Semifinals

Huang Chutian Team, Glorious Even in Defeat

No one would underestimate the sisters Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo. Their strength had already qualified them for the treatment of core disciples.

Many believed that Class Nine had not truly been a match for Class Seven. They had only won by luck, with lightning happening to counter the Heavenly Net.

The newcomer Wang Xiao was fairly strong, but not strong enough to overpower a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. In the end, he was merely a one-ring Blue Silver Grass Soul Master.

Without the Soul Power boost from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he would likely have exhausted his Soul Power long ago.

Everyone present felt that if their own teams faced Class Seven, they would not have had much confidence in victory. But against Wang Xiao's team, they did not believe they would lose.

Still, they had to thank the newcomer Wang Xiao for clearing out a formidable opponent for them.

Zhang Lexuan pondered, "Although the three of them have been eliminated, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo's talent..."

She wondered whether she should submit a report. Those two gifted girls might someday become pillars of Shrek Outer Court!

The match ended.

Wang Xiao carried the unconscious Wufeng back to the lounge.

Ning Tian immediately hurried over, filled with worry.

Mu Jin examined Wufeng's body, then breathed a sigh of relief. "She's fine. Her Soul Power is simply depleted, and she only suffered some superficial injuries. Stay here and watch over her. I'll go find a healing Soul Master."

"She should make it in time for tomorrow's match."

"Teacher, there's no need to go."

Wang Xiao called out to stop him. Mu Jin turned back in confusion, waiting for an explanation.

"Don't forget, I'm a healing Soul Master too."

He activated his soul skill and condensed a small golden-green tree, placing it in Ning Tian's hands.

"Have her eat a few leaves, and she'll wake up."

Ning Tian's expression was complicated as she looked at Wang Xiao, her gaze full of concern. After such an intense battle, how much Soul Power could he possibly have left?

Yet he was still willing to go this far for Wufeng.

Perhaps this was the bond her father had spoken of.

Only now did Mu Jin fully believe that Wang Xiao was determined to pursue the support and healing path. He no longer took it as a joke.

If one only confined oneself to the control system and never tried, how could one reach things beyond one's understanding?

Perhaps this disciple of his could truly lead Blue Silver Grass down an entirely new path.

After resting for a night, the three entered the elimination rounds the next day.

Wang Xiao watched Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao's entire match.

Because of his inadvertent interference, the two had only become friends. It was basically impossible for them to trigger their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Even so, Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao remained exceptionally powerful and did not fall behind against opponents of the same level.

Combined with Huo Yuhao's clairvoyant support, they won another match.

"Even without a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Dong'er and the little girl should be able to reach the finals with their abilities," Wang Xiao muttered.

After all, the Lan sisters, one of the strongest teams, had already been eliminated by him yesterday.

Among the remaining powerful teams, only Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu's team remained.

In today's elimination round, Wang Xiao's group did not encounter another powerful opponent like yesterday's.

It was merely a team with two Soul Grandmasters.

On the field, Wang Xiao barely had to make a move. With Ning Tian's support, Wufeng alone was enough to fight two opponents.

He only needed to deal with their support-type Soul Master.

By the end of the match, Wang Xiao had only provided several instances of Blue Silver Emperor control to secure victory. He had not used a single spell.

Unlike yesterday, when he had nearly revealed all his trump cards and still won with great difficulty.

"I announce that the winners are Wang Xiao's team from Freshman Class Nine!" Zhang Lexuan called out loudly.

Ning Tian smiled. "If we win one more match, our team can advance into the top sixteen."

"Young mistress, no matter what opponents we face, I will protect you," Wufeng said, her gaze brimming with affection.

Beside them, Wang Xiao looked from one to the other. Better respect personal sexual preferences.

Over the next three days, Wang Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wufeng did not encounter Dai Huabin's team. With Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo eliminated, there were no more powerful opponents among the remaining teams.

Their coordination was not especially seamless, but their strength was there. They charged ahead all the way, smoothly winning two matches and advancing into the quarterfinals.

Day Three

The three were matched against a team composed entirely of Soul Grandmasters, the strongest team they had encountered aside from Huang Chutian Team.

With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's boost, Wufeng's strength, speed, and Soul Power increased by forty percent, making her exceptionally formidable.

With her combat experience, she could hold her own against two opponents. But against three assault-type Soul Masters, even two fists could not defeat six hands.

Wang Xiao was responsible for control. Gradually, he realized the problem before his eyes. A Martial Soul with a Millennium Soul Ring seemed insufficient against the fierce assault of three attack-type opponents.

Even though the Blue Silver Emperor was far superior in quality to Blue Silver Grass, its golden vines could only hold the three back for a moment before they were ultimately destroyed.

Wufeng struggled even against two opponents, let alone three.

In the end, Wang Xiao had no choice but to reveal his trump card again to win the match.

That match exposed the weakness of their team: they lacked combat power.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was certainly powerful, but support-type Soul Masters could actually display their advantages better when paired with two assault-type Soul Masters.

"If I only had the Blue Silver Emperor and no spells, then no matter how much potential my Martial Soul had, I might have lost in the first match. I definitely couldn't have won today."

Wang Xiao reflected that possessing Twin Martial Souls did not mean he could rest easy.

Soul Power cultivation would always rank above talent.

Of course, that was only under the premise that he had a single Spirit Ring. If he had two rings, things might be different.

"What a pity. I only reached level twenty the day before the freshman assessment. There wasn't enough time to absorb a Spirit Ring."

In truth, even if there had been enough time, he could not have absorbed his second Spirit Ring.

His physical strength was still insufficient and required a great deal of time to improve.

Wang Xiao had a feeling that he had a high chance of breaking through the limit and absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring at level twenty.

That would require tremendous perseverance and refinement.

After all, no one could accept their strength stagnating.

While he remained in place, constantly tempering his body.

His peers would already be Soul Elders or even Soul Ancestors. That was why no one on the continent did something so foolish.

Wang Xiao believed he could afford to wait, and it might not necessarily take a great deal of time.

"There's nothing wrong with blindly developing according to recorded theories, but the outcome is beyond doubt: you'll be no different from everyone else."

"If you want to be stronger than Soul Masters at the same level, talent alone isn't enough. You also need inspiration to carve out the path best suited to yourself."

As for hard work?

Wang Xiao had never believed that putting in ten times the effort would let someone surpass a genius. If that were true, what was the point of Innate Soul Power?

Everyone had the same amount of time. Did others not work hard too?

"Wang Xiao, since we have some free time, how about we go watch the others' matches?" Ning Tian and Wufeng finished resting and called for him to join them.

In any case, cultivating during this last bit of time would be meaningless.

Having already entered the semifinals, the worst they could place was third. The two relaxed.

"Sure, let's go together."

Wang Xiao went with them to the competition area, intending to watch Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao's match as well.

They had entered the semifinals, while Huo Yuhao's team had not yet fought and was still outside the quarterfinals.

When the three arrived at the waiting area, they heard an argument.

Ning Tian and Wufeng looked over in surprise. It was actually the three of them arguing.

With a major battle imminent, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao had gotten into a dispute.

Wang Xiao walked over and asked, "Weren't you three working together pretty well? What are you arguing about?"

Seeing that he had arrived, Wang Dong'er crossed her arms and snorted coldly, saying nothing.

Huo Yuhao's face was flushed and his neck red. When Wang Xiao came over, he also fell silent.

Clearly, those two had been arguing the most fiercely.

The little girl Xiao Xiao looked aggrieved and deeply blamed herself. This matter had started because of her.

"It's all my fault. The class monitor and Wang Dong only argued because of me. It's all my fault."