The End of the Class Placement Tournament, and the Birth of Tang Wulin, the New Class Monitor

"What's wrong? Why is Gu Yue staring at me like that?" Tang Wulin noticed Gu Yue glaring fixedly at him.

"It's nothing. I was just... just worried about you. You weren't hurt just now, were you?" Gu Yue's ears began to turn slightly red.

Tang Wulin saw it and silently walked over, sitting down beside her. He said nothing, merely extending his hand and gently resting it on her silver hair, his palm carrying the warmth of the sun.

That warm touch seeped through her hair to her skin, making the tips of her ears flush crimson in an instant. Even her fair neck was tinged with a faint blush.

The fingers clutching the hem of her clothes suddenly tightened, their tips turning white. Her silver-purple eyes widened slightly, and she awkwardly turned away, not daring to meet the tenderness in his eyes.

Eastsea F4 fought their way through countless obstacles. In the end, only the final three teams remained for the true decisive battle!

Only three teams remained on the field.

1. Xu Yucheng's team.

2. Wu Siduo alone.

3. Eastsea F4, all four of them.

"Gu Yue and I will handle Xu Yucheng's team. You two go attack Wu Siduo." Tang Wulin laid out the battle plan. "Ready? Move!" Tang Wulin leaped toward Xu Yucheng.

The smoke of the melee had barely cleared, leaving only two figures facing each other in the arena—Tang Wulin held a short staff condensed from Blue Silver Grass, his eyes beneath his red hair as calm as a deep pool.

Across from him, scarlet flames swirled around Xu Yucheng. The Young Genius Ranking badge on his chest gleamed brightly. His Blazing Gryphon martial soul had already possessed him, gryphon wing bones spreading from his back, flaming feathers radiating searing heat.

"Tang Wulin, do you dare take my full-force attack?" Xu Yucheng's voice was arrogant as his first, second, and third Soul Rings lit up in succession. The yellow-purple-purple arrangement displayed his talent.

The instant his third soul skill, Gryphon Inferno, erupted, flames across the sky condensed into the phantom of an enormous gryphon. Carrying a force capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, it pounced fiercely at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened. Blue Silver Grass surged from his palm, and his first soul skill, Entanglement, transformed into layers of emerald vines, attempting to block the flaming gryphon.

But the moment the vines touched the flames, they were scorched black and curled up. Heat rushed toward him, warping even the air. He tapped the ground with his toes and retreated rapidly. Golden Dragon scales emerged over his left arm, and with the Golden Dragon Overlord Body empowering him, he forcibly endured the impact of the fiery aftershock.

"Is that all you've got?" Xu Yucheng sneered. His gryphon wings spread, and he dove like an arrow. A flaming spear formed in his right hand as his second soul skill, Flame Spear Thrust, shot straight for Tang Wulin's heart. The attack was swift and ruthless enough that even the instructors around the arena straightened in their seats.

Rather than retreating, Tang Wulin advanced. The Blue Silver short staff in his hand swept out, and the rudimentary form of the Blue Silver Overlord Spear condensed around it. As golden Soul Power flowed through it, it actually carried a trace of the Golden Dragon Spear's might. The instant the short staff collided with the flaming spear, a deafening boom erupted. Tang Wulin was knocked three steps back, his palm tingling slightly, but he remained firmly on his feet.

A flicker of surprise passed through Xu Yucheng's eyes. He had not expected Tang Wulin's strength to withstand his fierce assault head-on. Then the ferocity in his gaze deepened. His gryphon wings flapped violently, and countless flaming feathers rained down upon Tang Wulin. It was his first soul skill, Flaming Feather Assault.

"Elemental Reversal, just like Gu Yue taught me." Tang Wulin muttered. Blue Silver Grass frantically drew in the surrounding earth and water elements, forming a heavy shield of earth, stone, and water before him. The flaming feathers struck the shield with hissing sounds, but amid the rising steam, every one of them was blocked.

Tang Wulin moved the instant Xu Yucheng's Soul Power faltered. His figure became an afterimage as the Golden Dragon Claw suddenly shot out. The golden dragon claw tore through the air with a sharp hiss, grabbing for Xu Yucheng's flaming spear.

