"Pride will make you less skilled. Be a bit more low-key " said Huo Yuhao.
Wang Dong snorted, "Do you think it would be possible to be low-key with my battle spirit?"
"Hmm…" That's right! His Bright Goddess Butterfly always shocks the audience, no matter when it appears. Being low-key would be impossible.
They spent the rest of the night in silent cultivation. The next morning, they went to the academic building together after eating breakfast. Stepping into the classroom, they felt an aura of eagerness.
After being split into different groups by Zhou Yi, everyone was chatting in groups of three.
Xiao Xiao arrived earlier and was waiting. Seeing them enter, she waved.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong walked over. Xiao Xiao said, "The examination will begin in the afternoon. We should plan some battle tactics."
Wang Dong said loudly, "There is no need to plan. We can just fight through."
Xiao Xiao lightly shook her head. "It won't be that easy. I heard every class has an exceptional team, made of the best students so that they may win the championship. They won't be easy to deal with. We need to cooperate well in order have a chance."
Wang Dong wanted to say more but was stopped by Huo Yuhao. "Wang Dong, have a good attitude or I will ask Teacher Zhou to switch teams."
It may be that Xiao Xiao was still bitter about Wang Dong's rejection but she immediately said, "That's right. Overconfidence is arrogance."
Wang Dong snorted but didn't say more.
Huo Yuhao put a hand on his shoulder, "Okay, don't be mad. If we cooperate well, wouldn't it be easier to win against our opponents in battle? We should first talk about our abilities."
Even though everyone had been together for three months, they all cultivated alone so people didn't know much about others' battle spirits.
Huo Yuhao said, "Let me begin. I have a mental attribute battle spirit and can use Mental Detection and Sharing, which allows you to see any movement in great detail within a 70 meter diameter. It can help you predict how people will react as well."
Wang Dong said, "I am a offense type spirit master who can attack from a distance and I can fly." Even though he was arrogant, he does have some things to back it up. No matter cultivation, battle spirit or abilities, he was above those of his peers. Just possessing a thousand year second spirit ring is something that no one else in the academy has.
Xiao Xiao nodded, "My main battle spirit is the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron. It can both attack and defend and possesses the power to control the field. It can deter people by ramming against them. Once hit, the enemy will become dazed and get damaged. My second battle spirit is a flute, the Nine Phoenix Flute, which specializes in support and control. Right now, my second battle spirit only has a hundred year spirit ring that can reduce the enemy's speed."
Wang Dong asked, "Your supporting battle spirit doesn't boost our abilities?"
Xiao Xiao laughed with some pride, "No. Sometimes, reducing the enemy is better than helping oneself. You will know when it happens. But, I won't use my second battle spirit easily. We need to hide some of our strength."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong both realized that Xiao Xiao might be much stronger than they had imagined.
What they didn't know was the shocking double control Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao can exhibit when cooperating.
"Pong, pong, pong." Three knocks sounded. Right after, the entire class became silent.
Zhou Yi stood at the entrance to the classroom and just lowered her right hand. What they heard was her knocking on the classroom door.
She slowly walked to the podium, carrying an icy expression, "I have reported the groups participating in the competition. It will begin this afternoon. In the first 10 round robin battles, you guys will not encounter each other; only students from other classes. I have only one rule for you guys. If anyone gets in the way of you passing the examination, then beat his ass. Okay, you are dismissed. We will regroup this afternoon at the examination area." Right after, this old woman turned and left.
Wang Dong said to Huo Yuhao in a low voice, "Don't you think this old woman is becoming too cool."
Huo Yuhao gave him a look, "That isn't being cool. It's being tyrannical."
Xiao Xiao walked over from the side and laughed, "That is Teacher Zhou having a strong presence. Let's go. We should find a place to practice a little or how would we cooperate in the afternoon?"
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement before Wang Dong could open his mouth, "Student Wang Dong, if you want to eat roast fish in the future, then I ask that you listen to the class president for the duration of the examination. Do you agree?"
"Mmm…" Wang Dong saw Huo Yuhao's stable gaze and said with grievances, "Huo Yuhao, you're taking advantage of me."
