The next morning, by the time Yun Jingheng and Ye Xinglan entered the arena, a crowd had already gathered before the bulletin board.
Today was the second round of the doubles competition, and the matchups had just been posted.
Yun Jingheng stood behind the crowd, looking up at the bulletin board.
Ye Xinglan stood beside him with her arms crossed, her expression slightly grim.
The board read: Shrek Academy (Yun Jingheng, Ye Xinglan) versus Eastsea Academy (Tang Wulin, Gu Yue).
The stands buzzed with nonstop discussion.
"Eastsea Academy? That Zero Class?"
"That Tang Wulin has two rings, and his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass."
"Blue Silver Grass? Isn't that a useless martial soul?"
"What do you know? His Blue Silver Grass is different. And that Gu Yue, her martial soul is an Elemental Envoy—a martial soul nobody's seen before."
"No matter how unusual it is, can they beat Shrek? Their opponents are three-ring Soul Elders."
Yun Jingheng looked at the two names on the board—Tang Wulin, Gu Yue.
He remembered the moment Gu Yue had stood in front of him at the Spirit Ascension Platform.
Her body had turned transparent and dissolved into specks of light.
He still owed her a thank-you.
Standing beside him, Ye Xinglan also looked at the board. "Gu Yue...? Is she the one who shielded you at the Spirit Ascension Platform?"
Yun Jingheng nodded. "Yeah."
Ye Xinglan did not ask anything else and turned toward the resting area.
After taking two steps, she stopped again.
"Then fight well today."
Yun Jingheng followed her. "All right."
The atmosphere in Eastsea Academy's resting area was somewhat tense.
Tang Wulin stood by the railing, his fists clenched tightly.
He had watched Shrek's match yesterday—twice.
The first time had been from the stands. The second had been that night, when he had tossed and turned in his hotel bed, unable to sleep, before getting up to watch the recording again.
Yun Jingheng's Moon Blades, shield, and charge—his three soul skills rotated like a precision machine.
And Ye Xinglan's sword was fast, precise, and ruthless, every strike carrying golden light.
Tang Wulin took a deep breath. "Can we win?"
He did not know whether he was asking himself or the people beside him.
Xie Xie stood beside him and patted his shoulder.
"Even if we lose, we should lose with style."
Tang Wulin smiled. "True."
Xu Xiaoyan stood behind them, clutching the hem of her clothes.
She said nothing, but her gaze remained fixed on the bulletin board.
Yun Jingheng, Shrek Academy.
She silently repeated the name in her heart. A thin layer of starlight shimmered in her palm, very faint.
She clenched her fist, and the starlight vanished, but the warmth in her palm remained.
She looked toward the competitors' tunnel across the arena. That figure had not appeared yet.
Gu Yue sat at the very back, holding a cup of water in her hands.
Her expression was calm, as though she were thinking of nothing, yet her gaze passed over the crowd and landed on the bulletin board.
Yun Jingheng, Ye Xinglan.
She watched for a while, then lowered her head and took a sip of water.
Wu Zhangkong stood before the group, looking at the four children.
"This match isn't about making you win."
His voice was icy. "It's about making you see the gap clearly."
Tang Wulin nodded.
Xie Xie nodded.
Xu Xiaoyan nodded.
Gu Yue did not nod. She stood and placed her cup on the chair.
"Let's go."
The four of them left the resting area, passed through the competitors' tunnel, and entered the arena.
Sunlight shone in from the sea, dazzlingly bright.
Tang Wulin walked at the front, his palms drenched in sweat.
Xie Xie walked beside him with an arrogant swagger, because he was not the one fighting Shrek.
Xu Xiaoyan walked in the middle, lowering her head to look at her hands. Starlight had appeared in her palm again.
She slipped her hand into her pocket.
Gu Yue walked at the back, her steps steady.
Across from them, Yun Jingheng and Ye Xinglan emerged from another tunnel.
Ye Xinglan walked in front, her golden ponytail tied tightly as she moved with quick strides.
Yun Jingheng followed behind in a silver-white coat, his hair draped over his shoulders, neither too fast nor too slow.
