Challenging Tianshui Academy's Golden Duo!

The group arrived at an open space, drawing the attention of quite a few students.

"Little Brother Yang Teng!" Shui Yunxia began.

"Bing'er is a Control-system Spirit Ancestor. I will arrange for a Power-attack system Spirit Elder to pair with her. As long as you can hold out for the duration of one incense stick, that will suffice!"

However, upon hearing this, Yang Teng merely raised an eyebrow and shook his head instead.

"A Power-attack Spirit Elder? Forget it, Dean. That wouldn't be much fun to fight."

Shui Yunxia was slightly taken aback. Her delicate brows furrowed, and a flash of displeasure and realization crossed her eyes; she assumed Yang Teng was suffering from stage fright, and her estimation of him dropped a notch.

"Surely you don't want a Great Spirit..."

Yang Teng interrupted Shui Yunxia, looking at her with a beaming smile.

"What I mean is, since we are going to fight, let's make it challenging. You need to pair her with a Power-attack Spirit Ancestor!"

Yang Teng scanned the crowd, his gaze finally settling on a blue-haired girl standing quite close to Shui Bing'er.

"This sister is named Xue Wu, right? Can we spar together?"

"What?!"

As soon as these words left his lips, not only was Shui Yunxia stunned, but the woman surnamed Yuan who had greeted them at the gate, along with several Tianshui Academy teachers watching from the sidelines, all wore expressions of astonishment.

Yang Teng had voluntarily requested a one-on-two, and his opponents were two Spirit Ancestors!

Shui Bing'er was a level 43 Control-system Spirit Master, and Xue Wu was also at the Spirit Ancestor level, with strength second only to Shui Bing'er. Their coordination was seamless; the result of their teamwork was far greater than the sum of its parts.

Shui Yunxia had never expected Yang Teng to make such a request.

The woman surnamed Yuan at the gate subconsciously looked toward Gu Yena, who was standing quietly to the side, her eyes filled with suspicion as if asking:

Is your companion crazy? Or does he have some powerful trump card?

Gu Yena's silver eyes were calm and ripple-free. Her stunning face betrayed no trace of worry or surprise, as if the suggestion Yang Teng had just made was the most ordinary thing in the world.

She didn't even look at Yang Teng in the arena, merely lowering her gaze slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow. That detached, otherworldly indifference made the woman surnamed Yuan feel even more unable to fathom her.

Shui Yunxia suppressed the shock in her heart, her gaze sharp as she looked at Yang Teng to confirm once more.

"Are you certain? You want to challenge both Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu at the same time? They are both Spirit Ancestors, and their coordination is impeccable."

Yang Teng respectfully affirmed.

"I am certain. Only in this way can I better demonstrate my strength to all the teachers!"

Shui Yunxia took a deep look at Yang Teng, then glanced at the indifferent Gu Yena, her thoughts racing.

Regardless of whether Yang Teng was arrogant or truly had something to rely on, this opportunity was one he had chosen himself, and he would have to bear the consequences.

In any case, she had already given him a chance; it was Yang Teng who had chosen the most difficult mode. Even if he lost, Gu Yena shouldn't have any reason to be displeased!

"Very well!"

Shui Yunxia no longer hesitated and nodded decisively.

"Since you insist, then as you wish. Bing'er, Xue Wu, prepare yourselves."

"Yes, Dean."

Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu replied in unison. They were the trump cards of Tianshui Academy; when had they ever been looked down upon like this?

Even Feng Xiaotian wouldn't dare to be this brazen.

In the open space, the two sides stood facing each other. On one side, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu stood shoulder to shoulder; both girls were outstanding in appearance, one possessing a temperament as cold as ice, the other a mix of softness and strength.

On the other side, there was only Yang Teng. He remained in his usual slouching posture, though his hands were not in his pockets, and a roguish smile played on his lips.

"Shui Bing'er, level 43 Control-system Battle Spirit Ancestor, please advise."

"Xue Wu, level 42 Power-attack Battle Spirit Ancestor, please advise."

The two spoke simultaneously, their voices crisp and clear.

As their words fell, brilliant spirit rings rose from beneath their feet at the same time—stunningly, both possessed the optimal configuration of two yellow and two purple.

The watching teachers and students of Tianshui Academy couldn't help but hold their breath. The momentum of two Spirit Ancestors joining forces was enough to make most peers feel immense pressure.

