Douluo Continent II: The Dragon King Suppresses the World!

Chapter 21 Rewards

early morning.

Sunlight, like shimmering golden gauze, gently spilled across Shrek Square. All the new students who had passed the assessment gathered here, spirited and full of anticipation, quietly awaiting the upcoming class assignment ceremony. Soon, Du Weilun, the director of the Martial Soul Department's Academic Affairs Office, surrounded by more than a dozen teachers, strode confidently to the front of the students.

Du Weilun, clutching a folder, wore a kind smile as his gaze slowly swept over the group of energetic students. Then, he cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice, "As you all know, the freshman assessment elimination round has concluded successfully, and the top three have been determined. Now, I will formally announce their results and the rewards they will receive. Third place in the freshman assessment goes to Huang Chutian's team, consisting of Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo. Step forward."

Indeed, Huang Chutian's team, who had been defeated by Ye Qi'an and his group in the previous competition, surprisingly achieved a commendable third place this time. To be fair, they were quite lucky; in a contest solely based on individual skill, they probably wouldn't have won.

Led by Huang Chutian, the three, their faces flushed and brimming with excitement, walked out together and stood before Du Weiren. The young man's face was slightly red with emotion; achieving third place had clearly far exceeded their initial expectations!

The entire first-year student erupted in thunderous applause, the enthusiastic applause seemingly reaching the heavens. After round after round of fierce elimination competitions, only a little over three hundred first-year students remained, a decrease of nearly two-thirds compared to the number at the beginning of the semester.

"Second place, Dai Huabin's team, team members are Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie. Step forward," Du Weilun then announced loudly.

Applause erupted again like a tidal wave, but after Dai Huabin and the other two walked out, there was no joy on their faces. Dai Huabin, in particular, had a tense face, his head slightly lowered, and his eyes even had a few bloodshot veins.

Du Weilun paused slightly, seemingly composing himself, before raising his voice slightly and saying, "Now, please give a warm round of applause to welcome the final champions of our freshman assessment. They are Wang Dong's team and Ye Qi'an's team. Due to some special reasons, the two teams are tied for first place."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire stadium erupted in deafening cheers, a sound as powerful as surging waves.

When Du Weiren made the announcement, Huo Yuhao and his two companions were slightly taken aback. In their minds, their team should be called Huo Yuhao's team. However, amidst the thunderous cheers and enthusiastic applause from the many first-year students, the three dared not be negligent and quickly stepped forward. However, as they walked forward, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao deliberately lagged behind by half a step, allowing Huo Yuhao to walk in front.

Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena appeared quite calm; for them, winning or losing the competition was not important. For Ye Qi'an, Shrek Academy was merely a temporary stop on his life's journey; and for Gu Yuena, wherever Ye Qi'an was, that was her home.

Seeing the five of them walk forward together, Du Weiren smiled with admiration and gestured for them to stand in the center of the square.

Du Weilen solemnly announced, "Alright, now I will announce the rewards for the top three teams in the freshman assessment. The top three teams will all receive a unified reward from the academy, and each member can request a spirit ring from the academy when needed, and the academy will assist them in obtaining a spirit ring that is within their means and most suitable for them."

Upon hearing this, the first-year students erupted in surprised exclamations. This reward was tantamount to a solemn promise from the academy, meaning that their next spirit ring would inevitably be a Limit Break spirit ring.

Du Weilun continued, "In view of the outstanding performance and undefeated record of the champion teams Wang Dong and Ye Qi'an throughout the competition, the academy has decided to award them a special prize, which will be kept confidential. You can come with me to collect it after the class assignments are completed."

Hearing that there would be a special reward, everyone couldn't help but feel curious. This was the significant difference between the champion and the second and third place winners.

Duveln said, "Alright, you can rejoin the team now."

The eleven people, including Ye Qi'an, returned to their original positions as instructed.

Du Weilun said earnestly, "The quality of this year's freshmen is even better than in the past. I hope you can continue your efforts. Remember, hard work pays off. No matter how talented you are, you will never reap good rewards without hard work. Shrek Academy is the number one Soul Master Academy on the continent. I sincerely hope that you will all graduate smoothly and achieve outstanding results. In view of the outstanding performance of some freshmen in this year's freshman competition, the academy has specially approved a group of students to become core disciples of the outer academy. Now I will announce the list."

