"You've got a grudge against him."
Chen Junting's voice was quiet, but direct.
"I…" Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, but hesitation flickered in his eyes. The words wouldn't come. He looked down and remained silent.
Chen Junting didn't push.
He simply placed a hand on Yuhao's shoulder.
"If you don't want to say it, I won't force you. But don't let your anger cloud your mind. Don't let hatred blind you — it'll only break your ability to judge."
His voice was steady, sharp as steel.
"When you're weak, you must learn to control your emotions. That's how you survive, how you grow. That's how you get strong enough to make them pay — on your own terms."
He stepped away, but turned back with one last sentence.
"Remember this: the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is your home now. And we're not afraid of the White Tiger Duke's revenge."
He walked toward the cafeteria without looking back.
Behind him, the hesitation in Huo Yuhao's eyes vanished.
A slow smile crept across his face — quiet but resolved.
Beside him, Wang Dong blinked, sensing the shift.
The heavy, hateful aura from earlier had faded.
"Yuhao… you good?"
"I'm good," Yuhao exhaled, grabbing Wang Dong by the wrist. "Let's go eat. Then we win."
—
After breakfast, they arrived at the assessment area.
Chen Junting's team regrouped with Ning Tian and the others. Less than a minute later, Dai Huabin's team showed up, flanked by Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie.
And from the moment they arrived, Dai Huabin locked eyes on Chen Junting — ignoring everyone else.
"So you're Chen Junting?" he asked, voice low but laced with challenge. "Let's see if you're as strong as they say."
It sounded like a question, but it wasn't.
Chen Junting didn't flinch. He didn't even look at him.
He turned to Ning Tian and calmly struck up conversation.
The cold shoulder was obvious — and deliberate.
Dai Huabin's smirk faltered. Embarrassment flared in his chest, and his eyes sharpened from taunting to openly hostile.
And then—
"Tsk."
A mocking click of the tongue.
Dai Huabin turned sharply toward the sound — it was Wang Dong, arms crossed, smirking.
"Big talk for a soul master," Wang Dong muttered, loud enough to hear.
Dai Huabin's eyes narrowed.
But then he glanced at Huo Yuhao standing beside Wang Dong — and the sneer returned.
"Oh, I see," he laughed. "A soul master with only a ten-year soul ring? How'd you even get here?"
Zhu Lu picked up the cue instantly, her tone sweet but dripping with scorn. "Must've gotten carried by his teammates. A little luck and two decent partners, and suddenly he thinks he belongs."
Wang Dong was about to explode — but Huo Yuhao stopped him, placing a calm hand on his arm.
"Wang Dong. Let it go."
He hesitated… but then looked at Yuhao.
Beneath Yuhao's calm expression, something darker still flickered — but it was no longer consuming him. The fire hadn't gone out… it had been refined.
Chen Junting's words had sunk in.
—
Up on the viewing platform, a new figure stepped forward to replace Du Weilun — an old man in white robes. He'd been present during the quarterfinals, but few had paid him much attention.
Now, however, Du Weilun's respectful stance made his identity clear.
The air around him shifted.
"Good morning," the old man said warmly, voice calm but firm. "I am Yan Shaozhe, the 261st headmaster of Shrek Academy."
His presence silenced the crowd. His tone was kind — almost grandfatherly — but his words carried weight.
"I watched yesterday's matches. I was impressed. You are, perhaps, the most promising group of freshmen we've seen in a thousand years."
He smiled.
"But I also know none of you have shown your full strength. Today, I hope you surprise me."
The students stirred — expressions shifting from nervous to fired up. Dai Huabin's team in particular looked electric, their eyes burning with confidence.
Chen Junting nodded quietly to himself.
He knows how to inspire, he thought. A single sentence, and he's lit a fire in them.
"Freshmen Class Five — Dai Huabin's team — step forward to draw lots."
Du Weilun held the lottery box steady. Dai Huabin stepped up, bowing respectfully to Yan Shaozhe and the other instructors before drawing a lot.
Du Weilun checked it, then announced:
"Class Five — Lot Number One."
Next came Class Nine.
"Freshmen Class Nine — Chen Junting's team."
As Chen Junting stepped up, he passed Dai Huabin. The two locked eyes. Dai Huabin held up his lot with a smirk, silently mouthing: I'm waiting for you.
Chen Junting didn't respond.
He saluted the staff with practiced calm.
Yan Shaozhe leaned in with a casual smile and murmured just loud enough for him to hear, "You're walking away with quite the advantage, aren't you?"
Before Junting could reply, Yan added, "Give my regards to your clan leader — and to Senior Ye."
Chen Junting smiled faintly, acting as if he hadn't heard.
He drew his lot.
Du Weilun checked it — then blinked.
Surprised. Then amused.
"Chen Junting's team — Lot Number One."
The two favorites were matched early.
The semi-finals had just become the real final.
—
Back in the group, Wu Feng leaned in with wide eyes.
"What did Dean Yan say to you?"
Chen Junting tilted his head slightly.
"You really want to know?"
Wu Feng hesitated — then shook her head quickly.
"Good," he said, face turning serious again. "Focus on the match."
"Obviously," she replied confidently. "We're not losing to a team with just one real soul master."
Chen Junting didn't argue.
But he also didn't mention Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's hidden martial soul fusion skill. Unlike Dai Huabin's Netherworld White Tiger — a known threat — their fusion was a secret.
It wouldn't be fair.
He left it alone.
—
When the rest of the teams finished their draw, the matchups were clear.
Huo Yuhao's team would face Ning Tian's.
Chen Junting's team would face Dai Huabin.
Internal fights.
But no one seemed to mind.
"Looks like it's our turn to go at it," Chen Junting said with a smile.
Ning Tian simply glanced over at Dai Huabin and then gave him a look.
"Brother Junting?"
"It's fine."
Chen Junting's expression was calm.
He turned to Huo Yuhao, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.
"Yuhao. Worried about me?"
Huo Yuhao blinked. "No…"
"Good," Chen Junting said with a smile. "Because I'm going to crush them. Right off the field. If I break their rhythm early, they won't get a chance to use their fusion skill. And then your match will be clean. Easy top three."
He said it so casually — but no one doubted him.
—
Soon, the four teams entered their arenas.
Chen Junting's squad and Dai Huabin's team stood across from one another in Field One.
The referee descended slowly from the stands. His aura was powerful, his presence commanding — someone strong enough to handle whatever chaos might come.
In the center of the arena, the tension grew heavy.
Dai Huabin stared at Chen Junting with eyes like sharpened blades.
He might have been cocky earlier — but now, in this moment, he was taking his opponent seriously.
Very seriously.
—
(End of Chapter)