Shrek Entrance Examination Final Round (Part 4)

Le Bai's strength was greater than Zhu Zhuqing's, and since the direction of his force was perpendicular to hers, her arm was inevitably pushed upward, deviating from its original attack trajectory and looking as if it would strike empty air.

"Second Soul Skill: Nether Hundred Claws!"

Zhu Zhuqing decisively followed up with her second soul skill. Ignoring her pushed-aside right hand, her free left hand, empowered by the soul skill, swiped rapidly toward Le Bai.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile—First: Power!"

Ning Rongrong still provided her support at the perfect moment, boosting Zhu Zhuqing's strength and enhancing the power of her claw strikes.

Looking at Le Bai, he was using both hands, yet his evasion speed was slower than Zhu Zhuqing's attack speed; it could be said that this was the most dangerous moment since the assessment began.

However, Le Bai had no intention of exiting the stage just like that.

He released his soul power, condensed it, and pushed it forward against Zhu Zhuqing, while simultaneously jumping lightly backward, his feet momentarily leaving the ground to hover in mid-air.

Zhu Zhuqing fought hard to resist the soul power Le Bai released, refusing to retreat, though her forward momentum slowed just a fraction; her claws were only two fingers away from hitting Le Bai!

But those final two fingers of distance refused to shrink any further.

Every time Zhu Zhuqing moved forward an inch, Le Bai's body retreated an inch—as Zhu Zhuqing pushed against the soul power to advance, she was also providing the force for the momentarily hovering Le Bai to retreat!

If Zhu Zhuqing could accelerate once more, it might still be possible to bridge that distance and strike Le Bai.

However, the momentum for Zhu Zhuqing's advance came from her first soul skill, and the effect of a soul skill is limited. This was especially true for Agility Attack System soul masters, whose skills emphasized swift bursts; endurance was not their strong suit.

After pushing Le Bai back more than three meters, the effect of Zhu Zhuqing's soul skill ended, and she came to a halt.

Le Bai seized the opportunity to quickly adjust his posture.

The advantage created by Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong vanished instantly, and all their previous efforts were wasted!

"These two young girls are performing quite well!"

Zhao Wuji analyzed as he watched: "The one from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect grasps the timing of her support very well, and the other one has great speed and reflexes, and is decisive enough."

"But that alone is not enough."

Standing behind Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai said with a worried expression: "This guy Le Bai is deliberately pretending that his burst power is very strong, but in reality, he excels at endurance battles. The longer the time drags on, the more obvious Le Bai's advantage becomes. At this rate, I'm afraid the two of them won't last until the remaining incense burns out."

The change in the battle situation was exactly as Dai Mubai feared.

Zhu Zhuqing no longer had the strength to continue her fierce assault, and Le Bai, after only a slight adjustment, immediately resumed his attack on her—although it was a good opportunity to take out Ning Rongrong, Le Bai was worried about the slight possibility of an upset if he were ambushed by Zhu Zhuqing again.

Since Ning Rongrong had no combat ability and couldn't run fast, as long as he dealt with Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong would be a pure support he could take out in an instant.

At first, Zhu Zhuqing still had the energy to parry, but soon, she realized that while the force of Le Bai's attacks remained steady and powerful, she was gradually weakening due to the constant consumption of her soul power!

"No! At this rate, I won't be able to last until the remaining incense burns out!"

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth, gave up on tangling with Le Bai, and suddenly accelerated, nimbly dodging Le Bai's straightforward attacks as she ran to Ning Rongrong's side: "I am no match for him! We must find a way to stall for time!"

Ning Rongrong also realized that this guy Le Bai could not be judged by conventional standards; the influence of his Martial Soul, soul power level, and soul rings on his combat ability seemed to have no effect on him at all!

"All I can do is provide you with support; the rest is up to you."

Ning Rongrong said with a grave expression.

"Hoo..."

Zhu Zhuqing let out a soft breath, seemingly having made a decision, and her entire demeanor appeared a bit more relaxed: "I know. Next, you might have to suffer a little."

"It doesn't matter!"

Ning Rongrong struck a strong pose: "Don't look at me like that, I exercise my body regularly too!"

"That's for the best."

Watching Le Bai charge over, Zhu Zhuqing hoisted Ning Rongrong onto her shoulder and began to utilize her own speed and agility, abandoning attacks to focus entirely on maneuvering and dodging.

For Zhu Zhuqing, this was "running away," a cowardly act that avoided a head-on confrontation, and it was the very thing she was least willing to put into practice!

Three years ago, Dai Mubai, her fiancé in name, had left her behind and run away without a word. He had abandoned the struggle, and he had abandoned her, fleeing his own country like a coward!

Should one give up if there is no hope of victory?

Can one only run away from a battle that cannot be won?

Zhu Zhuqing did not think so. As long as she was alive, as long as her body could still move, she would not give up. Even if she died, she wouldn't let those people have it easy!

However, after following the traces Dai Mubai left behind all the way to Shrek, Zhu Zhuqing discovered that this fiancé of hers didn't seem to have given up.

His soul power growth was astonishing, having even reached a level where she could see a glimmer of hope!

But why?

Didn't he abandon everything and run away back then?

Why, now that things had come to this, did it feel like she was the one who was wrong?

Could it be that the correct choice back then was to run away, rather than to struggle desperately like she did?

She didn't know.

Zhu Zhuqing could no longer figure out what was "correct."

"But, if it is to achieve final victory, rather than running away because of giving up..."

Zhu Zhuqing maintained her agile posture, dodging Le Bai's straightforward attacks, sweat dripping down, her face filled with the relief of having let go: "I can do that too!"

The incense was already nearing its end.

"Hehehehe, Mubai, it looks like your judgment was off."

Zhao Wuji laughed with satisfaction: "That little girl you took a fancy to is even more decisive than you thought. If she can't win, she runs; if she runs until the end, she is the one who wins."

"No, Teacher Zhao, it's more that Le Bai hasn't fully let loose yet."

Dai Mubai's tone became relaxed, and there was a hint of gratitude when he mentioned Le Bai: "Although he didn't hold back when attacking, Le Bai's Soul Power Control ability hasn't been fully utilized."

"He can still hold back under these conditions?"

Zhao Wuji was a little skeptical: "With twenty-two levels of soul power, even relying on that so-called Spirit Power Overclocking and his extraordinary physical abilities to boost himself to over thirty levels, and momentarily bursting to near forty levels, that should be very close to his limit, right?"

"If it were just Spirit Power Overclocking, he would indeed have reached his limit."

Dai Mubai recalled his experiences sparring with Le Bai over the past three years: "However, Spirit Power Overclocking is just a skill Le Bai uses to increase his soul power; it doesn't actually help his combat ability as much as we think. Le Bai's greatest strengths are his physical toughness and his Soul Power Control ability."

"No matter how strong that kid's physical toughness is, can it be better than yours after Martial Soul Possession?"

Zhao Wuji was curious: "I haven't really seen him use soul power control in a fight. Although it hasn't been many times, haven't I given you all several practical combat lessons over the years? Le Bai doesn't seem to have displayed the Soul Power Control ability you're talking about. I've only ever seen Spirit Power Overclocking."

"I asked him that question too."

Dai Mubai explained: "Le Bai's exact words at the time were, 'Practical combat lessons are for accumulating more combat experience; using clever tricks would be meaningless.' I think that makes a lot of sense."

"No wonder you all seem so reluctant to use your soul skills during every practical combat lesson; so that's why."

Zhao Wuji believed him, and the look in his eyes as he watched Le Bai held even more satisfaction: "What a Little Monster!"