CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Massive guillotine blades swung, slamming into grooves with showers of sparks, metallic shrieks chilling the air.
Blades rose and fell in rapid succession, BOOM! BOOM! echoing across the courtyard—a symphony of tension and peril.
"Feeling good!" Xie Xie cracked his knuckles, eyes blazing with eagerness.
As an Agility-Attack Soul Master—this was his stage!
Tang Wulin studied the blades' arcs, calculating safe paths.
"Uh…" Xu Xiaoyan gulped, staring at the whirring death-traps.
"You'll all pass… but what about me?"
"Don't worry—I've got you," Fang Yang soothed softly.
"Mm," she looked up at him, fear melting in his calm gaze.
Gu Yue stood serene, utterly unfazed by the trial.
Fang Yang turned to Wang Jinxi: "Be careful."
Zhang Yangzi nodded in silent agreement—years of partnership needed no words.
"I'll be fine," Wang Jinxi growled, resolve hardening.
He activated the Bone Dragon King, skeletal armor sheathing his frame.
"Gu Yue—you first. I'll take Xiaoyan," Fang Yang ordered.
Gu Yue understood instantly, eyes glinting with insight.
At the gate, Shen Yi raised her voice:
"Three! Two! One—BEGIN!"
Seven blurs shot forward!
- Xie Xie led, golden light weaving through falling blades
- Tang Wulin followed, Blue Silver Emperor vines sensing danger
- Gu Yue danced like a butterfly, steps perfectly timed to blade-fall
- Fang Yang cradled Xu Xiaoyan, Three Thousand Thunder Moves blurring them through gaps
- Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi flowed as one, shadows and bone shielding their passage.
Xu Xiaoyan clung to Fang Yang's neck, buried in his shoulder, safe in his storm.
"All full marks!" Shen Yi announced, masking awe.
This gauntlet had shattered countless applicants—yet they'd danced through it.
---
Shrek Sea God Pavilion Observation Room
Elders watched the flawless trials, nodding in approval.
"So these are Zhuo Shi's disciples? Impressive," one elder mused.
Silver Moon Douluo Cai Yue snorted: "Bold enough to shatter the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King's mural…"
"It's just a painting! Old Li didn't care—why should you?" another elder retorted.
Cai Yue huffed, storming out silently.
---
"This way!" Shen Yi led them to the Main Teaching Building's second floor.
Walls gleamed white, etched with golden soul-guided schematics.
"Soul-Guided Device blueprints!" Xu Xiaoyan gasped—her Mecha Design major made this unmistakable.
"This trial tests your specialty," Shen Yi explained. "Show one unique skill."
Then—three examiners entered:
- An elderly woman leaning on an ancient sandalwood cane
- Two middle-aged men trailing respectfully behind her.
The old woman shuffled to the central table, seating herself with regal authority.
The men waited until she sat before taking flanking seats.
Shen Yi stood deferentially aside.
"Begin, Xiao Yi!" the elder croaked—voice iron-willed.
"Yes, Elder Cai!" Shen Yi bowed, then turned to the students. "Who goes first?"
"Me!" Xie Xie stepped forward, bowing deeply.
Four black soul rings blazed beneath his feet.
His Space Time Dagger flashed, Space Time Dragon phantom coiling behind him.
Dragon aura crashed over the examiners.
The male judges exchanged stunned glances.
"Ten-thousand-year rings… with a dragon-type weapon martial soul?" Elder Cai narrowed her eyes, intrigued.
Xie Xie smirked, then slashed his dagger—a spatial rift tore open—he vanished, reappearing meters away.
"A spatial dragon-type martial soul?!" Elder Cai finally showed surprise.
"Excellent—dragon martial soul with spatial affinity. Pass. Full marks."
"Thank you, Examiner," Xie Xie bowed—grin barely contained.
"Next," Elder Cai nodded.
Tang Wulin approached, bowing respectfully.
"Begin," she said flatly—she remembered the boy who shattered the mural.
Tang Wulin inhaled, right hand rising—Blue Silver Emperor bloomed.
Blue-green vines unfurled, pulsing with pure life energy, luminescent patterns glowing.
"BLUE SILVER EMPEROR?!" Elder Cai leapt up, face etched with shock.
"Your martial soul is the BLUE SILVER EMPEROR?!"
The male examiners shot to their feet, disbelief written plain.
Blue Silver Emperor—the martial soul of Tang San, Sea God himself!
Even Tang Ya, former Tang Sect leader, had only ordinary Blue Silver Grass—evolved to Emperor only through Huo Yuhao's aid!
Its bloodline was strictly single-lineage—requiring both male and female plants to coexist! (Author's Note: Fanon!)
"Are you of the Tang Clan?!" Elder Cai demanded, urgent.
Tang Wulin blinked, puzzled, but answered truthfully: "Yes—I'm Tang Wulin."
Elder Cai inhaled sharply, composing herself.
She sat slowly, cane tapping the floor:
"Pass. Full marks."
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