Huo Yuhao said wisely, "You can choose not to eat."
Wang Dong paused a moment but still gave in, "I'll endure and listen to you. But, I want you to do all the cleaning in our room from now on."
Huo Yuhao said with contempt, "You cleaned in the last three months?"
"This…." Wang Dong couldn't think of anything to say, "You're ruthless."
Xiao Xiao seemed to have fallen completely to Huo Yuhao's side. She laughed and said, "Laziness is a sin."
Wang Dong suddenly gave a retort that made Xiao Xiao's face red, "Xiao Xiao, you change your love so fast!"
"You—-" Xiao Xiao pointed at Wang Dong with a face full of anger and hints of frustration.
"Okay, okay. Didn't we say we will practice? Let's go. I think we should go outside of the academy. There are a few forest areas where we won't be interrupted."
Wang Dong stuck out his tongue at Xiao Xiao then turned and ran. Huo Yuhao comforted Xiao Xiao until she became happy again. The two caught up to Wang Dong and they followed the Lakeside Trail out of the academy.
Finding a quiet place outside of Shrek Academy is very easy. Even though there are a lot of large roads, many plants surrounded them. Some are natural while others are planted.
The three of them found a relatively empty space in the middle of a forest. Wang Dong asked, "How will we practice? Should we each use our spirit abilities once?"
Xiao Xiao immediately responded, "What fun is that? Practice is best when there are opponents. Since you are an offense type spirit master, you can be on one side and class president and I can be on the other. We can have a battle."
"You two fight against me?" Wang Dong raised his right hand and waved his finger. "You guys are not good enough. You won't even have a chance!"
Xiao Xiao gave a sharp, icy smile, "How will we know if we don't try it? However, you are an attack type Spirit Master, so we can't start fighting with you next to us. Let's draw out some distance; around thirty meters."
Huo Yuhao was watching the two of them argue and discovered Xiao Xiao's intelligence. His Mental Detection and Sharing has a diameter of fifty meters. Xiao Xiao made Wang Dong move back thirty meters away so that the moment he moves, he would be within Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection and Sharing.
Wang Dong agreed without hesitation.
Xiao Xiao also said, "You can fly, while we can't. Since we are practicing, don't fly away if you lose."
Wang Dong casually said, "Then I won't fly more than five meters off the ground. That's enough. I'm going over. You can say when we begin." As he said this, he was already leaving.
Xiao Xiao immediately turned toward Huo Yuhao, "Class President, lets fly the kite. You can just use your Mental Detection and Sharing ability to help me. Let us give that arrogant guy a loss."
If this was before coming to Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao wouldn't even know what she meant by flying the kite. But now he knows that flying the kite is a tactic to be flexible with attacks or retreats.
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Okay, I will cooperate with you." He also wanted to see how powerful Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong really are. Even after three months, he still hadn't seen Wang Dong seriously fight using his Battle Spirit. But, he was clear about how even though Wang Dong was prideful, it was really just confidence, not arrogance. His self-confidence comes from his real power.
The two sides quickly separated. Wang Dong lazily leaned against a big tree, watching Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, thirty meters away. He gestured to them, showing that he was ready.
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao stood shoulder to shoulder. Her stature was small and she was the shortest in the class, with the nickname, Pocket Beauty. She turned her head toward Huo Yuhao and nodded, "Class President, help me."
"Okay."
Xiao Xiao then turned toward Wang Dong and shouted, "Begin." She immediately released her Battle Spirit.
Two yellow rings flashed and suddenly rose from her feet. She was an above level twenty Spirit Grandmaster. It made Huo Yuhao, standing beside her, secretly ashamed.
Even though the two rings rose from her feet, there wasn't any change on her body. Just a black shadow condensing above her head. That shadow was a three-legged, two eared cauldron, around a meter in diameter. It was Xiao Xiao's main Battle Spirit, the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron.
Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection and Sharing activated at the same time. A white ring rose from his feet. Xiao Xiao secretly thought, *No wonder the class president trains so hard. His talent is really lacking!*
However, Xiao Xiao was shocked as Mental Detection and Sharing gave her a wondrous scene.
