An Unexpected Twist! A Trap Within a Trap!

"What?!"

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone!

Only Meng Shenji wore a faint smile.

On the arena, Dugu Yan's expression changed drastically. Disbelief filled her face, and her earlier confidence crumbled in an instant.

"How is this possible?! You were poisoned and coughed up blood! How can you still use a Soul Skill, let alone unleash power that isn't yours?!"

Endless questions raced through Dugu Yan's mind.

And she was hardly the only one. Everyone inside and outside the arena was just as stunned.

The crowd fell dead silent. Their uproar stopped short as they stared at the arena, eyes wide with disbelief!

Yu Shuo's reaction was the starkest.

The ecstasy on his face froze, twisting into a look of shock and fury. He stared at Ning Chengyi, unable to accept what had just happened.

On the reviewing platform, all Three Education Committee Members were visibly moved!

Zhi Lin sat bolt upright, his eyes shining as he blurted out his praise.

"What exquisite restraint! What terrifying composure! He showed weakness to deceive his opponent while hiding his edge. Even I fell for it!"

Bai Baoshan's brow relaxed. Astonishment and approval flashed in his eyes, and he immediately abandoned his intention to stop the match.

Meng Shenji sighed softly. "He wove truth and deception together, concealing his edge behind a dull front. His temperament and tactical mind far surpass those of his peers. He's a monster."

"No wonder His Majesty and the Crown Prince have such faith in him and keep pouring resources into his development. So this is why."

The worry in Su Yao's eyes gave way to delight. She stared at the young man shining in the arena.

Then she turned instinctively toward Qin Ming, who stood silently nearby, her gaze openly challenging.

Qin Ming's eyes trembled, his face full of shock. His thoughts were in turmoil.

He had seen many geniuses, but this young Soul Master, only level seventeen, had astonished him. Never before had he encountered someone so composed and calculating.

The tide of the battle had completely turned!

Ning Chengyi's spear came down in a flash. Still reeling, Dugu Yan hurried to block it.

She was unprepared, and the question of why Ning Chengyi had not succumbed to the poison consumed most of her attention. She simply raised her arm to defend herself.

Boom!

Crack!

The collision unleashed a thunderous roar, followed by the sound of breaking bone.

"Ah!" Dugu Yan screamed in pain. The spear strike sent her flying out of the arena, blood soaking her clothes. Shock and bewilderment filled her eyes, but above all, she was confused.

"How dare you!"

At the side, fury blazed in Yu Tianheng's eyes. His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul erupted as though he were burning his very life away!

Lightning crackled. Violent blue bolts swept around him, and the pressure of a level thirty-seven Soul Elder crushed down on the entire arena. His terrifying draconic might shook everyone present!

"You hurt my clansman and toyed with Dugu Yan. I'll cripple you today!"

His feelings for Dugu Yan were obvious to all. Now the woman he loved had been gravely wounded by a single spear strike, adding fuel to his fury.

Yu Tianheng attacked in a rage. With help from his teammates, his dragon claw, wreathed in violent lightning, broke through Ye Heng's assault and struck straight at Ning Chengyi.

"Watch out!" Ye Heng and the others shouted in warning.

"Dugu Yan, that's not how you use poison!"

Ning Chengyi spat out another mouthful of blood. With a light flick of his spear tip, he picked up the Poison Butterfly Powder left by the Phantom Butterfly.

"First Soul Skill: Mystic Edge, Leveling Mountains!"

He unleashed a Soul Skill even more powerful than before.

This time, Ning Chengyi was better prepared. The Desolation-Suppressing God-Breaking Spear flashed coldly in his hands, its gleam surging like a dragon as it swallowed the dragon claw!

"An ant trying to shake a tree! You overestimate yourself!"

The dragon claw and spear collided. The violent impact shook the entire Soul Fighting platform.

Bang!

Both men flew backward. Ning Chengyi barely managed to stop at the edge of the platform. Blood streamed from the web of his hand around the spear shaft, and his body swayed as though he had exhausted every last bit of strength.

"Attack! What are you standing around for? Knock them out!" Leaning on his spear with one hand, Ning Chengyi straightened and glared fiercely at the Imperial Fighting Team.

"Charge!" Ye Heng shook off his shock and rushed toward Yu Tianheng, who seemed to have fared no better than Ning Chengyi.

Just then, a cool voice rang out.

"No matter how strong he is, he's at the end of his strength. And our Soul Power is higher than theirs. What are you afraid of?!"

"Yu Feng, Osler, do as we did before."

"I'll protect you!"

Everyone looked toward the girl standing at the rear.

She was the one who had spoken.

She slowly raised both hands, and a pink begonia flower quietly bloomed above them.

Its leaves and trailing stems spilled over her palms. Soft tendrils swayed in the breeze, their blossoms drooping gently.

A faint fragrance spread. Then a strange, petal-shaped white light gathered like a spotlight and descended, falling directly onto Yu Tianheng.

"Go!" Ye Lingling said coldly. The next second, another beam of light shone on Dugu Yan below the arena.

Their injuries healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even the arm Dugu Yan had used to block Ning Chengyi's Soul Skill healed miraculously. She could move it freely again.

The sight made the onlookers gasp. This support-type Soul Master's ability was simply incredible.

But Ning Chengyi smiled. He had seen the butterfly powder on Yu Tianheng drift along the light toward Ye Lingling and enter her body as she absorbed it.

"Golden Bell Flower, restore my Soul Power. Leave Yu Tianheng to me. We're ending this fight now!"

Ning Chengyi pointed at the female Soul Elder from the Heavenly Apex Class, his tone brooking no argument.

She immediately used her first Soul Skill, dispelling Ning Chengyi's fatigue.

I still have Soul Power. It's enough! Ning Chengyi muttered. He dragged his spear over to Ye Heng, the Desolation-Suppressing God-Breaking Spear throwing off sparks as it scraped across the platform with a sharp hiss.

"Hahaha! Ning Chengyi, I won't give you a chance to apologize!"

Yu Tianheng looked nearly mad. His face burned with humiliation.

A mere Soul Master had made a Soul Elder like him lose face so badly. It was an utter disgrace.

"Is that so?" Ning Chengyi suddenly smiled. Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he raised his right hand.

"One!"

"What's he doing? Why is he counting?"

"Did we miss something just now?!"

"Poison! He said Dugu Yan was using poison wrong. Did he poison her?"

The crowd exchanged looks and began to speculate.

Meng Shenji and the others frowned. They could not work out when Ning Chengyi had administered the poison.

They had seen everything that had happened—unless he had done it inside Dugu Yan's poisonous mist.

At the thought, shock flashed through their eyes.

Was this boy even human?

In that brief span of time, he had not only outwitted Dugu Yan but also planned to poison Yu Tianheng.

Such cunning and calculation were rarely seen among his peers!

"Three!"

As he called out the third number, Yu Tianheng's face twisted in agony. The crowd was stunned. Their expressions changed sharply, and they looked at Ning Chengyi with fear.

Even Dugu Yan, renowned for her mastery of poison, went pale. Fear filled her face, along with deep confusion!