At the start of the match, Nine Heart Begonia was suppressed.
Soul power doubled, but healing was halved.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team's strategy—broken before they could even act.
And the root cause of it all?
Tang Lan had unintentionally released his Extreme Life Attribute.
—He hadn't even deliberately targeted them.
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team seems to be in trouble?" Dou Dou asked in confusion. "Look! Ning Rongrong from Tang Sect Academy is flying!"
In that moment—
Oscar had already created Flying Mushroom Sausages, allowing Ning Rongrong to take to the air.
"Seven Treasures Turn Out Glazed, Second: Speed!"
Zhu Zhuqing received the boost and vanished into the shadows.
Meng Yiran cut in diagonally, targeting Oslo, the opposing agility-type fighter.
"Seven Treasures Turn Out Glazed, First: Strength!"
Bathed in light, Dai Mubai activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation and charged straight for Yu Tianheng.
The Shi brothers activated Black Tortoise Shell, forming a pincer attack to block Dai Mubai.
At that moment, a strand of Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Dai Mubai's waist—Tang San used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, flinging him over the two brothers!
"Third Soul Skill: Spider Web Restraint!"
A purple web descended, enveloping the Shi brothers.
Seeing no way to evade,
The brothers removed their "tortoise shells", spinning them as shields—one clockwise, one counterclockwise.
Their intent was to shred through the Spider Web Restraint.
But this web had been absorbed far beyond its normal age limit, its durability exceeding imagination.
It withstood the twin Tortoise Shields' destruction.
The Shi brothers' follow-up attacks fell through.
They had to dispel and re-summon their martial souls—wasting precious energy.
At that moment,
Dai Mubai had reached Yu Tianheng, his tiger claw striking down for a head-on clash!
Yu Tianheng did not back down.
"First Soul Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Electric dragon claws flew forth, distorting the air with a crackling roar of thunder.
"First Soul Skill: White Tiger Barrier!"
A white energy shield manifested around Dai Mubai.
Empowered by White Tiger Vajra Transformation, he forcefully shattered the Thunder Dragon Claw—
And continued his assault on Yu Tianheng!
Yu Tianheng's gaze turned serious. He stopped holding back.
"Third Soul Skill: Thunder Fury!"
Lightning burst from his body—he entered a berserk state, increasing attack power by 100% and soul power by 50%!
The two clashed head-on, unleashing a shockwave!
Even Dugu Yan and the others, who had planned to intervene, were forced to take a step back.
And in that instant—
Zhu Zhuqing emerged from Yu Tianheng's shadow, her shadow claws slashing straight for his left chest!
"Watch out—"
The warning came too late.
Her shadow claws ignored his lightning shield, cutting through effortlessly.
Her bare hand grasped his heart!
Dai Mubai did not hesitate—he turned and attacked the disrupted Shi brothers.
Yu Tianheng froze in shock!
He turned in disbelief—Zhu Zhuqing was already gone.
The glow of Nine Heart Begonia descended, desperately trying to heal his wound.
Yet this time, the usual instantaneous recovery was met with unprecedented resistance.
The power of shadows wreaked havoc, preventing the wound from closing and even causing it to worsen!
On the spectator stands, even Meng Shenji and the others shot to their feet in alarm!
Yu Tianheng was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—if he died in this exchange match...
Fortunately.
Tang Lan released his suppression of the Extreme Life Attribute, restoring Nine Heart Begonia's healing potency.
Though the wound still wouldn't close, at least it had stopped deteriorating.
The cost?
Most of Ye Lingling's concentration was now occupied.
And so—
When Zhu Zhuqing emerged from her shadow—Ye Lingling did not notice.
She could have ended her instantly.
But—
"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Line!"
Ma Hongjun spat out flames, forcing Zhu Zhuqing back into the shadows.
"This is unbelievable!" Dou Dou exclaimed. "The core combatant of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team, Captain Yu Tianheng, has already been eliminated?!"
"That fat guy reacted quickly—he saved their support just in time."
"Look! Dugu Yan has unleashed her Third Soul Skill—Bilin Purple Poison!"
Dugu Yan spewed a dense purple fog, spreading rapidly.
The foul stench made people gag and feel dizzy.
The poison cloud blanketed most of the battlefield, yet cleverly avoided Heaven Dou's team members, leaving them unaffected.
