Chapter 47: "Who Else Has a Dream?"
"Wonderful, truly wonderful."
Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but clap lightly, his gaze filled with amazement as he watched Lin Xuan's figure. He believed Lin Xuan would surely give him another surprise, but he hadn't expected it to be this significant.
"Compressing water to the extreme and then releasing it—what a brilliant idea. I just don't know if this move relies purely on Soul Power compression or if it stems from his Martial Soul's ability."
"If it's his own application of Soul Power, then it's simply terrifying..."
He murmured softly, his eyes growing brighter. "But even if it's a Martial Soul ability, it's still stunning. From the looks of it, the number of his so-called Shikigami is likely far more than just these few."
"Six? Seven? Or maybe ten?"
Yan Shaozhe shook his head. He wasn't sure exactly how many Shikigami had yet to appear, but he was certain that Lin Xuan still had many secrets he hadn't revealed.
Just as Yan Shaozhe had said, Lin Xuan's move, [Hundred Convergence: Blood Pierce], indeed utilized the power of a Shikigami.
Although he spoke the name of the Blood Manipulation skill, it was actually the water control ability of the Shikigami: Max Elephant.
Therefore, a countermeasure like Dai Huabin's, using direct light from overhead to eliminate shadows, was completely useless against Lin Xuan.
Furthermore, if one thought about it carefully, what did it matter if there was a light source overhead? As long as a single sliver of shadow remained, it wouldn't hinder the execution of the Ten Shadows Technique at all... The subsequent matches proceeded as scheduled.
Ning Tian's team and Xie Huanyues Team engaged in a fierce battle for the other ticket to the finals.
But perhaps because they had just witnessed Lin Xuan's perception-shattering strike, the audience felt that this match, which should have been exciting, was much duller.
In the end, Ning Tian, relying on the ultimate support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and the hard work of Ya Lu and Nangong Yuner, successfully defeated Xie Huanyues Team after a hard-fought battle to advance to the finals.
When afternoon came, the assessment area was once again crowded with people.
The ultimate showdown of the freshman assessment, the championship battle, was about to begin.
However, the progress of the match defied everyone's expectations.
Just as the invigilator announced the start of the match, Ning Tian, Ya Lu, and Nangong Yuner smiled at each other and raised their right hands in unison.
"We surrender."
Ning Tian took a step forward, her voice carrying across the entire field.
"After the hard battle with Xie Huanyues Team this morning, we have consumed a huge amount of energy and have not fully recovered. We know that in our current state, we are far from being Student Lin Xuan's opponent. Therefore, we choose to forfeit this final."
The invigilator was clearly a bit surprised, but the rules allowed for surrender.
After confirming once more and receiving an affirmative reply, he announced loudly,
"In the finals, Ning Tian's team surrenders. The champion of this year's freshman assessment is Lin Xuan's team!"
In the stands, the class teachers of other freshman classes flocked to congratulate Teacher Mu.
"Teacher Mu, congratulations! Your class nine really made a splash this time, sweeping both the championship and the runner-up spots. You truly have many talents!"
"Indeed, Lin Xuan, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Dugu Qing... every one of them is a fine prospect. Teacher Mu, you have taught them well."
Teacher could hardly hide the smile on her face as she reservedly responded to her colleagues' compliments. Looking around at the stands where a familiar figure was now missing, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
At this moment, dean of students Du Weiren walked to the front of the high platform. After scanning all the students below with a smile, he opened the folder in his hand and spoke loudly.
"I announce that this freshman assessment has come to an end. Next, I will announce the top three of this assessment and the rewards they have earned."
"Third place in the freshman assessment: Freshman Class Five, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie."
Applause rang out.
In the team, Dai Huabin walked out with a gloomy face. Feeling the gazes from all around, mixed with various meanings, he couldn't help but clench his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms.
He had repeatedly claimed to have discovered Lin Xuan's weakness, but in the end, the other party had slapped his face and finished him off in an instant.
Embarrassing, it was simply too damn embarrassing.
