Chapter 365: Skill Assessment

Fortunately, the remaining two competitors were also sensible; upon realizing only they two were left, they quickly sped up the production of soul tools, finishing in less than ten minutes.

The skill assessment will now begin. For soul tool production, especially the crafting of core formations, certain specialized techniques are crucial; only by possessing these techniques can one reach higher peaks in soul tool making. What you must do next is to complete several techniques within the allotted time; the last person to finish will be eliminated.

Ye Yulin spoke while flicking his sleeve.

Soon, a tray was placed in front of each soul master.

This tray is square, with nine compartments, each containing a square piece of rare metal.

The nine pieces of rare metal each have a different color, and given the abilities of these competing soul tool masters, they naturally recognize what these metals are.

For the fairness of the skill assessment, you may not use your own engraving knives; you must use the one on the side of the tray. Your task is to separately complete the crafting techniques of nine core formations on these nine metals before you: the first piece, drill thirty holes; the second piece, multiple curved arcs, evenly arranged fifty lines; the third piece, wind-polished pattern; the fourth piece…

As Ye Yulin announced the competition requirements one by one, the expressions of all the participating contestants involuntarily turned painful.

The nine techniques range from easy to difficult, but everyone at least knows how to do them.

But when they looked at the rare metals before them, their faces fell.

Different rare metals are suited for different tasks, yet the rare metals before them happen to be exactly the least suitable for completing the prescribed techniques.

For example, the first piece, which requires drilling thirty holes, is an extremely hard rare metal.

Moreover, they are not allowed to use their own engraving knives…

Ye Yulin didn't care what they thought; after announcing the competition rules, he didn't even repeat them, instead shouting loudly.

"The skill assessment begins! You have fifteen minutes to complete the entire assessment; if in the end nobody has finished all the techniques, ranking will be based on the number completed. Begin!"

At this moment, after three hours of soul tool production earlier, the night had grown somewhat dark, yet the nine participating soul tool masters felt no drowsiness and sprang into action simultaneously.

Although this test was not simple, for He Caitou and Huo Yutong it was a breeze; soon they respectively finished first and second in completing the assessment.

The third to finish was the yellow-clad girl from the Plain Alliance, and the fourth was Huang Zheng of the Sunset Water Alliance.

"Time's up!"

At the moment the last grain of sand fell from the hourglass, Ye Yulin ended the skill assessment.

In this assessment, five people completed everything, four did not finish all tasks, and after the judges deliberated, the worst-performing among those four was eliminated.

Next came three matches of pure strength.

According to the rules, the first-place He Caitou will face the eighth-place contestant, while Huo Yutong will face the seventh-place blue-clad girl from the Plain Alliance.

Huo Yutong picked up her staff and stepped down from the stage; she wasn't the slightest bit worried about He Caitou, for this senior brother's strength, even placed in Shrek Academy's inner courtyard, would be top-tier—how could she fear this ragtag bunch?

As expected, in less than two minutes, He Caitou defeated his opponent.

Seeing his ferocious fighting style, the Third Elder said in a low voice to Huo Yutong, who was preparing to go on stage:

"Later, if you face that bald guy, don't hold back—he's very strong."

As a ninth-level soul tool master, he could naturally see He Caitou's strength; this burly man is definitely a seventh-level soul tool master–caliber powerhouse, not easy to deal with.

Huo Yutong silently nodded, then stepped onto the stage.

Now her focus was entirely on her opponent.

She had also observed the soul tools chosen by the other few contestants earlier; the Plain Alliance's girls all crafted close-combat soul tools convenient for melee fighting. The Plain Alliance nurtures these excellent girls precisely to accomplish various purposes; bulky, huge soul tools are obviously unsuitable for them, whereas compact melee soul tools work best.

Thus, these girls follow a path among soul masters—speed attack.

"Both sides, announce your names."

"Plain Alliance, Lan Ruoruo."

"Sunset Water Alliance, Shou Mengyao."

After stating their names, Lan Ruoruo suddenly looked pitiful and said to Huo Yutong:

"Sister Yao, we're sisters-in-arms; you won't kill me like that man just did, will you? I'm so scared."

""

Huo Yutong ignored her, turned, and walked toward the edge of the stage.

A flash of annoyance glimmered in Lan Ruoruo's eyes and then vanished.

To be frank, sending a female contestant from the Sunset Water Alliance onto the stage was an unexpected move for the Plain Alliance.

These girls nurtured by the Plain Alliance are undoubtedly skilled at seductive tactics, but such tactics clearly have little effect on Huo Yutong, who is also a girl.

They had originally gathered information on the Sunset Water Alliance's participants, all of whom were male; who would have thought that a strange figure would appear midway?

After silently spitting in her heart, Lan Ruoruo also turned and walked toward the edge of the stage in a seductive manner.

When both had reached the edge of the stage and turned around, Ye Yulin rose once more into the air, his gaze focusing on Huo Yutong.

"Begin."

He was very curious about what abilities her staff possessed and what confidence she had in relying on that staff to win the final championship.

As soon as the match began, Lan Ruoruo sprinted toward Huo Yutong.

A small dagger was hidden in her hand; this dagger flickered in and out of view amidst her flowing robes, hinting at killing intent.

Huo Yutong, meanwhile, planted her staff upright on the ground; a gray soul ring rose, and she began to chant.

"Woo…"

Lan Ruoruo couldn't help but frown in pain; her advancing posture could no longer remain graceful.

Bitter incantations flowed from Huo Yutong's mouth, drilling into her brain like brain-eating worms, causing intense pain that she could hardly bear.

What kind of strange ability is this? And what's with that soul ring? Why is it gray?

Doubts exploded one after another in Lan Ruoruo's mind, but thinking about all this at once only gave her a headache; she hastily shook her head, temporarily suppressing those doubts.

The way to stop the pain is simple: just deal with Huo Yutong.

A flash of killing light appeared in her eyes; Lan Ruoruo no longer bothered with maintaining an elegant posture, she quickened her steps and rapidly closed in on Huo Yutong.

Soon she stood before Huo Yutong, raising her slender hand high; the black dagger on it flashed with a killing gleam.

(End of chapter)