Let Me Handle This, Ice Soul!

In the spectator stands, Yan Shaozhe turned to Du Weilun and asked with a smile, "Little Du, I heard Gu Ming hasn't lost a single match in the Freshman Assessment Grand Tournament. He's practically steamrolled everyone?"

"Yes, that's exactly right."

Du Weilun held nothing back, recounting all of Gu Ming's outstanding moments in the competition.

Such an exceptional student deserved praise.

Toward the end, Du Weilun even mentioned Freshman Class One, the class led by Zhou Yi.

Huo Yuhao's team's performance was also worth bringing to the dean's attention.

Yet after hearing him out, Yan Shaozhe glanced at Huo Yuhao's trio, then silently withdrew his gaze.

To be honest, compared with Gu Ming, this team really wasn't much to look at.

Still, reaching the finals was enough to prove their strength.

But did Huo Yuhao, with his single ring, really contribute anything?

Yan Shaozhe immediately waved a hand. "Little Du, there's no need to keep an eye on this Huo Yuhao. His martial soul is merely a low-grade body martial soul. It doesn't fit our academy's teaching philosophy."

"Dean, is Huo Yuhao's martial soul really so low-grade that he isn't worth nurturing?" Du Weilun pressed.

Beside them, Xuan Zi finished sucking the meat off his chicken drumstick, took a sip of wine, and said mildly, "That's indeed the case. Perhaps the Body Sect has a way to nurture him, but we at Shrek focus more on tool martial souls and beast martial souls. Huo Yuhao's aptitude is very poor. His innate soul power probably wasn't high."

Du Weilun sighed.

He had never expected even Xuan Zi to think so little of Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao deserved much of the credit for Freshman Class One's team making it this far. How had his martial soul suddenly become a trash martial soul unworthy of nurturing?

Soon, the watching teachers on the raised platform fell silent.

Yan Shaozhe, Xuan Zi, and the others stopped discussing the matter and turned their attention to the arena, focusing on the upcoming freshman grand final.

In the arena.

The two teams stepped onto the field.

Gu Ming remained the one who drew the most attention, followed by the Freshman Class One team led by Huo Yuhao.

The referee declared loudly, "The Freshman Assessment final will now begin. Fight with everything you've got. Any student I rescue will be considered eliminated. Is that clear?"

Gu Ming nodded. "Understood."

On the other side, Huo Yuhao's team nodded in unison.

The referee continued, "Begin!"

The instant his voice fell, everyone except Gu Ming completed Martial Soul Possession.

Huo Yuhao's team made the first move. Wang Dong gave a soft snort, spread her Light Goddess Butterfly wings, and flew into the air.

Holding the Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute, Xiao Xiao played her control soul skill.

Huo Yuhao stayed still, observing everything.

Dai Huabin struck first, charging out in front and instantly unleashing his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation.

With that enhancement, his aura grew even stronger.

This time, he would trample that ant, Huo Yuhao, underfoot.

A smile curled at the corners of Xiao Xiao's lips as she played the Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute.

"First Soul Skill, Speed Reduction."

Dai Huabin's speed immediately dropped. His movement was restricted, and Zhu Lu, who was charging toward Xiao Xiao, was slowed as well.

The next instant, Wang Dong swooped down and unleashed Winged Guillotine.

Bang, bang, bang—!

Her pointed wings seemed incomparably sharp, breaking through Dai Huabin's White Tiger Protection Barrier in the blink of an eye.

Dai Huabin's expression shifted slightly, and he bellowed, "White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"

Boom!

A terrifying beam of white energy shot from his mouth, but Wang Dong dodged it with a swift aerial maneuver.

At that same moment, Zhu Lu closed in on Xiao Xiao.

However, Xiao Xiao switched her martial soul back to the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, instantly merged the three cauldrons into one, pinned Zhu Lu down, and unleashed a tremor.

Wang Dong's Second Soul Skill, Butterfly God's Light, erupted immediately afterward.

Boom!

Zhu Lu was sent flying backward, but Dai Huabin caught her securely.

Dai Huabin's gaze abruptly turned icy, and he roared, "You're courting death!"

With a tiger's roar, Dai Huabin attacked like a reckless brute, batting Xiao Xiao's massive cauldron away as well in a display of his strength.

However, Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly lit up. "First Soul Skill, Mental Confusion."

Dai Huabin's vision changed.

The three people before him were no longer three. They became six, then even twelve.

Huo Yuhao had obtained this skill during his first soul beast hunt, when he unexpectedly killed a dying spiritual-type soul beast. It could create confusion and was stronger than charm.

The next instant, Wang Dong subjected Dai Huabin to a furious barrage of attacks, sending him and Zhu Lu flying backward together.

Soon, the two returned to Gu Ming's side, covered in dust and thoroughly disgraced.

Dai Huabin was a bedraggled mess. He cursed, "Damn it! I let my guard down. Their teamwork is actually this terrifying. Zhu Lu, let's use that move!"

"All right!"

Zhu Lu naturally knew he meant their trump card, the Hell White Tiger.

Just then.

With his hands behind his back, Gu Ming stepped forward and pushed the two behind him. "Kitty and Gong Million, stay back. You can't beat these opponents. It's time for me to take the stage."

"You..."

Dai Huabin still wanted to defend himself, but he had no idea how to respond.

Gu Ming countered, "Can you beat them? They've already beaten you like a dog, and you still want to force yourself to keep fighting?"

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu fell silent.

Gu Ming chuckled.

He really hadn't been lying.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu were simply no match for Huo Yuhao, the child of destiny, not even with the Hell White Tiger.

Thus, an expert like him could only step forward.

Immediately afterward, the Tianjing Beast leaped out.

The three members of Huo Yuhao's team grew tense to the extreme.

Without another word, Wang Dong attacked first.

However, Gu Ming leaped up and kicked Wang Dong in the face, sending her flying as he shouted, "Tianjing Beast, transform into a divine weapon! Power of justice!"

In an instant, dazzling blue light flashed. Gu Ming landed with the Tianjing Sword in hand and attacked Huo Yuhao's trio.

Xiao Xiao hurled out the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron again, hoping to restrain him once more.

Gu Ming raised his hand and slashed. A sharp streak of sword light instantly knocked the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron away.

Xiao Xiao gave a muffled groan and staggered several steps backward.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong realized things were going badly.

All their tactics might have worked against Dai Huabin, but against Gu Ming, they were utterly useless.

With Gu Ming advancing step by step, their only option now was to use that move.

Wang Dong decisively shot Huo Yuhao a look. "Yuhao!"

His gaze resolute, Huo Yuhao naturally took her hand, understanding everything Wang Dong intended.

In an instant, their martial souls began to fuse.

On the raised platform, the watching elders looked surprised.

Yan Shaozhe narrowed his eyes. "Is this... a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"

"That's right. It is indeed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Still eating his chicken drumstick, Xuan Zi nodded, surprise appearing on his face as well.

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao could actually unleash a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. None of them had expected that.

At that moment, Gu Ming also raised his head in the arena. A smile curled at the corners of his lips. "A Martial Soul Fusion Skill? Bring it on, then!"

As he spoke, Gu Ming abruptly unleashed his soul power, gripped the Tianjing Sword with both hands, and swung it toward that vertical pupil.

"Ice Soul!"

A colossal blue dragon flew forth, letting out rolling dragon cries as it surged toward the golden vertical pupil to devour it.