"What?!"
Mu En, whose mind had been calm for nearly a century, felt a ripple for the first time. He opened his eyes, his cloudy gaze filled with inquiry as he looked at Yan Shaozhe and said, "I remember that child's Spirit is the Light Attribute."
"That's right, Teacher! Zhu Ziyang has the Ultimate Light Spirit!" Yan Shaozhe said, unable to hide the smile on his face. Every time he thought of Shrek Academy producing an Ultimate Light Spirit, his heart couldn't help but cheer.
"Ultimate Light!" Mu En's cloudy eyes gradually brightened, and he understood Yan Shaozhe's intention in coming to him. He said, "How about this, Shao Zhe, after the freshman assessment ends, bring that child to the Sea God Pavilion!"
"Yes, Teacher!" Yan Shaozhe nodded excitedly. With his teacher's guidance, Zhu Ziyang would surely grow faster. By then, with a Titled Douluo possessing the Ultimate Light Spirit, Shrek Academy's strength and prestige would undoubtedly advance further, reaching its strongest point in three thousand years!
"Alright, you may go!" Mu En said, closing his eyes again, his face returning to its unperturbed state.
Yan Shaozhe left.
"Ultimate Light..." Mu En muttered, his tree-like fingers gently tapping the armrest of the wooden chair, making a crisp thudding sound. One could tell he was in a very good mood.
—
"Zhu Ziyang, you've been hiding your strength quite deeply, even I didn't know," Xia Yu said after class, his face full of emotion and excitement, as Zhu Ziyang and the other two were held back.
"I didn't actually intend to hide it; it's just that I haven't encountered an opponent who could make me display my full strength," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile, his tone as calm as if he were discussing a trivial matter.
"You brat, you really know how to talk!" Xia Yu felt he had been put on the spot and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You don't know the expressions on our faces when you revealed your spirit ring, and even Dean Yan and Director Du stood up."
"Teacher Xia, why do you only praise Zhu Ziyang? Nannan and I are also very powerful!" Tang Ya said, clearly unhappy that Xia Yu was only focusing on Zhu Ziyang.
"You little girl, you're so impatient. I haven't finished speaking yet. Look at Nannan, she's not anxious at all," Xia Yu said with a helpless smile.
"You're praising Zhu Ziyang, that makes her happier than being praised herself!" Tang Ya pouted and replied.
"Xiaoya!" Jiang Nannan immediately turned bright red, scolding him.
Xia Yu smiled as he looked at them, then asked, "How about it? Are you confident about tomorrow's finals?"
"One hundred percent," Zhu Ziyang said nonchalantly.
"Hehe, Teacher Xia, you're overestimating Class One's people. Even Bei Bei's team, who had an undefeated record, was defeated by us. How could Chu Hua and their three Spirit Grandmasters, who are not even as good as Bei Bei's team, be our opponents!" Tang Ya laughed triumphantly, with a hint of borrowing power.
While Zhu Ziyang's team and Bei Bei's team were deciding the winner, the other two teams also determined their victor. Chu Hua's team from Class One was superior and entered the finals.
"If that's the case, then that's excellent!" Xia Yu's smile reached its peak upon hearing this. He said, "Once you win the championship, I, your teacher, will definitely host a celebration banquet for you at the best restaurant in Shrek City!"
"Ah!" The three of them were surprised, and Xia Yu's expression didn't seem like a joke, which made them confused. They asked, "Teacher Xia, is that really necessary? It's just a freshman assessment championship; is it really worth such a grand celebration banquet?"
"Why isn't it necessary?" Xia Yu said seriously, "If you win the championship, that will be the first freshman champion team I've taught in ten years of teaching. Just for that, it's worth it!"
"Whatever makes you happy!" The three exchanged glances and said helplessly.
—
The last day of the freshman assessment.
The third-place match in the morning, without surprise, belonged to Bei Bei's team.
The championship match in the afternoon, also without surprise, belonged to Zhu Ziyang's team.
Chu Hua's team, who took second place, was also very happy. Although they were crushed by Zhu Ziyang's trio, losing to the champion team was not shameful.
Zhu Ziyang's team, who won the championship, was happy, yet not as happy as they could have been, because the championship was too easy to win. In the finals, Zhu Ziyang won effortlessly without using much of his strength. The battle wasn't even as intense as the semifinals. Perhaps it was because they didn't experience a tough battle as imagined before winning, so the taste of victory wasn't as sweet.
In the evening, Shrek City, Tianying Pavilion.
Tianying Pavilion, the most luxurious restaurant in Shrek City. Xia Yu booked a private room there to celebrate with Zhu Ziyang and his two teammates.
"Teacher Xia, you're so rich!" This was the third time Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya had said this, their pretty faces filled with emotion.
"Of course!" Xia Yu didn't pretend to be humble, a smile on his face as he replied. Then he looked at Zhu Ziyang and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, you will become Inner Courtyard Disciples."
"Inner Courtyard Disciples?" Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya said curiously, but Zhu Ziyang's expression remained normal.
"That's right, Inner Courtyard Disciples." Xia Yu nodded and explained, "Shrek Academy's Outer Courtyard Martial Soul Department's Inner Courtyard Disciples are talented students who will receive more resources and attention. Under normal circumstances, Outer Courtyard Inner Courtyard Disciples are bound to become Inner Courtyard Disciples. As for the other benefits of being an Inner Courtyard Disciple, I won't go into detail one by one; you'll know when you experience them yourselves in the future."
"I see." Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya nodded.
—
In the early morning, sunlight scattered across Shrek Plaza, the ground gleaming with a faint radiance, and the air filled with a moist, joyful atmosphere.
All the students from the six first-year classes were gathered here. After the baptism of the freshman assessment, the number of first-year students had dwindled to only three hundred.
Soon, Du Weilun, the Director of the Martial Soul Department, led more than ten teachers to the front of the student formation. The former homeroom teachers of the six first-year classes were also among these teachers. Why 'former' six first-year classes? That's because after the freshman assessment, all new students faced class reassignments.
Du Weilun held a folder in his hand, took a step forward, scanned the crowd, and then spoke: "I believe all students already know that the freshman assessment has concluded, and the top three teams have been decided in the elimination rounds. Now, I will officially announce the members of the top three teams, as well as the rewards they have received. Freshman Assessment Third Place, Bei Bei's team, members Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Xue Weiwei, please step forward."
Applause erupted as Bei Bei's trio walked expressionlessly to Du Weilun. For a team with three Spirit Grandmasters above level 25 spirit power, third place was undoubtedly a disgrace. However, it was their bad luck to encounter Zhu Ziyang's team in the semifinals.
"Second place, Chu Hua's team, members Chu Hua, Ye Ning, Xiao Xuan, please step forward."
Chu Hua's trio's performance was very normal; they were very satisfied with their second-place finish and walked to Du Weilun amidst warm applause.
Du Weilun paused, then with a smile, he said, "Next, is the first-place team of the freshman assessment. They are truly deserving champions. Please, the champion team, Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya, step forward!"