Changes and a New Team

She is an assassin, specializing in sneak attacks and assassinations from behind; direct combat is not her forte. The control of the Light-Dark Holy Tiger is in Pei Qinhu's hands.

Pei Qinhu controlled the Light-Dark Holy Tiger, and two more beams of black flame shot out from the dark purple wing membrane on its back. Then, the tiger's claws slammed down on the dark blue figure.

The figure appeared extremely small in the face of such a massive sacred tiger, yet it managed to block the tiger's attacks every time.

A direct assault won't work.

The two naturally thought of Kai's "weakness"!

Compared to the Light-Dark Holy Tiger, the armored warrior cannot fly!

The blade struck the tiger's claws, and Kai delivered a side kick, while the Light-Dark Holy Tiger, propelled by the recoil, flew high into the air, attempting to distance itself from Kai.

Armored hands and eyes quickly sensed that something was wrong.

Instinctively, I reached forward and grabbed a thick, furry section of a tiger's tail.

A fierce wind whipped up pebbles and sparks, and Kaihuang's figure, like a dark blue lightning bolt, coiled around the tailbone of the Light-Dark Holy Tiger.

The Holy Tiger's long, silvery-white tail, which had been radiating a holy light, was now crackling and popping from the black flames spreading from its wings. With one hand, the Armored Emperor gripped the pattern of holy light and flames intertwined at the base of the tail, while with the other hand, he plunged the Demonic Blade deep into the gaps in the scales of the Holy Tiger's tailbone. Using the immense force of its flapping wings, he was dragged up into the sky.

"Roar--!" The Light-Dark Holy Tiger roared in pain, its huge body twisting wildly in the sky, trying to shake off the armor on its back.

It suddenly tightened its wings, and the dark purple wing membrane, carrying black mist, plummeted down. Just before reaching the ground, it suddenly flapped its wings, creating a black flame storm that almost tore Kaihuang apart.

But despite the howling wind whipping his robes, the Armored Emperor gripped his sword even tighter, the hilt twirling in his hand. Using the momentum of the Holy Tiger's twisting motion, he climbed up its long tail, each step landing on nodes of holy light surging beneath its fur. The blade relentlessly slashed at the flames that tried to entangle him.

High in the sky, holy light poured down from the Holy Tiger's body like a waterfall, but was cut into fragmented bands of light by the black mist and flames on its wings.

The Armored Emperor had climbed to the back of the Holy Tiger's neck, the most vital spot where the holy light was most concentrated. But the Light-Dark Holy Tiger's wings suddenly folded back, and the dark purple wing membranes, carrying raging Lie Yan, lashed out like two giant burning shields about to crush him.

At the same time, the huge, thick, silvery-white tiger tail whipped towards them with a whooshing sound. In the nick of time, the Armored Emperor suddenly released his grip, tightened his grip on the long sword with both hands, and used the force of his fall to leap into the air. The sword energy condensed on the blade to form a huge slash that was powerful enough to cleave the Light-Dark Holy Tiger in two, and thrust it in the opposite direction of the closed wings—precisely hitting the core of the left wing bone and flames intertwined!

"Roar--!"

The Light-Dark Holy Tiger let out a mournful cry, the flames on its left wing instantly became chaotic, and a long gash appeared on its dark purple wing membrane, from which black mist gushed out like leaking air.

Using the recoil, the Armored Emperor flipped over and mounted the Holy Tiger's neck. His long sword was pressed horizontally against the side of its head, and the bluish-black sword energy on the blade clashed fiercely with the holy light between the tiger's neck. Meanwhile, his other hand pressed down hard on the flames at the broken wing, preventing the black flames from backfiring on him.

The Light-Dark Holy Tiger flapped its wings wildly in excruciating pain, attempting to burn the enemy on its back with the flames of its right wing, but its unbalanced body was already teetering in the air.

With sharp eyes, the Armor King sensed the chaotic nodes of light and darkness within the Holy Tiger's body. He suddenly poured his sword energy into the longsword, causing it to burst forth with dazzling light, flowing upstream along the Holy Tiger's holy light meridians!

Banish Evil!!!

The holy tiger's roar gradually subsided, the flames and black mist on its wings began to dissipate, and the massive body of the Light-Dark Holy Tiger paused in the air for a moment before falling downwards like a giant bird with broken wings.

As it fell, Armor King leaped down, his longsword drawing a final arc in his hand, severing the remaining black flames completely.

He landed steadily on the cracked ground, watching the dust and smoke kicked up by the Holy Tiger crashing into the ground. The fighting spirit on the blade slowly subsided, leaving only scattered light particles and lingering sparks. This aerial battle, a clash of light and darkness, finally came to an end with the victory of the dark blue-green Banish Evil Blade Qi.

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As the smoke and dust cleared, Pei Qinhu and A Ke had already dispelled their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

They each suffered considerable injuries.

Seeing that Tailong was still fighting, Kai entered the fray and with a single strike, sent Man Yun flying.

Star Luo Second Team lost.

A large size can sometimes become a weakness.

After A Ke and Pei Qinhu's Light-Dark Holy Tiger could no longer overwhelm the armor with their massive size, their enormous bodies became his weakness.

On the Soul Fighting Arena, where the smoke and dust had not yet dissipated, the members of Star Luo Second Team knelt on the ground, sweat mixed with dust leaving disheveled marks on their faces.

The Dean of the Star Luo Royal Academy stood at the edge of the stands, his silver-gray robe stretched taut in the evening breeze. His usually calm eyes were now covered with a layer of ice as he stared intently at the light screen displaying the words "Heaven Dou Empire Victory" in the arena.

The teaching assistant behind him tried to offer some advice, but the Dean stopped him with a raised hand. The old Dean's knuckles turned white from the force, and his fingertips rubbed the Star Luo Empire emblem embroidered on his cuff. The Lion on the emblem seemed to be drooping its head at that moment.

The cheers from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy drifted on the wind, sharp as needles piercing the ears, making the deathly silence on the Star Luo Empire side all the more striking.

"Ahem." The Dean cleared his throat, his voice eight octaves deeper than usual, carrying an uncontrollable ache. He slowly raised his hand, signaling for silence, his gaze sweeping over the bowed heads of his team members before finally settling on the direction of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"According to the rules of the Soul Fighting Arena," each word seemed to be squeezed out from between clenched teeth, "In this duel, Heaven Dou Academy... wins."

The moment the words fell, an even more enthusiastic cheer erupted from the Heaven Dou Empire side, while the faces of everyone in the Star Luo Second Team were not good. Xu Youyou, whose defenses had been broken through by Kai and kicked off the Soul Fighting Arena, had a gloomy look in her eyes, and was no longer the arrogant and proud person she had been before.

The Dean closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the anger in his eyes had been replaced by a deeper solemnity. He turned and walked towards the lounge, the sound of his robe sweeping across the steps particularly clear amidst the noisy cheers—this defeat would likely require a complete reshuffling of the entire Star Luo Royal Academy's training plan.

Chapter 181 Changes and the New Team

The Star Luo Empire has always considered itself stronger than the Heaven Dou Empire and has been eyeing it covetously, wanting to invade it.

Now, they've suffered two consecutive crushing defeats in this competition, a truly humiliating experience.

The Heaven Dou Empire was indeed weaker than the Star Luo Empire.

But its composition is complicated!

It not only has numerous duchies of varying sizes, but also numerous independent families and sects.

Because of the weakness of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the Heaven Dou Empire naturally became a place for these sects and families to thrive and attract talent.

Both are sects, but the Heaven Dou Empire developed directly into the Upper Three Sects, while the Star Luo Empire became one of the four lower sects.

However, these powers cannot be freely mobilized and used by Xue Ye, which is why the Heaven Dou Empire appears inferior to the Star Luo Empire.

"Li Bai and Ning Rongrong of the Heaven Dou First Team are from Upper Three Sects Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the three upper sects; Ye Lingling is one of the successors of the three earthly sects; Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers are from the Black Tortoise Clan..."

"Most of the members of the Heaven Dou Second Team come from the Four Single-Attribute Clans have already broken away from the Clear Sky Sect, while Captain Kai and Zhang Ya are from commoner backgrounds..."

The Dean of the Star Luo Royal Academy stood below, respectfully reporting this information to the Star Luo Emperor above.

What he wanted to express was just one thing: these team members all came from different factions, and none of them truly belonged to the Heaven Dou Royal Family.

The result of this competition doesn't prove anything.

Inside the magnificent palace, the air seemed to freeze. The sandalwood incense flickered in the bronze censer, yet it could not dispel the somber atmosphere. Emperor Dai Yutian of Star Luo Emperor sat upright on his majestic golden chair, the gold threads on his black dragon robe flowing in the dim light deep within the palace. His fingertips lightly tapped the armrest, his gaze sweeping over the bowing Dean below the steps, finally settling on a few fallen leaves that had drifted in from outside the palace.

"A loss is a loss." A deep voice echoed in the empty hall, devoid of anger, yet more chilling than any rebuke.

Dai Yutian slowly shook his head, the back of the dragon throne making a slight sound as he moved. "In the dictionary of the Star Luo Royal Academy, there is no excuse for 'losing again,' only the answer to 'why we lost.'"

The Dean's shoulders slumped further, cold sweat trickling down his temples. "Your Majesty, the team's children have given their all, but Heaven Dou Empire's tactics..."

