"Xiaoyan, you said your control was stronger at night. Could you show us?" Tang Wulin asked.
Xu Xiaoyan thought it over briefly, then said, "All right."
After dinner, night settled over the sky. The group headed to a small grove, where overlapping leaves cast patches of shadow across the ground.
Xie Xie rubbed his hands together, excitement gleaming in his eyes. Lin Chen gave him a curious look and asked, "Xie Xie, what are you doing?"
Xie Xie blinked in confusion. "Huh? What is it, Captain?"
Lin Chen looked at him with a knowing smile. "You get all excited as soon as we enter a grove. Are you thinking about something weird?"
Xie Xie scratched the back of his head and grinned. "It's nothing, Captain. I'm just excited."
Xu Xiaoyan looked up at the night sky, sprinkled with pinpricks of starlight, then turned to remind Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and the others behind her, "I'm starting."
As soon as she spoke, a yellow Soul Ring rose slowly from beneath her feet. A slender ice staff appeared in her hand, and Xu Xiaoyan's expression turned serious.
She chanted softly, "Stars above, shining bright, forever brilliant, forever at peace. Grant me your power, my Star Wheel."
Lin Chen lightly rubbed his chin, musing to himself, That incantation could be changed to 'Bala Bala energy.'
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a golden light appeared at the tip of Xu Xiaoyan's ice staff. It gradually transformed into a golden ring of light containing a six-pointed star. The girl flicked her wrist, and the six-pointed star flew beneath Xie Xie's feet.
Xie Xie: ??? Aren't you supposed to be on my side?
Golden star patterns spread rapidly across the ground, and fine chains of starlight instantly wrapped around Xie Xie's limbs. His whole body stiffened in place. Even the Soul Power flowing through him seemed to be stifled by an invisible force, greatly slowing his ability to activate his Martial Soul. All he could do was look at Xu Xiaoyan with helpless dismay.
Xu Xiaoyan then explained her Martial Soul to everyone. When they heard that her restraint was guaranteed to take effect, everyone except Lin Chen was astonished.
Curious about what it felt like, Lin Chen lifted his chin and instructed, "Xiaoyan, use it on me."
Xu Xiaoyan complied. The six-pointed star flew toward Lin Chen, and the moment its golden light touched the ground, starry lines and icy chains bound him in place. Just one second later, he broke free.
Lin Chen rolled his wrists, his brows drawing together slightly. "That feels pretty awful."
The others froze at his words. Gu Yuena raised her brows and asked, "Lin Chen, were you really just curious about what it feels like to be restrained?"
Lin Chen nodded without hesitation, his expression perfectly calm. "Yes."
Xie Xie gave a wry, baffled smile. "Captain, most people would run from that. You're the only one who'd go looking for trouble. Being restrained feels awful."
Tang Wulin considered it, his gaze settling on the ice staff in Xu Xiaoyan's hand. "With this guaranteed restraint skill, our chances against Teacher Wu tomorrow just shot up. We should have Xiaoyan lock down our opponent at the start, then close in and attack with everything we've got."
Xu Xiaoyan smiled faintly as she held the ice staff. "My control is strongest at night. It'll be quite a bit weaker during the day."
Gu Yuena glanced sideways at Lin Chen, amusement flickering in her eyes. A tiny flame quietly formed at her fingertip, and she teased him softly, "Lin Chen, since you like being restrained so much, want me to try it on you again with ice and fire?"
Lin Chen hurriedly waved the idea away. "Ahem, let's not. I was just curious... Just curious."
Xie Xie clicked his tongue regretfully and sighed. "Too bad we can't change day into night. If Xiaoyan had her full control tonight, we could give Teacher Wu a huge surprise tomorrow."
Lin Chen proposed loudly, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's meditate right here, recover to our best condition, and then go ask Teacher Wu for a spar. He definitely won't refuse."
The four others thought it made sense, so they sat down where they were and began meditating.
"You're sure you want to start now?" Wu Changkong asked, slightly surprised.
Lin Chen replied with a serious expression, "Yes, Teacher Wu. Please give us your guidance."
A glimmer of understanding passed through Wu Changkong's eyes. Seeing that Lin Chen already had a plan, and with the training grounds closed, Wu Changkong simply led them to the field.
Wu Changkong fixed Lin Chen with a meaningful look, making Lin Chen's backside tense. Something felt off.
