Ning Tian's Team

The next morning, the matches ended hastily. Bai Cai Team advanced to the quarterfinals, and Xiao Xiao was forced to reveal her second Soul Skill.

At noon, Bai Cai returned to the dormitory and circulated her Calm Mind method to recover her Soul Power, while Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao gathered information on the other seven teams.

That afternoon, as the class bell rang, Bai Cai returned to the Assessment Area and drew lots on behalf of her team. The number of battle arenas remained unchanged at sixteen, but only the first eight were open.

Bai Cai Team arrived at Battle Arena Five, and the atmosphere suddenly grew tense. The opposing team was utterly at ease. Three beautiful girls stood tall and graceful, their glances full of charm.

Up on the viewing platform, Zhou Yi was watching the two teams from Freshman Class One that had advanced to the quarterfinals. Rarely, she looked worried.

Huo Yuhao's team had only barely made it to the quarterfinals, and then ran into Xie Huanyue's team. Even though Huo Yuyao's Soul Skill was extremely effective, his team was still routed, missing out on the semifinals.

Bai Cai Team had drawn Ning Tian's team. Their prospects looked grim, and Zhou Yi couldn't help feeling sorry for them. Their luck was terrible. What could they do about it?

If Bai Cai Team had faced Xie Huanyue's team, they might have had a chance. After all, Xie Huanyue's team relied entirely on Xie Huanyue himself. He was strong, to be sure, but a single tree could not prop up a building.

"Zhou Yi, what a coincidence. Bai Cai Team is Freshman Class One's seeded team, isn't it?"

A female teacher of about thirty walked up beside Zhou Yi and leaned against the railing of the viewing platform. She sneered, "Battle Arena Five. What a pity. Ning Tian's team is sure to take second place at the very least, and is vying for first."

Zhou Yi stared at her. "Mu Jin, it's still too early to tell who will win."

"I'm afraid becoming a senior teacher is out of your reach, Zhou Yi." Mu Jin spread her hands and jeered, "You had my younger brother expelled? Heh. It's not that retribution doesn't come—it's just waiting for the right time."

Still watching Battle Arena Five, Zhou Yi said slowly, "Want to make a bet?"

Mu Jin didn't back down. "What are we betting?"

"Soul Bone." Zhou Yi turned around and said calmly, "One Soul Bone. Dare to take the bet?"

Mu Jin's pupils contracted sharply, and she fell silent. Soul Bones were even rarer than Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings. Depending on their type, they could be divided into seven categories: Head Soul Bones, Torso Soul Bones, limb Soul Bones, and External Soul Bones.

A Soul Bone gave a Soul Master an additional boost. It could either grant an extra Soul Skill or improve their constitution and increase their Soul Power.

For Soul Beasts below the hundred-thousand-year level, the chance of producing a Soul Bone was only one in ten thousand.

Of course, the older the Soul Beast, the greater the chance it would produce a Soul Bone. For example, Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had about a one-percent chance of producing one, while the chance for a thousand-year Soul Beast was roughly one in ten thousand. The chances of a Hundred-Year Soul Beast or Ten-Year Soul Beast producing one were negligible.

An outstanding Soul Master needed to raise their Soul Power Level as much as possible and attach Soul Rings of suitable types and age.

A top-tier Soul Master had to obtain Soul Bones of their own. The number of Soul Bones they had fused often reflected their true fighting strength.

Who would complain about having too many of such precious treasures?

Unless the attributes clashed or the Soul Bone occupied a position where one had already been fused, betting a Soul Bone was like brewing tea with Immortal Herbs or stewing soup with medicinal pills—an appalling waste.

Losing a Soul Bone was like losing one's entire fortune. Why had Zhou Yi proposed betting one?

"Scared?" Zhou Yi looked disdainful and said in disgust, "If you won't bet, get away from me. You stink like a fox."

