The Assessment: A Self-Martial Soul Fusion Skill Appears! (Part Three)

The blazing sun scorched the sky. Assessment Platform Thirty-Three had become the focus of the entire arena—

Of the 310 freshman teams, only sixteen teams and forty-eight contestants remained on the elimination stage. Every step took them closer to the champion's throne, and the Fighting Spirit in the air was thick enough to congeal.

Voices surged around the draw table. Huo Yuhao stepped forward, but just as his fingertips touched the lot cylinder, an inexplicable throb of unease rose in his chest.

He raised a brow and grumbled to himself: It couldn't be that cursed, could it? I wanted to save Dai Huabin for the finals. Don't tell me I'm about to hook the big fish in the round of sixteen?

He pinched a slip between his fingers and drew it out. The inked words were clear: Lot Four.

"Freshman Class Nine, Huo Yuhao's team—Lot Four!"

The words had barely fallen when a figure with short pink-and-blue hair bounced onto the stage. It was the pink-and-blue goose, disguised as a boy.

She lifted her chin haughtily and drew a lot. The instant her eyes swept over the slip, her face stiffened, and even her pink-and-blue hair seemed to droop.

"Freshman Class One, Wang Dong's team—Lot Four!"

Four versus four. The first match of the round of sixteen!

In the stands, Zhou Yi's face went white as paper. She stumbled two steps and nearly fell.

For all her calculations, she had never expected the two strongest freshman teams to collide this early. She might have looked down on Huo Yuhao, but his Martial Soul was a genuine bug!

Mu Jin, meanwhile, smiled brightly and tapped the railing with a fingertip. She glanced sideways at the devastated Zhou Yi, her voice dripping with mockery. "Teacher Zhou, it seems your elite education is about to break its spear in the sand. You'd better have my Soul Bone and Level 8 Soul Tool ready."

"You!" Zhou Yi trembled with rage, but no words came. She could only stare at the arena and hope Wang Dong would work a miracle.

Huo Yuhao's tense brows suddenly relaxed, and a delighted smile tugged at his lips.

Perfect! Grudges to settle, scores to repay—he was going to tear through this freshman tournament!

Tang San, oh Tang San. You poured so much effort into molding your daughter and laying your plans. Today, I'll collect a little interest first.

Hmm... Tang San ought to love a scene of fatherly kindness and filial devotion, right?

Huo Yuhao deliberately glanced at the two people behind her. One was petite and delicate, probably Xiao Xiao from the original story.

The one who had taken his place in the original story was a tall girl with long dark hair and violet eyes.

Hmm... Nicely developed?!

(σ°∀°)σ..:*☆ Oh, not bad at all.

Hiss—

A faint pain suddenly came from his waist. Huo Yuhao sucked in a sharp breath—

At some point, Gu Yue had come up behind him and lightly pinched the flesh at his waist. Her violet eyes glared at him, and she gave a haughty little huff. Clearly, she was displeased by the way he had sneaked a look at Yang Wusi.

Ning Tian stood to one side and turned her gaze away, pretending indifference.

Huo Yuhao gave an awkward smile and hurriedly gathered his thoughts. The three of them took their places on the platform.

Across from them, Wang Dong's team was also in position.

"Freshman Class Nine, Huo Yuhao."

"Freshman Class Nine, Gu Yue."

"Freshman Class Nine, Ning Tian."

"Freshman Class One, Wang Dong."

"Freshman Class One, Xiao Xiao."

"Freshman Class One, Yang Wusi."

Their six voices echoed through the arena. The air seemed to freeze.

Wang Yan drew a deep breath and raised the referee's Soul Power barrier. "Round-of-sixteen elimination match: Huo Yuhao's team versus Wang Dong's team. Assessment—begin!"

"First Soul Skill: Heaven's Apex: All-Seer Clarity!"

Golden light surged from Huo Yuhao's Heavenly Eye. His vision spread across ten li in an instant, while his Ultimate Spirit blanketed the arena like a spiderweb.

"Seven treasures emerge from glazed tile!"

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda rose from Ning Tian's palm, streaming with brilliant color!

"First: Speed!"

"Third: Strength!"

"First Soul Skill: Elemental Tide!"

Gu Yue's fingertips trembled lightly. A pale-green elemental halo swept around her, and her cold violet gaze locked onto the three opponents.

"Second Soul Skill: Elemental Control: Ice Wall!"

Three Ice Walls slanted into place with precision, sealing off Yang Wusi's path of advance and cutting off Xiao Xiao's area of control. Their formation was split apart in an instant!

"Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron! Nine-Phoenix Phoenix-Coming Flute!"

A bronze Soul-Calming Cauldron hovered above Xiao Xiao's head. She brought the Nine-Phoenix Phoenix-Coming Flute to her lips, and her First Soul Skill's slowing sound waves spread outward.

Her Second Soul Skill, Cauldron Suppression, crashed down, seeking to bind Gu Yue in place!

"First Soul Skill: Shock! Second Soul Skill: Break!"

Yang Wusi roared and thrust her Soul Breaking Spear through an Ice Wall. A shockwave swept across the arena as she charged straight for Ning Tian!

"Light Goddess Butterfly, possess me!"

"First Soul Skill: Wing Guillotine! Second Soul Skill: Butterfly God's Light!"

Four dazzling butterfly wings of light unfolded behind Wang Dong. Golden blades of light Cleave out, while her thousand-year Soul Skill, Butterfly God's Light, gathered into a glowing sphere and hurtled toward Gu Yue!

