The referee scanned both teams and raised his voice.
"Introduce yourselves."
"Freshmen Class Five, Dai Huabin."
Dai Huabin stepped forward, voice cold and clipped. The air around him shifted — a killing intent forged through years of brutal training and soul beast hunts radiated off him in waves, aimed squarely at Chen Junting.
"Zhu Lu."
"Cui Yajie."
The two girls followed, their tones calm but icy.
Chen Junting, however, remained completely unaffected. In fact, he almost wanted to laugh. That's it? Compared to the killing aura of the Seven Killing Swords, Dai Huabin's posturing felt more like a breeze than a blade.
"Freshmen Class Nine, Chen Junting."
The moment he spoke, Dai Huabin flinched. His pressure — once dominant — was suddenly snuffed out, suppressed by something heavier, colder. Chen Junting wasn't reacting — he was crushing.
Only when Qin Lan and Gao Ming finished introducing themselves did the weight lift. Dai Huabin's fists clenched at his sides, eyes flashing with a deeper hostility.
The referee motioned for both teams to retreat to the edges of the arena.
Dai Huabin's glare never left Chen Junting.
—
Up on the viewing platform, Yan Shaozhe watched silently.
His eyes remained on Arena One, weighing each team carefully. Who has the better odds? he wondered. Dai Huabin's powerful fusion technique? Or Chen Junting's terrifying control and presence?
But more than anything, he hoped to see Chen Junting's true strength pushed into the open.
Then—
"Old Yan, you're looking pretty free today."
A deep, powerful voice cut through the air.
Yan Shaozhe didn't even turn. He already knew who it was.
"Qian Duoduo," he said dryly, "you're the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department. And yet, here you are — in my Martial Soul Department's territory, watching the freshman assessment."
"You saying I can't?"
The man who arrived was massive — over two meters tall, built like a mountain, and grizzled with age, though his steel-gray hair stood like bristles. His muscles looked carved from stone.
Beside him stood Fan Yu, looking unusually weary.
Zhou Yi's recent scandal had clearly taken its toll.
Du Weilun bowed politely, but Qian Duoduo waved him off and gestured for Fan Yu to speak with him privately. Then he strode up to Yan Shaozhe's side and sat down, relaxed as ever.
"Let's not waste time," Qian Duoduo said. "I'm here to take one of your freshmen. What do you say?"
Yan Shaozhe arched a brow.
Direct, huh?
"You're not shy today," he replied smoothly. "But every student in the top four teams is elite. You really think I'll just hand one over?"
Qian Duoduo grinned.
"I don't want your elites. You can keep your stars." He cast a wistful look at Chen Junting's team. "I know better than to bother."
Then his grin turned sly.
He pointed to Arena Two. "I want that one. The boy with the ten-year soul ring. He's not one of your elites, right?"
Yan Shaozhe followed his gaze.
Huo Yuhao.
A soul master with only one ten-year ring. Not someone the Martial Soul Department had paid much attention to.
Yet Qian Duoduo's interest sparked something in him.
"You like him that much?"
"The standards for us and you aren't the same." Qian Duoduo shrugged. "Besides, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect originally brought him to audit our Soul Guidance Department. Then Fan Yu found out the kid's got serious talent with soul tools. We're ready to mark him as a core disciple. So, since you're not using him… how about we do?"
Core disciple?
Yan Shaozhe's eyes narrowed.
Was Qian Duoduo bluffing?
But his expression was too sincere. And Yan Shaozhe could tell when someone was playing games. This wasn't one of those times.
Still, he didn't respond right away.
And Qian Duoduo, never one to let things simmer, dropped the hammer.
"You know the higher-ups want our department to grow," he said, voice casual but firm. "If you won't help us, I'll just send Lin'er to your inner courtyard next time and let her start poaching. See if you can stop her."
At the name "Xian Lin'er," Yan Shaozhe froze slightly.
And then he nodded.
"In that case—"
"Wait."
A quiet voice cut in behind them.
Qian Duoduo's head whipped around in frustration.
His tone was ready to scold whoever dared interrupt—until he saw who it was.
"…Old Xuan?"
The man behind them was disheveled, with a massive purple-red gourd in one hand and a chicken leg in the other. His beard was a mess, and he looked like a vagrant — but no one on the platform dared ignore him.
Because he was Elder Xuan —
Xuanzi, the 98th-level Taotie Douluo.
A pillar of the Sea God Pavilion.
And beside him stood none other than Wang Yan.
"Xuan Lao…" Qian Duoduo's voice trailed off, half-groan, half-defeat.
"You're just going to let him block my transfer?"
Elder Xuan took a bite of chicken and washed it down with a gulp from his gourd.
"Shaozhe," he mumbled through the food, "you were really about to give the boy up that easy?"
Yan Shaozhe saluted politely. "I wasn't sure yet."
"Good."
Xuanzi chewed slowly. "Because that kid… he's got the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's attention. That's reason enough to keep watching. Body-type martial soul, too. Can't just hand him off."
Yan Shaozhe nodded. "Xuan Lao is right."
Qian Duoduo scowled, glaring at Wang Yan — who winced.
He knew what had happened. Elder Xuan wasn't one to bother with freshman assessments unless someone called him. That someone had clearly been Wang Yan.
Wang Yan coughed awkwardly and looked away.
He was glad he'd brought Elder Xuan.
If he hadn't… Huo Yuhao might've been swallowed up by the Soul Guidance Department before anyone saw what he was really capable of.
A servant quickly brought a chair for Elder Xuan, and Yan Shaozhe took a seat beside him.
"You're here personally today?" Yan asked, curious. "Freshman battles aren't usually your thing."
"Can't an old man take an interest?" Elder Xuan waved his chicken leg dismissively. "Don't mind me. I'm watching on my own."
Then his eyes drifted to Arena One.
The Seven Killing Sword versus the Netherworld White Tiger.
A clash of legends.
But even as he watched the action, a flicker of his mind remained on Arena Two — watching Huo Yuhao.
"He's got the Nine Treasures backing him," Elder Xuan muttered. "Let's see if he's worthy of it. Let's see if that kid can really carry the future of the sect on his back."
He took another bite of chicken.
His eyes, though half-lidded and sleepy, were sharp with interest.
Most people won't notice. But I will.
—
(End of Chapter)
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I'm lacking stones recently???