The Finale

Shui Bing'er glanced at Wu Changkong and hesitated. "Isn't two against one unfair? Xue Wu and I are both Soul Elders. Two against one..."

"It's fine," Wu Changkong interrupted. "Come at me with everything you've got."

"But..."

Xue Wu reached over from beside her and patted Shui Bing'er's shoulder. "No more buts. He already said it's fine."

"Besides, Bing'er, are you afraid he can't beat us, or are you afraid we'll hit too hard and hurt him?"

Shui Bing'er's cheeks reddened slightly, but her expression quickly returned to its usual cool composure.

"Then that's settled."

Shui Qinghan nodded and stepped back into the line of teachers.

Ling Shuang resumed control and brought out a red lottery box from behind her, placing it on the stone platform at the edge of the Spirit Battle Platform.

"You three, step out first and wait to the side." Ling Shuang pointed at Wu Changkong, Shui Bing'er, and Xue Wu.

"Other than you three, the support-type Soul Masters should step out as well. You'll be randomly assigned to the battle groups."

"Everyone else, come draw lots for your groups."

Wu Changkong stepped out as instructed, with Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu standing on either side of him.

Several support-type girls also left the line and stood in the waiting area Ling Shuang had designated.

The remaining fourteen battle-type Soul Masters approached the lottery box one by one, each reaching in to draw a slip of paper.

Numbers were written on the slips. The two who drew the same number would be opponents.

Shui Yue'er unfolded her slip and found a neat, upright "3" written on it.

She looked up just in time to meet Shen Liuyu's calm eyes.

Shen Liuyu was turning her own slip around to show her. It also bore a "3."

Shui Yue'er's expression instantly became quite colorful.

Shen Liuyu, Martial Soul: Enamel Fortune Crocodile. A power-attack type, her defense and frontal impact were among the best in the class.

Yu Hairou had drawn "6," and her opponent was Gu Qingbo.

Coral Barracuda versus Blue-Scaled Sailfish, agility attack versus power attack.

Yu Hairou herself eagerly rolled her wrists and grinned at Gu Qingbo. "Qingbo, go easy on me later."

"Sure."

The other groups were soon decided as well. Qiu Ruoshui faced a girl named Xu Keke, whose Martial Soul was Turtle Shield—defense type versus power-attack type.

The highlight of this match would be whether Qiu Ruoshui could break through Xu Keke's shield.

And whether Xu Keke could hold on through her defense until Qiu Ruoshui exhausted her Soul Power and stamina.

Once the drawing was over, Ling Shuang picked up her clipboard and quickly recorded every matchup, then beckoned to the support-type Soul Masters.

"You lot, come over and draw one each."

"The number on your slip is the battle group of the battle-type Soul Master you'll support."

"After drawing, the two support-types in each group can discuss among yourselves which side each of you will assist."

The drawing was soon complete.

"Alright, the groups are set."

Ling Shuang closed her clipboard and swept her gaze over everyone. "Take the stage in numerical order. Groups with support-types will fight two against two."

She paused, then looked toward the three standing in the waiting area. "As for you three, you'll be the finale."

Wu Changkong thought to himself, The teacher certainly knows how to build suspense.

Put the strongest match at the end, let everyone watch the first three rounds to build their emotions and expectations to the peak, then send the three strongest people in the class onto the stage.

The first match, between two power-attack Soul Masters, was fairly conventional. Both were level twenty-two, with one possessing an Ice Wolf Martial Soul and the other a Fire Ape Martial Soul. They exchanged frontal blows for nearly three minutes.

In the end, the Fire Ape Soul Master gained a slight edge through elemental suppression and superior reserves, winning the match.

"Third group, Shui Yue'er versus Shen Liuyu."

Shui Yue'er skipped her way from the waiting area onto the Spirit Battle Platform.

She stopped in the center of the stage and flashed Shen Liuyu a grin, revealing a row of neat white teeth.

"Sister Liuyu, go easy on me later. Don't flatten me—I won't look good flattened."

"Don't worry. I'll flatten you a little more gently."

"Both sides, prepare." Ling Shuang raised her right hand.

Shui Yue'er took a deep breath and put away her playful expression.

Her hands came together loosely before her as a dolphin Martial Soul appeared behind her. The air around the entire Spirit Battle Platform grew several degrees more humid.

Lustrous Jade Dolphin, an agility-attack beast Martial Soul—a speed-based assassin.

Shen Liuyu released her Martial Soul at the same time. The phantom of a massive crocodile covered entirely in dark teal scales emerged behind her.

The crocodile had a thick, powerful body, and two rows of sharp teeth showed within its gaping jaws.

Enamel Fortune Crocodile, a power-attack beast Martial Soul with astonishing defense and frontal impact among the best in the class.

"Begin!"

As Ling Shuang's words fell, Shen Liuyu attacked first. Her first Soul Ring lit up, and her right arm became covered in a layer of dark teal scales as she threw a punch at where Shui Yue'er stood.

Shui Yue'er's figure swayed, and she slid several feet sideways as though borne by rippling water, barely evading the punch.

Shen Liuyu's fist struck the stone floor with a dull, thunderous boom.

"You're pretty quick."

Shen Liuyu turned and gave chase. Her movement speed wasn't slow, but compared to agility-attack type Shui Yue'er, she was clearly a little slower.

Shui Yue'er moved like a fish weaving through aquatic grass, dodging left and right across the Spirit Battle Platform.

Shen Liuyu's several pursuits were narrowly evaded, yet Shui Yue'er's attacks against Shen Liuyu's scaled defense were like raindrops striking stone, barely inflicting any real damage.

Below the stage, in the waiting area.

Shui Bing'er said, "Liuyu's defense is too thick. Yue'er's attacks can't penetrate her scales."

"It's normal that she can't," Xue Wu said with her arms folded. "Shen Liuyu's Enamel Fortune Crocodile is a defense-oriented power-attack type to begin with. In a frontal clash, no one in our class is confident they can break her defense with a single strike aside from your Ice Phoenix and someone's Skyfrost Sword."

"But Yue'er is an agility-attack type. When agility attacks defense, the contest isn't about whose fists are harder. It's about whose patience runs out first."

Shui Bing'er frowned slightly. Of course she understood that, but understanding was one thing. Watching her little sister get chased around the stage by Shen Liuyu still made her heart tighten involuntarily.

Just as Shui Yue'er brushed past Shen Liuyu's fist wind for the third time, Wu Changkong suddenly spoke. "Yue'er is about to win."

Shui Bing'er turned to look at him, surprise flashing through her eyes. "How can you tell?"

Xue Wu also tilted her head curiously, her gaze scrutinizing.

She felt Shui Yue'er had a chance, but only a chance.

So far, Shui Yue'er hadn't caused Shen Liuyu any substantial damage, while Shen Liuyu's defense remained as solid as an iron fortress.

"Watch Liuyu's footwork." Wu Changkong slightly raised his chin, signaling for them to watch Shen Liuyu's movement rhythm onstage.

The moment he finished speaking, Shui Yue'er suddenly changed the way she moved.

She no longer simply retreated and dodged. Instead, she began circling Shen Liuyu at high speed, her footwork growing faster and faster.

Shen Liuyu kept turning with her movements, until she was almost dizzy.

This was exactly the moment Shui Yue'er had been waiting for.

"First Soul Skill, Wind-Treading Water-Shadow Step."

"Second Soul Skill, Dolphin Surfing."