Very soon, Hu Liena's eyes revealed a flash of shock.
The next moment, her vision spun, and her consciousness appeared in a beautiful space full of birdsong and blooming flowers.
Carefully, Chu Chengzhou dismantled Hu Liena's "imitation black room" illusion technique so she wouldn't suffer a mental backlash — then, with a flick of his hand, he used one of his supreme illusion arts to drag her consciousness straight into a dreamscape.
Seeing Hu Liena's shocked expression not far away, Chu Chengzhou grinned wickedly and said, "Little fox, you're being naughty~"
"You — you! How did you break my illusion technique?"
Hu Liena's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Chu Chengzhou.
After all, she was a spirit master specializing in spiritual power and had already reached the rank of Five-Ring Spirit King. Her mental strength was no weaker than that of a typical level-60 spirit master — and with a sixty-thousand-year Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull refined, her spiritual strength was comparable to that of an average level-70 spirit master.
Yet in the very field she excelled at — spiritual power — she was still inferior to Chu Chengzhou, who wasn't even a spiritual-type spirit master? How big was the gap between them?!
"Take a guess~"
Chu Chengzhou smiled as he walked towards her.
"What do you think you're doing?! Don't come any closer!"
Seeing Chu Chengzhou approach step by step, Hu Liena couldn't help but remember that scene in the illusion outside Heaven Dou City.
"To do this."
Chu Chengzhou spat out a single word. He stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her slender waist, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to her soft, seductive red lips.
After a long moment, the illusion space shattered, and the two of them returned to the real world.
Remembering the warmth of that kiss in the illusion, Chu Chengzhou shot Hu Liena a playful wink from a distance.
"Hmph~!"
Recalling how badly she'd been teased just now, Hu Liena's face flushed red. She immediately straightened her expression, put on a cold look, let out a snort, and stood up to leave the rest area.
Don't misunderstand — she wasn't heading to the Lanba Academy rest area to find Chu Chengzhou. She was simply too embarrassed to stay there any longer, afraid that if she lingered, Chu Chengzhou would do something even more outrageous to her in another illusion.
After all, it happened inside an illusion — and such an embarrassing thing — how could she run to her teacher to seek justice for that?
"Eh~? Nana, you're not staying to watch the match?"
Seeing his goddess about to leave in a huff without even watching the rest of the matches, Yan — Hu Liena's number-one simp — froze for a second, then hurried after her.
Xie Yue: ??? What's going on here?
The finals didn't have the kind of extravagant opening ceremony one might imagine. Everything was simple: a red-clad bishop from Spirit Hall took the stage, announced the start of the finals, and then read out the matchups and byes for the day.
Out of fifteen matches today, the battle between Lanba Academy and Tianshui Academy was scheduled as the third match.
Under the direction of Spirit Hall's specially appointed referee, the matches began.
The first match was between two teams whose strength was mediocre — in the Heaven Dou division's preliminaries, they wouldn't even have ranked in the top five.
The whole match was lackluster and boring to watch.
After seven or eight minutes of 'two chickens pecking each other,' the first match ended — a filler team from one of Heaven Dou Empire's subordinate kingdoms squeaked out a win.
Although the match was painful to watch and far below finals-level standard, at least it secured an opening victory. In the judges' box, Xue Qinghe, the representative of Heaven Dou Empire, nodded with a faint smile.
The second match was Godwind Academy versus Star Luo Empire's Dragon Sunflower Academy.
Perhaps because they knew they couldn't beat the 'great demon king' Chu Chengzhou, Fire Academy and Godwind Academy didn't pull the underhanded stunt from the original story. The Fire Academy players didn't join Godwind Academy this time.
Feng Xiaotian's strength was still decent. Combined with the fact that their opponent wasn't a strong team among Star Luo's lineups, Godwind easily crushed Dragon Sunflower Academy in under three minutes.
The third match was Lanba Academy versus Tianshui Academy — a civil war between two teams from Heaven Dou Empire.
"Round one of the finals, match three, Lanba Academy vs. Tianshui Academy — both teams, please take the stage!"
The red-robed bishop hosting the match announced.
"Let's do this!"
In the Tianshui Academy rest area, Shui Bing'er stretched out her right hand, her pretty face full of determination as she rallied her teammates.
"Defeat the demon king — Tianshui Academy will win!"
The Tianshui girls all extended their right hands, stacking them atop Shui Bing'er's, shouting to boost their morale.
