Although both seed teams led by Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian came from the freshman Class Nine, in truth they were also potential rivals.
With the strength of their two teams, advancing into the top sixty-four to enter the subsequent ranking tournament was inevitable.
Once in the ranking rounds, even teams from the same class had a chance of meeting each other.
After leaving the classroom, the two teams parted ways.
Ya Lu silently followed behind Ning Tian and Wu Feng. She opened her mouth slightly and suggested:
"Should we find a place to discuss strategy?"
Wu Feng halted, cast her a sideways glance full of arrogance, and said coldly:
"There's nothing to discuss. We'll just fight our way through. With Ning Tian and me here, there's no way we'll lose. Once you feel the boost from Ning Tian's support, you'll understand just how powerful the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, inherited from our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, really is."
In truth, she herself was still holding back a breath of resentment, eagerly anticipating facing Xu Zihuang's team in the ranking tournament.
If she received Ning Tian's support, she didn't think she would be weaker than Xu Zihuang. Besides, during her last duel with him, she hadn't even used her soul skills.
What she failed to realize was that Xu Zihuang also hadn't used any of his soul skills.
Nor did she know that Xu Zihuang hadn't even displayed one-tenth of his true strength.
Having grown up under her sect's protection, she hadn't endured enough harsh lessons yet.
Ya Lu rolled her eyes, secretly mocking her in her heart.
"If you're so amazing, then why were you knocked out cold by the class monitor's single punch back then?"
Still, as a noble-born, her temperament was far more mature than commoners. Naturally, she wouldn't voice such thoughts.
In fact, she rather envied Nanmen Yun'er for being able to team up with Xu Zihuang. Not just because of the vague affection his striking appearance stirred in her heart, but more for his gentle manner—he was very pleasant to be around. Despite his peerless talent, he carried no arrogance.
Compared with the arrogant and self-important Wu Feng before her, Xu Zihuang was leagues better.
The long-silent Ning Tian finally frowned at Wu Feng's arrogant words.
"Feng Mei. Don't underestimate others. Teacher Mu said this year's freshmen include, aside from me and Xu Zihuang, two other elite teams led by Soul Elders. Their teammates are at least Grandmaster-level. They're all aiming for the championship. They won't be easy to handle. Only with flawless cooperation will we stand a chance."
"Yes, Ning Tian." The moment Ning Tian spoke, Wu Feng's attitude flipped instantly, and she nodded obediently.
With a gentle smile, Ning Tian shifted her gaze to Ya Lu behind them. Raised from childhood as heir to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's master, she was nothing like the reckless Wu Feng.
"Ya Lu, don't take it to heart. Feng Mei's personality is just like that. Since we've been placed in the same team, then in the freshman assessment we're one whole. Everyone's strength is indispensable. I hope we can work together wholeheartedly and achieve good results."
"Alright."
Even Ya Lu had to admit, Ning Tian's words were well chosen.
Just as she said, they were a team. For the sake of her own future, she would give it her all.
With Ning Tian, a Soul Elder auxiliary-type martial soul master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, their team's prospects were promising.
—
Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang, Tuoba Yu, and Nanmen Yun'er also took Tuoba Yu's suggestion. Walking along the lakeside path, they headed outside the academy to find a quiet place to talk.
There were many tranquil groves outside Shrek Academy—perfect for it.
Xu Zihuang and Nanmen Yun'er walked side by side at the front, while Tuoba Yu deliberately slowed down, trailing a bit behind.
The pair looked so compatible together that standing with them always left him feeling oddly out of place.
So he sensibly hung back, enjoying the comfort of solitude.
Warm sunlight scattered across the lake's clear surface, shimmering with ripples. From time to time, a breeze swept past, stirring the smooth hair of the boy and girl.
Nanmen Yun'er reached out her jade-like hand to smooth her slightly wind-tousled pale-green locks, sneaking a glance at Xu Zihuang from the corner of her eye.
Since that brief contact three months ago, the power stirred within her bloodline had once more settled into calm.
Though she didn't know the reason, she strongly felt that her martial soul would undergo a positive transformation because of it.
For ever since that encounter with Xu Zihuang, her soul power had surged forward by a large margin.
All of it pointed to Xu Zihuang, yet she had no idea how to bring it up.
She couldn't exactly say: "Could you touch me again?"
Xu Zihuang had noticed her odd behavior, but reading her subtle manner, he tactfully pretended not to.
Thus, with their thoughts unspoken, the three soon reached the East Gate.
Outside, many broad avenues stretched in all directions, lined with thick greenery—some naturally grown, some cultivated.
The crowd at the academy's entrance was thinner today, likely because of the impending freshman assessment. Most students, feeling the pressure, stayed in their dorms cultivating to squeeze out even a slight edge.
For seed teams like theirs, however, one or two days of cultivation brought little improvement. Getting to know each other's martial souls and soul skills was far more important.
But such teams were, of course, rare.
Even the shops outside the East Gate had fewer customers than usual.
Just as they were walking, a surprised voice suddenly called out from not far ahead.
"Yun'er? Junior Xu? You two are…?"
Both turned at once.
There stood a female student in the black uniform of the outer court's sixth years.
It was none other than Senior Sister Qin, who had previously sold Xu Zihuang the Ink Snow Princess.
Seeing the teasing smile on Qin's face, Nanmen Yun'er flushed slightly and softly explained:
"Sister Qin, we're just looking for a place to discuss things and prepare for tomorrow's freshman assessment."
Senior Sister Qin slipped her hand around Nanmen Yun'er's arm, covering her mouth as she laughed lightly:
"I didn't say anything yet. Yun'er, why so flustered?"
Then, shaking her head with amusement, she turned her gaze toward Xu Zihuang with interest.
"Junior Xu, your name has spread throughout the entire outer court lately."
Keen-eyed, Xu Zihuang noticed that in Qin's once black-green hair, the green looked much brighter than it had three months ago. But outwardly, he still wore his gentle smile and gave a dry chuckle.
Trailing behind Xu Zihuang and Nanmen Yun'er, Tuoba Yu's expression had long gone numb.
Once more, he could only marvel at Xu Zihuang's uncanny luck with women.
First there was Senior Sister Tang Ya of the fourth years, and now Senior Sister Qin of the sixth.