Chapter 41: "I Will Beat You Back to Reality"
The 38-to-16 matches officially ended after a day of intense battles.
The next morning, the sixteen advancing teams gathered at the assessment area again.
With the number of people drastically reduced, the emptiness of the venue became more apparent, but the atmosphere was even more solemn than yesterday.
"Lin Xuan, which team do you think we'll draw this time?"
Dugu Qing asked curiously, looking at the significantly fewer teams around, his tone relaxed.
"It feels like even Cao Jinxuan and his team couldn't beat us, so the remaining teams must be even more impossible, right?"
Hearing this, before Lin Xuan could speak, a sneer came from behind them.
"What a joke."
Dugu Qing and Wu Feng turned their heads at the sound.
They saw Wang Dong standing not far away, arms crossed, her short blue-pink hair particularly eye-catching in the morning light.
She raised her chin, her overly handsome face filled with defiance, her gaze sweeping over Dugu Qing before finally landing on Lin Xuan.
"You beat a Cao Jinxuan and really think you're invincible?"
"The assessment is only halfway through, yet you've got such a big mouth. This year's freshmen are full of hidden talents; do you really think everyone else is made of clay?"
Dugu Qing was stunned by her retort, and his face immediately showed his embarrassment.
"We're just stating facts! Lin Xuan's strength is obvious to everyone..."
Wu Feng sneered and took a step forward, her red hair like fire as she glared unkindly at Wang Dong.
"What, you're not convinced? If you're not convinced, keep it to yourself! Or wait until we meet in the draw and show us what you've got in a real fight!"
"Then let's see what you've got!"
Wang Dong wasn't intimidated at all. Instead, she straightened her back, battle intent rising in her eyes.
"I'm just afraid some people only know how to talk big while hiding behind their teammates."
"Who are you calling a big talker?!"
"I'm calling whoever answers!"
Both sides were at each other's throats, the smell of gunpowder instantly filling the air.
Several nearby teams instinctively backed away, watching this pre-match interlude with great interest.
Lin Xuan didn't turn his head from beginning to end, not even lifting an eyelid, as if the dispute behind him had absolutely nothing to do with him.
He just quietly looked toward the high platform, waiting for the draw to begin.
Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Du Weiren's voice rang out from the high platform, drowning out the noise below.
"Quiet! Top sixteen teams, prepare for the draw!"
Wang Dong and Wu Feng glared at each other, snorted, and turned their heads away.
Dugu Qing also tugged at Wu Feng's sleeve, signaling her to calm down.
The drawing ceremony began, and Du Weiren announced the matchups one by one.
Every announcement tugged at the hearts of the students below.
Lin Xuan remained calm until he heard "Area Nine, Freshman Class Nine Lin Xuan's team vs. Freshman Class One Wang Dong's team," then he slightly raised his eyes.
How interesting, to meet so soon... Upon hearing that their team was paired with Wang Dong's, Dugu Qing and Wu Feng's faces immediately lit up with smiles. They hadn't expected to be matched together right after their argument.
On the other side, Xiao Xiao's face instantly slumped, and she said miserably:
"This is bad, this is bad... how did we get paired together right after the argument? This is going to be trouble..."
"Yeah..." Huo Yuhao echoed in a low voice. Having seen Lin Xuan beat up Xu Sanshi with his own eyes, he knew Lin Xuan's strength all too well.
"What are you afraid of?" Wang Dong's gaze became somewhat solemn, but her tone was still full of pride.
"So what if he's a Soul Elder? Who doesn't have a few trump cards? Today, I will personally end his undefeated record and knock him out in the round of sixteen!"
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao were both pessimistic about Wang Dong's words. After all, even if you really have a trump card, can you beat someone's ten-thousand-year spirit ring?
Trump card? The Clear Sky Hammer?
Lin Xuan thought to himself as he heard Wang Dong's words. Just then, he caught a glimpse of his homeroom Teacher, Teacher, walking over quickly from the Teacher's viewing area.
"Lin Xuan," Teacher walked over and beckoned to him, "Come with me for a moment, I have something to say."
Lin Xuan was a bit surprised but nodded and followed Teacher to a relatively quiet corner at the edge of the assessment area.
"Teacher Mu, is there something wrong?" Lin Xuan asked after they stopped.
Teacher didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before looking back at Lin Xuan.
"It's nothing major, I just wanted to give you a few reminders."
"What is it?"
"Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit. This team from Freshman Class One is not simple; you must not underestimate them. However, as long as you win this match, even if you don't win the championship, as your homeroom Teacher, I will give you a reward."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan's expression became a bit strange, but he realized what was happening after recalling this part of the original plot.
