Xu Zihuang, just leaving Sea God Island, was walking slowly along the lakeside path towards the dormitory.
Under the influence of his soul power, his wet black medium-length hair had already dried, and he had changed into a fresh set of clothes.
When he had landed on Sea God Island with Ma Xiaotao earlier, the Skydream Iceworm had surprisingly woken up and informed him that some powerful humans were secretly observing him.
This confirmed Xu Zihuang's earlier suspicion.
It seemed that the Sea God Pavilion wanted him to have contact with Ma Xiaotao, and perhaps even had the intention of pairing them together.
Otherwise, when Ma Xiaotao fell into Sea God Lake earlier, the Sea God Pavilion should have intervened.
Ma Xiaotao was a girl, and the situation in the lake had been quite suggestive. Given the circumstances, contact between the two of them was almost unavoidable.
Xu Zihuang had to admit that he had indeed reacted instinctively. The reason he had appeared calm throughout was due to his strong self-control.
Compared to desire, there were things he cared about and longed for more.
With his mind full of thoughts, he soon returned to the dormitory building, which was not far from the lakeside path.
Upon entering his dorm room, he noticed that Tuoba Yu's door was tightly shut, with a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging, indicating that he was likely in cultivation. Xu Zihuang also refreshed himself and began his own cultivation for the entire night.
The night passed quickly.
On Sea God Lake's central island at Shrek Academy, Ma Xiaotao, dressed in a red gown, gradually woke up from her unconscious state.
"Mm..." Ma Xiaotao shifted her body slightly. Subconsciously, she covered her chest with her right hand, murmuring to herself.
"It's so hot, so uncomfortable... Huh?"
Gradually, she opened her eyes. There was some confusion in her soft pink eyes. "Strange, why is it no longer hot?"
Suddenly, she flipped over and sat up. Looking down at herself, she quickly jumped off the bed. Her face was cold, yet her beauty was undeniable. Standing up, her curvaceous and seductive figure was revealed in full.
At that moment, her memories began to resurface.
Though her consciousness had faded last night, it didn't mean she had no recollection of what had happened.
As her soul master cultivation level increased, so did her spiritual power.
The most direct benefit of the increase in spiritual power was enhanced memory. By Ma Xiaotao's level, not only was she capable of a strong impression of everything she experienced, but her memory was far sharper than an ordinary person's.
The sensation of rubbing against Xu Zihuang's body, the coolness of falling into Sea God Lake, and the warmth of skin touching skin in the water—all these images surged in her mind.
Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Although she was already nineteen years old, she had never been involved with a man. Recalling what happened last night, she couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.
The key was that it had all been her initiative, and Xu Zihuang had not overstepped his boundaries in any way.
"Ma Xiaotao, what on earth did you do?"
She slapped her own cheek with force, and her face turned even redder from embarrassment.
Moreover, there was an unfamiliar and inexplicable feeling.
For so many years, Xu Zihuang was the first person to have such intimate contact with her.
...
The morning sun spilled through the window, casting light on the blooming ink snow lily by the windowsill. The black-purple petals remained deep in color, and a faint fragrance filled the room.
After finishing a day of cultivation, Xu Zihuang stepped out of his room and bumped into Tuoba Yu, who was walking out from the other side.
Tuoba Yu looked surprised and asked, "Tianhuang, when did you return?"
"Got delayed by some things. I came back last night." Xu Zihuang responded with a smile and began freshening up.
Tuoba Yu was just casually asking. Then he seemed to remember something and reminded Xu Zihuang, "By the way, Teacher Wang Yan asked us to inform all the core disciples to meet him in his office before class today."
Xu Zihuang nodded, his mind briefly moving.
It seemed that the preparatory team selection was about to begin.
The weather was fine today, and Shrek Academy's new academic year was settling into a steady rhythm. Each grade's students faced different pressures. The freshmen had their entrance assessments, while the other grades, having completed their promotion assessments, had a heavier course load.
After enjoying a top-tier meal at the Martial Soul Department cafeteria, Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu went together to see Wang Yan.
"Knock, knock, knock." Tuoba Yu lightly knocked on the office door.
"Come in." Wang Yan's always-gentle voice rang out from inside the office.
Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu entered the room.
The office was already full of people—everyone from Class One's core disciples. In addition to Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu, Dai Huabin was present, as well as the officially promoted core disciples Wu Feng, Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Zhu Lu, Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. In total, twelve people were present.
When Wang Yan saw everyone had arrived, he slowly began,
"I called you all here today to inform you of a special situation. This afternoon, the outer academy will hold a core disciple selection match. Originally, this wasn't supposed to involve our second-year students, but the academy suddenly decided to let us participate as well. So, be prepared."
