The next day!
Wang Li and Gorefa ate the breakfast delivered by the staff, rested for a bit, and then headed out.
Upon returning to the main campus, it was much livelier today. Yesterday, when they arrived, large sections of the campus were empty because Heaven Dou Royal Academy was inherently large, and its mere five to six hundred students, apart from attending classes, often practiced in the various simulated training environments on and below the mountains.
Normally, no outsiders came to the academy, but now there were. Wang Li's gaze swept across, noticing about thirty middle-aged men and women, who were likely the Deans of the Intermediate Soul Master Academies, and over fifty young men and women, who should be the graduates of those Intermediate Soul Master Academies.
As they approached, they saw that the competition arena and spectator seating were all present. Although it was an outdoor venue, it was spotless, indicating that staff cleaned it daily.
Gorefa led Wang Li to a quiet spot to sit down, waiting for the three Teachers to appear.
Not long after, the three Teachers walked over, dressed in noble black robes with gold trim. This was not their usual attire; it was very formal, a ceremonial dress exclusive to the Spirit Douluo rank, showing their high regard for today's event.
Behind them followed many Teachers and students from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, who would serve as the referees and opponents for today's assessment.
Soon, the three Teachers ascended the Chairman's platform. One of them stepped forward; he was very tall and old, but his aura was extremely powerful. Apart from the other two Teachers, no one could compare to him.
But at this moment, a smile appeared on his dignified face as he said:
"Thank you, Deans, for sending your academy's most outstanding graduates to our academy. There's no need to elaborate on the assessment methods and rules."
"Now, prepare for the assessment. Please wait a moment; our Teachers will soon come to collect the student files."
Down below, Gorefa quietly introduced to Wang Li:
"The one who just spoke is Meng Shenji, the Chairman of the Teacher Committee. The slightly plump one on the left is Bai Baoshan, the Vice-Chairman, and the thin one on the right is Zhi Lin, the Third Chairman..."
By the time Gorefa finished his introduction, the Teachers from Heaven Dou Royal Academy had already approached. Gorefa skillfully handed over Wang Li's file.
The Teacher looked at Wang Li beside Gorefa, a look of shock on his face. The graduation requirement for an Intermediate Soul Master Academy was to reach twenty spirit power before the age of eighteen, then hunt a Spirit Beast to obtain a spirit ring and become a Spirit Grandmaster.
But Wang Li's face was tender and young, definitely not that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth; at most, he was an eleven or twelve-year-old boy. In reality, he was only nine years old.
However, the Teacher quickly composed himself. They didn't need to feel bones or test spirit power; under the eyes of Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin, the three Spirit Douluo, no trick could be hidden.
Regardless of the situation, once he was on stage, it would be up to the three Teachers—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin—to decide.
The Teacher quickly left and, along with the other Teachers, handed all the collected files to Meng Shenji.
Meng Shenji took out the topmost file, opened it, glanced at it, and then said:
"Xueling Intermediate Soul Master Academy, Ai Xi, step forward!"
...
This was the assessment method: randomly calling people to the stage. Victory or defeat was not important; what mattered was showcasing one's characteristics. As long as they caught the eye of the three Teachers, they passed; otherwise, they did not.
On average, each match lasted three to five minutes. Although the time was short, it was enough to determine whether a Spirit Master was outstanding or not.
About an hour later, Meng Shenji opened the next file, glanced at it, and his pupils constricted. He could hardly believe his eyes. What did he see:
Liejia Intermediate Soul Master Academy...
Wang Li...
Nine years old...
Mutated Blue Silver Grass...
Twenty-fifth spirit power...
...
Taking a deep breath, Meng Shenji tried to remain calm:
"Liejia Intermediate Soul Master Academy, Wang Li, step forward!"
As his words fell, Wang Li heard his name, immediately jumped from his seat, and then leaped onto the arena.
His young, tender face caused a stir among the surrounding crowd, as he did not look like a graduate of an Intermediate Soul Master Academy.
Wang Li's opponent also walked out at this time: a young man around twenty years old, wearing a goose-yellow school uniform, with an arrogant expression, possibly a noble.
With the referee's command:
"Prepare yourselves, summon your Spirits!"
The noble youth's Spirit attached to him, transforming him into a white werewolf, with two hundred-year spirit rings floating around him.
Wang Li was also surrounded by Blue Silver Grass, similarly with two hundred-year spirit rings floating.
The noble youth, with a look of disdain, made the first move. His First Soul Skill, White Wolf's Attack, caused him to spit out white energy projectiles. Wang Li easily dodged them using Instant Step.
Following that, Wang Li's Blue Silver Grass, empowered by his First Soul Skill, surged towards the noble youth.
The noble youth tried to dodge. He was an attack system Spirit Master, so his speed was not fast. Unable to evade, he activated his Second Soul Skill, White Wolf's Protection, forming a white shield around himself, and was then firmly bound by the Blue Silver Grass.
His claws couldn't cut through the Blue Silver Grass. He could only expend a large amount of spirit power, continuously using his First Soul Skill. After finally blasting open a hole with great difficulty, he drilled out and charged directly at Wang Li.
Wang Li was a little surprised, but looking at the shield around him, he activated Explosive Feet and flashed out. With the boost in speed and strength, he kicked and shattered the shield, then kicked him in the chest. Accompanied by the sound of bones cracking, the noble youth howled and flew backward.
Wang Li landed and walked towards the noble youth. A stunned Teacher reacted quickly and stopped him:
"Stop, you've already won! No more fighting!"
Wang Li said innocently:
"Teacher, you've misunderstood me. I just wanted to help him heal his injuries!"
The Teacher was stunned by his words, but Wang Li then walked to the noble youth's side, squatted down, placed his hand above the noble youth's chest, and used his Second Soul Skill, 'Revival'.
At this moment, his spirit power transformed into life force, flowing into the noble youth's body. In less than ten seconds, the noble youth's complexion improved, his breathing became steady, and he was basically fully recovered, both internally and externally.
Seeing this, Wang Li withdrew his hand and stood up. But then, Zhi Lin, with a single leap, came from the Chairman's platform to his side.
He pinched and touched Wang Li's body repeatedly, then turned to Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan and said:
"I recommend this child enter the Heaven Dou Royal Battle Team Trainee Camp!"
Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan did not hesitate, speaking one after another:
"Agreed!"
"I also agree!"
The Heaven Dou Royal Battle Team Trainee Camp was not a normal class division within the academy, but a special class created by the three Teachers to prepare for the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition.
It comprised outstanding students under twenty years old with twenty-fifth spirit power or higher, including many Spirit Grandmasters with twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth spirit power, and Spirit Elders with thirty-first and thirty-second spirit power.
Currently, there were only about twenty people in it. According to their plan, over the next year or two, through elimination and selection, one main team and one second team would be decided!
The main team would receive a large amount of resources and support, becoming the absolute main force for the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition!