Victory and Defeat

"Next, Oslo Academy will face Canghui Academy. In this clash between two long-established powerhouses, which side will come out on top?"

Wei Wei flew at the center of the arena, shouting loudly through a megaphone, while the spectators around her were even more fired up.

The thunderous cheers reached his ears, and when Xu Mingxi stepped onto the stage, he even felt a little nervous.

Xu Mingxi had looked over all of Oslo Academy's information. Aside from their official captain, every member was a Soul Elder.

One Support Soul Master, and the rest were all Assault and Agility Attack types. They had no Control type among them.

The day before the match, Coach Yan Feng had analyzed it with the members of Canghui Academy.

Oslo Academy: their captain was a Lion Tiger Soul Ancestor. Their vice-captain was Qin Jiu, a rank 39 Agility Attack Soul Elder, with the Vulture Martial Soul.

Si Kong, a rank 38 Assault Battle Soul Elder, with the Ghost Leopard Martial Soul.

Chen Tao, a rank 37 Agility Attack Battle Soul Elder, with the Lone Wolf Martial Soul.

Gu Chun, a rank 37 Assault Battle Soul Elder, with the Explosive Bear Martial Soul.

Ling Lin, a rank 36 Agility Attack Battle Soul Elder, with the Lightning Leopard Martial Soul.

Xu Zhengde, a rank 35 Support Soul Master, with the Jade Root Flower Martial Soul.

On Canghui Academy's side, their members were not at all inferior to Oslo Academy.

Yun Ni, a rank 37 Agility Attack Battle Soul Elder.

First Soul Skill, Flight, increasing speed by 30.

Second Soul Skill, Blowback, blowing out a fierce current of air.

Third Soul Skill, A Thousand Needles Falling Like Rain, which could shoot out a single feather or unleash them all at once.

Xiong Lie, a rank 36 Assault Battle Soul Elder.

First Soul Skill, Bear Roar, shocking and intimidating enemies.

Second Soul Skill, Fury Flame, setting his entire body ablaze and increasing defense by 20%.

Third Soul Skill, Blazing Claw Heavy Strike, covering his palm with Soul Power and slamming down with one claw, erupting with immense force.

"Judging from Oslo Academy's students' martial souls, close-quarters combat is highly likely. Once you're onstage, you can start with ranged attacks and wait for them at full strength.

"When Yun Ni takes the stage, she'll immediately whip up a gale, boosting her own speed while disrupting the enemy.

"Xiong Lie, remember to maintain your Second Soul Skill. Your strength is relatively weaker, so you must be careful.

"And Luo Yun, you're the main attacker. With your own soul skills plus Zhou Lingling's speed boost, your speed will definitely be much faster than theirs.

"Wen Tingyu and Ye Zhiqiu will create opportunities for Luo Yun. Xu Mingxi will support from the rear, and pay attention to protecting Zhou Lingling.

"Also, if possible, take out that Support Soul Master first."

Long before the match began, Coach Yan Feng had already formulated the strategy. All Canghui Battle Team had to do was execute it.

"All right, now for the countdown. Three, two, one."

At Wei Wei's command, the light of martial souls flashed simultaneously across all five arenas.

Yun Ni possessed her Skylark Martial Soul and flew straight into the sky, stirring up a gale.

Zhou Lingling's first and second soul rings lit up at the same time, granting every teammate boosts to speed and Soul Power.

"Second Soul Skill, Mystic Water Ice Seal."

"First Soul Skill, Rock Lock."

Ye Zhiqiu and Wen Tingyu both possessed ranged soul skills.

At the rear, Xu Mingxi likewise lit up his first and second soul rings. The Star Crown appeared, and gentle starlight fell over Luo Yun.

Following the coach's instructions, the injuring Star Light Ray fired continuously toward Xu Zhengde.

As team captain, Luo Yun naturally would not fall behind. His third soul ring lit up—Star Light Wave.

Far from panicking, Gu Ling instead took the lead and charged toward Canghui Academy.

"Proceed according to plan."

Standing at the very back, Xu Zhengde had a small white flower appear in his hand. Two yellow and one purple soul rings surfaced above it and lit up simultaneously.

"First Soul Skill, Speed Powder. Second Soul Skill, Strength Powder. Third Soul Skill, Rage Powder."

Under the shocked gazes of everyone from Canghui Academy, Oslo Academy's members suddenly increased their speed by a huge margin.

And as if they did not know pain, they pressed forward nonstop through everyone's attacks.

Xu Zhengde seemed to have completed his mission and walked straight off the arena.

Yun Ni and Qin Jiu clashed, and with the help of Xu Mingxi's rays, she barely held on.

Luo Yun had originally wanted to quickly take care of Xu Zhengde, but unexpectedly, Gu Ling blocked him directly, and the two sides locked into a duel.

The others each found opponents of their own as well, but only Si Kong, the Ghost Leopard Soul Elder, had no one to restrain him.

