Knowing Your Own Limits

Ling Nan leaned close to Zheng Li and asked quietly.

"You're asking me? How would I know?" After three months together, he and Ling Nan had developed a tacit understanding. Ling Nan hadn't said anything, but Zheng Li knew he was asking about Cui Yajie.

"She wouldn't have taken a liking to you, would she? Otherwise, why would she..."

"Shut up. Why do you always think someone's taken a liking to me? I'm that charming? How come I didn't know?" Zheng Li said helplessly.

"Mm... Maybe you just haven't noticed."

"Get lost. Stop making things up."

Zheng Li gave Ling Nan a shove.

"A Li, why do I get the feeling you can't stand me?" Ling Nan said pitifully.

"No need to get that feeling. I can't stand you." Zheng Li even put on a look of disgust as he spoke.

"Why?"

"What do you think? You're a man, and you're always crowding around me. Doesn't that feel kind of...?"

Ling Nan was confused. "Kind of what?"

Zheng Li glanced at him. Why did he have to ask for every last detail?

"Gross..."

Two men clinging to each other...

Ling Nan: "..."

"A Li, that's too much. I wouldn't crowd around anyone else."

"Oh." Zheng Li sounded completely indifferent.

Seeing Zheng Li act like that, Ling Nan felt deeply aggrieved.

The examiner for District Eleven was named Jin Qiu.

Once all six groups of students in District Eleven had arrived, he went over a few things to keep in mind, then started the matches.

The first match wasn't theirs. Six Soul Masters from the two teams fought for a few minutes before one side lost. It was over quickly.

The second match wasn't theirs either. All six contestants were Soul Grandmasters.

They didn't get their turn until the final match.

"First round, third match. Freshman Class Five: Zheng Li, Ling Nan, Cui Yajie. Freshman Class Six: Feng Da, Ying Qinli, Lin Xin. You may enter the arena."

The four groups who had already finished their matches stayed to watch how the other classes did. Knowing your opponents better meant knowing yourself and your enemy, which improved your chances of winning.

Zheng Li and the others took their places at one corner of the arena, while their opponents stood at the other. Mu Jin had already explained the procedure to them.

"Begin!" Jin Qiu looked at them and called out.

At the signal, both sides released their Martial Souls and Soul Rings.

At the same time, Ling Nan and Cui Yajie lit up their First Soul Rings.

When Cui Yajie released her Martial Soul, she looked a few years older. Her pink hair grew longer and turned into big waves, her ears grew pointed, and her already beautiful features became even more stunning. Two long tails, each about a meter long, appeared behind her. A Yellow Soul Ring encircled the tip of each tail.

The Nine-Tailed Fox gained another tail with every additional Soul Ring.

Seeing the two Yellow Soul Rings, everyone outside the arena was startled. Their first thought was that they didn't want to face Class Five.

The three students from Class Six also faltered for a moment. They were only Soul Masters.

The next moment, Ling Nan moved.

With his First Soul Skill, Godspeed, activated, he was incredibly fast. He beat his wings and left behind an afterimage as he flew toward Feng Da, the Power Attack System Soul Master from Class Six.

Feng Da's Martial Soul was the Leaf-Cutter Power Ant. He was quite strong, but he didn't get the chance to show it.

Cui Yajie's First Soul Skill, Charm, left Feng Da dazed.

Just then, countless golden beams shot toward Ying Qinli, the Agility Attack System Soul Master from Class Six. They were Zheng Li's Soul Skill, Light Sword.

A golden ring hovered in front of Zheng Li, and he immediately lit up his Soul Ring.

The Light Swords surrounded Ying Qinli from multiple angles. At the same time, a dark gleam slashed toward Feng Da's throat. It was Ling Nan's Cat Claw.

Feng Da, dazed by Charm, had no chance to defend himself.

Seeing the situation, Lin Xin, standing behind Feng Da and Ying Qinli, hurriedly activated his First Soul Skill. His Martial Soul was Letter Paper, and he had an Innate Soul Power of seven ranks. He was a support-type Soul Master.

A sheet of yellow paper floated toward Feng Da. Like a talisman, it boosted his agility.

The teacher from Class Six had seen that although Feng Da was strong, he was far too slow. That was why he'd placed Lin Xin in their group, to balance out the team.

But it was already too late. Feng Da was dazed, and Ling Nan's Cat Claw was already resting against his neck.

One light prick from the sharp claw would be enough to slice open Feng Da's throat.

The Light Swords reached Ying Qinli, who clearly couldn't deal with them. Panic filled her eyes. At that moment, the examiner, Jin Qiu, moved. The overwhelming Soul Power of a Spirit Emperor surged out, shattering every Light Sword in an instant.

The winner was clear.

