"Hehe! That's just perfect," Yu Beibei laughed. "I've been wanting to spar with Ziyang to see how far apart we are."
"Count me in too!" Xu Sanshi chimed in.
"Sure, I'm always ready," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile.
"I heard from Xiao Ya that you've already reached level 28, Beibei?" Jiang Nannan asked curiously.
"Yes," Yu Beibei confirmed. "I just broke through a few days ago."
"And it's all thanks to me, right?" Xu Sanshi boasted. "If I hadn't given you that Juyuan Pill, there's no way you'd have broken through so quickly!"
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Young Master Xu," Beibei laughed, lightly teasing him.
None of them noticed the odd looks on Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan's faces.
"Sigh, you're all on the verge of becoming Soul Elders, and I'm still stuck at level 22. It's so hard…" Tang Ya sighed, visibly discouraged.
"Xiao Ya…" Beibei wanted to comfort her but didn't know how. He remembered what Mu En had told him and felt even more urgency—he hoped he could get that "thing" soon.
"Oh, right! Since you're almost a Soul Elder, why not let Zhu Ziyang help you pick your third soul ring, Beibei?" Tang Ya had already bounced back from her earlier gloom and changed the subject with her usual lively energy.
Her sudden mood shift made Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and Xue Weiwei all inwardly marvel—no wonder she was always so cheerful.
"Haha, no need to trouble Ziyang," Yu Beibei declined gently. "My family elders have already picked the soul beast for my third ring. I just need to break through first."
"Oh, okay," Tang Ya nodded thoughtfully.
"As far as I know," Zhu Ziyang added, "the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan's first three rings are typically fixed anyway. I'd only be interfering if I gave advice."
"Hmph! You nobles have it good," Xue Weiwei grumbled. "You've got people to find soul beasts for you. Unlike us, who have to hunt them ourselves."
Jiang Nannan nodded in agreement.
"Hehe…" Beibei could only laugh awkwardly in response.
"Don't worry," Zhu Ziyang reassured, taking Jiang Nannan's hand. "If we place in the top three, the academy will help us find soul beasts too. Nannan, when the time comes, I'll make sure they get you a Silver Moon Armored Beast soul ring!"
For the top three teams in the freshman assessment, every member earned a reward: the right to have the academy help them obtain a soul ring of their choice, one that matched their capabilities and wishes. This reward was extremely valuable—and permanent. Even after graduation, the privilege remained valid. Shrek Academy would do everything possible to fulfill the request, even if it meant securing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
This was a privilege normally reserved for inner court disciples.
"Mm!" Jiang Nannan nodded, eyes filled with anticipation.
The freshman assessment continued in full swing.
Zhu Ziyang's team won six more matches over days two and three, all with ease. Their record: eight wins, zero losses, solidifying their first-place standing in Arena 12. Only one match remained.
On the fourth day, the final day of the ranking phase, they arrived early in the morning.
Twelve matches were scheduled for that day, so everyone had to wake up extra early. After a quick breakfast, they headed to the arena. Everyone looked tired—these three days had been exhausting. But the end was in sight.
The day's first match started quickly.
"Ranking Match 34: Class Three's Lu Shaoyou, Du Shaofu, Wang Shaowei vs. Class Five's Ou Zeyu, Wang Bao'er, Li Xia," referee Liu Xue called out.
While the match began, Zhu Ziyang's team headed to a corner to rest.
"Same as always—unless we're facing a team of full Grandmasters, I won't step in," Zhu Ziyang told Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya.
"No problem! Just leave it to me and Nannan!" Tang Ya replied confidently, clinging to Jiang Nannan's arm and patting her chest proudly.
After the first match against Lu Shaoyou's team (all Grandmasters), their remaining seven opponents had only two teams with a single Grandmaster each—barely level 21—and Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya handled them easily.
So except for the fifth match, where Zhu Ziyang had stepped in again, he had not needed to fight in the others.
Soon, it was time for their final match.
