"Attention all freshmen, attention all freshmen, please proceed immediately to the assessment area and prepare for the freshman assessment. You have ten minutes left to enter. Late arrivals will be treated as forfeiting this round."
The loud broadcast echoed across the entire outer court, reaching every corner. The faces of the freshmen grew serious—their very first assessment was about to begin. No one could truly say they weren't nervous.
But Xu Zihuang, Tuoba Yu, and Nanmen Yuner, who had long since been waiting in Zone 36, all appeared calm.
Xu Zihuang needed no explanation, and both Tuoba Yu and Nanmen Yuner were from prominent families, so their composure was no surprise.
Moreover, after learning yesterday that Xu Zihuang's true martial soul was the spiritual-attribute Golden Eyes, along with his true soul power, their confidence soared. Though none of them boasted openly, they all understood—they were aiming straight for the championship.
Xu Zihuang stood at the front, with Tuoba Yu and Nanmen Yuner each half a step behind on either side. All six teams in Zone 36 lined up similarly.
Their examiner was a young female teacher who looked less than thirty. She was beautiful, her face lit by a warm smile.
"There are six teams in this zone's assessment. Since everyone is here, let's not waste time. But let me make one point clear beforehand: during the assessment, no crippling injuries are allowed. Otherwise, you will be immediately disqualified."
Her tone was gentle, but everyone present took her words seriously.
No one wanted to suffer such a severe consequence.
The teacher scanned the students before opening her folder.
"First round, first match. Freshman Class One: Long Feng, Xu Haolong, Chen Rui. Freshman Class Nine: Yu Tianhuang, Tuoba Yu, Nanmen Yuner. You may enter the field and take your corners."
Xu Zihuang hadn't expected his team to be chosen for the first match—and against Class One, no less.
"Let's go." The three exchanged glances and quickly entered the field, taking their place in the northwest corner.
Their formation was classic: Tuoba Yu, the power-attack type, stood at the front; Nanmen Yuner, the agility-attack type, took the flank; and Xu Zihuang, the control-type soul master, anchored the rear.
Their three opponents naturally took the opposite, southeast corner.
All three were male, each distinct in appearance. Xu Haolong, walking in front, kept his chin tucked against his chest and swung his arms oddly as he walked, giving off a strange impression.
Chen Rui was a chubby boy with a kindly look, though his beady eyes suggested a sly nature.
Long Feng, however, was tall and lean, his arms crossed over his chest, staring at Xu Zihuang's team with haughty eyes. He was clearly their captain.
Although Xu Zihuang had gained fame across the outer court for his strength, few outside Class Nine had seen him fight firsthand.
Somehow, rumors had grown increasingly exaggerated, spreading more about his appearance and bizarre scandals than his actual ability.
Xu Haolong's team, being from Class One, hadn't paid the gossip any mind.
Calmly, Xu Zihuang told his teammates: "Just as we discussed—each of us takes one."
True teamwork required time to develop. Forcing coordination would only backfire.
"No problem." Tuoba Yu eagerly rolled his shoulders, while Nanmen Yuner replied softly, her voice gentle.
Seeing both sides ready, the female teacher nodded. "Begin the assessment."
At once, the five other students released their martial souls.
Tuoba Yu's body erupted with earthy-yellow light. Two bright yellow rings rose at his feet as his frame thickened and grew sturdier.
White scales spread across his arms, climbing up to his face, his aura turning weighty and formidable as he strode forward.
Behind Nanmen Yuner, emerald light shimmered into wings of translucent jade-green. Small but powerful, they lifted her effortlessly—her speed spiking in an instant as she shot past Tuoba Yu.
She too bore the optimal pairing of two yellow rings.
The combined aura of two Great Soul Masters made Xu Haolong's team suddenly choke for breath.
"Two Great Soul Masters?!"
The strength of Tuoba Yu and Nanmen Yuner far surpassed their expectations. In Class One, only Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao had reached that level.
Among their own team, Xu Haolong and Chen Rui were both rank 18, while their captain Long Feng was rank 19, just a step from rank 20. Within Class One, they were second only to Wang Dong's team.
Yet faced with two Great Soul Masters, the pressure was immense.
Xu Haolong's martial soul was the Blazing Fire Dog, his arms sprouting fiery golden-red fur that burst into orange-red flames.
Chen Rui, despite his pudgy frame, was surprisingly an agility-attack type. His martial soul was the Flying Squirrel, capable of gliding short distances on membranes between its limbs.
Long Feng was the only tool soul master, wielding an orange-yellow dagger crackling with electricity. Like Chen Rui, he too was an agility-attack type.
Their homeroom teacher Zhou Yi had clearly chosen the lineup well: Xu Haolong for strong offense, supported by two speedsters, maximizing burst and agility.
But against two higher-ranked opponents, and without the benefit of second soul skills, their advantage all but vanished.
What's more, their martial souls were simply inferior to Tuoba Yu's White Armored Earth Dragon and Nanmen Yuner's Jade Bird.
Tuoba Yu charged straight for Xu Haolong, the opposing power-attack type, his oppressive aura nearly suffocating him.
Xu Haolong knew they were bound to lose this fight, but at least they had to lose with dignity.
Otherwise, with Zhou Yi's temper, she might truly expel them despite the circumstances.
And he had no chance to dodge—hesitation now would only weaken their stance further.
His single yellow ring lit up, his flame-wreathed hands swelling as the orange flames deepened toward crimson. The air around him blazed with heat.
But the White Armored Earth Dragon was a beast martial soul known for both offense and defense, with exceptional resistance to heat. Unfazed, Tuoba Yu lifted his scale-covered arms, his first ring glowing as he activated his skill head-on.
First Soul Skill: White Armored Holy Dragon Body.
Earthen light solidified over his frame, the white scales on his arms thickening into sharp, heavy plates. His strength surged in tandem.
With a difference in rank and martial soul quality, the outcome of a direct clash was inevitable.
Bang! The collision sent shockwaves through the arena. Xu Haolong staggered back, pale-faced, before Tuoba Yu's scaled hand clamped firmly onto his shoulder.
The fight was decided.
Elsewhere, Nanmen Yuner had already subdued Chen Rui.
Flying squirrels were natural prey for jade birds. His speed advantage was crushed outright. Before he could even use his soul skill, her jade-like hand was at his throat, its razor-sharp aura making his fat tremble uncontrollably.
At eleven or twelve years old, faced with real danger, fear was only natural.
Now, all eyes turned to the last matchup: Xu Zihuang versus Long Feng.
Realizing his teammates' defeat, Long Feng held nothing back.
Lightning flared as his dagger slashed forward, his first soul skill unleashing a blade of orange light straight at Xu Zihuang.
The Lightning Dagger martial soul came with innate control over electricity, far stronger than most tool souls.
But before the stunned crowd, Xu Zihuang simply crushed the lightning slash in his right hand, soul power surging.
The electric light scattered into fragments, fading into the air.
A few strands of his violet hair lifted as if in a breeze, his cold gaze making it seem like he had done something utterly trivial.
Seeing this impossible scene, Long Feng's face twisted. His arms dropped weakly.
"I admit defeat."
It wasn't that he couldn't accept losing—but such a vast gulf in strength shattered his confidence.
The female teacher's eyes lingered thoughtfully on Xu Zihuang's glowing, golden-powered hand. Around the arena, the other waiting teams fell silent, their faces grim. Zone 36 itself grew deathly still.
This was utter domination. No tricks, no shortcuts.
Compared to Xu Haolong's team, their own chances were even worse.
Facing Yu Tianhuang's trio… did they even have one percent of a chance?