Meanwhile, in the Dean's office.
[Ding!]
[Detected an increase in the child of destiny Huo Yuhao's recognition that Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Qi Luo Tulip × 10!]
[Detected an increase in key figure Wang Dong'er's recognition that Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Special Building — Star Gazing Platform!]
[Detected an increase in key figure Xiao Xiao's recognition that Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Special Student — Xu Xiaoyu (Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, elder brother of Xu Xiaoyan)!]
[Detected an increase in common figure Xi Er's recognition that Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Special Student — Mu Xi (Three-Ring Soul Elder, Rank 3 Blacksmith)!]
...
Outside the virtual training grounds, in the main hall.
As all the students gradually emerged from their virtual pods, those who had been eliminated earlier in that chaotic brawl looked dejected.
Especially the unlucky ones who were blasted into light particles by a single punch from Tang Wulin right at the start; their faces were flushed with shame, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
It was too humiliating!
Twenty-nine against three!
What kind of concept was that?
With a nearly tenfold numerical advantage, it should have been a one-sided encirclement, but instead, it turned into a massacre where they were unilaterally crushed!
"Assemble!"
Wu Changkong coldly spat out those two words.
The crowd dared not delay, quickly lining up in formation.
Wu Changkong held his heavenly frost sword, his gaze sweeping over everyone present like a blade's edge.
"You lost."
Wu Changkong's voice had no trace of emotion.
"Twenty-nine people against three, and you lost miserably."
"According to the rules, today, the losing side will all undergo extra training."
After these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.
No one was defiant; even Wang Dong'er pursed her lips tightly and lowered her proud head.
Facts spoke louder than words; they had indeed lost, and lost quite badly.
Before this battle, many of them had actually felt a bit arrogant.
After all, since coming to this academy, both their physical fitness and Spirit Power had become several times stronger than before.
But... today's battle had knocked them back to reality.
Here, they were still just cannon fodder.
In fact... they didn't even qualify as cannon fodder.
In front of a true monster like Tang Wulin, they were as fragile as a sheet of paper.
"To be honest."
Wu Changkong looked at the silent crowd and spoke again, his tone carrying undisguised disappointment.
"Regarding that battle just now, I am quite disappointed in your performance."
Hearing the words 'quite disappointed,' Huo Yuhao couldn't help but bury his head even lower. If only his Mental Force had been a bit stronger, if only he hadn't suffered the backlash...
Wu Changkong ignored the crowd's emotions and began the post-match review.
His review style was just like the man himself: sharp, direct, and hitting the nail on the head.
"First, let's talk about those who rushed in to throw their lives away at the start."
Wu Changkong's gaze fell on the students who had been instantly killed by Tang Wulin's punch.
"Charging blindly without understanding your opponent's strength is called stupidity."
"I think most of you should still remember Tang Wulin's previous performance. Choosing to face him head-on despite knowing his terrifying strength is called recklessness."
"On the battlefield, people like you are usually the first to die."
Those students turned bright red with shame.
Next, Wu Changkong's gaze turned toward Yang Nianxia.
"Yang Nianxia."
"Present!"
Yang Nianxia jolted and quickly stood up straight.
"Your tactical thinking was correct—feinting in one direction to strike the other, and taking out the backline control system first. There's no problem with that."
Wu Changkong nodded, acknowledging his tactical intelligence, but then changed his tone.
"However, you, or rather your coordination skills, are lacking."
"Yang Nianxia, you launched an attack rashly without knowing what Xu Xiaoyan's Spirit was, and you didn't communicate well with your teammates beforehand. In fact, if you had coordinated with Luo Guixing to have him restrict Tang Wulin first, you would have had a chance to eliminate Xu Xiaoyan. As for Xie Xie, even if he reacted, you could have tanked the damage with your Darkgold Bear's physical constitution."
Xie Xie:???
"Wu Siduo, your Hell White Tiger is indeed powerful, but you rely too much on individual ability and completely ignore the existence of your teammates."
"Huo Yuhao, you used something similar to a Mental Shock against Tang Wulin just now, right? But you suffered a backlash. There's no problem with finding an opportunity to use that move, but as a Spirit-type Soul Master, you must improve your Mental Force."