They already knew who their opponents were—only one team remained they hadn't faced.
Liu Xue didn't waste time with extra words. She announced:
"Arena 12, Ranking Match 39: Class One's Gao Hongyue, Qiu Ning, Jiang Yutong vs. Class Four's Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya. Both teams, enter the arena."
Zhu Ziyang's team entered first as usual—Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya up front, Zhu Ziyang behind.
Their opponents, three girls, looked nervous and heavy-hearted. They couldn't believe their bad luck—three straight matches against undefeated teams. At this point, they were practically numb.
The three girls lined up on the other side.
"Begin!" Liu Xue declared.
Gao Hongyue's team quickly summoned their martial souls. They knew their chances of winning were slim, but if they didn't even try, their homeroom teacher would expel them immediately.
Gao Hongyue: Martial soul – Sharp-tailed Swift, with one yellow soul ring.
Qiu Ning: Martial soul – Thunder-pattern Spider, with eight lightning-etched spider legs and one yellow ring.
Jiang Yutong: Martial soul – Water Vine, a water-attribute plant soul, also one yellow ring.
Seeing their opponents, Zhu Ziyang retreated to the arena's edge. Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya stepped forward, releasing their martial souls—four glowing yellow rings rose behind them, facing off against the other team's three.
"Hongyue, look—Zhu Ziyang isn't planning to fight again!" Qiu Ning exclaimed with relief.
"Then let's first defeat Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya. Maybe then we'll have a chance against him!" Gao Hongyue responded. Still, she looked very serious—their opponents had four rings between them; they only had three.
"Yutong, control. Ningning, let's go!" she ordered.
Her body flickered, and her first ring lit up—creating four illusions of herself, surrounding Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya.
Soul Skill: Phantom (Sharp-tailed Swift)
Qiu Ning and Jiang Yutong activated their skills as well—a net of electrified spider silk and a web of watery vines flew toward their opponents.
But Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya weren't fazed.
Jiang Nannan used her first soul skill: Moonshadow Body, doubling her speed. She easily dashed through the nets and past the phantoms, heading straight for Jiang Yutong.
Tang Ya used her Ghost Shadow Step to evade the nets as well. Her second ring lit up, and a starlight-infused Blue Silver Grass wrapped around her. She then charged at Gao Hongyue.
Jiang Yutong tried to defend herself with her Water Vine, with Qiu Ning's support. Eight crackling spider legs came at Jiang Nannan.
But Jiang Nannan ignored her completely. She dodged the attacks effortlessly and reached Jiang Yutong, grabbing her waist and hurling her out of the arena.
Liu Xue caught her with ease.
Meanwhile, Gao Hongyue was stunned to see Tang Ya charging directly at her.
Wasn't she a control-type Soul Master? Why did she fight like a power-type?!
She hesitated—her body was fragile, and she didn't dare collide directly. She tried to dodge, slowing down…
But that hesitation was her downfall.
"You fell for it!" Tang Ya grinned and stopped abruptly. Her first ring lit up—a Blue Silver Net launched and trapped Gao Hongyue instantly.
Then, with a flick of her hand, Tang Ya sent another vine to bind the net and flung her out of the arena.
Only Qiu Ning was left, facing two opponents alone. After a symbolic attempt at resistance, she too was defeated—thrown out by Jiang Nannan.
"Match over! Class Four's Zhu Ziyang team wins!" Liu Xue declared, catching Qiu Ning and marking the results.
She smiled. Nine wins in a row—at this rate, Zhu Ziyang's team was almost certainly this year's freshman champions.
The trio walked off the field.
"Nice and clean," Zhu Ziyang praised Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya with a smile.
"Of course!" Tang Ya replied proudly, stretching. "Finally done! That was exhausting!"
"Yeah, it's over at last," Jiang Nannan agreed.
"Haha—don't celebrate too soon. We still have the knockout rounds," Zhu Ziyang reminded them, bursting their bubble.
"Ugh! We know!" Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya groaned in unison, rolling their eyes at him.