Shui Bing'er: "…"
Needless to say, the 'demon king' was, of course, the tree-hanging Chu Chengzhou.
Moments later, the Tianshui girls emerged from their rest area and stepped onto the arena stage.
On the hundred-meter-wide arena, the Lanba and Tianshui teams stood fifty meters apart.
Seeing both teams in position, the referee declared: "Teams, release your spirits. The match will begin in one minute!"
In the next second, spirits were possessed, weapons manifested, and a multitude of yellow and purple spirit rings glowed among both teams' lineups. But within Lanba Academy's formation, one very eye-catching black ten-thousand-year spirit ring appeared.
Amid all the century- and thousand-year spirit rings, a single black ten-thousand-year ring was impossible to ignore!
"A ten-thousand-year spirit ring?!"
The Tianshui girls all widened their beautiful eyes in disbelief as they stared at Xiao Wu — who, after disguising herself, now shone with yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black rings.
Not only the Tianshui Team, but many other teams and the judges were also shocked.
After Spirit Hall's 'Golden Generation' and Tang San of the Heaven Dou Royal Team, yet another contestant with a five-ring Spirit King level had appeared!
Looking at Xiao Wu's fifth ten-thousand-year ring, in the judges' box, Elder Dai Feng — a Contra with a spirit power of level 89, the head of the Star Luo Royal Academy's Elder Council and deputy dean, who oversaw the academy on behalf of Emperor Dai Yutian — couldn't help but darken his expression.
This year's Spirit Master Tournament had already seen three Spirit Hall Team members with five rings, and now two more from Heaven Dou's academies — but not a single Star Luo team had produced a five-ring Spirit King.
What did that mean? It meant that in the new generation, Star Luo Empire's spirit masters weren't just losing to Spirit Hall — they were being overtaken by Heaven Dou, whom they once trampled!
As the royal academy's deputy dean, Dai Feng was the top figure in Star Luo's spirit master education. Seeing his empire's young spirit masters lose face to Heaven Dou — how could he not be furious?
Still, frustration was useless. His students had fallen behind — there was nothing he could do.
After all, Spirit Hall was presiding over these finals. He couldn't just jump onto the stage to fight for the Star Luo Royal Team himself.
Seeing the Tianshui girls' shocked expressions, Xiao Wu was secretly delighted. Sister Xiao Wu loved seeing those stunned faces.
But after the shock faded, Shui Bing'er's eyes grew heavier with seriousness.
The demon king Chu Chengzhou was already no pushover — even using their spirit fusion skill might not secure a win. But she never expected Lanba Academy to have another five-ring Spirit King — tilting the scales even more against them.
Still, Shui Bing'er was not one to give up easily. No matter who their opponents were — the demon king or another Spirit King — she wouldn't just surrender.
Unlike the preliminaries, where they gave up because they were guaranteed a spot in the next round regardless, the knockout format of the finals left no room for mistakes — lose once, and your tournament was over. Carrying her academy's honor, Shui Bing'er could never yield so easily.
One minute wasn't long — the match began.
"Spirit Summon: Azure Tree!"
At the very start, Chu Chengzhou waved his flag, his first spirit ring lighting up as his Azure Tree Summon — Xiao Qing's massive form — appeared.
"First spirit skill — Freeze!"
Just as Chu Chengzhou summoned Xiao Qing, the opposing Shui Bing'er also lit up her first spirit ring — and then instantly unleashed four freezing-type spirit skills in succession.
A flash of ice-blue light swept out. Chu Chengzhou suddenly felt a wave of chill run through him — his dramatic flag-waving motion froze in place, and his whole body was sealed inside a block of solid ice.
Beside him, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun were also frozen at the same time.
Although this was only Shui Bing'er's first spirit skill, the fact that she could instantly freeze four people at once was enough to show just how good she was at controlling her own spirit power.
Even so, while their movements were locked, Shui Bing'er's freezing skill didn't interrupt Chu Chengzhou's summoning. Xiao Qing's huge form still appeared on the arena stage.
At that moment, Chu Chengzhou's entire body gave a powerful tremor. The solid ice encasing him shattered into countless sparkling shards of frost that scattered in all directions, breaking him free.
Chu Chengzhou hadn't yet advanced to the rank of Five-Ring Spirit King; though his spirit power had reached level 50, in terms of rank, there wasn't a huge gap between him and Shui Bing'er.However, Shui Bing'er's freezing skill was only a hundred-year first ring skill — its power was limited and couldn't contain someone as physically strong as Chu Chengzhou.