"First Soul Skill: Bilin Red Poison!"
A red mist spread, enveloping the Heaven Dou team.
Each member suddenly moved like they were on steroids, their speed dramatically increasing!
"Second Soul Skill: Bilin Blue Poison!"
Oslo, a speed-type, suddenly adopted a mutual destruction strategy against Meng Yiran.
Even with Nine Heart Begonia healing,
The wounds from her snake-headed staff seemed to have no pain, not affecting Oslo's attacks in the slightest.
Fierce Beyond Imagination!
For a moment—
With Dugu Yan's support, despite losing their main combatant, the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team actually managed to temporarily suppress Tang Sect Academy.
Would Ning Rongrong just sit by and watch?
Lifting her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, she was about to unleash her power—
"Screech—!"
Ma Hongjun, wings spread wide, dove straight for Ning Rongrong.
"Second Soul Skill: Bathing Fire Phoenix!"
"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Line!"
Forcing Ning Rongrong to steer her cyan wings backward, retreating swiftly out of the fire zone.
"Seven Treasures Turn Out Glazed, First: Strength!"
"Seven Treasures Turn Out Glazed, Second: Speed!"
Even while retreating, she continued boosting her teammates.
Based on their unique abilities, she adjusted accordingly—some received speed, others strength.
"Fat pervert, bet you didn't expect this?" Ning Rongrong smirked. "This is my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Divided Mind Control Technique! I've already mastered the Four Aperture Constant Heart!"
She had worked tirelessly to catch up to Tang Lan.
Ma Hongjun's expression darkened—he flapped his wings, preparing to pursue.
But Ning Rongrong's cyan wings turned red, transforming into flaming wings, and she shot away at high speed!
With Ma Hongjun's pathetic attack range, he couldn't even touch her.
Below,
Ning Rongrong's 30% amplification instantly shifted the battle's momentum.
Tang Sect Academy overpowered the Heaven Dou team with relentless attacks.
But with Dugu Yan's Bilin Snake Poison controlling the field,
And the Shi brothers' Black Tortoise Shell Martial Soul, their thick defenses made them incredibly resilient.
For the moment, they couldn't be taken down instantly.
And as long as they weren't eliminated—
Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia could restore them to full strength.
It seemed like a stalemate.
But everyone knew—
The Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team was merely delaying the inevitable.
"Did anyone notice?"
Dou Dou suddenly shouted—
"Sect Master Tang hasn't moved at all this entire time!"
"He's been standing there from the start—not even shifting his feet!"
"He's just watching!"
"He's standing in the arena's VVIP section, arms crossed, watching like a spectator!"
"He's so damn cool! Ughhh—"
Only then did the audience realize—
At the far back of the battlefield, Tang Lan stood like an outsider.
Everyone was stunned.
So this intense battle had been a 6v7 the whole time?!
Even Emperor Xue Ye looked dazed.
"Is my Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team truly this weak?"
"Your Majesty is overthinking it," Ning Fengzhi reassured him. "It's not that they're weak—it's that Tang Sect Academy is too strong."
"My little brother Lan may not seem like he's doing anything, but Your Majesty, observe closely—every fighter has a strand of Life Spirit Blue Silver Emperor wrapped around their waist."
"That's Lan's soul power being channeled remotely, constantly replenishing their stamina."
Wait… what?!
"So that's why they're using their soul skills so frequently, yet they're still in peak condition?" Qian Renxue marveled. "Even without fighting directly, Xiao Lan is making such an impact… In this year's Elite Tournament, Tang Sect Academy's chances of winning are incredibly high."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Only the three Education Committee members, including Meng Shenji, wore dark expressions.
Yu Tianheng had been eliminated instantly—that was unthinkable!
And with Tang Lan providing sustained support,
Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team's defeat was only a matter of time.
Suddenly!
Tang Lan's left eye gleamed—his double pupils surfaced—
"Copy—Life Burial!"
Yet, he didn't absorb anyone's life force.
Instead—
He scattered the effect across the battlefield.
Like an air purifier, it devoured the airborne poison mist.
Dugu Yan's poisons—both the restricting toxin on Tang Sect Academy and the enhancement toxin on her own team—
Visibly thinned, then completely vanished.
Meanwhile, Tang Lan?
Totally unharmed.
"Impossible!" Dugu Yan shrieked. "You promised not to use your soul skills! You broke the rules!"