Final Four

If that was the case, then she didn't necessarily have to give up.

She still had plenty of confidence in herself.

As she thought it over, her expression shifted from gloomy to bright. Her mood improved, and a sweet smile returned to her face.

Zheng Li and Ling Nan were baffled by her sudden change of mood. They couldn't help thinking that a woman's mood was like the weather in June—it could change at any moment.

With nothing else to do after returning to the dormitory, Zheng Li began cultivating.

His Soul Power was now at the peak of Rank 19. In three months of cultivation, he had broken through another rank.

He wasn't far from Rank 20 now.

The next day, the round of sixteen became the quarterfinals.

The team Su Yunqing belonged to had already been eliminated.

Though a night had passed, the young girl still hadn't recovered her spirits. Even so, she came to watch the matches and stood beside Zheng Li, no longer her usual lively self.

At that moment, an old man had joined Du Weilun and the other teachers on the viewing platform above the examination area. His hair was a tangled mess, his clothes were ragged, and he was barefoot. A purple-red gourd hung at his waist, and he was chewing on a chicken leg.

He gave Zheng Li the impression of the "Barefoot Immortal."

Of course, Zheng Li knew this was Xuan Zi. He was far too recognizable.

Zheng Li and his teammates' opponent in the round of sixteen was a team with two Soul Grandmasters: one from the Power Attack System and one from the Control System. They wouldn't be easy to beat.

The battle lasted almost five minutes before it ended.

Of course, they didn't reveal Co-Combat.

The main reason was that Zheng Li's first Soul Skill was simply too overpowered. Once he locked onto someone, he almost always landed a hit. Without a powerful Soul Skill that could defend the entire body, or one with a wide area of effect, it was difficult to block.

That afternoon, it was the quarterfinals in the examination area.

"Looks like we might actually be able to fight for the championship!" Zheng Li, who hadn't had much hope to begin with, was fired up now!

Ling Nan and Cui Yajie heard his muttering clearly.

"A Li, you've finally come around. Took you long enough!" Ling Nan said with a sigh.

"What do you mean, 'come around'? I'm just being realistic." Zheng Li shot Ling Nan a glance.

"...Fine, you're always right. Let's do our best from here on out!"

"Sure."

The three exchanged glances, their understanding of one another clear.

On the viewing platform, Xuan Zi took a swig of wine and peered through his unruly hair at the three of them.

"Oh? Fired up now, are you? That's more like it. Young people need some fighting spirit..."

Wang Yan, sitting beside him, was puzzled.

Was there anything special about those three students from Class Five? His grandteacher seemed to have been watching them the whole time.

Come to think of it...

Hadn't his grandteacher agreed to come watch that little fellow, Huo Yuhao?

Had he... switched sides?

Xuan Zi had left after the round of sixteen that morning, but now he had suddenly come back.

Wang Yan had thought his grandteacher had changed his mind and decided to come take another look at Huo Yuhao...

But now?

It seemed Wang Yan had been making assumptions.

Wang Yan's expression turned serious. He wanted to see what was so special about those three students from Class Five.

One of them did seem to have a rather unusual Martial Soul...

Wang Yan had a strong impression of Zheng Li.

The four semifinalists drew lots.

Zheng Li and his teammates were matched against Class Four.

Ling Nan looked troubled. "Three Soul Grandmasters... This won't be easy."

Cui Yajie nodded in agreement.

Semifinals

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

"Xin Zheng, Zuo Xuefu, and Sikong Hu of Class Four."

At the proctor's instruction, the two teams announced their names.

The proctor immediately declared the match underway.

Soul Rings flashed as both teams summoned their Martial Souls. This time, Ling Nan was much more cautious and didn't immediately activate his Soul Ring and charge forward.

Besides, Class Four had surely already looked into them and prepared accordingly!

Xuan Zi, Wang Yan, Du Weilun, and the Class Five homeroom teacher were all watching from the viewing platform.

A low voice rang out from the Number One arena where Zheng Li was competing.

Sikong Hu made the first move. His Martial Soul was the Green Scaled Lion, which could be developed toward either the Power Attack System or the Defense System. Sikong Hu had clearly chosen the former!

After releasing his Martial Soul, his hair grew longer and became somewhat disheveled. His skin took on a bluish-green hue, and his right arm in particular became covered in green scales. His entire body swelled to more than twice its original size.

Xin Zheng and Zuo Xuefu followed close behind him, using Sikong Hu as a shield.

Xin Zheng's Martial Soul was the Silver Raptor, which belonged to the Agility Attack System. Though it had wings, it could only glide for short periods. It wouldn't be able to fly properly until it reached the third ring, so it was somewhat inferior to Ling Nan's Black and White Winged Cat.

Zuo Xuefu was from the Control System, and her Martial Soul was the Ice Tough Snake. Following behind Sikong Hu, she immediately released her second Soul Skill, Snake Vine!

A two-meter-long, white-and-blue Ice Snake formed and lunged at Cui Yajie! In the eyes of the three students from Class Four, Cui Yajie was undoubtedly the biggest threat, especially with her Charm Soul Skill!

