"The team that reached the finals this year… Tianshui Academy!"
"Those girls again? They've made it three years running."
"Not just that—they're reigning champions."
"Not this year. Not with Lucien here."
"Don't joke! If he hits my goddess Shui Bing'er too hard—what if she gets hurt?"
The audience buzzed, a mix of cheers, dread, and lovestruck panic.
Rest Area – Tiandou Royal Academy.
"The Finals: us versus Tianshui Academy." Qin Ming stood before his team, voice brisk. "They've been champions for good reason. Their key trump card—Martial Soul fusion skills of Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu. Everyone, take note and be cautious."
His voice was firm, serious… yet the biggest threat of them all, Lucien, was half-lying sideways, lazily sipping wine while flipping through the dossier.
Not reading their attributes. Not noting their tactics.
His eyes were caught only by the portraits.
Pity the report doesn't have height, weight… or measurements, he thought regretfully.
"All finished. Everyone prepare," Qin Ming clapped, ignoring him. Championship or not, if Lucien stepped onto the floor, there was no real suspense.
The referee's voice rang out: "Both teams, enter the stage!"
This time, shockingly, Lucien didn't stroll in last—he swaggered ahead of everyone, jug swinging, sword strapped across his back.
Before crossing onto the stage, he turned, narrowed his drunken eyes at Yu Tianheng and Yufeng, and jabbed a finger.
"You two brats, no messing around later. Obey my orders."
Their lips twitched violently.
We're the problem?! It's always YOU!
But could they protest? Of course not. They swallowed hard and followed.
The crowd roared.
"Shui Bing'er—goddess!"
"She's even prettier up close!"
"Don't fall for him, don't do it!"
Their prayers died instantly.
Because Lucien walked straight toward Shui Bing'er, oblivious to all else, lips grinning.
"Bing'er, let's drink after this match."
The arena exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"My goddess—!"
"Boycott Lucien!!"
The girls behind Bing'er giggled helplessly. Even Shui Yue'er, her lookalike sister, smirked mischievously.
"Captain, be careful. He's trying to distract you," one warned.
"This isn't a bar, Lucien. Step back," Shui Bing'er demanded, cheeks flushed.
Lucien only winked, leaned closer. "See you later then." And—he blew a kiss.
The male fans in the stands fainted en masse.
When introductions began, Lucien swaggered forward, raising his jug like a hero.
"Captain of Tiandou Royal Academy, Lucien. Soul King. Fifty-three."
Yu Tianheng choked on his own spit. When did YOU become captain?!
And fifty-three? They'd last seen him at forty-something! When did this drunkard train? Was he cultivating in his dreams?!
"Captain of Tianshui Academy, Shui Bing'er, level forty-one, Control System." Bing'er recited with dignity, though pink still dusted her cheeks.
Then Shui Yue'er stepped up, batting her lashes. "I'm Shui Yue'er, level thirty-two, Agility System."
Before the Cup began, she'd already thought Lucien handsome. Now was her perfect chance.
"Little beauty, I remember you. Drinks after." Lucien winked.
"Yue'er, this is a match, not a blind date!" Bing'er yanked her back, mortified.
But Yue'er still shot her sister a sly smile. "Big Sister, hogging him for yourself? Selfish!"
Bing'er: "…"
The referee pinched between his brows. "Start already. Just—start!"
"Begin!"
Lucien lunged forward sword-first—then froze, encased in crystalline ice.
So did all six members of the Huangdou Team behind him.
"Frozen Field," Shui Bing'er's first soul skill.
For the first time in the entire Cup—Tianshui had locked all of Tiandou's fighters.
The crowd roared to their feet.
"Unbelievable!"
"She froze all seven at once!"
"This is why Tianshui are champions!"
"First ability—Ice Rain!" Qiu Ruoshui flanked from the side, hands brimming with shimmering ice-thorns.
Meanwhile, Shui Yue'er and another teammate swept in opposite angles, converging on Lucien's immobilized figure.
Ice armor spread over all three attackers as Bing'er's second skill, Ice Ring Armor, bolstered them.
It was their perfect opening.
"Now!"
Thorns and strikes flew—
Crack, crack—
The ice around Lucien shattered like glass. He was smiling under it.
"Oh no!!" Bing'er realized. He lured them in on purpose—!
Lucien's wrist flicked. In one fluid motion, two attackers flew over the stage's edge, tossed gently but firmly out of bounds. "Cute—but wine's worth more than you."
Shui Yue'er struck with her second ability. "Zero Impact!" A dolphin of pure water soared forward, spiraling icy force at his chest.
Lucien only swung his sword once. Whoosh—the dolphin burst into glittering mist before it reached him.
When Yue'er blinked again, she was sitting on her butt outside the arena.
The audience howled.
"Three gone instantly!"
"What power… What precision!"
"Monster!"
Dugu Yan and Meng Yiran smirked from their side. "See, fun watching him play, isn't it?"
Yufeng and Yu Tianheng stood frozen mid-arena.
Captain's orders? Strategy? Nothing but chaos.
And Lucien? His gaze had already locked back onto Shui Bing'er.
"Your turn, Bing'er."
She drew a deep breath, unleashing her third ability: Repelling Ice Ring!
A shockwave of frozen force detonated around her.
BOOM—!
Lucien was flung back meters, boots skidding.
He laughed, eyes shining. Took another swig. "Now this is interesting!"
And with jug still dripping at his lips, he charged again.
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