Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "Isn't it that kid from the New Student Assessment champion team who wasn't chosen as a core disciple? It's all because his first spirit ring was only a ten-year spirit ring. When Fan Yu came to me, I also felt he wasn't worth it, but he did help me win a match against you. It's not easy to beat you, you know. So, I'll keep him in the Soul Tool Department. Every now and then, when I see him, I'll remember your defeated look, and my mood will be much better, haha. That's why I agreed. I just came to tell you. Fan Yu will handle the rest. Well, I'm going back now, there's so much to do."
With that, he stood up, dusted off his backside, and left.
Yan Shaolie watched Qian Duoduo's retreating figure disappear and felt something was amiss. He immediately grabbed a Soul Tool Communication Device, then poured his soul power into a metal button.
"Du Weilun?" Yan Shaolie said in a deep voice.
Du Weilun's voice suddenly came from the other side. "Hello, Dean Yan, I'm here."
Yan Shaolie said, "Can you check for me if there's a late student named Huo Yuhao?"
Du Weilun said with a hint of surprise, "What a coincidence, just now some students reported to me that a student named Huo Yuhao was not only late but also openly came to class. I was just about to deal with this matter."
Yan Shaolie said, "From what you know, what kind of person is this kid Huo Yuhao? What about his talent?"
Du Weilun said, "This kid does have some talent. Last year, he, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao won the championship in the New Student Assessment. His martial soul is the Spirit Eye, and his soul skills are probably some kind of mental system ability. His abilities are just average, but there are signs of a Body Martial Soul. Because he won the championship in the assessment, he received the same treatment as a core disciple, but that ends this year. Moreover, he was late this time, so he will probably be expelled."
Yan Shaolie continued to ask, "I remember his spirit ring was only ten years, right?"
Du Weilun said, "Yes. He enrolled under a preferential status because he was from the Tang Sect. I heard that when he first enrolled, his cultivation was only rank thirteen. I'm not sure if he has reached rank twenty now. It's very likely not, but that's even better. If he doesn't reach rank twenty, he will definitely be expelled. As for the Body Martial Soul matter, Wang Yan had asked Elder Xuan to observe him, but the result disappointed Elder Xuan. He even said he wasn't worth cultivating. After that, he cooperated with Wang Dong to perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. At that time, Wang Yan went to Elder Xuan again. This time, Elder Xuan officially determined that his martial soul could not awaken again. Since then, we haven't paid any special attention to him."
After hearing Du Weilun's words, Yan Shaolie immediately smiled. Du Weilun's judgment had never been wrong before. He was just an ordinary disciple, yet when needed, he could immediately explain his abilities, his process of entering the academy, and his time studying there. This was enough to prove how good his management abilities were.
"Alright, then you don't need to handle this matter anymore. Just now, Qian Duoduo came to see me. He wants to use the previous betting requirement, so from now on, Huo Yuhao is their core disciple. I heard that it was because that girl Zhou Yi pleaded with Fan Yu, and Fan Yu then asked him. If he's just an ordinary student, then let the Soul Tool Department have him. It saves me from being nagged by that old man all day."
"The former dean came to you to ask for him? This is truly strange. Should we wait until the promotion assessment is over to confirm his abilities before making a decision?"
Du Yu Lun pondered carefully before speaking.
Yan Shao Zhe immediately replied, "Forget it, we don't even know if he can pass the assessment. Besides, even if he gets a second soul ring, what then? With his spiritual attribute, his second soul skill probably won't be very powerful. His first soul ring was only ten years, he has no future. Just give him to Qian Duo Duo. Otherwise, he'll keep bothering me. Consider this us being generous to the Soul Tool Department for once. That's it."
"Yes."
Du Yu Lun answered, and both hung up.
Both Yan Shao Zhe and Du Yu Lun were the same; they completely disregarded Huo Yu Hao. Shrek Academy had too many geniuses, so how could Huo Yu Hao's ordinary performance attract their attention?
But they didn't know that as soon as Qian Duo Duo left Sea God Island and returned to the outer court of the Soul Tool Department, he immediately burst into three loud laughs, his face beaming with pride. His demeanor at this moment was even more triumphant than when he won the bet against Yan Shao Zhe last time.
