The third day of the Nine Schools Competition was the most important day of the main event, because it featured the finals of "Surfing Speed Race" and both the preliminaries and finals of "Ice Pillar Offense and Defense."
As its name suggested, "Surfing Speed Race" was a competition where contestants surfed on boards. Of course, there were rules: they were not allowed to directly attack other contestants with magic, and could only interfere indirectly through methods such as disturbing the water's surface.
"Ice Pillar Offense and Defense," meanwhile, was somewhat similar to a tower defense battle. The contestants on each side stood on elevated platforms, while several rows of huge rectangular ice pillars stood on the platforms before them. Their task was to protect their own side's ice pillars while using magic to destroy the ice pillars in the opposing camp.
"Ice Pillar Offense and Defense" was also one of the most popular events among spectators, aside from "Illusion Star Picking" and "Secret Stele Decryption." The reason was that, in order to help contestants stay calm, this was the only event that specifically allowed them to wear whatever they wanted. As long as it did not violate public decency, they could dress as maids, shrine maidens, or anything else.
That was why it was the audience's favorite event—who did not enjoy legal cosplay?
For Fang Zheng, "Surfing Speed Race" posed no difficulty at all. Basically, he did not need to use any special tricks, because no one could activate magic faster than him. Often, the whistle had barely sounded before Fang Zheng vanished beyond everyone's sight.
However, to Fang Zheng's surprise, something went wrong in the girls' division.
"What happened?"
After the men's semifinal ended, Fang Zheng received a message from Mayumi Nanase telling him to return immediately. He hurried