The Match Begins

As the host's voice abruptly fell silent, blazing battle intent flared in Huo Wushuang's eyes. With a roar, his entire body was suddenly covered in a layer of crimson dragon scales as his Fire Dragon Martial Soul activated.

He stomped hard against the ground and charged toward Skywater Academy's team like an arrow loosed from the bow. At the same time, Yan Jinfeng gripped his Fire Scale Spear, its tip spitting scorching flames as he rushed forward menacingly.

The other members of Blazing Academy refused to be outdone and released their Martial Souls as well.

After Huo Wu activated her Martial Soul, fire elements in the surrounding air rapidly gathered, and a crimson figure stood proudly behind her. Eerie baleful flames ignited around Jia Youcai as he spread his wings. The phantom of a Phoenix flickered in and out around Yan Lingzhuo, letting out waves of clear, piercing cries. Yan Xiaoran was already completely covered in a suit of red armor.

However, just as Huo Wushuang was about to reach Skywater Academy's team, a sharp, icy glint flashed through Bing Liyue's eyes, and her figure instantly vanished without a trace. The next moment, she had appeared directly in Huo Wushuang's path. She was so fast that everyone present saw only a blue-white afterimage flash past.

Bing Liyue moved with light grace, lifting her right leg high before viciously kicking toward Huo Wushuang's chest with lightning speed. Huo Wushuang's vision blurred, and before he could react, a tremendous force slammed into his chest like a heavy hammer.

Then his throat turned sweet, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. His whole body flew backward like a kite with a severed string.

"Bang!" Huo Wushuang crashed heavily onto the edge of the arena, smashing a deep crater into the ground. He struggled to rise, only to discover that agonizing pain wracked his entire body. It felt as though his organs had all shifted out of place, leaving him unable to summon even a shred of strength.

The others from Blazing Academy were also stunned by the sudden sight. One kick had sent Huo Wushuang flying out of the arena. Such strength was simply terrifying. For a moment, they all stopped in their tracks and watched Bing Liyue warily, not daring to advance rashly.

The arena fell silent. Everyone was deeply shocked by Bing Liyue's terrifying strength. Skywater Academy's students outside the arena froze at first, then erupted into deafening cheers.

"Senior Sister Bing Liyue, you're incredible!"

"Skywater Academy is invincible!"

Seeing this, Jia Youcai could not stop himself from grumbling inwardly, I already warned you. She's level fifty-seven, and her Martial Soul is the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. Did you seriously have no sense of caution at all? You can't screw me over like this. Oh my god, what a living nightmare.

Yan Jinfeng, who had originally been behind Huo Wushuang, instinctively slowed his pace, a trace of fear showing in his eyes.

Just then, Shui Bing'er made her move. An ice-blue flash swept past, and Yan Jinfeng felt his entire body turn cold. Before he could react, he was instantly frozen inside a block of solid ice, unable to move.

Then the second spirit ring on Shui Bing'er's body lit up. Four ice rings emerged, each settling over two Attack-type Spirit Masters and two Agility-type Spirit Masters from Skywater Academy. Once the ice rings landed on them, they formed a layer of blue armor around their bodies.

"Want some spicy strips?" Chi Lingxuan tossed the four spicy strips in his hand into the air, then precisely controlled them with Soul Power and sent them steadily into the hands of his four teammates.

After eating the spicy strips, the four of them felt a fiery heat rise from within. The lingering chill brought by Shui Bing'er's ice rings was instantly dispersed by that heat. Soul Power surged around each of them, and their auras abruptly rose.

Yan Lingzhuo flew into the air. The Phoenix phantom around him shone brightly, and with a spread of its wings, it unleashed a stream of flames that accurately struck Yan Jinfeng ahead, rapidly melting the solid ice around him.

But just as Yan Jinfeng was about to break free from the ice, Shui Bing'er's First Spirit Skill descended once more, giving him no chance to recover. He was instantly frozen again.

"Girls, go!" Shui Bing'er shouted.

As long as no one could restrict Shui Bing'er's movements, she was fully confident that she could keep Yan Jinfeng under control until he was finished. Not only that, she still had the energy to support her teammates while closely watching Huo Wu, Blazing Academy's control-type Spirit Master.

"Flame Armor, reinforce." Yan Xiaoran released his First Spirit Skill, and the red armor around his body flashed with dazzling light.

Meanwhile, Skywater Academy's two Agility-type Spirit Masters had already arrived before him. They were Yu Hairou, who possessed the Coral Barracuda Martial Soul, and Shui Yue'er, who possessed the Jade Dolphin Martial Soul.

In close combat, men often held the advantage. Judging from physique alone, women found it difficult to match them in either endurance or explosive power. But women had the advantage in agility and larger Soul Power reserves, commonly known as having more Mana Bar. Generally, after men unleashed a full burst of attacks, they had barely any Soul Power left.

"Let me cool you down." Yu Hairou raised her head and shot out a stream of water, accurately striking Yan Xiaoran's body with a sizzling sound.

Though the water failed to pierce through Yan Xiaoran's Flame Armor instantly, the armor's temperature dropped sharply, and its defensive power gradually weakened. Threads of cold continued to seep into his body, making him shiver.

Yan Xiaoran frowned and clenched both fists. Soul Power surged wildly around him as he tried to dispel the chill and restore the blazing heat of his Flame Armor.

Yu Hairou and Shui Yue'er each took one side. They unleashed their Spirit Skills, one firing streams of water arrows and the other releasing waves of Ice Blades. Their strategy was simple: wear him down.

Skywater Academy's other two Attack-type Spirit Masters were Shen Liuyu, who possessed the Enamel Crocodile Martial Soul, and Gu Qingbo, who possessed the Azure Marlin Martial Soul. Their target was Huo Wu, Blazing Academy's only control-type Spirit Master and the team's commander.

Just as the two were about to close in on Huo Wu, two blazing flames suddenly fell from the sky, stretching across the path before them.

Those two flames had been jointly unleashed by Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo.

When Shen Liuyu and Gu Qingbo saw the flames blocking their path, their movements paused slightly. But in an instant, they adjusted their offensive and lightly circled around both sides of the flames, continuing their charge toward Huo Wu.

Faced with this, Jia Youcai could not help but feel troubled. Although his Fourth Spirit Skill, Phoenix Roaring Heaven Strike, was immensely powerful, it was difficult to land on a target. His second and Third Spirit Skills were both enhancement skills, while his First Spirit Skill was, put plainly, nothing more than breathing fire.

He could not help muttering to himself, Isn't this Martial Soul a little too useless?

Jia Youcai landed and swiftly searched for an opening. Seizing the moment, he suddenly spewed a mouthful of flames toward the closer Gu Qingbo. Then he quickly formed two fireballs between his hands and hurled them without hesitation at the other woman.

The instant the flames reached her, Gu Qingbo sharply twisted her body to the side, narrowly avoiding the scorching attack.

On the other side, Shen Liuyu faced the incoming fireballs without panic. The Enamel Crocodile Martial Soul in her hand emitted a gentle glow, and a transparent shield instantly formed, firmly blocking the fireballs.