"The quality of this year's second-years is truly exceptional."
The day before classes resumed, Dean Du Weilun sat in his office, scrutinizing enrollment reports.
Three Soul Ancestors. Four Soul Elders.
(One of whom was also a Core Disciple of the Soul Engineering Department.)
"Dai Huabin and Huo Yuhao must've absorbed soul bones," Du Weilun murmured, then pulled out a pre-prepared document: the original second-year promotion exam plan.
He'd been satisfied with it—
until seeing this cohort's strength. His initial exam would barely challenge the top students.
"Then I'll upgrade it to a Class Promotion Exam," he decided.
Why not make it harder for the strong? After all, class-based exams were within the promotion exam's scope—rare for second-years, but not unprecedented.
As for the weaker students?
Sorry. Shrek Academy has no room for the weak.
He finalized the special class exam details and headed to the Inner Court for Headmaster Yan Shaozhe's approval.
---
Inner Court – Martial Soul Department Head's Office
"Since you've decided, so be it," Yan Shaozhe said after skimming Du Weilun's proposal. As Dean of the Outer Court, Du Weilun's judgment held weight.
But then Yan Shaozhe paused, recalling the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Team Competition.
Why not use this chance to integrate last year's reserve team with these Outer Court students?
"Revise it like this," he instructed. "Apply this format to all Outer Court grades this year—but adjust difficulty per grade, understood?"
Du Weilun instantly grasped his meaning: Keep elimination rates manageable.
He agreed immediately.
---
The Next Day – Official Start of Term
With Dugu Xin gone, Chen Junting ate breakfast alone before heading to the Yellow Academic Building.
Second-Year Class One was already half-full—but noticeably smaller than last semester. The absentees weren't failures; they'd joined the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and never returned.
"Class Monitor!"
Chen Junting's entrance drew immediate attention.
Cao Jinxuan sidled over the moment he sat down. "Our class shrank a lot, huh?" He waggled his eyebrows, looking deliberately annoying.
"Everyone has their path," Chen Junting smiled. "If you're tempted, just say the word. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's doors are always open."
"Heh." Cao Jinxuan chuckled but didn't bite.
Chen Junting leaned back, casually asking about their exam prep.
"No worries here," Cao Jinxuan boasted. "I'll just pick a hundred-year soul beast, control it briefly, and finish it off. And Old Zhou? His soul skill's basically cheating—his target'll get ganged up by three soul beasts! Brutal."
Zhou Sichen struck a smug pose beside him—their teamwork seamless.
Unseen, Dai Huabin glared from across the room, eyes burning with malice.
Over the holiday, his mother had revealed Chen Junting's status in the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—making direct retaliation impossible. So Dai Huabin had thrown himself into frenzied training: devouring family resources, begging his mother for early access to his reserved soul bone, and swallowing a priceless Soul Ascension Pill. By term's end, he'd become a Soul Ancestor—killing a pre-raised 6,000-year soul beast for his fourth soul ring.
Unaware that Chen Junting had never considered him a threat.
And Dai Huabin didn't notice Huo Yuhao watching him from behind—equally transformed, equally hungry for vengeance.
---
"Aside from voluntary withdrawals, no one failed to reach Soul Grandmaster," Teacher Wang Yan announced as he and Mujin entered. Their grim expressions weren't about the missing students—but the news from the Dean's Office.
Wang Yan's gaze swept the room, tension thickening the air.
"I have bad news," he began. "A month ago, I told you promotion exams prioritize combat, with two formats—the second being rare. This year, all grades face the second format."
"What!?"
The class erupted. Even Chen Junting was stunned—a class-wide exam for second-years?!
"Quiet! QUIET!" Mujin roared. She slammed her palm on the desk—
BANG!
Silence fell.
"If you've got complaints, take them to the Dean's Office!" she snapped. "Wang Yan—continue."
Wang Yan nodded, softening his tone. "The academy eased the difficulty: we'll merge with Classes Two, Three, and Four to form a 28-person team for a special exam in the Arena of Beasts' soul beast forest. Proctored by Inner Court students."
A collective gasp. Inner Court students—all Soul Kings! Could they possibly pass?
The weakest students paled. Even if they aced the individual exam, failing the class exam meant immediate elimination.
Wang Yan explained the rules:
- After individual exams, 28 students split into four teams entering the forest from cardinal directions.
- Inner Court proctors wait at the center.
- Teams must protect their badges for two hours.
- Defeated by soul beasts? Teachers rescue you—but your badge is forfeit.
- 10+ badges retained = 100% pass.
9 badges = 90% pass (bottom 10% eliminated).
- Steal an Inner Court badge? It counts as four of theirs. Exceed 10 badges? Bonus points for graduation exams.
But few cared about bonuses. Most prayed only to avoid being the eliminated 10%.
Wang Yan detailed every rule meticulously—even as most students tuned out.
When he finished, Mujin dismissed them early: "Go prepare. Individual exams start this afternoon."
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