Bai Fan's team smoothly advanced to the final two.
Their match against Dai Huabin's team followed immediately after.
In the stands, Qian Duoduo fiddled with the piggy bank in his hand.
"Old Yan! This time, I'll be picking a few students to join our Soul Guidance Academy."
"Which academy they enter is up to the students themselves. Other than those reserved for the inner court, I have no objections as long as they're willing."
Qian Duoduo let out an old-money chuckle. "Then it's settled. After this match, I want Huo Yuhao to join our Soul Guidance Academy. Your Martial Soul Academy is not allowed to interfere."
Yan Shaozhe did not agree immediately. He looked at the scheming Qian Duoduo, then at Huo Yuhao on the battlefield below. After weighing the pros and cons, he nodded.
"Fine."
On the fighting platform.
Wang Dong fought Dai Huabin, who possessed the cultivation of a Soul Elder, alone, while Xiao Xiao slowed down the other two.
Bai Fan provided support from the rear without concern. He did not rashly use Purple Demon Divine Light.
A skill like that could serve as a trump card, but it absolutely could not be used too often. If he used it frequently, the powerful figures present would see through it, causing unnecessary trouble.
The battle grew increasingly intense.
Wang Dong truly deserved to be Tang San's daughter. Her combat ability could not be underestimated.
She wielded Ring Fusion with ease.
With the coordination of Bai Fan's group of three, only Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu remained on the opposing team.
Xiao Xiao's expression relaxed.
"Heh." Dai Huabin snorted coldly.
Zhu Lu instantly understood. The two pressed their fingers together, their Soul Power merging.
An enormous creature with a pair of wings on its back abruptly appeared.
Wang Dong sensed the opponent's formidable strength and turned toward Bai Fan. "Yuhao, let's use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill too."
"Xiao Xiao, hold them off for a moment."
As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Dong took Bai Fan's hand and merged their Martial Souls.
"Get off the platform!"
A deep voice came from the Hell White Tiger's mouth. Its sharp tiger claws struck toward Xiao Xiao, and the successive blows made her body unable to bear the strain.
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu gathered all their Soul Power and launched their final attack at Xiao Xiao's group.
"Xiao Xiao, move!" Wang Dong and Bai Fan called out in unison.
"Withering in Brilliance, the Golden Road!"
The two had developed this Martial Soul Fusion Skill long ago, and its name remained the same as in the original work.
Seeing that things were going badly, Yan Shaozhe immediately stepped forward and blocked the attack.
After a long silence, he announced the result.
"Bai Fan's team wins this match!"
Wang Dong excitedly threw herself into Bai Fan's arms, then hurriedly pulled away after coming to her senses.
Yan Shaozhe stepped onto the high platform and announced the final inner court reserve spots. As expected, Bai Fan was not among them.
"That's impossible. Yuhao, how could you not be included?" Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao asked in disbelief.
"It's fine. I've already become Teacher Fan Yu's disciple in the Soul Engineering Department. Perhaps my Martial Soul isn't suited for the Martial Soul Department and is better suited for the Soul Engineering Department!"
"It doesn't matter if I didn't enter the inner court. I can shine wherever I am. We all need to keep working hard."
Bai Fan wore a sunny expression, without the slightest trace of disappointment or resentment. Rather than feeling dejected, he held great expectations for the future.
Naturally, Yan Shaozhe could hear Bai Fan and the others talking. He nodded unconsciously.
Good kid. Perhaps you really will achieve great things in the future, but I won't change my mind. Your Martial Soul truly isn't suited for the Martial Soul Department.
Yan Shaozhe spoke to himself inwardly. Though he admired Bai Fan's character, he would never act on impulse.
The freshman tournament ended.
Time returned to peace.
The top ten teams from the freshman assessment were assigned to Zhou Yi's class.
In the animation, Zhou Yi had once said something to Fan Yu that roughly meant that everyone who entered Shrek was a prodigy. There was little meaning in nurturing geniuses; what she truly hoped for was to cultivate ordinary children into geniuses.