"..."
Wu Changkong listed their mistakes one by one.
Finally, Wu Changkong made a summary:
"Ultimately..."
"You still lack actual combat experience and teamwork experience."
"From today onwards, this is also an area you need to focus on learning and training."
Everyone nodded one after another, indicating their understanding.
This time, they were completely convinced.
Although Wu Changkong's critique was harsh, every word was a gem that hit the mark, allowing them to clearly recognize their own shortcomings.
Seeing that the crowd was discouraged but not disheartened—instead burning with a raging fighting Spirit—Wu Changkong's cold gaze softened slightly.
"Knowing shame and then finding courage; you're still salvageable."
Then, he dropped a bombshell piece of information.
"To test the results of your upcoming training..."
"The academy has decided that three months after the new students' enrollment, a New Student Grand Competition will be held."
"In other words, in two and a half months, you will participate in your first large-scale formal competition."
"New Student Grand Competition?"
Everyone was stunned, and then a flash of excitement appeared in their eyes.
"This competition isn't just for rankings."
Wu Changkong continued.
"At that time, various teachers from the academy will come to observe."
"If you perform outstandingly in the competition, you will receive extremely generous rewards."
"First, a large amount of Contribution Points."
Hearing 'Contribution Points,' everyone's breathing quickened slightly.
With Contribution Points, they could enter the Spirit Ascension Platform and increase the age of their Spirit Rings!
"Secondly..."
Wu Changkong paused and threw out the second bait:
"The top three teams will have the opportunity to obtain — Spirit Bones. Everyone in the first-place team can obtain a set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones."
Huo Yuhao was completely stunned. The champion team could get a full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones for every member?!
"How is that possible?!"
Skydream Ice Worm in the Sea of Consciousness was also stunned. Directly rewarding full sets of hundred-thousand-year soul bones? In this Douluo Continent, there are forces that could produce a single hundred-thousand-year soul bone, but a set—no, a set for every member of the champion team—how could that be possible?!
Even if they really existed, they couldn't just be put up as prizes for a New Student Grand Competition, right?
Even I, a Million-Year Soul Beast, only provided Huo Yuhao with one soul bone!
Hearing this, all the students basically boiled over with excitement. Not just any soul bones, but hundred-thousand-year soul bones!
However, the crowd soon calmed down. That full set of soul bones was likely already destined for Tang Wulin's team; the rest could only fight for second place.
"One more thing: the teams for this New Student Grand Competition will be formed by drawing lots. The draw will take place in half a month, followed by two months of coordination."
Hearing this, hope surged in everyone's hearts again. They hoped to ride someone's coattails!
These were hundred-thousand-year soul bones, after all; riding someone's coattails wasn't shameful at all.
"Finally, and most importantly."
"Students who perform excellently in this competition might even be noticed by certain observing teachers and be taken in as personal disciples."
Taking disciples?
The crowd was taken aback for a moment.
While being taken as a disciple by a teacher was a good thing, compared to a tangible treasure like a soul bone, the attraction seemed slightly weaker.
After all, they already had two excellent class teachers, Teacher Shen Yi and Wu Changkong.
Seemingly seeing through everyone's thoughts, the corner of Wu Changkong's mouth curled into an arc as he added a sentence.
"By the way."
"In our academy, besides me, Teacher Shen Yi, and a few other grade-level teachers..."
"The rest of the teachers..."
"Are basically..."
"All powerhouses at the Titled Douluo level or above."
Ti... Titled Douluo?!
All of them?!
What kind of concept was a Titled Douluo? They were existences standing at the peak of the continent's pyramid!
Normally, being able to see one would be enough for most people here to brag about for a lifetime.
And in this academy... there were so many?
The crowd was extremely excited, and Huo Yuhao was also looking forward to whether he could gain Mu Ye's recognition through this New Student Grand Competition and truly enter Mu Ye's tutelage. After all, although Mu Ye had trained Huo Yuhao before, it was because Huo Yuhao's physical fitness was so poor that he was very disdainful of it.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.