Great Strength Gorilla and Jade Phosphorous Serpent (Part 1)

"Th-thank you for showing mercy, Brother Ling. We'll all be classmates from now on, so just call me by my name."

Chu Qingtian grabbed Ling Bai's hand and used it to pull himself up, the smile on his lips carrying a faint trace of bitterness.

He had no intention of making excuses, saying something like the Six-Winged Angel naturally crushed the Lightning Maniac Panther, or that he had not eaten enough for dinner today...

His Soul Power had been superior, and he was an outstanding student of Shrek Outer Academy, yet he had failed to force out even Ling Bai's third or Fourth Soul Skill. Throughout the entire battle, he had not launched a single threatening attack. Most of the time, he had been racking his brains over how to escape the edge of the Angel Holy Sword.

Meanwhile, Ling Bai had not moved a single step from where he stood. He had even yielded the Six-Winged Angel's greatest advantage in the air to Chu Qingtian, casually tossing out a few Soul Skills and sending him scurrying about in panic.

If this had not been an assessment centered on a spar, but a life-or-death battlefield, Chu Qingtian reckoned he would be half-dead by now.

Clap, clap, clap!

As their battle came to an end, waves of applause rang out through the Soul Arena. Zhang Lexuan and Du Weilun led the others over.

"Shrek Inner Academy has gained another monster. Welcome, Little Junior Brother."

Zhang Lexuan was the first to congratulate Ling Bai. Her starry black eyes brimmed with laughter. Du Weilun had just briefly explained Ling Bai's identity to her.

An eleven-year-old inner academy student—the undisputed youngest student in Shrek Inner Academy.

Youngest in age.

So Zhang Lexuan's address of "Little Junior Brother" was entirely fitting.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister."

Little Junior Brother it was, then. Though it sounded a little strange, Ling Bai figured he would get used to it in a couple of days.

"Qingtian, you did well too. The Lightning Maniac Panther's speed, Lightning Transformation, Lightning Shadow, Guts... you displayed every ability you should have. You'll need to cultivate even harder in the inner academy from now on."

Zhang Lexuan did not forget to encourage Chu Qingtian either. After all, losing to Ling Bai was by no means embarrassing. A few years from now, Chu Qingtian might even take pride in it.

At those words, Chu Qingtian instantly threw the injury to his shoulder out of his mind. Fully revived, he puffed out his chest and declared firmly, "I'll definitely cultivate diligently! I promise I won't disappoint you, Eldest Senior Sister!"

Ling Bai blinked. It seemed he had underestimated Zhang Lexuan's standing in the hearts of the inner academy students. She had merely offered Chu Qingtian a word of encouragement, and this guy's attitude had immediately become so upright!

Zhang Lexuan probably had not expected Chu Qingtian to take it so seriously either. After staring blankly for a second, she said gently, "Treat your wound first. We'll head to Sea God Island in a while."

"Yes, Eldest Senior Sister!"

Chu Qingtian took bandages and medicine from his Storage Soul Tool, while the other new inner academy students nearby helped him dress his wound.

On the other side, Ling Bai walked over to Du Weilun. His golden eyes curved into crescents as he teased, "So, Director Du, I didn't disappoint you, did I?"

"You brat!"

Du Weilun heavily patted Ling Bai's shoulder several times, though a gratified smile appeared on his face.

"It wasn't in vain that I swallowed my pride and asked Lexuan to give you an extra test. You're prettier than a girl, and you fight even more beautifully! A martial soul is an inborn talent, but what satisfies me most is your development of your Soul Skills!"

Du Weilun's occupational habit as a teacher had flared up, and his urge to lecture could not be restrained.

"If I'm not mistaken, your First Soul Skill should form a light array out of holy energy."

Du Weilun looked at Ling Bai, his tone filled with certainty.

"Yes, Director Du."

