One kid per sword strike, facing Huo Yuhao's team (please vote!)

This time, however, Gu Ming did not retreat. Instead, he shielded Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu behind him and said, "Step back. I'm about to make my move."

Both understood his behavior. After all, this little demon would never miss such a perfect chance to show off.

Dai Huabin curled his lip. "You're stealing my thunder again."

Zhu Lu said, "Now he gets to show off."

At that moment, Xie Huanyue began to lose his nerve. Facing Gu Ming, he had no confidence whatsoever.

Could he beat him?

Honestly, he really couldn't. Gu Ming was strength personified, but he couldn't simply refuse to fight.

He was going to take a beating today, no matter what.

Xie Huanyue immediately said, "Big Brother, could you go easy on me?"

Gu Ming grinned. "Don't worry. You're the one Big Brother loves hurting most."

Xie Huanyue almost thought he had misheard. Why did Big Brother's words sound like a riddle? He really couldn't understand him.

Beside him, the brothers Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba were also trembling with apprehension.

Was this Gu Ming really that strong?

The next moment, Gu Ming summoned his own Divine Weapon Beast and shouted, "Power of justice, transform into a Divine Weapon—Heavenly Crystal!"

In an instant, blue light engulfed the arena, nearly blinding the spectators' titanium-alloy dog eyes.

After a burst of flickering blue light, Gu Ming reappeared in the arena, holding the Justice Tianjing Sword.

Clad in a cape and wielding the mighty Tianjing Sword, he drew the attention of quite a few female students.

Handsome!

So handsome!

Gu Ming was so incredibly handsome!

Even Ning Tian was becoming a little infatuated. The more she looked at Gu Ming, the more he resembled the Sword Douluo from ten thousand years ago.

Xiao Xiao also froze, then said in her clear, sweet voice, "This guy doesn't seem so annoying anymore. He's so handsome!"

Wang Dong folded her arms and said mildly, "He's a little handsome, but he can't compare to Yuhao."

No matter how handsome Gu Ming was, he could never rival Huo Yuhao's lofty place in her heart.

Just then, Gu Ming stepped forward, his imposing presence overwhelmingly domineering.

Sword energy shot out from the Tianjing Sword.

The brothers Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba charged forward, unleashing their Soul Skills.

Yet the moment their Soul Skills collided with the sword energy, they were swallowed up, and the brothers were swept out of the arena.

Gu Ming had used only a tenth of his soul power for that strike.

Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba were eliminated in a single exchange.

Every teacher present was dumbfounded.

This freshman's strength was actually that heaven-defying. He either did nothing or shocked everyone the moment he acted.

Zhou Yi ground her teeth in fury, helpless and exasperated.

The combat strength Gu Ming displayed forced her to admit that this student had real ability, yet he insisted on opposing her.

Freshman Class One might have no chance at the championship.

It all depended on whether Yuhao could defy heaven and change their fate, unleashing his Martial Soul Fusion Skill to defeat Gu Ming.

In the arena, Xie Huanyue was utterly numb.

What was going on?

He hadn't even made a move, and he was already down two teammates. Had Big Brother's fighting strength become this heaven-defying?

Was he even supposed to have a chance? This damned matchmaking system!

The next moment, Gu Ming was already sprinting toward him. Xie Huanyue mustered his courage as his optimal configuration of two yellow Soul Rings and one purple rose around him, and he bellowed:

"First Soul Skill, Rubber Ball!"

Xie Huanyue's body instantly grew to a height of one meter ninety, his entire frame swelling into a balloon.

Boom!

Gu Ming slammed a heavy punch into Xie Huanyue.

Xie Huanyue's expression changed instantly. The air in his belly dispersed at that very moment, and he let out a pained groan.

It hurt so much!

It felt as though a hole had been punched through his stomach.

Immediately afterward, Gu Ming's Tianjing Sword came slashing down again, and Xie Huanyue's second Soul Ring lit up.

"Second Soul Skill, Elephant Trunk Entanglement!"

His hands turned into soft, pliable tissue, instantly wrapping around Gu Ming's Tianjing Sword and fist.

However, he had underestimated Gu Ming's explosive strength.

This degree of restraint was practically nonexistent to Gu Ming. He tore free by force and drove another punch forward.

Whoosh—!

Like a deflating rubber ball, Xie Huanyue flew wildly through the air before landing haphazardly on the ground. He shouted, "I surrender! I surrender! I'm dying, I'm dying..."

The heart-piercing pain made him instinctively believe he was about to die.

In reality, Gu Ming had controlled his strength perfectly. It was merely painful; there were no serious physical injuries.

With that, the match ended.

After the infirmary staff examined Xie Huanyue's injuries and confirmed that he had suffered no serious physical harm, they left.

The teachers watching also turned their gazes toward the most dazzling boy in the arena.

Gu Ming!

He truly was a monster!

He could have avoided taking the stage altogether, yet he had treated everyone to a visual feast.

This was a true genius, a true chosen son of heaven.

For Shrek, gaining Gu Ming was like parched earth meeting sweet rain—a blessing they could only dream of.

Once Gu Ming left the arena, no matter how exciting the remaining freshman assessment matches were, none could compare to his performance.

His display of defeating his peers with just a few punches and kicks was especially fresh in their memories.

Even the brilliant performance Huo Yuhao's team delivered afterward did not stand out much.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were quite good, but how had Huo Yuhao, a one-ring Soul Master, managed to get into Shrek Academy?

That was what most of the teachers were thinking.

By the time that day's matches ended, Gu Ming's name had been etched into every teacher's mind.

The moment his match ended, Ning Tian and Wu Feng came looking for Gu Ming.

Their team had lost to Gu Ming as well.

Ning Tian said with a bright smile, "Gu Ming, would you like to go out for a meal together? The finals are only a couple of days away. Keep working hard!"

Wu Feng said haughtily, "I didn't lose to you. I lost to Dai Huabin. Treating you to a meal doesn't mean I'm trying to please you."

Gu Ming didn't particularly mind. Looking the beautiful Ning Tian over, he said, "Sure, let's go together. But you're richer, so I'll let you treat me to a cheap lunch."

"Okay."

Ning Tian agreed with a little excitement, feeling that paying for Gu Ming was a wonderful thing.

It seemed like something truly worth celebrating.

Without another word, Wu Feng followed them.

A few more days passed. After dozens of rounds of matches in the freshman assessment tournament, the finals arrived.

Throughout it all, Gu Ming's team crushed every opponent in their path. Even teams of Soul Elders had to scurry away with their hands over their heads, and his team unsurprisingly secured the first spot in the finals.

The second team, however, was one nobody had expected: Huo Yuhao's team.

An utterly unremarkable one-ring Soul Scholar had stubbornly fought his way into the finals alongside Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, where they would face Gu Ming's team.

It was a result no one had anticipated.

By this point, Zhou Yi could no longer smile. The wager she had made with Gu Ming already seemed lost.

Of course, Zhou Yi had also prepared herself for defeat.

If Huo Yuhao's team really lost, she would apologize to Gu Ming and acknowledge her mistakes.

Conversely, if Huo Yuhao won, it would prove that there was nothing wrong with her teaching.

Today, Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department, had arrived. Xuan Zi had come as well, munching on a chicken drumstick.

From the Soul Tool Department, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo were also present.

They had all come for Gu Ming, wanting to see just how much potential the Sea God Pavilion Saint Son personally chosen by Mu En possessed, and whether he was truly as formidable as the rumors claimed.

P.S. Please send recommendation votes and monthly votes. Thank you to everyone who puts food on my table.