Douluo Dalu 2: Reincarnated as the Auspicious Beast

This year's Shrek Academy freshmen had only three soul elders in total, and two of them were disciples of major forces, meaning they wouldn't become the key cultivation targets of the academy.

When the admissions teacher saw Wang Rui, who carried a recommendation letter from a small city in the Heavenly Soul Empire and seemed to have no notable background, they were overjoyed.

After verifying his soul power and age, the teacher immediately waived several subsequent tests for Wang Rui with a wave of his hand. However, Huo Yuqing still had to complete each test step by step.

Jiang Nannan and Wang Rui naturally accompanied her.

In the original story, Huo Gua directly skipped the entrance examination, so Wang Rui hadn't expected Shrek's admission tests to be so complicated, requiring step after step of evaluation.

For the final test, a group of freshmen followed the teacher to a relatively spacious area.

At the edge of the field, a group of boys and girls in purple uniforms stood together. Several of them greeted Jiang Nannan enthusiastically when they saw her, including a round-faced girl among them.

In the middle of the field, a few senior students were sparring with the freshmen.

The final test was also an old tradition of Shrek Academy.

"You have to last five minutes against a senior with three rings," the admissions teacher explained. "If you can force them to use their third soul skill, you will pass and can end the test early."

"For new students from the support or food systems, they only need to endure five minutes under the suppression of soul power from someone of the same level," he added.

Huo Yuqing was first in line.

"Who wants to go first?" the teacher asked the students in purple uniforms.

Just as the round-faced girl who knew Jiang Nannan eagerly raised her hand, a gloomy voice interrupted, "I'll go."

It was Tang Ya.

She had been standing behind a few students, and Wang Rui hadn't noticed her initially.

Tang Ya was also wearing a purple uniform. Unlike when Huo Yuqing had first met her, she now looked sullen and cold, with an unsettling aura. There was even a partially healed wound on her left cheek.

Her journey to obtain a soul ring hadn't gone smoothly. Not only did she fail to acquire an ideal ring, but Bei Bei had also been injured. Upon seeing Wang Rui and Huo Yuqing, who had once insulted Tang Sect, her mood naturally soured.

She cast a gloomy glance at Wang Rui and said coldly, "What's the matter? Aren't you being tested?"

"But I'm exempt since I'm at level 30." Wang Rui tilted his head and smiled at Tang Ya with a tone of mock politeness. "Senior, are you sure you can beat me?"

Tang Ya glared at him viciously, her beautiful eyes practically blazing with anger.

"Then, teacher, I will assess her." Tang Ya pointed at Huo Yuqing with a sharp gesture.

Jiang Nannan stepped forward to block Huo Yuqing.

She had heard about the conflict between Huo Yuqing and Tang Ya. Seeing Tang Ya's grim expression and her insistence on assessing Huo Yuqing, she could guess her intentions.

"It's inappropriate to bring personal grievances into a new student's assessment," Jiang Nannan said calmly.

Although she knew Tang Ya, they weren't in the same class and only had a nodding acquaintance. At this moment, Jiang Nannan saw no need to give Tang Ya face.

"Mind your own business!" Tang Ya snapped, glaring at her.

"Teacher, it's better to find someone else for the assessment. I'm afraid Tang Ya has some personal issues with Huo Yuqing," Jiang Nannan suggested coldly.

"Who dares interfere?!" Tang Ya's eyebrows arched sharply as she swept her gaze across the surrounding students.

These senior students helped with the freshman assessments primarily to earn battle credits needed for graduation.

For those with exceptional talent, who would surely graduate smoothly, the credits weren't important. However, for students with average talent or from humble backgrounds, these credits were vital.

After all, entering the battle zone once cost ten gold soul coins!

Moreover, everyone knew about Tang Ya's boyfriend—Bei Bei, the genius of the outer courtyard, whose reputation was well-known. No one wanted to offend her for a mere freshman who hadn't even enrolled yet.

The admissions teacher, whose strength was mediocre and even inferior to most regular instructors, also knew something about Bei Bei's background and was unwilling to provoke Tang Ya.

"Then Tang Ya will assess Huo Yuqing," the teacher ultimately relented.

Huo Yuqing's expression remained unchanged, but Wang Rui noticed a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

"Yuhao, come here," Wang Rui called her over and spoke to her via soul power transmission. "Tang Ya's skills mainly involve Blue Silver Grass, such as binding and parasitic abilities. The vines themselves aren't fast, so your spiritual detection should be able to handle them. However, you must be cautious of her sinister Tang Sect techniques. Watch out for hidden weapons, and don't get too close to her hands. The Tang Sect has a technique called Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, which allows them to create suction with their palms."

After a brief pause, Wang Rui continued, "She also has a special eye-training technique called Purple Demon Eyes, which can enhance her spiritual power and resistance. Keep an eye on that."

Huo Yuqing nodded seriously.

"Get ready." The teacher took out a soul tool timer.

"Tang Ya, level 31 control-type battle soul master, martial soul: Blue Silver Grass, and the Tang Sect leader." Tang Ya's voice was filled with malice, and she looked as though she wanted to devour Huo Yuqing.

"Huo Yuhao, level 16." Huo Yuqing responded in a steady tone.

As the teacher announced the start of the test, both sides activated their martial souls.

Golden light flickered in Huo Yuqing's eyes, and a thin white soul ring appeared behind her.

Meanwhile, purple-black vines rose around Tang Ya, coiling like snakes, while three yellow soul rings circled her body.

Wang Rui chuckled softly.

No wonder she was in such a bad mood—it seemed that the bad luck he had inflicted on her was working.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei had spent a month searching in the outskirts of the forest but failed to find a suitable thousand-year soul beast.

If she didn't obtain her third soul ring soon, she would have to leave Shrek Academy. Missing this opportunity would mean no one could help her hunt for a soul ring for another year, as Bei Bei would be busy with school.

Tang Ya wasn't willing to give up, so she had settled for a 900-year Mandala Snake.

Unfortunately, that snake had a ten-thousand-year elder. When it attacked Bei Bei, he sustained serious injuries protecting Tang Ya and was still recuperating on Sea God Island.

A month of frustration and setbacks had filled Tang Ya with venom. Even if she was venting her anger on someone else, so what?

(End of Chapter)