Dai Mubai's voice drew Ning Rongrong's attention back. The middle-aged man dozing in the chair before them opened his eyes and swept his gaze over the four of them.
He was not tall, but his shoulders were as broad as a city wall, and his muscles looked cast from steel.
Ning Rongrong's gaze lingered on him for a moment.
Strong.
Very strong.
"All four of you are above Level 25. Not bad, not bad." Zhao Wuji rose from his chair and flexed his wrists. His bones cracked in a rapid series of pops. "I'm the final test. The four of you will work together and withstand my attacks for the time it takes one stick of incense to burn. If even one of you lasts until the end, you all pass."
Dai Mubai's expression shifted. "Teacher Zhao, isn't that a bit much?"
"What's wrong with it? The dean isn't here, so I'm in charge." Zhao Wuji produced a stick of incense and lit its tip with a flick of his fingers. "You have one stick of incense to discuss your strategy. Xiao Bai, tell them what I can do."
He planted the incense in the ground.
Dai Mubai pulled the four aside, his expression grave.
"Teacher Zhao's Martial Soul is the Mighty Vajra Bear. He's a Level 76 Soul Saint. He has no weaknesses to speak of, his defense is terrifying, and his attack power is even more extreme. At the academy, they call him the Motionless Bright King."
Xiao Wu blurted out, "Level 76?"
Tang San's pupils contracted too.
Ning Rongrong showed little reaction. She tilted her head, rapidly taking in the information.
A Level 76 Soul Saint. A Soul Ring Configuration of two yellow, two purple, and three black. All three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings were geared toward attack and defense.
He was still a level below her master Yang Xing at Level 90, but for four Soul Grandmasters in their twenties, the gap remained as vast as a chasm.
"Introduce yourselves and state your abilities. See how you can work together," Dai Mubai urged.
Tang San spoke first. "Tang San. Tool Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass. Level 29 Control-Type Battle Spirit Master."
Xiao Wu followed. "Xiao Wu. Beast Martial Soul, rabbit. Level 29 Power Attack System Combat Soul Master."
Zhu Zhuqing said coolly, "Zhu Zhuqing. Beast Martial Soul, Hell Spirit Cat. Level 27 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
Three pairs of eyes turned to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong smiled faintly, her voice gentle.
"Ning Rongrong. Tool Martial Soul, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Level 26 Auxiliary System Tool Soul Master."
She paused.
The expected shock appeared in their eyes. Tang San spoke first. "Your Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Then you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue. "Don't stare. I'm no different from anyone else. I snuck away from home."
Then she changed tack and lowered her voice.
"The two Soul Rings on my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can boost everyone's strength and speed by about thirty percent. Keeping it up for one stick of incense won't be a problem."
Her eyes curved with a hint of mystery.
"Besides, I have another ability."
Three pairs of eyes fixed on her.
"I can't tell you exactly what it is yet." Ning Rongrong raised an index finger and wagged it before her lips. "But don't worry. I may be Auxiliary System, but I have ways to protect myself. At critical moments, I can also provide some control and attack support."
Seeing the uncertainty on their faces, she added,
"So you don't need to go out of your way to protect me. Just fight without holding back."
Tang San studied her for two seconds, then nodded. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had deep foundations; it would be no surprise if she had some secret method for saving her life. They had only just met. He had no reason to press her.
"All right." Tang San quickly adjusted the plan. "Ning Rongrong will handle the boosts and decide for herself when to interfere and provide support. Xiao Wu will lead the attack. I'll control and restrain him, while Zhu Zhuqing harasses him from the flank."
Everyone nodded.
On the other side of the field.
"Boss Dai, three of these new students are girls, and they're all gorgeous."
Oscar had somehow sidled up beside Dai Mubai. His peach-blossom eyes nearly shone as his gaze swept back and forth over the three girls on the field.
"That Xiao Wu with the Scorpion Braid is cute and wild. She must look amazing in a fight."
His gaze moved to Ning Rongrong.
"And Ning Rongrong with the short hair—gentle, refined, and the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. What a presence."
His gaze shifted again.
"And Zhu Zhuqing, she's icy, but her figure is really—"
Thump!
A heavy fist landed on the back of Oscar's head.
"Ow!" Oscar crouched, clutching his head and wailing.
Dai Mubai withdrew his fist, warning plain in his mismatched eyes. "Zhu Zhuqing is mine. Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself."
Oscar looked ready to cry. "How was I supposed to know, Boss Dai? You could've told me earlier," he protested weakly.
He stood and rubbed the back of his head. His eyes darted about, and he soon worked out the situation from their positions on the field. Tang San and Xiao Wu stood noticeably closer to each other than to anyone else, and the glances they exchanged while speaking showed an unmistakable understanding.
Right. She's taken.
That left only Ning Rongrong.
Oscar puffed out his chest and declared to Dai Mubai, "Boss Dai, I'm going to win over Ning Rongrong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You already have Zhu Zhuqing, so don't compete with me."
Dai Mubai glanced at him sideways. "Fine. Suit yourself."
His mismatched eyes returned to the field. Zhao Wuji had already stood up.
"Finished discussing?" Zhao Wuji's booming voice carried over.
The stick of incense had burned to its end.
"We're ready," Tang San replied for the group.
Zhao Wuji lit another stick of incense and planted it in the ground.
Ning Rongrong moved first.
"Seven Treasures Turn, Glazed Light Emerges."
She spun lightly in place, releasing seven-colored light from her body. A seven-colored pagoda over a foot tall appeared in her right palm, and two Yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet.
"Seven Treasures Have a Name, First: Strength."
Three streams of colored light flew out, enveloping Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Seven Treasures Have a Name, Second: Speed."
Three more streams of colored light followed.
With his strength and speed both boosted by thirty percent, Tang San immediately felt his Soul Power surge like boiling water. His body felt lighter.
What a powerful boost.
Zhao Wuji noticed Ning Rongrong at once.
"Well, would you look at that. Someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," he muttered, a smile spreading across his face.
Then he moved.
He did not charge Tang San and the others. Instead, he bent his knees and slammed both fists into the ground.
An area attack.
His target was clear: cut off the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's support first.
"Watch out!" Tang San shouted. Blue Silver Grass shot out, wrapped around Xiao Wu's waist, and pulled her into the air. Zhu Zhuqing darted sideways, skimming past the shockwave rippling across the ground.
But Ning Rongrong—
Under everyone's gaze, an extremely faint glow appeared on the ground beneath her feet. The next instant, her body vanished into thin air.
She had not dodged.
She had disappeared.
With a soft whoosh, Ning Rongrong appeared five meters away and landed steadily.
Zhao Wuji's shockwave thundered across the spot where she had stood, throwing dust into the air. She was completely unharmed.
Off the field, Dai Mubai's eyes flew wide.
Oscar's mouth fell open in a perfect O.
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