Chapter 19: with translation of chapter title

Students who can get into Shrek Academy generally pass the recommendation letter hurdle; in other words, they mostly come from good families, and many of them already knew each other before arriving at the academy.

Translation: "In fact, forming the groups didn't even need five minutes."

Seeing that the students had finished forming teams, Wang Yan nodded in satisfaction.

He said, "Let the class monitor and vice monitor fight the first bout as a warm‑up: Tang Wulin and Huo Yuhao's team versus Zhou Sicheng and Zhang Na'er's team."

Translation: "Students who could come to Shilake Academy generally had already passed the recommendation letter hurdle; in other words, they mostly came from good backgrounds, and many of them already knew each other before arriving at the academy."

"Due to time, we won't bother with introductions—let's begin."

As his words faded, two yellow soul rings rose from Zhou Sicheng's feet, and at the same moment a book appeared in his hand, emitting a mysterious glow.

Translation: "While Wang Yan was explaining the rules, most of them had already decided on their partners, so within two minutes the students had basically finished forming teams."

Even Zhang Na'er, the girl standing beside Zhou Sicheng, couldn't help but flash a hint of contempt on her face.

Translation: "Tang Wulin naturally chose to partner with Huo Yutong; in this era he was basically an unregistered citizen, and in the whole class he could name fewer than a handful of people, so asking him to pick anyone else would truly be too difficult for him."

He still wore a carefree smirk, but his eyes were locked on Tang Wulin with utter seriousness.

The pages of the book flipped rapidly, the two yellow soul rings flared, and two beams shot from it—one becoming a yellow‑glowing giant bear, the other a tiger wreathed in raging flames.

Translation: "Seeing that the students had finished forming teams, Wang Yan nodded satisfactorily."

Naturally he also has his own pride; after personally witnessing Tang Wulin and Dai Huabin's battle, he admits his strength is inferior to Tang Wulin's, but that doesn't mean he wants to lose.

In his view, it's not impossible—Tang Wulin is undoubtedly strong, but Huo Yuhao is clearly different and represents the team's weak point.

The two beams of light struck him, and Zhou Sicheng felt his soul power circulate faster, his body grew lighter, and his eyes brightened involuntarily.

However, at that moment a sudden, excruciating headache hit him, as if an invisible hammer had struck his head, causing him to jerk backward and fall flat on his back.

Although these summons aren't especially important to him, once they dissipate they need a full day to re‑condense, so he won't be able to take part in any further battles today.

Yes.

"Thanks." Zhou Sicheng gave a wry smile and said, "Wulin, your golden dragon claw is just too strong—your attack power must be at least Soul Sovereign level, right?"

Let's re-list the user lines exactly as given:

One second he was popping champagne, the next he was knocked flat, and he couldn't even muster any energy.

"Sorry, I didn't control my strength well—should I take you to the infirmary?"

When Wang Yan explained the rules, most of them had already decided on their partners, and within two minutes the students had basically formed their teams.

Tang Wulin naturally chose to partner with Huo Yutong; in this era he is essentially an unregistered black‑household, and in the whole class he can name at most a handful of people, so asking him to pick anyone else would be truly difficult for him.

Seeing that the students had finished forming teams, Wang Yan nodded in satisfaction.

He said, "Let our class monitor and vice monitor fight the first bout as a warm‑up—Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong's team versus Zhou Sichen and Zhang Nai'er's team."

He said: "The first battle will be led by our Class Monitor and Vice Class Monitor as a warm-up, the Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong team versus the Zhou Sichen and Zhang Nai'er team."

Seeing Tang Wulin look at him, Zhou Sichen smiled and waved, his expression completely relaxed.

Under Wang Yan's command, the students stepped aside, clearing a space for Tang Wulin and Zhou Sichen.

Under Wang Yan's command, the students stepped aside, clearing a space for Tang Wulin and Zhou Sichen.

The Tang Wulin and Zhou Sichen teams stood thirty meters apart, facing each other.

Due to time constraints, we'll skip the introductions—let's start.

As his words faded, two yellow soul rings rose from beneath Zhou Sichen's feet, and simultaneously a book appeared in his hand, radiating a mysterious light.

As his words fell, two yellow soul rings rose from Zhou Sichen's feet; at the same time, a book appeared in his hand, emitting a mysterious glow.

The girl behind him held a splendid staff, also encircled by two yellow soul rings.

Upon seeing the soul‑ring setup of those few, the onlooking students immediately burst into whispered chatter.

Upon seeing the soul ring configurations of those few, the onlooking students immediately burst into whispers.

Even the girl named Zhang Na'er standing beside Zhou Sichen couldn't help but flash a hint of contempt on her face.

When Tang Wulin and Dai Huabin clashed, not everyone was in the classroom—Zhang Na'er had already left, so she didn't see their fight firsthand and doesn't fully grasp Tang Wulin's strength.

When Tang Wulin and Dai Huabin clashed, not everyone was in the classroom; Zhang Nai'er had already left the room, so she didn't personally witness their fight and doesn't fully understand Tang Wulin's strength.

Two optimally matched Soul Masters versus two sub‑optimally matched Soul Masters—could they still lose? At that moment, Zhou Sichen suddenly spoke.

Two optimally matched Soul Elders versus two suboptimally matched soul masters—could they still lose? At that moment, Zhou Sichen suddenly spoke.

He still wore a cynical, carefree smile, but his eyes were locked on Tang Wulin without blinking, utterly serious.

He still wore a carefree smile at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were fixed on Tang Wulin without blinking, utterly serious.

