"The second match of the semifinals: Jiangnan Martial University versus Qingzhou Martial University. Competitors from both sides, please take the stage." As the referee announced the start of the match, the crowd's excitement reached its peak. The morning's matches had been so thrilling that everyone's expectations for the afternoon were climbing higher and higher.
The first competitor from Qingzhou Martial University was a young woman. She was tall, with long, water-blue hair cascading to her waist. Her delicate features revealed a cool, distant air that warned others to keep their distance, as if she were an icy glacier untouched for ten thousand years. The other universities' competitors all stared in surprise. Qingzhou Martial University had sent out its captain first—were they trying to end the match quickly?
The competitor from Jiangnan Martial University was a woman in a white dress. She had a well-proportioned figure, sweet features, and fair skin, giving her the quiet beauty of a lotus rising unstained from the mud. When she spoke, her voice rang out, ethereal and clear. "My name is Liu Qingmeng, and I'm the captain of Jiangnan Martial University. You're Ye Shuangshuang, the captain of Qingzhou Martial University, right? How about we settle this in one match, just like Lin Hao and Duan Yue did this morning?"
At that moment, the students below the stage were all left staring in stunned silence.
"So this is Jiangnan Martial University's captain? I heard she hadn't competed before."
"Yeah. I never expected such a sweet girl to be Jiangnan Martial University's captain."
"She looks so much like the goddess of my dreams."
When the audience heard Liu Qingmeng's proposal, their excitement surged. The one-match showdown that morning had been a feast for the eyes. If they got another one that afternoon, they'd be in for a spectacular treat.
At her words, Ye Shuangshuang's lovely brows drew together slightly. To be honest, she wanted to test herself against Jiangnan Martial University's captain, who had never competed before. After all, she was no pushover herself. But she knew nothing about the girl before her, who was every bit as beautiful as a celestial maiden. She was afraid of being caught off guard during the match, and that would hardly be worth it.
At the Shancheng Martial University team's waiting area, Lin Hao also furrowed his brows slightly. Jiangnan Martial University's captain gave him an extremely dangerous feeling—a feeling he hadn't experienced once throughout the entire Hundred Schools League. Even Duan Yue hadn't made him feel that way. He trusted his instincts, and he found himself growing curious about Jiangnan Martial University's captain.
Just as Ye Shuangshuang was hesitating, Principal Ning Feixue of Qingzhou Martial University called out from below the stage, "Shuangshuang, accept." Ye Shuangshuang looked toward Ning Feixue, who nodded to her. Ye Shuangshuang didn't hesitate any longer. "All right. I accept." She had no reason to back down from her opponent's challenge.
Seeing Ye Shuangshuang accept, Liu Qingmeng smiled faintly, as radiant as a hundred flowers in bloom.
As soon as the referee announced the start of the match, the crowd's excitement reached its peak.
Ye Shuangshuang raised her hand, and a water-blue staff about two meters long appeared. I'll test her limits first. With that thought, the staff in Ye Shuangshuang's hand suddenly lit up. Countless tiny droplets appeared in the air, suspended all around them. Before her opponent could react, Ye Shuangshuang swept her staff through the air. The droplets shot toward Liu Qingmeng like bullets.
Liu Qingmeng didn't move at all. Yet, without anyone noticing, a golden light flashed in her eyes for an instant.
In that split second, countless droplets struck Liu Qingmeng's body. Just as Ye Shuangshuang thought she had hit her, the droplets passed straight through her. Liu Qingmeng continued smiling calmly, as if the attack hadn't been aimed at her at all. The bizarre sight left everyone in the arena dumbfounded.
Could she be an illusion? Ye Shuangshuang quickly assessed the situation. Below the stage, Ning Feixue's brows also drew together slightly. She was a Diamond-rank Ability User, and she could sense the fluctuations of Spiritual Power around Liu Qingmeng just now. In other words, Liu Qingmeng hadn't used any kind of illusion skill.
"Then let's try this." Ye Shuangshuang leaped into the air and waved her staff. Before long, dark clouds blanketed the sky. A sudden downpour swept across the arena. But the rain wasn't ordinary rain—each drop shot toward Liu Qingmeng like a steel needle.
Liu Qingmeng still didn't move. She simply stood there, perfectly still. The raindrops passed through her again when they hit her. It rained for a full two minutes, yet not a single drop of water was left on Liu Qingmeng. Even an attack that covered the entire arena and struck indiscriminately had no effect on her at all.
The students below the stage were all left staring in stunned silence. If they had been on the receiving end of that attack, they would probably have been riddled with holes by now.
Jiang Tianhai and Fang Wei, seated among the judges, both brightened. "Old Jiang, Jiangnan Martial University really has been hiding its strength."
"Sure has. They probably kept such a terrifying genius hidden just to win first place in the Hundred Schools League."
"Hey, what do you think Lin Hao's chances would be against her?" Fang Wei was curious now, too.
Jiang Tianhai thought for a moment, then sighed softly. "Hard to say. Lin's mastery of his concept is powerful, but he can't break through her skill. He'll probably be at a huge disadvantage." He then looked toward Shancheng Martial University's waiting area. "Heh, good thing that kid came today. I wonder how much he can figure out. If he has no clue at all, then tomorrow's match will be in real trouble."
Fang Wei shared Jiang Tianhai's thoughts. "Heh, Old Jiang, tomorrow's going to be quite a show."
On the arena, Ye Shuangshuang had stopped attacking. "Aren't you going to make a move?" she asked, her expression grave.
Liu Qingmeng smiled faintly. "Use all your strength. Your attacks aren't even a tickle to me. If I make a move, you might not get another chance."
"Arrogant!" Ye Shuangshuang was enraged. She was Qingzhou Martial University's top genius, an eighteen-year-old Gold High Grade Ability User, and this girl dared to look down on her. Ye Shuangshuang stopped holding back. She waved her staff, and a faint blue beam of light streamed from it. Martial Art: Water Curtain Heavenly Splendor! Countless droplets instantly condensed in the air, then rapidly joined together to form a ten-meter-high curtain of water. Ye Shuangshuang waved her staff again, and the entire curtain seemed to come alive. Countless ferocious beasts made of water burst from it and charged at Liu Qingmeng.
Facing the many beasts rushing toward her, Liu Qingmeng simply raised her hand and gave a light wave. The beasts vanished in an instant. The students watching were all left gaping in shock.
"Wasn't that an Earth Grade Cultivation Method Ye Shuangshuang just used? She broke it with a wave of her hand?"
"Is she doing magic tricks? All those attacks just disappeared!"
"What kind of move is that? One wave of her hand and it's over?"
Ye Shuangshuang was stunned, too. She had never seen such a bizarre move. What kind of Martial Art was that? How could it dispel her Earth Grade Cultivation Method so effortlessly?
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