Teacher Wanjin told Xu Jiangyu, "All right, let's head out. We have our assessment tomorrow, so you need to get ready."
Xu Jiangyu nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation in his heart.
He knew the importance of the assessment, as it was a test of his true strength.
Xu Jiangyu mentally pumped himself up, telling himself to perform at his absolute best.
Stepping out of the Spirit Pagoda, Xu Jiangyu looked up at the sky and silently vowed that he would definitely pass tomorrow's assessment.
He reviewed the stories Teacher Wanjin had told him today, especially the legendary experiences of Huo Yuhao, Tang Wutong, Xingchen, Xiaoya, and the others.
He understood that if he wanted to achieve greatness like them, he had to put in the effort and sweat.
Xu Jiangyu took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and prepared to face tomorrow's challenge.
He knew that only by passing the assessment could he take a solid step forward in pursuing his dreams.
Back in his quarters, Xu Jiangyu diligently reviewed his knowledge, making his final preparations for tomorrow's assessment.
He believed that as long as he worked hard, he would definitely achieve good results.
Teacher Wanjin told Xu Jiangyu to go on in. Xu Jiangyu stepped into the assessment training ground, never expecting to be matched against a female member of the Shrek Seven Monsters led by Huo Yuhao ten thousand years ago—a woman named Jiang Nannan. Without a word of nonsense, Jiang Nannan immediately launched an attack.
Xu Jiangyu was startled; he hadn't anticipated such a fierce offensive right from the start. But he quickly calmed down, sidestepping just in time to narrowly evade Jiang Nannan's strike.
He realized this was not just an ordinary assessment, but a duel against a member of the Shrek Seven Monsters.
Xu Jiangyu concentrated, closely observing Jiang Nannan's movements in an attempt to find her flaws.
At the same time, he pondered his counter-strategy.
Jiang Nannan's attacks descended like a torrential storm, but through dodging and maneuvering, Xu Jiangyu gradually adapted to her rhythm.
He began to counterattack, engaging Jiang Nannan in a fierce contest.
Amidst the battle, Xu Jiangyu continued to grow, and his strength improved as well.
He understood that only by defeating the opponent before him could he pass this assessment.
Finally, after a hard-fought battle, Xu Jiangyu found Jiang Nannan's flaw and successfully defeated her.
This duel with Jiang Nannan gave Xu Jiangyu a profound realization of his own shortcomings, laying a solid foundation for his future growth.
Jiang Nannan directly unleashed Gravity Control, and instantly, a crushing weight—as if thousands of pounds were pressing down—weighed upon Xu Jiangyu.
Jiang Nannan said, "Second round. Let's see how you fight this."
Xu Jiangyu furrowed his brows. He felt immense pressure, but he did not back down.
He took a deep breath, mobilized the Soul Power within his body, and attempted to resist the suppression of gravity.
At the same time, he began brainstorming ways to counter it.
Xu Jiangyu knew that relying solely on Soul Power to resist was not enough.
He had to find a way to break Jiang Nannan's Gravity Control.
His gaze sharpened, and he decided to use his agile footwork to search for Jiang Nannan's weaknesses.
Xu Jiangyu flashed forward, weaving through the gravitational field like a phantom.
Using clever positioning, he continuously dodged Jiang Nannan's attacks.
Concurrently, he looked for an opening to counterattack.
Finally, Xu Jiangyu spotted a flaw in Jiang Nannan's defense.
Without hesitation, he launched an attack, sending a sharp wave of Soul Power straight toward Jiang Nannan.
A trace of surprise flashed in Jiang Nannan's eyes, but she reacted swiftly, blocking Xu Jiangyu's assault.
The two traded blows back and forth, locked in an intense deadlock.
Through this fierce duel, Xu Jiangyu gradually adapted to the effects of the Gravity Control.
His strength was also steadily increasing.
Ultimately, he found Jiang Nannan's weak point and successfully defeated her.
This battle yielded rich rewards for Xu Jiangyu; not only did he enhance his strength, but he also learned how to find a breakthrough amidst adversity.
Jiang Nannan whispered softly, "How did I lose both rounds to you?" As her voice trailed off, her figure vanished within the assessment arena.
Leaving Xu Jiangyu completely dumbfounded, standing frozen in place.
He probably never imagined that Jiang Nannan would simply disappear like that.
Xu Jiangyu's heart was filled with confusion and incomprehension.
He didn't understand why Jiang Nannan would utter such words, nor did he know why she had vanished so swiftly.
