Elimination Round, Violent Speedrun!

The next morning, the knockout tournament officially began.

The rules were simple: sixty-four teams, single elimination. Lose, and you pack your bags and head back to class. There would be one match every morning and one every afternoon, with the top three decided over the course of three days.

For the round of sixty-four, thirty-two matches were held simultaneously.

The partitions on the examination field had been readjusted, making each arena wider than they had been during the round-robin stage.

The referees had been changed from senior students to official faculty members, clearly indicating that the academy's regard for the knockout stage had been elevated by more than a few notches.

The first opponents for Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu were a three-person team from Class Five.

The captain was a level-22 Tool Soul Grand Master, while the other two were just over level 20.

The moment the whistle blew, Zhu Lu vanished from her spot.

To be precise, her start was so fast that the eyes of the three opponents couldn't keep up at all.

By the time the Class Five captain reacted, Zhu Lu had already appeared behind him.

First Soul Skill: Hell Stab.

A precise strike from her sharp claws landed directly on the captain's lower back, the soul power penetrating his uniform and exploding into a numbing sensation across his skin.

The man's body stiffened; before his martial soul could even fully manifest, he stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, Dai Huabin moved.

He spread his hands, and a White Tiger Intense Light Wave erupted outward. He kept the force low, just enough to push the remaining two from the center of the field to beyond the boundary line.

The two slipped, landing on their backsides as they slid past the white line.

"Examination Field Seventeen, Class Nine's Dai Huabin team wins."

The referee's voice sounded quite numb, likely having grown accustomed to such outcomes since the round-robin matches yesterday.

The entire process took less than ten seconds.

Zhu Lu retracted her claw blades, hopped lightly back to Dai Huabin's side, and brushed some non-existent dust off her hands.

"Huabin, did I hit too hard? That captain doesn't seem to be getting up."

Dai Huabin glanced back. The Class Five captain was being helped up by his teammates, his face pale and his lower back still twitching.

"It's fine. He's just startled by your armor-piercing effect. The piercing sensation of the Hell Spirit Cat is quite unique; anyone hit for the first time thinks they've suffered internal injuries."

Zhu Lu tilted her head slightly, muttering softly, "Then I'll go a bit lighter next time."

"No need. There's no room for politeness on the examination field."

As the two walked out of the arena, the match in the adjacent field had only just reached a fever pitch.

A Power Attack type boy was sweating profusely while clashing with an opposing Defense type Soul Master. The two were locked in a stalemate, trading blows for several rounds without either gaining the upper hand.

Dai Huabin paid no attention, leading Zhu Lu straight to the rest area.

In the afternoon round of thirty-two, their opponents were a team from Class Three.

The captain was a level-24 Soul Grand Master who had finished the round-robin with seven wins and three losses, placing them in the upper-middle tier.

The result, however, was no different.

Zhu Lu charged head-on, her Hell Hundred Claws unleashing a flurry of claw shadows that left the opposing Agility Attack type completely dazed.

Dai Huabin followed up with a kick, sending the Soul Master who had attempted to ambush Zhu Lu flying out of bounds.

The captain managed to hold on for a few seconds, activating a defensive soul skill to stall for time.

Zhu Lu circled to his side and used a Hell Stab to pierce through the gap in his defense, the armor-piercing effect of her claws shattering the thin barrier of soul power.

Another instant kill.

"Class Nine's Dai Huabin team, wins."

After announcing the result, the referee couldn't help but take a few extra looks at Zhu Lu.

The little girl with black hair moved without a single wasted motion, and every strike was incredibly precise.

On the other side, the Cui Yajie team's progress was equally smooth.

In the morning match, Cui Yajie opened with a Charm that left the opposing captain dazed for half a second.

Wang Dong'er's Radiant Goddess Butterfly wings spread wide as she surged forward, her Wing Blade Guillotine ending the battle cleanly and efficiently.

The afternoon match took a little longer because the opponent had a level-23 Defense type shield user who refused to fall.

