Kneel and Apologize

As the beast cage slowly opened, a fiery red lion strode out with imposing steps. It opened its bloody maw, baring its sharp fangs, then suddenly charged at Huo Yuhao. The area around them was instantly engulfed in crimson magma, which surged toward Huo Yuhao.

Yet Huo Yuhao did not dodge. The sight made Wang Dong cry out from the platform, "Yuhao!" Lin Qianyi stopped her, activated her Purple Gold Demonic Eye, and calmly said after a quick glance, "Yuhao is fine."

Wang Dong asked anxiously, "Really?" As soon as she spoke, the temperature around them plummeted, and ice began to form on the ground. Huo Yuhao was completely unharmed. The faint silhouette of an Ice Scorpion appeared behind him, and even Lin Qianyi was moved by its powerful oppressive aura.

Although her second martial soul was also Extreme Ice, it was still slightly inferior to the Ice Scorpion. However, the gap was not great.

"Ice Emperor's Protection!" Huo Yuhao called softly. A thin layer of icy mist rose around him, sending the Flame Lion flying. Soul Power gathered in his hand, and the soul beast immediately felt as though its body had frozen solid. After a moment, Huo Yuhao withdrew his Soul Power and drove it away. The Flame Lion fled in a sorry state.

Huo Yuhao withdrew his Soul Power. Seeing this, the Beast King said, "Last time, a young girl who dared to challenge a ten-thousand-year soul beast received full marks. It seems this year's students are all quite impressive.

"Huo Yuhao possesses outstanding combat wisdom and commendable courage. He receives a perfect score of 150. The second full score of this Promotion Assessment has appeared." The rankings were then announced: First place, Lin Qianyi and Huo Yuhao; second place, Dai Huabin; third place, Wang Dong and Cui Yajie.

Class One had a success rate of 95%, while Class Two had a success rate of 80%. Students who failed would have to take a makeup examination. If they failed again, they would be expelled.

Looking at her score, Lin Qianyi said softly, "Our scores are far higher than Dai Huabin's group." Xiao Xiao snorted and said with a touch of pride, "Let's see how they can keep acting smug now."

On the high platform, Qian Duoduo said proudly, "Qianyi and Yuhao are truly impressive, worthy of being core disciples of my Soul Tool Department." Yan Shaozhe retorted dismissively, "Old Qian, you don't get to decide where these two children belong." Qian Duoduo snorted. "Then let the elders of the Sea God Pavilion make the decision." With that, he turned and left.

After the assessment ended, Lin Qianyi, Huo Yuhao, and the others found Dai Huabin's group. Lin Qianyi raised her brows sharply. "You want to run after losing?" Wang Dong was no less forceful. "Dai Huabin, don't be a sore loser. You lost, so you have to kneel and apologize."

Dai Huabin slowly clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles turning white. Zhu Lu tugged anxiously at his sleeve. "Huabin, let's go." But Dai Huabin took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Since I made the bet, I will honor it. A gambler must accept defeat." By then, many spectators had gathered around them, their eyes fixed on the group. Dai Huabin gritted his teeth, then slowly knelt to the ground and heavily kowtowed once. "I'm sorry."

Zhu Lu's face turned pale with anger. "You..." Dai Huabin pushed through the crowd and jogged away, leaving behind only a somewhat lonely figure. Zhu Lu glared resentfully at Lin Qianyi and the others. "Just you wait!"

Cui Yajie was also unwilling to accept it. "So what if you won this time? Next time, I'll make you look even worse than you do now." Lin Qianyi blocked Cui Yajie's path, a cold smile curling across her lips. "Winning this time let us hold our heads high. Winning next time will still be our business. All you know how to do is make empty threats." With that, Lin Qianyi and the others turned and left.

Among the crowd, Tang Ya watched Lin Qianyi's departing back and said softly, "That girl usually doesn't talk much, but she sure has a sharp tongue." Beibei agreed from beside her. "Isn't that the truth?"

Shrek Academy

Sea God Pavilion Meeting

As several elders gathered together, an aged yet gentle voice drifted over. "Shaozhe, what exactly is the matter that prompted you to convene this Sea God Pavilion meeting?" Yan Shaozhe answered respectfully, "Yes, Teacher. This Sea God Pavilion meeting concerns a matter of great importance to the academy's development over the next century."