With their bodies as the center, everything within a range of 70 meters in diameter suddenly appeared in her mind as three-dimensional images. She didn't even need to think about it as different strands of information rapidly appeared in her mind. Even every little bit of vegetation was clearly there. Other than a three-dimensional map appearing, there also seemed to be an extra brain, helping her think.
Xiao Xiao, shocked, glanced at Huo Yuhao while Wang Dong had already started moving.
Wang Dong appeared to be looking down on Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, but he wasn't careless at all. He had experienced Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection and Sharing and knew its powerful ability to predict the enemy's movements.
Dazzling blue wings suddenly opened from his back. Wang Dong's body was also covered by a layer of wondrous, blue-purple glow. Rings of golden light appeared on his two humongous wings and formed a V-shape. Two rings, one yellow, one purple, rose. The Bright Goddess Butterfly had been released.
With a flash, Wang Dong charged forward. Spirit Power shot out of the two golden rings on his wings and increased his speed even more.
This wasn't a spirit ability, but his Bright Goddess Butterfly's innate ability. Just from this, one can see how powerful this Battle Spirit is.
The suddenly accelerating Wang Dong had charged forward more than ten meters in an instant, and was about to reach Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao. It's easy to predict that if an attack type Spirit Master reaches two control type Spirit Masters without them having the ability for a close-ranged fight, then the outcome would be set in stone.
Just as Wang Dong charged to within twenty-five meters of Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, his movement data suddenly appeared in Xiao Xiao's mind. It included his direction, his body's changes, his Battle Spirit's changes and even the status of his circulating Spirit Power.
Xiao Xiao didn't look flustered at all. She was still pleasantly surprised by Huo Yuhao's spirit ability from a ten-year, white spirit ring. As she watched Wang Dong come closer, she finally took action.
Her right hand pointed toward Wang Dong and the huge one-meter-long cauldron instantly charged in the same direction. It did not directly collide against Wang Dong, but stood in the path he must take. Also, she only used her Tool Spirit's innate ability and did not activate any spirit abilities.
What made Wang Dong feel uncomfortable was that big, black cauldron's position. It was in his way. Without doubt, this was because of Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection and Sharing. Xiao Xiao would never have been able to determine his path this accurately with only her own eyes and Spirit Power.
Helplessly, Wang Dong could only lower his left wing and tilt his body in the air to change his path. But that big, black cauldron moved and blocked in front of him again.
Xiao Xiao subconsciously turned her head to peek at Huo Yuhao. With Mental Detection and Sharing, she didn't even need to use her eyes to look at Wang Dong. She only had to follow Huo Yuhao's ability's predictions to direct her attacks. This was the easiest situation.
Wang Dong would not accept defeat, he flapped his wings in mid air and accelerated his speed several times. However, Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection was able to sense even when he rubs his Spirit Power and can always detect his moves beforehand. For Wang Dong to dodge Xiao Xiao's cauldron is almost impossible.
Wang Dong was annoyed and said, "Huo Yuhao, are you still a human being? Fine, since I can't escape, I will just force through it then."
As Wang Dong was talking, the first spirit ring brightened. Gold lights sparkled in Huo Yuhao's eyes. With Mental Detection, he can clearly feel the exploding Spirit Power within Wang Dong's body that was sent towards his front wings. His back wings are now completely open to keep his body in balance.
The color of his front wings completely changed into azure, while the golden rings above him emitted a golden light that spread outwards. Instantly, the edges of the front wings formed a circle one meter wide and lined with golden light. The edges were extremely sharp.
Xiao Xiao's complexion changed a bit. Through Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection and Sharing, she was able to clearly sense that with the addition of Wang Dong's spirit ability, the pair of wings now possessed an astonishing destructive strength.
Wang Dong simultaneously raised both hands and grabbed the interior of the respective front wings. Suddenly, the front wings on both sides of his body unfolded, conforming to the edge of golden light like two large guillotine blades. He abruptly threw his right wing towards the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron to slice it. Just as he said, if being flexible won't do, then use force.
