Six-Winged Angel vs. Lightning Maniac Panther (Part 2)

"Thank you, Director Du. We'll be going now. Bai Ge, Xiao Feng and I will wait for your good news."

Ning Tian raised her delicate brows at Ling Bai, her smile sly and unfathomable. After offering a salute, she turned and left with Wu Feng. Seeing this, Huo Yuhao hurried after them and asked cautiously, "Um... you two seem pretty relaxed. Aren't you worried Ling Bai might fail the assessment?"

"Fail?"

As though she had heard the funniest joke in the world, Wu Feng asked in astonishment, "The new students of Shrek's Inner Court are only Soul Ancestors. Do you think an assessment meant for Soul Ancestors can stop that guy? Are you underestimating the Six-Winged Angel, or have you forgotten how he slaughtered that Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture when he only had three rings?"

"Right..."

Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered. Shrek Academy might be strict, but Ling Bai was a monster too!

With her hands behind her back, Ning Tian smiled mischievously. "When I was little, Mother always said that Inner Court students were arrogant, one more than the last. It'll be good to let Bai Ge turn up the heat on them."

"Ning Tian, you're so wicked!" Wu Feng giggled foolishly. "But I love it!"

Meanwhile, Du Weilun led the three of them around several differently colored buildings. Bei Bei and Tang Ya explained to Ling Bai that these were the Outer Court teaching buildings, with white, yellow, purple, and black representing the various grades.

After passing the white freshman teaching building, the four of them finally arrived at the assessment area. It resembled an enclosed stadium, surrounded by a low wall.

It was already late. The dim yellow sunset was gradually replaced by stars and moonlight, while incandescent Soul Tool lamps had been lit within the assessment area, indicating that people were still inside.

The moment they entered, a woman noticed them.

"Director Du?"

The woman appeared to be only in her early twenties. Her smooth black hair fell all the way to her waist, and her fair face was exquisitely flawless. Her eyes were as gentle as water, seeming to be veiled by morning mist, giving her a dreamlike air.

"It's Lexuan."

Du Weilun revealed a kindly smile upon seeing her.

"Zhang Lexuan..."

Hearing how Du Weilun addressed her, Ling Bai immediately recalled the woman's identity.

Zhang Lexuan, the adopted child of Dragon God Douluo Mu En. She possessed exceptional talent, profound cultivation, and outstanding character. She was Shrek Inner Court's universally acknowledged Eldest Senior Sister.

And she was also Bei Bei's...

Child bride.

From the corner of his eye, Ling Bai saw Bei Bei's body visibly stiffen when he spotted Zhang Lexuan. He instinctively tightened his grip on Tang Ya's hand, making Tang Ya cry out in pain.

Besides Zhang Lexuan, there were five others in the assessment grounds—three men and two women. They stood in various poses, yet all of them were spirited and radiated confidence and excitement.

"Not bad. All of you have passed the Inner Court assessment." Du Weilun nodded slightly toward the five.

As the Outer Court Dean of Instruction, Du Weilun was extremely familiar with the Outer Court's geniuses. The five before him had all been core students he had personally selected in the past, seeds for the Inner Court.

"Hehe, we got lucky. And thank you for the Outer Court's guidance over these past few years, as well as your care, Director."

Among the five, a tall, handsome young man smiled and scratched his head.

"Enough. Don't try to sweet-talk me here. Work hard in the Inner Court. If I find out you've been eliminated, just wait and see how I deal with you!" Du Weilun scolded with a laugh.

"Uh..."

The young man was dumbfounded. Just like the Outer Court, Shrek's Inner Court had an extremely strict elimination system. He really had no confidence that he could last until graduation!

"Brother Chu, the road ahead is long and arduous."

The two male students beside him patted his shoulders and shook their heads with sighs.

Brother Chu suddenly felt that getting into the Inner Court was not particularly exciting. The pressure seemed even greater now.

After putting pressure on the student surnamed Chu, Du Weilun turned his gaze toward Zhang Lexuan. "Lexuan, are you preparing to take them to the island?"

Shrek's Inner and Outer Courts taught separately. Ling Bai had seen the Outer Court on his way here, and it was not much different from a university campus in his previous life. The Inner Court, meanwhile, was located on Sea God Island in the center of Sea God Lake, a holy land beyond the reach of most Soul Masters in their entire lives.

"Yes, Director Du." Zhang Lexuan's tone was calm, her gaze tranquil.

"The Inner Court assessment has ended. I'm responsible for taking this year's five new students to the island and helping them adapt to the Inner Court as quickly as possible."

"It's over?"

Du Weilun froze, then quickly understood.

That was right. When Ling Bai and the others registered, it had already been dusk. Now, the moon hung high in the sky. Who held assessments in the middle of the night?

"Lexuan, I have a student who wants to enter the Inner Court as an outsider. He's quite talented, so I was thinking of giving him an opportunity."

Du Weilun chose his words carefully. Though he was the Outer Court Dean of Instruction and usually had a stern style, the Outer Court was still the Outer Court. In Shrek's upper ranks, his status was far beneath Zhang Lexuan's. The two were not even on the same level.

"An outsider?"

Zhang Lexuan looked toward the three people behind Du Weilun—or, more accurately, her gaze locked onto Ling Bai at once. She knew Bei Bei very well, and because of Bei Bei, she also knew a little about Tang Ya.

