Wang Feng gazed at the setting sun. "Senior Ma Xiaotao, Senior Zhang Lexuan, then I'll head out. My friends have an assessment today, and I want to see them."
Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly. "Please assist us tomorrow, Wang Feng."
Ma Xiaotao stood up from her seat. "I'll walk you there. I also want to go to my teacher's office."
Wang Feng gave a small smile. "Alright, let's go together then."
Zhang Lexuan calmly looked at them. "I'll join too. I originally planned to go with Xiaotao, but since you two are together, I'll come along. There's something I want to discuss with Dean Yan."
Wang Feng glanced slightly at her and nodded politely. "Of course, Senior Zhang. Let's go."
The three of them stepped out of the forest. The evening light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground. As they walked, Wang Feng moved closer to Ma Xiaotao and asked softly, "Senior Xiaotao, may I ask who Senior Zhang Lexuan really is?"
Ma Xiaotao glanced briefly at him with a faint smile. "She's a living legend in the inner courtyard of Shrek Academy. Widely known and respected by almost all the students. The number of admirers and followers she has is countless—and not one of them dares to underestimate her."
Wang Feng nodded slowly, and then Ma Xiaotao continued her explanation.
"Senior Lexuan has participated in two seasons of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. In both tournaments, she was the leader of the Shrek team and led them to absolute victory. Her opponents never lasted long—she defeated them as swiftly as a hot knife cutting through butter."
Ma Xiaotao paused for a moment before adding with admiration in her voice, "And what's even more impressive is that she made history in the three thousand years of Shrek Academy's existence. By the age of twenty-six, she had already become a Douluo with eight soul rings. Not many people her age can achieve that level."
Zhang Lexuan in front of them shook her head, hearing their conversation. "Xiaotao, you're exaggerating."
Ma Xiaotao chuckled softly. "I'm not exaggerating, Senior. I'm just speaking the truth. After all, your reputation in the inner courtyard is unmatched."
Zhang Lexuan turned her head, a calm smile on her face. "If you keep praising me like that, Xiaotao, Wang Feng might think I'm someone arrogant."
Wang Feng observed their conversation and could see that, despite Senior Zhang Lexuan appearing cold, she might actually be a gentle person.
The assessment area of Shrek Academy was located in the north-central part of the Soul Master Department, near the Douhun area. Compared to the battle spirit area, the assessment area was much larger. For the students of the outer courtyard of Shrek Academy, this area was a paradise for those who performed well to show their skills, but it was also a nightmare for students with low cultivation. Every year, a large number of students were eliminated because they did not pass the assessment, and most of the assessments were held in this area.
The assessment area was oval-shaped, and unlike the battle spirit area, it was not a closed stadium but an open space. The outer part was surrounded by a low wall, and the interior was divided into several areas by partitions. These partitions could be rearranged at any time to change the size of the areas.
The new student assessments in previous years always had the most divisions within the assessment area. This was not only because there were many new students but also because their destructive power and attack range were limited, so they didn't require too large an area to demonstrate their abilities.
The entire assessment area covered about 20,000 square meters and was divided into 50 sections. Each area was approximately 400 square meters and square-shaped, with sides measuring 20 meters. For new students, who generally only had the first or second layer of cultivation, this was already sufficient.
After intensive grouping in the morning, the official assessment started in the afternoon. Since today was the first day of the assessment, in order for the new students to adapt first, each group would only perform one assessment before going home. The academy sent fifty teachers to conduct assessments and registrations in the fifty areas. The candidates for today's assessment and competition had been divided into several groups by lottery at noon. They tried to ensure that teams from the same class would not meet in the next ten round-robin matches.
Except for Wang Feng's class, which only had 22 group members, other classes generally had more than 30 groups. Unless a student performed very poorly during the new student period, the class teachers generally would not eliminate students outright before the new student assessment and would always give them a chance to participate.
In the end, there were 310 student groups participating in the new student assessment, totaling 930 people. Out of these 310 groups, only 150 students would be able to remain and officially become new students to continue their studies, while the rest would be eliminated.
The competition in Shrek Academy was undoubtedly fierce and brutal, but it was precisely this intense atmosphere that motivated the students to study harder and tap into their potential, thus creating Shrek Academy's eternal record of victories.
There were a total of fifty areas for the new student assessments, which meant that each area was assigned six or seven student teams to participate. Not only today, but they would also have to compete in the same area with other teams assigned to that area tomorrow, until they all met and were regrouped, and finally completed ten matches for each team.
