Little Firebird!

The arena was already buzzing with voices, and the other students streamed out of the back mountain.

Most looked exhausted. Some had torn clothes, while others bore injuries; clearly, they had been through plenty that night.

The students Su Yu had "hung" in the trees had long since been rescued by the teachers.

They now gathered in twos and threes, their faces still showing lingering shock.

When their gazes happened to sweep over Su Yu and Hu Liena, they all stopped in their tracks.

Quite a few instinctively shrank back, their legs actually going a little weak.

"It's him..."

A tall, thin student lowered his voice, lingering fear in his tone.

"Those vines are downright sinister. Once they bind you, you can't break free, and they even drain your soul power!"

"The moment you gather a little soul power, the vines suck it completely dry. That feeling... it's sheer torment!"

His companion nodded in heartfelt agreement, recalling the humiliation of hanging helplessly in a tree, unable to move, with nothing to do but watch the sun rise.

A little more awe entered his gaze as he looked at Su Yu-no, that look was more like outright terror.

Noticing their looks, Su Yu merely smiled faintly and walked to the registration desk with Hu Liena, taking out every one of the command tokens weighing down his waist.

As the teacher responsible for counting tallied them up, his eyes grew wider and wider, until he finally sucked in a sharp breath:

"T-two hundred and twenty-three?!"

That exclamation instantly drew everyone's attention. All the students looked over in shock, disbelief written across their faces.

After all, even the second-place team had fewer than forty-five.

The students who had received his "special attention" twitched at the corners of their mouths-so what they had delivered to his doorstep last night had only been a fraction of his haul?

Xu Ding stepped forward, looked at the pile of command tokens, and announced clearly:

"First place in the first assessment goes to the team of Su Yu and Hu Liena!"

Scattered applause rang out. Many still had not recovered from their shock.

Especially those students who had once considered targeting them; their cheeks now burned, and they no longer dared underestimate them in the slightest.

Xu Ding cleared his throat, his aged voice rising above the murmurs:

"All students, listen up. Go back and rest this afternoon. Recover your strength."

"Tomorrow morning, we will hold the second assessment-the Individual Soul Fighting Tournament!"

A stir immediately swept through the students. Individual duels meant more direct clashes.

Everyone would have to face the challenge alone, with no teammates left to rely on.

Inside the Pope Hall-

"Teacher!"

Su Yu and Hu Liena stood side by side and bowed respectfully.

Bibi Dong sat upright on the papal throne. Her gaze swept over them, and a hint of approval colored her tone:

"You both did very well in the first assessment."

She paused, lightly tapping a fingertip against the armrest.

"I hope you can maintain this momentum in tomorrow's individual soul fighting."

"Yes, Teacher!"

They answered in unison, their voices full of certainty.

Bibi Dong nodded slightly and waved a hand. "You may go. Prepare well."

"Yes, Teacher!"

They turned and left the great hall, its heavy doors slowly closing behind them.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived-

The Martial Arts Arena in Spirit Hall Academy's rear courtyard was already packed with people.

Holding back their excitement and nerves, the students gathered in twos and threes, discussing the Individual Soul Fighting Competition that was about to begin.

On the raised platform, Xu Ding stood in formal attire, his steady gaze sweeping across the crowd. Only once the clamor gradually subsided did he announce:

"Students, today we will hold the second event of the Freshman Competition here-the Individual Soul Fighting Competition!"

He paused, his voice carrying into every corner through his soul power:

"Unlike yesterday's teamwork, today you will stand alone in the ring."

"With no teammates to cover you and no clever coordination, only your own soul power, soul skills, and will can carry you further!"

Below the platform, the students clenched their fists, fierce fighting spirit igniting in their eyes.

Individual duels were the most direct test of strength, as well as the best opportunity to prove themselves.

"Opponents will be decided by drawing lots. Winners advance until the final individual champion is determined!"

Xu Ding raised a hand in a signal, and staff immediately brought a box of lots to the front of the platform.

"Now, draw your lots in order of your rankings in yesterday's team competition!"

As the first-place team in the first assessment, Su Yu and Hu Liena stood at the front.

Hu Liena reached in and drew a lot. After opening it for a look, she gave a relaxed smile:

"Number thirty-two. A bye in the first round."

Su Yu followed right after her. His fingertips touched a bamboo lot, and he drew it out and glanced at it:

"Number fifteen. I have a match in the first round."

"Looks like you'll be going up for a warm-up first, Brother Su Yu." Hu Liena blinked.

Su Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the students rubbing their fists and flexing their hands.

Among them were quite a few who had received his "special attention" yesterday. Their gazes were complicated as they looked at him now, holding both fear and unwillingness to accept defeat.

Xu Ding's voice rang out again. "The draw is complete. In one incense stick's time, the Individual Soul Fighting Competition will officially begin!"

One incense stick's time passed in a flash. The referee called out the names, and Su Yu walked slowly onto the Martial Arts Arena.

A familiar figure appeared opposite him-it was Zhang Hao, who had fought him before.

A measure of stubbornness showed on Zhang Hao's face. His gaze fixed firmly on Su Yu, his tone defiant:

"Su Yu! I was careless last time. This time, I absolutely won't lose to you again!"

Before his words had faded, his soul power erupted. Light flashed behind him, and his Blazing Sun Bird martial soul appeared with its head held high.

The fiery-red bird flapped its wings and cried out, orange-red flames surrounding its body like a cloak.

Scorching waves of heat spread outward, making even the air seem faintly hot.

"Oh? Looks like you've improved quite a bit these past few days."

Su Yu looked at the flames, more condensed than last time, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.

Zhang Hao clenched both hands, and the first soul ring beneath him suddenly lit up:

"First soul skill: Flame Impact!"

The Blazing Sun Bird abruptly opened its beak. A condensed stream of flame shot straight at Su Yu's face, bearing the force of something that would burn everything to ashes.

Su Yu shifted his feet slightly, his figure sliding sideways like a phantom, just avoiding the flames' attack.

"Little firebird, you're still using the same old tricks! Wood Release: Thorn Killing Technique!"

Su Yu slapped both hands against the ground. Several thick wooden vines burst from the earth with sharp whistles as they tore through the air.

They twisted like nimble snakes as they struck at Zhang Hao, their surfaces covered in thorns that gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

"Hmph, this time, I won't let you entangle me!"

The Blazing Sun Bird behind Zhang Hao kept spewing flames, forcing the attacking wooden vines back.

"Your Wood Release is still vulnerable to fire in the end. Your wooden vines can't get anywhere near me!"

"Is that so?" Su Yu's gaze sharpened slightly.

Countless wooden vines grew wildly from every direction. No longer confined to straight-line attacks, they closed in simultaneously from above, below, left, and right like an enormous spreading net.

Those thorn-covered vines avoided the areas where the flames burned strongest, picking out gaps to slip through.

Some even snaked along the ground, circling around the flames' frontal defenses.