However, he was still underestimating the cooperative dual control of Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao. The Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron didn't straightforwardly resist. Rather, it quickly retreated two meters, just in time to get out of the way of his right wing's beheading strike. Afterwards, it quickly moved forward again to collide against the flat surface of his wing.
A large explosive sound rang out and Wang Dong's body flew more than ten meters away. Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron was still stably floating in the air.
Wang Dong was annoyed! His strength was absolutely above Xiao Xiao's, but facing Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao's cooperation, he couldn't exert his real powers. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. This time, he wouldn't advance, but retreat. With a flash, he moved twenty-five meters away from Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, naturally leaving Mental Detection's range.
"Hehe, Huo Yuhao, I wonder how you're going to detect my movements this time? Big bro has a long-range attack." While talking, his second spirit ring already started shining.
Huo Yuhao faintly smiled and said, "Did you forget that I can adjust the direction of my Mental Detection? Right now, I can detect about 150 meters. If you're sure that your attack can surpass a distance of one hundred meters and is also capable of locking onto us, then let's try it. Also, when your long-range attack enters the range of my Mental Detection, I will still have time to help Xiao Xiao resist it. Unless your power is enough to break Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron. Furthermore, don't forget, Xiao Xiao still hasn't used her second Battle Spirit."
Wang Dong blanked. Right! Even though his second spirit ability is of the thousand-year level, with a shocking force, if it extends past a hundred meters, its power will still be significantly lowered. And also, it's true that Huo Yuhao will have enough time to help Xiao Xiao resist. But, he wouldn't admit he lost, "My long-range attack is also a large area attack. It won't matter even if you can detect it."
Xiao Xiao laughed, "Wang Dong, don't be so pleased. Don't forget, I still haven't used my two spirit abilities. Do you know what my Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron's spirit abilities are? Honestly, you might not win against me even if this was one versus one. Even if the power of your long-ranged attack is not common, I only need to give myself and Class President enough time to dodge. Watch and see."
She once again pointed at the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron with her right hand. In a moment, the cauldron slightly shook and divided into three parts. It instantly separated above their heads. At the same time, Xiao Xiao's first spirit ring shone.
There was a sudden explosive sound in the sky. All the air above their heads with in a dozen square meters shook under the shock.
The three cauldrons reunited and suddenly fell next to Xiao Xiao.
This time, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's expressions changed together. Such a powerful Battle Spirit. The separation into three was the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron's innate ability. The last shock was the attack. Through Mental Detection, Huo Yuhao could clearly feel the fearsome shockwave.
Wang Dong's expression quickly returned to normal, "Not fighting anymore. I can't deal with you two teaming up. However, Xiao Xiao, you will know in the future that you are definitely not my rival in a one-versus-one battle. But, for people of the same cultivation stage, whoever has help from Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection will definitely win. His skill doesn't let anyone survive. Unless your cultivation is powerful enough to completely suppress the opponent, it's inevitable to be at a disadvantage from the start."
Although Xiao Xiao wasn't satisfied with Wang Dong saying he could win against her one-versus-one, she did accept what he said after. She nodded her head and said, "That's right! With the class president's Mental Detection, I would only need to use simple abilities to win in a battle. Class President, your ability is truly very powerful. It feels wonderful to cooperate with you. I originally looked down on your ten-year spirit ring. I'm sorry!" She is a straightforward little girl. What she thinks in her heart is what she says out loud. Her nature of not dragging her feet immediately won Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's favor.
Huo Yuhao extended his right hand toward Xiao Xiao. She sweetly smiled back and put her hand above his. Wang Dong walked over and put his right hand over theirs as well.
Huo Yuhao declared, "From now on, we are partners in a group. We will be the champions in the Freshman Examination."
"We will be champions." The three yelled at the same time. Their relationship also improved. The happiest was Xiao Xiao. She could finally feel herself be truly accepted by Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. Between Spirit Masters, talking with strength is always the easiest, most direct, and most effective method.
