Five-Streak Unsurpassed

"What is this trajectory...?"

Thinking of something, Zhou Yi leaped into the air and looked down at the arena from above.

This time, she saw it clearly.

"It really is a staff! If the paths traced by Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Quelling Cauldron each time it flashes were drawn out, they would form a melody. It looks like she's using the Three Lives Soul-Quelling Cauldron to fight, but it's actually a sound formation." Zhou Yi's theoretical knowledge was indeed quite impressive.

She had guessed correctly. This was a sound formation.

It was a sound formation recorded in the Su Lü Heart Sutra, and also one of the Heavenly Sound Sect's most commonly used combat methods.

The Heavenly Sound Sect had three cultivation methods, while sound formations had twenty-four variations.

They were the "Meng Chun Six Melodies," "Midsummer Six Melodies," "Late Autumn Six Melodies," and "Cold Winter Six Melodies."

Each season had six melodies. The "Meng Chun Six Melodies" were Start of Spring Melody, Rain Water Melody, Awakening of Insects Melody, Spring Equinox Melody, Clear and Bright Melody, and Grain Rain Melody.

Only after fully mastering these six melodies could one cultivate the Su Lü Heart Method to great completion.

Next came the "Midsummer Six Melodies": Start of Summer Melody, Grain Full Melody, Grain in Ear Melody, Summer Solstice Melody, Minor Heat Melody, and Major Heat Melody.

After fully learning them, one could advance the cultivation method and begin cultivating String Sound Formlessness.

By the same principle, the highest-level Absolute String Heavenly Sound required mastery of all twenty-four melodies before one could cultivate it.

Xiao Xiao had now learned Start of Spring Melody and Rain Water Melody. She was studying Awakening of Insects Melody, and her Su Lü Heart Method had achieved minor success.

The sound formation she had laid down with the Three Lives Soul-Quelling Cauldron was the Start of Spring Melody Formation.

Xiao Xiao kept Yuwen Tuo's teachings firmly in mind and silently recited the formula.

"Gong belongs to the throat sound, its Five Element is earth. It is the first of the five tones and governs defense;

"Shang belongs to the teeth sound, its Five Element is metal, and it governs slaughter;

"Jue belongs to the molar sound, its Five Element is wood, and it governs control.

"Zhi belongs to the tongue sound, its Five Element is fire, and it governs strength;

"Yu belongs to the lip sound, its Five Element is water, and it governs concealment."

When the Soul-Quelling Cauldron appeared at the gong position on the score, its defensive power was astonishing. The three opponents' successive attacks were all blocked by the Soul-Quelling Cauldron.

When it appeared at the jue position, the Soul-Quelling Cauldron let out a series of thumps. Musical symbols twisted around the three of them like chains, binding their limbs.

Finally came the shang position. The Three Lives Soul-Quelling Cauldron split into three.

With a thunderous boom, the force of the vibration echoed throughout the entire venue.

In an instant, the three opponents seemed to suffer mental collapse. Their eyes rolled white as their bodies were sent flying, all the way out of the arena.

Xiao Xiao clapped her hands with a giggle. "Hehe, done!"

The teacher hurried forward to examine them and found that the three had merely fainted. Xiao Xiao had shown mercy and had not injured their souls, so he immediately announced, "The match is over. Team Yuwen Tuo wins!"

"Well done, Xiao Xiao!" Yuwen Tuo could not help giving Xiao Xiao a thumbs-up. Her talent was truly impressive.

In such a short time, she had become so proficient with Start of Spring Melody.

He had basically won this one without lifting a finger, but it did not matter. He would just count it as being carried by a girl.

In any case, they had smoothly cleared the first match of the New Student Competition and claimed first blood!

Tuo Tuo praised me! I'm so happy! Xiao Xiao's heart brimmed with joy, but on the surface, she said arrogantly, "Hmph, what's so impressive about that? I haven't even used Rain Water or Awakening of Insects yet. The opponents were too weak—they couldn't even withstand my first sound formation."

Yuwen Tuo stepped forward and rubbed Xiao Xiao's hair. "Alright, the competition has only just begun. You'll have plenty of chances to show off later. Since we got off to a winning start today, I'll celebrate by cooking dinner for you myself. Classmate Lian Yue, would you like to join us?"

After all, they were teammates, so Yuwen Tuo naturally would not forget Lian Yue.

