Chapter 23 Huo Yuhao Eliminated in the Round of 8.
Sea God Lake, on the island in the center of the lake, by the lakeside.
Teacher Wang Yan, who had been conducting the freshman assessment not long ago, stood here now, but his expression was unusually respectful.
Not far in front of him, an old man with disheveled hair sat there, his appearance truly appalling. His once white robe had turned grayish-brown and was torn in several places. His hair was also disheveled. His bare feet were soaking in the cool Sea God Lake, and in his right hand he held a large gourd.
The gourd was purplish-red, its material unknown; he would occasionally pick it up and take a sip, releasing a strong aroma of wine. In his other hand, he held a roast chicken, ignoring the greasiness, eating and drinking with it, sips of wine and bites of meat.
"Elder Xuan, that's it. These students, although young and freshmen, are indeed worth paying attention to."
"Hmm..." The disheveled old man, addressed as Elder Xuan, swallowed a bite of chicken and turned to look at Wang Yan.
"A Wind Element Martial Soul! That's interesting." Elder Xuan muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and aged.
"Go tell Xiao Ning I'll be watching the freshman assessment ranking matches. Tell him to save me a spot."
"Yes."
The competition continued in the early morning!
Yesterday's matches had eliminated most of the freshmen, leaving only the top sixteen teams from this year's freshman assessment, a total of forty-eight freshmen.
They were all among the best of the freshmen, perhaps even among the most outstanding Soul Masters of their age across the entire Continent.
"Second District, Freshman Class 9's Wu Xuan team versus Freshman Class 1's Huo Yuhao team!"
"Wu Xuan? Another Soul Master from Class 9! What incredible luck!" Xiao Xiao looked bitter.
Huo Yuhao, seeing the somber atmosphere, didn't know what to say. He still had a good impression of Wu Xuan, after all, he had obtained his first soul ring and head soul bone because of Wu Xuan.
Wang Dong looked at the lot in his hand and clenched it tightly. Seeing that his teammates were silent, he cheered them on, "It's just Wu Xuan, don't be afraid. He's just a Soul Master after all. We've defeated Soul Master teams before. As long as we work together, we might not lose."
On the viewing platform, Mu Jin's face lit up with joy upon hearing the draw results.
"Teacher Zhou, what a coincidence. The seeded team you chose has run into our class's seeded team, and the number one seed at that. Do you think I should have my students go easy on you? So you can lose more gracefully?"
Mu Jin approached Zhou Yi with a beaming smile.
Zhou Yi looked disdainful. "What? You lost once, and now you want to lose a second time?"
Mu Jin's smile vanished, replaced by a cold voice: "You're proud of beating our class's second-seeded team? Zhou Yi, you haven't forgotten, have you? Our class eliminated the second and third-ranked teams from your class! I'd like to see how your students manage to get into the top four today." Zhou Yi frowned, her gaze fixed on the second section where Huo Yuhao and his two companions were located, and said calmly, "Want to bet?"
Mu Jin's aim was to provoke and humiliate Zhou Yi, and she immediately agreed without hesitation: "Bet? What will you bet with?"
Zhou Yi turned to face her, her voice low and menacing: "A soul bone, do you dare?"
Hearing the words "soul bone," Mu Jin's pupils contracted sharply.
A hint of disdain flickered across Zhou Yi's lips. "If you're scared, stay away from me. Don't let me smell your disgusting perfume."
A fierce glint flashed in Mu Jin's eyes. "Fine, I'll bet with you. Empty threats won't work on me. But a soul bone is far too small a stake." "Alright, let's add one more condition."
"Whoever loses will not only have to give up a soul bone, but also resign from the Martial Soul Department of Shrek Academy. Do you dare?!"
"Teacher Mu, Teacher Zhou, let's forget it. It's really not that serious!" Hearing that the two were betting so big, some teachers nearby came to the two arguing and quickly tried to smooth things over.
Mu Jin ignored the teachers trying to smooth things over, stepped forward, and continued to repeat, "Zhou Yi, do you dare?"
"If you dare, why wouldn't I dare? I'll bet with you!" Zhou Yi said coldly, her eyes flashing.
Huo Yuhao and his two companions had defeated Soul Master teams before; the outcome was unknown, so why wouldn't she dare?
"Fine! I'll be the witness." A deep voice rang out, and the newcomer was none other than Du Weilun, the Dean of Studies of the Outer Court.
He had long disliked Zhou Yi's teaching methods, and had originally demoted her to the first year to find a suitable reason to expel her. Now that the opportunity had come, he naturally wanted to take advantage of it and kick Zhou Yi out of the Spirit Department.
