Freshman Assessment

After Nezha and Xu Sanshi exchanged blows, both sides ultimately agreed to let the matter rest under the academy's intervention.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Freshman Class Nine had no fewer students than at the start of the term. Whenever its students passed the classroom of Freshman Class One and saw that only about half its students remained, they all felt deeply fortunate to have been assigned to Class Nine.

Among the ten freshman classes, the vast majority of homeroom teachers were responsible. Whatever happened, they tried not to expel students and gave the freshmen a chance to take the assessment.

Whether they could pass and officially become first-year students depended on their own abilities.

Class One, however, was an exception.

In just three months, its numbers had plummeted by half. One had to admire the ruthlessness and decisiveness of that old woman Zhou Yi, Class One's homeroom teacher.

Among the expelled freshmen, some female students had wept and pleaded, while some male students had lodged complaints with the academic affairs office. None of it had made any difference in the face of Zhou Yi's resolve.

Notably, Huo Yuhao, clearly the student with the lowest cultivation in Freshman Class One, had actually survived and was even serving as its class monitor. This made the students expelled for angering Zhou Yi even more resentful, and made the freshmen assigned to other classes feel immensely fortunate.

At that moment, the atmosphere in Freshman Class Nine's classroom was unlike any other day, charged with restlessness and anticipation.

They would be assigned to teams shortly, so every face was filled with excitement and worry. Whether they stayed or left would all depend on their assessment results. At the same time, everyone was secretly praying that they would get a powerful teammate to cling to.

Every student in Freshman Class Nine was sneaking glances at Nezha, who sat yawning in his chair, and Ning Tian, who sat upright beside him, silently praying.

Heaven, bless me. Let me be on the same team as the class monitor or the vice monitor.

I'm willing to sacrifice ten years of the Sea God's lifespan. Please match me with Nezha.

The Freshman Assessment consisted of three-person team battles. Having a good teammate meant half the battle was already won, while getting a useless teammate who dragged them down would leave them with no hope of passing.

While all the students of Freshman Class Nine were silently praying, crisp footsteps approached from a distance. They saw Mu Jin walk up to the lectern with a stack of papers in hand, and the classroom immediately fell quiet.

Standing at the lectern, Mu Jin swept his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes over the expectant faces below, then handed out the papers.

"I won't repeat everything. I've already said it more than once over these past three months. After the Freshman Assessment, your instruction will be tailored to your aptitudes. Write down the direction you intend to take your future cultivation and hand it to me later. Now, I'll begin assigning teams."

He paused and opened the roster in his hands, his clear voice echoing through the quiet classroom.

"Our class has ninety-nine students, just enough for thirty-three teams."

"Team One: Nezha, Ning Tian, Nanmen Yun'er."

"Team Two: Wu Feng, Liu Ruyan, Shi Huang."

"Team Three..."

He read through all the teams in one go, closed the roster, and braced both hands on the lectern, calmly surveying the class.

"I assigned these teams after careful consideration of your martial souls' characteristics and how they complement one another. If anyone is unhappy with their team, you may raise an objection with me, but only this morning."

As soon as he finished speaking, several students with poor cultivation and little strength could not help speaking up, their voices tinged with urgency and resentment.

"Teacher, we object. Why is the class monitor teamed up with the vice monitor? With his strength, he could steamroll everyone no matter who he brings along. Teacher, our class still has plenty of students with only one ring. Why not..."

Mu Jin's expression darkened.

He slapped the lectern with a muffled bang, and the temperature in the classroom seemed to drop several degrees.

"Nezha's strength is his own achievement!" His voice suddenly rose, undisguised anger flashing in his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes. "Instead of focusing on cultivating properly, all you think about is having someone else carry you? If Nezha carries you to victory, does that make it your ability? Enough. Nezha's team will remain as it is. Does anyone else have an objection?"

The classroom instantly fell silent. The students who had spoken up shrank back and lowered their heads, not daring to utter another word.

