The next afternoon, the long-awaited freshman assessment finally began.
All the new students had assembled in the assessment area, their faces filled with anticipation and tension.
This assessment ground was located in the northern section of the Martial Soul Department, adjacent to the Fighting Spirit Arena. Though it was smaller than the grand arena, it was by no means lacking — covering over 20,000 square meters, its oval layout was divided into multiple square zones, each about 400 square meters in size. For freshmen who were mostly at the level of Spirit Masters or Great Spirit Masters, these zones were more than sufficient.
At this moment, the entire assessment area was packed with people.
Since the match groupings had not yet been finalized — only the region assignments had been drawn earlier that morning — the students remained gathered according to their respective classes. Excitement and nervous energy buzzed through the crowd like a current.
Chen Junting swept his gaze across the densely packed arena, taking in the sheer number of participants — around 300 teams, all ready for battle. He couldn't help but murmur to himself, "With an elimination rate of over half, I wonder how many from our Class Nine will make it through. I should pay attention; there might be some promising talents hiding in the crowd."
Beside him, Wu Feng scoffed lightly. "I don't know how many from our class will pass," she said, her eyes narrowing, "but we're definitely going to do better than that class."
She raised her hand and pointed toward a group off to the side. Compared to the bustling numbers elsewhere, this class seemed pitifully small — their elimination rate clearly far worse than average.
"That's... Class One, isn't it?" someone asked.
"Exactly," Chen Junting confirmed. "Their teacher is Zhou Yi. I mentioned her when we first enrolled."
Recognition flickered in Ning Tian's eyes. She gave a slight nod, her gaze shifting toward the diminished Class One.
Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao exchanged glances. A subtle shiver ran through them, followed by a look of quiet sympathy. "Class One really has it rough," Wu Feng said softly.
Chen Junting shook his head and sighed. "Ever since Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong left Class One, Zhou Yi's standards have only gotten harsher. Her eliminations have been brutal."
He even suspected that, if the academy hadn't required at least three hundred teams for the freshman assessment, Zhou Yi would've cut down even more students without a second thought.
Before their conversation could continue, a booming voice echoed across the courtyard, filled with authority and power.
"All freshmen, attention! All freshmen, attention! Proceed immediately to the assessment area and prepare for the freshman assessment. You have ten minutes to take your positions. Late arrivals will be considered to have forfeited!"
The loud announcement swept over the crowd like a crashing wave. Without delay, the students began moving quickly toward their assigned zones.
After a brief farewell to Ning Tian and the others, Chen Junting led his team toward Zone 49. Compared to many of the other groups, his team walked with steady composure.
Chen Junting himself was calm and confident.
His teammates, Qin Lan and Gao Ming, shared that same confidence — they believed in their leader without question.
The instructor assigned to Zone 49 was a young man with sharp features and a stern demeanor. He wasn't the scholarly or gentle type, but his imposing presence commanded attention.
"Since all six teams are here, we'll begin without delay," the instructor declared. His voice was crisp and forceful. "First, let me make one thing clear: injuries are strictly forbidden during this assessment. If anyone violates this rule..." His gaze swept coldly across the students, his eyes sharp as blades. "...you will be expelled from the academy immediately!"
The warning sent a chill through the teams. The stakes were clear.
Satisfied with the tension in the air, the instructor flipped open the folder in his hand and read aloud:
"First round, first match! Class One: Zhang Lian, Zhao Kai, Wang Feng. Class Nine: Chen Junting, Qin Lan, Gao Ming. Step into the arena and take your positions. Martial spirits may only be released upon my command. Understood?"
"Yes!" all six participants responded in unison.
The two teams strode confidently into the ring, taking their positions in opposite corners.
Class One's trio quickly settled into a formation: Zhao Kai, tall and burly, took the front — likely a defense or power-type spirit master. Flanking him, Zhang Lian, slender and agile, seemed poised for assault. At the rear stood Wang Feng, positioned for support, unmistakably their auxiliary role.
Chen Junting's gaze sharpened as he analyzed their setup at a glance.
At that very moment, as their eyes met across the battlefield, an invisible spark ignited between the two sides.
The tension thickened.
The battle was about to begin.
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…At that very moment, as their eyes met across the battlefield, an unspoken tension crackled between the two teams.
Zhang Lian, standing on Class One's side, locked eyes with Chen Junting, his expression sharp and full of fighting spirit.