Xiao Xiao grabbed Lian Yue's arm and laughed. "Yueyue, come with us! Tuo Tuo's cooking is delicious—at least a hundred times better than the class monitor's grilled fish. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

Lian Yue suddenly understood. "Classmate Yuwen can cook? No wonder you've gained at least five or six pounds over the past three months, Xiao Xiao!"

"Rubbish, when did I?" Startled, Xiao Xiao immediately checked her waist. It was still a slim little waist, but she still looked worriedly at Yuwen Tuo. "Tuo Tuo, have I really gained weight?"

Yuwen Tuo nodded honestly. "A little."

"What? Then I'm not eating today. I'll go on a hunger strike to show my resolve to lose weight!" Xiao Xiao declared firmly.

Yuwen Tuo glanced at the little loli, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I was planning to make my specialty today: mapo tofu combining the six flavors of numbing, spicy, fragrant, crisp, tender, and fresh, along with braised pork that's soft and tender, rich but never greasy. Since you don't like it, Classmate Lian Yue and I will enjoy it ourselves."

"Gulp!" Xiao Xiao swallowed involuntarily. Just hearing Yuwen Tuo's description, she could imagine how delicious it would be.

"Tuo Tuo, you're awful! Fine, I'll give you face today. I'll fill up first today, so I'll have the strength to lose weight tomorrow." Xiao Xiao immediately hurried after the two of them.

The three walked down from the stage, and everyone else instinctively made way for them.

Xiao Xiao's performance had simply been too dazzling. She had easily defeated three opponents alone. They all knew that the strongest person on this team had to be the captain, Yuwen Tuo, yet the team was already this formidable before he had even acted.

This team was clearly not to be underestimated.

"Oh, so that's Xiao Xiao? The little girl rumored to have something going on with Yuwen Tuo. She really is quite adorable. Though she hasn't fully grown into her looks yet, she's clearly a beauty in the making. She'll definitely become exceptionally lovely in the future!" In the upper stands, a beautiful woman stood with her arms crossed and spoke with a smile.

This person was Ling Luochen.

Out of concern for Yuwen Tuo, she had specifically come to watch the match. She also wanted to see Xiao Xiao while she was here.

Just as the rumors said, one glance was enough to tell that Xiao Xiao liked Yuwen Tuo.

Ling Luochen was not angry or jealous. After all, she currently regarded Yuwen Tuo only as a younger brother.

What worried her was that when Ma Xiaotao emerged from seclusion and saw this, she might go mad again.

When that happened, Ling Luochen might have to stop her. In Ling Luochen's view, compared to Ma Xiaotao—who was domineering, unreasonable, and had brought Yuwen Tuo six years of suffering—Xiao Xiao was more capable of making Yuwen Tuo happy.

He had already suffered enough during his first twelve years. Shrek had wronged him—did they intend to destroy the happiness of the rest of his life as well?

Ling Luochen decided that she would no longer let Ma Xiaotao do as she pleased. Although she knew she was no match for Ma Xiaotao, she was not afraid of a fight.

The next day, the competition continued. This time, Xiao Xiao did not make a move, because it was Yuwen Tuo's turn to fight.

The opposing team was also composed of two Soul Grand Masters and one Soul Master, but their strength was far too inferior to Yuwen Tuo's.

"Slash!" Yuwen Tuo swung his blade, and flames surged from it as though tearing apart the heavens and sweeping away the clouds.

Sword cultivators had always been known for possessing the strongest attack power among those of the same rank. In truth, blade cultivators were not inferior in the slightest—and they were even more domineering.

The three opponents could not withstand Yuwen Tuo's blade force and were all sent flying in an instant.

Two-streak breakthrough.

Then—

"Profound Sun Blazing Flame Finger!"

Three-streak victory.

"Watch this, Cauldron's Tremor!"

Four-streak extraordinary.

"Wildfire Spreads the Plains Stance."

Five-Streak Unsurpassed.

After five matches, Yuwen Tuo's group stood far ahead of the other teams with a perfect record. In every match, only one of Yuwen Tuo or Xiao Xiao had acted, at most with a Ruyi Plate supporting them from behind.

Such a powerful team had essentially secured first place in District Twenty-One. This would allow them to enter the elimination rounds as a seeded team.

It would also prevent them from running into strong teams from other districts right from the start.

Yuwen Tuo knew that the elimination rounds were where the real Freshman Competition began.