Teacher probably made another bet with Zhou Yi, where the loser not only has to give up a Soul Bone but also resign and leave the academy... Lin Xuan understood. He wasn't interested in the grudge between Teacher and Zhou Yi, but he had a big problem with Zhou Yi as a person.
After all, anyone who has been a student couldn't possibly like this kind of Teacher.
"Don't worry, Teacher. Even if you didn't say these things, there's no way Wang Dong and the others could ever beat me."
Teacher smiled with satisfaction. "With those words, I'm relieved."
At this time, the drawing ceremony happened to end, and the teams began to head to their assigned assessment areas... Ninth Assessment Area, Soul Dueling Platform.
Lin Xuan, Dugu Qing, and Wu Feng took the stage from one side.
Opposite them, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Huo Yuhao also walked up from the other side.
Both sides stood twenty meters apart in the center of the field.
Wang Dong's team used a very standard formation.
Wang Dong herself was at the very front, Xiao Xiao was in the middle, and Huo Yuhao was at the very back.
However, Lin Xuan's positioning left all the onlookers, including Wang Dong's trio, stunned.
It was exactly the same as during the round-robin matches.
Only Lin Xuan stood alone at the very front, his expression calm.
Dugu Qing and Wu Feng stood casually several meters behind him, even leisurely crossing their arms, looking like "we're just here to watch the show," without any of the tension of an upcoming match.
This posture was exactly the same as when they faced those teams with a massive power gap before!
"You—!"
Wang Dong's face instantly flushed with anger. She pointed at Lin Xuan, her voice rising slightly in irritation.
"Lin Xuan! You're too arrogant! Do you really plan to fight one against three? I'm telling you, you'll regret it! Don't think you're the only genius among this year's freshmen!"
Lin Xuan felt a bit speechless. He didn't want to talk trash this time, as Wang Dong would get anxious on her own.
But since the opponent was actively providing an opportunity, it seemed inappropriate not to say a few words.
"I will beat you back to reality," Lin Xuan said expressionlessly, his tone indifferent.
As soon as these words came out, Wang Dong was stunned. Then, a raging fire, far more intense and humiliating than before, completely consumed the remaining calm in her heart.
Since she was a child, no one had ever dared to speak to her like that!
By the side of the field, the Teacher in charge of proctoring this match looked at this scene full of the smell of gunpowder and verbal sparring, and couldn't help but click his tongue inwardly.
"Young people these days... their mouths are getting sharper and sharper, and they're getting bolder and bolder..."
He didn't delay any longer, stepped forward, raised his right hand high, and swept his gaze over both sides.
"Both sides ready—Match, start!"
"Hmph!" Wang Dong suppressed her anger, her gaze instantly becoming incredibly sharp and focused. "Release Martial Souls!"
As her voice fell, brilliant colors erupted from behind her!
A pair of huge butterfly wings, seemingly carved from light and blue crystal, suddenly unfolded, magnificent and noble.
Beneath her feet, one yellow and one purple Soul Ring slowly rose.
The second Soul Ring being a thousand-year purple one—with this kind of talent, if it weren't for Lin Xuan being there, she would probably be the protagonist right now.
Xiao Xiao didn't dare to be slow. She stepped back slightly, and the Three Lives Soul-Quelling Cauldron appeared in front of her with a heavy and steady aura, followed by two hundred-year spirit rings.
Huo Yuhao quickly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, a pale gold light flowed in the depths of his eyes.
Compared to his two teammates, he was undoubtedly much worse. Only a single pale yellow hundred-year spirit ring emerged from beneath his feet; looking at the color, it probably barely crossed the hundred-year threshold.
"Huo Yuhao, first Soul skills!" Wang Dong ordered decisively.
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's gaze suddenly focused, locking onto the white figure twenty meters away.
His mental force rapidly gathered, turning into an invisible and intangible mental spike, silently shooting toward the center of Lin Xuan's brow!
However, in the very next instant after that mental spike entered Lin Xuan's brow!
"Argh—!!!"
Huo Yuhao felt as if his head had been hit hard by an invisible heavy hammer. His body twitched violently, and after letting out a painful scream, his eyes instantly rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, silent.
In an instant, the entire field fell silent.
"Pfft..."
An unshielded sneer rang out.
Wu Feng stood with her arms crossed, looking like she was watching an idiot, and shook her head.
"Stupid, isn't it? You actually used a mental attack against an opponent whose Soul Power and mental force are levels higher than yours? What's the difference between throwing an egg at a diamond?"
Lin Xuan also shook his head helplessly, his gaze sweeping over the fallen Huo Yuhao.
"I didn't intend to be heavy-handed with you... after all, it hasn't been easy for you. Unfortunately, you chose the worst possible way to attack, so you can't blame anyone else."
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