Violet Lightning Golden Lion? Get past Ultraman Gaia first

"The team battle lineup's settled, Xiao Ran." Yan leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "You, me, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, Sun Chuantao, Zhang Ping, and Xu Yu. All seven of us."

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow. "A seven-on-seven team battle? Who are we up against?"

"The seven from Lingguang Class." Xie Yue walked over and slapped a sheet of paper onto the table.

"Shen Tian, level 48 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor, martial soul: Violet Lightning Golden Lion. Lin Yuehua, level 46 Control System Battle Soul Ancestor, martial soul: Illusory Moon Realm."

"Shen Tian and Lin Yuehua's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Violet Moon Illusion, trapped Yan and me for half an incense stick's worth of time last time. They'll definitely use it again." Xie Yue shook his head.

"Oh, so you want me to break the illusion." Xiao Ran sounded intrigued.

Xie Yue nodded. "Your mental strength is enough to keep you lucid inside the illusion. But a team battle isn't a duel. Shen Tian will definitely assign someone to watch you. He won't let you act freely."

For once, Yan cut in seriously. "Besides their captain, Shen Tian, and vice-captain, Lin Yuehua, they have two at level 45 and three at level 43. Their overall soul power is a notch below ours, but their teamwork is far better."

"Shen Tian usually applies pressure head-on, while Lin Yuehua controls the field from the rear. The others provide support." Xie Yue looked troubled.

Xiao Ran studied the formation diagram on the paper, tapping his fingers lightly against the table.

"I've got an idea!" Inspiration struck Xiao Ran.

"Let's hear it."

"First, give me thirty breaths after the match starts. Whatever I do, just keep Shen Tian and Lin Yuehua occupied."

Xiao Ran lifted his head. "Second, Senior Sister Hu Liena needs to stay close to me. I'll need her mental strength to assist me."

Xie Yue glanced at Yan.

"All right." Xie Yue nodded.

Xiao Ran grinned. "Then it's settled. For those thirty breaths, don't worry about what I'm doing. Just keep Shen Tian and Lin Yuehua busy. After that, leave it to me."

Yan looked at Xiao Ran, his mouth twitching. "You'd better not be bluffing. Shen Tian is level 48. Even Xie Yue and I can't guarantee a win against him head-on."

"Who said I'd fight him head-on?" Xiao Ran winked. "I have my ways."

Xie Yue fell silent for a moment. "Are you confident?"

"No," Xiao Ran admitted frankly. "But how will we know unless we try?"

"Then I'll have Sun Chuantao and the others tie up the rest." Xie Yue nodded again.

"What exactly should I do?" Hu Liena asked warmly.

"Senior Sister, I need you to immobilize Lin Yuehua for an instant." Xiao Ran looked at her.

Hu Liena nodded without asking anything more. "All right."

Yan folded his arms and looked at Xiao Ran. "What exactly are you planning?"

"You'll find out when the time comes." Xiao Ran leaned back in his chair, laced his hands behind his head, and gave them a mysterious smile.

Yan rolled his eyes. "Trying to be all mysterious."

Xie Yue stood and headed for the door. "Get some rest tonight. We've got a tough fight tomorrow."

The next day, at Spirit City's grand arena.

The arena was once again packed. The seven members of Lingguang Class stood on the eastern side of the platform, while the seven from the main school stood on the western side. Bibi Dong sat high in the seat of honor, with several Titled Douluos standing on either side of her.

After the referee loudly announced both lineups, discussion rippled through the stands.

"Angel Class's lineup has less soul power than Lingguang Class's."

"Angel Class brought someone called Xiao Ran this time. I heard he carried the whole match by himself a few days ago."

On Lingguang Class's side, Shen Tian stood front and center, with Lin Yuehua beside him.

Shen Tian looked at Xiao Ran with interest. "I heard you took down three members of Purple Star Class all by yourself yesterday. Interesting. Let's see how long you can last against my Violet Lightning Golden Lion!"