It was not only Zhang Lexuan. The five Inner Court freshmen did the same. Bei Bei and Tang Ya were well-known in the Outer Court, so by process of elimination, everyone knew who the outsider was.

"So young!"

"So handsome!"

The five could not help expressing their surprise.

The boys paid more attention to Ling Bai's age. From his appearance, he looked younger than Bei Bei and Tang Ya, yet he was already at least a four-ringed Soul Ancestor.

That level of talent was somewhat terrifying.

The girls, on the other hand, were drawn in by Ling Bai's looks at first sight. Even at Shrek Academy, Ling Bai's appearance was still devastatingly effective. One female student's eyes began to gleam with interest.

"Since Director Du recommends him so strongly, I naturally have no objections. Let's give this student an additional test."

Zhang Lexuan was decisive. She had also studied in the Outer Court back then and knew very well that Du Weilun would not make an unfounded recommendation. Ling Bai certainly had something extraordinary about him.

"Ling Bai, hurry and thank Eldest Senior Sister."

Du Weilun promptly reminded him.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister."

"There's no need. I haven't done anything. Whether you can pass the additional test depends on you."

Zhang Lexuan smiled lightly and extended her fair hand, pointing toward the new students behind her.

"It is late, so we won't waste too much time. Ling Bai, I'll give you a small privilege. These are the new students who entered the Inner Court from the Outer Court this year. Choose one of them. Defeat that person, and there will be six new Inner Court students this year."

"Is the Inner Court assessment really this cas... simple?" Ling Bai looked at the smiling woman, changing the word "casual" that nearly slipped from his mouth into "simple."

Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly and shook her head. "This is merely streamlined.

Why make something complicated when it can be simple?

No matter what education a Soul Master receives, it ultimately serves real combat. Being a Soul Ancestor at such a young age proves exceptional cultivation talent. If an outsider can defeat a Shrek student, it proves formidable combat talent. Shrek does not accept ordinary people; it accepts only monsters. If you can achieve both of those things, then you are a monster!"

"That makes sense."

The greatest truths were the simplest.

Ling Bai admitted that Zhang Lexuan's words were true. The value of actual combat far exceeded any test. It could reveal what someone had learned in the past and the potential of their future development.

However...

"Are you sure you want me to choose?"

Ling Bai raised a question.

"Aren't you afraid I'll pick the support system?"

"You can try. See what difference there is between Shrek's support system and those outside. A friendly reminder: among these five, the only Support System Soul Master also cultivates Soul Tools."

The smile on Zhang Lexuan's face did not change in the slightest. That absolute confidence made others take notice. Ling Bai felt that Tang Ya must have had some real skill to steal Bei Bei away from a woman like this.

Then he happened to turn and see Tang Ya's clear, foolish eyes.

Case solved. Foolish people had foolish luck.

With things having reached this point, Ling Bai said no more and began observing the five Inner Court freshmen opposite him.

Five people, three men and two women, each with their own characteristics.

Low-level Soul Masters easily revealed certain details unintentionally—details concerning their martial souls and abilities. Ling Bai happened to be exceptionally skilled at noticing and analyzing such details.

Brother Chu, who had joked with Du Weilun, had well-proportioned, long limbs. His lowered hands rested close to his body and occasionally formed cat-like claws. A feline martial soul, agility attack type.

One of the men was broad and burly, powerfully built, with vigorous blood and vitality. Either assault or defense type, a strength-oriented Soul Master.

The other man looked ordinary, but carried a faint aura of life. A plant-type Soul Master.

One of the women was the support system Soul Master and Soul Engineer. When Ling Bai had mentioned choosing the support system, her expression had visibly changed. Naturally, it was an expression of eagerness for battle.

Lastly, there was the girl with short emerald green hair. Her appearance was the most outstanding among the Inner Court freshmen, scarcely inferior even to Ning Tian's. Her figure was extremely mature, while the slightly reddened corners of her eyes tilted upward. Whenever her gaze shifted, it stirred the heart.

Her appearance gave no clue as to what type of martial soul she possessed, but there was a faintly sweet, fishy scent in the air around her. Ling Bai judged that she might excel at using poison.

"I'll choose Brother Chu."

Judging from microexpressions and details, the girl with short emerald green hair should have been the strongest among the five Inner Court freshmen, with Brother Chu close behind her.

Ling Bai did not want to bully a girl, so he settled for the next best choice and selected Brother Chu.

"Go ahead, Chu Qingtian. The rest of you, spread out. You two can fight without holding back. Director Du and I will ensure your safety," Zhang Lexuan instructed.

"Yes, Eldest Senior Sister!"

Chu Qingtian strode forward with his head held high and stopped firmly opposite Ling Bai. At the same time, Du Weilun, Bei Bei, and the others moved aside, leaving the two of them a wide-open space.

"Chu Qingtian, rank 47 agility attack-type Soul Ancestor. Martial soul: Lightning Maniac Panther. Please enlighten me." Chu Qingtian clasped his fists and announced loudly.

Two yellow and two purple soul rings, a perfect arrangement, shone brilliantly. Faint brownish-yellow fur emerged across his body, while three black, camouflage-like marks appeared on each side of his face.

Lightning Maniac Panther possession!

"Ling Bai, rank 41 assault-type Soul Ancestor. Martial soul: Six-Winged Angel."

"Please enlighten me..."

Four soul rings—yellow, purple, purple, and black—rose fiercely!