Xu Yucheng hurriedly tried to defend, but Tang Wulin's left hand suddenly shot forward. Blue Silver Grass in his palm wrapped around Xu Yucheng's wrist like venomous snakes, while his shoulder slammed fiercely into Xu Yucheng's chest—an inch-force strike he had comprehended through forging, concentrating all his power into a single point before erupting.

"Pfft!"

Xu Yucheng was sent flying as if struck by a heavy blow. The phantom of the Blazing Gryphon behind him instantly dissipated, and his fiery Soul Power dimmed. He crashed to the ground and braced himself to rise, only to find Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass already pressed against his throat. A faint Golden Dragon Might still lingered around the emerald vines.

"I concede." Xu Yucheng gritted out the three words. His eyes were filled with unwillingness, but he had no choice but to admit defeat.

Meanwhile, within the Soul Power light screen of the arena, the melee was in full swing. Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan stood back-to-back, their breathing already disordered. Across from them, Wu Siduo slowly approached. The girl wore a purple dress, the phantom of a Hell Spirit Cat appearing and fading behind her, while her purple eyes were full of cold pride.

"Even the two of you together are no match for me." Wu Siduo chuckled. Her figure suddenly turned into an afterimage—the signature technique of an agility attack-type soul master, Netherworld Shadow Doppelganger.

Several purple shadows split apart to attack them. Xie Xie hurriedly activated his Light Dragon Dagger martial soul, deploying his first soul skill, Light Dragon Clone. Two figures barely managed to block the frontal assault.

The Starwheel Ice Staff in Xu Xiaoyan's hand lit up, and her second soul skill, Starwheel Ice Bind, shot forth, only to be easily evaded by Wu Siduo's clones.

Wu Siduo's true body silently circled behind Xie Xie. A pale purple Soul Power blade condensed at her fingertips and stabbed toward his heart from behind with a chillingly sharp gust.

Xie Xie felt a chill at the back of his neck and hastily twisted aside. The Soul Power blade grazed his shoulder, leaving behind a bloody gash.

Xu Xiaoyan panicked at the sight. Disregarding everything else, she activated her third soul skill, Starwheel: Fate Deflection, trying to restrict Wu Siduo's movements. But she had consumed too much Soul Power. The star ring dimmed the instant it formed and was easily broken free from by Wu Siduo.

"Your Soul Power is running low, yet you still dare show off?" Disdain flashed through Wu Siduo's eyes. The Hell Spirit Cat's speed was pushed to its limit. Purple shadows crisscrossed as Xie Xie's Light Dragon Clone was shattered and Xu Xiaoyan's Starwheel Ice Staff was knocked away. The two staggered backward, their backs slamming heavily into the arena barrier. They were at the end of their strength.

Just as Wu Siduo's Soul Power blade was about to touch Xu Xiaoyan's brow—

"Stop!"

A furious roar split the air. Then a blazing golden figure shot into the arena like a cannonball. Tang Wulin vaulted into the air atop Blue Silver Grass, the Golden Dragon scales on his left arm shining brilliantly. His Golden Dragon Overlord Body was fully activated as he forcibly smashed Wu Siduo's attack aside.

Wu Siduo was knocked back three steps. After steadying herself, her purple eyes locked onto Tang Wulin. "Tang Wulin? You're interfering?"

"They're my teammates." Tang Wulin stood before Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan, his red hair flying in the wind. Blue Silver Grass surged wildly from his palm like enraged dragons. His third Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and the Blue Silver Overlord Spear condensed into form. Golden light gleamed sharply at its tip, faintly carrying the pressure of the Golden Dragon Spear.

Wu Siduo's pupils shrank. She did not dare underestimate him and pushed the Hell Spirit Cat's speed to the limit. Purple shadows flickered unpredictably as Soul Power blades stabbed like a rainstorm toward Tang Wulin's vital points. But Blue Silver Grass covered Tang Wulin's entire body, forming an impenetrable defensive net. At the same time, the Golden Dragon Claw shot out, accurately catching the path of her true body.