Lin Xin, a support-type Soul Master, had no ability to fight back.

The four groups of students outside the arena fell silent.

The gap was obvious!

Well, they could forget about taking first place in the region's points standings.

"Freshman Class Five wins!"

Jin Qiu glanced at Zheng Li and announced the result. Contestants weren't allowed to injure their opponents. If he hadn't intervened, Ying Qinli might have died! But that was simply how the Soul Skill worked. He couldn't just forbid its use.

The first round of matches was over.

Zheng Li and the others left at once.

The other four groups, including the still-dazed students from Class Six, soon left as well.

"That went smoothly," Cui Yajie said with a smile as they walked back to the dormitory. She was clearly in a good mood.

"It did." Zheng Li nodded.

Cui Yajie felt a little awkward, unsure what to say.

Neither Zheng Li nor Ling Nan seemed particularly good at conversation.

"Would you two like to get a meal together later? We could talk about the ranking tournament," Cui Yajie suggested after a moment's hesitation.

"Sure. Let's meet outside the dormitory when it's time to eat." Zheng Li didn't refuse, and Ling Nan agreed without a word.

"Sounds good."

The next day, there were four rounds of matches, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

On the third day, there were five matches.

There were no surprises. Zheng Li and the others qualified with the highest regional score.

Class Six was among the three groups eliminated. They had originally stood a good chance of qualifying, but after Zheng Li's team crushed them twice, the blow had been too much. They ended up fourth in points and were eliminated.

Of the twenty-nine groups in Class Five, twenty qualified. According to what Ling Nan had heard, one class had only twelve groups qualify. Their own class had done quite well.

Next came the knockout stage. Only the top sixty-four teams in points could participate.

Zheng Li and the others had won every match in the qualifying round, so they naturally made the top sixty-four.

Shen Lan was delighted, too.

Of the one hundred and fifty groups, only seven had won every qualifying match, and two of those were from her Class Five. Su Yunqing's group had lost one match. The girls had told her that one group in their region was made up entirely of Soul Grandmasters, but they had still made it into the top sixty-four.

Twenty-sixth Chapter: Knowing Your Limits

"Zheng Li!"

"Here!"

In the examination area, Director Du Weilun was calling the roll.

Zheng Li didn't understand why they were taking attendance. Were they worried someone hadn't shown up?

As it turned out, someone really was late.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. They looked as if they'd just completed Martial Soul Fusion.

Sigh... The championship is out of reach.

Zheng Li lamented silently.

Naturally, the knockout stage began with the sixty-four teams competing to advance to thirty-two.

Their opponents were determined by drawing lots. All thirty-two matches took place simultaneously in thirty-two separate areas.

As they drew lots—

"You go, A Li." Ling Nan gave Zheng Li a nudge and smiled.

"Mm, I agree," Cui Yajie chimed in. Her sweet, alluring smile made some of the students who saw it stare blankly.

There was an odd look in her eyes.

This wasn't the first time she'd heard Ling Nan call him A Li, but every time she heard it, it made her wonder if the two of them were... together.

"Mm."

Zheng Li didn't refuse. He answered casually and went up to draw a lot.

His casual attitude only deepened Cui Yajie's suspicions. She was confident in her looks, yet Zheng Li always remained calm around her.

The drawing was over.

"District Eleven, Class Three..."

Ling Nan looked at the result Zheng Li had brought back to Cui Yajie.

Seriously... Why was it District Eleven again?

Soon, the three of them arrived in District Eleven. Naturally, they had a different examiner this time.

Their examiner was once again a male teacher, in his thirties, who looked very gentle.

There were only two teams in each area, so there was no need to call roll.

"State your names." The male teacher skipped the formalities and went straight to the match.

"Class Five, Zheng Li, Ling Nan, Cui Yajie."

"Class Three, Ji Xun, Xie Jinhua, Tan Ye."

Ji Xun's eyes were bright as he gazed at Cui Yajie.

"Yajie, would you be interested in going out for a meal with me after the match?"

"Get lost!" Cui Yajie's expression turned cold at once.

Zheng Li and Ling Nan exchanged strange looks. Had Ji Xun taken a liking to Cui Yajie? They looked at him with some sympathy.

Cui Yajie might smile sweetly around them, but she was ruthless!

Good luck. You'd need it.

"Don't be so cold, Yajie. How about this? If we win, you go out to eat with me. If we lose, I'll go out to eat with you. Deal?" Ji Xun said cheerfully, unfazed.

Cui Yajie's expression grew even colder.

"Dinner? You must be asking to die!"

"Harsh words. But, Yajie, you'll have to beat me first!" Ji Xun said, wearing what he thought was a handsome smile.

He hadn't noticed that his teammates, Xie Jinhua and Tan Ye, were looking at him with disgust.