Actually, the main effect of her freezing skill was to generate a layer of solid ice to restrict an opponent's movements — a physical restraint rather than simply a chill. Otherwise, thanks to the Ice Resistance he gained from consuming the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Chu Chengzhou would have completely ignored Shui Bing'er's control.
Right after Chu Chengzhou broke free, Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun also escaped their restraints.
Xiao Wu's spirit power was too strong for Shui Bing'er to bind her, while Ma Hongjun's spirit power was actually lower than Shui Bing'er's — but with his Lava Fire Phoenix spirit attached, the searing phoenix flames melted the ice instantly.
Only Zhu Zhuqing, as an agility-attack type spirit master, broke free a bit slower than the other three.
Meanwhile, while Chu Chengzhou was breaking free, Shui Bing'er's second spirit ring lit up right after her first. Five icy rings spread out, enveloping each of her five teammates.
A marvelous sight appeared: the five girls surrounded by the ice rings instantly gained a layer of crystalline blue armor.
At the same time, the Tianshui Team's vice-captain Xue Wu, positioned at the rear, started to move.
Xue Wu danced gracefully as four spirit rings alternated glowing around her. Ripples of blue light spread outward with her movements.
As she danced, a small patch of dark cloud formed midair, covering most of the arena stage.
Soon after, fat raindrops began to fall, forming a curtain of water pouring down.
The raindrops never landed on the Tianshui Team — when the water got close to them, it slid away quietly. But when it hit the Lanba Team, things weren't so simple.
In no time at all, aside from Ning Rongrong and Oscar (who stood at the back out of range of the clouds) and Zhu Zhuqing (who hadn't broken free yet), Ma Hongjun — newly freed — and Tai Long — charging forward — were drenched like drowned rats by the icy rain. Tai Long even started shivering uncontrollably.
As for Chu Chengzhou and Xiao Wu?
Sensing the piercing chill in the raindrops, both of them used their solid control abilities to shield themselves with spirit power, completely blocking out the icy rain.
The next moment, seven streaks of jade-green light shot out from Xiao Qing's massive tree-like form, covering all seven members of the Lanba Team — including the two support members at the rear — in a protective green barrier.
Then, Chu Chengzhou's second and third spirit rings shone in quick succession. As his spirit power surged, the Bright Lion Spirit Summon Xiao Bai and Fire Phoenix Spirit Summon Xiao Hong materialized beside him.
Against three four-ring Spirit Elders and four three-ring Spirit Grandmasters, Chu Chengzhou naturally didn't need to use so much firepower — if he wanted to, his illusion arts alone could have ended Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu, who were preparing to launch their spirit fusion skill.
However, given that the entire Tianshui Team was made up of delicate girls, Chu Chengzhou decided to let them fully display their strength.
In terms of overall power, the Tianshui Team should have been able to achieve better results in the tournament. While they might not reach the final, with their spirit fusion skill, they had the strength to make it into the top six.
In fact, apart from the Lanba Team, the Spirit Hall Team, the Emperor Team (which had Tang San, likely with a domain power at the Five-Ring level), and the Star Luo Royal Academy Team (which also had a spirit fusion skill), no other team in the finals could withstand their fusion skill: Falling Snow of Ice.
Unfortunately, the ladies were unlucky — their first match in the finals happened to be against them, facing the cruel fate of being eliminated in a single day.
If he didn't let the Tianshui Team's girls fully showcase themselves and use their fusion skill, it would be too much of a shame for them to hold onto that trump card only to never get to use it.
Seeing the entire Lanba Team covered in the green shields — the same "green turtle shells" that had annoyed so many competitors during the preliminaries — Shui Bing'er's expression grew heavier.
Immediately, she unleashed several more freezing skills, slightly slowing the Lanba Team's advance, before she turned and ran through the icy rain toward Xue Wu at the back. The other five Tianshui girls quickly gathered to block in front of them.
The next second, the two figures merged into one — transforming into a dazzling blue-white pillar of light that shot into the dark clouds above. Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's bodies vanished from the arena, as their spirit fusion skill Falling Snow of Ice finally erupted.
From the start of the match, while Shui Bing'er was binding the Lanba Team, this fusion skill had already been prepared.
Once that blue-white beam shot into the clouds, unless a high-level spirit master intervened, there was no way to stop its release.
"Is that... a spirit fusion skill?"
Watching the blue-white beam pierce the sky, Xiao Wu's eyes widened in awe.
