Chapter 54

The vast majority of teachers, including the usually cold Zhou Yi stood up and clapped at this announcement.

Du Weilun waiting several minutes before continuing, "With that, the freshmen assessment has ended. The freshmen meeting will occur tomorrow afternoon, and the top three teams will receive their prizes while we divide you all into your classes for your first year."

With that, Du Weilun turned away and hurriedly left the Assessment Area. As he left, the referee helped to aid the medical staff to move the injured Zhu Lu, Cui Yajie, Dai Huabin and Wang Dong out of the arena. Before they left, however, Zhou Yi appeared next to them and fed Wang Dong with a strange pill. As he swallowed the pill, his body surprisingly glowed a faint silver before his wounds visibly healed.

Wang Dong quickly bowed and thanked Zhou Yi before excitedly running over to Yuhao and celebrating.

"We won!" He said, holding his hands and trying to spin Yuhao around with him, "We're the champions!��

Yuhao could only wryly smile at the childlike celebration his roommate was having.

The results for the freshmen assessment's final round spread throughout the entire school extremely fast. People were shocked and in awe that a team of two students had gone against the odds and won the freshman tournament. Their amazement only increased when the rumours behind the number of three-ringed Spirit Elders they had beaten to accomplish this feat were spread as well.

When Yuhao and Wang Dong went for dinner than night, they were surprised to run into their sect leader's Bei Bei and Tang Ya. The Tang Sect leaders kindly bought meals for them from the first window as they discussed what happened during the tournament.

As they continued to talk for over an hour, Bei Bei's voice turned thoughtful as he said, "Now that you've all passed the freshmen assessment, you'll be split into your respective classes. The assault and control systems are all part of the same family, and you two are on the same team, so you'll probably be placed in the same class. Both of you should've heard that our Tang Sect is famous for our hidden weapons. However, the appearance of soul tools has gradually caused hidden weapons to disappear from the stage of history. That's the main reason that our Tang Sect has fallen into decline. As such, we need to redefine our hidden weapons in order for the Tang Sect to re-emerge, but they can't be as simple as our previous hidden weapons. The only way that we can reforge our glory is by combining hidden weapons with soul tools. What do you two think about soul tools? After you formally become first-year students, do you want to study them?"

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao glanced at each other. Wang Dong replied first, "I don't really feel like learning how to forge a soul tool. Yuhao has a much faster cultivation speed than myself and I don't really want to slow myself down at all. That is why cultivation will be my main priority."

He looked at Yuhao for support, however, Yuhao, in turn, said, "I was originally not going to study soul tools, however, before I came to Shrek, I learn how to blacksmith for four years. While I wasn't taught how to create soul tools themselves, it should not be too difficult and take up too much time given my blacksmithing experience. While I still won't actively use them as a part of my combat strategy, unless I manage to create one that is extremely useful for me, I can still attempt to redefine the hidden weapons of Tang Sect. Plus creating soul tools would be a better source of income than the normal blacksmithing jobs I was planning on originally taking."

"Good! Good!" Tang Ya said, overjoyed.

Bei Bei reminded him, "Junior brother, you have to manage your time well. You have two martial spirits that both have a lot of potential, thus, you can't spend too much time on creating soul tools. After all, both spirit power and spirit rings are the foundation of a spirit master."

"Yes, Senior Brother. I will manage my time wisely. I can't have Wang Dong here catching up to me now, can I?" Yuhao answered, causing Wang Dong to pout at him.

Tang Ya then went on to explain the possible rewards that the two freshman champions could be receiving, with the opportunity to become a core disciple for the Martial Spirit Department. At this thought, she warned Yuhao that his status in the Martial Spirit Department may interfere with his ability to study soul tools.

Regardless, the status as a core disciple was something that both Wang Dong and Yuhao were looking forward to. Not only would the Academy give you more resources in order to ensure that you diligently pursue your studies and become an even stronger spirit master, but they would also be given the ability to eat from the most expensive dining hall window without cost and without a quantity limit. They couldn't help but slightly drool thinking on the extremely scrumptious and nutritious food that core disciples were able to eat daily.

