Harvesting Nanmen Yuner's Heart

When Ning Tian heard that Gu Shengge intended to stand by and watch during the Freshman Assessment, her delicate brows furrowed slightly. They were a team of four, not three. If Gu Shengge did not act, then even with her support, Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner alone would not be able to defeat the other side's three, or perhaps even four, members.

"Class monitor, I'm a support Soul Master. If you don't make a move, Wu Feng and Yuner will be under a lot of pressure."

Gu Shengge told Ning Tian to remain calm. It was not that he would not act; it was simply that if he went all out, those freshmen would not need to compete at all. They could just surrender.

Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner were both among the best of this year's freshmen. With Ning Tian's support, their strength would increase dramatically, and few freshmen would be their match.

Besides, even if Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner lost, he was still there to back them up. The championship would definitely belong to their group.

As one of Gu Shengge's biggest fans, Nanmen Yuner supported him without hesitation.

"I agree with the class monitor's proposal. With his strength, he doesn't need to take part in the Freshman Assessment at all. With Wu Feng and me, plus your support, Ning Tian, no freshman except those two Soul Elders can defeat us. Even if we lose, the class monitor will step in, so there's nothing to worry about."

Ning Tian and Wu Feng exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in the other's eyes. Although they had some reservations about Gu Shengge's decision, they could not deny his overwhelming strength. If he truly went all out, they would not have any chance to show themselves in the Freshman Assessment.

Besides, Gu Shengge was their class monitor. They had no right to change his decision.

Since they could not resist, they might as well comply.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng nodded, accepting Gu Shengge's decision.

After dinner, Ning Tian and Wu Feng left the cafeteria first, while Gu Shengge called out to Nanmen Yuner.

"Yuner, I have something else for you. It can help you quickly increase your strength."

Hearing that the class monitor had another gift for her, Nanmen Yuner's heart stirred, and anticipation appeared in her eyes. What could it be?

A leather pouch appeared in Gu Shengge's hand. It contained the Crimson Flame Vulture Soul Bone Yan Shaozhe had given him earlier, a Soul Bone that was thirty-two thousand years old.

He had already analyzed this Soul Bone. It was of little use to him now, so rather than letting it gather dust in his storage space, he might as well give it to someone who needed it.

"What is this?"

Nanmen Yuner looked at the pouch held out before her, confusion on her face. Gu Shengge explained gently,

"Yuner, inside is a thirty-two-thousand-year Crimson Flame Vulture right arm Soul Bone. It suits you perfectly. Once you fuse with it, your strength will definitely increase greatly."

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone!"

Shock filled the charming girl's pretty face. This was far more astonishing than the Soul Ascension Pill. She had never expected the class monitor to give her something so precious!

After recovering from her shock, Nanmen Yuner hurriedly shook her head and refused. "C-Class monitor, this is too precious. I-I can't accept it."

"This Soul Bone does not suit me, and it is useless to me. Rather than letting it gather dust in a storage Soul Tool, I would rather give it to someone who needs it more. Yuner, I think highly of you, so accept it."

Gu Shengge soothed the excited girl and stuffed the pouch into her arms. He also intended to take this little fan of his under his wing.

Nanmen Yuner held the pouch tightly. A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone had just been given to her so easily that it felt unreal. From this Soul Bone, she could feel the class monitor's deep affection for her. Her pink lips parted as she thanked Gu Shengge in a trembling voice.

"Th-Thank you, Class Monitor!"

"You're welcome. Work hard, and don't let me down."

Gu Shengge smiled at her words, raised his hand, and rubbed Nanmen Yuner's head.

Nanmen Yuner tightly gripped the pouch and promised Gu Shengge sweetly, "Mm, don't worry, Class Monitor. I won't let you down!"

Gu Shengge nodded in satisfaction and told her to fuse with the Soul Bone first after returning. She could use the Soul Power within it to strengthen her body, then take the Soul Ascension Pill afterward. Her strengthened body would be better able to absorb the pill's medicinal effects.

The two then left the cafeteria and returned to their dormitory.

"Brother Gu, the Freshman Assessment teams have been assigned. I've been placed in the same group as Huo Yuhao and the others."

As soon as Gu Shengge returned to the dormitory, Han Yue reported the members of Huo Yuhao's group. The first three were the same as in the original story: Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. Since Han Yue's cultivation ranked near the top of the class, he became the fourth member.

When Han Yue had first enrolled, his Soul Power had only been rank twenty-one. But with Gu Shengge's help, he had taken six Blackwater Pills and a Soul Ascension Pill. His Soul Power had now reached rank twenty-five.

Gu Shengge had clearly been grooming Han Yue as one of his trusted subordinates.

As for why Han Yue had been selected, Gu Shengge guessed that Zhou Yi was paving the way for Huo Yuhao.

First, Han Yue was close to Huo Yuhao. Second, he was a defense-type Soul Master, making him perfect for protecting fragile Huo Yuhao.

"We might run into each other during the Freshman Assessment. When that happens, I'll go a little easier on you."

Gu Shengge patted Han Yue's shoulder, telling him not to worry. He would not let him lose too badly.

Han Yue immediately revealed a smile uglier than crying. He feared no one in the Freshman Assessment except his own boss.

Even Xu Sanshi, known as the "Outer Court's Number One Defense," had been easily crushed by him, much less a nobody like Han Yue.

At the very least, at the very least, let him face his boss at the end. At least then he could earn a decent ranking. If he could not get first place, second or third would do.

Having witnessed his boss's terrifying strength, Han Yue had already decided that first place was reserved for him.

On the day of the Freshman Assessment, Mu Jin led Class Nine's students to the Assessment Zone.

Shrek Academy's Assessment Zone was located in the north-central area of the Martial Soul Department, adjacent to the Dueling Zone. Compared to the Dueling Zone, the Assessment Zone covered a far larger area.

For Shrek Academy Outer Court students, this was a paradise where outstanding students could display their abilities, but it was also a nightmare for students with lower cultivation. Every year, a great number of students were eliminated for failing their assessments, and most of those assessments were held here.

The Assessment Zone was oval-shaped. Unlike the Dueling Zone, which resembled an enclosed stadium, it was an open space. A low wall ran around its perimeter, while the inside was divided into separate sections by partitions. These partitions could be dismantled at any time to alter the size of the sections.

The annual Freshman Assessment was when the Assessment Zone was divided into the greatest number of sections. Not only were there many freshmen, but their destructive power and attack range were limited, so they did not need much space to display their abilities.

After a tense morning of team assignments, the assessments officially began that afternoon.

Since it was the first day of the assessment, each group only needed to complete one match before leaving, allowing the freshmen to get used to it first.

The academy assigned forty-two teachers to register and oversee the assessments in forty-two separate sections.

The opponents for today's matches had already been decided by drawing lots at noon. Every effort was made to ensure that teams from the same class would not encounter one another during the upcoming ten-round round robin.

~

PS: After the Freshman Assessment ends, they will head to the Far North Ice Plains to hunt the Ice Empress, followed by the awakening of the third Martial Soul.