Zhou Sichen, who couldn't hold his curiosity, asked, "Teacher Wang, what's the purpose of this selection match?"
Wang Yan smiled and replied, "Don't worry too much. There won't be any punishment for losing. The match will be between the core disciples of the outer academy, all of whom are under fifteen, including those from the Soul Tool Department. I've counted—there are about thirty people in total. Seven of them will be selected to take on a special mission. As for what the mission is, only the winners will know. Originally, these spots should have been for third, fourth, and fifth-year students, but you all are lucky and get to participate. Just do your best."
"Our Class One core disciples make up more than a third of the spots. This shows the high quality of students in your cohort. I have confidence in all of you."
At this point, Wang Yan's gaze inadvertently landed on Xu Zihuang.
Wang Yan was certain that with Xu Zihuang's strength, he would secure one of those spots.
The group showed various expressions. Some were deep in thought, some quietly complained about the overabundance of assessments, and others were eager to try.
"Alright, you can head back to class and prepare for the lesson."
With that, the group of twelve students marched towards the teaching building. As Wang Yan had said, their cohort truly had many talented students. The second-year Class One was particularly exceptional. Among the other three classes, the core disciples were limited to only Xie Huanyue from Class Two and Ning Tian from Class Three.
Among all types of soul masters, Attack-type and Control-type soul masters were always mainstream, and they were more likely to produce top-tier experts.
Today's morning classes were taught by Mu Jin, while Wang Yan's theoretical lesson would take place in the afternoon.
Though the students' reactions to the core disciple selection match were mixed, during the rest of the day's classes, most of them appeared absent-minded.
No one knew exactly how the selection would unfold, but for every core disciple, this was an unavoidable challenge. Fortunately, there were no penalties for failure.
When the afternoon bell rang, Wang Yan tucked his lesson plans under his arm and addressed the class, "Core disciples, stay behind and wait for me. We'll head to the Soul Fighting Arena."
Immediately, everyone's attention turned to Wang Yan. They knew the selection match was about to begin. Contrary to their expectations, the match didn't take up their class time but was scheduled for after school.
The group left the classroom, and Xie Huanyue from Class Two and Ning Tian from Class Three also exited with their own respective teachers.
As soon as Ning Tian saw Xu Zihuang, she smiled brightly and approached him.
Xu Zihuang smiled and nodded, falling behind the others as they walked and chatted.
Both Wang Yan and the Class Three teacher were relatively open-minded and didn't act awkwardly to stop them.
However, Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian walking behind the group caught the attention of many students.
Tuoba Yu, Cao Jinxuan, Zhou Sichen, and Huang Chutian, who were closer to Xu Zihuang, exchanged teasing glances. Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu just glanced at them and quickly looked away.
Wang Dong scoffed coldly and lifted his chin proudly, ignoring the two.
Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo blushed and were too shy to look back.
Xiao Xiao appeared somewhat dejected, though her petite frame and lowered head meant no one noticed her emotions.
The strongest reaction came from Wu Feng. Her fists were clenched tightly, her body slightly trembling with anger.
She had always avoided Ning Tian and Xu Zihuang, but now seeing them so close was like salt on her wounds.
Ning Tian kept her attention on Xu Zihuang as she walked, her hands behind her back, speaking softly to him:
"Tianhuang, I have a feeling this core disciple selection won't be as simple as it seems. Out of nearly thirty core disciples, seven will be selected. The most straightforward way to choose is likely a free-for-all. Shrek Academy always values strength and adaptability, so this method fits its style."
Xu Zihuang was surprised and glanced at Ning Tian.
Ning Tian, being the heir to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, quickly grasped the key through limited information.
"If it's a free-for-all, then let's team up."
"Mm." Ning Tian smiled sweetly.
While they were talking, they had unknowingly arrived at the Soul Fighting Arena.
After waiting briefly, Xu Zihuang saw some familiar faces.
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan appeared one after the other. The most eye-catching were Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, the twin stars of the outer academy.
All three were at Soul Grandmaster level.
In the outer academy, Soul Grandmaster-level cultivation was common, but reaching that level before fifteen was rare.
Among the core disciples of the Martial Soul Department, only Xu Zihuang, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan had reached this level.
From the Soul Tool Department, only He Caitou had arrived. The total number of participants was twenty-eight. Half of them were from the second-year core disciples.
Different classes lined up behind their respective teachers, waiting quietly. Although the core disciple selection match had appeared suddenly and lacked a clear explanation, none of the students wanted to lose.
In fact, none of them were willing to easily lose to anyone else, especially not someone like Xu Zihuang.
