Xiao Yan: Come on, Seriously?

As Xiao Yan's name rang out.

Most of the students present looked over, and even quite a few Assessment teachers cast curious glances his way. After all, every year's top student in the grade was the center of everyone's attention. This was Shrek Academy, not some nameless little sect. Anyone who could rank first in their grade in a place crawling with Monsters would most likely start out as a Titled Douluo in the future.

What was more, this twelve-year-old Soul Elder was someone who had crushed the second years by an overwhelming margin.

A proud look appeared on Mu Jin's face, while Zhou Yi's expression darkened.

"Hmph..."

Only Old Gong curled his lip and snorted coldly.

"That brat's talent is so-so, but he sure knows how to show off. Anyone who didn't know better would think he'd been guaranteed a spot in the Inner Courtyard and had crushed all the prodigies there."

"A twelve-year-old Soul Elder does have the right to be proud." Su Wen grinned, his gaze fixed on the slim boy entering the arena below. His face still carried childishness, yet there was a trace of arrogance mixed in—confidence built up by countless words of praise.

"The Inner Courtyard has no shortage of geniuses! Pick any one of them at random and they could beat him senseless. And you, brat, stop pretending here too. You became a Soul Elder at ten? Forget people your age—even now, could he take a single move from you?"

"It's good for young people to keep a low profile, but don't act like you're already ancient at such a young age, like this old man with one foot halfway in the grave." Old Gong curled his lip disdainfully.

"Too bad you aren't in the same year as him. Otherwise, you could knock down that arrogant momentum of his. Just looking at him pisses me off."

"..."

Su Wen shrugged and continued watching the match.

The expressions of the teachers around them changed, especially Zhou Yi, whose fingernails dug into her flesh. It was already very clear: this child was definitely not the offspring of an Outer Court teacher, but... some little Monster from the Inner Courtyard.

Like Ma Xiaotao, a direct-line disciple of the Inner Courtyard. Although they did not know which great figure's child he was, his near-monstrous talent alone was enough to explain many things.

Reaching the rank of Soul Elder at ten—even in Shrek, a place crawling with Monsters, that was an achievement worthy of being recorded in history.

As long as he did not die young, he would likely become one of Shrek's top powers in the future.

After a moment of stunned disbelief, Mu Jin was overwhelmed with joy.

She had noticed the key point!

This child was only ten! That meant he would enroll next year!

Becoming the teacher of someone like this was no longer merely about producing "results." It was an extremely terrifying political resource!

When Su Wen rose to a high position in the academy in the future, a single word from him could accomplish many things. For example, the Martial Soul Department's outstanding teacher selection. Zhou Yi fought herself half to death and tormented those children all for the sake of that so-called selection, didn't she?

Right now, she truly wanted to throw her head back and laugh. Zhou Yi had courted death herself. No matter what, this child could never end up in Zhou Yi's class. If disciples from other sects and forces wanted to join Shrek Academy, it would be extremely difficult for them to choose their own class, but this young man seemed different. Most likely, all he needed was one sentence to choose his class...

Losing one powerful competitor felt amazing!

"..." However, after hesitating for a moment, Mu Jin still did not step forward to strike up a conversation.

The other teachers around them who were preparing to teach the next cohort were also quite tempted. They exchanged glances, yet all continued watching the match without showing anything on their faces.

"Roar, roar, roar!"

Xiao Yan let out several roars in succession.

His body suddenly changed. His arms became thick and long, his nails sharp, his legs short and small, and a blood-red tail emerged from behind him. His whole body seemed to turn into a small Blood Red Baboon, but half of one arm was a strange silver color.

"This is his martial soul, the Blood Silver Baboon. As a variant martial soul of the Blood Red Baboon, the strongest branch among the baboon tribes in the Star Dou Great Forest, his martial soul possesses the traits of Bloodlust and metal." Seeing Su Wen's surprised expression, Mu Jin's lips curved into a smile. Thinking to herself that her chance had come, she stepped forward and explained quite naturally.

"Metal's defensive properties?" Su Wen nodded slightly.

Bloodlust was equivalent to a buff, and when Blood Explosion was triggered, it could multiply his combat strength. Metal, meanwhile, could enhance his own offensive and defensive attributes. Among mutated beast martial souls, this Xiao Yan had definitely hit the jackpot...

Seeing Su Wen nod to her rather politely, Mu Jin was wild with joy inside.

When the other teachers saw this, a trace of regret appeared in their eyes.

What a great opportunity.

"Tch, little fellow, which one of your Soul Beasts are you going to use to beat him up?" Old Gong curled his lip disdainfully and said.

"Little Gold, I suppose. That's safer." Su Wen pondered for a moment.

"Good, then Little Gold it is!" Old Gong chuckled wickedly and whispered into the ear of a staff member behind him.

As the Great Spirit Arena staff member left.

Mu Jin and the other teachers grew even more confused—what did he mean, his Soul Beast? Could it be a Beast Taming-type martial soul?

At the same time.

A roar sounded from behind the iron bars.

The pressure it carried made the entire arena fall silent.

Xiao Yan, whose momentum had been surging a moment ago, froze. That roar nearly forced his martial soul back into his body!

As the iron bars slowly rose.

A Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear over four meters tall slowly appeared before everyone.

"Gulp~"

Xiao Yan's throat bobbed, and he turned his stiff neck toward the Assessment area.

You want me to fight it?

No, seriously...

If you want me dead, just say so!

A thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear—its combat strength had to be charging straight toward the ten-thousand-year level!

In the examiner's area.

Mu Jin's face had gone a little pale as well. This was a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, a creature whose combat power had to be multiplied by ten! Letting this kind of "Fierce Beast" assess a new student? In previous years, even with Dean Yan present, they would never have dared to go this far, right?

Wait...

She suddenly recalled the conversation between the two of them.

This boy's Spirit Beast?

You're calling this thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear your Spirit Beast?!!

She looked at Su Wen in shock, but the boy was still watching the match calmly, his expression utterly unruffled...

"You picked it yourself, kid. A Thousand Year Spirit Beast, nothing wrong with that. This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear has only just reached one thousand years," the referee said with a shrug, giving him a helpless look.

"You know it's called a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear too?!!!" Xiao Yan looked at Little Gold as it gradually approached, and his hair instantly stood on end. His legs started shaking uncontrollably, his face deathly pale. He only wanted to take part in the Assessment—he didn't want to die here!

"The Assessment continues. You only need to last under it for three... one minute, and the Assessment will be over," the referee teacher explained, receiving a signal in his ear.

"Then I'll give it a try." Xiao Yan took a deep breath.

He still trusted the academy's safety measures.

Although he had no idea where they had gotten an existence like this, since they dared to put it in the arena, there was a good chance they had confidence in controlling it.

"Roar!"

Three Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple.

"Silver Defense!"

"Iron Wall!"

"Blood-Red Rampage!"

Then he launched a fierce attack at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

And then...

There was no then.

Little Gold sent him flying into the railing of the Beast Fighting Zone with a single slap, making Mu Jin cry out in alarm. But Little Gold had controlled its strength with extreme precision. Originally, one swipe could easily have shattered every bone in Xiao Yan's body and made his head burst like a watermelon, but after that seemingly heavy, overwhelming blow, Xiao Yan stood up in astonishment.

"Huh? My bones actually didn't break?!!"