of the top-tier Soul Bones still existing on this continent. He would not accept anything else.
While a secret-art Soul Bone had some use, it was equally unimportant to him.
For Li Qingming, the only purpose of this competition was to prove his strength and secure a core disciple position at Shrek Academy.
That would stabilize matters with the Holy Spirit Cult, while indirectly stabilizing things on Shrek's side as well. Then, once the break arrived, he could follow Huo Yuhao to the Far North.
He was not planning to seize the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. Although an ultimate martial soul like the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion was powerful—
—it was not comparable to either his Six-Winged Holy Angel or Ultimate Fallen Angel.
Though they were all ultimate attributes, either one of Li Qingming's martial souls could easily suppress the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. Therefore, he had no need for that martial soul.
His purpose in going was to visit Snow Empress's tribe and see what exactly had happened.
Normally, Snow Empress should still be there. After all, it was only some time later that she would undergo her heavenly tribulation, become a child, be taken away, and then sold to the Sun Moon Empire.
There absolutely should not have been an accident at this stage. Or rather, he himself should not have appeared here either.
Li Qingming needed to figure this out. After all, Snow Empress had saved his life, and he still owed her a favor.
With that thought, Li Qingming sat cross-legged once more and continued cultivating.
Wang Dong did not say anything about this crazed cultivation routine. Or rather, he had already grown used to it.
Watching Li Qingming cultivate in silence, Wang Dong fell quiet for a second before standing up and looking at him.
"I'm going to the cafeteria to eat. I'll grab a portion for you too. You still want the usual, right?"
As Wang Dong spoke, he looked at Li Qingming. Li Qingming gave a soft "Mm."
Wang Dong seemed long accustomed to this. He casually opened the door and headed to the cafeteria, leaving Li Qingming sitting quietly alone in the room.
As Li Qingming slowly opened his eyes, a streak of golden light flashed through one eye, while the other held a nearly filthy darkness.
At the same time, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger appeared beside him.
The small kitten yawned, amusement written across its face.
"Want to improve your strength quickly? This king knows plenty of ways to raise your strength fast. Perhaps they'll be a great help to you."
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger spoke with a hint of laughter in its voice.
But as he looked at the kitten, Li Qingming simply remained seated cross-legged, allowing the powers of ice and fire within him to surge alongside the four forces of the Fallen Angel and Sacred Angel, constantly tempering his Soul Power.
Seeing that Li Qingming ignored it, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger yawned and slowly stretched.
As Li Qingming's strength gradually increased, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had likewise granted him a third authority, which had greatly improved him.
What was especially worth mentioning was that he possessed a secret unknown to many: besides those two martial souls, he had also concealed his greatest trump card.
It was precisely because of this trump card that he could remain indifferent to so many matters.
However, this trump card had one prerequisite: his own Soul Power Level had to rise.
So, hearing the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's words, even though Li Qingming did not particularly want to deal with it, he still opened his eyes and turned to look at the evil little kitten.
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