"Old Yan, oh Old Yan, I'm truly sorry, I didn't expect you to fall for it so easily. Haha, I never thought that one day my Soul Tool Department would also have a disciple with a Twin Martial Soul, ha ha ha. Huo Yu Hao is truly my lucky star, I've taken advantage of that old man once again. Cultivating for eight months to become a Rank 2 Soul Tool Master, Twin Martial Soul, the highest-grade Martial Soul in the ice attribute – Ice Jade Scorpion. Perfect… perfect, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…"
***
Huo Yu Hao had no idea that he had become the topic of both the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department. At this moment, he was busy listening to Zhou Yi explain the rules of the promotion assessment. Besides the initial New Student assessment, all subsequent assessments were very important. If one failed to meet the requirements, it was simple: pack up and go home. Even core disciples were no exception. Of course, there had never been a situation where a core disciple failed an assessment.
Zhou Yi stood on the podium and said, "The assessment from first year to second year is quite easy. Compared to the assessments in the advanced classes, yours are much simpler. The assessment content for our class and Class Two will be the same, while Class Three and Class Four, due to their different martial soul abilities, will have different types of assessments."
"Our assessment will take place in the Beast Fighting Area. Most of you probably don't know where the Beast Fighting Area is, right? Specifically, it's to the south of the Soul Fighting Area. This area is like an ordinary city, surrounded by a gray city wall. It's where the academy keeps several types of soul beasts. It's also a place for advanced disciples to cultivate. If you can stay here until your fourth year, you'll also have the opportunity to cultivate there. But for now, it's your assessment location."
"In this assessment, you will fight soul beasts, and you will choose which soul beasts. Different soul beasts have different values; challenging higher cultivation soul beasts will earn you more points. This assessment will be graded by senior teachers, with a maximum of one hundred points. Achieving sixty points will be considered passing the assessment."
"Now I have a few reminders for you. First, don't be too timid and choose low cultivation soul beasts. Even if you win, you might not necessarily pass the assessment. Second, don't be reckless and choose overly powerful soul beasts. In case the teachers can't rescue you in time during the assessment, then…"
At this point, Zhou Yi's eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity that sent shivers down the spines of the attentive students. It was true that they had all encountered soul beasts, but fighting them alone was something not everyone had tried. They were all still young, and of course, when they obtained their soul rings, they all had assistance. Not everyone was as bold and fortunate as Huo Yuhao.
"Third, you are not eliminated simply for losing. If you challenge a high-level soul beast and perform reasonably well during the battle, you still have a chance. However, the standards for this assessment will be slightly different for the Power Attack System and the Control System. The Power Attack System focuses on defeating the soul beast, while the Control System primarily needs to control the soul beast. If you cannot win, then just try to persevere; the longer you last, the higher your score."
Huo Yuhao listened to every word Zhou Yi said with utmost concentration. They had made a bet with Dai Huabin, so how could they not pay attention? If they lost, they would have to kneel and admit their mistake. For others, this might cause some anxiety, but not for him. Just thinking about Dai Huabin kneeling and admitting his mistake to him made him feel as if he had already exacted a small measure of revenge. Therefore, no matter what, they had to win this bet.
Just then, a sudden knocking sound came from outside.
Normally, unless there was something special happening at the academy, this situation would never occur. Both Wang Yan and Zhou Yi were momentarily stunned. Wang Yan, who was standing right by the door, turned and opened it.
Standing at the classroom door was a teacher whom the students didn't know, and neither did Huo Yuhao. He had no idea that this very teacher was the one who had given him the Soul Guiding Left Arm Bone Secret Technique back then, and also the one who had once lost a bet to Zhou Yi—Teacher Mu Jin. Behind her were two other teachers from the academy.
Zhou Yi's expression suddenly darkened.
"Teacher Mu, why are you not with Class Two but running over to Class One?"
Perhaps it was to deliberately provoke Zhou Yi, but as soon as Mu Jin heard that Zhou Yi was the head teacher of Class One, she became the head teacher of Class Two.
Mu Jin said indifferently, "I heard that a student in your class didn't report yesterday but was still able to attend class today, so I came to take a look. Actually, I'm not looking for you; these two teachers are looking for someone."
Zhou Yi's expression grew colder and colder. She walked down from the podium to stand in front of the two newly arrived teachers. The male middle-aged teacher on the left said, "Teacher Zhou, Teacher Wang, we have received complaints from students saying that there is a student named Huo Yuhao in your class who didn't report yesterday but still attended class today. You must be clear about the academy's rules. We are here to take that student to complete the withdrawal procedures."
Wang Yan looked at Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi gave a faint smile and said, "Teacher Li, Teacher Lu, it's like this. That Huo Yuhao is a core disciple of the Soul Tool System. He was late yesterday because he was carrying out a mission for the Soul Tool System. The Soul Tool System will explain it clearly to you later."