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Chapter 100 – Fooled
After a brief silence, the entire assessment arena erupted into a deafening roar of cheers.
Facing a team that was also a favorite for the championship, Huo Yuhao, taking on three opponents at once, demonstrated in practice the true meaning of overwhelming, unstoppable force.
Complete domination!
"Champion—Champion—!"
Someone suddenly shouted, and that one simple word spread like a tidal wave, sweeping across the entire assessment arena.
It was as if they were crowning a triumphant hero; every student shouted with exhilaration. Even though this match was only the round of thirty-two progressing to the top sixteen, in everyone's heart, this young man had already proven himself the undisputed champion of the freshman assessment.
What seemed like a brief skirmish had reached its climax when the final sword light from Huo Yuhao injured even Du Weilun.
A Spirit Grandmaster's self-created spirit skill actually harmed a Spirit Douluo. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed it.
Compared to the students' excitement, Yan Shaozhe's heart was chilled to the bone.
Just great… He had been planning a one-on-two strategy, but now, even three against one, they were still getting thrashed.
His very own disciple, whom he had personally taken under his wing. As a Spirit Elder, he couldn't defeat a single Spirit Grandmaster. Forget Tang San—at this moment, even Yan Shaozhe himself was mired in deep self-doubt.
By the time Du Weilun had expended a great deal of effort to dispel the Ultimate Ice from his hands and returned to the stage, Xian Lin'er and Zhang Lexuan had already disappeared without a trace.
Seeing Yan Shaozhe looking as if he had aged a decade in an instant, Du Weilun hesitated for a moment before quickly approaching and softly speaking.
"Dean."
Yan Shaozhe remained silent. After a long pause, he finally spoke, a delayed awareness in his tone.
"How's Tang San?"
Du Weilun immediately corrected his expression, lowering his voice as he reported.
"I've checked him. Tang San's body is fine—only some minor injuries—but his spirit seems somewhat low, possibly due to losing the match. After the teachers' treatment, I let him return to rest."
At the words "spirit seems low," Yan Shaozhe's pupils constricted sharply.
Was it really Sovereign's Descent? If this continued… Tang San might never be able to lift his head again before Huo Yuhao.
No… it couldn't be.
That was a skill uniquely devised by his teacher Mu En. No one else could wield it; It must be another skill that fused spiritual and spirit power, and it would not necessarily achieve the same effect.
After comforting himself with this thought, Yan Shaozhe lightly nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work, Old Du."
"It's all part of my duty."
Du Weilun paused for a moment, his voice instinctively dropping a few degrees lower.
"Dean, this was only a Freshman assessment match. You shouldn't be too hard on yourself. Huo Yuhao's hidden second martial spirit is incredibly deep; we haven't detected a single trace in three months."
At these words, a bitter expression flashed across Yan Shaozhe's face. Before he could respond, Xuan Zi's calm, omniscient voice rang out.
"Du's right. It was just a match. Lost today, win tomorrow. Shaozhe, to be so crushed by such a minor setback… have you been the Battle Spirit Department'sDean all these years for nothing?"
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's brow furrowed slightly, his tone tinged with discontent.
"Elder Xuan, Huo Yuhao has now revealed his second martial spirit. Aside from a slightly slower cultivation speed, his talent is not inferior to Tang San's. We can't beat him now; in the future…"
If he could beat him, Yan Shaozhe would have wanted to drag this old geezer and give him a good beating.
Three months ago, he still had a chance to make amends, to show the Battle Spirit Department's sincerity to Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena. Yet, believing Xuan Zi's words, he focused on cultivating Tang San to demonstrate the department's depth.
And now? Complete failure.
Their depth remained unproven, while Huo Yuhao—a Spirit Grandmaster—took on three opponents single-handedly.
Should he go now and beg him to join the Battle Spirit Department? Would it even help?
Not only would it cost far more than before, but the other party might refuse.
More importantly, groveling at this moment would make him look utterly incompetent, a shameless opportunist.
Thinking of this, his mind even imagined the smirking faces of Xian Lin'er and the Spirit Guidance Department, watching him like he was a joke.
Fuming, Yan Shaozhe cursed inwardly.
Damn it, he'd been completely fooled by Bastard Xuan Zi.
He handed over two geniuses, both starting with millennium spirit rings, to the Spirit Guidance Department, and then aggressively praised Tang San, who started with a hundred-year spirit ring. He was truly foolish to believe that person's nonsense!
