"Next, the rules of the freshman assessment." Xia Yu continued.
"The freshman assessment is, without a doubt, a full-grade examination. Our class will have twenty-seven teams. Adding in students from the other freshman classes, the final number of participating teams will be exactly two hundred.
The assessment will be divided into two phases. The first phase is a points-based ranking match. This phase will be conducted over several rounds through a draw-lots system. Each participating team will engage in ten battles. One point is awarded for a win, no points for a loss. After all rounds conclude, rankings will be determined based on accumulated points. The one hundred teams with the lowest total scores will be completely eliminated." Xia Yu's tone was cold and indifferent as he spoke. "I know all eighty-one of you sitting here won't all make it, but I still hope you'll fight desperately for your future."
Every student's expression turned solemn as the pressure mounted.
"The second phase is the elimination round. The top sixty-four teams from the first phase will enter a knockout stage. The top four teams will receive rewards from the academy, and the value of those rewards will depend on the final ranking. Without a doubt, the reward for first place will be the best." A hint of nostalgia crossed Xia Yu's face as he added, "Back when I was a student, I took second place in the freshman assessment. I hope one of you will take the championship this year."
As he spoke, Xia Yu's gaze swept toward Zhu Ziyang. Based on the information he had, there was a high chance—no, a certainty—that Zhu Ziyang would take the championship.
After all, how could a Soul Elder lose in a competition filled with Soul Masters and Grandmasters?
"In addition," Xia Yu continued, "I want to remind the stronger students to display your full capabilities in the assessment. This will affect your chances of being selected as a core disciple of the outer court." He paused. "As for what that means, you'll find out if you make the cut. Now then, let me announce the team assignments."
"Team One: Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya."
"Team Two: Lin Ziwei, Li Yue, Luo Minmin."
"…"
"Team Twenty-Seven: Yan Ziyue, Luo Luo, Shangguan Jie."
As Xia Yu read out the team list, the classroom stirred with excitement.
"Great! Nannan, Zhu Ziyang, we're on the same team!" Tang Ya said, gripping Jiang Nannan's hand, her face full of excitement.
"Mm! That's wonderful." Jiang Nannan smiled and held Tang Ya's hand in return.
"I'm an assault-type soul master, Nannan is agility-type, and you're a control-type. You two are roommates, and I don't have one. It makes perfect sense that Teacher Xia would group us together." Zhu Ziyang looked completely unsurprised.
Soon, Xia Yu finished reading all the group assignments.
"That's the team list. If anyone has objections, come to me immediately after class. Once I submit the list to the academic office tomorrow, there will be no changes." His final reminder was sharp. "If there are no objections, then begin preparing. The assessment begins tomorrow."
—
After class.
Zhu Ziyang, Tang Ya, and Jiang Nannan met up with Yu Beibei and walked toward the cafeteria.
"Beibei, did your class advisor explain the assessment?" Tang Ya asked.
"Yeah, he did." Yu Beibei nodded. "I'm teamed up with Xu Sanshi and another girl. What about you?"
Xu Sanshi was Yu Beibei's roommate.
"Hehe, I'm with Nannan and Zhu Ziyang!" Tang Ya said proudly. "One Soul Elder and two Soul Grandmasters—pray we don't get matched against you!"
"That's great news!" Yu Beibei smiled teasingly. "I was a bit worried your strength might be too low to pass the assessment."
"Ahh! Yu Beibei, what do you mean by that?! I'm the head of Tang Sect, you know! I'm not that weak!" Tang Ya flared up, throwing her little fists at him.
Yu Beibei laughed and blocked her strikes with ease.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan were used to their antics by now and simply walked ahead, hand in hand.
"Brother Ziyang, after the freshman assessment, will we be separated into different classes?" Jiang Nannan asked with a hint of worry.
"Don't worry. I already asked Brother Yu. He said if we win the championship, we can stay in the same class." Zhu Ziyang gently squeezed her hand, reassuring her.
"Really?!" Jiang Nannan's face lit up. "That's great. With your strength, and with me and Tang Ya, we're definitely taking the championship."
"Yeah." Zhu Ziyang smiled and nodded.
Over the past two months, Zhu Ziyang hadn't been idle. He trained, studied, and refined pills—his schedule packed.
He had stopped making Essence Gathering Pills and started working on a new formula: the Body Spirit Pill.
The Body Spirit Pill was a mid-grade pill that enhanced a soul master's physique, improved talent, and boosted soul power slightly.
Its difficulty level was extremely high—top tier among mid-grade pills. For Zhu Ziyang, who had only ever refined Essence Gathering Pills, it was hellishly difficult. After spending hundreds of thousands of gold soul coins on ingredients, he had barely managed to create three pills.
He consumed one himself, gave another to Jiang Nannan, and sold the third to the Floating Cloud Trading Guild for 600,000 gold soul coins—just enough to recoup the 500,000 he'd wasted on failed materials.
Thanks to the Essence Gathering Pills and Body Spirit Pills, Zhu Ziyang's soul power had reached level 36 and was now only a step away from level 37. In just two months, his soul power had risen by nearly two full levels—an astonishing rate.
Naturally, with access to the same resources, Jiang Nannan also improved significantly. Two months ago, she had just reached level 26. Now, she was at level 27. According to intelligence from Xia Yu, she ranked in the top five among all new students purely in terms of soul power level.
But soul power wasn't even her biggest improvement. Her real progress came in combat. Over the course of fifteen practical combat sessions during the last three months, Jiang Nannan had maintained a perfect record. She had advanced from relying on brute-force soul skills to using genuine combat techniques.
As their teammate, Tang Ya was clearly weaker than Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan. Though she had corrected her soul ring configuration in time, her Blue Silver Grass martial soul limited her potential. Despite her hard work, her soul power had only just reached the peak of level 22.
Even though Tang Ya always smiled, Zhu Ziyang could feel the heavy pressure she carried.
(End of Chapter)
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