"Let's go." In the passageway, Yang Yunhai gave a simple word of notice and led his teammates into the arena.
Very soon, they arrived at their designated position. Since both sides stood far apart, there was no pre-match greeting ceremony. However, just like the preliminaries, there was still a one-minute preparation time. Both sides released their martial souls, and they had to wait until the referee announced the start before attacking.
"A 10,000 year fourth soul ring!?" As Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing revealed their martial souls, the spectator stands instantly erupted in commotion.
"So it's actually true…" Zhu Zhuyun let out a bitter smile.
The one minute passed quickly, and the referee's voice rang out.
"Match start!"
"Martial Soul Possession!" Both sides summoned their martial souls at once. Yang Yunhai stood unmoving, only tilting his head toward Shui Bing'er. She froze for a moment, then understood. She turned and clasped hands with Xue Wu. Immediately, a dense mist of chilling frost spread across the field.
"Yang Yunhai wants to withstand their Martial Soul Fusion Skill head-on?" On the spectator platform, Hu Liena was astonished.
"That's a bit too arrogant, isn't it?" Yan frowned slightly.
Xie Yue shook his head. "Yang Yunhai is not a fool. He must have something to rely on."
In no time, dark clouds converged over the arena, a brilliant column of light piercing skyward. Countless snowflakes swirled toward the center of the storm, forming an enormous vortex of ice and snow.
Terrifying cold swept the surroundings, frost covering the entire arena floor, even seeping into the viewing stands.
"It can even reach here!?" Everyone showed shocked expressions.
The next moment, within the enormous vortex above, snowflakes condensed and solidified into the form of a massive Ice Phoenix.
"What terrifying energy. This strike's power has absolutely reached the peak Soul Emperor level." Hu Liena's beautiful eyes widened.
"First Soul Skill, Extension!" In the arena, Yang Yunhai pressed his palm downward, and his Blue Silver Grass martial soul instantly extended deep into the ground.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Xuanwu Barrier!" Shoulder to shoulder, Shi Mo and Shi Mo raised their fists, striking them together. In the next second, their fourth soul rings glowed in unison, and a jade-green barrier resembling a tortoise shell rapidly expanded outward from them, dense and solid.
"This is… a fusion skill!" Yu Xiaogang's face changed.
"Well, they are brothers after all." Flender sighed bitterly. "And this is only a fusion skill. If it were a Martial Soul Fusion Skill…"
That would make it even harder for their team to win.
'A fusion skill? So what?' Tang San's expression stayed calm.' It's merely a two-person fusion. At most, it can withstand Soul Emperor attacks. With the support of the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill, I can rival a Soul Saint. Their shield—how could it possibly block me?'
Caw!
From the sky came the sharp cry of the Ice Phoenix, swooping down in a brilliant dive.
Boom!
It slammed against the protective barrier, ice shards exploding. The shield frosted over at shocking speed, its light dimming rapidly. In just a few breaths, it shattered, revealing beneath it a massive cocoon woven from Blue Silver Grass vines, glowing faint blue.
Crack, crack!
The giant Ice Phoenix kept hammering down, burying the vine cocoon. Marble tiles shattered piece by piece, the supposedly Soul Tool-reinforced arena—meant to withstand any Soul Emperor's attack—was destroyed on the very first day.
"So strong!" In the stands, the students of the Star Luo Empire's academies all looked grim, though inwardly, they were secretly pleased.
Two powerful teams fighting here meant one would inevitably be eliminated—an excellent outcome for them.
As the icy mist faded, a massive ice mound ten meters tall remained in the center of the arena.
Then—Boom, Boom—dull thuds echoed from within, cracks spreading across the ice.
With a deafening boom, the mound burst apart, ice fragments flying as countless vines surged outward. With snapping cracks, they tore the mound to pieces, finally revealing seven figures within, all without a single injury.
"We admit defeat!" Shui Bing'er's crisp voice rang out at once.
"The toughness of those vines…" Hu Liena's face turned solemn.