Xiao Xiao activated the "Combined Cauldron" form of her Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, and the massive vessel crashed down, pinning both the man and his shield outside the boundary.

"Xiao Xiao, that was way too brutal!" Wang Dong'er remarked, clicking her tongue as she watched. "That guy flew at least three meters."

Xiao Xiao shrank her neck, her small face flushing slightly. "I... I controlled my strength, really."

Cui Yajie tossed her curly pink hair, her tone indifferent.

"You call that controlled? If you hadn't, that guy might have flown into the next examination field."

The four knockout matches of the first day were all concluded.

All three teams from Class Nine had advanced to the round of sixteen.

On the way back to the dormitory that evening, Dai Huabin ran into Ning Tian.

"How did things go on your end?"

Ning Tian smiled.

"Wu Feng's Dragon Fire stunned the opponents right from the start; there was no suspense throughout the match.

However, in the afternoon match, they had an ice-type soul master who countered Wu Feng slightly. Nanmen Yun'er went up and landed two strikes, and that settled it."

"Have you checked your opponent for the round of sixteen tomorrow morning?"

"I have. A three-person team from Class Six, the highest level is twenty-three, no special martial souls."

Ning Tian paused.

"It's you I'm worried about. If you win tomorrow afternoon, you'll be facing Xie Huanyue in the quarterfinals."

Dai Huabin nodded, not saying much.

Ning Tian looked him over and suddenly chuckled.

"Fine, looking at that expression, I can tell you've got it handled. I won't worry about it then; I'm going back to have Wu Feng massage my shoulders."

"You really know how to order people around."

"That's right, I'm the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, after all. If I don't order Feng-mei around, who would I order?"

Ning Tian waved a hand and walked away, humming a little tune.

Dai Huabin shook his head as he watched her back.

This person's mindset was always so steady; she could find a reason to smile no matter the situation.

Back in the dormitory, Zhu Lu had already finished washing up and was sitting on the edge of the bed drying her hair.

"Huabin, do you have any impression of tomorrow morning's opponents?"

"I do. A three-person team from Class Seven. The captain is a twenty-second-level plant-type soul master. Their style leans toward control; they like to use vine entanglement to restrict the opponent's movement and then let their teammates deal the damage."

Zhu Lu thought for a moment. "Vines? My Hell Stab can cut right through them."

"Exactly, so this match won't be difficult. You charge in and cut the vines, and I'll follow behind to finish them off."

Zhu Lu acknowledged this and continued drying her hair. After a while, she suddenly spoke up.

"Huabin, how do you plan to deal with Xie Huanyue's Pipi Elephant?"

Dai Huabin leaned against the headboard, his hands behind his head.

He had been thinking about this question ever since he saw the bracket.

The defensive power of the Pipi Elephant was top-tier among the freshmen.

As a thirty-second-level Soul Elder, even if he activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation, it wouldn't be easy to pierce through that defense in a short time if he fought head-on.

What was even more troublesome was Xie Huanyue's second soul skill, "Elephant Trunk." That arm, which could extend several meters, wasn't just for hitting people; it could also entangle and grab. Once caught, half of Zhu Lu's speed advantage would be rendered useless.

"What is the greatest weakness of a defense-type?" Dai Huabin didn't answer directly, instead asking Zhu Lu a question.

Zhu Lu thought seriously. "Slow movement speed?"

"Correct, but that's not enough. The greatest weakness of a defense-type is that he must stand there and take the hits."

Dai Huabin extended a finger and drew a circle in the air.

"Xie Huanyue's tactical core is that he stands his ground alone while the Luo Brothers flank from the sides. This strategy works very well against ordinary teams because most people instinctively focus their firepower on the largest target."

"But there are only two of us."

"Exactly. So my strategy is: I will defeat Xie Huanyue, and you will take care of the Luo Brothers."

Zhu Lu's movements paused.

"You're taking him on alone?"

