Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 127 A Perfunctory Inner Court Assessment!

Shrek Academy.

After arriving at the academy, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan immediately went to Xia Yu to register. At the same time, Zhu Ziyang also asked him to participate in this year's inner academy assessment.

Xia Yu was not surprised by his request and agreed immediately, jokingly saying that if he didn't get it, he would definitely go back to Class 1 and continue to be the class monitor.

Zhu Ziyang smiled. How could he not pass? To be honest, he was just going through the motions. If it weren't for upholding the rules of the inner academy, he wouldn't have needed to go through all that trouble to participate in the inner academy's assessment.

The inner academy's entrance exams are held at the same time as the outer academy's admissions. Generally, first-year students in both the outer and inner academies are considered freshmen, although the vast majority of first-year inner academy students are from the outer academy. Only a very small number of people skip the outer academy and directly enter the inner academy; such people are rare and very difficult to get into unless they are truly exceptionally talented.

That day, Zhu Ziyang arrived at Seagod Island, at the martial arts arena. This was the examination hall for the Inner Academy's assessment. The Inner Academy's assessment was simple: practical combat, one-on-one combat. Only those who completed the combat targets would pass the assessment.

On the training ground, all the students participating in this year's inner court assessment had arrived. Zhu Ziyang, dressed in a yellow second-year school uniform, stood out conspicuously among the group of students in black and purple uniforms. Many of the assessment participants turned their attention to him, curiously scrutinizing him. Zhu Ziyang, however, remained unfazed, ignoring their gazes.

At this moment, an assessment was underway in the martial arts arena. The examinee was a tall boy in a black school uniform. The boy had a full head of blond hair, an arrogant smile on his face, and exaggerated muscles on his body. His hands had transformed into huge tiger paws covered with white fur. However, Zhu Ziyang's gaze lingered on the boy's heterochromatic pupils.

The boy's name is Dai Yueheng, a sixth-year student in the outer academy, a level 51 Power Attack-type Battle Soul King, and his Martial Soul is the White Tiger. He is the eldest son of the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire. He has an extremely arrogant personality. Although he already meets the standards for the inner academy assessment, he insists on waiting until he enters the sixth year and reaches the Soul King realm before participating in the inner academy assessment.

It's worth mentioning that he was Ma Xiaotao's classmate in the outer academy, and they had participated in the Continental Elite Soul Master Competition together as a reserve team.

Dai Yueheng's examiner was a senior disciple from the Inner Academy, a seventh-ring Soul Saint. Dai Yueheng needed to remain undefeated against his opponent for a quarter of an hour to pass the test and become an Inner Academy disciple.

"Roar~" Dai Yueheng let out a tiger's roar, and his first, third and fifth spirit rings lit up at the same time. His body instantly expanded and enlarged by one size, the muscles on his arms and chest bulged, and his whole body exuded a terrifying aura, as if the surrounding air was dispelled.

"Is this the soul skill honed by the White Tiger Clan over tens of thousands of years? It's truly extraordinary!" Zhu Ziyang's expression changed, and he was secretly astonished.

The Dai family, known for their White Tiger Martial Soul, has developed a remarkably complete system of Soul Skills over tens of thousands of years of research and refinement. From the first to the seventh Soul Skill, it integrates offense and defense. While not the strongest combination, it is certainly the most suitable for everyone. With this combination, members of the Dai family, provided they possess decent talent, can generally reach the level of Soul Emperor or Soul Saint.

As expected of someone from the Dai family, Dai Yueheng was exceptionally arrogant and actually launched an attack on the examiner. He leaped into the air, raising a huge tiger paw and slamming it down towards the examiner.

Seeing Dai Yueheng launch an attack, the examiner remained expressionless but quickly retreated. At the same time, he instantly released his martial spirit, a long spear, dark and shiny, with a ferocious snake carved on the handle. The snake's mouth was wide open, and its forked tongue transformed into a winding spear blade, gleaming with a chilling light.

Blackwater Serpent Spear!

Seven spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and three black—rose behind the Serpent Spear Soul Saint. As the first spirit ring lit up, a layer of cold water ripples instantly covered the spear blade. Then, he thrust his hand forward, and the Serpent Spear flew out, directly striking Dai Yueheng's tiger paw.

The tiger's paw collided with the spear blade, producing a crisp metallic clang. Dai Yueheng then withdrew his hand, flipped over, and delivered a side kick, striking the Blackwater Serpent Spear. The Serpent Spear Soul Saint, wielding the spear with both hands, instantly exerted his power. The spear in his hands was like a nimble snake, the blade resembling a snake's head, striking Dai Yueheng repeatedly.

