"Now then, the rules of the Freshman Assessment," Xia Yu continued.
"The Freshman Assessment is, without a doubt, a full-grade evaluation. Our class will have 27 teams, and with the other freshmen teams combined, the total number of participating teams will be exactly 200.
The assessment is divided into two phases. The first phase is a ranking point battle. Each team will fight in ten randomly drawn matches. A win earns one point, and a loss earns none. After all rounds are completed, the 100 teams with the lowest point totals will be eliminated!" Xia Yu's voice was cold. "I know not all 81 of you will make it through… but I still hope you'll give it everything you've got—for your own future!"
The pressure on the students instantly intensified.
"The second phase is a knockout tournament. The top 64 teams from the ranking phase will proceed to this round. The top four teams will receive rewards from the academy. The exact prizes will vary based on ranking, but no doubt—the champion will receive the best reward." Xia Yu's expression showed a trace of nostalgia. "Back in my own assessment, I finished in second place. I hope one of you will take the championship this time!"
As he said that, his gaze landed on Zhu Ziyang. Based on the information he had, there was no doubt in his mind—Zhu Ziyang would take the title. After all, how could a Soul Elder lose to a bunch of Soul Masters and Grandmasters?
"Also," Xia Yu added, "I want to remind the top-performing students to show your abilities in the assessment. This will influence the selection of Outer Court Core Disciples! What is a Core Disciple? You'll find out once you're chosen."
"Now, here are the team assignments."
"Team 1: Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya."
"Team 2: Lin Ziwei, Li Yue, Luo Minmin."
"… …"
"Team 27: Yan Ziyue, Luo Luo, Shangguan Jie."
As Xia Yu read the names, chatter filled the room.
"Awesome! Nannan, Zhu Ziyang—we're on the same team!" Tang Ya beamed, grabbing Jiang Nannan's hand.
"Mm-hmm! That's great," Jiang Nannan smiled as she held Tang Ya's hand.
"I'm a Power Attack-type Soul Master, Nannan is Agility Attack-type, and Tang Ya, you're Control-type. You two are roommates, and I don't have one. So it makes sense for us to be grouped together," Zhu Ziyang said matter-of-factly.
Soon, Xia Yu finished reading all the teams.
"That's the team arrangement. If anyone has objections, speak to me right after class. Once I submit the list tomorrow, there'll be no changing it. If there are no objections, then start preparing. The Freshman Assessment starts tomorrow!"
After class.
Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Tang Ya met up with Yu Beibei and headed toward the cafeteria.
"Beibei, did your class advisor tell you about the assessment yet?" Tang Ya asked.
"Yeah," Beibei nodded. "I'm teamed with Xu Sanshi and another girl. What about you?"
Xu Sanshi was Beibei's roommate.
"Hehe, I'm with Nannan and Zhu Ziyang!" Tang Ya replied proudly. "Ours is a combo of one Soul Elder and two Grandmasters. You better hope you don't get matched with us!"
"Oh? That's great!" Beibei laughed, teasing her. "I was a little worried you'd be too weak to pass."
"Wha—Yu Beibei, what's that supposed to mean?! I'm the leader of the Tang Sect, you know. I'm not weak!" Tang Ya puffed up angrily, her fists pounding on Beibei like raindrops.
He laughed and caught her hands.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan had seen this kind of bickering many times and ignored them, walking hand in hand ahead of the two.
"Brother, after the assessment, won't we be separated into different classes?" Jiang Nannan asked, worried.
"Don't worry," Zhu Ziyang gently squeezed her hand. "I asked Brother Yu—he said if we win the Freshman Championship, we can stay in the same class."
"Really?!" Her face lit up. "That's amazing! With your strength, plus me and Xiao Ya, we're definitely winning!"
"Yeah," Zhu Ziyang nodded with a smile.
Over the past two months, he had been far from idle—training, reading, refining pills. His schedule was full.
He didn't make any more Juyuan Pills, since the initial batch of 100 sold to the Liuyun Guild and 20 sent to his family still left him with 17—more than enough for him and Jiang Nannan. Instead, he found a new formula in the library: the Tiling Pill.
The Tiling Pill is a mid-grade pill that enhances a Soul Master's physique, improves their aptitude, and even boosts soul power slightly.
But it was extremely hard to refine—among mid-grade pills, it ranked among the most difficult. For Zhu Ziyang, who had only ever refined Juyuan Pills, it was hellishly difficult. After spending hundreds of thousands of gold soul coins on ingredients, he finally succeeded in producing three pills.
He took one himself, gave another to Jiang Nannan, and sold the third to the Liuyun Guild for 600,000 gold soul coins—just enough to cover the 500,000 gold soul coins he'd wasted during the process.
Thanks to both the Juyuan and Tiling Pills, Zhu Ziyang's soul power had already reached level 36, and he was close to reaching 37. That meant he had gained nearly two levels in just two months—an extremely rare feat.
Jiang Nannan had similar results. Two months ago, she was at level 26, and now she had reached level 27. According to Xia Yu, she ranked in the top five among all freshmen in terms of soul power.
But her true improvement wasn't just her soul power—it was her combat ability. In fifteen rounds of practical combat classes over three months, Jiang Nannan was the only student with a perfect record. She had evolved from relying solely on soul skills to winning with tactical skill and technique.
Compared to Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya was more average. Though she had corrected her soul ring path in time, the limited potential of her Blue Silver Grass held her back. Despite her efforts, she had only just reached the peak of level 22.
She always smiled and laughed, but Zhu Ziyang could sense the pressure she felt deep down.