Douluo, my clone Groudon

Chapter 197 Assessment (II)

A biting wind whipped up fine snowflakes, creating a sharp whistling sound across the silvery wasteland. Twelve giant wolves, like ice crystal sculptures, surrounded the five-person team at the base of a circular ice cliff, their breaths casting a ghostly blue halo in the moonlight.

The ice wolves are two meters tall, with fur like ice crystals and snowflakes. They breathe out icy air, and their blue eyes are filled with a cold, murderous desire. The tallest one has a cultivation of three thousand years.

"This...this doesn't make sense!"

Xu Xiaoyan took a half step back, her leather boots crushing the icy, withered branches as she approached the cold rock wall.

"They won't let us retreat, and we're supposed to fight a pack of thousand-year-old ice wolves? Anyone else would definitely be eliminated!"

Xie Xie drew out the Light and Dark Daggers with a backhand stroke, his soul power pulsating at the tips of the blades: "It seems the examiner thinks highly of us and has made things a bit more difficult."

He spoke jokingly, but his figure suddenly split into three afterimages, and the ghostly figures reflected on the ice were three times faster than the real thing.

After more than a year of missions in the Tang Sect, he is no longer the same person he used to be!

Tang Wulin's expression was serious as he said in a low voice, "Although it is a group assessment, individual performance also needs to be considered. Everyone should try their best to demonstrate their abilities."

The moment the blue silver vines broke through the ice, Tang Wulin's right forearm was already covered in golden scales: "Free attack! Xiao Yan, control the field!"

The blue-silver spikes, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, twisted vines carrying paralyzing thorns, precisely ensnared the hind legs of the six ice wolves. The imprisoned giant wolves howled and spewed icy breath, only to have it shattered by the golden dragon claws half a foot in front of the boy.

Xu Xiaoyan steadied herself and murmured to herself, "Xiaoyan, you can do it!" Suddenly, starlight burst forth from the tip of her ice staff, and the simulated nighttime environment became the perfect stage for her to shine.

Seven starlight chains pierced the air and pierced the ice, blocking the ice wolves' path in the blizzard. As the first ice wolf broke free of the vines and pounced, the girl swung her staff, activating her soul rings, and a barrage of ice spikes rained down, filling the giant wolf's ferocious maw.

"Xie Xie!"

As Tang Wulin roared, two dragon-shaped soul energies swept past each other even faster than his voice.

The instant the Light Dragon Dagger pierced the ice wolf's throat, the Shadow Dragon Dagger had already pierced the back of its head. As Xie Xie spun back and retreated, the giant wolf, its throat slit, remained in a pouncing posture, its icy blood condensing into scarlet ice crystals in mid-air before it even hit the ground.

With a single, decisive blow, Xie Xie immediately abandoned his dagger and retreated, re-condensing his martial spirit. Although this would consume his soul power, it ensured a direct hit and was highly safe.

The wolf king roared and shook down the ice spikes on the cliff top, which condensed into blue crystals on his forehead and spread all over his body, as if he were wearing a suit of ice crystal armor.

Tang Wulin leaped into the air, his golden scales striking the wolf king's claws with his right arm. Taking advantage of the moment, the blue silver grass wrapped around the wolf king's forelimbs. The boy then flipped over and mounted the wolf's neck. The golden dragon claw pierced the wolf's temple, and dark golden ripples exploded from the cracks in the skull. The shattering effect made the entire wolf's head shatter like an ice sculpture falling to the ground.

Gu Yue's black hair moved without wind, and four-colored elemental tides formed an energy vortex around her. Crimson flame rings and mysterious ice chains advanced in an intertwined manner, while wind blades, carrying earth-piercing thorns, burst forth from the ground. Elemental turbulence shredded the five ice wolves into a shower of ice shards.

As the six surviving wolves launched their death charge over the corpses of their kin, Gula, seeing that the time was right, said, "Leave the rest to me."

As a cover, the flashing of the ten-thousand-year soul ring revealed a five-thousand-year-old killer willow on the ice surface. Within it lies the incarnation of Gula. Without any command, the moment it appeared, a storm of willow leaves swept across the field.

The serrated willow blades formed a death tornado. The moment the wolf pack rushed into the storm, ten thousand willow leaves swept past like meat grinder blades, the blade's intent penetrating to the bone. Ice crystals, fur, and bits of blood and flesh were splashed onto the ice wall, creating a poignant and abstract painting.

As the snowstorm subsided, Tang Wulin wiped the mixture of ice and blood from his face and opened his mouth, trying to make Gula less bloody. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, the mixture of ice and blood flew into his mouth. Knowing that this was a virtual world, it still made him feel nauseous.

"Second test passed. Tang Wulin's command was excellent, calm and decisive, 10/10."

"Xu Xiaoyan controlled the timing well, and although she was timid, she was able to remain calm. Seven points."

"Xie Xie took the initiative and struck decisively, eight points."

"Gu Yue, with her mastery of the four elements, perfectly withstood the wolf pack's attack, expending very little soul power, and leaving no blood on her clothes. A perfect score." "Gula... a ten-thousand-year-old Soul Master, possesses extraordinary strength. A perfect score."

The mechanical voice in the shadows paused for a moment, but still gave Gula a perfect score.

Gula didn't make a move at the beginning, which should have resulted in a point deduction, but considering that if he had made a move, his teammates wouldn't have had a chance to act, he was given full marks.

Shrek Academy is particularly tolerant of true geniuses, and Cooler undoubtedly meets this requirement.

"Please proceed to the third stage to continue the assessment."

A mechanical voice echoed from the shadows in the empty hall. Tang Wulin gazed thoughtfully at the dark corridor. His long, slender fingers clenched slightly, golden scales gleaming faintly on his sleeves: "Excuse me, what score is considered passing the assessment?"

The response came a little late, as if someone was discussing it in secret. When the cold, hard voice rang out again, it carried a metallic scraping sound: "There are ten levels in total. A score of sixty is required to pass the assessment."

"Thank you."

Tang Wulin clasped his hands in a salute, and as he turned around, he gave Xie Xie a wink. The latter immediately abandoned his carefree attitude and put away his martial spirit.

Xu Xiaoyan bit her lower lip and walked at the end of the line. She had the lowest score and people said she was timid, but she was clearly very brave!
Xu Xiaoyan puffed out her cheeks and secretly vowed to prove herself in the subsequent levels.

Xie Xie scored eight points and was very pleased with himself: "This test wasn't difficult at all, anyone can do it."

"Don't be careless, the later levels will definitely be more difficult."

Tang Wulin promptly calmed down the arrogant Xie Xie. Over the years, he had seen many examples of Xie Xie becoming arrogant and then suffering setbacks, but he always enjoyed doing so.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gu Yue silently approached Gula, the hem of her moon-white trousers brushing against the blue brick ground.

"nothing."

Gula gave Gu Yue a look and whispered, "Someone's watching from the shadows. If an old woman causes trouble later, I'll handle it."

Gu Yue didn't ask why, and nodded in agreement: "Mm."

The third scene suddenly opens up, with a hundred-meter-long corridor filled with crisscrossing guillotines, their blades gleaming with a ghostly green poisonous light.

Xie Xie gasped. Those guillotines were incredibly sharp, forged from at least a thousand-fold refined metal, and even laced with poison. "It can't be that bad!"

No one paid him any attention, but Xie Xie was used to it.

Everyone displayed their unique abilities. Xie Xie used the Ghostly Shadow Steps to create afterimages and dodge the guillotine as he passed through the corridor. Xu Xiaoyan used her soul skill to freeze the guillotine mechanism before walking over it.

Tang Wulin's method of overcoming the obstacle was the most violent. His golden dragon claw tore open three intersecting slashes, sparks flying like rain across the black iron surface. When the blade touched the golden scales, he suddenly grabbed the guillotine and pulled it back violently. The entire mechanical chain groaned under the strain, and more than twenty poisonous blades simultaneously deviated from their course.

Gula and Guyue were the most straightforward, teleporting directly to the end of the corridor.

In the monitoring room, the observer in the shadows slowly rose, the pattern on his golden robe moving with his movements: "These trainees are really interesting, they don't follow the usual path."

(End of this chapter)