Shrek Square fell silent, because everyone knew that core disciples wouldn't just appear in the top three teams!

Du Weilun opened the folder in his hand and read carefully: "Based on the comprehensive performance of the new students in the assessment, the core disciples who have been approved by the academy are: Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Ning Tian, ​​and Wu Feng."

When Du Weilun mentioned the core disciples, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's names appeared first, both showing obvious excitement. However, to their surprise, Huo Yuhao's name did not appear after them, nor did Ye Qi'an or Gu Yuena's names. Instead, Dai Huabin's name appeared directly, which was truly unexpected and puzzling.

As Du Weiren continued reading, they still held onto a sliver of hope, but until the very end, they still didn't hear the three names.

Huo Yuhao was stunned. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, who were standing next to Huo Yuhao, naturally sensed his unusual behavior.

Wang Dong quickly grabbed Huo Yuhao's arm, fearing he might do something inappropriate in the heat of the moment. But he really didn't know what to say. After all, he and Xiao Xiao had become core disciples, while Huo Yuhao hadn't. He couldn't imagine what Huo Yuhao was thinking at that moment.

Du Weilun continued, "Given that some freshmen, despite lacking in talent and ability, still demonstrated outstanding performance in the freshman assessment, the academy has decided to grant them the status of core disciples temporarily until the end of this academic year. If they make a breakthrough in next year's promotion exam, they will be considered for formal core disciple status. The list is as follows: Huo Yuhao, Cui Yajie, Huang Chutian, Long Xiangyue, and Nanmen Yun'er. That concludes the announcement."

Huo Yuhao's gaze was slightly vacant, and the resentment in his heart gradually subsided. He silently thought to himself: I am indeed lacking in ability; after all, I'm the only one whose cultivation is below level twenty. But why are Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena here? Why aren't they among the core disciples or the candidates?

Huo Yuhao wasn't the only one who thought this way; others, including the first-year students, had the same question. Ye Qian'an's team's individual strength could easily crush them, so why was this the result?

Du Weilun clearly saw what they were thinking. He cleared his throat and explained, "You all probably have questions about why Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena were not included in the core disciples or the candidate list. The reason is simple: their strength surpasses that of all of you. After careful consideration by the academy's higher-ups, they can directly enter the inner academy and become inner academy disciples of Shrek Academy."

These words caused an uproar. No one expected that Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena could enter the inner courtyard directly. Huo Yuhao and the others stared wide-eyed, their doubts finally answered.

Du Weilun continued, "The requirements for inner court disciples are extremely strict. The fact that Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena were able to receive such an honor is enough to prove that their talent and potential far exceed those of ordinary people. I hope that all students will take them as role models and strive to improve themselves."

Next came the class division, with the entire first year clearly divided into four classes. Class 1 mainly consisted of offensive and control-type Soul Masters, Class 2 consisted of defensive and agile-type Soul Masters, Class 3 consisted of support-type Soul Masters, and Class 4 consisted of Soul Masters and Weapon Soul Masters with various special attributes, including food-type and healing-type Soul Masters.

Undoubtedly, Class One is the strongest overall, and Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao were all assigned to this class. The strongest member of Class Two is undoubtedly Xie Huan Yue, who excels in defense. Class Three's support-type members don't refer to all support-type Soul Masters, but rather to Battle Soul Masters and Weapon Soul Masters who can directly provide support in battle. As for Class Four, it consists of more hybrid Soul Masters. Although Ye Qian and Gu Yue Na are inner court disciples, due to their age, they are currently studying in the outer court and have also been assigned to Class One.

Almost every grade is divided into classes in this way, except that the higher the grade, the fewer people are in each class. Shrek Academy's dropout rate has always been extremely high. Even the number of students who can successfully graduate from the outer academy is no more than fifty each year. In other words, it would be quite good if 20% of the current 300-plus students made it to the end.

Next was an introduction of the homeroom teachers for each class. Each class had two homeroom teachers. The teachers in charge of Ye Qi'an and his classmates were the original homeroom teacher, Zhou Yi, and Wang Yan, who highly valued Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena. Although he was very interested in Huo Yuhao's original martial soul, he was even more curious about the rare dragon martial soul.

