Team Cohesion

Ning Rongrong loosened her arms, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and blushed slightly as she met the teasing gazes of the group.

However, she quickly pulled herself together, stood up, and bowed deeply to everyone. "I apologize for my behavior yesterday, and I sincerely ask for your forgiveness."

"..."

One second.

Two seconds.

The time stretched out, and Ning Rongrong remained bent over, waiting for a response.

Dai Mubai was the first to speak.

He said with some embarrassment, "I was too impulsive last night. I shouldn't have hit you. I apologize as well."

"Exactly, exactly. We're all classmates; it's all in the past," Oscar said with a grin.

It was as if everyone had suddenly opened up, and the scene became lively. In the bustling atmosphere, everyone forgave Ning Rongrong for her willfulness from the day before.

"Ning Rongrong, look up and look at your team."

Huo Yuhao's voice rang out. Ning Rongrong obediently raised her head, and what came into view were the smiling faces of her companions.

She froze for a moment, then suddenly turned her head to meet those azure eyes, which were filled with expectations for her future.

Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded toward the space behind her.

The sudden impact from behind made Ning Rongrong stagger; it was Xiao Wu who had rushed over to hug her arm.

Then came Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun. One by one, her companions walked to her side.

They looked at each other and burst into laughter, laughing until they were nearly hysterical.

"We are a team!"

"Xiao Wu, did I look really ugly when I was crying just now..."

Ning Rongrong glanced at Huo Yuhao without leaving a trace and asked Xiao Wu.

"Huh? No, not at all. Although it wasn't as pretty as you usually look... why do you ask?"

"!!"

Doesn't that mean he saw it too? Wuwuwu, no, I don't want that!!!

Watching Ning Rongrong's face shift between shades of uncertainty, Xiao Wu was a bit confused. What was going on? Why did she look even more miserable now that the matter was over?

"Zhu Zhuqing, you're next. Get ready." Tang San saw the order and offered a reminder.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Oh, okay." Then, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Huo Yuhao.

Seeing him give her a thumbs-up of encouragement, the corners of her mouth curled slightly, and the tension in her heart eased significantly.

"The next match features our newcomer, the Battle Soul Master with the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul, Zhu Zhuqing, against the Battle Soul Master with the Ghost Vine Martial Soul, Peng Yi! Peng Yi has already won two consecutive matches; who will be the victor this time? Let us wait and see! Will both parties please take the stage!"

"This is bad. The opponent seems to be a Control-type Soul Master, which counters Zhu Zhuqing."

Tang San looked at the arena with concern, recalling all the theoretical knowledge Grandmaster had taught him.

"Ah? Doesn't that mean Zhu Zhuqing is going to lose?"

"Let's keep watching."

After the two took the stage, everyone saw Zhu Zhuqing's opponent: a middle-aged man around thirty years old with a somewhat high hairline.

Seeing that his opponent was a hot-bodied beauty, a flash of greed crossed Peng Yi's eyes, and he chuckled lewdly.

"Little beauty, as long as you say something sweet, I'll go easy on you. How about that?"

Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned cold instantly, her icy gaze fixed firmly on him. "Disgusting."

She said nothing more and immediately activated Martial Soul Possession.

Her eyes changed color simultaneously; the left eye turned ink-green, while the right was a deep azure. Her long hair clung to her back, and two yellow soul rings rose from beneath her feet.

Her first soul ring lit up: Hell Stab!

Zhu Zhuqing charged toward Peng Yi in an instant, leaving a trail of afterimages.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's two hundred-year soul rings, Peng Yi's pupils shrank slightly. He didn't even have two hundred-year soul rings himself!

However, he wasn't overly panicked. He was a level 29 Soul Master and could sense that Zhu Zhuqing's soul power was significantly lower than his own.

Coupled with his extensive experience in dealing with Agility-type Soul Masters, he couldn't help but smirk wickedly. Dealing with a little girl should be easy, right?

