That night, Huo Yuhao chose not to set up his stall, opting instead to return to the hotel and focus on cultivation.
Having just devoured the Phoenix Evil Fire with his Soul Assault, he was still unable to control it as effortlessly as he wished.
Thus, he dedicated this day to stabilizing his cultivation, preparing himself for the impending battle tomorrow.
"Yuhao, since you've already devoured a beast's fire, your original Soul Assault has undergone a transformation. I will teach you a powerful combat skill called the Eight Extremities Fire Control, which allows you to manipulate your own flames for self-defense," said Yao Lao with a serious expression, emerging from his black ring.
"This soul skill was exchanged with others during my younger days of adventures. It's an advanced martial skill of the Profound level. By turning your own flames into a fiery tornado to shield yourself, you can neutralize all long-range attacks."
Grandmaster pointed his finger, gently touching Huo Yuhao's forehead. Instantly, a vast amount of information flooded into his mind.
"Eight Extremities Fire Control?" Huo Yuhao smiled lightly. "Thank you, Master. Watch, I will definitely become the champion of this new student assessment!"
Naturally, the entire night passed in cultivation. The next morning, after breakfast, Huo Yuhao arrived at the teaching building. As soon as he entered the classroom, he sensed a lively atmosphere.
After yesterday's grouping, today, the freshmen of Class Nine were gathered in threes, discussing tactics for the new student assessment.
This time, Huo Yuhao didn't sit in his usual spot near the middle and back. Instead, he sat directly beside Wu Feng.
Wu Feng seemed somewhat uncomfortable, but she didn't say anything.
"How was your rest last night? You seem to be in good shape today," Ning Tian, who was also sitting beside Wu Feng, smiled and asked Huo Yuhao.
"Full stomach, good sleep, naturally in good shape," Huo Yuhao chuckled. "The assessment will officially begin this afternoon. Let's discuss our tactics?"
"There's nothing to discuss. With our strength, we can completely crush the competition," Wu Feng said disdainfully, shaking her head.
"Alright, we'll watch your performance this afternoon," Huo Yuhao laughed, patting Wu Feng's shoulder, looking pleased.
"What are you doing!" Wu Feng quickly shook off Huo Yuhao's warm hand, her face turning red.
"Huo Yuhao, are you really not going to use your full strength this afternoon?" Ning Tian comforted Wu Feng and then asked Huo Yuhao.
"Isn't it obvious? Since our goal is the championship, we can't let others figure us out too early," Huo Yuhao shrugged.
"Do you really think there are no strong contenders among this year's freshmen? Although I admit our team is strong, it's impossible to completely dominate," Ning Tian said.
"What, are you scared?" Wu Feng challenged Huo Yuhao.
"Haha." Huo Yuhao looked at Wu Feng with a gaze that clearly expressed fond exasperation, shaking his head with a smile.
"Class Two's Xie Huanyue has a top-tier defensive soul, the Skin Spirit Elephant, and has already reached the level of Soul Grandmaster. Such top-tier defensive soul masters have strong resistance against attribute attacks. Are you confident in defeating such opponents?"
Wu Feng was stunned.
"Class Seven has a pair of sisters who can release control-type soul fusion skills. With your current strength, can you break through the soul fusion skills released by two Soul Masters?"
"I..."
"Most importantly, Class Five's Dai Huabin hailing from the Duke of White Tiger's family. And in his team, there is a member named Zhu Lu. Do I need to tell you what the combination of Dai family and Zhu family represents?"
"Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger?!" Ning Tian couldn't help but exclaim.
How could she not know about the Dai family and the Zhu family, the two great aristocratic families of the Star Luo Empire, who have inherited the Soul Fusion Skill Hell White Tiger for generations?
Ten thousand years ago, Ning Tian's ancestor, the one who ascended to godhood and evolved the Seven Treasures Glass Tower into the Nine Treasures Glass Tower, was once a member of the Seven Devils of Shrek.
In that generation, the leader of the Shrek Seven Devils, Dai Mubai, and another member, Zhu Zhuqing, were able to unleash the terrifying Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger. Eventually, both of them ascended to godhood as well.
Because of this, the renowned reputation of the Shadowy White Tiger spread throughout the continent's Soul Master world, known by everyone.
"How about it, do you still think our strength can directly crush our way to first place in the new student assessment?" Huo Yuhao said calmly.
"Huo Yuhao, where did you hear all this information from?" Ning Tian asked, puzzled.
"Do you think I'm just selling grilled fish at the entrance of the academy to make money? Just by listening to the discussions of passing students, I can gather information that's close enough to the truth," Huo Yuhao replied.
Wu Feng remained silent for a while before finally lowering her head to Huo Yuhao.
"Alright, I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so arrogant. So, what do you suggest for our tactical strategy?" She asked.
Huo Yuhao shrugged with a smile, "I don't know either."
"Pfft!"
*Cough cough cough.*
Ning Tian and Wu Feng were almost choked by Huo Yuhao's words. Even Ning Tian, usually composed and intelligent, couldn't help but want to beat up Huo Yuhao right now.
"In any case, when encountering weaker teams, I won't intervene, or rather, I won't reveal my full strength. After all, with my and Ning Tian's support, you should be able to handle them very easily," Huo Yuhao continued.
"But I also have a request for both of you. During the battles, try not to reveal your own soul skills as much as possible. All soul skills should be released only when necessary, so that when facing weaker teams, we don't reveal all of our strength."
Ning Tian and Wu Feng glanced at each other and nodded in agreement. It's no wonder Huo Yuhao's mind works like a master strategist, always clear and organized.
*Bang Bang Bang!*
At that moment, Mu Jin entered the classroom of Class Nine and lightly tapped the blackboard a few times. The previously noisy classroom instantly quieted down.
"It seems like everyone rested well last night, as I suggested. Very good. Being fearless in the face of battle is the basic quality of an outstanding Soul Master."
"The competition officially begins this afternoon, and teams from the same class won't be grouped together, so you don't need to worry about internal conflicts. Alright, that's all I have to say. Remember to go draw lots for the groups at noon, and gather in the respective assessment areas before class in the afternoon. Go back and prepare yourselves."
With that, Mu Jin left the classroom of Class Nine. The students in the class also got up one after another, preparing to find a place to conduct team rehearsals.
Meanwhile, in a nearby grove next to the teaching building, Zhou Yi and Mu Jin faced each other. Zhou Yi's face was filled with jealousy and resentment, while Mu Jin's lips curled up in a faint smile.
"Mu Jin, you actually took my position as class instructor! That position clearly belongs to me!" Zhou Yi said angrily.
Mu Jin chuckled, shaking her head. "All of this is your own doing. If I let you be the class instructor for a few more years, there would be more teachers than students in Shrek Academy."
"You!" Zhou Yi's eyes almost spewed fire at Mu Jin's words. "Dare you make another bet with me!"
"A bet? What do you have to bet with me?" Mu Jin sneered.
"The content of the bet is the performance of our two classes in the new student assessment. The stakes remain a soul bone, but if I lose, I will resign from Shrek Academy! And if you lose, you must do the same! How about it, dare you accept!" Zhou Yi said after hesitating for a while.
Mu Jin shook her head, turning to leave, "Boring. I don't want to gamble with you over such childish stakes."
"Wait!" Zhou Yi screamed, hesitating for a moment before saying, "I'll add an eighth-grade close combat soul device made by Fan Yu as well. If you win, I'll have Fan Yu tailor one for you!"
"Deal!"