"Alright, everyone, please return to the teaching building according to the latest class assignments, led by your respective class teachers. You five, come with me to collect your rewards," Director Du Weilun announced.

Ye Qi'an and his group of five followed Du Weilun to the teachers' office area located behind the senior teaching building. Du Weilun's office was on the top floor. The office room was large, but it did not have much fancy decoration.

Du Weilun smiled slightly, gestured to the sofa, and said gently, "Please sit down. Huo Yuhao, don't feel guilty. As you've seen, besides you, there are also students from the top three teams who didn't become core disciples. Your performance was very good. If you have an amazing performance in the second-year assessment, the academy will consider promoting you to a formal core disciple."

Huo Yuhao respectfully said to Du Weilun, "Director Du, I will definitely work hard. Thank you for your concern."

Du Weilun nodded, and a large ruby ​​ring on his right hand flashed, revealing a leather pouch in his hand. The pouch seemed to be a soul tool as well, with some dark patterns on the brown leather. Upon closer inspection, one could feel subtle soul power fluctuations on it. He then handed the pouch to Wang Dong.

After carefully storing the soul bones, Du Weilun saw them to the door. The three respectfully bid him farewell and left the teaching building. Only after seeing Huo Yuhao and the others off did Du Weilun return to his office, as he couldn't possibly allow the three of them to be present when he was about to give Ye Qi'an and the others their rewards.

Du Weilun returned to his office, looked at Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena, and smiled mysteriously. He then took out an exquisite box from his ring and handed it to Ye Qi'an.

Ye Qi'an took the box but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he looked at Du Weilun with a questioning look in his eyes.

Du Weilun said, "Open it and take a look. This is a reward specially prepared for you by the academy to congratulate you on entering the inner academy."

After Ye Qi'an opened the box, a ball of golden light emerged from it and slowly floated in mid-air under the watchful eyes of Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena.

It was a bone with five sharp blades, about the size of a palm. The five blades looked very sharp, and when Ye Qi'an saw it for the first time, he felt an impulse.

"This, this is... the soul bone attached to the right paw of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear?" Ye Qi'an exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Du Weiren smiled slightly and said, "Didn't expect that, did you? That's right, your reward is this dark gold dinosaur claw bear's right paw external soul bone, which is just over ten thousand years old."

"Why would the academy give me an external soul bone? The value of an external soul bone is no less than that of a 100,000-year-old soul bone, and may even be greater." Ye Qi'an did not take it, but looked at Du Weiren and said.

Du Weiren smiled and explained, "The reason the academy is rewarding you with such a precious external soul bone is precisely because of the outstanding talent and potential you have demonstrated. In your hands, this external soul bone will surely be able to play its greatest role."

In fact, Du Weilun knew that the dark gold dinosaur claw bear's right paw external soul bone was specially prepared for Ye Qi'an and the others by the person above. Moreover, that person also valued Ye Qi'an highly and had guided him, so he could be considered half a teacher. A teacher's reward to a student cannot be too stingy.

After listening to Du Weilun's explanation, Ye Qi'an nodded solemnly and reached out to take the soul bone attached to the right paw of the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.

Gu Yuena watched as Ye Qi'an held the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's right paw with its attached soul bone. Although she hated humans hunting soul beasts, this soul bone was indeed suitable for Ye Qi'an and could bring a certain degree of improvement to Ye Qi'an's strength.

Du Weiren nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good, then go back and study how to fuse it carefully. Remember, the process of fusing a soul bone may involve some pain and risks, but as long as you persevere, you will definitely reap huge rewards."

After saying goodbye to Du Weilun, Ye Qi'an and Gu Yuena left the office. As soon as they stepped out, they both stopped in their tracks.

Ye Qi'an looked at Gu Yuena and asked, "Can I absorb this soul bone?"

Gu Yuena nodded and said, "It should be possible. Although possessing the Golden Dragon King Martial Soul means that it cannot coexist with other soul beast soul bones, there are always exceptions. External soul bones and Dragon King-level bones can be absorbed by it. By Dragon King-level bones, I mean Dragon Kings that are at the same level as us."

Ye Qi'an breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "That's good, but Dragon King-level bones are extremely rare for me."

.........

(End of this chapter)