The first match

Inside the classroom.

The students of the new Class One chattered about the tournament schedule.

"Teams of three. The thousand-plus freshmen are divided into three hundred and forty teams in total. First comes the elimination round: the top hundred and seventy advance, while the bottom hundred and seventy are eliminated. Then comes the advancement round, contested by the top sixty-four from the earlier matches. The top four all receive rewards." Ning Cong stood to one side, explaining the rules with a smile.

For most students, an elimination rate of nearly half was both brutal and nerve-racking. But for the three of them, a top-three finish was practically nailed to the board. The only uncertainty was whether they would take the championship.

The rewards for winning the freshman assessment each year were said to be exceptionally generous, possibly even something as precious as a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.

"Our only competition... Class Two's Yu Linglong, Sang Qi, and Zhan Ling. The first is a rank thirty-one power attack system Battle Soul Elder whose Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. The other two are a rank twenty-three support system Soul Master with a Mulberry Martial Soul, and a rank twenty-four agility attack system Soul Master with a Hummingbird Martial Soul."

Ning Cong spoke.

"Other than them, we have no rivals!"

The boy fairly radiated youthful confidence. His handsome face, golden hair, and golden eyes shone brilliantly, making Xue Ling'er's eyes light up beside him. She propped her chin in both hands and stared at Ning Cong without blinking.

Lu Cheng's gaze was gentle, carrying a hint of a smile, yet a trace of loneliness lingered in his eyes.

Once upon a time, there seemed to have been someone who had looked at him with almost that same adoration.

If only...

Suddenly, a broadcast rang throughout the academy.

"All freshmen, please proceed to the assessment area now to participate in the assessment. Anyone more than ten minutes late will be disqualified..."

"Let's go! The assessment lasts just over half a month in total. We won't face our classmates in the early elimination matches, but there's a chance we'll run into Yu Linglong's team from Class Two." Sensing the atmosphere around him, even Ning Cong unconsciously clenched his fists and grew nervous.

Only after leaving the classroom did they realize that the corridor was a dense sea of freshmen in white uniforms. A clamor rose into the sky as the students streamed out of the teaching building and headed north.

The assessment area lay to the north, beside the Soul Fighting Arena. It was a vast, stadium-like space divided into more than fifty sections, each covering nearly four hundred square meters. For low-level Soul Masters, that much room was enough to display their abilities.

"The assessment begins!"

Lu Cheng and the others were assigned to Section Seven. Once they stepped onto the field, all three wore cold, aloof expressions as they faced their three trembling opponents.

The elimination round was not decided by a single match; rankings were determined by points earned through victories over ten matches. But running into such a monstrous team right out of the gate had all but stripped their opponents of any desire for victory.

While Ning Cong had been gathering information on Hou Jie's team, all the other teams had naturally been gathering information on these "monsters" as well. Ning Cong's team naturally ranked near the top, among the opponents they least wanted to encounter.

"Make it quick."

Lu Cheng spoke mildly.

"Sure." Ning Cong curled his lips, rather enjoying the feeling of being the focus of everyone's attention... Apart from the section hosting Hou Jie's team, theirs had drawn the largest audience.

Even many senior students from the outer court had come to watch.

Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya had also arrived in the spectator area.

"Go, Lu Cheng!"

Tang Ya was quite familiar with him already, cupping her hands around her mouth like a microphone as she shouted.

There were not many top beauties in the outer court. Jiang Nannan needed no introduction, being its universally acknowledged campus belle. Tang Ya was tall and lovely, only slightly less beautiful than Jiang Nannan, but still unquestionably a rare beauty.

Thus, the appearance of these two flowers instantly caused a stir.

Jiang Nannan's pretty face flushed. Watching the boy stand tall on the stage and give her a slight nod, she wanted to speak but stopped herself. She merely bit her red lip lightly and silently wished him luck.

She was more reserved and composed, not as outgoing as Tang Ya.

"The Tang Sect's sect master, Tang Ya?" Ning Cong was somewhat surprised. He naturally recognized this unfortunate girl, but with the assessment about to begin, he said nothing more and focused on their opponents.

"Even if we lose, we have to lose with style!"

The three facing them gritted their teeth.

"Hah! Hound Martial Soul, possess!"

The one in front roared. His arms thickened, sharp claws emerged from his fingertips, and he charged toward Lu Cheng's group with a snarl like a black hound.

The other two, one support system and one agility attack system, began working together with practiced coordination.

Judging by their Soul Rings, all three had two yellow rings and were Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters. Even across the entire assessment area, they could be considered above average. This fierce display made many spectators' gazes turn serious as they waited to see how Lu Cheng's trio would respond.

Facing a team like this should at least force them to reveal a few trump cards.

But in the next instant.

Lu Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly. A scarlet fire bow slowly appeared in his left hand, while endless scorching flames surged beneath his feet, brightening the entire field. He raised it and aimed at the student with the Hound Martial Soul charging toward him in the distance.

A purple Soul Ring slowly rose beneath his feet.

"First Soul Skill: Sun-Shooting!"

He raised his other hand. Two fiery-red arrows condensed between two fingers, and he gently released them.

Whoosh!

One fiery-red arrow shot straight toward the hound like a keen sword, humming and vibrating.

The other deftly changed direction, heading for the agility attack system student circling around from the other side.

"Something's wrong!!!"

After his Martial Soul possession, even that student's teeth had become exceptionally sharp. Yet now his face was filled with terror. He wanted to dodge, but the arrow reached him in a flash.

Boom!

The thunderous blast rang into the heavens and echoed through nearly half the stadium.

In countless other sections, students in the middle of fighting looked toward the source of the sound in astonishment.

That commotion... did not sound like something freshmen could produce.

Pfft~

As the mist dispersed.

Only after the teacher responsible for Section Seven swept onto the assessment field with a bewildered expression did he see the hound student, charred all over. The student's eyes were vacant. He spat out a ring of black smoke, then toppled stiffly to the ground.

The agility attack system Soul Master nearby had fared little better. Even though he was so fast that the naked eye could barely make him out, Lu Cheng had casually shot him off the assessment platform with another arrow. His homeroom teacher hurried over and hovered beside him, checking his injuries with worried eyes.

Only the support system Soul Master remained standing on the platform, trembling.

"So strong..."

The students who had come to watch from the other side were dumbstruck.

Yu Linglong's expression was even graver as he quietly looked down at Lu Cheng below. Lu Cheng slowly lowered his arm, the fire bow in his palm gradually dissipating, his expression still calm and indifferent.

Lu Cheng also sensed the scrutiny from the other party. He raised his head and gave Yu Linglong a slight nod.

Their gazes met, then quickly moved apart.

After this single battle, the top three places were essentially settled. The only remaining suspense was whose hands the championship would fall into.

"You're amazing, Xiao Cheng!!!" Tang Ya stood up, her face exceptionally excited as she waved her slender, pale arms.

Yet a trace of heartache appeared on Jiang Nannan's breathtakingly beautiful face.

Who could have imagined that a child his age already bore the pressure of the entire Black Tortoise Sect?

He seemed indifferent and calm, displaying a marked difference from children his age. But he was not deliberately acting aloof to look cool; rather, he bore a burden that would make even an adult collapse.

Because of her and her mother...