"Second place in the freshman assessment: Freshman Class Nine, Ning Tian, Ya Lu, and Nangong Yuner."
Thunderous applause erupted instantly, far more intense than before.
All three of Ning Tian's team were girls with outstanding looks and distinct temperaments. With both strength and beauty, their popularity and support among the students could even rival that of Lin Xuan's team.
Finally, Du Weiren paused slightly and said in an even louder voice,
"Finally, let us welcome the ultimate champions of this year's freshman assessment with the warmest applause, also from Freshman Class Nine: Lin Xuan, Dugu Qing, and Wu Feng!"
In an instant, applause and cheers erupted like a mountain tsunami, lasting for a long time.
No matter which World it is, absolute strength is always the most dazzling medal. When honor reaches its peak, many things are automatically beautified or ignored.
As the saying goes, once I have entered the pass, there will naturally be great scholars to interpret the scriptures in my favor.
Of course, where there are congratulations and cheers, there will inevitably be some sour noises muttering in the corners.
"What a joke, is winning a championship that big of a deal? Even my grandma could win if she was on Lin Xuan's team."
"Exactly, aren't Dugu Qing and Wu Feng just being carried? I could do that too."
"..."
Thanks to the strategy set by Lin Xuan's trio at the beginning, some teams that had been defeated by Wu Feng and Dugu Qing weren't having it when they heard these words.
If you call them trash or slackers, then what does that make us, who were defeated by those slackers?
"Come on then, call your grandma over! If I can't knock her down in three punches, I'll admit defeat! You really think they have no skill? If you're jealous, just say it. Why all the sarcasm?"
"..."
Listening to the boiling waves of sound around him, the corners of Lin Xuan's mouth curled up slightly. He suddenly felt like saying: "Who else has a dream?"
The three of them slowly walked up to the high platform. Under the focus of countless gazes, they stood between Ning Tian's team and Dai Huabin's team—the spot belonging to the champions.
Du Weiren waited for the applause to subside slightly before continuing,
"Good, I will now announce the rewards given to the top three teams of the freshman assessment."
"The top three teams will all receive a standard reward from the academy. Everyone can make a request to the academy when they need a Soul Ring. The academy will dispatch a Teacher to assist them in hunting a Soul Beast that is both the most compatible in attribute and at the maximum limit of years their current cultivation can withstand."
As soon as these words were spoken, the students immediately let out a chorus of envious exclamations.
This reward meant that as long as one's foundation was solid, the next Soul Ring would almost certainly be at the theoretical limit of their current level!
For students without backgrounds, this was an even more enviable reward. After all, for them, every hunt for a Soul Beast was like licking blood from the edge of a blade.
Du Weiren's voice rang out again, suppressing the commotion below.
"Furthermore, in view of the outstanding strength and undefeated record demonstrated by Lin Xuan, Dugu Qing, and Wu Feng in the assessment, the academy has decided to grant the championship team an additional special reward."
He paused and glanced at the three of them. "The content of this reward will not be made public for now. After the class assignments are finished, the three of you will come with me to receive it."
"Whoa—" The entire venue immediately erupted in even louder exclamations of envy. A special reward from Shrek Academy, awarded privately—it was definitely no ordinary item!
"Alright, you may return to your teams." Du Weiren waved his hand.
After the group saluted, they calmly walked down from the high platform.
Du Weiren faced all the students again, and after saying some pleasantries about encouraging everyone to cultivate hard for a promising future, he finally cut to the main topic that all students cared about most.
"In view of the many outstanding students who emerged in this freshman assessment, the academy has specially approved a group of students to become Outer Academy Core Disciples after strict review. Next, I will announce the list."
Shrek Plaza instantly became dead silent. Almost everyone held their breath and pricked up their ears.
The status of a Core Disciple meant the best resources, the strongest Teachers, and the greatest shortcut to the Inner Court. Its importance far exceeded the ranking of a single assessment.
No matter who it was, everyone hoped to hear their name on that list.
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