Furina nodded affirmatively, her tone serious: "Of course, I always keep my word."
"However, just as I agreed with you before, my people will only assist you in capturing the direct enemies from back then."
"As for other unrelated, or even ordinary members of the Iron Blood Sect, I will not interfere, and will even instruct my subordinates to spare them."
"How exactly you take your revenge is up to you to decide, but remember, do not let hatred blind you and lead you to do something too extreme."
Tang Ya took a deep breath, trying hard to calm her agitated emotions, and nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, I understand."
"I have waited for so many years, I can wait this last little while."
"I know what to do."
Jiang Nannan, who was on the side, chimed in at the right moment and asked with concern: "By the way, how are your preparations for the New Student Assessment going? Are you confident?"
Wang Dong immediately straightened his back, patted his chest, and said with full confidence: "Of course I'm confident! Senior Sister Jiang, are you questioning our strength? We are very strong!"
Bei Bei set down his teacup and analyzed with a smile: "Your talents are indeed outstanding among the new students."
"However, as far as I know, among this year's new students, besides Furina and Yuhao, there are a few students who have already reached the three-ring Spirit Master level, and their strength cannot be underestimated."
"Among them is one who is said to be a descendant of the Star Luo Empire's White Tiger Dukes Mansion, named Dai Huabin."
"Not only is he powerful himself, but it is said that he can also perform a formidable Martial Soul Fusion Skill with his teammates."
"The team he is on is likely to be your strongest opponent on the road to winning the championship."
The moment the name Dai Huabin was mentioned, Huo Yuhao's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, his hand under the table instantly clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white.
It was him! That half-brother who had bullied him and his mother since childhood and with whom he had a blood feud.
He roared silently in his heart: "Dai Huabin... what a small world, I didn't expect you to be at Shrek too."
"Very well, let's settle all our new and old grudges together on this competition field!"
"You want to take first place? I will personally drag you down from that position, as long as... you are lucky enough to encounter me."
Cold killing intent and burning fighting spirit flashed across his eyes and then vanished.
Furina took in Huo Yuhao's reaction, understanding clearly in her heart, but she did not point it out.
This hatred, this obsession that needed to be resolved by his own hands, should be faced and solved by Huo Yuhao himself.
If she encountered Dai Huabin early in the competition, she wouldn't mind helping to teach him a lesson first, then "generously" admitting defeat, and then "kindly" offering a restoration cake to ensure he could meet Huo Yuhao in "perfect" condition.
Her goal was clear: to clear obstacles for Huo Yuhao as much as possible and ensure they could meet on the competition field.
Tang Ya asked curiously: "By the way, how are you grouped? I heard that this year's New Student Assessment is still the traditional three-person team competition format."
"Although it is like this most years, a singles format rarely appears."
Huo Yuhao gathered his thoughts and replied: "Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and I are in a team."
"Sister Furina... she chose to participate in the competition alone."
"Alone?" Jiang Nannan heard this, and her beautiful face showed obvious worry, "Furina, is it really okay to be alone in a team competition?"
"And the competition explicitly forbids the use of spirit tools."
"After all, you are a support system Spirit Master; won't it be too difficult to fight alone?"
Furina gave her a reassuring look, her tone relaxed but full of confidence: "Don't worry, Nannan, I know what I'm doing."
"The rules only forbid the use of spirit tools; they don't say you can't use other things, for example... certain traditional equipment, or my other little treasures."
She winked playfully, speaking in riddles.
Those present who knew her background understood immediately.
Furina possessed the powerful Second Martial Soul "Salon Solitaire", and even without attached spirit rings, she could still unleash powerful water-type skills, not to mention her own Soul Power foundation of level fifty-two; dealing with a Spirit Emperor might be a breeze for her, let alone new students who were at most three-ringers.
"Her so-called 'alone' was likely the truly unfair part for everyone else."
Bei Bei also added with a smile: "Actually, taking a step back, even if Furina didn't perform as expected in the assessment due to rule restrictions or lack of team members, the academy would never give up on a Genius like her."
"To be honest, even if she decided to drop out one day for some reason, I estimate the academy's top management would have to hug her legs and beg her to stay."
Furina was amused and waved her hand: "I think so too."
"However, as for how it will actually go, let's just see my performance on the field when the time comes."
"Don't worry, I definitely won't let everyone down."
Bei Bei nodded in agreement.
During the conversation, the restaurant owner personally brought over several employees, carrying plates of fragrant, steaming hot dishes.
"Come, come, future pillars of the Spirit Master world, the dishes are all served, eat while it's hot!"
"I heard you are about to participate in the New Student Assessment, so this old man will substitute tea for wine to wish you all immediate success and that you all advance smoothly!"
The owner said with a big smile, his eyes full of the expectations that a senior has for the younger generation.
"Thank you, boss!" Everyone thanked him in unison, and a warm, fighting-spirit-filled atmosphere spread across the dining table.
With delicious food in front of them, the topic was temporarily shelved, and the boys and girls picked up their cutlery to start enjoying this pre-exam dinner, accumulating energy for the upcoming challenges.
The sunlight from outside the window slanted in, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them, as if foreshadowing their more closely connected fates in the future.
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