"Your speed is fast, but it's still not enough." Tang Wulin shouted. The Blue Silver Overlord Spear swept out as his inch force erupted, the shaft smashing heavily into Wu Siduo's Soul Power barrier. Wu Siduo felt an overwhelming force surge toward her, making her insides churn. Her Soul Power barrier instantly shattered, and she was sent flying.

She fell to the ground in a disheveled heap and tried to rise, only to find Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass already wrapped around her wrist. The spear tip hovered three inches from her throat.

"I... concede." Wu Siduo gritted out the three words. Her purple eyes were full of reluctance, yet she had no choice.

Tang Wulin withdrew the Blue Silver Grass and reached out to pull her up. Turning to Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan, he asked with concern, "Are you two alright?"

Xie Xie clutched his shoulder and grinned. "I'm fine! Boss, you came just in time!"

Xu Xiaoyan also let out a breath of relief, a faint blush coloring her face as she nodded gently. "Thank you, Wulin."

"Let us congratulate Tang Wulin's team for winning the final championship!" Shen Xuan slowly emerged from the cabin and stepped forward to make the announcement.

I. Core Management Class Officers.

Class Monitor: Tang Wulin.

Deputy Class Monitors: Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan.

II. Specialized Vocational Committee Members.

Forging Committee Member: Tang Wulin.

Design Committee Member: Gu Yue.

Manufacturing Committee Member: Luo Guixing.

Maintenance Committee Member: Wu Siduo.

"These will be the class officers from now on. At the same time, there will also be a monthly supplement of contribution points." Shen Yi adjusted her glasses and said with a smile.

Dusk spread over the parasol tree treetops of Shrek Academy, scattering fragmented golden light across the open space beside the arena. The moment the class officer list was announced, cheers from Tang Wulin's team erupted first, instantly breaking the brief silence.

Xie Xie jumped high into the air, spinning the Light Dragon Dagger beautifully around his fingertips. Throwing an arm around Tang Wulin's shoulders, he laughed loudly. "I knew it! Boss, you becoming class monitor is completely deserved! And I became a deputy class monitor too! From now on, our Class Five is definitely going to be the strongest class in the first grade!" As he spoke, he did not forget to raise his chin smugly at Wu Siduo in the distance.

Xu Xiaoyan stood nearby, hugging the Starwheel Ice Staff to her chest. A faint smile bloomed on her face, and she could not hide the excitement in her eyes. Looking at Tang Wulin, she said softly, "Wulin, congratulations. You were really amazing during the melee just now."

Tang Wulin scratched his head. His red hair glowed warmly beneath the sunset, and his smile was bright yet slightly bashful. "It was the result of everyone working together. Without you all, I definitely couldn't have done it alone."

The moment he finished speaking, he sensed a slender figure beside him. Gu Yue stood there, her black hair swaying gently in the evening breeze. Her usually cool features carried a rare softness. She said nothing, merely lifting her eyes toward Tang Wulin. Her silver-purple eyes held the light of shared pride, and the corners of her lips quietly curved into the faintest smile.

Tang Wulin's heart stirred. He could not help raising his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing over the top of her head just as he had when comforting her earlier, with a touch of clumsy tenderness. "Gu Yue, you're an excellent deputy class monitor too. Your Elemental Control was a huge help."

The tips of Gu Yue's ears suddenly turned red. She turned her head away and gave a soft snort, though her voice had softened somewhat. "...You talk too much. Wasn't that only natural?" Though she said that, she did not avoid his touch, and her fingers quietly tightened around the hem of her clothes.

More and more students from Class Five gradually gathered around them. Some held freshly bought grilled meat skewers, while others carried chilled fruit juice, loudly demanding that the class monitor treat them. Shen Yi watched the scene from afar and shook her head helplessly, though a smile rested at the corner of her lips. Wu Changkong still wore his usual cold expression, but when his gaze fell upon Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, it softened for a fleeting moment.

The evening breeze carried the rustling of parasol leaves, mingling with the laughter of boys and girls as it drifted into the distance. The aroma of grilled meat spread through the air, and the sweet freshness of fruit juice soothed their hearts. Even the air was filled with the fiery passion and sweetness of youth.

This celebration banquet for the first-year students had no extravagant display, yet it held the purest joy—the opening prologue of a legend that belonged to Shrek, and to these young people who had just set out on their journey.