An Unexpected Pause

The last two teams finished their match.

Of the six contestants, only one was a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. The overall level of strength had finally returned to average.

Though the match had gone back and forth, it could no longer hold anyone else's interest. The four teams that had already competed had begun studying tomorrow's matchups.

The situation was clear now.

Dai Huabin's team, Xie Huanyue's team, and Lu Yi's team would advance to the next round without question. Only their exact win totals remained uncertain.

The team eliminated would come from the other three, most likely the one whose members all had just one ring.

In the cafeteria, Lu Yi's connection with Huo Yuhao had brought their two teams together at one large table: Lu Yi and his two teammates sat with Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.

With tomorrow's matches ahead, there were no cheap dishes on the table today. Even Huo Yuhao had gone out of his way to order a meat dish from the mid-priced counter.

They shared a table, but the moods of the two teams could not have been more different.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had only just formed a team with Xiao Xiao, but the teams in their assessment area were relatively weak, so they chatted and laughed.

Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan, meanwhile, looked weighed down by worry. Wang Dong grew curious.

"Hey, Zhou, why are you looking so dejected too?"

Wang Dong's cheeks bulged with food. She had long since thrown any image of a pampered young heir to the winds. She raised an eyebrow. "Did your match go badly today?"

Zhou Sichen stopped eating and was about to answer, but Cao Jinxuan beat him to it.

"Zhou was magnificent today. Trouble is, he fell in love with tomorrow's opponent."

At the hint of gossip, Xiao Xiao's large eyes lit up. She had eaten quietly from the start and still kept her head down, but her ears were pricked.

"Oh, shut up, Cao!"

Zhou Sichen angrily plucked a large piece of Soul Beast meat from Cao Jinxuan's tray and stuffed it into his mouth. "I was doing desensitization training, got it?"

"Talk all you want, but why steal my meat?"

Cao Jinxuan snatched a piece from Zhou Sichen's tray in revenge. "We agreed Lu Yi would handle Cui Yajie. You're supposed to focus on Dai Huabin. Don't go doing anything stupid!"

At that, Huo Yuhao's head snapped up. "Who did you just say?"

His reaction caught everyone off guard. Once he was sure he had heard correctly and it wasn't someone else with the same name, Huo Yuhao turned to Lu Yi.

"Lu Yi, tomorrow, you..."

He realized he was overstepping and changed course. "Be careful! I believe in you!"

Huo Yuhao wanted to tell them they had to beat Dai Huabin, no matter what. But he knew exactly how strong Dai Huabin was.

Dai Huabin had already become a Three-Ring Soul Elder before Huo Yuhao had even met Brother Sky Dream. Counting on Lu Yi to teach him a lesson was hardly realistic.

His own grudge was his to settle.

"I know."

Lu Yi's reply was mild. He knew about the bad blood between Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin.

He would beat Dai Huabin, but not to avenge Huo Yuhao. He simply did not want to lose.

The next morning.

In the first match, the winner of yesterday's first match would face the loser of the second.

"Xie Huanyue's team from Freshman Class Two versus Zhou Sichen's team from Freshman Class Nine."

As the referee finished speaking, both teams stepped onto the arena platform.

Xie Huanyue had lost yesterday, but he had managed to conserve his strength. Now he was fired up, determined to wash away the shadow of that defeat.

News had spread after yesterday's matches: only three students in this year's freshman assessment had reached the Soul Elder level.

By coincidence, he and Dai Huabin had been assigned to the same area. The third Soul Elder was also from Class Nine, but definitely was not on Zhou Sichen's team across from him.

On paper, then, his team—with two Soul Grandmasters alongside him—was stronger. He was confident of victory.

The teams introduced themselves and took their positions at opposite edges of the platform.

"Stick to the plan!" Lu Yi said from slightly behind Zhou Sichen.

"Don't worry!"

Zhou Sichen was fully alert, while Cao Jinxuan nodded.

As the match began, all six summoned their Martial Souls.

Unlike the others, Lu Yi kept his right hand behind his back. He showed only his Wand, not his Soul Rings.

Because of the nature of his Spells, Lu Yi could keep his Soul Rings hidden as long as he did not activate an enhancement.

The three opponents saw him hanging back again, just as he had yesterday. They froze for a beat, then anger crossed their faces.

"He dares look down on us? Tianba, I'll deal with that arrogant fool."

Luo Tianlong picked his target for the match at once, and all three charged.

The arena was a square just twenty meters to a side—not especially large. A few strides could carry someone across it.

Xie Huanyue had the defensive-type Beast Martial Soul Rubber Elephant. The Luo brothers, by contrast, were both agility-type fighters, and both wielded the same unusual Martial Soul: Mantis Blades.

They were unusual because the Mantis Blades grew from their arms like a mantis's forelimbs. They were neither ordinary weapon Martial Souls nor Beast Martial Souls.

All three moved the instant the match began. The Luo brothers swiftly swept around from either side, and Lu Yi's team spread out a little.

Xie Huanyue charged straight at Lu Yi's team. Each step of his massive body made the platform tremble faintly, yet he was not slow in the slightest.

Just as he reached the center, two Beast Spirits landed ahead of him, one on each side, blocking his path. Then they attacked.

Boom!

Xie Huanyue collided with the enormous yellow bear first. Against a Soul Beast with several hundred years of cultivation, he actually gained the upper hand.

But when the Blazing Flame Tiger joined the attack, fighting two at once slowed him down. He had no choice but to use his first Soul Skill, Elephant Body, and withstand the Blazing Flame Tiger's assault head-on.

Seeing this, Luo Tianba immediately changed the direction of his charge. The Mantis Blade on his arm snapped open with a clang, and he sprang high into the air, aiming for the Blazing Flame Tiger's flank.

Cao Jinxuan would not let him succeed. The Second Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and he activated his Soul Skill, Time Lock.

Luo Tianba froze in midair, plunged into a brief darkness.

"Lu Yi, now!"

Lu Yi cast two Impediment Jinxes, but neither struck Luo Tianlong. Thin as a pole and slippery as an eel, he dodged them both; they only slowed his advance a little.

Luo Tianlong was already closing in, but at the shout, Lu Yi cast Protego without hesitation. He then swung his Wand toward Luo Tianba in midair.

Against an armed opponent, Lu Yi naturally chose the Spell made to counter him.

"Expelliarmus!"

Crackle!

Red lightning shot from the tip of his Wand and struck Luo Tianba in an instant.

The Disarming Charm's knockback sent Luo Tianba flying to the edge of the platform.

Then Luo Tianlong's Mantis Blade struck Lu Yi's shield, scattering tiny sparks.

Lu Yi staggered slightly. There was no time to think. He hurriedly raised another shield against Luo Tianlong's storm of attacks.

A moment later, Cao Jinxuan's Soul Skill reached him, slowing Luo Tianlong.

Lu Yi finally spotted an opening. One yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, then swiftly shifted onto his Wand. Red currents were already gathering at its tip.

"First Soul Skill, Rampage—Ex..."

But just then, a piercing wail rang out. The referee's voice, amplified by Soul Power, followed immediately and forced Lu Yi to swallow the rest of his incantation.

"Match suspended!"