Shrek Academy's Examination Area is located north of the Battle Spirit Department and near the Battle Spirit Arena. Compared to the Battle Spirit Arena, the Examination Area is much larger. For Shrek students in the outer school, this is an area for excelling students to show off their potential, but is also a nightmare for those with lower cultivations. Every year, there would be large numbers of students who are expelled because they couldn't pass the examination. Most of the examinations were carried out in this Examination Area.
Even though the Examination Area has an oval shape, it is different from the Battle Spirit Arena which looks like a walled off practice field. It is an empty field. There is a circle of short walls surrounding the area and the inner part is divided into different districts by clapboards. These clapboards can be altered at any time to change the size of each district.
Over the years, the Freshman Examination was when the Examination Area was divided the most. Not only is it because there were a lot of students, but it is also because their destructive force and attacking distance are limited. They didn't need a large area to show off their abilities.
The entire Examination Area is around twenty thousand square meters. It was divided into fifty districts right now, with each district spanning around four hundred square meters and twenty meters in length on each side. For common students with only one or two spirit rings, this was more than enough.
After the morning's stressful group assignments, the examination begins in the afternoon. Since this was the first day, in order to let new students adjust, each group only needs to undergo one battle before leaving. The academy sent out fifty teachers to the fifty districts to register the examinations. Today's examination opponents had already been determined by the lottery carried out at noon. Efforts were made to ensure that groups from the same class would not encounter each other in the next ten rounds.
Other than class one, which only had twenty-two groups, most classes had more than thirty groups. Unless there were students who performed very badly, most freshman teachers don't expel students lightly, in order to give them a chance at the examination.
In the end, there were three hundred and ten groups participating in the Freshman Examination, with a total of nine hundred thirty people. In these hundreds of groups of students, only the last one hundred fifty groups may remain to officially become first-year students and continue studying. Everyone else will be expelled.
At Shrek Academy, there's no doubt that competition is fierce and cruel. However, it is also because of this that, while under a tense atmosphere, the students can be made to work even harder and further stimulate their potential, thereby creating Shrek Academy's long-lasting superiority.
The Freshman Examinations were conducted in fifty districts. Each was assigned either six or seven participating student teams. Not only today, but, they will be assigned to the same district against the other competing teams tomorrow. After all the teams encounter each other, they will once more be divided into new groups; until ultimately, each and every team will have fought ten matches.
Huo Yuhao's trio were assigned to the thirtieth district. After the trio ate lunch together, they returned to their dorms to meditate for a while before joining again. The different districts were very easy to find because every district had clear labels. Very quickly, they found the district that they were assigned to.
There were also participating teams from other classes who had already arrived. It appeared that some of them were apprehensive while others were eager to begin. Everyone was either eleven or twelve years old and their minds simply couldn't conceal their thoughts. When it was time to face one another, the hostility they were exuding was extremely clear. After all, among them, it was very likely that only half of them would remain. Although the examination had more than ten matches, every match was crucial towards their future.
"Attention all freshman, attention all freshman, please immediately enter your examination district and prepare to take part in the Freshman Examination. You have the next ten minutes to enter your examination districts. Any late arrivals will be treated as having forfeited their right to participate in the examination."
The sound of the loud broadcast echoed throughout the entire outer school. The sound was sufficient enough to spread to every corner of the outer school. The faces of all the freshman became serious. Their first examination was about to start and it would be a lie if they said that they weren't nervous.
Huo Yuhao unconsciously clenched his fists and occasionally he would stroke his Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges. The examination forbids the usage of spirit guide devices, but hidden weapons were merely ordinary weapons. Generally speaking, very rarely do Spirit Masters use weapons, unless it's spirit guide devices. As a disciple of the Tang Clan, Huo Yuhao was an exception.
Wang Dong placed his left hand on top of Huo Yuhao's shoulder and said, "Don't be so tense. It's only a small matter."
This time, Xiao Xiao didn't say that Wang Dong was arrogant, but, instead, also faced towards Huo Yuhao and nodded her head. Although Wang Dong didn't display his strength, she could still see that his resolute speech meant his cultivation was not lower than her own. Adding on to the class president's miraculous Mental Detection ability, there were very few people who were their match within the same grade.
