We'll Win

With a thunderous blast, the pitch-black mist Zhang Yangzi had spread out exploded and scattered.

Two fireballs streaked out with searing tails, following two entirely different trajectories.

Wang Jinxi threw his full strength into a punch against Tang Wuling, yet he could not even hold the clash for an instant. The force sent him staggering several steps back, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Chen An was not the only one with immense strength. Tang Wuling's strength had reached such a level as well.

However, having learned from being sent flying by Chen An, he did not force another confrontation and immediately retreated to widen the distance.

When a contest of strength did not work, he changed tactics.

He raised one hand overhead, and Zhang Yangzi, circling in midair, instantly understood his companion's intent.

With an agile twist of his body, he dodged the fireball Gu Yue sent after him and dove toward Wang Jinxi.

Zhang Yangzi grabbed Wang Jinxi and briefly lifted him into the air. Wang Jinxi's second Soul Ring lit up, partially turning his body ethereal to reduce his weight. The two circled half a turn in the air before suddenly changing direction and returning to the arena.

Zhang Yangzi hurled Wang Jinxi down like a missile falling from the sky.

Gu Yue raised an earthen wall in response, but something at that level was not enough to stop a Two-Ring Grand Soul Master.

Boom!!

The earthen wall shattered inch by inch, sending broken stones flying everywhere.

Wang Jinxi's first Soul Ring lit up. Swinging his Bone Dragon Claw, he tore through layer after layer of defenses and crashed heavily into the arena. The hard stone floor split apart, and fragments shot in every direction.

Gu Yue and Tang Wuling retreated to avoid the shockwave of his landing.

This move had indeed successfully torn apart their formation, but its cost was equally obvious.

Wang Jinxi had charged alone into the center of the arena, directly placing himself in the dangerous position of being attacked from both sides.

Tang Wuling released Bluesilver Grass to bind him. The instant she unleashed her martial soul, Wang Jinxi suddenly turned, abandoning Tang Wuling and charging straight at Gu Yue.

At the same time, Zhang Yangzi also rushed toward Gu Yue.

Just as Tang Wuling was about to chase after them and help, she suddenly froze.

A vast expanse of black mist spread through the sky again. The dark haze stretched across the arena, forcibly cutting off the space between Tang Wuling and Gu Yue.

Their division of labor was extremely clear: restrain one person and concentrate their firepower on defeating the other.

Gu Yue continuously retreated while repeatedly flinging fireballs from her palm, smashing them toward Wang Jinxi in an attempt to slow his charge.

The fireballs struck him, but their effect was negligible.

She immediately changed tactics, forming ice spheres at her fingertips and smashing them hard onto the ground beneath Wang Jinxi's feet.

Ice instantly spread upward, firmly freezing Wang Jinxi's feet in place.

Wang Jinxi immediately activated his soul skill. The flesh of his legs turned ethereal, allowing him to break free of the ice without slowing his offensive in the slightest.

His sharp Bone Dragon Claw, carrying several times its usual power, sliced through the stone platform and lunged at Gu Yue.

Gu Yue nimbly sidestepped, only to land directly in Zhang Yangzi's long-awaited attack path.

The Dark Phantom Eagle's second soul skill: Eagle Strikes the Sky.

He shot toward Gu Yue like a black arrow.

Yet Gu Yue merely cast a casual glance in Zhang Yangzi's direction.

Scorching red light, followed by gold, lit up around the girl. Intense golden-red flames blazed around her body.

"Elemental combination?" Ye Yingluo exclaimed in shock from below the stage.

Bang, bang—!

Explosions rang out. Zhang Yangzi emerged from the mist first, soaring into the air with dust on his face. Judging by his condition, he had likely interrupted his attack in time and escaped the blast.

"How could she counterattack under those circumstances...?"

At the same time, Wang Jinxi raised his hand to block the remaining fireballs, and the black mist around him was illuminated by the explosions.

With the black mist no longer concealing him, he turned around and discovered that Tang Wuling had already reached his back.

He faced Tang Wuling head-on once more.

Tang Wuling took a deep breath, the golden patterns on her arm becoming increasingly distinct.

