Holy Radiance Star Brilliance vs. Ice Sky Snow Dance (Part 1)

The two stepped down from the arena.

"Little Sister Zhuqing did very well." Qian Renxue's voice came from the passage leading into the arena.

She stopped just behind and to the side of Zhu Zhuqing, a smile on her lips as both hands massaged Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders. Leaning closer, she breathed softly beside Zhu Zhuqing's slightly flushed cheek and whispered, "Still, your shortcomings are quite obvious. Do you need me to tell you what they are?"

Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly aside, avoiding Qian Renxue's breath. "Strength, resistance to control, endurance, and physical defense."

Qian Renxue raised her brows slightly, surprise flashing through her eyes before vanishing. She moved her head to the other side Zhu Zhuqing had turned away from, smiling faintly as she looked into her eyes. "Just as expected of Zhuqing. Since you already recognized your weaknesses so early, it seems you'll become even stronger very soon."

"Boring."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her shoulders, shrugging off Qian Renxue's hands. The faint flush on her face quickly returned to its usual calmness.

Ling Qianyue coughed lightly. "Let's return to the private room first and recover some Soul Power. Zhaoyue and I still have to wait a while for our match."

Inside the private room.

Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged, recovering her Soul Power.

Ling Qianyue sat quietly beside her. In the previous battle, he had only used two Soul Skills in total, both of them enhancement skills, aside from that massive sword of light that had struck Huo Wushuang in the back.

Therefore, he had not expended much Soul Power and did not need to sit cross-legged to recover.

He said, "As an Agility Attack Battle Soul Master, Zhuqing originally relied on enhanced attack speed and agility to move rapidly through battle, using her speed advantage to evade enemy attacks while seeking opportunities to strike her opponents by surprise.

"However, the innate shortcomings of agility attack types often become especially apparent when facing strength-type or control-type Soul Masters.

"So during this period, I redefined her future path of development. The Netherworld Star Cat naturally possesses the Star Erosion effect. This ability, which can break through an enemy's Soul Power defenses and disrupt their Soul Power channels, must be prioritized in her future development.

"Agility attack-type Soul Masters naturally possess assassin-like traits as well. What Zhuqing needs to do is fully develop that trait and truly achieve a single fatal strike.

"Even defense-type Soul Masters and beast martial soul Assault Type Battle Soul Masters would be unable to withstand one of her attacks head-on."

Qian Renxue considered this thoughtfully. "No wonder you leaned Zhuqing's Third Soul Skill toward creating a clone. A substitute often serves to fill in gaps in one's defensive mechanisms.

"Going forward, Zhuqing only needs to strengthen what you just mentioned and resolve her endurance issue.

"Also, she lacks an assassination environment. While the Star Screen released by the Shattered Star Sword can help conceal her when the two of you fight together, she herself should also acquire a Soul Skill that allows her to hide her form.

"Whether it's a domain or a spatial-type Soul Skill, she will definitely need to obtain one in the future."

Ling Qianyue nodded. "That's right. You thought the same as I did."

Qian Renxue's eyes flickered, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly. "Are you sure it isn't something you simply hadn't considered before?"

Ling Qianyue rolled his eyes. "How could that be?"

"Oh~" Qian Renxue rested her chin on her hand, her gaze sliding toward Zhu Zhuqing's face. "So Qianyue had already considered the very same thing I did. We truly are~ of one mind, then~"

Zhu Zhuqing, whose eyes remained closed, raised an eyebrow.

"Ha." Qian Renxue's eyes shifted as she shot Ling Qianyue a look, as though saying, See? Her eyes carried the smug satisfaction of a scheme succeeding.

"State your names and perform the Soul Master's salute." the referee called loudly.

"Shui Bing'er, Level 34 Control Type Battle Soul Master."

A woman dressed in an ice-blue combat uniform slowly stepped forward. Her features were delicate and lovely, while her long water-blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

She stood around one meter sixty-five tall, with a well-proportioned figure—neither particularly voluptuous nor slender and slight.

At first glance, she merely gave off a hazy sense of beauty, yet upon closer inspection, she seemed to possess a uniquely captivating charm.

"Xuewu, Level 33 Support Type Battle Soul Master." Following behind her was another short-haired woman dressed in the same ice-blue combat uniform. Unlike Shui Bing'er, she was much taller, with a strikingly curvaceous figure and a dashing air about her.

"Ling Qianyue, Level 34 Assault Type Battle Soul Master.

"Yun Zhaoyue, Level 35 Assault Type Battle Soul Master."

Xuewu smiled as she spoke. "We saw your battle with Zhu Zhuqing just now. You really were strong. Honestly, Bing'er and I both feel quite pressured.

"But I wonder about this beautiful lady now. Heh heh, is she your girlfriend too?"

Before Ling Qianyue and Qian Renxue could speak, "Xuewu." Shui Bing'er frowned. "Don't ask about other people's private matters. That's very rude."

"Alright, alright~" Xuewu covered her mouth and hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, I was just curious for a moment. I know I was wrong. I won't do that again." She blinked her eyes, looking innocently at Shui Bing'er as though asking for forgiveness.

Though she was clearly the youngest member of Skywater Academy, Shui Bing'er seemed to display the authority of a big sister at that moment.

Shui Bing'er gave Xuewu a helpless look, then offered Ling Qianyue and Qian Renxue an apologetic gaze.

Qian Renxue and Ling Qianyue nodded lightly, not taking it to heart.

Rather, Qian Renxue was quite happy for others to think that way.

The host shouted from the raised platform.

"What an extraordinary coincidence tonight! Holy Radiance Star Brilliance, the duo that usually appears alongside Qingyao Phantom, has collided with Ice Sky Snow Dance, a recently popular duo!

"On one side is Holy Radiance Star Brilliance, powerful and perfectly coordinated; on the other is Ice Sky Snow Dance, where control and support blend flawlessly, with astonishing ice-element power!

"Although I would normally love to support Ice Sky Snow Dance, made up of two beautiful ladies, today Holy Radiance Star Brilliance also has an even more peerlessly beautiful young lady among them!"

Ah, what a difficult choice, audience! Who will you support? Which duo will emerge victorious? Let's wait and see!"

"Down with the tyrant Ling Qianyue! The world belongs to Ice Sky Snow Dance!" an excited spectator shouted.

"That's right! I've been sick of that guy for ages. Damn it, why does he get to have two gorgeous women all to himself? And he can even switch up his Soul Fighting partners? Ice Sky Snow Dance, freeze that bastard into an ice sculpture!" another spectator immediately echoed.

"Are you all so jealous because you don't have any?"

The scene fell silent for a moment. "Fuck, get him, brothers!"

At the referee's command, the battle on the arena was on the verge of erupting.

At some point, Zhu Zhuqing had arrived in the stands beside the arena, quietly watching Ling Qianyue and Yun Zhaoyue above.

I keep feeling like Yun Zhaoyue and Qianyue work together more seamlessly than Qianyue and I do. Why is that? she wondered. This feeling had lingered in her heart ever since "Yun Zhaoyue" appeared.