The next day.
When Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Tang Ya arrived at the classroom, their classmates were already gathered in groups of three, chatting excitedly. Clearly, everyone had been assigned to their teams and was getting to know their teammates better.
Team battles weren't just about personal strength—they were about coordination, and the most important part of teamwork was mutual understanding and trust.
"Shouldn't we get to know each other's abilities too?" Tang Ya said, though her eyes were clearly focused on Zhu Ziyang. "I've known you guys for a while now, but I still don't know your martial souls or soul skills!"
She already knew all about Jiang Nannan's martial soul—Soft-Boned Rabbit—which, given its ties to the Blue Silver Grass, made Tang Ya feel like they were destined to be best friends.
So clearly, her question was aimed at Zhu Ziyang. Since he had only fought once since joining Shrek Academy—and even that time, he won without revealing his martial soul—no one, not even Tang Ya, knew what it was. Only Jiang Nannan did.
"Sure," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, seeing Tang Ya's determined expression. "My martial soul is a scythe. My first soul skill is an offensive move that unleashes a blade wave, hitting targets up to ten meters away. My second is an enhancement skill that increases my strength and martial soul traits. The third is also offensive, about one to two times stronger than the first."
"Wait… that's it? You're just going to say it like that?" Tang Ya blinked in disbelief.
"What else? You want me to release my martial soul and show my soul skills here in the classroom?" Zhu Ziyang replied with a deadpan look.
"Oh… right, we're in class!" Tang Ya scratched her head awkwardly and laughed.
"We can find somewhere to practice later. No rush," Jiang Nannan suggested.
"Okay!" Tang Ya nodded.
Soon, Xia Yu entered the room.
"I've submitted your names. The assessment starts this afternoon," he announced coldly. "In the point ranking phase, your opponents may include students from other classes—or even your own classmates. But don't hold back just because they're familiar. Just don't kill each other—but fight like you mean to! Got it?!"
His final sentence was brimming with killing intent. He wasn't actually encouraging brutality—just emphasizing the seriousness of the competition.
"Got it!" the whole class shouted in unison. After surviving three months of combat training, they weren't afraid of a fight.
It's just battle, right? Let's go!
"Good. I like that spirit!" Xia Yu nodded in satisfaction. "Gather at the assessment grounds this afternoon. Class dismissed!"
—
"Great! Let's go find a place to practice!" Tang Ya stood up and looked at Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan.
"Let's do it!" the two nodded.
Shrek Academy had no shortage of forests. The trio quickly found a flat clearing among the trees.
"Nothing strengthens teamwork like real combat," said Zhu Ziyang. "Nannan, you and Xiao Ya team up—let's have a mock battle."
"Oh yeah! I've been waiting to beat you up!" Tang Ya shouted before Jiang Nannan could reply. "Nannan, don't switch sides!"
"Alright…" Jiang Nannan agreed, though reluctantly.
"Good. Just wait, Zhu Ziyang, we're making a plan first." Tang Ya pulled Jiang Nannan aside to strategize.
"Be my guest," Zhu Ziyang replied with a confident smile.
"Okay, I'll control, and you attack," Tang Ya whispered. "You know my soul skills, and I've got secret Tang Sect weapons too. So don't worry about me. Once I trap him, hit him with your second soul skill. We're both Grandmasters—Zhu Ziyang won't know what hit him!"
"Nannan, actually…" Jiang Nannan tried to speak, but Tang Ya was too excited to listen.
"We're ready!" she declared, dragging Jiang Nannan over. "Let's begin!"
"Alright then," Zhu Ziyang said, his smile calming but focused.
They stood 50 meters apart. At a signal, all three turned—the battle began.
Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya both released their martial souls. Four yellow soul rings glowed in the clearing.
Zhu Ziyang summoned his Scythe of Life and Death, a golden war scythe. No soul rings appeared—it looked like a normal weapon. He was deliberately suppressing his aura. This was the first time he had released his martial soul at Shrek Academy in front of others.
"That's it?" Tang Ya asked, disappointed. "Doesn't look like anything special… and where are your soul rings?"
