Three days passed in a blur of training and exhaustion.
Lin Xiao woke before dawn each day, trained at the secluded oak tree until his body trembled, attended the academy orientation sessions, then returned for more training until sunset. His nunchaku movements were becoming smoother, the gray light of soul power infusion growing slightly stronger with each session, but progress was agonizingly slow.
The morning of the entrance assessment, Lin Xiao stood in line with the other students outside the assessment hall. The atmosphere was tense. Everyone knew this single test would determine their fate at the academy.
"Nervous?" a voice asked.
Lin Xiao turned to see the Flame Tiger boy from three days ago. His name was Zhang Wei, and he had been one of the loudest mockers at the awakening ceremony.
"No," Lin Xiao said.
"Right," Zhang Wei scoffed. "Because you have nothing to lose. Everyone knows you'll end up in the remedial class. Some of us actually have talent to protect."
Lin Xiao didn't respond. He had learned over the past three days that arguing was pointless. Let them mock. Let them underestimate him. He would show them through results, not words.
The assessment hall was a large circular arena with observation platforms around the perimeter. Elder Zhang stood in the center, along with two other Spirit Masters who would be judging the assessment.
"Welcome to the entrance assessment," Elder Zhang announced. "Today, we will test your basic soul power control and your familiarity with your martial soul. The test consists of two parts: first, a soul power measurement to confirm your innate level; second, a demonstration of basic martial soul usage."
She gestured to a large crystal in the center of the arena. "Step forward when your name is called. First, place your hand on the crystal to measure your soul power. Then, demonstrate a basic attack or technique with your martial soul. We will evaluate your control, precision, and understanding of your martial soul's nature."
Students were called forward one by one. Zhang Wei went early, placing his hand on the crystal. It glowed with a bright orange light, confirming his Level 6 innate soul power. He summoned his Flame Tiger and demonstrated a basic fire claw attack, the flames roaring impressively. The judges nodded approvingly.
"Excellent control for a new student," one judge noted. "Advanced class material."
More students followed. Some performed well, others poorly. Lin Yue was called in the middle of the group. The crystal blazed with brilliant blue light as she placed her hand on it—Level 8, genius talent. She summoned her Ice Phoenix and created a small ice spear, launching it at a target dummy with perfect precision. The spear struck dead center, freezing the target solid.
The judges were visibly impressed. "Outstanding. Advanced class, top tier."
Lin Yue walked back to her spot, surrounded by admiring whispers. She didn't look at Lin Xiao.
"Lin Xiao," Elder Zhang called.
Lin Xiao stepped forward. The hall grew quiet as students turned to watch. This was the moment they had been waiting for—the laughing-stock martial soul's performance.
He placed his hand on the crystal. It glowed with a steady white light—Level 5, average. No surprises there.
"Now demonstrate your martial soul," Elder Zhang said, her tone neutral.
Lin Xiao summoned his Soul Bone Nunchaku. The two small bones and frayed rope appeared above his palm, looking as ridiculous as ever. A few snickers rippled through the crowd.
Lin Xiao ignored them. He had practiced this movement thousands of times over the past three days.
He took a deep breath, focused his soul power, and swung the nunchaku in a basic figure-eight pattern. At the same time, he infused soul power into the weapon, maintaining a steady flow.
The gray light flickered around the bones as they moved through the air. The movement was smooth—smoother than it should have been for someone who had only trained for three days. The nunchaku traced the figure-eight pattern with reasonable precision, the rhythm steady and controlled.
Lin Xiao completed the pattern and dismissed his martial soul, standing quietly.
The judges exchanged glances. "The movement was... adequate," one said. "Basic control is present. However, the martial soul itself..." He shook his head. "The weapon appears too weak to be effective in combat. Even with decent control, the limitations of the martial soul are severe."
"Remedial class," the other judge agreed. "The student has potential in soul power control, but the martial soul's weakness is too great to overcome."
Elder Zhang nodded. "Lin Xiao, you will be placed in Class F—the remedial class. You will focus on basic cultivation exercises and fundamental soul power control."
Lin Xiao bowed. "Thank you, Elder."
As he walked back to his place, the snickers from the crowd grew louder. "Class F! Of course!" "Even with decent control, that weapon is trash!" "He'll never advance!"
Lin Xiao kept his head up, his expression calm. This was exactly what he had expected. The remedial class was where he belonged—for now.
The assessment continued until all students had been tested. When it ended, Elder Zhang addressed the group.
"The results have been posted," she said. "Check the board outside for your class assignments. Classes begin tomorrow at dawn. Do not be late."
Students flooded out of the hall to check the board. Lin Xiao waited until the crowd thinned, then approached.
The board listed five classes:
Class A: Advanced (top performers)Class B: Upper intermediateClass C: IntermediateClass D: Lower intermediateClass F: Remedial
Lin Xiao found his name at the bottom of Class F, along with fifteen other students who had performed poorly. Most had low innate soul power or weak martial souls.
He scanned the other classes. Lin Yue was at the top of Class A, naturally. Zhang Wei was in Class B. Most of the other students who had mocked him were in Classes B or C.
Lin Xiao memorized his class schedule and turned to leave.
"Lin Xiao."
He stopped and turned to see Lin Yue standing a few paces away. For the first time since the awakening ceremony, she was looking directly at him.
"Class F," she said, her voice unreadable. "I'm not surprised."
"No," Lin Xiao said. "Neither am I."
She studied him for a moment, as if trying to understand something. "You're not angry."
"Should I be?"
"You're in the worst class," she said. "Everyone knows you'll never advance past Spirit Elder with that martial soul. Most people would be devastated."
Lin Xiao met her gaze evenly. "Being in Class F doesn't mean I'll stay there. And being in Class A doesn't guarantee you'll stay there either."
Lin Yue's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means the academy is just the beginning," Lin Xiao said. "Talent matters now, but hard work matters more in the long run. I'll prove it."
She stared at him, then laughed—a short, dismissive sound. "You're delusional. Hard work can't overcome garbage."
"We'll see," Lin Xiao said.
He walked away, leaving her standing there. For the first time, he had seen something other than contempt in her eyes—confusion, perhaps, or curiosity. She didn't understand his calm acceptance, his lack of shame.
That was fine. She would understand eventually.
That evening, Lin Xiao returned to the oak tree for his usual training session. But tonight, he didn't practice the same basic movements. He pulled out the ancient scrolls he had copied from the archives and began studying the next section—advanced infusion techniques combined with combat applications.
The remedial class would focus on basic cultivation exercises. That was perfect. It would give him more time to train on his own, to develop the techniques that the mainstream curriculum didn't teach.
He would use every resource available to him. The ancient records, his own training, even the remedial class exercises. He would transform his ridiculous martial soul into something formidable.
And one day, he would stand in Class A alongside the geniuses, not because of talent, but because of hard work.
Lin Xiao summoned his nunchaku and began practicing, the gray light of soul power flickering around the bones as they moved through the darkness. The night was long, but so was his journey.
He was ready.
End of Chapter 3