At the same time, Cui Yajie activated her Charm Soul Skill. It only worked if her opponent looked into her eyes, and Sikong Hu fell under its effect!

The two people hiding behind him were naturally unaffected.

The instant Sikong Hu was charmed, two figures from opposing teams shot forward, leaving streaks of afterimages behind them!

They were Ling Nan, the Agility Attack System student from their team, and Xin Zheng, the opposing team's Agility Attack System student.

Xin Zheng lit up his second Soul Ring. Silver Wing Strike! His wings turned as hard as metal, their edges becoming razor-sharp, like blades! His target was Zheng Li!

Ling Nan, however, went after Zuo Xuefu.

Not every Soul Grandmaster was as lecherous as Ji Xun. Sikong Hu wouldn't take long to break free of the Charm Soul Skill!

Cui Yajie wasn't worried about Zheng Li, either. Instead, she faced the Ice Snake, her two fox tails lashing like pink whips!

Her eyes were full of disgust. The Ice Snake was actually trying to bind her! It kept looking for an opening to charge in!

Just then,

Xin Zheng had already reached Zheng Li's flank. He swung his wing, slashing toward Zheng Li's chest.

"Hm?" Xin Zheng was stunned. Zheng Li had formed a Light Sword and blocked his wing. Given the speed of his attack, Xin Zheng had thought Zheng Li wouldn't react in time!

While Xin Zheng was still stunned, a golden flash slashed toward his throat! Zheng Li had formed a dagger with his other hand.

Seeing this, Xin Zheng hurriedly struck back, knocking the Light Sword aside with his wing and forcing Zheng Li to take a step back. Taking advantage of the opening, Xin Zheng circled to Zheng Li's flank and lit up his first Soul Ring!

His second Soul Skill, Silver Wing Strike, could only be used for one attack.

His first Soul Skill was called Piercing Feather Needle.

A silver feather came loose, and Xin Zheng flung it at Zheng Li.

A large amount of Soul Power gathered around the feather.

Zheng Li's gaze sharpened, and he threw his dagger to meet the silver feather.

He knew how to throw a dagger, after all...

"How foolish!" Xin Zheng sneered, his body once again turning into an afterimage as he vanished.

A Soul Skill was in a different league from a dagger condensed out of ordinary Soul Power.

The dagger dispersed!

But it had bought Zheng Li time to react, and he took the opportunity to dodge.

Xin Zheng: "..."

That had blown up in his face. He'd thought Zheng Li was trying to counter his Soul Skill with the dagger.

The next moment, Zheng Li's first Soul Ring lit up. A golden ring floated up from behind his head, rose above him, and condensed into a golden Light Sword that shot out.

Xin Zheng was startled. From what he'd heard, Zheng Li's attack was extremely deadly! It attacked from multiple angles, nearly surrounding its target. It was terrifying! Xin Zheng had no way to withstand it.

Without hesitation, Xin Zheng turned and retreated!

Several Light Swords chased after him! Xin Zheng began to panic, feeling a chill crawl down his back.

He wanted to call for help from Sikong Hu, only to find that the man was still dazed.

Then he looked at Zuo Xuefu.

Damn it! You're a Soul Grandmaster, and you're being chased around by a Soul Master. Do you have to look so pathetic?

No hope there...

It looked like he could only wait for the proctor to intervene before leaving the match...

What Xin Zheng hadn't expected, though, was that just as the Light Swords were about to pierce him, they suddenly turned and converged on Sikong Hu from multiple angles.

Sikong Hu had just struggled free of the Charm Soul Skill and was utterly bewildered. What was going on?

Forget it. He'd use a Soul Skill first. Surrounded by so many Light Swords, he didn't feel safe.

Sikong Hu let out a low growl and lit up his second Soul Ring. His right arm glowed blue-green, and he swung a punch at the Light Sword in front of him...

Xin Zheng breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.

But...

The sound of something cutting through the air rang out again. By the time he reacted, several Light Swords had already surrounded him.

Xin Zheng: "..."

Whoever you are... Forget it. I'm too tired to say anything.

The proctor stepped in just in time, and the Light Swords dispersed.

On the viewing platform,

Xuan Zi gave a dismissive snort. "Useless! Attacking from multiple angles doesn't mean there's no way through. Just find a good angle and charge out. What a waste of that Silver Raptor Martial Soul!"

Wang Yan wiped his forehead and said timidly, "Grandteacher, they're still just children..."

"What about it? We were all children once!" Xuan Zi took a swig of wine and said flatly.

"Yes, yes..."

Wang Yan didn't dare argue.

In the Number One arena,

Cui Yajie glared at the Ice Snake in front of her, annoyed. "Oh, get lost. Do you have to be so persistent? Fox Tail Needle—disperse!"

Pink and white-blue light rippled...

On the other side, Ling Nan had nearly driven Zuo Xuefu into a dead end. Neither of her two Soul Skills could do anything to him; Ling Nan's Godspeed Soul Skill was truly fast.

But Ling Nan had nearly exhausted his Soul Power by now.

He had used Godspeed many times. Otherwise, Zuo Xuefu would probably have already restrained him. After all, Soul Grandmasters weren't pushovers.

At that moment, Zheng Li charged toward Sikong Hu.