"…And that's everything," said Tang Ya, finishing her story of the past few days. Her expression turned a bit melancholic as she murmured, "If… if I had met Ziyang earlier, maybe the Tang Sect wouldn't have declined so much. But it's alright—I'm still here, and I will revive the Tang Sect!"
"So that means, Xiao Ya, your martial soul evolved?" Jiang Nannan's eyes sparkled as she looked at Tang Ya.
The more Tang Ya improved, the more impressive her brother Ziyang seemed—and that made her all the more proud.
"Uh…" Tang Ya's excited tone wavered. "I'm not really sure. Beibei said my martial soul is still Blue Silver Grass, and I feel like it is too. But it's definitely not the same as an ordinary one."
As she spoke, she held out her hand, and a strand of Blue Silver Grass appeared. It was indeed different—darker in color, with broader leaves, vivid patterns, and speckles on its surface. It radiated life and vitality.
"This is still Blue Silver Grass, but it's undergoing a transformation," said Zhu Ziyang, after a single glance. "If your future soul rings come from other top-tier plant-type soul beasts like the Tianxing Vine—or if you obtain a suitable celestial treasure—your Blue Silver Grass martial soul might evolve into something even stronger."
"Really?" Tang Ya's eyes lit up.
Yu Beibei seemed to recall something and said thoughtfully, "Ziyang is right. I once read a book that recorded how one of Shrek Academy's founders—Master Yu Xiaogang, the father of modern Soul Master theory—initially had a failed mutated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. But after consuming a top-tier celestial treasure gifted by his disciple Tang San, it evolved into the Radiant Holy Dragon."
Zhu Ziyang gave Yu Beibei a sidelong glance. This guy knows how to give a solid example!
"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon! Radiant Holy Dragon!" Tang Ya's face brightened. "I remember now—Master was your ancestor, right, Beibei? So this story is true!"
Yu Beibei nodded.
"Wow! So you're Master's descendant? You've really been hiding your strength!" Jiang Nannan looked at him in surprise.
"Zhu Ziyang, why don't you seem surprised at all?" Tang Ya asked, disappointed that she didn't get to see his shocked expression.
"It was obvious enough to guess," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile.
"Alright then, I'll set my goal—let my Blue Silver Grass awaken again and evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor!" Tang Ya declared enthusiastically, her bright eyes full of naive determination.
Zhu Ziyang responded with nothing but a polite smile.
—
Meanwhile, outside the freshman dorm building, Mu En had already learned of Tang Ya's transformation from Yu Beibei's granduncle.
"Tianxing Vine… her martial soul is evolving?" Mu En lay reclined on a wooden chair, eyes still closed, and muttered, "Seems like it's time to give that girl a hand… A rare seedling who didn't choose the wrong path."
In the next instant, the elderly man vanished silently, unnoticed by anyone.
—
After a series of events including alchemy, selling pills, and Tang Ya obtaining her second soul ring, Zhu Ziyang's life at the academy settled into a calm routine once more. Time flowed like water.
Soon, another two months had passed, marking three full months since the freshmen had entered Shrek Academy. The Freshman Assessment was now right around the corner.
During these three months, the students had undergone brutal screening.
In Zhu Ziyang's Class Four, the number of students had dropped from one hundred to eighty-one. With one transfer (Ling Xiaodong), eighteen students had left the academy entirely.
All those who remained had, on average, gained one soul level, and some had even broken into a new realm—like Tang Ya, who had obtained her second soul ring.
Clearly, those who remained were stronger than those who had been eliminated. But even so, the worst was yet to come: the most brutal challenge still awaited—the Freshman Assessment.
It was the final step in Shrek Academy's infamous trial-by-fire.
According to Class Four's homeroom teacher Xia Yu, the assessment would eliminate half of all freshmen. This was a non-negotiable order from the upper ranks of the Martial Soul Department and part of the academy's long-standing tradition.
Because, in the philosophy of Shrek Academy:
"We don't need mediocrity."
Currently, there were about 600 first-year students, roughly the same as in previous years. But that still meant that at least 300 students would be eliminated after the assessment.
A 50% elimination rate—harsh, but realistic.
That day, in Class Four's classroom, Xia Yu was explaining the assessment rules.
"From day one, I told you the Freshman Assessment would be based on combat. But since support-type and food-type Soul Masters aren't suited for direct combat, the final format will be team battles," he said. "Each participating student must form a three-person team. The rules are: only one power-attack Soul Master per team, and each member must have a different development path. No duplicates. Anyone here still undecided on their Soul Master path?"
"No!" the students shouted in unison.
Xia Yu had given them notice a month earlier to choose their paths, so everyone had already made their decisions.
Thanks to this, Xia Yu didn't have to worry about this part and could begin team assignments right away.
"When forming teams, students from the same dorm room will be grouped together first. The third member can be freely chosen. Those who don't find a third teammate will be randomly assigned by drawing lots. I'll post my recommended groupings shortly—feel free to use them as reference. If anyone is unhappy with their team, come see me, and I'll consider adjustments," Xia Yu said kindly, with a faint smile.
But none of the Class Four students felt any warmth from that smile.
They all subconsciously shook their heads.
In three months, they had learned exactly what kind of person Xia Yu was—always smiling like a harmless gentleman, but ruthless when expelling students. He showed no mercy. That's why many of them had begun calling him and Class One's homeroom teacher Zhou Yi the "Twin Terrors."