Zhou Yi had indeed trained many excellent students over the years, but even more talents had been buried because of his expulsion. Most geniuses were unyielding and proud, and no genius student could tolerate Zhou Yi's teaching method of treating students like dogs. Those geniuses were a loss to the academy!
Elder Xuan chuckled and took a bite of his chicken leg, without making any attempt to stop him. He then looked towards the second area's arena, his eyes flashing red, and he unconsciously raised an eyebrow.
Wu Xuan, who had stepped onto the Spirit Arena, felt that someone was secretly watching him. After looking around, Wu Xuan locked his gaze on an old man drinking and eating meat on the viewing platform. That must be Elder Xuan from Shrek Academy!
"Hmm? Little guy, you have such strong spiritual power. Interesting, very interesting." "Old Xuan took a big gulp of wine and looked at Wu Xuan with a hint of appreciation.
"Old Xuan, you've arrived." Wang Yan respectfully walked to the disheveled old man's side and greeted him in a low voice.
"Hmm." The old man just hummed and continued eating and drinking.
Wang Yan pointed to the audience below the stage and said, "The four young men I mentioned are over there. Yesterday..."
He had only said this much when Old Xuan impatiently waved his chicken leg and said, "I can see for myself."
"Yes." Wang Yan dared not say anything more and stepped aside.
At this moment, the proctor had arrived at the edge of the arena. Seeing both sides standing still, he announced loudly, "Both sides, state your names."
The six people on both sides walked into the spacious arena at the same time and stood on either side of the arena.
"Class 9 of the freshmen, Wu Xuan. Level 35 Control-type Soul Master."
"Class 9 of the freshmen, Nanmen Yun'er, Level 24 Agility-type Great Soul Master."
"Class 9 of the freshmen, Qian Guming, Level 24 Power-type Great Soul Master." Upon hearing Wu Xuan's level, Huo Yuhao and the other two were visibly shaken, their pupils contracting.
Even the usually arrogant Wang Dong couldn't help but be surprised. Wang Dong was always proud; although his soul power level wasn't high, he always believed that if he hadn't been lazy, he would definitely have broken through to the Soul Venerable level by now.
He figured Wu Xuan must have taken that Soul Ascension Pill and other cultivation aids to break through so quickly, and his foundation was definitely unstable. Wang Dong secretly speculated.
Then, without hesitation, he reported his own level.
"Class 1, Wang Dong, Level 24, Power Attack Type Great Soul Master."
"Class 1, Xiao Xiao, Level 23, Control Type Great Soul Master."
"Class 1, Huo Yuhao, Level 17, Control Type Soul Master." Huo Yuhao said somewhat awkwardly.
At this moment, the proctor had arrived at the edge of the arena. Seeing both sides standing still, he loudly announced, "Both sides prepare—the match begins!"
On the opposing side, Wu Xuan had a lineup of one Soul Master and two Great Soul Masters. Huo Yuhao and his two companions maintained their usual formation: Wang Dong at the front, Xiao Xiao in the middle, and Huo Yuhao at the back.
"First Soul Skill, Gathering Spirit Wind!"
"Second Soul Skill, Light Breeze!"
Wu Xuan made the first move, his two soul rings, one yellow and one purple, flashing in succession. Facing Huo Yuhao and his companions, Wu Xuan naturally wouldn't be careless.
A gentle breeze swept over Qian Guming and Nanmen Yun'er. The flames around Qian Guming's Crimson Flame Staff suddenly exploded and boiled, while the faint gale around Nanmen Yun'er instantly solidified and became domineering and fierce.
"Is this my power? So strong!" Qian Guming couldn't help but exclaim in surprise as he swung his staff.
"First Soul Skill, Azure Jade Blade!"
As an agility-type soul master, Nanmen Yun'er naturally made the first move. A layer of jade-like light shone brightly from her palms all the way to her arms, its radiance far surpassing its previous intensity.
Wang Dong snorted coldly, his toes touching the ground as he dashed forward. As he charged, his dazzling blue-gold wings suddenly unfurled.
At this moment, no matter how much Wu Xuan disliked Tang San's family, he couldn't help but secretly admire the beautiful wings of the Goddess of Light Butterfly before him.
"First Soul Skill, Winged Guillotine!"
The sharp wings clashed repeatedly with Nanmen Yun'er's shimmering green blade, creating a stalemate for a moment.
"First Soul Skill, Boiling Flames!"
Qian Gu Ming roared, wielding his crimson flaming staff and smashing it down on Xiao Xiao's head.
"First Soul Skill, Cauldron Tremor!"
Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron martial soul activated in time. A flash of black light, and the cauldron descended from the sky, landing on the ground with a violent roar. A powerful shockwave engulfed Qian Gu Ming.
Ignoring the shockwave, Qian Gu Ming charged towards Xiao Xiao, strangely unaffected by it, only the breeze around him thinned slightly.
In the blink of an eye, Qian Gu Ming closed in, smashing his staff against the cauldron in front of him. The cauldron was sent flying by the heavy blow.
"Haha!" Brother Xuan's soul skill is truly powerful! Qian Gu Ming was overjoyed, but his forward momentum didn't falter.
"Ugh!" Qian Guming groaned, his forward momentum halting.
This idiot, actually taking the hit of the opponent's soul skill charge head-on? Even the strongest soul skill can't provide sustained long-range control relief!
Wu Xuan's third soul ring lit up.
"Third Soul Skill, Jade Wind!"
"Condense!"
A jade-colored breeze gathered from Wu Xuan's palms. The next moment, Wu Xuan's figure silently appeared behind Qian Guming. The jade-colored breeze coalesced, and with a light grip, a jade staff remarkably similar to Qian Guming's martial soul appeared in his hands.
Before Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao could react, Wu Xuan swung the staff, sweeping Xiao Xiao away from the battle arena.
Qian Guming regained consciousness, looked at the eliminated Xiao Xiao, sneered, and turned to charge towards Huo Yuhao.
"Xiao Xiao, damn it! Second Soul Skill, Butterfly God's Light!"
Wang Dong's second soul ring suddenly lit up—a purple thousand-year soul ring.
The wings formed from the Goddess of Light Butterfly martial soul also shone brightly.
On his azure wings, golden light patterns burst forth like tiny, ignited suns.
These patterns were all concentrated on his forewings; his left forewing suddenly twisted, facing behind him, while his right forewing faced Qian Guming and the other man. The golden light patterns on both wings shone brightly simultaneously.
Wang Dong's entire body was bathed in gold, instantly becoming the most dazzling presence in all sixteen arenas of the competition.
On the viewing platform, even the teachers who hadn't initially been paying attention to their match instantly shifted their gaze. What they saw was a pair of dazzling wings launching a powerful attack forward and backward simultaneously.
Wu Xuan unleashed his full power; the azure hurricane sweeping across the Soul Arena, enhanced by the ten percent wind attribute bonus of his first Soul Skill, completely transformed into an ultimate wind—though only for a minute, it was still an ultimate wind.
The extreme wind swept through, and time seemed to slow down in the entire arena. The terrifying light patterns released by Wang Dong's wings visibly dimmed and dissipated under the force of the extreme wind.
Wu Xuan instantly pulled Qian Gu Ming and Nan Men Yun'er out of the range of the extreme wind.
Diminishing and slowing were the unique characteristics of the extreme wind.
"Hmph!" Wu Xuan sneered; he wouldn't give his opponent any chance.
"Finger Wind Dragon!"
With a crisp clang, a dark green breeze flew from Wu Xuan's fingertip.
The moment it flew out, the dark green breeze began to expand rapidly. In just a few breaths, the breeze expanded into a lifelike wind dragon more than ten meters long.
The wind dragon roared in. Wang Dong on the arena widened his eyes, struggling desperately, using all his strength, but in a short time, he could only barely move his body half an inch.
The proctor didn't hesitate, dashing into the arena in a flash. To his surprise, he found his speed had been inexplicably reduced.
Just as he touched Wang Dong's collar, the wind dragon roared towards him. Left with no choice, the proctor forcibly turned around, exposing his back to the wind dragon.
At that moment, a powerful suction force suddenly appeared in the sky, and the wind dragon changed direction and flew into the air just before hitting the proctor who was about to block it.
In mid-air, a large, earthen-yellow hand appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the wind dragon, seemingly kneading it a few times, before crushing it with a "poof."
Xuan Lao took a bite of his chicken leg and muttered, "This Orleans-style chicken leg is a bit too salty today." As he spoke, he stood up and slowly walked down from the platform.
Now, Huo Yuhao's team was down to just Huo Yuhao.
Without any effort, Qian Gu Ming swept Huo Yuhao off the Soul Fighting Stage with a single blow.
The assessment concluded, and Wu Xuan's team from Class 9 of the freshmen class emerged victorious, advancing to the top eight.
Huo Yuhao and his two teammates were defeated, causing Zhou Yi's expression to shift repeatedly.
Mu Jin, however, pressed on relentlessly, loudly reminding Zhou Yi, "Teacher Zhou, please remember to prepare your soul bone and resignation letter!"
Having finally released years of pent-up frustration, she felt an indescribable sense of relief.
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