After the first day of matches, all participants had a rough grasp of their opponents' strength as well as that of the other students in their groups.
As for the group, the "three little ones" were placed in—
Aside from the three freshmen above the twentieth rank, there was only one other.
Most of their opponents quickly realized they had no chance of victory. Most simply went through the motions before raising their flags in surrender.
Thus, on the second day, they swept all five matches—five fights, five wins.
"You three have done quite well," Wang Yan smiled at them.
"Making it into the top sixteen for the ranking matches should be no problem.
But after today's eliminations, the teams that lost all five matches will be cut, and starting tomorrow, you'll begin to meet stronger opponents."
Up in the spectators' stands—
Neuvillette sat calmly while Du Weilun explained the tournament structure to him.
The Chief Justice let out a soft laugh.
Immediately, Du Weilun stiffened, cold sweat breaking out across his forehead. His throat tightened as he frantically reviewed what he had just said—had he offended His Highness the Holy Son somehow?
But Neuvillette only waved his hand faintly.
It wasn't Du Weilun at all.
The ranking tournament itself had amused him.
To think of this as "ranked battles" is rather fitting… one climb at a time, isn't it?
"I was simply reminded of something else," Neuvillette said lightly.
"Haha, ah, of course…" Du Weilun forced a chuckle, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
"You've hidden these three well," Yan Shaozhe, seated nearby, remarked. "From beginning to end, I've only seen Wang Dong take the carry role. The other two might as well be NPCs, just standing there doing nothing while their opponents surrender."
"Hehe, you've been keeping up with the lingo too, I see," Neuvillette replied with a faint smile.
After all, these terms had spread from his mouth. His senior brother had taken quite the interest in them.
"No need to rush," Yan Shaozhe chuckled. "Tomorrow they'll encounter real opponents, and then we'll see much more clearly."
"No…" He grinned wider, turning to Du Weilun.
"Weilun, who are they matched against tomorrow?"
Du Weilun quickly flipped through the roster. "Let me see… ah, Class Three, Team Seventy-Three." He handed the list over respectfully.
"Change it," Yan Shaozhe said casually after only a glance.
"Change…?"
His finger stopped on another page, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
"Put them against this team instead."
"Yes, sir."
Du Weilun nodded. His eyes darted to the roster, and he froze in surprise. Though curious why this adjustment was made, he swallowed his questions. Orders from above were not for him to question.
"You're raising the difficulty, I see."
Neuvillette smiled faintly but did not press the matter.
Compared to the original timeline, this would indeed be harder. Yet the "three little ones" would still overcome their opponents later. Besides, with Huo Yuhao already at the level of a Rank 3 Soul Engineer in this world, victory would come even easier.
But Yan Shaozhe wasn't just testing victory or defeat.
What he wanted was to force out their hidden potential—see how far they could truly go.
If they can't even prove themselves here, they aren't worthy of my recommendation, Neuvillette thought.
"Hehe, without raising the intensity, how else can we see their true depth?" Yan Shaozhe laughed. He was already looking forward to tomorrow's showdown.
That Wang Dong—her strength was indeed a remarkable twin martial soul, her second ring already a thousand years old. If not for her young age, she would have stepped into the realm of a three-ring Soul Elder by now.
Though the ties between the Haotian Sect and Shrek Academy were no longer as close as in ages past, bonds remained.
This girl, without a doubt, merited his attention.
As for her crossdressing… since the current Sect Master and his peers had already spoken with him about it, there was no need to pry.
Her potential had already revealed itself—she was practically reserved for the Inner Court.
But what of the other two? The girl Xiao Xiao, with her twin spirits. And then that other young girl, who used her martial soul to produce a strange kind of spiritual link.
Yan Shaozhe's research into body-type spirits was limited, and thus, this rare and gifted Spirit Eyes martial soul naturally drew his attention.
This girl must not fall into Qian Duoduo's hands.
Leaning back in his chair, Yan Shaozhe's gaze burned with excitement as he watched the three little ones laughing and chattering below.
The future of the Martial Soul Department…
Neuvillette only gave him a quiet smile. He knew this senior brother too well. Behind all his so-called "nurturing" was the old fox's constant scheming against Qian Duoduo.
The scent of cunning was everywhere.
But Neuvillette no longer concerned himself with these machinations. He only sipped his tea in silence, eyes on the matches below.
The future of the Douluo Continent would be shaped by technology.
Only through the Soul Tool Department could Huo Yuhao truly flourish, soaring to new heights.
The age has changed…
An hour later, the day's matches concluded.
As expected, the three little ones had claimed another five effortless victories. At this point, the stage felt like Wang Dong's personal arena.
Even more, they had gained an entire cheering squad of senior sisters, upperclasswomen swooning over Wang Dong's "handsome" face, forming their own impromptu fan club.
"Truly charming to both men and women…" Neuvillette murmured with an amused smile.
In the original timeline, even while disguised as a boy, Wang Dong had drawn the pursuit of Meng Hongchen. When her true identity as a girl was revealed in the second tournament, Meng's very heart nearly shattered.
But that only proved her beauty stood at the very pinnacle.
Of course, still a shade less than himself… and the handsome readers following along.
"Enough. The matches are over. Time to head back," Neuvillette said, standing.
Yet silence followed. A faint chill crept down his back.
His face stiffened. Slowly, he turned—
Only to find a strikingly beautiful woman standing with her arms crossed, gazing at him quietly.
Yan Shaozhe wore an expression of gloating mischief. Du Weilun offered only a bitter smile, gesturing helplessly as if to say: Don't blame me, I didn't dare warn you.
"S-Senior Sister… y-you're here…"
"Hehe. If I hadn't come, I fear you'd never step foot in the Inner Court to see me again, isn't that so?"
Zhang Lexuan strode forward, long legs graceful and poised.
Her beautiful eyes locked onto Neuvillette's.
Though calm on the surface, a flicker of grievance shimmered within.
"Am I truly so bothersome to you? That you're so eager to keep away from me…?"
Neuvillette opened his mouth.
"How could that be…"
"Then why," she pressed forward, her soft body pressing against his chest, her delicate arms wrapping lightly around his neck—
"Why do you never come find me?"
(End of Chapter)