Assessment Grouping: Ning Tian and Gu Shengge

After Mu Jin finished explaining the rules and key points of the Freshman Assessment, she had the students write their Martial Soul cultivation directions on slips of paper and hand them in before beginning the group assignments.

The students waited eagerly, all silently praying that they would be assigned to the same group as Gu Shengge. That way, they could just coast along.

Mu Jin swept her gaze around the classroom, her eyes lingering briefly on Gu Shengge before she spoke softly.

"Now for the group assignments. Group One: Gu Shengge, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Nanmen Yuner."

Gu Shengge, Ning Tian, and the others rose at the same time. When the other students saw that the class's only two Soul Elders had been assigned to the same group, cries of despair immediately filled the room. Everyone looked utterly hopeless.

Their dreams of coasting along had been shattered.

Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner, on the other hand, looked delighted. They had not expected their teacher to assign the class monitor to their group.

Nanmen Yuner turned to look at the white-clad youth standing by the window. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the glass and fell across his body, seeming to coat him in a faint golden radiance. His platinum hair gleamed brightly, making him appear noble and otherworldly.

Gu Shengge sensed Nanmen Yuner's gaze and turned his head slightly, giving her a faint smile.

The class monitor smiled at her!

A trace of excitement appeared on Nanmen Yuner's charming face. Her heart trembled, unable to calm down, while pink heart-shaped outlines appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Ning Tian was also overjoyed to be assigned to the same group as the class monitor. With her Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda support and the class monitor's formidable strength, no one in the Freshman Assessment could stand against them!

"Group Two: Zhang Kaixuan, Mo Xi, Lei Ziyin, Bai Momo."

"Group Three: Lin Yunzi, Lin Yunpei, Liu Xian, Huang Moyu."

"Group Four..."

As Mu Jin announced one group after another, the students rose one after another. Every group had been assigned appropriately, with reasonable Martial Soul combinations and little difference in overall strength.

Mu Jin said, "All right, the groups have been assigned. The academy will give you one day to familiarize yourselves with each other. During that day, you must coordinate with your teammates, build mutual understanding, and develop teamwork. Understood? If you are dissatisfied with your teammates or feel incompatible with them, you may come to my office. I will rearrange the groups."

The Class Nine students answered in unison, "Understood, Teacher!"

After class, the students found their teammates and began asking each other about their Martial Souls and soul skills. They started devising battle plans, striving for a good ranking in the Freshman Assessment.

Gu Shengge walked over to Ning Tian and the others, extending an invitation to the three beauties.

"Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Yuner, let's go to the cafeteria."

Ning Tian looked at Gu Shengge, surprised that he had taken the initiative to invite them. Before she could speak, Nanmen Yuner eagerly nodded in agreement, leaving Ning Tian and Wu Feng rather helpless.

This girl was truly beyond saving.

The four left the classroom and headed for the cafeteria.

On the way, Gu Shengge saw Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong being called to Zhou Yi's office.

It reminded him that, in the original novel, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao had formed a group during the Freshman Assessment. Now that it had become a four-person group, who else would be added? He would have to ask Han Yue.

At the academy cafeteria.

Gu Shengge chose a private room and ordered four portions of the day's finest dishes. Each portion cost thirty Gold Soul Coins.

Nanmen Yuner took the initiative to sit beside Gu Shengge, her graceful body pressing tightly against his in an intimate manner. She made no effort to conceal her admiration for him.

"Since we're in the same group, there's no need to hide anything from one another. I'll start by telling you about my Martial Soul and soul skills."

Gu Shengge looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng and told them about his Martial Soul and soul skills. Naturally, these were the altered versions of his soul skills. How could he casually reveal his true soul skills to others? Besides, Ning Tian was the young mistress of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. In a sense, they were still enemies.

If Spirit Hall and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ever came into conflict, and Ning Tian told the sect the altered effects of his soul skills, he could still catch them off guard.

Even the altered effects of his soul skills were enough to leave Ning Tian and the others shocked. Hundred-thousand-year soul skills truly were terrifying!

"My Martial Soul is the Agate Firebird. First soul skill: Crimson Blade. Second soul skill: Crimson Slash..."

Nanmen Yuner also told Gu Shengge about her Martial Soul and soul skills. She possessed twenty-fourth-level Soul Power and was an agility-type Battle Soul Master.

Wu Feng said, "Martial Soul: Red Dragon. First soul skill: Dragon's Fire. Second soul skill: Dragon's Fury. Twenty-fifth-level assault-type Battle Soul Master."

Ning Tian did not hold anything back either. After all, the soul skills of the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda could not be concealed.

Her three soul skills respectively increased strength, speed, and Soul Power by forty percent, lasting for half an hour.

Worthy of being the continent's number-one support-type Martial Soul, even Gu Shengge was impressed by Ning Tian's support effects and their duration.

With his strength, plus Ning Tian's support, he would dare take on even a Soul Douluo, let alone a Soul Sage.

However, there was one slight difference. In the novel, Nanmen Yuner's Martial Soul had not been the Agate Firebird, but the Jade Bluebird, with the soul skills Jade Blade and Jade Slash.

Only in the animation had her Martial Soul been the Agate Firebird.

Likewise, Ning Tian's soul skills in the novel had been speed, release, and strength. Only in the animation had they been strength, speed, and Soul Power.

So this world was primarily based on the animated plot?

But Ma Xiaotao's appearance was different from the animation as well. In the animation, she had worn her hair in a bun, while this version had waist-length hair, and her accessories were more in line with her manga appearance.

So this world was a combination of the novel, animation, and manga?

Gu Shengge gathered his thoughts and spoke again, asking Ning Tian and the others a question.

"Ning Tian, Yuner, have either of you taken a Soul Ascension Pill?"

Hearing this question, Ning Tian looked puzzled. Why was he suddenly asking about that?

"I've taken one. Wu Feng hasn't. As for Yuner, I'm not sure."

Ning Tian and Wu Feng both came from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and knew each other inside out. Nanmen Yuner, however, was a friend they had met at the academy, and they were not especially close.

At her answer, two Soul Ascension Pills appeared in Gu Shengge's hand. He tossed one each to Nanmen Yuner and Wu Feng, leaving both girls stunned. They stared at Gu Shengge in bewilderment, unable to understand why he had done this.

Seeing him produce two Soul Ascension Pills without a word, Ning Tian was also astonished. This was no ordinary display of wealth! At the same time, she became even more curious about Gu Shengge's origins and background.

Soul Ascension Pills were precious in the eyes of others, but Gu Shengge had as many as he wanted. There were over a thousand in his Life Spirit Bracelet, all created by him over the past three months.

He said to the two girls, "Yuner, Wu Feng, your Soul Power is still a little too weak. We still have one day to prepare. Refining those Soul Ascension Pills should raise your Soul Power considerably. No need to thank me. We're helping each other. But let me make this clear beforehand: during the Freshman Assessment, I won't step in casually. Unless both of you are defeated, I won't make a move."

Gu Shengge's Soul Power had already reached level forty, surpassing even those older students in the fourth and fifth years. Participating in the Freshman Assessment was nothing but bullying the weak, so he chose to coast along. If Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner were both defeated, it would not be too late for him to act.

PS: It felt like Douluo II did not have much popularity, and the female characters were not very attractive either. It was not interesting to write.