Wu Feng didn't even last a second. The dragon scales covering her body shattered, and she was flung backward like a kite with its strings cut, slamming into the protective wall of the Soul Fighting Arena and spitting blood.
The Jade Blade in Nanmen Yun'er's hand exploded, and she spat blood as well.
Dai Huabin had held back his Soul Power output. Otherwise, since the two of them were the closest, they would have been unconscious for at least two days.
At that moment, Ning Tian's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda let out a mournful cry, its light fading completely. The shock wave sent her tumbling through the air, her hair disheveled and her appearance utterly wretched.
As for the ordinary students, they were blown off the platform like dumplings dropping into a pot, one after another landing on the ground and groaning in pain.
Just one strike.
A clean sweep!
Dust filled the sky.
The Hell White Tiger slowly beat its wings and landed gracefully on the battered platform.
Light flickered as its enormous body gradually faded away.
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu reappeared.
They stood shoulder to shoulder.
Dai Huabin's face was somewhat pale, clearly showing that the strike had consumed a great deal of his Soul Power. Even so, he stood ramrod straight, one arm wrapped domineeringly around Zhu Lu's shoulders.
Zhu Lu leaned against him, breathing slightly unevenly. An unusual flush colored her face, and her eyes, fixed on the others, were full of pride.
It was the pride of a victor.
The entire arena fell silent.
Even the sound of breathing was nowhere to be heard.
Mu Jin stood below the platform, her beautiful eyes shining with excitement as her chest heaved.
She'd struck gold!
No, this wasn't just gold. These two were little monsters!
"Let's see how that bitch Zhou Yi dares to fight me now!"
Wang Dong'er's mouth hung open, and for a long time she couldn't close it. She looked at the two on the platform, then thought about her own Light Goddess Butterfly, and a sense of crisis unlike anything she'd ever felt suddenly welled up inside her.
If she'd been up there just now, could she have blocked that strike?
The answer was no.
"Ahem..."
Du Weilun cleared his throat twice, breaking the awkward silence. He gave Dai Huabin a long look, his expression more complicated than ever.
Had the God of War from ten thousand years ago returned?
He had to report this to Dean Yan immediately!
Mu Jin came to her senses, took a deep breath, and walked onto the platform in her high heels. Her voice trembled with excitement.
"I hereby declare the winners of this Soul Fighting match to be Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu!"
"From today onward, Dai Huabin will be the class monitor of Class Nine!"
This time, no one objected.
Even those lying on the ground could only look at Dai Huabin with awe—nothing but awe.
As soon as the result was announced, the healing teachers in the Soul Fighting Arena hurried onto the floor.
Several soft green halos lit up in succession. The healing teachers moved among the fallen students, and the faint fragrance of plants and trees spread through the air.
Dai Huabin rolled his aching shoulder. Under the effects of the healing Soul Skill, his earlier injuries rapidly mended.
He let out a long breath, then turned to check on Zhu Lu.
The color had returned to Zhu Lu's pale cheeks. Her breathing was still a little uneven, but that was only a sign of her expended Soul Power.
The other students also gradually got back to their feet.
The area around them was completely silent.
Those who'd previously shouted about teaching Dai Huabin a lesson now didn't even dare breathe too loudly.
Everyone knew that if he hadn't held back at the last moment, they'd already be lying in the emergency room of the school hospital.
Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Nanmen Yun'er were helped to their feet by the teachers as well.
Ning Tian brushed the dust from her skirt and took a deep breath.
That earth-shattering strike from moments ago remained etched in her mind.
She was the young mistress of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and had been exposed to the strongest experts since childhood. But even the elders of her sect couldn't have unleashed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with such power at the three-ring level.
This wasn't just talent. It was a mutation that defied common sense.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was limited by the flaws in its Martial Soul and had always needed to seek out powerful allies.
Dai Huabin before her might well be the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's greatest support for the next hundred years.