"This Yang Yunhai is truly extraordinary." Xie Yue's gaze grew heavy.
"Victory to Heaven Dou Royal Academy!" the referee's voice declared.
Nodding slightly toward Shui Bing'er, Yang Yunhai led his team off the field and back to the rest area.
The first round ended quickly, and the academy teams departed.
"Yang little brother, I'll cheer for you from now on!" Outside, as the Heaven Dou Royal Academy squad crossed paths with the Skywater Academy girls, Shui Yue'er's eyes locked shamelessly onto Yang Yunhai. She waved her tiny fists, her voice crisp and sweet, drawing countless jealous stares.
"Ah, our academy was too unlucky, running into you on the first day," Qiu Ruoshui couldn't help but complain.
"We admit defeat wholeheartedly!" Xue Wu said generously. "It's up to you now."
Yang Yunhai gave a slight nod. "We'll do our best."
"Why don't we all go eat together?" Shui Yue'er suggested.
"I think that's a great idea!" Yu Feng immediately chimed in.
Yang Yunhai cast him a sidelong glance, then nodded faintly. "Fine, let's go together."
"Mm-hm!" Shui Yue'er's smile blossomed like a flower.
Beside them, Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged calm glances at her neckline.
'Tomorrow our team has a bye. Tonight, I'll be sure to feed Yun well.' In the Soul Bone space, Yiner muttered to herself.
The night passed quietly.
The second day, the tournament's second round began.
As the top seed, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had a bye. Shrek Academy faced the Botanic Academy and once again won. Tang San's performance stood out as usual—plant martial soul against plant martial soul highlighted his superiority even more.
"Our luck's not bad. Two days in a row without facing strong opponents." Flender smiled.
"A good chance to conserve strength," Yu Xiaogang added, hands behind his back.
On the third morning, the academies gathered once more.
"Today, we face Star Luo Royal Academy," Meng Shenshou returned with the draw results.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy…" In their rest area, Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi exchanged glances. Zhu Zhuyun thought a moment, then said, "Weisi, if I'm right, this is Spirit Hall's manipulation. They want to use us to force Heaven Dou Royal Academy to reveal more of their strength. Their displayed power is too great—Spirit Hall must already feel wary."
"After all, the champion reward is three soul bones," Dai Weisi nodded grimly.
"Let's go all out." Zhu Zhuyun sighed. She suspected they wouldn't win against Heaven Dou Royal Academy anyway. To deliberately throw the match to avoid facing Shrek Academy later was not an option. Showing their strength with dignity was more important—they represented the Star Luo Empire, after all.
After years together, Dai Weisi instantly understood Zhu Zhuyun's meaning and gave a small nod.
"Third round of the finals, first match—Shrek Academy versus Noxus Academy!" the host's voice rang out.
"Noxus Academy? Why isn't it Star Luo Royal Academy?" Dai Mubai's face sank as he entered with his teammates. This was already round three—out of six in total. If he missed this chance, he would completely lose eligibility to contend.
After all, he couldn't exactly return home and challenge Dai Weisi alone.
"Noxus Academy, ranked second in the Star Luo Empire, with four Soul Elders," Yang Yunhai observed from the stands, eyes flashing.
'Bibi Dong, you're really acting like a babysitter!'
As expected, Shrek Academy won again. Xiao Wu still didn't go on stage, and Tang San remained the brightest star, spreading poison then conveniently "detoxifying" with his Eight Spider Lances.
Turning toward the stands, Yu Xiaogang stood with hands behind his back, wearing that aloof, inscrutable look.
Yang Yunhai smirked, got up, and said, "It's our turn now."
His gaze shifted to Dai Mubai, just leaving the field. To save time, the host never announced the results of the draws publicly—only the instructors knew. Clearly, Qin Ming hadn't informed him.
Just then, the host's voice rang out.
"Third round of the finals, second match—Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Star Luo Royal Academy!"
Dai Mubai's face instantly turned pale.
(End of Chapter)
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