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Chapter 96: Instant Showdown
Assessment Area.
"Lexuan."
The sudden voice made Zhang Lexuan instinctively turn her head. When her eyes met the visitor, a faint glimmer flashed across them, but she remained calm and composed, bowing slightly.
"Dean Yan, what brings you here?"
"Just happened to be free, so I came to take a look at the two prodigies in your class," Yan Shaozhe said with a faint smile. "It's a pity that these two talents couldn't join my Battle Spirit Department, but whether it's the Battle Spirit Department or the Spirit Guidance Department, they're all striving for the Academy. As their Dean, it's only natural for me to care about their growth."
"I see," Zhang Lexuan replied, nodding slightly, her expression perfectly composed.
"Then, Dean Yan, please observe with us."
As the six students slowly entered and took their positions, the teachers acting as referees began to speak.
"State your names and ranks."
"Freshman Class Nine, Ning Tian, Level 31 Support-type Spirit Master."
Unlike in the previous life, where the rash Wu Feng had spoken first, this time the steadier Ning Tian took the initiative.
Facing a team composed of the young prodigies who had defeated the Twin Stars of the Outer Academy, Ning Tian knew her own team's chances were slim—but she had no intention of giving up.
Since her team was at a disadvantage, she decided to reveal their own information candidly, hoping to gain intel on the opponents for strategic preparation.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda itself held no combat power, but its terrifying amplification effect could temporarily elevate two Spirit Grandmasters to Spirit Elder-level combat power. If they struck at the enemy's weak points from the start, victory was not impossible.
Anyone who made it this far in Shrek's freshman assessment was a prideful genius. Being a freshman who had only joined the Academy a few months ago, they didn't fully grasp the significance of defeating the Outer Academy Twin Stars, unlike upperclassmen.
No one would surrender just because their opponents had a more famous reputation.
Besides, this was no longer a preliminary round where one could strategically forfeit against stronger opponents. In an elimination match, defeat meant saying goodbye for real.
So even a sliver of victory had to be fought for.
Listening to the introductions of the three distinctive and beautiful girls standing before him, Huo Yuhao remained calm. He naturally guessed some of their minor intentions.
He hadn't expected to meet his old rivals from his previous life in the very first elimination match. Scanning the familiar faces, his gaze finally settled on Wu Feng, whose hair was even brighter than Ma Xiaotao's and whose expression radiated the tension of facing a deadly opponent.
"Freshman Class Five, Huo Yuhao, Level 28 Control-type Spirit Master."
"Freshman Class Five, Zhu Lu, Level 25 Agility Attack-type Spirit Master."
After Zhu Lu finished, Gu Yuena finally spoke.
"Class Five, Gu Yuena, Power Attack-type Spirit Master, Spirit Power Level 38."
"!?"
Her ethereal, melodious voice struck like a hammer to everyone present. Even Ning Tian's team felt their hearts tighten; Dean Yan Shaozhe, observing from the stands, couldn't help but narrow his eyes in shock.
As a Super Douluo, he had clearly heard their introductions.
Weren't these two Level 26 and Level 36 when they enrolled!?
For Huo Yuhao, a Spirit Grandmaster, gaining two levels in three months was fast, but understandable.
Gu Yuena, however, was incomprehensible.
The growth rate of a Spirit Elder's cultivation was comparable to that of a Spirit Grandmaster. Why this disparity?
Why don't you increase your Titled Douluo cultivation like that, too?
Could it be that Xian Lin'er wanted the two of them to defeat Tang San in the freshman assessment, so she gave them some cultivation-enhancing pills?
A flicker of anger appeared on Yan Shaozhe's face.
Short-sighted woman!
A twelve-year-old at Level 36 spirit elder was already a rarity in a millennium, yet they were given such an elixir merely for the sake of winning a match? Boosting raw cultivation without teaching students to dig deep into their abilities was utterly reckless!
As Dean of the Battle Spirit Department, he shouldn't meddle with the Spirit Guidance Department—but Gu Yuena was different.
He had planned, with Xuan Zi's guidance, to let Tang San demonstrate the Battle Spirit Department's depth by defeating Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena in the freshman assessment, before offering Gu Yuena a chance for redemption.
He could do without Huo Yuhao, but Gu Yuena's talent was too exceptional to ignore. Seeing the Spirit Guidance Department squander such a prodigy left him furious.
No more waiting. Gu Yuena had to be pulled into the Battle Spirit Department immediately. This afternoon, he would manipulate the arrangement, having Tang San face Huo Yuhao. If left unchecked, who knew what the Spirit Guidance Department would do to this precious gem?
Compared to Yan Shaozhe's barely concealed anger, Ning Tian and her team were utterly shocked.
Facing a Level 38 Spirit Elder in the first elimination match—how could they possibly compete?
Ning Tian exhaled slowly and whispered to her teammates, "Just treat this as our last battle. Do your best."
Although she herself was a Spirit Elder, she fully understood the gap between a Level 31 Support-type Spirit Master and a Level 38 Power Attack-type Spirit Master.