It completely followed Yu Xiaogang's theory that there were no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters.
Yet in the end, Yu Xiaogang only taught geniuses, and Zhou Yi only taught geniuses as well. Those without enough talent were eliminated directly.
This could only mean that their teaching philosophies were flawed, not that their character was bad.
Yu Xiaogang could destroy Spirit Hall at any cost for Tang San, while Zhou Yi could run around tirelessly for her students and help Huo Yuhao find a path forward.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Yi appointed Wang Dong as class monitor and Huo Yuhao as vice class monitor.
"I object. Why does Huo Yuhao get to be vice class monitor? He isn't worthy, unless he can beat me."
Wu Feng voiced her dissatisfaction.
Wang Dong stood up, preparing to refute her, but Bai Fan stopped her.
"I accept your challenge."
Inside the combat area.
Wu Feng and Bai Fan stood facing each other as their spar began.
Wu Feng did not use her Martial Soul, and likewise, Bai Fan did not use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade.
Relying on the physical strength he had trained over the past few months, Bai Fan fought Wu Feng head-on.
Naturally, there was no surprise in the result. Bai Fan was beaten back by Wu Feng.
"I'll make you dodge!"
"I'll make you bully Ning Tian!"
"I'll make you use underhanded tricks!"
Every one of Wu Feng's attacks was accompanied by angry words.
Bai Fan was beaten black and blue, unable to lift his head.
"Trash like you should get out of Shrek. You don't deserve to live."
Wu Feng had gotten carried away. Her spoiled and willful nature made her blurt out the truest thoughts in her heart.
Bai Fan's legs trembled, his upper body hunched over, and blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
"Heh, is it because I come from a humble background that you get to humiliate me like this?"
"I've already worked so hard at cultivation. I work harder than any of you. Why can't you give me a little time?"
Bai Fan desperately recalled the humiliation he had suffered as a child, releasing all the hatred in his heart.
Under that powerful resentment, Electrolux within his spiritual sea completely awakened.
He took over Huo Yuhao's body, and the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul turned grayish-white.
The combat area was enveloped in grayish-white light, and the people outside could not see what was happening within.
Wu Feng collapsed limply under the pressure of Electrolux's aura, and a puddle appeared beneath her.
"Boy, don't let hatred blind your eyes. When you can face your own heart directly, I will fully merge with you."
Within the spiritual sea, Electrolux warned him.
"Wait, can Chaos Power help stabilize your Divine Sense?"
In the spiritual sea, Electrolux's phantom showed a surprised expression. "You plotted against me? You were pretending just now?"
"How could that be called plotting? This hatred is my obsession to begin with. I simply can control my true heart."
Electrolux's phantom stared at Bai Fan, then finally replied with certainty, "Chaos Power can naturally help me restore my Divine Sense."
"What about Death Slaughter Power? And Skeleton Undead Power?"
Bai Fan continued speaking, and Electrolux's expression grew increasingly grave.
"What exactly do you want?"
"I don't mean anything else. I'm merely an orphan with no one to rely on, and you happen to be very weak. I want to obtain your power. I want to become stronger, strong enough to sweep away everyone who stands in my way."
"I'll help revive you, and you'll give me power. It's a fair deal. Perhaps after spending enough time together, we can even become friends."
Electrolux sighed.
"What you mentioned would benefit me, but you are still young. I advise you not to let hatred blind your eyes. Learn to let go."
With that, Electrolux fell into slumber.
Bai Fan was utterly disdainful. In his previous life, he had never read any books related to Electrolux; everything he knew about him came from Douluo Continent.
Although Electrolux had an impressive presence, Bai Fan could not stand those principles of his.
Within the spiritual sea, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm complained to Bai Fan.
"That person truly doesn't know what's good for him. Yuhao, once we become stronger, we must drive him out."
Over the past few months, Sky Dream and Bai Fan's relationship had improved. They gradually began to grow closer to becoming friends.
Before you continue