They each took their positions, already prepared to use the coordinated tactics they had practiced that night. They eagerly awaited the chance to join forces and attack Wu Changkong.
But when Wu Changkong spoke, everyone present froze. "Lin Chen, you'll fight the other four by yourself. I'll watch and point out the flaws and weaknesses in your tactics."
Lin Chen went stiff as a statue, his thoughts already surging like a storm. Yamete, Teacher Wu! You can't do this to me!
Seeing Lin Chen frozen in place, Wu Changkong said matter-of-factly, "Real combat is unpredictable. You have to be ready for your opponent to switch things up at any moment."
Gu Yuena gave Lin Chen a sympathetic look, then sent him a comforting transmission. "It's all right, Lin Chen. I'll go easy on you."
Lin Chen responded with a helpless laugh. "I should've let Wulin bring it up. Guess I'll just have to accept my fate."
Lin Chen cleared his throat, his expression instantly turning serious and composed. "If that's how Teacher Wu wants it, then come at me. To avoid hurting you, I'll only use my first Soul Skill."
As soon as he finished speaking, his Azure Dragon Martial Soul possessed him. His jade-blue eyes turned into draconic vertical pupils, and blue lightning crackled around him.
Tang Wulin's Millennium Soul Ring lit up, and his Blue Silver Grass shot toward Lin Chen's limbs. From the side, Gu Yuena controlled fireballs that tore through the air one after another, hurtling toward Lin Chen. Xie Xie prepared to launch a sneak attack.
Behind them, Xu Xiaoyan stood quietly with her ice staff in hand. Beneath the night sky, starlight gathered slowly at its tip. She held back, patiently waiting for Lin Chen to respond to the attacks and leave an opening, then she would send out her six-pointed star to restrain him.
Lin Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. All right, time for me to show off. Capture the ringleader first; in a team battle, strike the rear. He activated the Thunder Dragon Left Leg Bone skill, and his body transformed into a dazzling streak of blue light, instantly breaking through the three attacks on the front line.
Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass and Gu Yuena's fireballs all missed. Xie Xie, who had been lying in wait for a chance to attack, watched in shock as Lin Chen suddenly appeared in front of Xu Xiaoyan.
Xie Xie's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Captain, are you a Power Attack System or an Agility Attack System? That's just unfair!"
Xu Xiaoyan jumped in fright when Lin Chen suddenly appeared and instinctively took half a step back. From the sidelines, Wu Changkong calmly announced, "Xu Xiaoyan is out."
Xu Xiaoyan dejectedly withdrew her Martial Soul and moved to the edge of the field. Only Tang Wulin, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie remained.
Seizing the instant Lin Chen turned around, Xie Xie activated his teleportation and silently closed in from the side, hoping to exploit an opening.
A faint gleam flashed from the Soul Ring beneath Lin Chen's feet. His first Soul Skill activated—Thunderous Might, weakened by sixty percent.
Fine strands of lightning instantly wrapped around Xie Xie's limbs. His whole body went numb. With a scream, he crashed to the ground, his body twitching uncontrollably. He had completely lost the ability to fight.
Wu Changkong calmly announced, "Xie Xie is out."
Tang Wulin planned to rely on his physical strength and clash head-on with Lin Chen, but Lin Chen wasn't foolish enough to compete with the Golden Dragon King in strength.
One burst of lightning later, Tang Wulin was out.
In the blink of an eye, only Lin Chen and Gu Yuena remained facing each other on the field.
Lin Chen looked at the graceful young girl opposite him and said softly, "Na'er, it's just the two of us now."
Gu Yuena's lips lifted in a faint smile. "When we fight, I won't hold back."
Just as she finished speaking, a transmission sounded in Gu Yuena's mind. "Na'er, go easy on me later."
Gu Yuena gave an almost imperceptible nod. Power surged in her palm, and a fireball of mild temperature drifted lazily through the air toward Lin Chen.
Lin Chen didn't defend himself. He pretended he couldn't dodge in time, let the fireball graze him, then staggered to the ground and lay there without a fight.
"Ah, I'm out..."
The pitiful performance made the aloof male god watching from the sidelines twitch the corner of his mouth.
Three black lines appeared on his forehead.
Lin Chen was still caught up in his performance, continuing to wail. Noticing someone approaching, he turned his head—and saw Wu Changkong standing over him, his forehead covered in black lines.
Lin Chen gave an awkward grin. "Hehe... Teacher Wu, let me explain."
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