Two or three steps separated them, exactly as it had yesterday.
Xu Xiaoyan looked up and saw that figure.
The starlight in her palm suddenly flashed brighter. She hurriedly pulled her hand from her pocket, and the light scattered.
She froze for a moment and looked down at her hand.
There was nothing there.
When she looked up again, Yun Jingheng had already stepped onto the field.
The referee stood in the center of the arena.
"State your names."
"Shrek Academy, Yun Jingheng."
"Ye Xinglan."
"Eastsea Academy, Tang Wulin."
"Gu Yue."
The referee blew the whistle.
"Begin!"
Ye Xinglan moved first.
The Stargod Sword appeared, its golden sword light shooting straight at Tang Wulin.
Tang Wulin twisted aside to evade it. Blue Silver Grass spread from beneath his feet like green snakes, winding toward Ye Xinglan's ankles.
Ye Xinglan turned her sword tip. Golden sword light swept over the ground, severing the Blue Silver Grass and sending fragments flying.
Tang Wulin took a step back and clenched both fists.
Golden scales emerged along his arms and spread over the backs of his hands—the Golden Dragon Claw.
He threw a punch, and the golden fist-shadow collided with Ye Xinglan's sword light.
Clang— The sound of metal striking metal rang through the entire arena.
Ye Xinglan retreated three steps, while Tang Wulin retreated one.
Ye Xinglan gritted her teeth. Why was this guy so strong?!
Xie Xie shouted from the stands, "Go, Wulin!"
Tang Wulin steadied himself and took a deep breath.
He charged again. Blue Silver Grass surged toward Ye Xinglan from every direction as the Golden Dragon Claw unleashed punch after punch, each wreathed in golden light.
Ye Xinglan's sword grew faster and faster. Golden sword light and golden fist-shadows intertwined, the two locked in a fierce stalemate.
Yun Jingheng stood at the rear without moving.
His attention was not on Tang Wulin, but on Gu Yue.
Gu Yue stood behind Tang Wulin, also unmoving.
She looked at Yun Jingheng, and Yun Jingheng looked at her.
The two stared at each other across the entire arena.
Gu Yue moved first.
She raised her hand, yet nothing happened.
But Yun Jingheng sensed the air change. The temperature plummeted as an ice spike formed above his head and stabbed straight down.
He dodged aside. The ice spike struck the ground and shattered into icy fragments.
Then came another ice spike, and another, and another.
Four ice spikes shot toward him from different directions, incredibly fast and at tricky angles.
Yun Jingheng's first soul ring lit up.
Crescent Slash—four Moon Blades flew out simultaneously, striking the four ice spikes with perfect accuracy.
Crack, crack, crack, crack. The ice spikes shattered into fragments and scattered across the ground.
Gu Yue's expression did not change.
She raised her hand again. This time, it was not ice, but fire.
A fireball flew from her palm straight toward Yun Jingheng.
Yun Jingheng dodged aside. The fireball struck the ground behind him and exploded into flames.
Then came wind blades, invisible blades of wind slicing in from the side.
Yun Jingheng held the Moonlight Sword across his body and took the attack head-on.
Clang— He was knocked back one step.
Gu Yue raised her hand again.
This time, all four elements came at once—ice, fire, wind, and earth. Four attacks sealed off every possible path of retreat.
Yun Jingheng's second soul ring lit up.
Silver-white light spread from beneath his feet, applying the pulling force back onto himself.
He shot straight upward from the ground!
The pulling force dragged him into the air. The four attacks exploded beneath his feet, launching his whole body skyward.
He turned in midair and looked at Gu Yue.
Gu Yue was looking at him as well.
Their gazes met in the air.
Yun Jingheng's third soul ring lit up.
He charged toward Gu Yue—not across the ground, but through the air.
There was no mark, so he could not reset it, but he had a shield. Eight seconds were enough.
His body turned transparent, like a beam of moonlight falling from the sky.
Gu Yue raised her hand, and an earthen wall rose before her.
