There were over 300 groups of freshmen lined up to challenge Jiang Qingtong's trio. At a pace of ten battles per day, the entire assessment would take a full month to complete.
Even though the assessment period was lengthy, it still presented a significant challenge to the defending trio. Fortunately, Elder Zhuang—a healing-type Limit Douluo—was on standby to restore their stamina and soul power after each match. Without him, even monstrous talents like them wouldn't be able to hold out for long.
After the trio crushed their first opponents with overwhelming force, the groups that followed began to show clear signs of fear. Their teamwork and combat technique were riddled with flaws, making the battles end quickly and easily.
Elder Zhuang barely even had to intervene. In every match, Jiang Qingtong would open with a preemptive control move, followed by Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao dividing the field and finishing the opponents off.
The strategy was simple, but it worked—consistently.
For several days, every round went more or less the same. Even when later challengers started analyzing the trio's tactics, it didn't change the outcome. Jiang Qingtong's team won again and again, pure power overriding any strategic advantage.
But as time wore on, more students began to study them in depth, and both Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao started to feel the pressure. The matches were growing harder.
After barely finishing one particularly tough fight, Wang Dong leaned over, panting as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Man, that was exhausting! Three-ring Soul Elders are no joke!"
Xiao Xiao, visibly pale, nodded in agreement.
Jiang Qingtong stepped up and patted both of them on the shoulder. "You two have worked hard."
"At this point, I'd rather be a challenger and fight for a spot like everyone else! Sure, we get an automatic pass this way, but it's killing me!" Wang Dong grumbled.
Of course, they were too far in to back out now.
"Still, being a spiritual-type soul master really pays off. You're having the easiest time of the three of us," Wang Dong added, glancing at Jiang Qingtong.
Aside from casting the occasional Spiritual Shock or Mental Storm, Jiang Qingtong mainly kept her Spiritual Detection Sharing active, coordinating Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's movements. Unlike the other two who were burning stamina and soul power, her energy expenditure was mostly mental.
Fortunately, thanks to years of dual-consciousness training, Jiang Qingtong's spiritual strength was monstrous. Even among other gifted spiritual-type soul masters her age, few could compare.
After restoring their soul power and stamina, Elder Zhuang smiled and encouraged them, "Qingtong, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao—keep it up! You three little ones have already become legends at the Academy."
"Being a legend is exhausting…" Xiao Xiao muttered with a sigh.
Although the exam period was already halfway through, the audience seats remained packed every day. Everyone wanted to see how long the trio could keep this up—especially since, so far, they hadn't even shown their full power.
Jiang Qingtong hadn't once taken the front lines; she remained in support throughout.
But the students who had witnessed her one-punch shatter of Xu Sanshi's defense knew just how terrifying her offensive power really was.
Elder Zhuang chuckled. "This is a good trial for you three. After this match, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao—there will be no doubt that you're worthy of joining the inner court."
"The inner court?!"
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's eyes widened in shock.
For young students like them, Shrek Academy's inner court was practically sacred. For the chance to join it, any hardship was worth it. Their exhaustion suddenly felt much more worthwhile.
After a short break, the next challengers stepped onto the platform:
Ning Tian, Xie Huan Yue, and Dai Huabin.
A trio of full-fledged three-ring Soul Elders.
"Ning Tian, 31st-rank support-type Soul Elder. Martial soul: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Xie Huan Yue, 32nd-rank control/defense-type battle Soul Elder. Martial soul: Pi Pi Elephant."
"Dai Huabin, 30th-rank power-attack-type battle Soul Master. Martial soul: Evil-Eyed White Tiger."
"All three of them are Soul Elders?!" Xiao Xiao's expression stiffened as she stared at the trio. Her face turned pale. "Don't tell me the Academy paired them together on purpose?"
Wang Dong shook his head. "Who knows. It's already been tough enough for us. Maybe they just got lucky with the draw."
Only Jiang Qingtong had a hunch: while the Academy might not have officially manipulated the teams, they probably nudged things in this direction on purpose.
Facing a team that not only outmatched them in rank but also wielded high-quality martial souls, winning on technique alone was no longer an option.
That meant Jiang Qingtong had only two paths left:
Either use her ninth-level soul tools to fend off their attacks—or reveal her second martial soul.
Of course, she could also surrender.
But surrendering wasn't in her nature. She wasn't some saint, but she wasn't about to drag Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao down with her.
As the teams exchanged names, Jiang Qingtong activated Spiritual Detection Sharing and launched a Spiritual Shock toward the opposing trio. But Ning Tian reacted instantly, casting enhancements through her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
At the same time, Xie Huan Yue's body expanded rapidly, his skin turning a dark violet as he morphed into a hulking figure. His defensive spirit power surged with his transformation.
Jiang Qingtong's Spiritual Shock only managed to slightly disrupt Dai Huabin. The others were completely unaffected.
By now, after so many rounds, everyone had figured out that Jiang Qingtong's greatest weapon was spiritual control. It was obvious this trio had prepared for it.
Seeing her mental attack fail, Wang Dong charged toward Ning Tian, aiming to eliminate the support first. Xiao Xiao followed up by hurling her Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron to block the others.
But Xie Huan Yue stomped forward and slammed into one of the cauldrons head-on. With a deep boom, he physically forced it aside!
Xiao Xiao's pupils contracted. She was stunned.
"So this is the power of a Soul Elder…?"
With the cauldron knocked aside, Xie Huan Yue activated another skill and lunged toward Wang Dong.
Xiao Xiao sent a second cauldron flying to intercept, but Ning Tian had already boosted both him and Dai Huabin.
"Seven Treasures, known for their glory—first: Speed; second: Dispel; third: Strength!"
Ning Tian didn't hesitate to activate triple enhancement, and the moment she did, Jiang Qingtong's mental suppression was completely nullified.
"No wonder it's the number-one support martial soul," Jiang Qingtong muttered, impressed despite herself.
With Ning Tian's buffs, Xie Huan Yue and Dai Huabin erupted with frightening power, shattering Xiao Xiao's blockade and charging straight at Wang Dong.
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