The Eve of the Finals

On the preparation bench of Shancheng Martial University.

"Lin Hao, did you notice anything?" Jiang Weiwei's brow furrowed slightly.

Lin Hao shook his head gravely. Just now, the moment Ye Shuangshuang's attack vanished, he felt something, but he couldn't put it into words. It just felt incredibly eerie.

In truth, it wasn't just Lin Hao. Even the principals of the various martial universities were stunned. None of them, Diamond-rank experts, could figure out what Martial Art Liu Qingmeng was using. Only Xing Tianhe, the principal of Jiangnan Martial University, wore a smile. "That girl Qingmeng's cultivation has grown again."

"Is that your strongest technique? The top genius of Qingzhou Martial University should have more than this, shouldn't she?" Liu Qingmeng gazed calmly at the tense Ye Shuangshuang. Ye Shuangshuang was seething inside. She had used three techniques in a row, consuming nearly half her Spiritual Power. Yet Liu Qingmeng hadn't even moved.

"No matter how bizarre your moves are, I'll win this match with the next one." Ye Shuangshuang dared not hold back any longer. In an instant, she leaped into the air. The blue staff in her hand blazed with light. The moment it lit up, the entire arena was encased in a ring of blue beams. Then, out of nowhere, a towering wave ten meters high surged onto the stage. Technique: Cold Tide Raging Surge activated. The colossal wave crashed down toward Liu Qingmeng, who stood on the platform, with terrifying pressure.

The Referee, drenched in Cold Sweat, instantly jumped into the air as well. But Liu Qingmeng remained rooted to the spot, unmoving. In a flash, the wave swallowed her, while the surrounding blue beams contained the surge, preventing it from spilling onto the preparation benches or the audience.

Ten seconds later, the wave subsided. The entire arena looked like a giant glass fishbowl filled with water. But it wasn't over. The remaining Spiritual Power in Ye Shuangshuang's body gathered rapidly. Her aquamarine hair turned pure white, and her staff transformed into a crystalline Ice Staff. With an indifferent expression, Ye Shuangshuang pointed the staff into the air. In an instant, the once-turbulent arena froze into an ice sculpture.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. The audience fell silent, mouths agape at the sight.

Jiang Tianhai shook his head with a wry smile. "No wonder she's the disciple of the Ice Snow Empress. She's awakened not only the Water Element ability but also the Ice Element, just like her master. None of the team leaders in the top ten of this tournament are pushovers."

Fang Wei nodded in agreement. "Feixue has taken on quite the disciple. It's a shame she ran into a freak of nature that appears once in a millennium."

Lin Hao stared intently at the arena. He had a feeling that, despite the power of Ye Shuangshuang's technique, Liu Qingmeng hadn't taken any damage.

Ye Shuangshuang slowly landed on the crest of the frozen wave. Her move was a full-field control technique—no matter how strong Liu Qingmeng was, she should be trapped beneath the ice, unable to move. As she panted heavily, a girl in white quietly materialized behind her.

"Not bad. That move of yours is indeed formidable, but it's useless against me." Before Ye Shuangshuang could react, Liu Qingmeng simply struck her on the back of the neck with a single hand-chop. Ye Shuangshuang collapsed unconscious without a word.

As she fell, her appearance reverted to normal. The Referee quickly announced, "Second match of the semifinals: Jiangnan Martial University versus Qingzhou Martial University. Jiangnan Martial University wins and advances to the finals."

At the Referee's declaration, thunderous applause erupted across the venue. The audience reveled in the spectacle, but the team members and even the principals of the various universities were stunned. "How did she get behind Ye Shuangshuang?" Even the Diamond-rank principals hadn't seen it.

Lin Hao's eyes flickered with dawning understanding. "Could it be...?" Jiang Weiwei caught his mutter and turned to him. "Lin Hao, did you figure something out?"

Lin Hao nodded. "A little. But I can't be sure until I fight her."

Jiang Weiwei gave a slight nod.

On the arena, Ning Feixue was checking Ye Shuangshuang's injuries. Seeing she was only unconscious, she breathed a small sigh of relief. She cast a grave look at Liu Qingmeng, who had already walked away. Even she couldn't figure out what ability this girl possessed. Her disciple had thrown everything she had and still lost easily.

After the match, everyone filed out of the venue in an orderly fashion. The audience buzzed with anticipation for tomorrow's finals.

"Who do you think will win tomorrow?"

"I'm betting on Liu Qingmeng. She only fought once, but she crushed Qingzhou Martial University's top genius without breaking a sweat. Too strong."

"I'm backing Lin Hao. Don't forget, he also crushed a genius like Mo Yu. And he has Spear Intent."

"If Lin Hao were Silver Grade, I'd back him. He's a genius, sure, but he's still just Bronze High-rank."

The audience was still debating.

That evening, after dinner, the Shancheng Martial University team gathered in their private meeting room. Liu Qingmeng's performance today had shaken them all. Everyone stared at Lin Hao.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Lin Hao's mouth twitched.

"Great God Lin, do you think you can win tomorrow?" Mo Zixuan asked, worry etched on his face. Like the rest of the team, he hadn't been able to figure out the ability of that girl named Liu Qingmeng.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Hao gave a bitter smile. "Sigh, I don't know. If Liu Qingmeng hadn't fought today, I'd probably end up like Ye Shuangshuang tomorrow—beaten into questioning my existence. But from her performance, the ability she awakened is definitely not ordinary. Based on my observations, it might be related to space."

"I think so too." Just as they were discussing, the meeting room door swung open. A middle-aged beauty with a blue-haired girl entered.

Everyone froze. "Sister Ning, why are you here?" Lin Hao was baffled. The newcomers were Ning Feixue, principal of Qingzhou Martial University, and her disciple Ye Shuangshuang.

"Since you call me sister, how could I not help my little brother with tomorrow's finals?" Ning Feixue smiled and greeted everyone. Lin Hao quickly stood up, fetched seats for Ning Feixue and Ye Shuangshuang, and poured them hot water.

"Aunt Ning, did you figure something out?" Jiang Weiwei's use of "Aunt Ning" felt awkward. Lin Hao called her sister, but she called her aunt—wasn't Lin Hao clearly trying to take advantage of her?

Ning Feixue noticed Jiang Weiwei's discomfort. "Ah, don't mind Lin Hao. We'll keep our own terms." She smiled. "I came today to warn you. Liu Qingmeng's ability is likely a rare Space-type Ability. In the history of the Xia Kingdom, no one has awakened such an ability. Usually, only Demigod-rank experts and above can barely touch the fringes of space power. If she really has awakened a space-type ability, that's a tough problem."