Huo Yuhao whispered, "We are champions."
Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong simultaneously nodded at him and then the trio's palms once more overlapped each other's. Although they were young, they all knew that even though passing the examination may not be hard, becoming the final champions requires unity. So even the proud Wang Dong had restrained his pride.
The Freshman Examination was of the utmost importance so the academy's broadcast reminder using a spirit guide device had very little effect. All of the students had long since arrived at their designated districts to prepare.
A teacher who looked about forty years old arrived at the thirtieth district. His appearance was very ordinary and he also lacked an imposing manner. His face was full of smiles and he definitely had an amiable personality. When compared with Zhou Yi, they were as different as heaven and earth. After he counted the number of people, he smiled and said, "Very good, our side has altogether six student teams undergoing the examination and they have all already arrived. I would like to introduce myself. I'm called Wang Yan and I will be your examination teacher for the next two days."
"Hello, Teacher Wang Yan." The students quickly bowed towards him.
Wang Yan laughed and then said, "No need to be so polite. My teaching methods have always been to treat everyone as my friends. From now until the end of the examination, you will all be my friends. Therefore, I don't wish to see anyone receiving any injuries. Although, through the examination, I will decide whether or not you all can remain at Shrek Academy and continue to learn here. However, I must remind everyone of one thing, and that is: you absolutely cannot cripple your opponent. Otherwise, I can only apologize to him and ask him to leave. In addition, I will have to report the matter to the academy's superiors."
He spoke mildly and also downplayed the matter. Furthermore, he never said what the consequences for crippling your opponent were. Still, to be capable of entering Shrek Academy, who wasn't a genius? Naturally, they heard the meaning within his words and one after another, nodded their head to show their understanding.
Wang Yan smiled and said, "Since this is the case, we can now begin. The sooner the competition is over, the sooner you can go home and prepare for tomorrow. For you young people, a little sense of urgency is a good thing."
While speaking, he took out a folder and opened it. After glancing over it he raised his head and said, "First match of the first round of the assessment. Freshman class one: Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. Freshman class three: Ouyang Junyi, Chen Junfeng, and Zhao Haochen. You guys enter your respective corner of the arena. Only after I announce the start of the match can you guys release your Battle Spirits. Enter the arena."
With six groups of students present, and the thirtieth district only needed to conduct three matches, so Huo Yuhao's group didn't expect that they would actually be the first to appear. After exchanging glances with each other, they quickly walked to their station at the northwest side of the arena.
The trio's positions were carefully chosen. Wang Dong stood at the very front, Xiao Xiao was second, and Huo Yuhao stood farthest back at the corner of their station. While on the other side, the three students naturally chose the southeast corner.
The participating freshman from class three were all boys with pretty good looks. The tallest one was Ouyang Junyi, and he also had the best appearance. Although there was still a disparity when compared with Wang Dong, his figure seemed to be much stronger than Wang Dong's. Beside him, Chen Junfeng's height wasn't short, but he was definitely slender. Finally, Zhao Haochen was a fatty with a plump belly and an honest smile.
Seeing that both teams were in position, Teacher Wang Yan nodded his head and said, "Examination begin."
Both teams immediately released their Battle Spirits within the first moments. Although Huo Yuhao stood at the corner, under his meticulous control, he prevented his Mental Detection from including the area behind his body. Rather, he simply covered the entire field of the arena. Xiao Xiao also released her Three Lives Soul Stealing Cauldron and a black cauldron rapidly formed above her head.
Wang Dong's actions were more direct and, in a flash, his figure powerfully rushed out into the sky. A pair of dazzlingly, beautiful blue-purple wings were already extended open. With a brilliant golden light pattern and dazzlingly, beautiful wings, no matter whether it was the opponents or the supervisor of the match, Teacher Wang Yan, all of them were taken aback. It was all because that pair of wings was too beautiful that Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao, who were in the back, had their limelight completely overshadowed.
Their opponents also finished their preparations. All of them had also released their Battle Spirits within the first moments.