From the very start of the match, Crimson Rose Academy's team completely suppressed their opponents in terms of soul power.
Among the seven members of Blue Sunshine Academy, only their captain had reached the Spirit Ancestor level above rank forty — the man who looked like he was in his thirties. The others were merely around the thirtieth rank.
Worse still, one of them did not even have the optimal ring configuration — all three of his rings were yellow.
The seven of them gathered quickly into formation the moment the referee announced the release of martial souls. Their captain stood at the front, while the other six positioned themselves in a hexagon behind him, watching Crimson Rose with caution.
Xiao Wu, never one to hold back her tongue, laughed openly.
"Does Blue Sunshine Academy really have no one better? One of them doesn't even have a proper spirit ring setup."
Even Hu Liena, usually as sharp as Li Chang'an, felt he might have been overly cautious. On the surface, Blue Sunshine looked weaker than several of the lower-tier academies they had already defeated. This match seemed to hold no suspense at all.
The only one who still trusted Li Chang'an's warning was the naive and simple Mu Xi.
"Be on guard!" Li Chang'an suddenly barked. Though puzzled, the girls immediately raised their vigilance, preparing for battle.
All five arenas started at once. Four of the battles quickly erupted into fierce exchanges. But on the central main stage, where Crimson Rose and Blue Sunshine faced each other, neither side moved. They simply stared one another down.
Seeing Crimson Rose hold back, Blue Sunshine's captain froze for a moment. From deep within his eyes, Li Chang'an clearly caught a flash of disappointment.
"The match begins!" the referee declared once more.
Up in the VIP seats, the commentator spoke in confusion.
"What's happening? Why hasn't Crimson Rose launched an attack? Are they actually hesitating against such an opponent? Blue Sunshine's strength is clearly inferior. A few casual skills should be enough to win."
Emperor Xue Ye leaned toward Ning Fengzhi and asked softly, "Sect Master Ning, in your opinion, why haven't they made a move? Their strengths don't seem comparable."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "Appearances don't reveal the whole truth. I believe young Li Changsheng has noticed something unusual, which is why he hasn't recklessly ordered an attack. For someone only fifteen, his composure is remarkable."
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi's eyes shone with approval. He was the picture of a father-in-law satisfied with his son-in-law.
Strangely, even the Platinum Bishop beside him nodded in satisfaction.
'The Holy Son has finally matured. It seems I won't need my pills today.'
At last, under the referee's stern reminder and the booing of tens of thousands of impatient spectators, the two sides finally moved.
And it was not Crimson Rose, but Blue Sunshine who struck first.
Their captain suddenly dropped back a step, sliding neatly into the center of the hexagonal formation formed by the other six. The moment he retreated, the others stepped outward, expanding the formation without breaking its symmetry. Every step was perfectly measured, flawless in precision.
Clearly, this was a formation drilled countless times.
Then, in unison, all seven raised their right hands.
Up until now, their martial souls had seemed indistinct, offering no hint of their true nature. But at that moment, their martial souls were finally revealed.
Gleaming gemstones appeared in each of their palms.
Round, diamond-shaped, triangular, teardrop-shaped — each was different in shape and color, representing the seven hues of the rainbow. And as the gems shone, a shimmering aura enveloped all seven, cloaking them in multicolored light.
Gem Martial Souls.
A ripple of shock spread through the knowledgeable in the audience.
Gem-type martial souls were incredibly rare. Not because they were overwhelmingly powerful, but because they were unique in potential. Unlike most martial souls, which were fixed upon awakening and had natural paths of development, gem-type martial souls were the opposite — endlessly malleable.
With different spirit rings, they could evolve in countless directions: strength-type, control, agility, support. They were among the most flexible, yet also the most dependent on soul rings.
And now, seven of them appeared together — all from the same academy. How could that not be astonishing?
At last, Crimson Rose's team understood why Li Chang'an had been so wary. This would not be an easy fight.
Bathed in prismatic light, Blue Sunshine's captain looked coldly at Li Chang'an.
"You are steady, I'll grant you that. But it is meaningless. In the face of absolute power, tactics and techniques are worthless."
Li Chang'an sneered. "And you think your 'absolute power' surpasses ours?"
The captain's lips twisted into a strange smile, like a man releasing long-held pressure. Indeed, they had been holding back for a very long time, and this was the moment they had been waiting for — to prove themselves by defeating Crimson Rose.
"You'll soon find out."
Slowly raising his right hand, he revealed his gem: a round, silver jewel that immediately became the core. At the same time, his fourth soul ring glowed — the only fourth ring among them.
The other six raised their gems as well, their third rings flaring simultaneously.
"Brother, should I go in now?" Xiao Wu asked eagerly. With her teleportation, she might be able to break the formation.
"Not yet," Li Chang'an said, eyes narrowed.
"Wait and see." This was the first time even he had encountered something like this. He wanted to study it.
Suddenly, seven beams of light shot upward, merging into a massive rainbow column thirty meters tall. The light spread, engulfing all seven of them.
In the blink of an eye, the seven members of Blue Sunshine vanished within the brilliance.
"What is this?" Emperor Xue Ye exclaimed in shock. "Could it be… a Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique?"