Xu Mingxi's first three soul skills were not meant for combat, so he could only fire rays to keep interfering, yet the other side kept closing in on him.

Spotting the moment Si Kong dodged a ray, Xu Mingxi directly shot out a Star Net.

Though the Star Net was large, it was rather slow, and Si Kong easily escaped its range.

Just then, Xu Mingxi's fingers twitched slightly, and the Star Net instantly broke apart, turning into strands of starlight that bound him directly.

While he was down, finish him off. Under Xu Mingxi's control, Star Light Ray shot at Si Kong again and again.

Xu Mingxi's Third Soul Skill was called Star Net, but it had also greatly improved his control over starlight. Simple shaping was still within his ability.

Si Kong was rescued directly by the referee, without even having the chance to display his true strength.

Next, with Xu Mingxi's help, they kept eliminating Oslo Academy's contestants.

What Xu Mingxi had not expected, however, was that Gu Ling did not become angry. Instead, he looked delighted.

The Fourth Soul Ring he had never used before lit up at once, and Xu Mingxi sensed a repulsive aura from him.

The stage instantly plunged into darkness, and Gu Ling's figure vanished outright.

"Brother Yun, be careful."

Xu Mingxi's first and second soul rings lit up, and starlight kept spilling from the star crown.

But as soon as the starlight appeared, before it could shoot far, it was swallowed directly by the darkness.

"Ah!!"

No, that voice was not Brother Yun. It was Xiong Lie.

"Urgh."

A muffled groan reached Xu Mingxi's ears. That was definitely Brother Yun's voice.

Xu Mingxi stopped caring about anything else. Starlight poured continuously from the star crown in every direction.

At last, the darkness was torn open. Or rather, Gu Ling, whose Soul Power consumption was too great, could no longer contend against Xu Mingxi's starlight.

"What? How is that possible?"

Only when Xu Mingxi saw the situation around him did he realize that not only Xiong Lie, but Zhou Lingling, Ye Zhiqiu, and even Yun Ni had all fallen to the ground.

Since the referee had not acted, everyone should not be in danger.

"Referee, I concede for them. Hurry and carry them down."

Xu Mingxi did not want to see his teammates die. This Gu Ling was not right.

Only five people were left on the field, and Yun Ni had already been eliminated as well.

Fortunately, Gu Ling had exhausted himself too much, and in the end, he was still defeated.

Although Canghui Battle Team won, they could not feel happy at all.

Almost the entire team was seriously injured, and Luo Yun and Wen Tingyu had also taken several heavy punches from Gu Ling during the battle.

Dean Wen hurriedly had all the students carried to the Infirmary. If anything happened to any of them, he would go mad.

Xu Mingxi sat in a chair, looking at his six teammates lying on the sickbeds.

He could not help blaming himself. If only I were a little stronger.

"Mingxi, don't be sad. You're still young. You have time."

Xu Mingxi shook his head and sat with both hands propping up his chin, staring blankly at his teammates.

Fortunately, the medical care Heaven Dou Empire arranged for the contestants was extremely powerful. With the help of this support-type Soul Emperor who specialized in healing, everyone from Canghui Academy recovered fully.

It was just that Canghui Battle Team had still exposed many problems. Aside from Luo Yun, everyone was full of openings, Xu Mingxi included.

In the end, they suffered a narrow defeat to Five Element Battle Team and missed the Advancement Round.

"Children, don't be sad. Life is still long, and no one knows what the future may hold."

Although Dean Wen forced himself to stay spirited and comfort the students, he had long since grown used to failure. It was just that these children were young and proud, and he feared they would not be able to bear it.

Canghui Academy's results this year were actually quite good. Aside from Five Element Academy, they had won every battle and displayed Canghui's style.

The seven of them sat in the carriage, looking at one another in silence. This was not only confusion over being eliminated, but also sorrow over parting.

They had long since met Canghui Academy's graduation requirements, and had only been delayed because of the National Tournament.

Now, after returning to the academy, they would each go their separate ways. They did not know whether they would meet again in the future.

Xu Mingxi did not feel good either. After spending these two years together, there were still feelings between them. But parting was a process one had to experience in order to grow.

In the end, carrying his luggage, he stood before the gates of Canghui Academy and gazed at the academy's signboard. At last, he turned and boarded the carriage for the journey home.

Ye Zhiqiu and Wen Tingyu chose to stay at the school and teach, while Zhou Lingling married under her family's arrangements.

Xiong Lie and Yun Ni planned to form a Soul Hunting Team and continue forward on the path of soul masters.

Luo Yun bade farewell to everyone and returned to the Royal Palace to learn how to manage the affairs of Star Luo Kingdom.

Although he was the Third Prince, his two elder brothers ahead of him lacked talent. They were several years older than him, yet even now they were only Soul Ancestors.

Star Luo Kingdom needed a stronger monarch. Moreover, Luo Yun had a better relationship with the future Elder or Sect Master of Star Crown Sect.