At this moment, Xu Jiangyu was entirely consumed by shock at these sudden turns of events.
Teacher Wanjin continued, "This projection technology is the company's latest research achievement. It allows us to engage in decisive battles with figures from ten thousand years ago—a rare experience and learning opportunity."
Xu Jiangyu snapped out of his daze, his eyes filled with anticipation.
He realized that this was not just a battle, but an exceptional opportunity to understand the combat styles and techniques of ancient powerhouses.
Teacher Wanjin patted Xu Jiangyu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Make the most of this opportunity and learn as much as you can from it."
Xu Jiangyu nodded, silently resolving to perform at his absolute best in this decisive battle.
He adjusted his state, preparing to welcome the upcoming challenge.
The scenery within the projection gradually cleared up, and an ancient powerhouse appeared before Xu Jiangyu.
The two locked eyes, and the battle broke out instantly.
Xu Jiangyu poured his entire focus into the fight, applying the techniques and strategies he had learned to engage in a fierce duel with the ancient powerhouse.
During the combat, Xu Jiangyu constantly analyzed and summarized the opponent's attack patterns and weaknesses.
He gradually found a method to counter them and launched a counteroffensive.
After a fierce exchange of blows, Xu Jiangyu ultimately defeated the ancient powerhouse.
He looked excitedly at Teacher Wanjin, his eyes brimming with confidence and satisfaction.
Teacher Wanjin smiled and nodded, giving high praise to Xu Jiangyu's performance.
This decisive battle brought abundant gains for Xu Jiangyu; not only did he elevate his strength, but he also gained a deeper understanding of the combat styles of ancient powerhouses.
After the assessment ended, Xu Jiangyu let out a long breath, his face glowing with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.
The surrounding classmates crowded around him, offering their congratulations.
He smiled in acknowledgment of everyone's praise, while silently marveling at the hardship and rewards of this assessment.
Teacher Wanjin also walked over, patted Xu Jiangyu on the shoulder, and said with satisfaction, "You did very well, Xu Jiangyu. Your performance in this assessment was truly outstanding."
Xu Jiangyu cast a grateful glance at Teacher Wanjin and said, "Thank you for your guidance and encouragement, Teacher. Without your help, I could never have achieved such results."
Teacher Wanjin smiled and continued, "This is the result of your own hard work. However, this assessment is only a beginning; there are many more challenges waiting for you in the future."
Xu Jiangyu nodded, knowing that he still had plenty of room for improvement.
He decided to work even harder in his future training to continuously elevate his strength.
Back in the dormitory, Xu Jiangyu lay on his bed, recalling every detail of the assessment.
He realized that he still possessed certain shortcomings in battle that needed further improvement.
Thus, he took out his notepad and recorded his insights and thoughts.
The next day, Xu Jiangyu woke up early and arrived at the training ground to begin a new round of training.
He poured his passion into every single training item, striving to improve his skills and physical stamina.
He knew that only through persistent effort could he achieve better results in future challenges.
In the days that followed, Xu Jiangyu progressed steadily, becoming an elite among his peers.
He always remembered that assessment experience, using it to inspire himself to keep moving forward.
Ma Xiaotao quietly arrived by Xu Jiangyu's side, lingering in the shadows like a ghost.
She remained constantly vigilant, keeping watch over every movement around them to ensure Xu Jiangyu's safety.
Xu Jiangyu was unaware of Ma Xiaotao's presence, continuing to live his ordinary life.
Meanwhile, Ma Xiaotao silently protected him, stepping in to resolve crises just in time whenever danger approached.
All of this was arranged by Xingchen.
Ma Xiaotao knew deeply that her life had been given to her by Xingchen, so she would naturally fulfill Xingchen's wishes.
She regarded protecting Xu Jiangyu as her mission, carrying it out without a single word of complaint.
Over the long days, a special tacit understanding gradually formed between Ma Xiaotao and Xu Jiangyu.
Although they had never truly communicated, Ma Xiaotao could sense the warmth and kindness within Xu Jiangyu's heart.
Her determination to protect him grew ever firmer.
Without realizing it, Xu Jiangyu also felt a mysterious force guarding him.
He didn't know that it was Ma Xiaotao, but his heart was filled with gratitude.
Under Xingchen's watchful gaze, the destinies of Ma Xiaotao and Xu Jiangyu were closely intertwined.
Together, they faced future challenges, guarding one another and forging ahead side by side.