Ling Bai nodded. "My First Soul Ring came from an eight-hundred-year Starlight Unicorn. The Radiant Spirit Array evolved from the Starlight Unicorn's innate Soul Skill, the Starlight Spirit Array."

At the mention of the Starlight Unicorn, Ling Bai's eyes flickered slightly. It had been the first soul beast he had killed with his own hands. From the moment its gushing blood splashed into his palm, the gears of fate had begun to turn.

Du Weilun continued, "Bei Bei, Tang Ya, did you notice? With the same First Soul Skill, Ling Bai was able to release the Radiant Spirit Array, a special defensive spirit array, and that final Divine Storm.

"In the hands of most soul masters, a Soul Skill remains exactly as it was when they first obtained it. The Radiant Spirit Array is merely a light array. Many soul masters can obtain similar Soul Skills, but in Ling Bai's hands, the Radiant Spirit Array has produced all kinds of variations.

"Martial souls are bestowed by our parents and the heavens. We cannot change them, but we can change our Soul Skills.

"There are no weak Soul Skills in this world, only lazy soul masters without creativity.

"Understanding and developing your own Soul Skills is a challenge you must overcome on the road to becoming strong."

"We understand, Director Du!"

Bei Bei and Tang Ya were completely convinced. Tang Ya especially had always felt that Blue Silver Grass was far too inferior to other martial souls, that no matter how hard she worked, she could never match her classmates. But now, it seemed another path was slowly unfolding before her.

"Ling Bai."

"Hmm?"

"Keep developing your Soul Skills, especially while your cultivation is still shallow and you have few Soul Skills. Once you gain more Soul Skills in the future, you won't be able to attend to all of them."

"Don't worry. I don't have many strengths, but I do have plenty of ideas."

Ling Bai made a small joke. Du Weilun was truly offering him painstaking advice. He could be considered a qualified teacher.

"Eldest Senior Sister, I'm done."

After having his wound bandaged, Chu Qingtian moved his shoulder. Thanks to the Soul Power protection of the Lightning Maniac Panther's Fourth Soul Skill, Thunderstorm, and Ling Bai's mercy, that sword strike had only caused a superficial wound. With the physique of a four-ring Soul Ancestor, he would recover completely after two days of rest.

"Mm."

Zhang Lexuan raised her head to glance at the sky. The bright moon hung overhead, and stars dotted the night. As far as she could remember, this was the latest an inner academy assessment had ever dragged on.

"Little Junior Brother, it's time for us to go to the island!" she called.

"Alright, Eldest Senior Sister. Director Du, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, I'll be going now. See you later."

Ling Bai agreed. Now that he was an inner academy student, calling Bei Bei and Tang Ya senior brother and senior sister did not feel appropriate. Calling himself their senior brother in turn would be awkward as well, so he simply hinted that they should address each other by name from now on.

"It's getting late. Hurry up and go."

Du Weilun waved him off with a stern face. After thinking for a moment, he added, "For your sect master's sake, you can come find me if you run into trouble in the future."

"Pfft!"

Tang Ya burst into laughter, drawing a knife-like glare from Du Weilun. He had originally managed to hold it in, but Tang Ya's laughter made him lose his composure again.

"Bye-bye, Senior Ling! Remember to take care of your junior brothers and sisters in the future!"

Ignoring Du Weilun, Tang Ya laughed brightly and carefree.

Bei Bei shook his head helplessly. When she had first met Ling Bai, she had called him junior brother every other word. The moment he entered the inner academy, she immediately switched to calling him senior. His scatterbrained girlfriend had clearly not caught his hint at all.

Heh, the more he looked at her clear-eyed, foolish little expression, the more he liked it!

After bidding farewell to Du Weilun, Bei Bei, and Tang Ya, Ling Bai and Chu Qingtian followed Zhang Lexuan out of the assessment grounds along with the other new inner academy students, heading toward Sea God Lake.

At the same time, the shadows hidden around them slowly vanished, withdrawing from Shrek Academy like a receding tide...