Unable to withstand the harassment, Dai Yueheng leaped backward, widening the distance between himself and the Serpent Spear Soul Saint. However, the Serpent Spear Soul Saint relentlessly pursued, his second soul ring illuminating, increasing his speed significantly. His spear instantly shot out like a venomous snake, aimed directly at Dai Yueheng. Seeing this, Dai Yueheng had no choice but to stop retreating and close in. His second soul ring lit up, unleashing a blazing white light that instantly engulfed the Black Water Serpent Spear.

However, before Dai Yueheng could even breathe a sigh of relief, the spear unexpectedly pierced through his White Tiger Blazing Light Wave and thrust towards his nose. His hair stood on end, and without thinking, he leaned back and fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding the spear's attack.

Dai Yueheng, lying on his back on the ground, suddenly brightened up. Taking advantage of the moment when the Serpent Spear Soul Saint was too stunned to retract his spear, he sprang up with a somersault and kicked at him. Seeing this, the Serpent Spear Soul Saint simply raised his left hand, grabbed Dai Yueheng's leg, and gently pushed him away.

Dai Yueheng wasn't annoyed. After regaining his footing, he immediately unleashed his fourth soul skill. Countless fist-sized golden orbs of light flew out from around his body, raining down on the Serpent Spear Soul Saint. Facing this dense barrage of golden orbs, the Serpent Spear Soul Saint simply spun his spear. The spear spun, transforming into an impenetrable barrier that easily blocked Dai Yueheng's attack.

The two continued their fight, exchanging blows evenly. One was giving it his all, while the other was deliberately holding back; a quarter of an hour passed quickly.

Dai Yueheng successfully passed the assessment and became an inner court disciple. Neither the students nor the examiners present expressed any dissatisfaction. After all, Dai Yueheng's strength was undeniable, and the inner court assessment was merely a formality; taking it too seriously meant certain defeat.

Following Dai Yueheng, several other sixth-year students passed the assessment without any major incidents. Although they weren't at the Soul King level like Dai Yueheng, they were all quite capable. Chen Zifeng had the highest soul power at level 45, while Yao Haoxuan had the lowest at level 42. All of them were outstanding students from the outer academy.

Time flew by, and it was Zhu Ziyang's turn to go on stage.

All eyes were on him. Everyone wanted to know just how talented this second-year student was, that he could participate in the inner academy's assessment at the age of twelve or thirteen.

Zhu Ziyang walked out of the training ground without changing his expression. Then, he saw one of the examiners step out from among the group of examiners. Upon seeing that person, Zhu Ziyang's expression immediately became strange, because his examiner was actually an acquaintance.

"Ziyang, you really didn't disappoint me! You're so promising!" The examiner's face was beaming with smiles, and her gentle voice was endearing. It was Han Ruoruo!

"Sister Ruoruo, it's you?" Zhu Ziyang asked with a smile, waving his hand helplessly. "Shouldn't my examiner be a Soul Emperor? You're a Soul Saint, after all. Do you expect me, a mere Soul Sect Master, to fight against a Soul Saint like you?"

"Hehehe, don't worry, how could I make things difficult for you? Your test is very simple. Just get within one meter of me within five minutes." Han Ruoruo covered her mouth and chuckled as she spoke.

"Oh, that's easy!" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

"Very good, let's get ready to begin." Han Ruoruo said, and then immediately released her martial soul. One after another, golden ropes appeared along with her soul rings, instantly dividing the space around Han Ruoruo into small spaces.

"Sister Ruoruo, please keep a close eye on me!"

Without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang instantly produced the Life-Saving Scythe in his hand, its four spirit rings—one yellow, two purple, and one black—shocking the surrounding students. His right leg glowed faintly, and with a swift movement, Zhu Ziyang took a step, seemingly walking through the air. With each step he took, the surrounding space trembled. As he ascended to a height of three meters in the air, Han Ruoruo was already somewhat confused, not understanding what Zhu Ziyang was about to do.

However, the moment Zhu Ziyang took the final step, Han Ruoruo instantly understood. Zhu Ziyang's right foot landed lightly, and a spatial tremor instantly reached Han Ruoruo. Han Ruoruo relaxed, and the golden ropes binding her loosened. Zhu Ziyang seized the opportunity without hesitation, activating his second soul skill. Holding the World-Soothing Scythe high, he leaped down from the air, cleaving through the dense wall of golden ropes, and landed steadily beside Han Ruoruo.

Han Ruoruo smiled helplessly; she had actually been tricked.

(End of this chapter)