A powerful assault, double control, and defense breaking—a perfect formation, seemingly impossible to counter!

But against an absolute counter, it was all in vain!

"Innate Soul Skill: Annihilation!"

Golden light flashed from Huo Yuhao's Heavenly Eye. His Ultimate Spirit stabbed straight into Xiao Xiao's Sea of Consciousness!

An explosion rocked Xiao Xiao's mind. Her slowing sound waves cut off, and Cauldron Suppression collapsed at once. A half-second mental stun took hold!

"Elemental Fusion: Forest of Quicksand!"

Gu Yue seized the opening. Earth and wood elements fused, quicksand swallowed Yang Wusi's feet, and black-rock vines coiled around her Soul Breaking Spear.

"Reignbow Arbiter, appear!"

A deep-blue divine bow appeared in Huo Yuhao's palm, a star chart flowing across its body with the silver radiance of a galaxy. He drew two platinum arrows to a full moon, locking precisely onto Xiao Xiao and Yang Wusi!

Twang—twang!

Two blue-gold arrows tore through the air with piercing sonic booms, striking nonlethal vital points!

"Urgh!"

Xiao Xiao's Soul-Calming Cauldron hit the ground as she collapsed unconscious. Yang Wusi's Soul Breaking Spear flew from her hand, and she stood rigid, unable to move!

In less than ten seconds, two members of Wang Dong's team were down. Only Wang Dong remained!

"Xiao Xiao! Yang Wusi!"

Wang Dong's eyes widened with fury. Rage flushed her proud little face red, and she looked at Huo Yuhao with hatred blazing in her eyes.

She could not accept that her teammates had been crushed so easily. Even less could she accept that the seemingly frail boy before her possessed such terrifying strength!

Just then, a mysterious, majestic voice entered Wang Dong's Sea of Consciousness, bearing a pressure she could not resist:

"Child, use the power of your Clear Sky Hammer. Crush him!"

Spurred by the voice, a massive pitch-black hammer appeared in Wang Dong's hand!

It was the Clear Sky Hammer!

"Twin Martial Souls?!" Wang Yan was startled. This was the third person with Twin Martial Souls. Weren't they supposed to be exceedingly rare? How had three appeared this year?!

The Light Goddess Butterfly appeared behind Wang Dong. Its wings covered the black Clear Sky Hammer as golden divine power of light merged with the dark Soul Power of the Clear Sky Hammer!

Golden light shone everywhere. The black hammer shook the ground, and pressure swept across the arena, cracking the assessment platform's bluestone. Forced into being by the voice, this fusion skill far exceeded a freshman's limits!

"Yuhao!" Gu Yue's violet eyes changed sharply as she gathered her elemental power with all her might.

"Stay back!"

Huo Yuhao raised a hand to stop them both. His gaze was sharp as a blade, and his voice was calm but firm beyond question. "This is between her and me. I'll handle it."

Or rather, it was his first clash with Tang San!

He walked forward slowly, his Heavenly Eye fully open. He raised the Imperial Bow above his head, and the platinum arrow lengthened by three feet!

"I'll crush you!"

Wang Dong roared. The gold-lit black hammer pulverized the air as it came down toward Huo Yuhao's head!

"Judgment: Arrow of Verdict!"

Huo Yuhao released the string. A phantom centaur appeared behind him, and a blue-gold arrow tore through the air to meet the black hammer head-on!

Boom!

Gold and platinum light exploded outward. The wind arrow ripped through the black hammer!

Crack—

The light shattered inch by inch, and the great black hammer flew backward. Wang Dong spat blood and slammed into the ground. Unwillingness filled her eyes, but she had lost all ability to fight!

"Huo Yuhao's team wins! They advance to the quarterfinals!" Wang Yan's voice rang across the arena, full of shock he could not suppress!

A Level Sixteen Soul Master had faced a Martial Soul Fusion Skill alone—and won completely!

The entire arena fell deathly silent. Then cheers erupted, shaking heaven and earth!

Huo Yuhao put away the Imperial Bow, his face deathly pale. Contrary to what everyone thought, he had actually borrowed the Howling Celestial Dog's power just now.

His body was like cracked porcelain. The slightest touch might reduce it to a heap of shards.

Though he endured pain that tore at his heart and lungs, Huo Yuhao smiled.

That interest had been satisfying to collect!

Gu Yue and Ning Tian hurried forward, their eyes full of worry.

In the stands, Mu Jin laughed aloud. Zhou Yi's vision went black, and she slumped to the ground—

She had lost the wager utterly!

The Divine Realm.

Tang San sat upon the Sea God's throne, his gaze piercing the barrier between planes and fixing on Huo Yuhao in the arena.

His original plan had been to have Wang Dong approach Huo Yuhao, take him as a son-in-law, and seize his Fortune for himself. But Huo Yuhao's brilliance—and the challenge he had posed to that plan—made Tang San change his mind at once—

That boy would only bring trouble if left alive. I'll seize his Fortune directly!

Tang San's expression turned sinister. Sea God Divine Power surged around him, and the warmth in his eyes vanished, leaving them utterly cold.

The son-in-law plan? Scrapped!

Huo Yuhao possessed Twin Martial Souls of divine grade, a Body Martial Soul, and four Ultimate Attributes. Tang San would seize that Fortune with his own hands and pave a road to the highest heights for himself and Wutong's Divine Position!

"Huo Yuhao, you should never have defied my plans. Everything you have will become a stepping stone for the Tang Family."

His cold whisper echoed through the Divine Realm's sea of clouds.