Dai Huabin took Zhu Lu's hand and walked up to Ning Tian.
Before he could say anything, Ning Tian lowered her head.
"Dai Huabin, you win."
Wu Feng, standing beside her, grew anxious and hobbled forward. "Young Mistress! We still have a chance. Next time, I'll definitely—"
"Xiao Feng, a loss is a loss. There's no point making excuses."
Ning Tian raised a hand to stop Wu Feng.
She faced Dai Huabin, her tone calm.
"I'll honor my bet. From today onward, my people and my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—and even the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect behind me—will all be at your disposal."
Wu Feng was so anxious she stamped her feet, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes, but she didn't dare say another word.
Dai Huabin raised an eyebrow and generously held out his right hand.
Ning Tian took it. His hand felt warm.
"You'll be glad you made this decision today."
Dai Huabin shook Ning Tian's hand twice before releasing it, a smile spreading across his face.
"You'll all have a place at the summit of the future."
Ning Tian paused, then nodded firmly. The stone hanging over her heart finally settled.
Dai Huabin took Zhu Lu's hand and turned to leave the platform.
The exit corridor of the Soul Fighting Arena was dimly lit.
Cui Yajie, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao leaned against the wall. None of them spoke first, and the atmosphere was unusually quiet.
At the sound of footsteps, all three turned their attention to the pair emerging from the arena.
Cui Yajie twirled her long pink hair and leaned forward, her figure alluring.
"Class monitor, you were so impressive up there just now. You had me completely entranced."
Xiao Xiao stood beside her, her short dark-green hair swaying with her movement.
She cupped her cheeks with both hands, her face flushed.
"Exactly! Class monitor, when you stepped in front of Zhu Lu to protect her just now, it was so moving! A hero saving a beauty—you were ridiculously cool!"
Xiao Xiao was already over the moon.
She was a typical admirer of handsome faces, and she'd thought Dai Huabin was incredibly good-looking from the start. His golden hair and aloof aura were exactly to her taste.
His desperate act of protecting his fiancée had sent her affection for him through the roof.
Wang Dong'er folded her arms across her chest. Beneath her short pink-and-blue hair, her fair, pretty face was full of indignation.
"Stop flattering him. Dai Huabin, what exactly was going on with your Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Zhu Lu? How did the Hell White Tiger grow wings?"
Dai Huabin stopped and raised Zhu Lu's hand, their fingers interlacing tightly.
"Zhu Lu and I have reached a perfect level of compatibility. Our minds and bodies are one."
Dai Huabin put on a perfectly serious face as he spouted nonsense, showing off as he went.
"As for why I arrogantly challenged the whole class earlier, I was really trying to push myself.
"Only under extreme pressure can people cast aside every distraction and feel each other's affection with their whole hearts.
"Without that all-or-nothing pressure, our Hell White Tiger wouldn't have been able to complete its final transformation."
Hearing this, Zhu Lu's heart ached.
She'd thought Dai Huabin simply wanted to establish his authority. She hadn't realized he'd used the pressure from the whole class to bring their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to fruition.
Huabin had borne all the insults and attacks just to help them grow stronger together.
"Huabin..." Zhu Lu's voice caught in her throat as she gripped his hand even tighter.
Cui Yajie rolled her eyes dramatically and gave an exaggerated shudder.
"Enough, enough. We get it—you're deeply in love. Stop showing off. Teacher Mu Jin has already gone back to the classroom to prepare for the next arrangements. If we don't hurry, we'll get marked absent."
Dai Huabin smiled and ruffled Zhu Lu's hair, then led the others toward the classroom.
The results of the Freshman Class 9 class-monitor selection spread through the Outer Academy as if they'd sprouted wings, reaching every corner within just an hour.
At that moment, inside the Outer Academy dean's office.
The rich fragrance of tea drifted through the air.
An old man in a white robe sat behind a spacious solid-wood desk.
His hair was gray, and his face was gentle.
He was the dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe.
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