Unaware that Yan Shaozhe had mentally cursed his eighteen generations, Xuan Zi waved his hand, pulled out a new gourd of wine from somewhere, took a long sip, and spoke with casual amusement.
"Now, Shaozhe, tell me. Why do you think Huo Yuhao's talent surpassed Tang San's?"
Before Yan Shaozhe could answer, Xuan Zi supplied the reasoning himself.
"Because you discovered that this child, besides possessing a primary martial spirit capable of second evolution, also has a second martial spirit of Ultimate ice. Compared to him, Tang San's twin spirits immediately seemed inferior, their quality unmatched, correct?"
Yan Shaozhe hesitated, then lightly nodded.
Xuan Zi scoffed, a faint smile of derision playing on his lips.
"Then tell me, what is the Grandmaster's famous saying?"
"There are no useless martial spirits, only useless Spirit Masters." {T/N: Fuck you, Yu Xiaogang}
"Good, you remember."
Xuan Zi nodded, drinking deeply again before continuing.
"Now, consider this. Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Hall's legendary Six-Winged Angel (Seraphim)martial spirit was unrivaled across the continent. Compare it to this boy's Ultimate ice spirit—who is stronger?"
"Six-Winged Angel."
The answer came naturally, and Yan Shaozhe's previously dim eyes lit with renewed clarity.
"Exactly."
Xuan Zi shook his head calmly.
"If, like you, one judged a person's potential solely by martial spirit quality, how could Ancestor Tang San ten thousand years ago have defeated the Spirit Hall, who had Six-Winged Angel martial spirit?"
"Martial Spirit quality does not determine achievement. That was your first mistake. Second, you underestimated the potential of the Clear Sky Hammer. Did Tang San truly unleash its full power in that match? Didn't something seem missing?"
Something missing?
Was it because the academy's new rule forbade removing clothing, so Tang San couldn't go all out?
No, that was absurd.
Shaking off the bizarre thought, Yan Shaozhe paused, then lifted his head and looked at Xuan Zi with dawning realization.
"Clear Sky Sect's secret techniques?"
Xuan Zi nodded with satisfaction.
"The Clear Sky Sect became the continent's top sect ten thousand years ago, able even to challenge the Spirit Hall—not because their Clear Sky Hammer surpassed the Six-Winged Angel, but due to the secret techniques passed down.
"Though I never personally witnessed them, I've heard of their legacy. Compared to that, the so-called Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique is mundane.
"Besides the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, the Clear Sky Sect has a technique called the 'Ring Detonation.' Imagine if Tang San masters these two skills—could he still lose to Huo Yuhao?"
Like a powerful stimulant, Yan Shaozhe felt rejuvenated; his gloom vanished.
Recalling the mention of innate comprehension as key, he again marveled at Xuan Zi's foresight.
Indeed!
Tang San, under the Grandmaster's guidance, defeated the Six-Winged Angel martial spirit wielder with just Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer. {T/N: Fuck you all, you morons.}
If he, a Super Douluo, could personally instruct a prodigy with an even stronger configuration and talent than Ancestor Tang San, could he doubt their ability to defeat an Ultimate spirit wielder?
Without confidence in these fundamentals, how could he ever surpass Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang and make a lasting mark in Shrek Academy's history?
Yet, realization struck him like cold water. He immediately cooled, asking hesitantly:
"But Elder Xuan… Tang San's father was expelled from the Clear Sky Sect. Wouldn't he lack access to those secret techniques?"
"Why worry?"
Xuan Zi shot him a sideways glance, amused by such a naive question.
"If you were a high-ranking member of the Clear Sky Sect, would you allow such a prodigy to drift outside?"
Yan Shaozhe still did not smile, instead asking further:
"But then Tang San would technically belong to the Clear Sky Sect. We at Shrek invested so much, yet we trained a prodigy for them. Isn't that too disadvantageous?"
"Regardless of their origin, once they enter Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard, they become true members of Shrek, and the mark of Shrek will be branded on them for life."
Xuan Zi curled his lips.
"Many inner academy students, years after graduation, still cherish the Academy. Joining a sect doesn't erase them from being Shrek's own."
With Xuan Zi's guidance, realization dawned on Yan Shaozhe. He straightened, nodding seriously.
"I understand, Elder Xuan."
"Good. It's enough that you understand."
(End of Chapter 100)