Assessment

One year later...

"Teacher, Brother, how about I absorb a Hundred-Year Soul Ring after all?" Su Yang said, looking at Yue Guan and Wang Feng. He didn't want to put his teacher and Wang Feng in a difficult position.

Yue Guan looked at his disciple and smiled. "Su Yang, your innate Soul Power started at a low level, but if you can get a head above most people with your Soul Rings, you'll be able to go further in the future."

"I understand, Teacher, but there's a limit to the age of the Soul Rings a Soul Master can absorb. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you." Su Yang was conflicted. He wasn't afraid of dying. A year of experience had matured his temperament, and the power of Soul Beasts had long since made him unafraid of death.

But Yue Guan and Wang Feng's care was a kindness he dared not forget. He couldn't die; he had to stay alive. Only then could he repay them.

Wang Feng smiled at Su Yang. "Don't worry about that. Rest assured, the two of us definitely won't let you put yourself in danger. With your abilities, you can handle absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. What we're trying to decide now is what type of Soul Beast would be suitable for you."

"All right, then!" Su Yang gave in. Since they'd said nothing would happen to him, he stopped worrying.

Wang Feng and Yue Guan had different views on Su Yang's Soul Ring Configuration. Wang Feng thought they should choose an attack-type Soul Beast, but Yue Guan thought they should choose a defense-type.

The main reason they disagreed was that none of the continent's powerhouses had a zither as their Martial Soul, so they had no example to follow. That made it difficult to find a suitable one.

"Teacher, Brother, how about choosing a support-type Soul Beast?" Su Yang suddenly suggested.

"Support-type!"

The two looked at Su Yang, then at each other, hesitating.

After a while, they decided it was worth a try, and the three set out to find a Soul Beast suitable for a support-type Soul Master.

Holy Academy, inner courtyard special class.

"Students, the academy has discussed and decided on the date of our first assessment. The inner courtyard's first assessment will officially begin one week from now. The results will affect changes to the Holy Ranking, so I hope you'll all do your best."

At the podium, Dean Yu Xiaogang personally announced the major news to the special class students.

"Dean, what will the main content of this assessment be?"

"There are two main parts: teamwork and individual strength. The individual strength assessment will come first. The academy will conduct a preliminary test, then assign you opponents based on its evaluation of each of your abilities."

"As for the team assessment, you'll need to form teams of seven. The team assessment tests more than your individual strength; more importantly, it tests teamwork, which will also be the main focus of our teaching in the next stage."

"Teacher, how will the members of the teams be chosen? Will the academy assign them, or do we form our own teams?" Hu Liena suddenly asked.

Yu Xiaogang glanced at Hu Liena, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. He had a keen nose and immediately understood what she meant. She obviously wanted to bring Wang Feng onto her team.

Thinking of Wang Feng, Yu Xiaogang frowned even more deeply without realizing it. Wang Feng had taken leave and left a year ago, and he still hadn't returned. If not for his misgivings about Bibi Dong, Yu Xiaogang would have expelled him.

Of course, he also wanted to see just what a student who had run off instead of studying at the academy could accomplish.

"You form your own," Yu Xiaogang told Hu Liena.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Hu Liena smiled and sat down, then happily turned to Qian Renxue beside her. "Sister Xue'er, we can bring Senior Brother onto our team! With him there, we'll definitely take first place."

"Hmph, who wants him on the team? We can still take first place without him," Qian Renxue huffed. Though she voiced her displeasure, there was a trace of anticipation in her eyes.

Hu Liena smiled secretly. She had spent a long time with Qian Renxue and knew her teacher's daughter well, so she feigned concern. "Sister Xue'er, Senior Brother has already been gone for a year. Where do you think he is now? He couldn't be in danger, could he?"

"With Elder Yue there, what danger could he be in?" Qian Renxue said coldly, though a trace of concern remained on her face.

"Sister Xue'er, if that guy doesn't know about the assessment, what if he doesn't come back?" Hu Liena suddenly asked, a little worried.

Qian Renxue frowned and looked at Hu Liena.

That really was possible. If he didn't come, his assessment score would be zero. If this assessment affected the overall rankings at graduation, the consequences would be serious.

At that thought, Qian Renxue looked up at the podium, only to find that Yu Xiaogang was already gone.

"Go tell Ghost Elder to send a message to Elder Yue, asking him to bring Wang Feng back as soon as possible," Qian Renxue told Hu Liena.

"Ah! Why do I have to go? Why don't you go?"

"Hmph! You're the one who cares about that guy, not me," Qian Renxue said, turning her head away.

"I!..."

Hu Liena was speechless, but she had no retort either, so she got up to find Gui Mei.

But just as Hu Liena stood up, someone walked over. It was Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yu Tianheng beamed at Hu Liena. "Nana, I'd like to invite you to join our team. We're only two people short, so why don't you and the Holy Maiden both join us? With our strength, I'm sure we won't have much trouble taking second place in the team assessment."

Yu Tianheng had entered the special class by challenging the Holy Ranking. Ever since joining the class, he had pursued Hu Liena like mad, but unfortunately for him, she had never paid him any attention.

As for Qian Renxue, he didn't have the nerve. After all, she was Bibi Dong's daughter, and she also had a terrifying grandfather behind her. Very few people really had the courage to pursue Qian Renxue.

Hu Liena frowned as soon as she saw him. "Get lost. Who wants to team up with you? You don't even dare compete for first place. What right do you have to team up with me?"

"I..." Yu Tianheng's face twitched, and his brows furrowed involuntarily, but he immediately grinned again. "Nana, as long as you're willing, I promise we'll compete for first place."

"You? As if you're worthy!"

"Nana, I..."

"Shut up! What gives you the right to call me Nana? Get lost, and don't block my way!"

Hu Liena cut Yu Tianheng off, walked around him, and headed out of the classroom.

Yu Tianheng turned and stared at Hu Liena's departing figure, his face so dark it looked ready to drip water.

"Hu Liena, hmph! Do you really think I care about you? Just wait! Sooner or later, my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will replace your Spirit Hall. When that happens, I'll make you kneel before me and beg me to take you!"

A flicker of icy killing intent flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes. Then he withdrew his gaze and turned to Qian Renxue, his expression back to normal. "Holy Maiden, I wonder if you..."

"Scram!"

Yu Tianheng's words stopped short, and his raised hands froze in midair. He smiled, then turned and left.