"What's going on? Did I just see Ye Chen beat Dai Huabin and his two teammates all by himself? Am I seeing things?"
"Wait, what? How is that even possible? Is he really a control-type Soul Master?"
"Could he have some hidden trump card?"
"Hold on, is Ye Chen a power attack-type or a control-type? How can a control-type be this strong?"
"Exactly! I saw him clash head-on with Dai Huabin's energy blast!"
"Isn't that against the rules? Wouldn't that give their team two power attack-types?"
All sorts of voices rose from the spectator stands.
Even Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo on the raised platform were too shocked to speak.
"Shaozhe, do you think Ye Chen has twin martial souls?" Qian Duoduo speculated.
"Very likely." Yan Shaozhe nodded, then suddenly realized something. "Old Qian, didn't you say you wouldn't set your sights on my core disciples? I'm telling you, Ye Chen is definitely going to be a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department."
Qian Duoduo gave Yan Shaozhe a deeply disdainful look. "When have I ever gone back on my word? Don't worry, I certainly won't target Ye Chen."
Qian Duoduo made that solemn pledge, then added silently, Of course, if he comes asking me for resources, pretend I never said that.
Clearly, everyone present already knew exactly what sort of man Qian Duoduo was, so none of them took his solemn pledge to heart.
They were far more curious about the abilities Ye Chen was hiding.
"Based on my years of teaching experience, I think he very likely has twin martial souls, and his second martial soul is a top-tier power attack-type martial soul," Yan Shaozhe offered his opinion.
The others nodded in agreement.
If Ye Chen had heard that...
Ye Chen: So this is what it means to get the entire process wrong and still land on the right answer. Now I've seen it for myself.
You managed to guess I have twin martial souls from that?
Are you using cheats?
"Then, Dean, what about this match?" Du Weilun looked at Yan Shaozhe.
If Ye Chen really had twin martial souls, and his other martial soul was a power attack-type, then his team had broken the rules and would have to be disqualified.
"Ye Chen's team wins," Yan Shaozhe said without hesitation.
"Then how should I explain the match rules?" Compared to Yan Shaozhe, Du Weilun was much more rigid about following regulations.
"Sometimes, rules have to make way for geniuses," Yan Shaozhe said calmly, looking at Du Weilun.
"All right, Dean. I understand." Du Weilun nodded, then stepped onto the competition platform.
As Du Weilun reached Ye Chen's side, the venue immediately fell silent.
"I hereby announce..." Du Weilun began slowly, and every gaze in the venue focused on him.
"Ye Chen, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao win!"
As Du Weilun's words fell, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.
The students of Class One, in particular, were genuinely happy for Ye Chen and his teammates.
Because Ye Chen represented not only them, but Class One as well!
From the very first day of school, Ye Chen had been Class One's spiritual pillar!
Of course, not everyone was happy for Ye Chen. Huo Yuhao, for instance.
At that moment, Huo Yuhao would have been unhappy no matter who won.
Still, between Ye Chen and Dai Huabin, he would rather see Ye Chen win.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya were standing beside Huo Yuhao.
"Bei Bei, Ye Chen is so talented! If we'd known, we should have been more forceful back then and pulled him into our Tang Sect!"
Tang Ya spoke with a hint of regret.
She had also noticed that Ye Chen seemed to command immense respect in his class.
If she could lure Ye Chen into the Tang Sect, wouldn't that mean she could lure in a whole bunch of Shrek Academy freshmen too?
Shrek Academy students were different from students at other academies.
Every last one of them was a freakishly gifted talent.
Wasn't recruiting a few more geniuses for the Tang Sect the whole reason she worked so hard to stay at Shrek Academy?
"Xiaoya, Ye Chen clearly said he wouldn't join the Tang Sect back then. Maybe we should just let it go," Bei Bei said after thinking for a moment.
"No, Bei Bei. I'm determined to get Ye Chen! He has to join our Tang Sect," Tang Ya said, her gaze resolute.
"All right." Seeing her determination, Bei Bei said nothing more.
Ye Chen, Ye Chen again! Why does even Sister Xiaoya have to revolve around him? The hatred for Ye Chen in Huo Yuhao's eyes deepened once more.
Just then, Tang Ya suddenly thought of something and turned to ask Huo Yuhao beside her.
"Yuhao, aren't you and Ye Chen in the same class? Why don't you try persuading him? See if he'll join our Tang Sect," Tang Ya said expectantly.
"I..." Faced with Tang Ya's expectant gaze, Huo Yuhao nodded with difficulty and answered.
"Sister Xiaoya, I'll give it a try."
"Great!" Tang Ya was overjoyed. "Let's go, Yuhao! I want four grilled fish this time!"
"Xiaoya, don't eat so much," Bei Bei said fondly from beside her.
Yet as Tang Ya and Bei Bei turned away, a barely perceptible flicker of hatred flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes.
And previously, he had only felt this kind of hatred toward Dai Huabin and Dai Hao...
Meanwhile, back in the arena, after Du Weilun announced the result...
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao immediately rushed toward Ye Chen in excitement.
Xiao Xiao, in particular, was so happy that she threw herself straight into Ye Chen's arms.
This year's freshmen were the most outstanding group in recent years.
For the sake of doing well in this competition, she had originally intended to reveal her twin martial souls.
She had even planned to add the first soul ring to her other martial soul, the Nine Phoenix Welcoming Flute.
But Ye Chen had firmly stopped her.
Wang Dong stared dumbfounded at Ye Chen holding Xiao Xiao, an unpleasant feeling churning inside him.
Ye Chen! I really need to give you a good shocking! Wang Dong roared inwardly in anger.
Xiao Xiao also noticed Wang Dong's unnatural expression and instinctively slipped out of Ye Chen's embrace.
"Ahem, um, Wang Dong, sorry about that," Xiao Xiao said sheepishly.
"???" Wang Dong said haughtily, "What's there to be sorry about?"
Xiao Xiao: "???"
From her perspective, Wang Dong and Ye Chen didn't look as though there was nothing between them.
Besides, they even shared a dorm room!
The results of the freshman assessment soon spread throughout the academy.
And with this battle, Ye Chen firmly established his footing in the academy.
Some students even claimed that Ye Chen's strength had probably already surpassed that of their seniors!
After all, even a senior with four soul rings wouldn't have defeated the Hell White Tiger so easily, right?
Meanwhile, after returning to their dorm room, neither Wang Dong nor Ye Chen went to sleep.
Wang Dong's mind was filled with the image of Xiao Xiao throwing herself at Ye Chen, and an indescribable sourness welled up in his heart.
Should I let him know who I really am? Wang Dong hesitated inwardly, wondering whether he should tell Ye Chen that he was actually a girl.
Ye Chen was also awake, because the Creation God Test he had chosen earlier had finally responded.
A voice suddenly rang out in Ye Chen's mind.
"Creation God First Test: obtain the Ice Empress Soul Spirit. Reward: God-Bestowed Soul Ring."