"Don't worry, I won't clash with his defense head-on. White Tiger Intense Light Wave is a long-range attack; I can keep my distance and wear him down. With his build, he won't be able to catch me."

Zhu Lu was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding. "Alright. I've seen the files on Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba's Mantis Blade; the twins have excellent coordination. But their soul power is only just over level twenty; I can crush them with my speed."

"That's the idea." Dai Huabin rolled over. "Sleep. Let's secure the round of sixteen tomorrow morning first."

Zhu Lu folded her towel and set it aside, then obediently turned off the light.

In the darkness, her voice was very soft. "Huabin, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

The next morning, the round of sixteen.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu's opponents were indeed the three-person team from Class Seven centered around the plant-type soul master.

After the match began, the opposing captain released his martial soul, and dozens of emerald-green vines erupted from the ground, spreading toward the two of them in a dense thicket.

Zhu Lu charged into the cluster of vines with a Hell Stab, the sharp claws on her hands imbued with armor-piercing effects; every swing severed three or four vines.

The plant-type captain's expression shifted.

His vines were meant to control opponents, not to be chopped up like vegetables.

Dai Huabin followed behind Zhu Lu, and the moment she tore open a path, he unleashed a White Tiger Intense Light Wave directly at the two opposing members responsible for damage output.

The two were sent flying out of the arena by the light wave, rolling several times across the ground.

The plant-type captain tried to struggle, but Zhu Lu had already circled behind him, her sharp claws pressed against the back of his neck.

"I concede."

Clean and efficient; the entire match took less than twenty seconds.

The Cui Yajie team and the Ning Tian team also successfully advanced to the round of eight that morning.

During the lunch break, the list of the eight teams was posted.

The Dai Huabin & Zhu Lu team, the Cui Yajie & Wang Dong'er & Xiao Xiao team, the Ning Tian & Wu Feng & Nanmen Yun'er team... Class Nine occupied three spots alone.

The other five teams were the Xie Huanyue team, the Huang Chutian team, and three teams from other classes.

The bracket for the afternoon's quarter-finals was announced shortly after.

Dai Huabin team vs. Xie Huanyue team.

Cui Yajie team vs. Huang Chutian team.

Seeing the draw, Wang Dong'er had the strongest reaction.

"Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo! Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Heavenly Net!"

She punched the cafeteria wall, drawing side-eyes from the students eating nearby.

"Bring it on! This Young Lady was just worrying about not having a decent opponent to fight!"

Cui Yajie speared a piece of braised pork and popped it into her mouth, chewing twice before responding unhurriedly:

"Don't just get excited. Huang Chutian's Hercules Ape is no pushover. Combined with the Lan sisters' control, we cannot afford to be careless."

Xiao Xiao nodded obediently:

"Mhm, my Cauldron Defense can block frontal impacts, but it will be troublesome if we get tangled up in the Heavenly Net."

Wang Dong'er huffed: "What's there to fear? Is there anything this Young Lady's Wing Blade Guillotine cannot cut?"

Dai Huabin walked over with his tray, arriving just in time to hear that. He didn't interject or offer advice, simply standing there to eat quietly.

Cui Yajie was the captain; he would let her decide how to fight.

Zhu Lu, however, leaned over and picked a rib from her own plate, placing it into Dai Huabin's bowl.

"Eat more. You have to fight Xie Huanyue this afternoon."

"You eat more too." Dai Huabin placed a chicken leg back into her bowl.

Wang Dong'er watched the two of them trading food from across the table, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air as her expression gradually twisted.

"You two, can you stop showing off in the cafeteria? Does this Young Lady even get to eat?"

Xiao Xiao covered her mouth and giggled from the side.

At two in the afternoon, the quarter-finals began on time.

Unlike the round-robin and the previous elimination rounds, there were only four arenas left this time.

The area of each arena had nearly doubled, and the surrounding partitions had been replaced with semi-transparent soul power barriers to make it easier for the audience to watch.

An even greater change had occurred in the spectator stands.

A row of seats had been added to the high platform on the north side of the assessment area.