The competition concludes

The next morning, the semifinals began. All the freshmen, along with the senior students who had heard how strong this year's class was, arrived early at the Soul Fighting Arena.

In the spectator stands, Mu En sat in the very center, with the members of the Sea God Pavilion on either side of him.

Seeing so many of the academy's higher-ups taking today's matches so seriously, the students grew excited. It looked like this competition would be spectacular!

For today's matches, the referee had been replaced by Du Weilun, the director of the Outer Court's Martial Soul Department.

"The results of the draw are as follows: Huo Yuhao's team versus Dai Huabin's team, and Tang Yin's team versus Xu Yang's team."

Hearing the results, both Mu En and Zhang Lexuan wanted to know what Huo Yuhao was planning.

"Huo Yuhao's team and Dai Huabin's team, please take the stage."

This time, all three members of Huo Yuhao's team stepped onto the stage together. Their expressions were calm, as though their opponents were beneath mention.

Dai Huabin's eyes, however, gleamed with bloodlust. Watching Gu Qiu'er's fight yesterday had left his spirits surging.

When they saw all three members of Huo Yuhao's team appear together, everyone cheered. Yesterday, Gu Qiu'er had crushed her opponents like rotten wood and withered weeds, making them wonder whether the three would ever fight together.

Now, seeing this, everyone guessed that they were going to give it their all!

"Both sides, take your positions and release your Martial Souls. Begin!"

Eight Soul Rings appeared on Huo Yuhao's side-four purple and four black.

"Throw that Little Fox out," Huo Yuhao told Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena extended her hand. Red, blue, yellow, gold... all kinds of elements gathered in her palm, then appeared before the girl in a flash of silver light.

Seeing this, Du Weilun immediately blocked the attack, then announced with lingering fear:

"Cui Yajie, eliminated!"

"Useless!" Dai Huabin could not help cursing when a teammate was eliminated right at the start.

"Huabin!" Zhu Lu shot Dai Huabin a look.

Dai Huabin understood what she meant. A conflicted look crossed his face, but he still embraced Zhu Lu.

In an instant, black-and-white light flashed. The two vanished, and an enormous black-and-white tiger appeared in their place, standing three meters tall and five to six meters long.

Martial Soul Fusion Skill-Hell White Tiger!

The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth lifted slightly. They took the bait!

Huo Yuhao charged forward, completely disregarding the two girls behind him, while his First Soul Ring lit up. To everyone else, he seemed to be planning to face the Hell White Tiger alone.

And that was indeed the case. It was only a little kitty, after all.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao actually dared to face it alone, the Hell White Tiger gave a mocking smile, then raised a paw, ready to swat this pretty boy to death.

Huo Yuhao merely leaped lightly into the air, twisting into a position that completely defied common sense to evade the blow. Then, pushing off the tiger's paw, he thrust the Iron Sword in his hand toward its eye.

The Hell White Tiger also realized what Huo Yuhao intended and immediately pulled its paw back to protect its eyes. Otherwise, it would certainly be gravely wounded!

At least, that was how it looked to them.

"Aah!" The Hell White Tiger instantly split apart. Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu each spat out a mouthful of blood, then lost consciousness. Both had been stabbed in the chest.

The entire arena fell silent. They could not understand why the Hell White Tiger's movements had been so foolish, allowing Huo Yuhao to strike them so easily.

Naturally, this was the effect of Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill. His first Soul Skill, originally only an illusion, could now directly affect his opponents' senses and reaction speed thanks to his development of it.

Thus, in the Hell White Tiger's eyes, it had blocked Huo Yuhao. In reality, however, by the time they raised their paw to block him, Huo Yuhao had already driven his sword in.

Healing Soul Masters immediately rushed forward to examine Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu's injuries. Fortunately, they were only seriously wounded, and their lives were not in danger.

Of course, Huo Yuhao knew this was not the time to kill them. However, he had already obtained what he wanted-their blood.

Having won the match, Huo Yuhao and the two girls left.

Zhang Lexuan, sitting in the stands, was very curious. What exactly was Huo Yuhao trying to do? Merely injure Dai Huabin severely?

Mu En, meanwhile, glanced at the wounds on Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, looking thoughtful.

A while later.

Xu Yang's team and Tang Yin's team took the stage.

"We concede." Tang Yin conceded outright.

The entire arena fell silent. What had Tang Yin said? Concede? Even his teammates and Xu Yang opposite him froze. Xu Yang had just been about to concede himself!

Tang Yin explained with a smile, "We're all classmates. No matter who wins this match, it will take a tremendous toll on us. Rather than let the enemy reap the benefits, we should preserve our strength and compete for third place."

So that was it! Everyone understood. Tang Yin truly was someone who could see the bigger picture!

Xu Yang, standing opposite him, thought otherwise. Fuck you, aren't you just afraid of Huo Yuhao? Making cowardice sound so grand, glorious, and righteous-just what I'd expect from you, pure-as-ice-and-jade God King Tang!

Nevertheless, Xu Yang maintained a solemn expression. "I will remember your sacrifice, Tang Yin. Whether I win or lose in the finals, I will give it my all."

Like hell I will! Who knew Huo Yuhao actually had two Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings! And those fighting methods-what monster's soul had possessed him? Not to mention Gu Yuena and the Auspicious Beast!

Heh, Xu Yang? How come I don't remember a genius like you existing in this era? Tang Yin had carefully thought over the events of this period of history lately, but no matter how he tried, he could not recall such a genius back then.

Only the spectators below and the academy's teachers above looked at the two below with gratification.

"Why do I get the feeling that Tang Yin chickened out?" Xu Sanshi said, pinching his chin.

"What are you talking about? Tang Yin clearly saw the bigger picture and willingly stepped aside for Xu Yang!" Tang Ya retorted unhappily.

"It's just a shame Tang Yin couldn't win the championship using the Tang Sect Techniques." Tang Ya felt somewhat regretful, but she also knew there was no chance of winning against Huo Yuhao and the two girls.

Bei Bei smoothed things over. In truth, he somewhat agreed with Xu Sanshi. He always felt that Tang Yin seemed to be avoiding Huo Yuhao and the two girls.

That coward! That disgusting pervert! Wang Dong clenched her fists tightly below the stage.

That afternoon, the finals began. The Soul Fighting Arena was still packed to capacity. Although everyone already expected who would take the crown, a battle this spectacular could not be missed!

This match ended with ease.

Huo Yuhao fought Xu Yang, while Gu Yuena and Gu Qiu'er dealt with the other two, sending them off the stage in less than a minute.

Xu Yang, meanwhile, could only exhaust himself defending against Huo Yuhao's attacks. He might have defeated others easily, but that was because their combat experience or cultivation fell short of his.

He could not defend against Huo Yuhao's swordsmanship at all. He did not even dare use the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Soul Skill! Huo Yuhao might not know, but if Gu Yuena discovered it, wouldn't he be finished? And there was Tang San, too!

Watching one sword strike after another leave wounds across his body, he wondered, He isn't planning to give me death by a thousand cuts, is he?

Huo Yuhao was also puzzled. This person had clearly been hostile toward him before, so he had intended to take this opportunity to probe him. He had not expected him to be so weak. It seemed he was simply lustful.

Without prolonging the fight, Huo Yuhao knocked Xu Yang off the stage with a single sweep of his sword.

Thus, the championship went to Huo Yuhao and the two girls, while third place went to Tang Yin's team-Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu were unable to fight again.

The Freshman Assessment officially ended.