The Support-Type at the Front?

[Ding!]

[The audience saw you hiding behind two beautiful girls and cast envious, jealous looks your way—Emotion Points +99!]

[The audience felt that you were an undeserving captain and looked down on you—Emotion Points +99!]

Jiang Ziming stood at the back of the team, his expression unchanged as he even let out a leisurely yawn.

That afternoon.

The draw results for the second elimination round were announced.

This time, Jiang Ziming's team seemed to have drawn poorly.

They were up against Ning Tian's team from Freshman Class Nine, a team with a three-ringed Soul Elder.

The moment the news came out, the stands erupted into lively discussion.

"Ning Tian's team? Isn't that Class Nine's seeded team?"

"Ning Tian's martial soul seems to be the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. She's a three-ringed Soul Elder!"

"Jiang Ziming's team is going to crash and burn this time..."

In the pre-match waiting area.

Xiao Xiao tugged at Jiang Ziming's sleeve, a trace of worry in her emerald-green eyes.

"Ziming, they have a three-ringed Soul Elder. They'll definitely be tougher than our previous opponents. Shouldn't we discuss some tactics?"

Wang Donger stood to the side. Seeing the natural intimacy in Xiao Xiao's gesture toward the boy, she frowned slightly but said nothing.

However, Jiang Ziming shook his head.

"No tactics needed."

His tone was calm.

"For this match, you two just stand behind me."

"I'll take on all three of them myself."

Both Xiao Xiao and Wang Donger froze at his words.

They exchanged glances, each seeing the same shock and disbelief in the other's eyes.

"Are you crazy?"

Wang Donger could not help speaking up, her tone filled with undisguised doubt.

"You're a support-type Soul Master. How are you going to fight three against one? They have three battle-type Soul Masters, and one of them is even a three-ringed Soul Elder!"

Xiao Xiao hurriedly chimed in as well.

"Ziming, your radishes are already amazing. You don't need to prove yourself this way!"

Jiang Ziming looked at their worried expressions and smiled, his voice gentle but certain.

"Trust me."

Xiao Xiao bit her lip. Looking into his smiling eyes, she finally nodded softly and released his sleeve.

But Wang Donger puffed out her cheeks in displeasure and muttered under her breath.

"Jiang Ziming, you'll regret this."

Jiang Ziming replied reflexively.

"Wang Donger, I'm the captain."

"You..."

Wang Donger stamped her foot in anger, turned her head away, and huffed.

Soon, both teams stepped onto the competition stage.

The instant the audience saw Jiang Ziming's team's formation, the entire stands exploded.

The support-type Soul Master who had stood at the very back for the previous eleven matches—

Was now standing at the very front of the team!

Meanwhile, Wang Donger and Xiao Xiao behind him had instead taken two steps back, adopting a posture that said, "We're leaving it all to the captain."

"What's going on? That support-type Soul Master is playing the front line?"

"Has Jiang Ziming's team given up? They're putting a support-type at the front?"

"No way, I was hoping to watch little cutie Wang Donger fight..."

"I heard Jiang Ziming's carrot martial soul is pretty strong, but no matter how strong it is, it's still food-type. How can he fight a Soul Elder?"

"He probably knows he can't win and has decided to give up."

"It would be one thing if he didn't want to win himself, but he's dragging down two such rare beauties too. Seriously, what the hell."

On the other side of the stands, in front of the railing.

A female teacher with short purple hair approached Zhou Yi with a smile.

She wore a short purple dress with pantyhose underneath. Slim and tall, she had the look of someone eagerly waiting for a good show.

This was Mu Jin, the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class Nine.

She was also Zhou Yi's longtime rival.

"Oh, Teacher Zhou, your class's seeded team has quite a creative formation."

Mu Jin spoke with a grin, her tone full of mockery.

"Putting a support-type Soul Master in the front row—have they already given up resisting?"

Zhou Yi glanced at her but said nothing.

She merely turned her gaze toward the sword-wielding boy standing on the stage.

For some reason, her shapely legs wrapped in black stockings went slightly weak.

Then she slowly spoke, her tone calm yet carrying something Mu Jin failed to notice.

"Heh. You can only laugh for now."

"Oh?"

Mu Jin raised a brow, the smile on her face deepening.

"How about a bet, then? On the outcome of this match."

Zhou Yi turned her head to look at her.

"What are we betting?"

"A soul bone."

Mu Jin said it casually, as though victory was already assured.

Zhou Yi fell silent for two seconds, trying hard to suppress the corners of her lips.

"Sure. Just don't go back on your word."

On the stage.

Jiang Ziming stood at the very front of his team, calmly looking at the other side.

Three people stood opposite him.

At the head of their group was a girl with snow-white short hair.

Ning Tian wore a simple, elegant white combat outfit. Gentle and dignified in temperament, she was clearly a young lady from a prominent family.

She smiled at Jiang Ziming, a hint of curiosity and cool pride in her gaze.

Beside Ning Tian stood a red-haired girl.

That was her childhood companion and attendant, Wu Feng.

Wu Feng wore a short red combat outfit that exposed her firm, fair thighs. With her arms folded across her chest and her lips slightly pursed, she radiated undisguised arrogance.

She was sizing Jiang Ziming up and down, her gaze carrying a trace of disdain and provocation.

On the other side was a green-haired girl who appeared very quiet. She was slender, her eyes sharp as she vigilantly observed her surroundings.

Jiang Ziming withdrew his gaze and was about to say something when someone suddenly gave his waist a light pinch.

He turned his head in confusion and saw Wang Donger standing beside him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but she was not looking at him.

"The match is about to start, so why are you making eyes at the girls on the other side?"

There was a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.

"Are you trying to get them to go easy on you?"

Xiao Xiao leaned over as well and echoed her.

"Exactly! Ziming is just like his martial soul—a big flirtatious radish!"

Jiang Ziming looked at them speechlessly and reminded them.

"Don't forget the 'plan' from before the match."

Wang Donger and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance and fell silent.

The referee stood at the edge of the stage. After confirming that both sides were ready, he called out loudly.

"Both sides, state your names!"

The three on the other side spoke in turn.

"Freshman Class Nine, Wu Feng, level twenty-five assault-type Battle Soul Grandmaster!"

The red-haired girl's voice was loud, carrying the boldness unique to youth.

"Freshman Class Nine, Nanmen Yun'er, level twenty-four agility-type Battle Soul Grandmaster!"

"Freshman Class Nine, Ning Tian, level thirty-one support-type Tool Soul Elder!"

Ning Tian's voice was gentle and soft, yet it carried clearly across the entire arena.

A low murmur rose from the stands.

"Level thirty-one! She really is a Soul Elder!"

"Reaching the Soul Elder level as a freshman—she truly is from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..."

"Jiang Ziming's team is really in trouble now."

Next came Jiang Ziming's team.

"Freshman Class One, Wang Donger, level twenty-four assault-type Battle Soul Grandmaster!"

"Freshman Class One, Xiao Xiao, level twenty-two control-type Battle Soul Grandmaster!"

"Freshman Class One, Jiang Ziming, level twenty-four support-type Tool Soul Grandmaster."

Jiang Ziming's voice was calm and composed.