"Heh." Zhu Ziyang simply smiled. "No rush."
The fight began.
Jiang Nannan's first ring and Tang Ya's second ring lit up. Jiang Nannan's body flickered, and a vine wrapped around her waist.
"Nannan, go!" Tang Ya shouted as she rushed forward. Her hands flashed, launching flying darts with tricky angles. Jiang Nannan dashed forward too.
"So these are Tang Sect hidden weapons?" Zhu Ziyang's eyes gleamed. He stepped forward, scythe in hand, easily dodging the first two darts and spinning his weapon to deflect the rest.
"So fast!" Tang Ya was shocked. She hadn't expected a Power Attack-type Soul Master like Zhu Ziyang to move almost as quickly as Jiang Nannan. She threw more darts—eight or nine—but couldn't stop his advance. Within three seconds, he was in front of her.
Panicking, she threw everything she had—knives, darts, anything to slow him down. Zhu Ziyang's spinning scythe created a defensive shield, deflecting everything.
She shouted "Damn it!" and activated her first soul skill—a 2-meter-wide net of Blue Silver Grass launched at him.
Blue Silver Net!
Zhu Ziyang smiled and slashed it in half easily.
But then—surprise! One half of the net wrapped around his scythe, while the other half snared his arm, locking him in place.
He raised an eyebrow. What the—? It still works after being cut? Could the Tianxing Vine have enhanced her Blue Silver Grass that much?
"Haha! Nannan, now's your turn!" Tang Ya cheered. "Didn't see that coming, did you? My first skill evolved! Not only is the grass tougher, but I can control every strand! Looks like you're finally struggling without your soul skills!"
Jiang Nannan rushed in, preparing to strike.
Zhu Ziyang's expression turned serious. The scythe glowed—one yellow and two purple rings rose behind him. It was the first time he had revealed his soul rings at the academy.
Tang Ya was stunned.
"Wh-What…" she stared at the two brilliant purple rings. Then one lit up.
"Second Soul Skill: Light's Blessing!" Zhu Ziyang declared. The scythe blazed with light.
Light's Blessing—when the Radiant Scythe evolved into the Scythe of Life and Death, the skill was upgraded too:
Strength +150%
Sharpness +150%
Light attribute +100%
He made a few quick slashes—the Blue Silver Grass binding him was instantly shredded.
Jiang Nannan was already upon him.
Knowing how dangerous her second soul skill was, Zhu Ziyang quickly stepped back, barely avoiding her attack. Without contact, her skill's suppression effect failed.
Jiang Nannan lunged again. Zhu Ziyang changed grip—one hand on the blade ring, the other on the handle—and charged at her.
But it was a feint. Just as Jiang Nannan was about to grab him, he spun and redirected his scythe straight at Tang Ya behind her.
It happened in a blink. Before either girl could react, the blade was at Tang Ya's neck.
"Match over," Zhu Ziyang said calmly. With the control-type out, Nannan alone wasn't a threat.
"Ugh, so annoying!" Tang Ya pouted, frustrated. "Zhu Ziyang, are you a monster? Your second ring is thousand-year already?!"
The sparring ended. Jiang Nannan retracted her martial soul and walked over, smiling wryly. "I tried to warn you."
"Ughhh!" Tang Ya groaned, then suddenly grinned. "At least you're on my team! I think we're guaranteed to win this assessment! Hehe!"
"Obviously," Zhu Ziyang replied with a confident smile.
"Yep! We're taking the championship!" Jiang Nannan added.
The three exchanged a determined smile, their spirits high for the afternoon's assessment.
"But seriously, we need to talk about our battle strategy," Zhu Ziyang said sternly. "What you two did just now was terrible. You're a Control-type and Agility-type Soul Master. Against someone like me, you should've used hit-and-run tactics—not tried to fight me head-on!"
Tang Ya's cheerful face fell. "Yes, yes, I get it, Class Rep. From now on, you're in charge of tactics!"
Jiang Nannan playfully stuck out her tongue. "Oops. Got it!"