Yang Teng looked at the pair opposite him, his smile widening slightly.

He paused, and then, a scene unfolded that plunged the entire arena into dead silence.

The appearance of the first two purple spirit rings had already left everyone in disbelief.

But when the third one lit up, fear surfaced in the hearts of many, and their breathing became labored—it was a black, ten-thousand-year spirit ring!

Purple, purple, black!

Three spirit rings revolved slowly around Yang Teng; there was no sign of a fourth.

This meant that he was merely a Spirit Elder.

"No... impossible!"

The teacher from Water Academy gasped in shock.

"Purple, purple, black... am I seeing things?"

"A Spirit Venerable? A ten-thousand-year third ring? This..."

At this moment, Shui Yunxia, who had remained calm and composed throughout, completely lost her composure. Her beautiful eyes widened, her face etched with shock and disbelief.

With her perception as a Spirit Saint, she had clearly sensed that Yang Teng's spirit power fluctuations reached the level of a Spirit Ancestor, which was why she had previously judged him to be one.

Yet, he only had three spirit rings! And the age of these rings... it was simply unheard of!

When had such a monster ever appeared on the continent?

Even that man hailed as the youngest Title Douluo in history, Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect, could never have possessed such a spirit ring configuration!

Yang Teng seemed quite satisfied with everyone's reaction. He cleared his throat and announced loudly:

"Yang Teng, martial soul Space-Time Divine Dragon, level 37 Battle Spirit Venerable! I look forward to your guidance, elder sisters."

He enunciated "level 37" and "Battle Spirit Venerable" with particular clarity.

Shui Bing'er quickly recovered from the initial, massive shock.

As the team captain, her mental fortitude was far tougher than her peers. No matter how astonishing his spirit ring configuration was, he was ultimately just a Spirit Venerable; the gap in spirit power levels and the numerical advantage were objective facts.

She exchanged a quick glance with Xue Wu beside her, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes. They had to go all out; they could not afford the slightest carelessness!

"Ice Seal!"

Shui Bing'er launched the attack first. This move was executed with extreme speed and precise range; it was the very same instant-cast control spirit skill that had caused even Tang San to suffer greatly in the original records.

Yang Teng seemed unable to react, or perhaps he had no intention of dodging at all. In an instant, he was sealed within a massive block of solid ice.

"Good chance! Ice Spikes!"

Xue Wu, possessing perfect synergy, had already begun charging her power the moment Shui Bing'er acted. Two or three dozen sharp ice cones whistled through the air with a piercing sound as they struck toward Yang Teng.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang..."

A dense series of impacts rang out. The ice cones slammed fiercely into the solid ice, sending ice shards flying. For a moment, a faint mist formed by ice dust filled the arena, obscuring part of their vision.

Xue Wu stared intently, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"I thought he might be something special; turns out his spirit rings were just for show."

"Bing'er, your Ice Seal is getting more and more proficient. Instant-cast control—he didn't even have time to react."

However, there was no relaxation on Shui Bing'er's cold face; instead, her brows were tightly locked.

Something was wrong! It was too smooth! Her mental power keenly detected a sense of discord.

Almost the moment Xue Wu finished speaking, a blue light flashed in Shui Bing'er's eyes, and she launched another spirit skill without hesitation.

But the target was not the spot where Yang Teng had been sealed, but rather the side of Xue Wu!

"Ice Seal!"

But it was half a step too late.

"Ugh!"

Xue Wu let out a muffled groan as her entire body was sent flying backward uncontrollably, heading straight toward where Shui Bing'er stood!

Shui Bing'er hurriedly tried to catch Xue Wu, but just as Xue Wu flew to within a meter of her, the space around them seemed to solidify instantly!

Invisible space power, like the toughest of chains, bound Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu in mid-air simultaneously!

The faint ice mist dissipated. The block of ice that had been covered in cracks where Yang Teng was originally sealed shattered with a "crack," leaving nothing inside.

And Yang Teng's figure, who knew when, was already standing seven or eight meters away. He brushed off non-existent ice dust from his clothes, his face still wearing that infuriatingly lazy smile.

"Space-Time Lock."

He said softly, as if he had only done something trivial.

Shui Yunxia's pupils contracted slightly, and the way she looked at Yang Teng had completely changed.

"However, it's not over that easily!"