"Our Class Monitor is really strong; underestimating him will come at a cost~"

The book's pages flipped quickly, the two yellow soul rings lit up simultaneously, and two beams of light shot from his book—one became a giant bear glowing with yellow light, the other a tiger wreathed in fierce flames.

The pages flipped rapidly, the two yellow soul rings glowing simultaneously; two beams of light shot from his book, one turning into a giant bear radiating yellow light, the other into a fierce tiger whose whole body was wreathed in flames.

Zhou Sichen's martial soul is a wondrous one called the Treasure Canon; it transforms the owner of the absorbed soul rings into a phantom spirit that he can command.

Zhou Sichen's martial soul is a remarkable one called the Tome; its effect is to transform the owner of the absorbed soul rings into a phantom spirit for him to command.

Naturally he also has his own pride; after personally witnessing Tang Wulin and Dai Huabin's battle, he admits his strength is inferior to Tang Wulin's, but that doesn't mean he wants to lose.

Naturally, he also had his own pride; after personally witnessing Tang Wulin and Dai Huabin's battle, he admitted his strength was inferior to Tang Wulin's, but that didn't mean he wanted to lose.

In his view, it's not impossible—Tang Wulin is certainly strong, but Huo Yutong is clearly different from him, making her the team's weak point.

And Zhang Na'er's Linglong Staff, while not matching the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, is still a top‑tier auxiliary tool martial soul; like him she is a high‑rank Soul Master, certainly stronger than Huo Yutong.

Although Zhang Nai'er's Linglong Staff is not as good as the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, it is still a top-tier auxiliary tool martial soul, and like him, she is a high-rank Soul Elder, definitely stronger than Huo Yutong.

With the balance shifting, the gap between him and Tang Wulin had definitely narrowed considerably; he might not necessarily lose to him. Facing Zhou Sichen's offensive, Tang Wulin moved.

He acted as if his Blue Silver Grass martial soul were fake, stomping his foot hard and quickly closing the distance between himself and Zhou Sichen.

The two beams of light struck him; Zhou Sichen felt his soul power circulate faster, his body grow lighter, and his eyes brighten involuntarily.

Excellent—this way we can win! Under his command, the bear and tiger charged toward Tang Wulin, forming a pincer movement, ready to take him down in one strike.

However, at that moment a sudden, excruciating headache struck—his head felt as if struck by an invisible hammer, causing him to fall backward and land flat on his butt.

However, at that moment, an excruciating headache suddenly struck, his head feeling as if hit by an invisible hammer, causing him to recoil uncontrollably and collapse onto the ground.

The two summoned creatures, bereft of their master's control, had little consciousness and were struck without resistance, turning into specks of light that drifted away.

The two summoned creatures, deprived of their master's control, had little consciousness; they were struck helplessly and turned into specks of light that scattered in the air.

Although these summoned creatures aren't particularly important to him, once they dissipate they need a full day to re‑form, so he won't be able to fight in today's remaining matches.

Although these summoned creatures aren't particularly important to him, after they dissipate it takes a full day to recondense them, so he won't be able to participate in today's remaining battles.

Since he conceded defeat, Tang Wulin naturally didn't press the attack; he stopped in time, and his right hand returned to a normal palm.

The Golden Dragon Claw takes a heavy toll on him; if his opponent weren't Zhou Sichen, he wouldn't have unleashed this ultimate move at the outset.

Zhou Sichen let out a long sigh, rose from the ground, but as soon as he stood up the intense headache struck again, nearly making him sit back down.

Zhou Sichen let out a long breath, rose from the ground, but as soon as he stood up, a severe headache hit him, nearly making him sit back down.

"Thanks." Zhou Sichen said with a bitter smile: "Wulin, your golden dragon claw is too strong—its attack power must be at least Soul Sage level, right?"

"Thanks." Zhou Sichen said with a wry smile, "Wulin, your golden dragon claw is too strong; that attack power must be at least Soul Elder level, right?"

Being able to instantly kill them both shows that Tang Wulin's attack power has reached an extraordinarily exaggerated level.

Being able to instantly kill them both shows that Tang Wulin's attack power has reached an extraordinarily exaggerated level.

He is certain that it wasn't Tang Wulin who knocked him down; the one who caused his severe headache and created the crucial turning point must have been Huo Yutong.

With just one ring of cultivation he can fell a high‑rank Soul Master, and she is certainly no pushover—completely different from what he initially thought.

He who could fell a high-rank Soul Elder with just one ring—she's no pushover either, completely unlike what he initially thought.

Surely, mixing with monsters only produces more monsters...

One second he was still popping champagne, the next second he was knocked flat, and even he couldn't muster any energy.

One second he was still popping champagne, the next he was knocked flat, and he couldn't even muster any spirit.

"Sorry, I didn't control my strength well; do you need me to take you to the infirmary?"

Sorry, I didn't control my strength well. Do you need me to take you to the infirmary?

No need, I've basically recovered; just let me rest a bit.

Zhou Sichen sighed, broke free from Tang Wulin's hand, and swayed over to an empty space nearby.

He also reminded Zhang Nai'er not to underestimate Tang Wulin, but he himself underestimated Huo Yutong, didn't he? Just take it as a lesson and remember it.

By the way, I checked Zhou Sichen's performance and found that in the semifinals he withstood a single Soul Impact from First Ring's Lao Huo; it was just a Soul Impact, like fermented tofu.

Difficult clam, Dou Er's mental system is overpowered.

(End of chapter)