Mu Jin took a deep breath, tamping down his surging anger. His tone regained its usual briskness. "Today's lessons are canceled. If you have no further questions, you may leave now."

He paused, then added, "However, I suggest you make the most of your time and get to know your teammates better if you want to pass the assessment. Also, Team One, stay behind."

Before long, the students of Freshman Class Nine handed in the white sheets bearing their intended cultivation directions, then left the classroom with their assigned teammates.

The classroom soon emptied, leaving only Nezha, Ning Tian, and Nanmen Yun'er standing before the lectern.

Ning Tian asked, "Teacher, was there something you wanted to speak to us about?"

Looking at the three students before him, a hint of satisfaction flashed through Mu Jin's narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes.

He was brimming with confidence in the seeded team he had selected, and his tone relaxed somewhat. "I kept you here to tell you that the rewards for winning this Freshman Assessment are extremely generous. Although all of you come from remarkable backgrounds, even you cannot afford to overlook these championship rewards. All right, go get some rest."

The three left the classroom. Walking at the rear, Nanmen Yun'er blinked her lively eyes at Nezha's back, wringing her hands in front of her. After hesitating for quite a while, she finally gathered her courage and hurried forward a couple of steps to catch up.

"Class monitor." She tilted her head up, her voice soft and sweet. "Since we don't have class today, why don't we go to the training grounds this morning and get familiar with each other? I know you're really strong, but... but I want to do my part in the matches too."

By the time she finished, her cheeks were completely red, but her sparkling eyes remained fixed on Nezha, full of anticipation.

Nezha was about to answer when Wu Feng, who had been waiting by the door for ages, pounced on them. She grabbed his and Ning Tian's arms, her fiery red ponytail swinging back and forth as she looked up with a tearful expression. "Young mistress, Nezha, why can't I be on your team?!"

Helpless as Wu Feng shook her arm, Ning Tian reached out and patted the back of her hand, gently comforting her. "Perhaps it's because you and Nezha are both Power Attack System soul masters."

Wu Feng pouted and glared at Nezha resentfully, her expression plainly saying, It's all your fault.

Faced with Wu Feng's woeful stare, Nezha felt rather helpless. He turned his head to glance at her, then reached out and lightly flicked her forehead. "Enough. It's not as though we won't see each other anymore."

Wu Feng covered her forehead, puffed out her cheeks, and grumbled a couple of times, but stopped making a fuss.

She knew Mu Jin had decided the teams. Both she and Nezha belonged to the Power Attack System, and with the support of Ning Tian's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, there really was no place for her on the three-person team.

Nanmen Yun'er, on the other hand, belonged to the Agility Attack System, making her a perfect fit for Nezha's team. She was also quite strong-a Soul Grandmaster.

Standing to one side, Nanmen Yun'er watched Wu Feng hug Nezha's arm. She pressed her lips together slightly, her hands unconsciously tightening around the hem of her clothes.

She hesitated, but still summoned her courage and quietly brought it up again. "Class monitor, then... about going to the training grounds this morning?"

Nezha turned to look at her, his tone level. "There's no need to practice."

Nanmen Yun'er froze. The anticipation on her face stiffened, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She opened her mouth to say something, only to hear Nezha add another sentence.

"Just make sure you bring out your full strength during the matches."

He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, as though he were stating something that went without saying.

"Leave the rest to me."

Nanmen Yun'er stood stunned.

She looked up at the black-haired boy before her. His tone was utterly casual, without any deliberate attempt to comfort her or sound domineering. He had simply stated something he regarded as a fact, as though there were no need to prove anything at all.

She nodded firmly. "Mm. I'll give it my best."

Ning Tian stood to one side, watching the exchange with a faint smile on her lips, saying nothing.

Nezha withdrew his gaze, slipped both hands into his pockets, and turned toward the stairs. "Come on. Let's eat. I'm hungry."

The three followed him one after another. Nanmen Yun'er walked at the rear with her head lowered and her hands clasped in front of her, but she could not keep the corners of her mouth from curling upward, revealing two little dimples.