Dai Huabin stood, his eyes gleaming with excitement. His soul power had reached level thirty-seven, making him a top contender among the outer academy's core disciples. He knew he wasn't Xu Zihuang's match yet, but he wanted to confirm the real gap between them.
At this moment, an unsteady old man stumbled toward the group. His steps were shaky, as if he might fall at any moment.
Though most of his face was hidden by wild hair, his iconic actions—holding a wine gourd in his left hand and a chicken leg in his right—immediately revealed his identity.
It was Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan wobbled his way in front of the students and slurred, "Little Wang."
"Elder Xuan." Wang Yan hurried forward and respectfully saluted.
"Is everyone here?" Elder Xuan asked.
Wang Yan responded, "All here. Twenty-seven from the Martial Soul Department, and only one from the Soul Tool Department. In total, twenty-eight people."
"Mm. Then let's go in."
Not everyone had met Elder Xuan, but they could tell from Wang Yan's respectful attitude that his status was extraordinary.
Inside the Soul Fighting Arena, everything remained as usual. Today, there were no teachers, and no students were scheduled for soul fighting.
Elder Xuan walked to the center of the arena, and the core disciples stood in formation behind their teachers.
Elder Xuan's deep voice echoed: "Listen carefully. The core disciple selection will be simple. I call it a free-for-all. You can attack however you want within this arena. There are no rules. Anyone who concedes or is saved will be eliminated. The last seven standing will be the winners. That's it. Teachers, leave now. When I say go, you can start."
"Is this even allowed?" The students were all taken aback. They had expected a proper contest, but now, a free-for-all? How could anything come of this?
Only Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian weren't surprised. They exchanged a glance and saw confidence and clarity in each other's eyes.
At Elder Xuan's signal, the teachers left the arena.
Before the students could fully react, Elder Xuan raised his wine gourd and shouted, "Begin."
In an instant, Elder Xuan disappeared. All that remained were the twenty-eight core disciples in the arena.
The suddenness of it all caused a momentary daze.
Then, each participant made their move.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian were the fastest to react.
Xu Zihuang understood that this selection test was primarily meant to assess adaptability.
He immediately grabbed Ning Tian and moved toward He Caitou, who was nearby.
"Senior Brother He, let's team up."
Whether for personal reasons or his future revenge plans, Xu Zihuang was determined to help He Caitou make it into the preparatory team.
"Okay." He Caitou responded with a hearty laugh, and the metallic tubes attached to his body began to glow, creating an intimidating aura.
At the same time, Ning Tian extended her right hand, calling out, "Seven Treasures, come forth."
She spun in place, and a dazzling seven-colored glow erupted from her. In her palm, a seven-colored pagoda appeared, flashing brightly with embedded gemstones.
Her three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—began to orbit the pagoda, adding to its magnificence.
"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
Her display immediately drew gasps from the senior disciples.
It was no surprise that Ning Tian had such a soul power-enhancing weapon.
Ning Tian's rings lit up, causing a surge of energy to envelop He Caitou. His soul power surged by forty percent. The metal tubes on his body glowed intensely, and his soul power spiked, creating shockwaves that stunned the entire arena.
A fierce explosion shook the ground, and several figures disappeared into the air.
Unfortunately for Tuoba Yu, Zhou Sichen, and Cao Jinxuan, they were too close to Xu Zihuang's group and were immediately enveloped by the terrifying light.
"You, you, you, and you are eliminated," Elder Xuan's voice rang out, as the four were seen floating in the air beside him, the white light still enveloping their bodies.
Not just them, but many of the senior core disciples suffered the same fate.
At this point, another massive explosion occurred.
The combined power of twenty fixed soul cannons was immense, especially with Ning Tian's enhancement.
He Caitou's full-force attack rivaled the power of a Soul King. This was the terrifying strength of a Soul Engineer.
Amid the deafening explosion, several figures were rescued by Elder Xuan.
Among them were Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo. Though they avoided the direct attack, the intensity of the soul power still overwhelmed them.
Elder Xuan gave He Caitou a surprised look before focusing on the dust clearing in the arena.
The explosion had effectively reshuffled the arena.
Now, only Xu Zihuang, Ning Tian, and He Caitou's team, along with Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan's team, remained. The remaining participants were a mix of senior core disciples and a few lucky ones like Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
He Caitou had deliberately avoided targeting the seemingly weaker female students, instead focusing on male students.
Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo were simply unlucky, caught in the path of a powerful soul tool explosion.
In comparison, Xiao Xiao was much luckier.
Wang Dong, too, managed to stay, benefiting from Xiao Xiao's good fortune.
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