The night passed very quickly once the sect members had split up, with Wang Dong and Yuhao both choosing to absorb the Mystic Water Pill now that the freshman assessment has finished, and they have sufficient time to completely absorb it. The next morning, after cultivating and absorbing the medicinal qualities of the pill, both Wang Dong and Yuhao took a nice, long, refreshing shower. Both of them have exceptional talent, so they did not have large quantities of impurities in their vessels and meridians. However, regardless of talent, there will always be some wastes that exist within.

After getting some breakfast, they made their way to Shrek Plaza. It was finally time for the students to be assigned to their official first-year classes and for the two roommates to receive their rewards.

The director of the Martial Spirit Department, Du Weilun walked to the front of the Shrek Plaza, alongside many other teachers including Yuhao's own teacher, Zhou Yi. She caught his gaze briefly and sent him a silent, small smile which he returned. As the chatter died down, Weilun spoke, "I'm sure that everyone already knows this, but the freshmen assessment's knock-out tournament has now ended. The top three places have also been decided. As such, I will now formally announce the top three teams and hand out their prizes. Third place in the freshmen assessment goes to Team Xiao Xiao. Team members: Xiao Xiao, Ma Qingshuang, and Leng Leng. Please step forward."

The three walked up to Du Weilun with Xiao Xiao standing in front. Their young faces were slightly flushed due to their excitement. Obtaining third place in the freshmen assessment had far surpassed their expectations and they felt proud as a part of class one!

"Second place goes to Team Dai Huabin. Team members: Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie. Step forward."

Applause rang out yet again, but Dai Huabin's team had no traces of excitement on their faces as they stepped forward, with the two girls nudging Huabin. Dai Huabin, while walking up still had a slightly lost expression on his face and he was limping slightly.

After pausing for a brief moment, Du Weilun used a slightly louder voice to continue speaking, "Next, can everyone enthusiastically cheer for the first-place champions of the freshmen assessment! They are…...Team Huo Yuhao! Team members: Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong!"

The crowd immediately burst into enthusiastic cheers.

A smile appeared in Du Weilun's eyes as he watched the two of them walk forward, indicating for them to stand in the middle. As he neared, the still slightly lost Dai Huabin, as if by instinct, slightly shied away from his presence.

Du Weilun looked back at the excited crowd as he continued, "Alright, I will now announce the prizes for the top three teams of the freshmen assessment. First, each of the members of the top three teams will receive a prize from the Academy itself. All of them will be able to request assistance from the Academy in order to obtain a spirit ring that he or she can withstand when the time arises. Furthermore, it will be a spirit ring that is most suitable for them."

Yuhao mentally sighed at hearing this. With his physique, bloodline, spiritual energy reserves and also his conscious spirit beasts able to seal away a spirit beasts origin energy, he can effectively absorb a spirit ring without caring for their age. There is no way for the academy to safely be told this, not to mention his process of gaining conscious spirit beasts in the first place, so he couldn't ask them to help him get a spirit beast in the tens or hundreds of thousands. It was not the right time to introduce the spirit beast contract technique that the original Huo Yuhao had created. Thus, this reward would only really put him at a loss if he took them up on it.

Du Weilun continued, "Secondly, both the first and second place team will be given one Western Spirit Mushroom, per person." As he said this, he swept his hand out, sending five perfectly sealed, black boxes out from his spatial ring to land in each of the two teams outstretched hands. The box was only roughly fifteen centimetres long and wide, which was more than enough, as the mushroom itself was only the size of a large pebble.

This caused even more excitement from the crowd. While the Western Spirit Mushroom was one of the cheapest and weakest immortal herbs, it was still classified as an immortal herb that would bring benefits to any spirit master. It would most likely cost the academy at least twenty thousand gold per herb!

He sighed and continued once more, "Thirdly, in light of both Team Yuhao's exceptional performance as a duo, and their lossless win-streak throughout the entire tournament, the Academy has also decided to award them something special. However, this reward will be kept secret by the Academy. When the class-division has been finished, the two of you can follow me to collect it."