A spirit fusion skill — she'd only ever heard of it, never seen one with her own eyes!
"All of you, move to the edge of the stage. If you can't hold out, get off the platform!"
Chu Chengzhou warned his team calmly.
With Xiao Qing's innate protection skill active, the green shields were as strong as a Five-Ring Spirit King's ten-thousand-year defensive skill. Chu Chengzhou wasn't worried about his team's safety — even if they couldn't withstand it completely, they'd have time to retreat and protect themselves.
So, except for Chu Chengzhou, the six other Lanba Team members all withdrew to the edge of the stage.
As for the remaining five Tianshui girls, they jumped down from the stage altogether — leaving the fight to Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu, who were fully focused on their fusion skill.
They knew that if even Falling Snow of Ice couldn't secure victory, staying on stage was pointless. Rather than be a burden, it was better to step down and let their captains focus.
Soon, the rain from the sky turned into a flurry of snowflakes — each one the size of a palm, spinning like razor-sharp blades. The swirling blizzard formed a massive vortex, sweeping down on the Lanba Team.
"If you can't endure Falling Snow of Ice, surrender — we'll stop!"
Shui Bing'er's voice drifted down from above.
Chu Chengzhou didn't answer. He simply hooked his finger toward the sky, dismissing the Bright Lion Summon Xiao Bai — he didn't want it to get destroyed here. With the Tianshui Team's fusion skill now in play, there was no need for Xiao Bai.
As for Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong — Xiao Qing was needed to maintain the shield, and Xiao Hong could fly and had the strength to rival an ordinary level-60 spirit master. Shui Bing'er's fusion skill wouldn't take her down.
Falling Snow of Ice — such a beautiful name, yet beneath the beauty of the snow lay endless killing intent.
The student audience and the judges on the platform saw only the spectacular snowstorm vortex — but to the Lanba Team members inside, they heard the unnerving sound of countless sharp snowflakes grinding and slicing against their jade-green shields.
However, the defensive skill from a ten-thousand-year summoning spirit was indeed formidable. Even faced with countless slicing snowflakes, the green barriers showed no signs of breaking.
This spirit fusion skill, launched by two four-ring Spirit Elders — and with Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix, one of the top-tier spirits — could rival the power of an average level-60 spirit master's attack.
But even so, this sweeping blizzard — for all its visual spectacle — was still an area-of-effect skill. Given equal spirit power, the raw destructive force of an AOE skill was far lower than that of a single-target burst skill.
Up above, Shui Bing'er could feel firsthand the strength of the Lanba Team's green shields. She'd heard other competitors complain about these "turtle shells" during the preliminaries, but seeing it for herself, she realized they truly lived up to the name — the defense rivaled that of a Five-Ring spirit master's ten-thousand-year shield!
Worse yet, Shui Bing'er knew that once these turtle shells were broken, they could instantly be replenished. During the prelims, without even needing Chu Chengzhou to act, the Lanba Team had simply endured their opponents' bombardments behind wave after wave of these shields, wearing them down until they collapsed.
Faced with this disgusting yet unbreakable defense, Shui Bing'er felt a wave of despair.
Could the Tianshui Academy Team really lose in the very first match of the finals?
No! Shui Bing'er clenched her fists inwardly. She and her teammates had trained day and night for this Spirit Master Tournament, giving it everything they had. She and Xue Wu carried not only the hopes of their teammates but also of the entire academy. They couldn't collapse so easily!
I, Shui Bing'er, will give it my all!
Clang—!
The next moment, a resounding phoenix cry echoed from the blue-white pillar overhead. The countless snowflakes that had been slicing at the green shields rose into the air, merging into the sky.
Up above, the snow condensed into a massive blue ice phoenix, seven meters long.
It looked almost solid, with bright eyes and graceful tail feathers — apart from its color and size, it looked just like Chu Chengzhou's Fire Phoenix Summon Xiao Hong.
The radiant blue ice phoenix descended slowly, a swirl of ice-blue light shimmering around it. Its movements weren't fast, but with every inch it fell, the swirling snowflakes strengthened its aura even more.
Watching the massive ice phoenix slowly descend, Chu Chengzhou raised his eyebrows, dismissed Xiao Qing, and waved to the Lanba Team members — signaling them to retreat.
He could sense clearly that the ice phoenix was still gathering power — and once it erupted, even outside its direct blast, the impact might be enough to break through Xiao Qing's protective shield.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on most of my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle