After a brief silence, a deafening cheer erupted across the examination area.
Facing a team that was also a championship favorite, Huo Yuhao proved with his actions what true domination meant.
Crushing victory!
"Champion! Champion!"
Someone suddenly shouted, and these two simple words quickly spread like a tidal wave, engulfing the entire examination area.
It was as if they were crowning a triumphant hero. Every student roared with excitement. Even though this match was just the round of 32 advancing to the top 16, in their hearts, this young man was already the undisputed champion of this year's freshman assessment.
The seemingly short battle reached its climax with Huo Yuhao's final sword strike, which even injured Du Weilun.
A self-created soul skill by a Grand Soul Master actually managed to wound a Soul Douluo. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would have never believed it.
Compared to the students' current enthusiasm, Yan Shaozhe felt a chill in his heart.
This was bad. He had initially thought a one-versus-two would suffice, but instead, his disciple got trounced in a one-versus-three.
The Soul Elder he had personally accepted as his disciple couldn't even defeat a Grand Soul Master. Forget Tang San; even Yan Shaozhe himself now questioned his judgment deeply.
When Du Weilun finally managed to expel the extreme cold from his hands and returned to the high platform, Xian Lin'er and Zhang Lexuan were already nowhere to be found.
Looking at Yan Shaozhe, who suddenly seemed to have aged a dozen years, Du Weilun hesitated before stepping forward to whisper, "Dean…"
Yan Shaozhe remained silent for a long time before belatedly asking, "How is Tang San?"
Du Weilun immediately straightened his posture and replied softly, "I've checked him. Tang San's physical condition is fine, only some internal injuries. However, his mental state seems off. He might be disheartened from losing the match. After receiving treatment from his teacher, I sent him back to rest."
Hearing the words mental state seems off, Yan Shaozhe's pupils constricted sharply.
Truly a domineering force. Would Tang San be unable to lift his head in front of Huo Yuhao for the rest of his life?
No, impossible.
That technique was the exclusive skill of Tang San's teacher. Others couldn't possibly replicate it. At most, it was a similar fusion of spiritual and soul power, and its effectiveness was uncertain.
Reassuring himself inwardly, Yan Shaozhe nodded lightly. "Thank you, Old Du."
"This is my duty."
Du Weilun hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice further. "Dean, this was just one match. Don't lose faith in yourself. Huo Yuhao's second martial soul was hidden far too well. We hadn't found any clues for three months."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's face showed a bitter smile. Before he could say anything, Elder Xuan's voice, calm as ever, rang out.
"Old Du is right. It's just a match. So what if we lost? Win it back next time, that's all. Shaozhe, are you really this fragile after all these years as the Martial Soul Department Dean?"
Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly, his tone tinged with displeasure. "Elder Xuan, Huo Yuhao has now revealed his second martial soul as well. Apart from his slower cultivation speed, his talent is in no way inferior to Tang San's. If he can't win now, how can he win in the future?"
If he could, he would've dragged this old man, who always gave terrible advice, and beaten him up.
Had it not been for Elder Xuan's endless talk about Tang San being the most talented of the three, how could things have turned out like this?
Three months ago, he had the chance to make amends, to show Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na the sincerity of the Martial Soul Department. But trusting Elder Xuan's words, he chose to invest everything in Tang San to prove the department's foundation.
And what was the result? Total disaster.
Their foundation wasn't showcased; instead, a Grand Soul Master crushed three opponents singlehandedly.
Should he go back now, offer terms, and beg for others to join the department? Would it even work?
Leaving aside the significantly higher cost, there was no guarantee they would agree.
Most importantly, going back now would make him look like a shortsighted, sycophantic fool.
As the thought crossed his mind, Yan Shaozhe could already picture Xian Lin'er and the Soul Tool Department crowd laughing at him.
Growing more infuriated by the second, Yan Shaozhe cursed silently.
Damn it, this old man fooled me into a mess.
Giving away two prodigies with thousand-year-level innate soul rings to the Soul Tool Department while hyping up a student with hundred-year-level innate soul rings? How could I have believed his nonsense!
Unaware of the curses Yan Shaozhe muttered in his heart, Elder Xuan casually took a swig from a newly acquired wine gourd and said nonchalantly, "Shaozhe, why do you think Huo Yuhao is more talented than Tang San?"
Before Yan Shaozhe could answer, Elder Xuan continued, "It's because you've realized that kid not only has a second martial soul, seemingly of the Ultimate Ice element, but also a body martial soul capable of secondary evolution. Compared to that, Tang San's twin martial souls seem inferior in quality, don't they?"
Yan Shaozhe hesitated before nodding reluctantly.
Elder Xuan smirked disdainfully. "And what's the Grandmaster's famous saying?"
"There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters."
"Good, you remember."
Elder Xuan nodded approvingly, took another swig, and asked again, "Now, between the Spirit Hall's Six-Winged Angel martial soul and Ultimate Ice, which is stronger?"
"…The Six-Winged Angel."
As he spoke, a light returned to Yan Shaozhe's eyes.
"Exactly."
Elder Xuan shook his head slightly and explained, "If martial soul quality alone determined someone's future, how did Tang San's ancestor defeat the Spirit Hall's Six-Winged Angel user?"
"The quality of a martial soul doesn't decide one's achievements. That's your first mistake. Second, you underestimated the potential of the Clear Sky Hammer. In today's match, do you think Tang San fully utilized its power? Didn't something seem missing?"
Missing? Was it the new rule forbidding removing clothing during fights? No, that was too absurd.
Shaking off the bizarre thought, Yan Shaozhe's face lit up as realization struck. "The Clear Sky Sect's secret techniques?"
Elder Xuan nodded with satisfaction.
"The Clear Sky Sect wasn't the top sect of its time solely because of their Clear Sky Hammer martial soul. Their legacy of secret techniques played a critical role.
Though I've never seen them myself, I've heard of their unique methods. Compared to those, techniques like the Random Cloak Hammer Method are ordinary.
One of their signature moves is said to be a technique called 'Ring Explosion.' Now imagine if Tang San learned these skills in the future. Would he still lose to Huo Yuhao?"
It was as though a shot of adrenaline had been injected into Yan Shaozhe. The gloom in his heart vanished instantly.
Indeed, Tang San's ancestor defeated a Six-Winged Angel wielder under the Grandmaster's guidance using the Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer.
As a Title Douluo personally mentoring someone even more talented than the ancestor, could he not defeat someone with an Ultimate martial soul?
If he couldn't even believe that, how could he surpass the Grandmaster and secure a place in Shrek's history?
But then, as reality struck, his excitement cooled, and he asked hesitantly, "But Elder Xuan, Tang San's father has been expelled from the Clear Sky Sect. How will he access these techniques?"
Elder Xuan cast him a sidelong glance as if disappointed by the naivety of the question.
"If you were a leader of the Clear Sky Sect, would you let a genius like Tang San drift away after learning about his potential?"
Yan Shaozhe fell silent, the logic undeniable.
"But in that case, wouldn't Tang San become part of the Clear Sky Sect? Wouldn't Shrek just be nurturing a genius for someone else?"
"Regardless of their origin, once they enter Shrek's inner court, they become a true member of Shrek, forever carrying the academy's mark."
Elder Xuan smirked. "Countless inner court graduates continue to hold Shrek close to their hearts even decades after leaving. Joining a sect doesn't change that."
As enlightenment dawned, Yan Shaozhe straightened and nodded resolutely.
"I understand now, Elder Xuan."
"Good. As long as you do."
(End of Chapter)