Before he could finish, Xian Lin'er slammed her hand on the table and rose to her feet, demanding indignantly, "Nonsense! You clearly agreed before, yet now you're going back on your word!" Just as the tension reached a breaking point, a calm female voice spoke at the right moment. "Lin'er!" Though Xian Lin'er was unwilling, she could only swallow her complaints for the time being.

"Shaozhe, continue." Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and slowly said, "Lin'er is right. But before I agreed, I did not know that Huo Yuhao possessed Twin Martial Souls, and that his second martial soul was Extreme Ice. Although Huo Yuhao and Lin Qianyi would certainly display talent in the Soul Tool Department, placing them in the Martial Soul Department would allow us to develop all of their abilities."

The moment those words were spoken, all the elders present were shocked. This was indeed a matter worth discussing in depth. How could Xian Lin'er let it go so easily? She demanded, "Have you forgotten how you drove Huo Yuhao out of the Martial Soul Department back then?" Yan Shaozhe fell silent at those words. That incident weighed on his heart like a massive boulder, leaving him unable to answer for a time.

Seeing Yan Shaozhe at a loss for words, Qian Duoduo chuckled. "Huo Yuhao's talent is not limited to the Martial Soul Department. In just eight months in the Soul Tool Department, he advanced to become a second-rank Soul Engineer. It is truly astonishing. As for Lin Qianyi, she is also exceptionally gifted with Soul Tools. Even though she has not devoted all her efforts to it, if she truly focused on it wholeheartedly, her achievements would not fall short of anyone's."

Xuan Zi was slightly taken aback. "Oh? I did not notice those details back then."

Qian Duoduo followed up, "Elder Xuan, what do you think?"

Xuan Zi pondered for a moment. "Though these two children may each have their own accomplishments in either the Soul Tool Department or the Martial Soul Department, cultivating as soul masters is the foundation. If we consider their future achievements, I believe everyone already knows which side is more suitable for them. After all, there is no shortage of students talented in the Martial Soul Department. You can select other suitable talents from among them."

The moment Xian Lin'er heard this, she became anxious. "Are the two seniors favoring the Martial Soul Department?"

A faint smile appeared on Yan Shaozhe's lips. The old really are wiser.

"What Elder Xuan said is very true. For the sake of these two children's long-term development, the Martial Soul Department is indeed more suitable. In the future, the Soul Tool Department can also select talent from the Martial Soul Department." Yan Shaozhe echoed.

Upon hearing that, Xian Lin'er immediately rose to her feet in agitation. "Elder Mu, Elder Xuan, I, Xian Lin'er, guarantee before you both that I am willing to personally devote all my efforts to nurturing these two children. If I cannot help them succeed, I would rather die to atone for it. These two children must remain in the Soul Tool Department."

Yan Shaozhe was greatly startled by Xian Lin'er's words. He had not expected her to be so resolute. Her gaze was firm, as though she had already made up her mind to keep Lin Qianyi and Huo Yuhao in the Soul Tool Department at all costs.

At that moment, a calm female voice quietly entered the discussion, like a stone cast into a still lake, instantly breaking the increasingly heated dispute. The speaker was a woman named Cai Mei'er. As the vice dean of the Martial Soul Department, she had neatly trimmed black hair and a gentle, dignified face.

Though she appeared to be only in her thirties, she was actually over ninety years old. Time had left her with a composure and wisdom that surpassed her age. "Since these two students are so exceptional, our Martial Soul Department will certainly not let them go so easily." Cai Mei'er's voice carried unquestionable resolve.

"Old Yan, you broke your word!" Qian Duoduo demanded angrily, his voice filled with indignation and grievance.

"You're the one who played tricks!" Yan Shaozhe shot back, equally forceful. The two sides were deadlocked, and the atmosphere was tense.

At that critical moment, an aged yet commanding voice rang out. "Enough!" Yan Shaozhe and the others immediately bowed. "Teacher, what is your opinion?" Yan Shaozhe asked respectfully.

Xian Lin'er called softly, "Elder Mu."

Mu En slowly spoke. "Shaozhe, tell me, what is Shrek Academy's motto?"

Yan Shaozhe and the other three answered in unison with respectful expressions, "Shrek Academy's motto is—only monsters are admitted; ordinary people are not."

Mu En nodded slightly, his gaze gentle and profound. "If that is the case, then since these two children are so extraordinarily gifted, why can't we make an exception for them?"