Wang Jinxi swung his Bone Dragon Claw. When he collided with Tang Wuling for the second time, the ground beneath both of them shattered.

Wang Jinxi's expression changed. His opponent had not used her fist to meet him at all!

A golden dragon claw blocked his attack. Before he could even redirect the force, Wang Jinxi was sent flying dozens of meters by the overwhelming power, his body slamming heavily into the ground.

Zhang Yangzi folded his wings and landed beside Wang Jinxi, bending down to help him up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Wang Jinxi gritted his teeth and pushed himself up. "It just hurts a little."

He had not expected her strength to be even greater the second time.

The black mist completely dispersed. With dust staining their clothes, Gu Yue and Tang Wuling took their positions again, one in front and one behind, assuming guarded stances to face their opponents.

The crowd below cried out in alarm. They could clearly see dragon scales covering Tang Wuling's right arm, while her hand had turned into a dragon claw!

Cold sweat appeared on Ye Yingluo's forehead. "Golden scales and a dragon claw? What is that? Isn't Tang Wuling's martial soul Bluesilver Grass?"

Wang Jinxi looked at his teammate beside him and spoke quietly.

"Are we still going to keep fighting? I've already tested it. Her strength is above mine."

"They really are strong, but that does not mean we have no chance."

Zhang Yangzi furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on the two across from them as he continued trying to devise a strategy.

Just then, a figure stopped beside Zhang Yangzi.

Chen An looked at the two of them. "Your martial soul fusion skill is still immature and can easily go out of control. Forget it."

Zhang Yangzi was at a loss for words. "How did you kno...?"

"You've already done your best. You still can't win if you keep fighting. It's fine."

Chen An patted his shoulder.

"We'll win."

When the spectators saw Chen An, who had been watching the entire time, step forward, they began whispering among themselves.

"Damn, who's that? Why is he acting so smug?"

"I thought he was just standing in the back as a good-luck charm."

The students of Class One had seen Chen An fight before and had some idea of his abilities. Most of the others, however, knew nothing about the boy's true strength.

Chen An turned to Tang Wuling, his gaze questioning, as though seeking her permission. "Sister Wuling?"

Tang Wuling coughed twice and vigorously shook her head, trying her best to throw the scene from that morning in the room out of her mind.

"It's fine. We'll talk after the Class Advancement Tournament."

"Okay."

Just as Chen An was about to activate his martial soul, Tang Wuling immediately added, her eyes carrying a hint of gritted fury.

"No holding back. I still want to beat you up. You actually did that kind of thing to your sister without permission."

Chen An softly exhaled a breath of stale air and muttered helplessly.

"Didn't we agree to talk after the fight... And I already explained that I wasn't the one who made the clothes disappear..."

The noisy discussion beneath the arena abruptly stopped.

Everyone's eyes became firmly fixed on the arena.

Even Long Hengxu, serving as the referee, unconsciously lifted a hand to adjust his glasses, his pupils suddenly contracting.

"Th-That is!"

A purple Millennium Soul Ring rose from beneath Chen An's feet!

Even Wu Changkong, long accustomed to seeing geniuses, lowered his brows slightly, a ripple of emotion appearing on his face.

Nine years old, a commoner with no family background, and a Millennium Soul Ring.

Leaving aside a place like Shrek City, even at Eastsea Academy, only a small number of second- and third-year students possessed Millennium Soul Rings.

He had never seen that child's martial soul before.

What a strange aura.

Fine crimson scales emerged from Chen An's body. Obeying his will, they fell away one by one, floating in the air before gathering around his right arm and layering over it.

It was entirely different from the domineering style of Tang Wuling's golden dragon scales.

Ye Yingrong, Class Three's homeroom teacher, who stood beside Ye Yingluo, could not help turning her head, her face full of astonishment.

"A Millennium Soul Ring? Sister, you've been hiding such a formidable character under your wing? I never would have guessed. With that kind of setup, he could easily fight second-year students, right?"

Ye Yingluo herself looked utterly bewildered and shook her head with a bitter smile.

"If I said I didn't know either, would you believe me?"

"Huh?"