On the sparring stage, a battle that would determine the future authority of the first-year class was about to begin.
On one side were the class committee members: Class Monitor Jing Shaoyu, Vice Monitor and Design Committee member Gu Yue, Vice Monitor and Manufacturing Committee member Xu Xiaoyan, Maintenance Committee member Wu Siduo, and Forging Committee member Mo Hentian. They were the challenged party, tasked with defending the authority of the class committee.
On the other side was Tang Wulin and Luo Guixing's team, consisting of Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Lizhi, Luo Guixing, Xu Yu Cheng, Yang Nianxia, and Zheng Yiran. Xu Lizhi was an external reinforcement and thus not a primary concern. Most of the others had been defeated in the class committee elections, so this battle was an urgent opportunity for them to redeem themselves and prove their worth.
Everyone understood the significance of this battle. Whichever side emerged victorious today would hold absolute authority in the first-year class from this day forward.
"Both sides, prepare! Five-second countdown!" Wu Zhangkong's cold voice rang out.
The twelve students on the stage immediately readied themselves for battle. Jing Shaoyu and his team remained calm, while Tang Wulin and his team burned with fervor. The tension between the two sides was palpable, like the tip of a needle meeting the edge of a blade, waiting only for Wu Zhangkong's final count to erupt into action.
"Five, four, three, two, one!" Wu Zhangkong finished the countdown.
All twelve students reacted simultaneously. Behind Jing Shaoyu, two pairs of wings unfurled, and a jade-green halo appeared above his head. His demeanor became gentle and serene as he raised his right hand, summoning the Staff of Stars. Four pitch-black Soul Rings, smooth as jade, appeared before him, shocking the students watching from below. Their mouths hung open, too stunned to make a sound. However, Luo Guixing and his team showed no surprise, as Tang Wulin and Xie Xie had already informed them of this development.
Meanwhile, Ye Xinglan, sitting beside Na'er, flashed a peculiar expression.
On either side of Jing Shaoyu, Xu Xiaoyan, Gu Yue, Wu Siduo, and Mo Hentian also released their Martial Souls and Soul Rings. Together, the four of them unleashed thirteen Soul Rings, their auras intertwining in a display that left the audience in awe.
On the other side, Tang Wulin, Luo Guixing, and their team also released their Martial Souls and Soul Rings. Three purple Soul Rings rose beneath Tang Wulin's feet as strands of Blue Silver Grass surged forth, and his right hand transformed into a robust Golden Dragon Claw.
Jing Shaoyu was slightly surprised. In just a month, Tang Wulin had advanced to the rank of Soul Venerable, and his Blue Silver Grass had become quite formidable. It seemed Wu Zhangkong's special training had been highly effective.
The battle began. Xu Lizhi's second and third Soul Rings flashed rapidly as he swiftly tossed out two different types of buns. The others caught the buns and quickly consumed them. The Light Spirit Buns reduced their weight and increased their speed, while the Bloodthirsty Bean Paste Buns enhanced their vitality and Soul Power.
After consuming the buns, Yang Nianxia, Xie Xie, and Xu Yu Cheng became visibly excited. Yang Nianxia, already towering with the Darkgold Bear's power, became even more imposing under the effects of the Bloodthirsty Bean Paste Bun. He charged toward Jing Shaoyu's team with renewed vigor. Xie Xie, wielding the Light Dragon Dagger, and Xu Yu Cheng, armed with the Dark Demon Scythe, followed closely behind, aiming to strike first and seize the initiative.
Seeing this, Jing Shaoyu immediately raised the Staff of Stars. A black Soul Ring behind him glowed intensely, its deep, dark light causing Tang Wulin and his team to tense up. As the Soul Ring lit up, Jing Shaoyu gently waved the Staff of Stars, and a sapphire-blue ring of light spread from the gem at its tip, enveloping his teammates.
Blue halos appeared beneath the feet of the four, and Wu Siduo and Mo Hentian's eyes lit up with amazement. They could clearly feel their Soul Power becoming more active, and their speed increased significantly.
But that wasn't all. Jing Shaoyu waved the Staff of Stars again, and this time, it emitted a dazzling starlight. A starry crown descended upon Wu Siduo and Mo Hentian, filling them with fiery energy and an overwhelming desire to fight.
The two of them sprang into action—one as swift as a tiger or leopard, the other as solid as a mountain. Mo Hentian faced Yang Nianxia and Xu Yu Cheng, confident in his ability to take on both. Wu Siduo, on the other hand, flashed past Xie Xie and headed straight for Xu Lizhi and Luo Guixing in the rear.
Both of them moved with the blue halos beneath their feet and a small green bird circling around them, a sign of Gu Yue's wind element enhancement.