"Shut up." Dai Yutian raised his hand to interrupt him, the jade ring on his fingertip gleaming coldly in the light. "What I want is not an explanation, but results. The warriors of the Star Luo Empire can bleed, can fall, but they cannot use 'doing their best' to cover up cowardice and laxity in front of the same opponent."

He leaned forward slightly, the shimmering gold threads on his robes seeming to conceal an invisible pressure. "By imperial decree," he said, "the entire Star Luo Team is to be imprisoned in the Trial Grounds. They are not to emerge until they have broken through their own limits. As for you—"

His gaze fell upon the Dean, carrying an undeniable air of authority. "From this day forward, submit all of the second team's training records and match replays. I want to see for myself how the reputation of the Star Luo Royal Academy is repeatedly trampled underfoot."

The wind outside the hall swirled fallen leaves past the windowpanes, and the Dean's voice, bowing as he accepted the order, sounded particularly weak in the hall. Dai Yutian leaned back on the dragon throne, gazing at the dragon carvings on the ceiling. The tapping of his fingertips rang out again, each tap like a blow to the heart of the Star Luo Academy —a loss was a loss, there was no room for error, only a fresh start.

When the great war breaks out in the future, how could the sects of the Heaven Dou Empire possibly sit idly by and watch the Star Luo Empire destroy the Heaven Dou Empire?

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Because of this defeat, the Star Luo Empire began to attach great importance to the Advanced Soul Master Tournament.

This is a chance to redeem ourselves. In the past, every time the Spirit Hall came in first, the Star Luo Empire's team came in second.

At least they won against the Heaven Dou Empire.

Moreover, this defeat also caused controversy within the Star Luo Empire regarding the allocation of members for the Star Luo Team.

Their initial objection to Pei Qinhu and A Ke joining Dai Weisi's Star Luo First Team was to maintain fairness in the succession competition. But in the face of the Star Luo Empire's authority, was this so-called fairness truly necessary?

Ultimately, Dai Mubai's failure to win over Pei Qinhu and A Ke was simply due to his incompetence.

From the moment he ran away, he had already essentially forfeited.

He can't use any of the resources available to the Star Luo Empire.

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The argument didn't last long.

After reviewing the information on Star Luo First Team and Star Luo Second Team, Star Luo Emperor Dai Yutian of Star Luo did not hesitate to begin reassigning the team members.

The new Star Luo First Team is a combination of the best players from both teams, making it far stronger than the original team.

However, out of consideration for the dignity of the royal family, the captain of the Star Luo First Team is still Dai Weisi is the oldest and highest-ranking.

The new Star Luo Royal Academy Team One.

Captain: Dai Weisi, Martial Soul: Evil Eye White Tiger, Level 45 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor.

Vice Captain: Pei Qinhu, Martial Soul: Bright Flame Tiger, Level 42 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor.

Team member: Zhu Zhuyun, Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat, Level 43 Agility-Attack Type Battle Soul Ancestor.

Team member: Baili Shouyue, Martial Soul: Vermilion Bird Sniper Rifle, Level 42 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor.

Captain: A Ke, Martial Soul: Night Hunter Cat, Level 41 Agility-Attack Type Battle Soul Ancestor.

Team member: Dongfang Yao, Martial Soul: Seven Star Sword, Level 41 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor.

Team member: Li Yang, Martial Soul: Reflecting Mirror, Level: 37 Agility-Attack and Support Type Battle Soul Elder (possesses a rare Space-type Soul Skill, which can assist teammates in teleporting or hiding).

Substitute player: Xu Youyou, Martial Soul: Star Crown, Level 38 Control and Support Type Battle Soul Elder.

Substitute player: Dong Hui, Martial Soul: Supreme Goodness Like Water, Level: Level 36 Support-type Battle Soul Elder.

Li Yang, with his unique space-based Soul Skill, defeated a group of support players and became a formal team member.

However, Dai Yutian still kept two players as substitutes, letting them choose their own starting lineup.

After all, Li Yang's support abilities are still too weak.

Even when the new members of the Star Luo First Team were about to be sent for trials, Dai Weisi's smile didn't fade.

This loss wasn't a bad one!

With this lineup, how could we possibly lose?

How can Dai Mubai win?

Even Zhu Zhuyun, who was usually composed and cold, couldn't help but show a hint of relaxation on her face.

It's good that Dai Mubai is gone!

If he were still in the Star Luo Empire, there would probably still be debate about the allocation of Pei Qinhu and A Ke. However, since he is not here, in order to regain the dignity lost by the Star Luo Empire this time, all the geniuses have been gathered, so A Ke and Pei Qinhu naturally ended up on the same team as Dai Weisi.

The other team members were discussing the trial punishments, but Xu Youyou, who had been relegated to a substitute, looked completely incredulous.