Wang Feng, Ma Xiaotao, and Zhang Lexuan arrived at the bustling edge of the assessment area. Their presence immediately drew a lot of attention, especially the two beautiful women, Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan. Many male students envied Wang Feng as they saw him walking with the two beautiful women. Wang Feng either didn't notice or simply didn't care about the stares they were giving him. Once they arrived, he immediately started walking around the area looking for the spot where Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were competing.
However, after walking for a few minutes around the outer area, Wang Feng began to realize something.
"...Wait, Yuhao and Wang Dong never mentioned which area they're in," he muttered, furrowing his brow. "Why am I only realizing this now?"
Ma Xiaotao heard Wang Feng's muttering and turned to raise an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Wang Feng nodded. "Yes. I forgot to ask which area they're in before we separated this morning..."
Ma Xiaotao grinned. "In that case, you better hurry up. The assessment today will end soon."
"Alright," Wang Feng answered briefly before turning to a nearby participant. "Excuse me, which area is this?"
"Area 30," the person replied.
Wang Feng nodded understandingly, then quickly made his way to the next areas. His eyes scanned the crowd of participants until, finally, in Area 33, he spotted familiar figures: Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, their match was nearly over. From a distance, Wang Feng saw Wang Dong floating in the air, facing two opponents at once. With agility, Wang Dong activated his First Soul Skill. A golden light spread across his wings, and two guillotine wings appeared.
Despite being attacked by two opponents, Wang Dong was still able to overpower them and dominate. He knocked both of them down, and one of them fell on top of their third teammate who was behind them, causing them to fall out of the arena.
"Team Huo Yuhao wins this match," the teacher in charge of Area 33 announced, noting it down on the document in his hand.
A small cheer came from some of the students watching, especially from their own class. Although the match was brief, Wang Dong's performance still left a strong impression.
Wang Dong appeared proud of his performance during the match. Huo Yuhao looked happy because they had won their first match, and Xiao Xiao also seemed cheerful, clapping for Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao.
Ma Xiaotao slightly raised an eyebrow. "Seems like your friend is pretty amazing."
Wang Feng smiled faintly as he saw the proud and happy expressions on his friends' faces. "Yeah, they're really great," he replied softly.
Ma Xiaotao suddenly grinned, her eyes fixed on Wang Dong as he was leaving the arena. "If I'm not mistaken, that pink-haired boy's Martial Soul is the Goddess of Light Butterfly, right?"
"Yes, why?" asked Wang Feng.
Ma Xiaotao gave a faint smile as she continued to watch Wang Dong, who was stepping down from the arena. "It's nothing, just..."
Zhang Lexuan cut in. "Wang Feng, since you've already met them, the two of us will head to the dean's office."
Suddenly, Ma Xiaotao had the urge to tease the trio of Wang Feng, Wang Dong, and Huo Yuhao. She stepped closer and hugged Wang Feng in front of everyone's envious eyes. "Xiao Feng, remember. Come to my house tomorrow," she whispered right next to his ear.
Wang Feng's face flushed slightly as Ma Xiaotao hugged him publicly, especially when she whispered so close to his ear. The warmth of her breath, her flirtatious tone, and the sharp gleam in her eyes made his heart race. Still, he tried to maintain a calm expression and simply gave a small nod.
"Alright, Senior Xiaotao," Wang Feng replied shortly, not daring to meet her eyes.
Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao had just exited the exam arena when they saw Wang Feng at the edge. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's faces instantly lit up.
But when they saw a woman hugging Wang Feng, their cheerful expressions turned gloomy.
Wang Feng still stood stiffly as Ma Xiaotao let go of him. Her seductive smile made his cheeks burn.
"Don't forget\~" Ma Xiaotao whispered, glancing provocatively at Wang Dong.
Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao were clearly upset—Wang Dong wanted to march right over.
Huo Yuhao quickly held his friend back and whispered: "Calm down! Remember, we're disguised as boys!"
His eyes inadvertently drifted to compare Ma Xiaotao's ample chest to their own flat chests hidden under the uniform. A bitter feeling rose in his chest.
He whispered something to Wang Dong, and the two of them headed toward the dorm.
After Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan left, Wang Feng looked back at the arena. He only saw Xiao Xiao still watching another match.
"Xiao Xiao," Wang Feng called as he approached. "Do you know where Yuhao and Wang Dong went?"
Xiao Xiao turned, her eyes sparkling with meaning. "They already went back to the dorm."
Wang Feng's brow furrowed. "Do you know why they left so suddenly?"
A knowing smile played on Xiao Xiao's lips as she tilted her head. "You really don't understand why they left, do you?"
"Because I missed most of their match?" Wang Feng guessed, genuine confusion coloring his tone.
Xiao Xiao exhaled dramatically, shaking her head as she fixed him with an exasperated look. "Idiot."