For a moment, the air in the classroom seemed to freeze, and even the sound of breathing became barely audible.
Everyone's face was filled with solemnity; they finally deeply realized that the three words "Shrek" represented not only glory but also the cruel reality that accompanied it.
"The third point, and the last point."
Han Ruoruo's voice softened slightly, giving the extremely tense crowd a chance to breathe.
"You must remember that the result of the assessment is not based solely on victory or defeat. Failing in battle doesn't necessarily mean elimination. If the Soul Beast you challenge is strong enough and your performance during the fight is commendable—demonstrating courage, wisdom, and skill that transcend your usual self—then your final score might not be low. This also applies to different types of Soul Masters."
"Students of the attack system, your assessment standards will be higher, with the main goal being to defeat or severely wound the Soul Beast. For students of the control system, the focus of the assessment is on controlling the Soul Beast and the duration you can hold out under its violent attacks; this can also earn you a high score."
These words made the control system Soul Masters in the class breathe a visible sigh of relief, while attack system Soul Masters like Dai Huabin and Ye Guyi felt an even stronger Battle Intent ignite in their eyes.
After explaining all the rules, Han Ruoruo said no more. She left the remaining time for the students to digest and discuss among themselves while she quietly left the classroom.
The classroom instantly erupted into a commotion, with suppressed discussions rising like a tide.
"Heavens, we actually have to fight a Soul Beast alone."
"What age of Soul Beast should I choose? I definitely can't beat a thousand-year one, but I'm afraid the score for a hundred-year one will be too low..."
"It's not so bad for the control system as long as they can stall for time. The attack system is too difficult; they have to determine a winner."
Amidst the noise, a discordant figure stood up.
Dai Huabin straightened his brand-new yellow school uniform, his face wearing its usual arrogance.
Zhu Lu, beside him, also stood up immediately and followed him closely.
Instead of heading toward the classroom door, he deliberately took a detour and walked past Huo Yuhao's seat.
As he passed by Huo Yuhao, he stopped and looked down condescendingly at the figure sitting still, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.
The discussions of the entire class came to an abrupt halt at this moment.
Everyone's gaze was drawn to this scene, which was thick with the smell of gunpowder.
The corners of Dai Huabin's mouth curled into a mocking smile as he spoke slowly. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:
"Huo Yuhao, don't forget our bet."
After saying this, he didn't even wait for Huo Yuhao's response. He let out a contemptuous sneer and then, with Zhu Lu in tow, left the classroom with an arrogant expression under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Caelus sat not far away, taking everything in.
He only cast a faint glance at Huo Yuhao, who remained expressionless as if Dai Huabin hadn't been provoking him, his own heart remaining calm.
He didn't know what had happened between the two of them to escalate their conflict to the point of a public challenge.
But upon reflection, it seemed only natural.
To Huo Yuhao, Dai Huabin was not only the son of the enemy who killed his mother but also the main culprit behind his bullying—a deeply ingrained enemy.
And to Dai Huabin, he instinctively found Huo Yuhao disagreeable.
One was arrogant and conceited, the other patient and stubborn.
Two such people were like fated enemies destined to collide; the outbreak of conflict was only a matter of time.
What's more, by Huo Yuhao's side was Wang Dong, who was equally proud and extremely protective.
That guy was never one to be trifled with.
With him fanning the flames, it would be strange if a conflict didn't occur between the two sides.
Caelus had no intention of intervening.
As the class monitor, his responsibility was to maintain the overall Order and honor of the class, not to mediate personal grudges.
As long as things didn't escalate to a life-and-death struggle like the last time with Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao, he didn't care to manage it.
The impulsive disputes of youth and the fated duels between enemies—let them settle it themselves.
Although he was the class monitor, he wasn't a babysitter.
The night passed incredibly slowly for the students of Second Year, Class One.
Some tossed and turned, their minds constantly rehearsing scenes of fighting Soul Beasts, their hearts shrouded in clouds of fear and tension.
Others were raring to go, seeing this assessment as the best stage to become famous in a single battle, their blood filled with excitement and desire.
When the first light of the next morning pierced through the clouds, gilding Shrek Academy in gold, the entire student body of Second Year, Class One, led by Wang Yan and Han Ruoruo, set off toward the Beast Fighting Area with complex emotions.
Traveling with them was another class.
The color of their school uniforms was also bright yellow, but the composition of students within the class was entirely different from Class 1.
Among them were students with burly builds and a presence as steady as a mountain, as well as those with elusive movements and eyes as sharp as knives.
This was second year class two, primarily composed of Outer Court defense system and agility-attack system Soul Masters. Their promotion assessment was also to be held in this Beast Fighting Arena filled with blood and sand.
The students from the two classes merged into a single stream, silently traversing the academy's paths. The atmosphere was far less lively than usual.
An invisible pressure weighed on everyone's heart.
Caelus walked in the procession with a calm expression.
His gaze swept across the ranks of Class 2 and quickly locked onto a familiar figure.
That person was also tall, with a hint of a simple and honest smile on his face, surrounded by several classmates from Class 2.
That was the class monitor of Class 2, Xie Huanyue, who was also his roommate in the dormitory.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, Xie Huanyue also turned his head and happened to see Caelus.
The smile on his face widened slightly, and he waved at Caelus without any hesitation.
The corner of Caelus's mouth twitched imperceptibly as he nodded to Xie Huanyue.
As the procession delved deeper into the heart of the academy, the surrounding scenery began to change.
The meticulously manicured gardens and elegant teaching buildings gradually disappeared, replaced by an increasingly rugged and primitive architectural style.
A complex scent began to permeate the air—the smell of soil, the bitterness of plants, and a faint, musky odor of beasts.
Finally, the procession stopped in front of an area surrounded by walls of metal and rock that soared into the clouds.
This was the Beast Fighting Area, the largest area in the entire Shrek Academy.
Its vastness exceeded the imagination of all the new students.
It was not just an Beast Fighting Arena; it was a self-contained ecosystem.
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