Dreams were beautiful, but reality was brutal. Before Xiao Xiao could even show off her strength, Huo Yuhao had already pinned her to the ground without so much as using a single hidden weapon.
Though her Three Lives Town-Sealing Cauldron was a top-tier tool-type martial soul, and she had clearly put in serious training, none of it mattered against the Eye of Truth.
With its assistance, Huo Yuhao could anticipate her every move, evading the cauldron's attacks as though foreseeing the future itself. Once in close range, a few quick blows—three punches, two kicks—were all it took for Xiao Xiao to find herself flat on the ground, unable to move.
As she lay there, her expression was blank, utterly dazed.
Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
"Admit defeat?" Huo Yuhao smiled down at her, offering his hand to pull her up.
Xiao Xiao pursed her lips and straightened her clothes. She wasn't stupid—judging by how relaxed Huo Yuhao looked, he clearly hadn't even gone all out. She wasn't about to embarrass herself further.
"Alright, let's wrap up here," Huo Yuhao said with a yawn. "Go rest for a bit and get ready for the afternoon assessment."
And so, the morning passed quickly.
By the time afternoon arrived, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao stood together in Shrek Academy's assessment grounds.
"Remember," Huo Yuhao said, "the opponents we'll face next won't be anything special. Take it easy, drag things out a little. If anything unexpected happens, I'll step in."
Of course, the real reason was simple—this was a prime opportunity for Huo Yuhao to observe other students' soul skills up close. The more time his opponents had to act, the more data he could gather to analyze later.
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao exchanged puzzled glances.
Huo Yuhao shrugged. "Aside from sparring during enrollment or at home, how many real fights have you had? The freshman assessment is basically kids flailing at each other. More practice never hurts."
That wasn't the full truth, of course. Real strength didn't just come from experience—it came from dissecting one's own abilities and the opponent's, understanding every strength and weakness, and countering accordingly.
Experience alone built instincts, not insight. And instinct without understanding could still get you killed.
Soon enough, they entered the testing arena.
There were a total of 306 teams, nine hundred and eighteen students. Only 150 teams would pass and advance.
A calm voice echoed through the speakers:
"All freshmen, please proceed to your designated testing zones and prepare for the assessment."
Tension filled the air. Students stepped into their assigned fields, faces tight with nerves.
Huo Yuhao's team was assigned to Zone 33, alongside five other teams.
A middle-aged instructor with a mild smile greeted them. "Welcome, everyone. I'm your assessment teacher for the next two days—Wang Yan."
Without wasting time, he announced the first match.
"First round, first match: Class One—Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao versus Class Three—Ouyang Junyi, Chen Junfeng, Zhao Haochen."
"Take your positions. Don't release your martial souls until I say so."
Upon hearing the lineup, the plump Zhao Haochen's face fell. "Oh no… It's them! The two who wrecked the upperclassmen during entry trials. We're doomed. Just… just try to look good when we lose."
"Shut up," his teammate Chen Junfeng snapped. "We haven't lost yet!"
"That's right!" Ouyang Junyi added. "We'll show them who's stronger!"
Both teams took their formations.
Wang Dong stood at the front, Xiao Xiao behind him, and Huo Yuhao covered the rear.
Their opponents shielded Zhao Haochen with Ouyang and Chen in front.
Once everyone was ready, Wang Yan raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The moment the word fell, both sides released their martial souls—except Huo Yuhao, who acted first. With a flick of his wrist, three Flying Locust Stones shot from his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, each aimed precisely at a target.
At the same time, Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly wings flared open as he soared forward. Xiao Xiao's three black cauldrons hovered protectively before her.
Before Zhao Haochen could even finish chanting his soul skill incantation, a Locust Stone struck his throat, choking him mid-word.
The other two—who'd been distracted reaching for Zhao's fried chicken drumstick—were hit square in the mouth.
Blood and swelling followed immediately.
"Ugh!" Zhao could only wheeze, clutching his neck, while Ouyang and Chen howled, their lips ballooning red.
Humiliation turned to rage. They charged at Wang Dong, ignoring coordination entirely.
Interesting, Wang Yan thought from the sidelines. So this boy's from the Tang Sect? Those hidden weapons are quite skillful. His soul ring pattern suggests a support-type skill—enhancement, perhaps?
But the furious duo never stood a chance. Even without full effort, Wang Dong outclassed them.
Meanwhile, a fresh volley of hidden weapons from Huo Yuhao rained in from impossible angles, forcing the attackers to dodge constantly.
The distraction was all Wang Dong needed—his Wing Guillotine sliced through their guard.
At the same time, Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Cauldron slammed down, sending waves of soul force that left both boys paralyzed on the ground.
Wang Yan nodded approvingly.
"Class One, Wang Dong's team—victory!"
He couldn't help but sigh. The Tang Sect's hidden weapons still shine among low-rank soul masters. Such precision and unpredictability… No wonder they dominated in the past.
But as technology advances, soul tools outstrip them. That's why the Tang Sect declined. Still, this boy's perception is sharp—he reads the field like a veteran.
And that face… yes, I've seen him in the library many times. Studies, trains, observes—diligent and thoughtful. Not bad at all.
Huo Yuhao's team stayed to watch the following matches, quietly analyzing their competition.
When they'd seen enough, Huo Yuhao turned to his teammates. "Alright, we've gathered enough intel. The rest aren't worth the time—let's finish quickly."
Wang Dong gawked at him. "Wait, didn't you say we needed combat experience?"
"I was wrong," Huo Yuhao said instantly. "This level of fighting is pointless. I'm going back to sleep."
Before Wang Dong could yell, he was already gone, jogging away while muttering, Time to reorganize those new soul skills I recorded… flexibility is key!
Over the next day, their team swept four more matches effortlessly. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's overwhelming strength, combined with Huo Yuhao's precise coordination and trick attacks, left no opponent standing.
From the sidelines, Wang Yan's interest in Huo Yuhao only grew. His martial soul… could it be a body-type martial soul?
When Huo Yuhao activated Spirit Eyes, the only visible change was the light in his gaze—no external spirit projection, no secondary effect.
Fascinating, Wang Yan thought. Body-type martial souls are rare. At lower ranks, they show little advantage, but this boy… combining it with Tang Sect techniques? Ingenious. With this synergy, he'll remain formidable at least until rank thirty.
To most soul masters, tools or weapons were crutches—signs of weakness. But to Wang Yan, a self-proclaimed "theorist" with limited talent, such innovation was thrilling.
He reminds me of Grandmaster meeting Tang San, he thought with a faint smile. If only I could study that martial soul more closely…
Of course, Huo Yuhao could feel the man's burning curiosity even without using the Eye of Truth.
Whatever, he mused. Being noticed just means more access to academy resources. The more I can gather under Tang San's nose, the better. Once his guard drops—or when Electrolux awakens—I'll make my move.
The next day's match brought new opponents: Huang Chutian, a Power Attack Soul Grandmaster, and the twin sisters Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, whose martial souls were their own hair.
Hair as a martial soul… another form of body-type ability, Huo Yuhao thought, intrigued. Could I adapt something like that—alter my own bloodline structure, reframe my martial soul to truly become part of my body?
As his thoughts deepened, Wang Yan's voice called out:
"Both teams ready? Since Wang Dong's group achieved the best results in the previous rounds, they'll serve as the seed team for Zone 33."
"Round Six, Match One—Class One versus Class Seven, Huang Chutian's team. Begin!"
Both sides released their martial souls simultaneously.
This time, Huo Yuhao didn't act immediately. Instead, he observed quietly, eyes glimmering with interest as the fight was about to explode.
(End of Chapter)