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Su Wen followed Elder Gong to the judges' stand.
The two class instructors arrived late. As class advisors, it was their responsibility to organize their respective classes and guide them into the Grand Beast Arena for the trial in an orderly manner.
Due to limited space, the second-year assessment could only accommodate two classes at a time.
As luck would have it...
The two instructors—a sharp-eyed old woman with gray hair and a young, stunningly beautiful lady—locked eyes. Sparks flew instantly, their glares clashing like blades.
Su Wen looked on with a strange expression.
Could it be... Zhou Yi and Mu Jin?
Hiss... It really might be. Shrek's Outer Court teachers typically don't serve as homeroom instructors for consecutive years. Since there was a grade between my year and this one...
"Teacher Zhou Yi, your class's overall student quality seems rather lacking. Let's hope that after all the filtering, at least one manages to stay," Mu Jin said with a mocking smile, clearly ridiculing Zhou Yi.
"Worry about your own class first," Zhou Yi replied coldly. "If we outperform your class in both average score and top score, that would certainly be... interesting."
"Hmph, our class has Xiao An, a Level 32 Assault-Type battle soul master. His martial soul reportedly traces back to the ancient Zhuyan. His talent is unmatched—no one in the entire grade can rival him. With the bunch of misfits in your class, you really think you can outscore him? Heh..." Mu Jin's tone dripped with arrogance.
"Hmph!" Zhou Yi's face darkened.
She had to admit—her class really didn't have much to boast about. Their top student had barely reached Level 27 as a Grand Soul Master.
A bunch of disappointments...
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, glaring fiercely at her students. She was already contemplating intensifying their training somehow.
But just as she turned her head, her eyes landed on a young boy seated near the judges' area—and her rage instantly ignited.
"Hey! That kid—do you have any respect for your elders? None of the teachers are seated yet! Who told you to sit there? What year are you from? Who's your instructor?!"
Su Wen looked bewildered.
Damn, is she in menopause or something? Even stray dogs passing by would get kicked?
"You talking to me?" Su Wen raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously! Who else would I be yelling at? Instead of training like a proper first-year, who brought you here?!"
Elder Gong had momentarily stepped away for other matters.
So to everyone else, Su Wen seemed like some student brought here by a teacher—perhaps their child. Among all the Outer Court instructors present, there were very few whom Zhou Yi feared. After all, her husband was the head of the Soul Tool Department and a top candidate for the vice dean position.
One female teacher tugged at Zhou Yi's sleeve. She had personally witnessed Su Wen chatting casually with Elder Gong. Clearly, this boy was no ordinary student.
"Zhou Yi, if you want to throw a tantrum, do it in your own class. Don't bark at random people," Su Wen said lazily, stretching.
As if he'd ever go to this woman's class.
If he had to choose, he'd go to Mu Jin's.
The whole venue fell silent.
Zhou Yi's face turned beet red, nearly livid with anger. Her short fuse was about to blow. She gritted her teeth and snarled, "I won't stoop to your level—but who are your parents? Step forward! I want to see which family raised such an ill-mannered brat!"
"I brought him. Got a problem?"
A lazy voice rang out behind them.
The white-haired old man strolled over slowly, eyeing Zhou Yi up and down. "So this is Fan Yu's woman? What a nasty piece of work…"
Zhou Yi's pupils contracted sharply. It was Elder Gong!
He was the head of the Grand Beast Arena, a Titled Douluo for years now, and held immense status within the academy. He was only a step away from becoming one of the Elders, but he preferred to spend his time raising soul beasts, treating the Beast Arena like a retirement home.
Normally, he barely acknowledged her presence. Even if Fan Yu did become vice dean, they still couldn't afford to cross this man.
Elder Gong glanced at Su Wen, relieved to see the boy hadn't walked away.
If Su Wen leaves, who will teach these cocky new students a lesson?
Every year, a few arrogant hotshots thought they could "ascend the Dao" by killing a soul beast or two, soaking themselves in blood and thinking they looked cool. Even if they paid compensation afterward, do they think raising a thousand-year soul beast is easy?
That Xiao An brat, for instance—Elder Gong couldn't stand him on sight. The kid had a strong bloodthirsty aura, probably from real battle experience, and judging by the excitement in his eyes, the poor soul beast assigned to him was doomed. Worse, it was a thousand-year one…
Too strong a beast and the kid might get hurt. Too weak and it's just a one-sided slaughter. What a headache.
But now, there was Su Wen!
His three soul beasts were all far above average in their class, obedient, and not bloodthirsty. Perfect to knock some sense into these reckless kids.
And Zhou Yi had the audacity to try to kick him out?
"You can get lost. He stays," Elder Gong snapped, giving her a sideways glare. "Don't think just because you've got Fan Yu that you can act high and mighty. The Martial Soul Department's Outer Court isn't yours to command!"
Zhou Yi's face flushed crimson, but she didn't dare utter a word.
Call it cowardice if you must—but Elder Gong wasn't someone she could afford to offend. The Grand Beast Arena was a mandatory trial for second-year students. If he decided to mess with her class, they could easily end up at the bottom of the rankings…
Su Wen ignored her completely and continued chatting idly with Elder Gong.
Several of the supervising teachers around them exchanged shocked glances and began eyeing Su Wen with curiosity.
Mu Jin was even more astonished. This boy didn't act like a subordinate or junior—he seemed more like an old friend of Elder Gong.
Who was he, really?!
"I—I choose a 300-year soul beast!"
Back in the arena—
A male student from Zhou Yi's class stepped forward and declared.
"What type?" the referee asked, recording something.
"Assault Type!" the boy replied nervously.
The referee gave him a quick glance.
Most students were understandably nervous when facing a soul beast head-on. A Level 23 Grand Soul Master choosing to fight a beast of similar strength was already a bold move.
"Ready—release!"
As the referee stepped aside—
The massive gates on the other side opened, and a steel-armored rhinoceros slowly lumbered out. The arena fell into absolute silence.
Watching was all fun and games, but once it was your turn, the fear set in.
Su Wen looked down toward the boy engaged in battle with the armored rhino.
The beast had terrifying defense but wasn't particularly fast. The student, an Agility-Attack Type soul master, kept maneuvering and exhausting the beast until it finally collapsed from fatigue—at which point he struck decisively.
"Huff... huff…"
The boy panted heavily, his eyes full of excitement.
His fear of soul beasts had significantly lessened.
For most students, this trial was more about building courage. True skill in battling soul beasts wouldn't be taught until the fourth year when access to the Grand Beast Arena became more frequent.
"Next up—Xiao An!" the referee's voice echoed across the arena.
(End of Chapter)