Meanwhile, Tang Wulin and Zheng Yiran launched an attack on Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, and Xu Xiaoyan. The Blue Silver Grass intertwined with the Jade Scale Serpent's venom, creating blue-green vines laced with dark green poison powder that danced in the air like venomous snakes.
Seeing this, Jing Shaoyu couldn't help but smile. He raised his hand and waved it lightly in the air. Instantly, the Blue Silver Grass froze in place, and in the next moment, to Tang Wulin's horror, it turned around and lunged toward Xie Xie, who was closest.
Xie Xie, who was charging toward Xu Xiaoyan at high speed, had no idea that Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass would betray him. When he heard Tang Wulin's urgent warning from behind, his first instinct was to dodge Xu Xiaoyan's control, completely unaware of the countless strands of Blue Silver Grass flying toward his side.
In an instant, Xie Xie was entangled by the Blue Silver Grass. He was momentarily stunned, then furious, about to curse Tang Wulin. But before he could speak, the Jade Scale Serpent's venom on the Blue Silver Grass turned his face pale and left him trembling.
A flash of white light, and Xie Xie became the first to be eliminated.
Seeing this, Tang Wulin's team was baffled. Zheng Yiran, in particular, shouted in displeasure, "Tang Wulin, what's going on? How can you lose control of your own Martial Soul?"
Even Wu Zhangkong, watching from below, looked grim. How could Tang Wulin make such a basic mistake?
Tang Wulin himself was also questioning his abilities. Had he neglected his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to the point where he could no longer control it? He was utterly confused by what had just happened. One moment, he had control, and the next, it was gone. How could this be?
But there was no time for Tang Wulin to ponder this in the heat of battle. Since the Blue Silver Grass was no longer useful, he abandoned it and charged toward Wu Siduo, who was already closing in on their rear.
Wu Siduo's Soul Rings flashed as her body split into four identical figures. A dark light flickered, and one of the figures suddenly disappeared, reappearing above Luo Guixing's head. Her hands came together, and her sharp claws transformed into curved blades as she slashed down at Luo Guixing.
Luo Guixing, however, showed no panic. In fact, a smug smile appeared on his face as Wu Siduo's body froze in mid-air, less than a foot away from him. Two silver chains had tightly bound her waist.
Luo Guixing's first Soul Skill: Spatial Shackles.
Wu Siduo's eyes widened in surprise. At the same time, Tang Wulin, wielding the Golden Dragon Claw, was already charging toward her. Without hesitation, she switched her Martial Soul, transforming from the Spirit Cat to the White Tiger. Breaking free from the Spatial Shackles, she landed with a nimble roll and turned, appearing right beside Xu Lizhi behind Luo Guixing. In her White Tiger form, she immediately pounced on Xu Lizhi.
Xu Lizhi quickly retreated, and Luo Guixing rushed to his aid. A silver light flickered at his fingertips, and in the next moment, Xu Lizhi's body erupted with silver radiance. His massive figure vanished from Wu Siduo's attack range and reappeared beside Luo Guixing and Tang Wulin.
"Phew!" Xu Lizhi exhaled in relief, then noticed a cool sensation on his nose. He blinked in confusion and muttered, "Is it snowing?"
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White snowflakes suddenly began to fall on the stage, carrying a bone-chilling coldness that filled Tang Wulin and Luo Guixing with urgency. Luo Guixing immediately shouted, "Everyone, focus on taking down Gu Yue first!"
This sudden snowfall was undoubtedly Gu Yue's doing.
Luo Guixing's plan was sound, but reality was harsh. By now, their team was down to just him, Tang Wulin, Zheng Yiran, and Xu Lizhi.
While their attention had been focused on Wu Siduo, Yang Nianxia had attempted to match Mo Hentian in strength, only to be knocked down by a single hammer strike from Mo Hentian. If not for a timely flash of white light removing him from the stage, he might have suffered severe injuries. Xu Lizhi's Bloodthirsty Bean Paste Bun had given Yang Nianxia a false sense of courage, unaware that Mo Hentian's enhancements far surpassed the bun's effects. The outcome was inevitable when Yang Nianxia decided to face Mo Hentian head-on.
Xu Yu Cheng had tried to join Yang Nianxia in attacking Mo Hentian, but as the two clashed in strength, a golden Star Chain suddenly bound Xu Yu Cheng's body.
With Xie Xie eliminated by Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass, Xu Xiaoyan was free to act without threat. She calmly released the Star Chain, restraining Xu Yu Cheng.
The Star Chain held Xu Yu Cheng for a full three seconds, during which Jing Shaoyu cast a fire spell and a wind-binding spell.
Xu Yu Cheng, caught in the whirlwind of wind and scorching heat, was rescued by a flash of white light and removed from the stage.
In less than three minutes, Tang Wulin's team had lost three members, while Jing Shaoyu's team remained unscathed. Everyone knew the outcome was already decided.
This was a one-sided battle.