Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
The massive classroom was filled with noisy chatter from the new students.
Everyone was busy searching for familiar companions to team up with.
Of course, there were already prearranged groups—like Cui Yajie, who smilingly rejected a polite boy and sat down beside Zhu Lu, whispering in her ear. Dai Huabin turned his gaze toward that boy, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. To dare poach someone right in front of him—was that kid seeking death?
He secretly marked the boy in his heart. If they ever met on the battlefield, he planned to at least break a limb or two.
He was a man who repaid grudges a hundredfold. That was simply his nature.
"Lulu, looks like we've got some strong rivals in this freshman assessment. I just don't know if we'll be second or third," Cui Yajie said with a touch of coquettish charm, whispering into Zhu Lu's ear. Her alluring gaze unconsciously drifted to the back of the room, where another small group had formed, centered around Su Wen.
"Hard to say." A trace of hesitation flickered in Zhu Lu's eyes.
That person's strength was still a mystery, yet it felt as if an immovable mountain pressed down upon all the freshmen…
"Hmph!"
Dai Huabin's cold snort drew the two girls' attention. Just as Cui Yajie expected him to offer some profound opinion, he fell silent again.
Cui Yajie: "…"
"Hopefully we can squeeze into the top three," Zhu Lu sighed softly.
"Hmph!" This time, Dai Huabin's snort carried a touch of arrogance, as if to say it was no big deal.
Cui Yajie: "…"
…
"In this competition, besides winning academy rewards, are there any other benefits?" Wu Feng asked with interest.
"The top-ranked participants can obtain a 'Core Disciple' title, enter the academy's higher ranks, and gain more resources," Xue Ling replied. His father was a teacher in the outer court, so he had more inside information.
"What's so great about being a core disciple?" Wu Feng raised an eyebrow.
"Well… it grants higher privileges in the Treasure Pavilion, including a larger annual line of credit for gold soul coins. The academy's best cultivation resources will prioritize you. You can even join inner court disciples in expeditions led by powerful teachers into the Star Dou Forest to hunt soul rings," Xue Ling explained thoughtfully.
"Some even call the core disciples a 'mini inner court.' Almost seventy to eighty percent of them eventually make it into the real inner court."
"Tsk, tsk. In that case, I suppose I'll reluctantly compete for it as well." Wu Feng puffed out his chest proudly.
"Hey!"
Wu Feng suddenly yelped, clutching her head. Flashing her little tiger fangs, she glared angrily at Su Wen.
"Why'd you hit me?!"
"Keep your voice down." Su Wen tilted his chin toward the stage. Mu Jin was casting a reproachful glance in their direction as she began collecting names.
"…Fine." Wu Feng sulked, returning to her seat.
"Let me briefly introduce this assessment." After gathering the lists, Mu Jin looked at her 'elite soldiers' of Class Two, smiling brightly.
"First of all, this year's assessment will be conducted in three-person teams. Nearly a thousand students in the grade will form about three hundred teams. The top one hundred fifty teams will advance, the bottom one hundred fifty will be eliminated. This will be an extremely rigorous trial—the strong will shine, the weak…"
She paused, then continued: "Rankings will be determined by points. Each team will fight ten matches, earning points for each victory, and none for a loss. After that, there will also be a final elimination round."
Her tone softened slightly: "This elimination round will only involve the top sixty-four teams. The academy has prepared generous rewards for those who make it into the top four~"
Sweeping her gaze around the room, she saw that everyone was brimming with confidence. Satisfied, she nodded. "Good, you all have spirit. Let's confirm the groups."
"First group: Dai Huabin of the Assault System, Zhu Lu of the Agility System, and Cui Yajie of the Control System. Very good—a textbook team. The White Tiger martial soul is an exceptional assault type, the Nine-Tailed Fox provides powerful charm-based control, while Zhu Lu, as an agility-attack type, covers harassment and protection for the controller. A near-perfect combination!"
Mu Jin nodded approvingly.
She deliberately gave praise to prevent students from forming lopsided teams that wasted their strengths, like putting together two supports with one assault, or even three agility attackers.
"Second group…"
"…"
"Group Twenty-Seven: Assault System, Wu Feng. Support System, Ning Tian. Summoning System… Su Wen?"
Mu Jin adjusted her glasses, looking slightly awkward.
What in the world was a "Summoning System"?
She had never heard of such a thing.
The entire class fell silent.
Dai Huabin was especially stunned. He had always assumed Su Wen was an assault type—of course he was, with such terrifying physical strength, how could he not be? So what was this "Summoning System" supposed to mean?
"Teacher, the Summoning System refers to summoning soul beasts," Su Wen stood and explained calmly.
"Summoning… soul beasts?"
Recognition dawned on Mu Jin.
There was another Summoning System student in Zhou Yi's class, Zhou Sichen, who possessed the Martial Soul Codex. He could summon soul beasts corresponding to the level of his soul rings.
But Su Wen's martial soul was still a complete mystery to her.
From his academy records, all information about him had been vague, shrouded in secrecy. In these past three months, aside from revealing his overwhelming physical power, he had exposed almost nothing else. His position within Shrek was clearly extraordinary—in the few months she had been a substitute teacher, Mu Jin had already been approached several times by elders, Dean Yan, and even Xian Lin'er herself to discuss him.
So until today, she had never dared to ask directly what his martial soul truly was.
She gestured for Su Wen to sit.
In truth, whichever team had Su Wen was almost guaranteed the championship.
That thousand-year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear she had seen last year already felt overpowered. Even if Su Wen fought alone, Mu Jin wouldn't have objected.
But Dai Huabin clenched his fists tightly.
He felt utterly humiliated.
He had just barely accepted the idea that Su Wen possessed some top-tier martial soul famed for brute strength. He had even considered something as terrifying as the Golden Dragon and forced himself to accept it. That way, at least there was a chance to surpass him one day.
But now Su Wen had revealed his hand—his physical power was merely the tip of the iceberg.
Then what had all his fear of Su Wen's strength amounted to?
And what about all the strategies he had meticulously planned over countless days and nights? What were they worth now?!
(End of Chapter)