Holy Radiance Cross Slash.
Boom!
Dust billowed everywhere as Jiang Feng's cross-shaped blade of light struck Wang Yuanyuan's Giant Spirit God's Shield, sending her flying like a cannonball.
Still, Jiang Feng had held back on that final strike.
Wang Yuanyuan scrambled awkwardly to her feet and stared at Jiang Feng in shock. Then she said, "I lost."
Jiang Feng nodded and smiled. "Your shield is powerful."
"What good is that when I still couldn't beat you? But I won't give up. I'll challenge you again." Wang Yuanyuan's eyes brimmed with fighting spirit.
"Haha, anytime," Jiang Feng said with a laugh.
"The winner of this match is Jiang Feng," the referee announced loudly.
Ding! Battle concluded. The host has defeated a Fifth Order warrior. Calculating rewards. Congratulations! The host has received 500 system coins. Current balance: 2,500.
Jiang Feng returned to his seat. Lin Xin was about to say something when the referee called out.
"First round, second match: Lin Xin versus Sima Xian. Enter the arena."
Hearing their names, Jiang Feng's expression turned a little peculiar. He hadn't expected these two oddballs to meet after all.
"Brother Jiang, you're really strong!" Lin Xin gave Jiang Feng a thumbs-up, then turned and walked into the Trial Arena.
Jiang Feng was interested in the match between Lin Xin and Sima Xian, so he had no intention of leaving early.
Standing in the Trial Arena, Lin Xin watched the muscular brute striding toward him and immediately felt confused. Was this a priest or a warrior?
Is he a warrior dressed in priest's robes?
The referee said, "Since priests are not proficient in attacking, any priest participating in a match at this stage wins if they can last ten minutes. Begin!"
A normal priest's most important abilities were healing and support, so their combat strength was far below that of other professionals of the same order. This rule had been introduced for the Demon Hunt Squad finals to account for that.
But even with a priest as his opponent, Lin Xin had no desire to fight a real battle. Putting on an expression he thought looked handsome, he said, "Brother Sima, I placed first in the Magic Temple's Preliminary Round. Why don't you just surrender? My attacks are powerful. You won't be able to take them."
"I can take them."
"How?"
"I can take them."
"No, you can't. Just surrender. We might end up in the same Demon Hunt Squad someday, so let's not spoil our relationship."
"Surrender, my ass! I placed first in the Priest Temple's Preliminary Round too. Take this!"
Sima Xian's bulging muscles filled out even his loose priest's robes. He carried a jet-black iron rod in his hand-no, it was a staff.
A pale gold gemstone was set into the top of the staff, radiating a rich, sacred aura that confirmed his identity as a priest.
Lin Xin cursed inwardly. What a blockhead.
He took out his Fire Cloud Crystal Staff, and dense fire elements immediately spread outward. Even the air around him turned pale red.
Lin Xin pointed his Fire Cloud Crystal Staff, and a massive shield of flame materialized before him. Ten feet tall and five feet wide, it completely concealed his body.
A flicker of fervor flashed through Sima Xian's eyes. He raised his jet-black staff and smashed it down.
Bang!
The flaming shield shuddered and nearly shattered.
Sima Xian swung his massive staff up and down, soon smashing the fire shield in front of Lin Xin to pieces through sheer brute force.
Holy shit, this is a priest? Lin Xin's mind erupted into a storm of curses, his eyes widening to their limit.
"Hahaha!" Watching from below, Jiang Feng couldn't hold back his laughter.
These really were two fucking oddballs.
The other contestants watching the match were equally dumbfounded, as though their entire worldview had taken a blow.
The moment his fire shield shattered, Lin Xin hurriedly cast another Elemental Fire Shield.
Seeing this, Sima Xian raised his staff high. Light elements gathered furiously around the pale gold gemstone at its tip, quickly forming a massive hammer.
The Holy Light Hammer crashed into the Elemental Fire Shield with a thunderous boom, and both vanished at once.
Lin Xin's pupils contracted. With no time to dwell on his shock, he hastily released a ring of intense flame toward Sima Xian.
This was the Repulsion Flame Ring, a defensive skill that could drive opponents away.
But Sima Xian never followed the usual rules. His staff suddenly released a ring of white light, which collided with the Repulsion Flame Ring.
Holy Light Blast.
Yet another of the few offensive skills available to priests.
Sima Xian shattered the Repulsion Flame Ring with a single strike of his staff, then pressed his advantage, swinging the weapon fiercely as he smashed it toward Lin Xin.
His ferocity startled Lin Xin, but he could still handle it.
Flames continuously surged from the Fire Cloud Crystal Staff in his hand, forming three Elemental Fire Shields in succession before him.
Only then did Lin Xin taunt him. "Let's see you break through my defenses!"
Sima Xian scoffed. "Defenses, my ass! I'll smash every last one!"
With an explosive roar, he wielded his staff like a solid iron rod, bringing it crashing into the Elemental Fire Shields with tremendous force and occasionally unleashing a priest's offensive skill.
For a time, golden light pulsed incessantly through the Trial Arena as flames scattered everywhere.
Watching the scene, Jiang Feng laughed until his stomach hurt.
The battle raged in the arena, with insults flying back and forth, while the spectators below remained silent, exchanging speechless looks. The watching contestants were eerily quiet, making Jiang Feng's lone laughter stand out all the more.
The senior officials of the Knight Temple on the dais were also stunned. As far as they remembered, they had never seen a priest with this sort of fighting style.
But was this really a fucking priest?
He was simply a warrior dressed in priest's robes.
Unable to suppress a chuckle, Han Ci said, "Is this the oddball Cardinal Weak Water mentioned?"
Lin Xin kept replenishing his defensive shields. Seeing Sima Xian beginning to pant, he said smugly, "Hey, baldy, still got it in you? If not, surrender already. You'll never break through my defenses."
"Hmph. I'm attacking with physical strength. Sooner or later, I'll drain all your Spiritual Power," Sima Xian snorted.
Below the arena, Jiang Feng was grinning from ear to ear. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he vanished from his seat.
Even those whose attention had remained on the match noticed this and couldn't help feeling astonished. How had a living, breathing person suddenly disappeared?
On the dais, Han Ci had been watching not only the match but Jiang Feng as well.
Because of what had happened last time, he already knew Jiang Feng's identity: he was that great figure's disciple.
Indeed, even with Han Ci's current status, he would have to pay his respects as a junior upon meeting that mighty figure.
After watching Jiang Feng's match just now, he had been utterly astounded.
He had originally considered Yang Wenzhao the most likely contender to win this Demon Hunt Squad Selection Tournament, but now he had changed his mind.
Although Jiang Feng and Yang Wenzhao had never fought directly, judging by their performances in the tournament, Jiang Feng should have been stronger.
"Go see what happened," Han Ci said.
Jiang Feng's sudden disappearance puzzled him as well, so he sent someone to investigate the Spiritual Power fluctuations around the area where Jiang Feng had been sitting.
I've received quite a few tips from generous readers over the past two days, and I'm honestly a little embarrassed. So, since I can manage it today, I'll post an extra chapter as a token of my gratitude to you all.
Once again, thank you all for your tips and monthly votes.
Oh, and I've created a female lead. She hasn't appeared yet, so if you're interested, you can take a look in the book review section. If you have any suggestions, join the group and discuss them.
Before you continue