"Mm," Wu Feng replied, her red eyes fixated on Gu Yuena. Her hands trembled subtly on her academy uniform.
Strangely, even without activating her spirit, Wu Feng's body trembled uncontrollably, and an inexplicable urge to kneel in submission rose within her.
"Prepare—the match begins!"
With the referee's shout, Ning Tian immediately summoned her spirit.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda"
A dazzling, multi-colored tower appeared in Ning Tian's hand. Seeing the three purple spirit rings beneath Gu Yuena's feet, her throat instinctively swallowed. Even prepared, witnessing such a scene was overwhelming.
"Seven Treasures, named: One for Speed, Three for Power."
Choosing full force, she cast two spirit incantations. Four beams of light shot from the tower, dividing into two streams, flowing into Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er.
After placing a "Release" on herself, Ning Tian's spirit power drained instantly, leaving her pale and unsteady.
"Wu Feng, intercept Gu Yuena. Yun'er, you take care of that black-haired girl. Don't worry about Huo Yuhao's control."
With a 40% boost to speed and power, Wu Feng alone might still struggle against Gu Yuena, but fellow Agility Attack-type Spirit Master Nanmen Yun'er could easily crush Zhu Lu.
"Understood."
Nanmen Yun'er nodded, her emerald wings flaring as she charged at Zhu Lu. Wu Feng, feeling empowered, lifted her head with fierce intent toward Gu Yuena.
Sensing the gaze, Gu Yuena's deep, silver eyes met Wu Feng's.
With just a cold glance, Wu Feng's body trembled violently as if struck by lightning, red dragon scales rising uncontrollably along her arm—then nothing more.
"Wu Feng!"
Under Ning Tian's stunned eyes, Wu Feng retracted her spirit, collapsing straight to the ground.
"What? Her spirit isn't supposed to be elemental! What ability is this?"
Yan Shaozhe's brows furrowed. Nothing made sense. Gu Yuena hadn't even activated her spirit, yet Wu Feng fell.
Unease surged in his heart as he clenched his fists, fixating on Gu Yuena.
Huo Yuhao's lips twitched in recollection of the previous predetermined assessments. If Senior Brother Bei Bei had faced Gu Yuena back then, this would likely have been the outcome.
Suppressing his thoughts, Huo Yuhao told Zhu Lu, "I'll take Nanmen Yun'er. Ning Tian, she's yours."
"Understood."
Zhu Lu vanished like a shadow, charging at Ning Tian, who was still processing Wu Feng's situation.
Nanmen Yun'er instinctively tried to intercept, but Huo Yuhao had already appeared before her, wearing a faint, unsettling smile.
"Interrupting others' battles is a bad manner."
The words chilled her to the core. Is he really a Control-type Spirit Master?
Panicked, she flapped her wings to gain altitude, but Huo Yuhao's spirit perception left no escape. His fist smashed toward her with terrifying speed.
The punch landed, vibrating her arm despite Ning Tian's speed and strength buffs. Before she could be thrown back, Huo Yuhao restrained her with his other hand.
Releasing his Spirit Threads, she blacked out, collapsing like Wu Feng.
Ning Tian's face paled. At this moment, she truly felt the cliff-like gap between herself and Huo Yuhao, despite both being freshmen.
Even with a 40% speed boost, Nanmen Yun'er hadn't even reacted before Huo Yuhao got close to her. A Control-type Spirit Master, merely by physical prowess, could reach Spirit Elder-level speed and strength—it was absurd.
Before she could react, Zhu Lu appeared beside her, claws glowing cold, pressing to her neck.
"Surrender."
Feeling the chill, Ning Tian swallowed and lifted her hand reluctantly.
"I… surrender."
Silence fell.
Moments later, the referee checked Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er, confirming they were merely unconscious, then declared loudly:
"Freshman Class Five, Huo Yuhao's team wins!"
"This… already over?"
The teachers in the stands were all shocked.
"Teacher Zhang, your students are insane! This was a team with a Spirit Elder, and they barely even used any skills, and won just like that?!"
"I thought Class One would take the championship. Now… It's unpredictable."
Even Yan Shaozhe's confidence wavered. Should he still manipulate the afternoon match? What if they lost?
After a moment, his gaze hardened. The stronger Gu Yuena performed, the more urgent it was to bring her to the Battle Spirit Department. He couldn't waste this opportunity.
The Battle Spirit Department had a deeper teaching foundation than the Spirit Guidance Department, and the freshman assessment prohibited spirit tools. He refused to believe Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena could defeat Tang San, whom he and Xuan Zi had trained for three months.
Even if they did lose, it wouldn't matter. It had only been three months, and Tang San's strength hadn't completely pulled away from the other two. A two-on-one might indeed be a problem. The only pity was that the plan to win over Gu Yuena would probably be delayed for some time again.
He needed a solution.
With that, Yan Shaozhe turned and left the viewing stand.
(End of Chapter)