Dozens of slender yet tough branches instantly sprouted from the broken ends, spreading like a spiderweb.
In the blink of an eye, they tightly bound his swinging hands, wrapping his arms firmly along with them.
"What?!"
Tuoba Yu's pupils contracted sharply. He struggled hard a few times, only to find that the branches tightened further.
They bit into his arms like steel cables, refusing to budge no matter how much strength he exerted.
Su Yu stood opposite him, his fingertips moving slightly as he controlled the wooden strips, making them extend farther.
Not only did they bind Tuoba Yu's arms, but some branches also wound their way up his legs, firmly locking his lower body in place.
"You're strong, but you're not good at dealing with restraints this close to your body."
Su Yu's calm voice rang out. "No matter how high the White-Armored Earth Dragon's defense is, once it's tied up, it's just a target."
Shocked and furious, Tuoba Yu circulated his Soul Power madly, trying to draw on the White-Armored Earth Dragon's strength to snap the wooden strips.
But Su Yu's Wood Release seemed to form some sort of counterbalance with his Soul Power. Whenever he exerted himself, the wooden strips sprouted new branches to reinforce the restraints, displaying astonishing toughness.
"Damn it!"
Tuoba Yu roared in fury, the scales covering his body blazing with light. He tried to use Dragon Might Suppression against Su Yu, only to discover that his opponent's gaze remained calm, completely unaffected.
Looking at Tuoba Yu, who was wrapped up like a rice dumpling, Su Yu raised his hand gently. "Thank you for the match."
Seeing this, the referee announced loudly, "Su Yu wins!"
Tuoba Yu stopped struggling. Looking at the dense mass of wooden strips around him, a trace of reluctance appeared on his face, but it finally turned into a bitter smile.
Su Yu withdrew his Wood Release. Tuoba Yu moved his somewhat numb arms, looking at Su Yu with a little more admiration. "Your Wood Release really is impressive."
With that, he turned and walked off the platform. Though his retreating figure looked a little forlorn, his back remained straight.
Below the platform, Hu Liena approached with a smile and handed Su Yu a bottle of water. "Brother Su Yu, congratulations!"
Su Yu took the water and looked at her. "Next, it's the two of us."
A hint of anticipation flashed through Hu Liena's eyes, and she nodded vigorously. "Yes! I won't admit defeat easily!"
The sunset's lingering glow spilled across the platform, stretching their shadows long. The war drums of the finals had already sounded.
"The final individual Soul Fighting match of the Freshman Competition: Su Yu versus Hu Liena! Who will claim the top spot? Let's wait and see!"
Su Yu and Hu Liena walked onto the platform. The Spirit Hall higher-ups seated on the raised stand were full of anticipation for this final match.
After all, both of them were the Pope's disciples!
"Nana, come on! You attack first!"
"All right! Since you put it that way, Brother Su Yu, I won't hold back!"
Hu Liena skipped toward Su Yu as her Demon Fox Martial Soul slowly materialized behind her.
"First Soul Skill: Demon Fox Charm!"
Hu Liena activated her first Soul Skill, Demon Fox Charm. Pink radiance swirled in her eyes, bearing a powerful mental assault straight toward Su Yu.
Su Yu's eyes half closed. When he opened them again, a trace of blood-red had appeared in his dark pupils.
A single black tomoe quietly emerged-it was his One-Tomoe Sharingan.
The instant the pink radiance touched his eyes, it seemed to be crushed by an invisible force, unable to penetrate in the slightest.
Meanwhile, Hu Liena felt the scene before her change abruptly. The surrounding Martial Arts Arena disappeared, and she found herself inside a magnificent palace.
Carved beams and painted pillars surrounded her, with brocade curtains hanging high overhead and a familiar incense filling the air.
The palace doors opened gently, and a handsome man in casual clothing walked slowly toward her.
His features bore a gentle smile she knew all too well. He looked exactly like a grown-up Su Yu.
"Your Highness Nana, you've returned." The man's tone was respectful, yet could not conceal his closeness.
Hu Liena was momentarily startled and answered instinctively, "Mm, Xiao Yu, your princess is tired. Come massage my feet."
O
The moment the words left her mouth, even she felt surprised, yet they also felt inexplicably natural.
The scene shifted, and she was already sitting on a cushioned bed, gently resting her fair feet in the man's lap.
His large hands were warm and strong as he gently massaged her, his movements practiced, as though he had done this a thousand times before.
"Your Highness Nana, is this pressure all right?" he asked, raising his eyes, which were filled with concern.
"Mm! Xiao Yu, your skills have improved again." Hu Liena narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling a little languid.
"It would be even better if you used a little more strength with your left hand."
"Yes, Your Highness." The man adjusted the pressure as instructed, the force of his fingertips just right.
Standing opposite Hu Liena, Su Yu watched her foolish smile and felt a little curious about what she had seen in the illusion.
Su Yu extended a finger, bent it slightly, and gently flicked the center of Hu Liena's forehead!
"Nana! Time to wake up!"
Hu Liena abruptly came to her senses. The illusory palace before her shattered like glass, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
Looking at Su Yu, who was right before her, she felt her cheeks grow slightly hot. The languor and spoiled imperiousness from the illusion had not entirely faded, and the words that escaped her carried a hint of reproach. "Xiao Yu! Your princess wasn't finished enjoying that!"
Only after speaking did she realize what she had said. A faint blush immediately spread to her ears, and she hastily turned her face away, coughing softly to hide her embarrassment.
Seeing her like this, a hint of amusement flashed through Su Yu's eyes. He deliberately put on a stern face. "Oh? Would Your Highness Nana like to keep enjoying herself, then?"
"Who-who wants to enjoy anything?!" Hu Liena turned around, her Demon Fox Martial Soul lighting up again as the shyness in her eyes gave way to fighting spirit.
"I was careless just now. This time, let's get serious!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Hu Liena planted herself in a firm horse stance, gathered Soul Power into her fists, and charged straight at Su Yu with a gust of forceful wind.
Her punches were swift and fierce, clearly incorporating close-combat techniques into her assault.
Su Yu shifted his feet slightly, his body gliding sideways like a willow leaf in the wind, just barely evading this punch she had been certain would land.
Perhaps it was an instinctive reaction in the midst of movement, or perhaps it was the familiarity between them that needed no words.
As he evaded her fist, his right hand swung back with the movement and lightly slapped Hu Liena's bottom.
A soft smack rang out, carrying a hint of teasing.
Hu Liena stiffened all over, her offensive faltering instantly.
She whipped her head around, her cheeks flushing bright red in an instant, the color spreading from her ears all the way down her neck.
Her eyes, previously brimming with fighting spirit, now seemed misty as she glared at Su Yu in anger and vexation. "Brother Su Yu! You're playing dirty!"
"That's called catching you off guard." The amusement in Su Yu's eyes deepened, but he had already stepped back twice, putting distance between them.
"Looks like Nana still isn't focused enough."
"Hmph, I'm not fighting anymore! Brother Su Yu, you're bullying me! My Soul Skill doesn't work on you at all!"
"And you taught me all these techniques! How could I possibly beat you?!"
Though she said that, Hu Liena's hands never stopped moving.
Before you continue