"Talk is cheap. We'll find out when we fight. A mere Violet Lightning Golden Lion? Go sit with that Fire Qilin I already beat!"

"You..." Seeing that his taunt had failed, Shen Tian prepared to fight.

The referee raised his hand and announced, "The finals of the Spirit Hall Elite Selection Tournament officially begin!"

The instant his words fell, Lin Yuehua raised her Illusory Moon Mirror high.

Silver light burst from the mirror and shot toward Zhang Ping.

"Zhang Ping!" Xie Yue called sharply.

Zhang Ping darted aside, fully activating her golden-waisted flying swallow martial soul. The silver light swept through where she had just stood, missing her.

At the same time, Xu Yu raised his Brilliant Gold Scepter. The golden gem at its tip lit up, and golden radiance spread outward, enveloping everyone in Angel Class. Their soul power began circulating faster.

"A support type?" Lin Yuehua frowned. "Take out the one with the scepter first!"

"Your opponent is me."

Xie Yue had already charged up to Lin Yuehua and slashed with both blades. She turned her Illusory Moon Mirror, blocking with silver light, but he was too fast. She was forced back several steps.

Then Shen Tian moved. His target was clear: Xiao Ran.

Shen Tian activated his martial soul. The phantom of a Violet Lightning Golden Lion appeared, and fierce violet lightning shot straight at Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran was tangled up with Chen Mo's dark crow and couldn't spare a hand.

"Xiao Ran!" Xie Yue tried to rush back to help.

"Stay back!" Xiao Ran shouted. "Keep your own side covered!"

The violet lightning claw was already upon him. Xiao Ran twisted aside, but it still grazed him. Violet lightning instantly surged into his body, leaving a scorched mark on his shoulder.

"Your mental strength is impressive, but what about your ability to fight head-on?" Shen Tian sneered, turning his violet lightning claw to sweep across Xiao Ran's waist.

"Hmph. Who told you I couldn't fight head-on?"

"Galaxy Fireball!"

Several enormous fireballs blasted toward Shen Tian. He neutralized some of their energy with his lightning power, but was still driven back.

"Not bad, kid. You really do have some skill," Shen Tian said with admiration.

"Pew!"

Lin Yuehua's Illusory Moon Mirror erupted with silver light again, forming a massive mirror in midair. It shattered, and seven images identical to Lingguang Class's members stepped out of the fragments and lunged at Angel Class.

"Mirror Clones?" Xie Yue slashed with both blades, cutting one image in half, but it re-formed immediately after shattering.

"It's useless." Lin Yuehua's voice carried a mocking edge. "The Mirror Clones can't die or be destroyed. As long as the Illusory Moon Mirror remains intact, they'll keep you occupied forever."

Sun Chuantao swept his Ring-Bladed Greatsword across, shattering three images with a single slash, but they re-formed in the blink of an eye.

"Xiao Ran!" Hu Liena shouted as she fended off the images. "The Illusory Moon Mirror! Break it!"

Xiao Ran knew perfectly well that he needed to break the Illusory Moon Mirror, but Shen Tian gave him no opportunity. The violet lightning claws hounded him relentlessly, each strike carrying numbing electricity that forced him onto the defensive.

"Your mental strength is powerful, but your soul power is too weak." Shen Tian pressed forward relentlessly. "Level 37? How do you expect to break the Illusory Moon Mirror?"

"Xiao Ran! Take this!"

A beam of golden light shot from Xu Yu's Brilliant Gold Scepter and sank into Xiao Ran's body, instantly restoring a portion of his soul power.

"Thanks!"

Xiao Ran slapped Shen Tian's claw aside, using the force to retreat several steps and put some distance between them.

"Damn it, I wanted to play a little longer, but you just had to force me to use this!"

"Senior Ultraman Gaia, lend me your power of light!!!"