(Don't worry, there's another chapter!)
The next day, in the Freshman Class Nine classroom.
"Today's physical training class is on hold. I have a few things to explain to you."
Mu Jin's gentle voice carried throughout the classroom. As he began speaking, the students of Freshman Class Nine quickly fell silent. In an instant, the room was perfectly quiet, and everyone sat up straight, looking toward the podium.
Mu Jin's teaching ability had never been inferior to Zhou Yi's. Coupled with his gentle manner and the fact that he never treated his students too harshly, this had earned him the wholehearted trust of Freshman Class Nine.
Of course, Huo Yuhao deserved some of the credit as well.
"Three months have passed since the start of the school year, and you are about to face your first assessment since entering Shrek Academy. Only by passing can you officially become first-year students and truly join the academy. The assessment begins tomorrow. Today, I'll explain its key points first. Don't worry. I've seen all the effort you've put in over these three months, and I have great confidence in you."
Mu Jin's gaze was filled with pride and encouragement. He could now say without hesitation that Freshman Class Nine was the most united class, with the strongest sense of collective honor, that he had taught since joining Shrek Academy.
Aside from Mu Jin's excellent teaching and the strong foundations of Class Nine's students, the most important factor was the leadership of their class monitor, Huo Yuhao. With Huo Yuhao around, Mu Jin even felt that he barely needed to expend any effort for Freshman Class Nine to get moving at an astonishing pace.
"Huo Yuhao."
"Present." Huo Yuhao immediately stood and walked over to the podium.
"Hand these out to the students according to their names." Mu Jin picked up a stack of papers and placed them in Huo Yuhao's hands.
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered. Every page in the thick stack had roughly the same layout.
Each began with a student's name, followed by a comment Mu Jin had written and his advice on their future development. The lower half of the page was left blank.
"Every one of you is among the finest students I've ever seen. Although some of you may be unable to continue studying at Shrek Academy after the Freshman Assessment, I still hope you can find a direction for your future," Mu Jin said with a smile.
"Only with a road beneath your feet can there be light in your eyes. I hope every one of you can become a powerful Soul Master someday."
It was difficult to imagine how Mu Jin had managed to observe and analyze each of a full hundred students so thoroughly during their everyday lessons, let alone consider a future path for every one of them.
On that point alone, Mu Jin's dedication and responsibility toward teaching far surpassed Zhou Yi's. It was also why he had earned the unanimous respect of Freshman Class Nine.
The comments at the top of each page represented Mu Jin's encouragement and earnest hopes for these fledgling newcomers to the Soul Master World.
The blank half-page below represented the fact that each person's future could only be written by themselves. They should not let someone else's subjective wishes interfere with their own judgment.
Huo Yuhao handed the pages out to the students, and every gaze that turned toward him was filled with respect.
There was no other reason: over these three months, Huo Yuhao had truly beaten them into submission.
During the first two months, their physical training classes had followed Huo Yuhao's arrangements, with targeted training to address the shortcomings in each student's physique.
For the most recent month, after discussing it with Mu Jin, Huo Yuhao had arranged special training in close-quarters combat techniques.
Every student in Class Nine had to participate, regardless of gender or Martial Soul type.
At first, the Beast Martial Soul masters from major sects and powerful factions had relied on their sturdy physiques and the close-combat training they had received since childhood, hoping to challenge Huo Yuhao's authority as class monitor.
But after just one lesson, every student in Class Nine had lost to Huo Yuhao in combat. Even the strongest among them had lasted only three moves before being knocked down.
Swift, ruthless, lethal in a single strike! That was the essence of the combat techniques Huo Yuhao had learned in his previous life!
Strictly speaking, they should have been called killing arts. After simplifying and breaking them down, Huo Yuhao taught the students of Freshman Class Nine a few moves they could learn quickly.
Because of the formidable strength Huo Yuhao displayed, these youngsters in Freshman Class Nine had all become his devoted fans. Their admiration for him was every bit as strong as their admiration for their homeroom teacher, Mu Jin.
"After the Freshman Assessment, teaching will be tailored to your individual aptitudes, and you will also be assigned to different classes. I've made some simple suggestions for each of you, but the final decision remains yours. Think it through carefully, write your planned direction for future development in the blank space below, and hand it to me later."
The cultivation paths he referred to were Soul Master classifications such as power attack, defense, control, and support. They could all study together during these first three months, but once their true first-year studies began, distinctions would have to be made. After all, the cultivation priorities of different types of Soul Masters varied greatly.
"For now, keep thinking about your future plans. Next, I'll explain Shrek Academy's Freshman Assessment."
Mu Jin lightly tapped the blackboard and wrote two large words on it: "Actual combat."
"Actual combat. That's right, actual combat! And everyone must participate in battle. Shrek Academy has never placed much emphasis on strength on paper. What it values is a Soul Master's ability in actual combat."
You're right, but if I raise my mental power's strength on paper beyond the level of a God King, until one Soul Shock can turn God King Tang's head into eight-treasure porridge, how would you deal with that? Huo Yuhao silently snarked.
Of course, Mu Jin could not read minds and naturally knew nothing of Huo Yuhao's inward grumbling. Facing the students below, he continued explaining the Freshman Assessment.
"Having a support system Soul Master fight a power attack system Soul Master would undoubtedly be unfair, so the Freshman Assessment will take the form of three-on-three team battles. When forming teams, you may have no more than one power attack system Battle Soul Master. The other two members can be chosen freely."
"However, you needn't worry too much about that. As long as your team composition isn't too extreme, the academy generally won't interfere."
"I've already drawn up a chart with recommended teams for you. Of course, these are only recommendations. You have the right to form your own teams. Anyone who hasn't managed to do so will be assigned by drawing lots."
"The Freshman Assessment will be held across the entire year group. Since the academy admitted quite a large number of freshmen this year, nearly three hundred teams will participate in this assessment, but only half will be allowed to stay. In other words, only the top one hundred and fifty teams can become first-year students at Shrek Academy. Your ranking will be determined by the points you earn in your matches."
"Matchups will be decided by drawing lots, and each team must fight at least ten battles. The final rankings will be based on the number of victories. The top sixty-four teams will then enter a knockout tournament, and the academy will award different prizes to the top four teams. As for the champions' reward, hehe, all I can say is that it will definitely be a rare treasure you've dreamed of obtaining."
Every student listened with rapt attention. For them, the Freshman Assessment was the key to whether they could stay. Once eliminated, they could only return to their families or sects, and their futures would be completely severed from Shrek.
A fierce determination burned in everyone's heart. No one was willing to bow their head and admit defeat. They had worked hard for three months, and none of them wanted to be eliminated now.
"Each freshman homeroom teacher may nominate one specially admitted student to pass the assessment directly and enter the Soul Tool Department. Chen Guang, would you be willing to become a first-year student in the Soul Tool Department?" Mu Jin asked.
"Yes, sir!"
A plump, rather cute male student stood up and answered happily.
His Soul Power cultivation currently ranked near the bottom of Freshman Class Nine, but his Martial Soul was related to metal, making him well suited to studying in the Soul Tool Department.
"Very good. I've classified you according to the characteristics of your Martial Souls. After careful analysis, I've divided our class into thirty-three teams. These are only provisional arrangements. If you have any objections, come to my office before evening. Once the list is submitted, it can't be changed."
"Now, I'll announce the teams. Team One: Huo Yuhao, Ning Tian, Wu Feng!"
Before you continue