Wang Zhi stood still, not moving an inch.
Just as the lightning was about to hit him, the Shadow beneath his feet rippled.
A black figure emerged from the Shadow.
Ghost Shadow Ninja.
The instant it appeared, it raised both hands.
Several Shuriken sliced through the air, striking the silver lightning with pinpoint accuracy.
Boom!
Electricity burst in every direction.
The Shuriken were knocked aside by the lightning, but the silver bolt was blocked as well.
Wang Dongqi's pupils contracted.
What a fast reaction!
But the battle had only just begun.
The instant Ghost Shadow Ninja blocked the attack, it flickered and became a black blur, rushing toward Wang Dongqi.
Its speed was astonishing, leaving a trail of afterimages in the air.
Wang Dongqi snorted and charged forward instead of retreating.
This was exactly what she had been waiting for!
She raised the Flash Thunder Sword above her head, and the Second Soul Ring beneath her feet suddenly lit up.
Second Soul Skill, Silver Snake Dance!
Silver streaks shot from the sword, like countless silver snakes dancing wildly through the air. In an instant, they covered most of the space around her.
The snakes twisted and leaped, weaving a dense web of lightning that enveloped her completely.
Silver Snake Dance was a Soul Skill she had specifically developed to counter agility-type Soul Masters.
Lightning was not only powerful; its paralyzing effect could also slow the speed that agility-type Soul Masters relied on most.
Once her opponent was paralyzed, she would only need to follow up with a sword strike at such close range to finish them off.
She had fought agility-type Soul Masters of her own rank countless times and had never once failed.
As long as her opponent dared to get close, defeat was all but certain.
As Ghost Shadow Ninja entered the web of lightning, a smile appeared on Wang Dongqi's face.
Once she dealt with this summoned creature, the outcome of her match against Wang Zhi would essentially be decided.
But in the next instant, the smile froze on her face.
Ghost Shadow Ninja's body suddenly turned hazy.
The instant Silver Snake Dance descended, it seemed to become a shadow without substance.
Its form flickered unpredictably as it darted and weaved between the dense arcs of electricity. Each time, it narrowly evaded the silver snakes closing in around it.
The snakes seemed to cover every inch of space, but in reality, there were gaps.
The twisting bolts of lightning constantly shifted position, and Ghost Shadow Ninja slipped between them, as though dancing on the edge of a blade.
How was this possible?!
Wang Dongqi's eyes widened in disbelief.
It was only a summoned creature!
How could it use such an uncanny movement technique?!
Before she could react, Ghost Shadow Ninja had already passed through the web of lightning and reached her.
Those dark eyes were only inches away.
Panic surged through Wang Dongqi. With no time to think, she swung the Flash Thunder Sword in her right hand.
Boom!
Silver lightning flared, and a violent surge of electricity burst forth, engulfing everything within several meters.
But the instant the lightning struck, Ghost Shadow Ninja's body turned into a Shadow and slipped underground.
The lightning crashed into the ground, blasting out a shallow crater.
Ghost Shadow Ninja was completely unharmed.
Wang Dongqi clenched her teeth.
She knew she couldn't keep getting tangled up with this summoned creature.
She had to attack Wang Zhi directly!
She pushed off with both legs, pivoted, and charged straight at Wang Zhi.
But the instant she turned, a sudden pain shot through her back.
A tremendous force struck her from behind. She pitched forward helplessly and slammed hard into the ground.
The Flash Thunder Sword flew from her hand and landed off to the side.
She struggled to get up, only to find that her body had gone weak.
Ghost Shadow Ninja had somehow emerged from the Shadow behind her. It stood there quietly, its dark eyes fixed on her.
If it had wanted to kill her, that last strike could easily have hit a vital spot.
Wang Dongqi lay on the ground, gasping for breath, disbelief filling her eyes.
Had she lost?
She was a level twenty-nine Two-Ring Soul Grand Master, yet she had lost to a ten-year-old child with only one Soul Ring?
And she had lost to one of his summoned creatures?
At the edge of the arena, Zhang Zhenpeng stared blankly at what had happened, deeply shaken.
Wang Dongqi had been chosen to represent Sea and Land Academy in the Tianhai Competition, and the academy had invested heavily in her.
She had been taught practical combat techniques by several different teachers, and resources had been specially allocated to her. Her overall strength far surpassed that of the other new students with two Soul Rings.
Yet even so, she had still lost.
Just like the other new students.
In fact, she had lost even faster.
He took a deep breath and announced, "The match is over. Wang Zhi wins."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Tian'er cheered and rushed over.
"Xiao Zhi! You were amazing!"
She threw her arms around Wang Zhi, bouncing up and down with excitement.
"I knew you'd win!"
Zhou Hanyou also came over and stood nearby, her eyes shining as she looked at Wang Zhi.
This ten-year-old boy was even stronger than she had imagined.
Meanwhile, Wang Dongqi slowly climbed to her feet in the distance, head bowed, her long golden hair hanging disheveled over her face.
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
A year of hard work, and now...
She bit her lip and said nothing.
Zhang Zhenpeng stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Wang Zhi, shock plain in his eyes.
As the Dean of Sea and Land Academy, he had seen more than his share of prodigies.
But he had never seen anyone like Wang Zhi.
A one-ring Soul Master defeating a two-ring Soul Master...
And not just winning, but crushing her.
That bizarre summoned creature, its unpredictable fighting style, and Wang Zhi's composure from beginning to end...
This child was extraordinary.
He turned to Wang Dongqi, his tone softening.
"Dongqi, are you all right?"
Wang Dongqi raised her head and managed to force a smile.
"I'm fine, Dean."
Her smile was bitter.
Zhou Hanyou walked over to her side and gently patted her shoulder without saying a word.
Wang Dongqi glanced at her. Her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't say anything.
Zhou Tian'er realized that what she had said earlier might have been too harsh. She let go of Wang Zhi and walked over to Wang Dongqi.
"Um..."
"Sister Dongqi, I didn't mean it like that earlier..."
She scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
"Don't take it to heart, okay?"
Wang Dongqi looked at her, then at Wang Zhi, who stood nearby with a calm expression, and took a deep breath.
"I lost. There's nothing to say."
Her voice was hoarse.
"I'll be the Substitute, then."
She turned to leave.
"Wait a moment, senior."
Wang Zhi's voice rang out.
Wang Dongqi stopped and looked back at him.
Wang Zhi stepped forward, his expression earnest.
"Senior, you're very strong."
"I only had the advantage because of my Martial Soul's characteristics."
He paused, then continued.
"If we fought head-on, I might not be your match."
Wang Dongqi froze for a moment.
She looked at the boy in front of her, who was a head shorter than she was, her expression complicated.
"Are you trying to comfort me?"
"I'm not comforting you. It's the truth."
Wang Zhi shook his head.
"My summoned creature is immune to your lightning."
"If I faced a different opponent, the outcome might have been completely different."
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