Chen Junting narrowed his eyes slightly. He wasn't someone who underestimated his opponents — especially not in a situation like this. He calmly assessed the enemy formation.
Frontliner, agile attacker, and auxiliary support. A standard composition, but they must have trained together for synergy.
The instructor raised his hand high, voice clear and steady.
"Both teams, prepare!"
The moment those words fell, Chen Junting's body instinctively tensed, every nerve sharpened to its limit.
"Begin!"
The instructor's voice had barely faded when martial spirits exploded into existence across the battlefield.
Zhang Lian's spirit manifested as a pair of gleaming daggers, radiating a chilling light. Zhao Kai let out a low roar as a layer of stone armor encased his body, making him look like an unyielding mountain. Behind them, Wang Feng waved his staff, releasing ripples of energy that spread toward his teammates.
Chen Junting's eyes flashed coldly.
"Qin Lan, lock down their auxiliary! Gao Ming, focus on their agility attacker with me!"
"Understood!"
Without hesitation, Qin Lan's martial spirit emerged: a beautiful but deadly-looking whip, crackling with lightning. With a flick of her wrist, the whip lashed out like a viper, aiming straight for Wang Feng at the rear.
Gao Ming summoned his martial spirit next — a heavy sword that gleamed under the sunlight. His figure blurred as he charged alongside Chen Junting, both aiming for Zhang Lian.
Zhao Kai let out a thunderous shout, stomping the ground to intercept, but Chen Junting anticipated this. With a swift sidestep, he avoided the clumsy obstruction.
They want to play defensive? Not on my watch.
Chen Junting's martial spirit flared — a sword of flickering killing intent, burning with an intense heat. He thrust forward with precision, the fiery tip aiming straight for Zhang Lian's chest.
Faced with this ferocious attack, Zhang Lian's expression tightened. His body twisted as he tried to evade, but Gao Ming was already upon him, heavy sword cleaving downward to cut off his escape route.
"Support me!" Zhang Lian shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
But Qin Lan's whip had already entangled Wang Feng, preventing any auxiliary assistance. Sparks of lightning crackled as Wang Feng struggled, only to find himself bound tighter, his spirit power steadily drained.
Seeing Zhang Lian cornered, Chen Junting's sword thrust home without mercy.
Boom—!
The impact sent Zhang Lian flying, crashing heavily onto the ground outside the ring.
"Zhang Lian, eliminated!" the instructor's voice rang out immediately.
The situation had shifted in an instant.
Zhao Kai roared in fury, his stone armor surging with power as he charged toward Chen Junting and Gao Ming like a battering ram. But with Zhang Lian down and Wang Feng restrained, Zhao Kai was fighting alone.
"Focus him down!" Chen Junting ordered crisply.
Gao Ming swung his heavy sword relentlessly, matching Zhao Kai's brute force head-on, while Chen Junting darted in and out like a flame, landing strike after strike on Zhao Kai's joints and weak points.
Qin Lan, maintaining her control over Wang Feng, redirected the whip's lightning toward Zhao Kai, adding further pressure.
Under this coordinated assault, Zhao Kai's stone armor began to crack, fragments falling away like brittle rock. His movements slowed, and finally, a well-placed spear thrust from Chen Junting knocked him clean out of the ring.
"Zhao Kai, eliminated!"
The instructor's voice resounded once more.
With only Wang Feng remaining, still bound and drained by Qin Lan's whip, the outcome was inevitable.
Seeing his teammates defeated, Wang Feng gritted his teeth in frustration but ultimately sighed in resignation. He raised his hand in surrender.
"Wang Feng, eliminated! The victory goes to Class Nine: Chen Junting's team!"
Cheers erupted from the Class Nine spectators. Chen Junting and his team withdrew their martial spirits and returned to their side of the arena, calm and composed.
Qin Lan flicked her wrist, causing the whip to vanish in a flash of light. "That was easier than expected," she said with a faint smile.
Gao Ming nodded. "Their formation was standard, but they lacked flexibility. Once we broke their rhythm, they fell apart."
Chen Junting, however, remained cautious. "Don't let your guard down. This was only the first match. Stronger opponents will come soon."
As they caught their breath, the instructor announced the next round of matches. Teams began stepping into the arena one after another, the competition growing fiercer with each passing battle.
For Chen Junting's team, the road ahead was still long. But this overwhelming victory was a powerful start, one that filled their hearts with confidence — and determination to keep advancing, no matter what challenges awaited them.
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(End of Chapter)
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Stones me~