Yun Jingheng passed through the wall. His body phased through it, and the earthen wall had no effect on him.
He passed through the wall and swept past Gu Yue, his Moonlight Sword cutting across her shoulder.
A silver-white mark remained on her shoulder.
Yun Jingheng landed and turned around.
Gu Yue turned around as well.
They faced each other less than three meters apart.
Gu Yue lowered her head to look at her shoulder. Then she raised her head and looked at Yun Jingheng.
Yun Jingheng looked at her too.
He smiled. "Thank you for that time."
Gu Yue froze for a moment, then gave a slight nod without saying anything.
Over on Tang Wulin's side, Ye Xinglan's sword was already pressed before his throat.
Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass lay scattered across the ground, and several scales on his Golden Dragon Claw had cracked.
He was panting, but his eyes shone brightly.
Ye Xinglan withdrew her sword and stepped back.
"I've settled my 'grudge.' You're not bad. I won," she said.
Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then smiled. "Thank you."
The referee's whistle sounded.
"Shrek Academy wins! Eastsea Academy's ranking remains unchanged!"
As applause continued behind him, Tang Wulin stood on the field and watched Yun Jingheng and Ye Xinglan's backs disappear into the tunnel.
He lowered his head to look at his hand. Several scales on the Golden Dragon Claw were cracked, and his hand was trembling, but the corners of his mouth were raised.
Xie Xie ran down from the stands and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Not bad! You held out that long!"
Tang Wulin rubbed his shoulder.
"She was holding back against me."
"Even if she was, you still lasted that long!"
Xie Xie's eyes gleamed. "Did you see it? That punch of yours almost hit her!"
Tang Wulin smiled but said nothing.
He knew Ye Xinglan had not gone all out. Her Sword God Star could be faster, and her sword could be more ruthless.
But she had not. She had merely fought with just enough force to suppress him.
It was not because she looked down on him. She was simply getting revenge.
He took a deep breath and withdrew his Golden Dragon Claw.
The scales vanished, and his arm returned to normal.
He clenched his fist. It was still a little sore, but it did not matter.
Xu Xiaoyan stood at the edge of the arena and did not follow them.
She lowered her head to look at her hand. The starlight in her palm had already faded, yet she still felt there was a trace of warmth left.
She slipped her hand into her pocket and turned toward the passageway.
After taking a few steps, she stopped again and looked back.
The arena was already empty. The referee was packing up, while the staff were tidying the venue.
She withdrew her gaze and continued walking.
Gu Yue walked at the front, her steps steady, as though nothing had happened.
As she entered the passageway, the light dimmed, and footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.
She lowered her head to glance at her shoulder. The silvery-white mark had already vanished, but she still remembered its temperature—cool and faint, like moonlight falling on skin.
She held out her hand. There was nothing in her palm. She curled it into a fist and kept walking.
At the end of the passageway stood Yun Jingheng.
He leaned against the wall, looking down at his hand as though pondering something.
Hearing the footsteps, he raised his head.
Gu Yue stopped as well.
A few steps separated them, and neither spoke.
The passageway was quiet, with only the faint applause from the distant stands.
Yun Jingheng spoke first.
"Your elemental control is much stronger than it was at the Spirit Ascension Platform."
Gu Yue looked at him. "So are your soul skills."
Yun Jingheng thought for a moment. "That earthen wall—did you calculate that I'd charge in that direction?"
Gu Yue did not answer.
She looked at him, her black eyes calm.
Yun Jingheng looked back at her and suddenly felt like laughing.
The corners of his lips lifted. "Next time, I'll charge from above."
Gu Yue looked at him, and the corners of her lips curved as well, faintly. "Next time, I'll put up a wall above too."
They met each other's eyes for a second.
Yun Jingheng looked away and turned to leave.
After walking a few steps, he stopped again.
"Gu Yue."
"Mm?"
"Why did you do it back then?"
"...Because I thought you needed help."
Yun Jingheng turned back and smiled.
Needed help? If I were a native, I might actually believe that.
"Alright. See you again."
"Bye."
Before you continue