"Fine." Mu Jin seethed with fury, her face fierce. "Let's bet. It's only one Soul Bone. If you lose, have Fan Yu custom-build a melee Soul Tool for me."

There was no need to mention the old entanglements of love and hate. Zhou Yi took a deep breath and said coldly, "It's only one Soul Bone. I can afford it."

"Who wants your Soul Bone?" Mu Jin snapped, resentful. "Have Fan Yu custom-build a melee Soul Tool for me. Otherwise, forget it."

"Fine. I'll agree on her behalf." A deep voice rang out at just the right moment. At some point, a tall, imposing figure had appeared beside Zhou Yi.

When Fan Yu showed up, Mu Jin's arrogant air vanished completely. Her eyes reddened. "Zhou Yi bullies me. Are you going to bully me too?"

"Stop tormenting her." Fan Yu frowned. "Are you taking the bet or not?"

"Fine!" Mu Jin's eyes brimmed with tears as she abruptly turned around and looked back toward Battle Arena Five.

The three beautiful girls leaned close together, whispering among themselves.

The girl standing at the front was especially tall, even a little taller than Wang Dong. She had short golden hair cut to her ears, long eyelashes, and large, watery blue eyes like a calm, azure sea. The few freckles on her face only made her look more sweet and charming.

The girl on the left had a cold gaze and neat, fiery-red short hair. Her vivid eyes were like burning coals, her features exquisitely delicate, and her skin as fair as white jade.

The girl on the right had a gentle gaze. Her pale green hair fell naturally around her shoulders, and her dark green eyes were like a lake in the forest, making her seem all the more endearing.

The referee said, "Both teams, enter the arena."

Bai Cai Team and Ning Tian's team entered at the same time. Ning Tian's team changed formation. The golden-haired girl slowly fell back, while the red-haired and green-haired girls moved together to shield her.

The red-haired girl declared proudly, "Freshman Class Nine. Wu Feng, level twenty-five Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

The green-haired girl gave her a mildly reproachful look, but still spoke gently. "Freshman Class Nine. Nanmen Yun'er, level twenty-four Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master."

Behind the two girls, Ning Tian remained composed and said lightly, "Freshman Class Nine. Ning Tian, level thirty-one Support System Tool Soul Elder."

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. The atmosphere abruptly turned tense. Everyone knew that the degree of enhancement provided by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul depended on the number of Soul Rings. At the Soul Elder level, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda could enhance its targets by as much as forty percent.

"Freshman Class One. Wang Dong, level twenty-four Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"Freshman Class One. Xiao Xiao, level twenty-two Control-Type Battle Soul Master."

"Freshman Class One. Bai Cai, level twenty Control-Type Battle Soul Master."

Their gazes met: scorn, gravity, indifference, pity—each expression was different.

The referee shouted, "The match begins!"

Brilliant butterfly wings unfurled in an instant, glowing blue, azure, and pale blue with dazzling radiance. Wang Dong locked onto Wu Feng, and her wings beat, unleashing a howling gale.

Wu Feng gave a low shout. Heat Wave surged and twisted around her, accompanied by the faint roar of a dragon. Her figure gradually matured until she looked like a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl, her body straining against her now ill-fitting uniform.

A highly elastic, one-piece leather suit clung tightly to her skin. Her shapely legs were firm and full, like those of a woman in a one-piece swimsuit.

A blush rippled over her skin, fair as white jade. Fine, pale red scales spread across the left side of her face, covering her neck, left shoulder, and left arm, while her hand transformed into a claw.

When Bei Bei invoked his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, his appearance turned fearsome. Wu Feng's Red Dragon Martial Soul was a gentler transformation. Her long legs and striking beauty, together with her fiery figure, gave her an exotic allure.

Two yellow Soul Rings rose swiftly. Wu Feng snorted, planted her foot hard behind her, and shot forward.

Wang Dong raised her leg high and spun into a flying kick. Wu Feng neither dodged nor retreated, sweeping her left arm across.