One white and one yellow soul ring rose from his feet. His first soul ring lit up, and several vines sprouted from the ground, lashing out to bind Zhu Zhuqing.

"This move of mine is specifically prepared for people like you who rely on speed," Peng Yi chuckled.

"Just admit defeat, little girl."

Zhu Zhuqing's second soul ring lit up. Her hands moved like blurred shadows, striking countless times in a short span, tearing the vines before her to shreds. Her forward momentum didn't falter in the slightest as she rapidly closed the distance to Peng Yi.

Peng Yi's first soul ring was only ten years old, and the vines were far less resilient than those of the Ghost Vine. Seeing his skill have no effect, a flash of panic crossed his eyes. Because of his overconfidence, he hadn't created distance immediately, and now, it was too late to escape.

"Hmph, don't think I've lost just yet."

Knowing he had no way out, Peng Yi's second soul ring lit up. The vines beneath his feet sprouted sharp thorns, whipping toward the charging Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing did not dodge. Just as the vines were about to strike her, a layer of golden Soul Guidance Shield blocked them, while her claws pressed against Peng Yi's throat.

"I... I surrender."

Feeling the chill radiating from her claws at his neck, Peng Yi trembled as he spoke.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, silently retracting her martial soul before walking off the arena stage.

The host's voice rang out, "Congratulations to our newcomer, Zhu Zhuqing, for her victory! Her record is now one win, zero losses! Please go to register shortly."

Upon returning to the lounge, everyone looked at her in amazement, while also gaining a deeper understanding of Huo Yuhao's shield. This was a tool that simply changed the way battles were fought!

Who could have imagined that after an opponent used all their soul skills, they would still have a defensive ability? In that regard, this was an item as excellent as a soul bone.

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing knew that winning this match was entirely due to Huo Yuhao's Soul Guidance Shield, so she approached Huo Yuhao to express her gratitude.

"The opponent was the one who underestimated you. Your strategy was also sound—using your skills first to make him let his guard down, then delivering the fatal blow."

Huo Yuhao nodded in approval. It had to be said that Zhu Zhuqing was very adept at combat and had mature ideas; she mostly lacked experience against different types of martial souls.

Hearing Huo Yuhao praise her, Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed slightly, and she nodded gently.

"Mm."

She then sat down naturally beside him and watched the subsequent matches.

Xiao Wu, sitting on Huo Yuhao's other side, glanced at the two of them suspiciously. Since when did these two get so close?

As time passed, the others in the lounge went out to compete one after another. Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai both had good luck and won their respective matches.

This made Xiao Wu glare huffily at Tang San; among the group, she was the only one who had lost her match, and her current record was still negative.

"The next match features our dark horse from yesterday! The Battle Soul Elder Huo Yuhao, who possesses the Dark Spirit Eye martial soul, versus Chen Miao, a Battle Soul Elder who has already won seven consecutive matches and possesses the Ice Spirit Turtle martial soul! Who will emerge victorious in this soul duel? Let us wait and see! Now, let us invite both Soul Elders to the stage!"

"Yuhao, it's your turn. Good luck."

Everyone offered their encouragement. Huo Yuhao smiled, nodded, and stood up to head toward the arena.

"Speaking of Yuhao's opponent, what kind of turtle is that martial soul? Could it be a defense-oriented soul master? How could someone like that win seven matches in a row?"

Dai Mubai was curious. Logically, such soul masters rarely participated in solo soul duels; it was already impressive for them to defeat an opponent, let alone win seven times in a row.

"This martial soul isn't defense-oriented; it's a control system, relying on the cold of ice to control the battlefield." Tang San had studied under Grandmaster, so he naturally knew the characteristics of this martial soul and explained it to everyone.

"...Then isn't the outcome a foregone conclusion?"

Xiao Wu remarked. They all knew that Huo Yuhao had used some unknown skill the other day to freeze Zhao Wuji, who was a Soul Saint.

"Generally speaking... yes." Tang San also felt a bit helpless and gave a wry smile. Meeting Huo Yuhao, one could only say that he was unlucky.