As Xiao Yan's name rang out, most of the students present looked over. Even quite a few proctors cast curious glances. After all, the top student of every grade is the focus of everyone's attention. This is Shrek Academy, not some nameless sect. To rank first in a place crawling with monsters means your future will very likely start at Titled Douluo.
What's more, this twelve-year-old Soul Elder was the kind who crushed the second-years with a clear gap.
Mu Jin wore a proud look. Zhou Yi's expression, however, was dark.
"Hmph…"
Only Old Gong curled his lip and gave a cold snort.
"This kid's talent is so-so, but he sure is high-profile. Anyone who didn't know better would think he's guaranteed entry to the Inner Court and could stomp all the young geniuses there."
"A twelve-year-old Soul Elder does have grounds to be proud," Su Wen grinned, eyes fixed on the thin boy stepping onto the field. His face still held a hint of youthfulness, but there was a touch of arrogance too—confidence piled up by countless compliments.
"The Inner Court's least lacking in is geniuses! Pick one at random and they could pummel him. And you, kid, stop pretending, too. You hit Soul Elder at ten, didn't you? Forget his peers—could he even take one move from you right now?"
"It's good for young people to keep a low profile, but don't act like you're already an old man. Leave that to someone like me, with one foot in the grave," Old Gong said with a disdainful curl of his lip.
"Shame you're not in the same cohort. Otherwise I'd have you cut that arrogant streak of his down a notch. It annoys the hell out of me just looking at it."
"…"
Su Wen shrugged and kept watching the match.
Meanwhile, several teachers nearby changed expressions. Zhou Yi, especially, dug her fingernails into her palm. It had become quite clear: this kid wasn't the child of an Outer Court teacher, but rather… some little monster from the Inner Court.
Someone like Ma Xiaotao, an Inner Court core disciple. They didn't know whose child he was, but with a near-monstrous talent like his, that already said plenty.
To hit Soul Elder at ten—across a Shrek full of monsters, that's something for the history books.
As long as he doesn't die young, he's practically guaranteed to become one of Shrek's top forces.
Mu Jin, on the other hand, went from stupefaction to elation.
She'd noticed the key point!
He's only ten! Which means he enrolls next year!
Being the teacher of someone like that isn't just about results—it's a terrifyingly powerful political resource!
When Su Wen rises to a high position in the academy in the future, a single word from him could get a lot of things done. For example, the Martial Soul Department's Outstanding Teacher selection—Zhou Yi has been breaking her back, putting those kids through the wringer, all for that so-called selection, hasn't she?
At this moment Mu Jin really wanted to laugh up at the sky. Zhou Yi had dug her own grave. There was simply no way this kid would end up in Zhou Yi's class. If disciples of other sects joining Shrek want to choose their class, it's extremely difficult—but this boy likely doesn't need that. He probably just needs to say the word to pick his own class…
One strong competitor gone—so satisfying!
"…"
Still, after hesitating for a moment, Mu Jin didn't step forward to strike up a conversation.
The other teachers preparing to take next year's intake were also tempted. They exchanged looks, then all kept their faces neutral and continued watching the match.
"Roar, roar, roar!"
Xiao Yan let out several roars in a row.
His form changed abruptly. His arms grew thick and long, his nails sharpened, his legs shortened, and a blood-red tail thrust out from behind him. He seemed to transform into a small blood-red baboon—except that half of one arm was a strange silver.
"That's his martial soul, the Blood-Silver Baboon. It's a variant of the Blood-Red Baboon, one of the fiercest branches of the baboon clans in the Star Dou Forest. His martial soul has bloodlust and metal traits," Mu Jin said. Seeing Su Wen's surprised expression, she smiled slightly—opportunity had arrived—and stepped forward to explain naturally.
"Metal means defense, huh?" Su Wen nodded slightly.
Bloodlust is basically a buff—when he rages, his combat power multiplies. The metal aspect boosts both offense and defense. Among mutated beast-type martial souls, Xiao Yan definitely drew a big prize…
Mu Jin saw Su Wen nod politely to her and was ecstatic inside.
The other teachers, seeing this, had a hint of regret in their eyes.
What a great chance.
"Tch. Kid, which of your soul beasts are you going to use to thump him?" Old Gong asked with disdain.
"Little Gold, to be safe," Su Wen mused.
"Good, Little Gold it is!" Old Gong grinned mischievously and whispered to a staffer behind him.
As the Great Spirit Arena staffer left—
Mu Jin and several teachers grew even more puzzled. What do you mean, his soul beast? Could it be a beast-taming type martial soul?
At the same time, a roar came from behind the iron gate.
The pressure made the entire venue fall silent.
Xiao Yan, who had been riding a surge of momentum, froze. That roar almost forced his martial soul back into his body!
As the barrier slowly lifted—
A Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear over four meters tall slowly appeared before everyone.
"Gulp."
Xiao Yan's throat worked. He stiffly looked toward the proctor area.
You want me to fight that?
No…
If you want me dead, just say so!
A thousand-year Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear—its fighting power is practically at the ten-thousand-year level!
Proctor area.
Mu Jin's face went a bit pale. This is a Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear. You multiply its combat power by ten! Using a ferocious beast like this to test a freshman? Even with Dean Yan here in the past, they wouldn't have gone this far, right?
Wait…
She suddenly recalled the earlier exchange.
His soul beast?
You're calling this thousand-year Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear your soul beast?!!
She looked at Su Wen in shock, but the boy remained calmly watching, expression unruffled…
…
"You chose it yourself, kid. A thousand-year soul beast isn't against the rules. This Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear has just reached a thousand years," the referee shrugged, giving him a helpless look.
"So you do know it's called a Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear!!!" Xiao Yan stared at the steadily approaching Little Gold, the hair on his neck standing up. His legs started to shake, and his face went pale. He just wanted to take the test, not die!
"Proceed with the assessment. You just need to last thr—one minute under it and the test is over," the referee said, listening to the update in his earpiece and explaining.
"I'll give it a try," Xiao Yan took a deep breath.
He trusted the academy's safety.
He didn't know where they got an existence like this, but if they dared to let it on, they probably had it under control.
"Roar!"
Three soul rings rose at his feet—
Yellow, yellow, purple.
"Silver Defense!"
"Iron Wall!"
"Blood-Red Rampage!"
He then launched a fierce attack at the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear.
And then…
There was no "then."
Little Gold slapped him straight into the Great Spirit Arena's guardrail. Mu Jin cried out in alarm, but Little Gold's strength control was extremely precise. A single slap could easily have shattered Xiao Yan's bones and burst his head like a watermelon, but though the strike seemed heavy and powerful, Xiao Yan, to his astonishment, still stood back up.
"Sigh, his bones actually didn't break?!!"
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