Elimination Round

Two days later, the freshman assessment concluded. Bai Cai, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao finished the round-robin tournament with ten straight wins, ranking seventh in total victories.

Achieving a perfect record was both simple and difficult.

Unless one's luck was abysmal, a team would encounter at most two seeded teams during the ten rounds of the tournament, but they were required to fight nine matches across the second and third days alone.

These gauntlet-style endurance matches tested not only individual strength and team synergy but also the captain's tactical choices and strategic decision-making.

Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong took turns serving as the primary attackers. Once Ralts used Psychic Lock to immobilize the limbs and vital joints of the enemy backline, they would immediately follow up with an offensive, usually securing an easy victory.

Of course, the tactics of Psychic Lock, Imprison, and sudden strikes were not impossible to counter. Seeded teams led by Soul Elders or composed entirely of Soul Grand Masters could attempt a counterattack once they safely weathered the first wave of Bai Cai's team's assault.

"Xiao Bai, the freshman assessment is over. How about we go out for a meal to celebrate?" Kneeling on a soft fur mat, Wang Dong raised a hand slightly to wipe her damp, powder-blue short hair.

"The elimination rounds start tomorrow. Get some rest," Bai Cai said, stopping his meditation and opening his eyes. "With five matches today, Xiao Xiao must be exhausted and asleep; don't disturb her."

"We won't take Xiao Xiao. Just you and me, my treat," Wang Dong blinked her large, powder-blue eyes and said with feigned nonchalance, "Any window in the cafeteria, you pick. How about it?"

"No need." Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Bai Cai slowly reached out a hand. "Just give me the meal money instead."

"Xiao Bai, you're going too far." Wang Dong hugged a fluffy pillow, resting her chin upon it. "No celebration, no meal—was our freshman assessment that much of a failure?"

"Is a perfect record in the freshman assessment really worth a grand celebration?" Bai Cai slowly rubbed the blue ring on his left index finger and said indifferently, "As far as I know, at least eleven teams achieved a perfect record in the round-robin."

"Only by reaching the top three in the elimination rounds will a celebration have any meaning." Lying flat on the bed, Bai Cai tilted his head back and closed his eyes. "Our goal should be third place, second place, or even the championship."

"And after that?" Wang Dong asked with anticipation. "If we make the top three, will we celebrate together?"

"Top three?" Bai Cai let out a yawn, feeling incredibly sleepy, and replied dismissively, "Suit yourself."

The elimination tournament schedule was divided into the round of 64, 32, 16, 8, the semifinals, and the final.

Over the course of three days, there would be one match in the morning and one in the afternoon; eliminated teams would return to class, while the winners continued to compete.

The following day, staff moved the partitions, and the open assessment area was re-divided into thirty-two equal-sized combat zones. The area of each individual zone had doubled, allowing for more diverse tactics.

One hundred and ninety-two students gathered in the assessment area. Du Weilun, the director of the Martial Soul Department, began roll call, and each team sent a representative to draw lots.

Once the drawing was complete, the round of 64 officially began. Thirty-two matches were held simultaneously, significantly shortening the assessment time.

Bai Cai's team was randomly assigned to combat zone eighteen, where a male teacher in his fifties served as the examiner and referee.

"Freshman Class One: Bai Cai, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao. Freshman Class Four: Ao Wei, Xiu Ya, Cheng Xin. Both sides, enter the arena."

Bai Cai's team maintained their formation as they entered the arena first, while the opposing team followed in single file, lining up in order.

The male student in the front had black hair and black eyes. His upper body was bare, his muscles as sharply defined as granite, containing immense explosive power.

The male student on the left had yellow hair and yellow eyes, a well-proportioned build, and an average appearance; he stood barefoot on the ground. The male student on the right had black hair and blue eyes, wore a mask, and stood with his arms crossed in an arrogant posture.

"State your names!"

The male student in the front clenched his fists, his expression grave. "Freshman Class Four, Ao Wei."

The male student on the left kept his eyes fixed on Xiao Xiao, cautious. "Freshman Class Four, Xiu Ya."

The male student on the right lifted his mask slightly, looking proud. "Freshman Class Four, Cheng Xin."

"Freshman Class One, Wang Dong."

"Freshman Class One, Xiao Xiao."

"Freshman Class One, Bai Cai."

The perfect-record team from Freshman Class One was famous far and wide, their combat methods extremely fierce; they hadn't even revealed the effects of their second soul skills yet.

Ao Wei cursed his luck. In the round of 64, with a one-in-three chance, how could they have run into the perfect-record team?

"The match begins."

At the referee's command, Ao Wei stepped forward and roared. A 'King' character mark appeared on his forehead, his pupils turned vertical, his canines transformed into fangs, and his fingers grew thick and short, with half-foot-long claws extending from the tips. Two yellow soul rings rose rapidly.

Xiu Ya jumped in place, his leg joints bending backward. His feet transformed into three-toed claws, and his hands curled into two-toed talons. Two yellow soul rings circled his legs.

Cheng Xin leaned forward, his tailbone extending into a thick, scaled crocodile tail. Patches of black scales appeared on his skin, and two yellow soul rings circled his body.

Brilliant scale wings suddenly unfurled. With the Goddess of Light Butterfly possessed, Wang Dong flapped her wings and took to the air as per their usual routine.

The Three-Legged Cauldron instantly expanded, shielding both himself and Bai Cai. Xiao Xiao took a step to the side, blocking the opponent's line of sight.

Ralts suddenly appeared, sitting on Bai Cai's left shoulder.

"Tiger Roar!"

The first soul ring flashed suddenly. Ao Wei looked up and roared, his thick black hair standing on end. Tiger Roar increased his own defense by fifteen percent and his strength by fifteen percent.

"High Jump Kick!"

Xiu Ya lowered his body, lighting up the yellow soul ring circling his backward-bending right leg. He leaped seven or eight meters into the air, aiming directly for Xiao Xiao.

"Black Water Swamp!"

The first soul ring lit up. Cheng Xin touched the ground with both hands, and the hardened soil beneath Xiao Xiao and Bai Cai's feet instantly turned into viscous black mud.

Ao Wei, Saber-toothed Tiger martial soul, Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster. Xiu Ya, Golden Locust martial soul, Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster. Cheng Xin, Black Water Swamp Crocodile martial soul, Control System Soul Grandmaster.

The Black Water Swamp Crocodile has balanced attributes, strong attack, decent defense, and acceptable crowd control. Although Cheng Xin chose the control system as his future development path, before the third ring, his melee combat level was not inferior to that of a power attack system soul master of the same rank.

One power attack system battle soul master, one agility attack system battle soul master, and one control system battle soul master who is not inferior to a power attack system soul master of the same rank—the entire Ao Wei squad is composed of reckless fighters, fearing nothing!

Ralts utilized Heart Separation Control on its telekinesis, simultaneously locking onto the high-leaping Xiu Ya to immobilize his limbs and vital joints, while creating a telekinetic shield to ward off the viscous black mud.

With butterfly wings flapping, Wang Dong swiftly intercepted the terrified Xiu Ya. With a dodge, a whip leg, and a mid-air flying kick, Xiu Ya—who was like a living target—traced a beautiful arc through the air before crashing heavily outside the combat arena, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Ao Wei stepped laterally, attempting to bypass the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron blocking his path. Xiao Xiao's thoughts stirred, and the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron split into three, sealing off Ao Wei's offensive route.

"Bloodlust!"

Ao Wei roared. His second soul ring flashed abruptly, his vertical pupils instantly contracted, a scarlet hue welled up in his eyes, his muscles bulged, and blue veins stood out.