Finals

When the boomerang flew precisely back into Long Xiangyue's palm, he was about to channel Soul Power into it and amplify its glow. Yet neither Wang Dong nor Lin Qianyi moved to stop him.

Lin Qianyi lightly shifted aside, avoiding the potential attack. Behind Wang Dong, the martial soul wings of the Light Goddess Butterfly unfolded gracefully, and a sacred violet-gold radiance burst forth from between them.

The beam tore through the air like lightning, drawing a muffled groan from behind Zhou Sichen. Seizing that fleeting opportunity, Lin Qianyi instantly condensed Soul Power in her hand into a sharp blade of light, easily breaking through Long Xiangyue's Soul Skill before he could fully unleash it.

At the same time, Cao Jinxuan, who had been preparing to use the Clock of Fleeting Time to unleash his First Soul Skill, suddenly swayed in midair and fainted on the spot.

Long Xiangyue and Zhou Sichen exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and regret—they had finally realized that all of this had been carefully planned by Lin Qianyi.

On the surface, it seemed as though Huo Yuhao had been providing support. In truth, Lin Qianyi had cleverly exploited that appearance, joining forces with Wang Dong and using their "attack" as cover to quietly take care of Cao Jinxuan before he could activate his crucial Soul Skill. It had to be said that Lin Qianyi's meticulous thinking and ingenious planning were truly admirable.

"Pfft—" Long Xiangyue's boomerang abruptly changed direction just a foot away from Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. Though the fierce Soul Skill did not strike them directly, it still made their hearts pound in fear. The oppressive force of that unknown power left them not daring to relax for even an instant. It was not something they could afford to ignore.

Seeing this, Lin Qianyi stepped forward without hesitation. She raised her hands lightly, condensing Soul Power in her palms into a tangible glow that instantly transformed into a barrier before the two of them. She successfully intercepted the deadly attack and ushered Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong to safety.

Though Zhou Sichen's heart trembled at the sight, his responsibility as team captain quickly restored his composure. No longer holding back, he summoned the Earth Bear and the Flame Demon Tiger. The two beasts pounced toward Lin Qianyi's group with world-shattering force.

At the same time, having learned his lesson, Long Xiangyue launched another assault with greater caution. He poured Soul Power into his darts, intending to break through their defenses in one stroke.

Faced with the successive attacks, Lin Qianyi cried out, "Second Soul Skill: Azure Luan Bodyguard!" In an instant, the phantom of a giant luan formed from azure-green light appeared before her, creating a sturdy barrier against the enemies' relentless bombardment.

Yet under the ceaseless impacts, her feet still slid several steps backward. However, she quickly steadied herself, her hands moving as smoothly as flowing clouds. Soul Power poured from her palms, forcibly pushing Long Xiangyue's attack back while skillfully neutralizing Zhou Sichen's offensive as well.

Witnessing all this, Huo Yuhao already had a plan in mind. He and Lin Qianyi had long shared an unspoken understanding, and he knew that his withdrawal at this moment was actually a carefully designed ploy to lure the enemy in.

On the surface, it appeared that he had chosen to flee the arena after calling for help. In reality, he was creating a better opportunity for his teammates.

After all, although he had only one ring, he could still play an unexpected role at a crucial moment. Moreover, Wang Dong and he possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, allowing them to coordinate in secret and prepare to deliver a fatal blow at any time.

On the raised platform, Teacher Zhou Yi watched with piercing eyes and had long seen through everything. Though she was usually stern and unsmiling, she could not help nodding slightly now. She murmured, "That little girl knows how to judge the situation. Not bad."

Lin Qianyi and Wang Dong worked together as though their hearts were connected. They unleashed their Soul Skills at the same time, and surging power swept toward Zhou Sichen and Long Xiangyue like a tidal wave.

Under their coordinated assault, the overwhelming pressure was nearly suffocating. The referee's expression turned grim, and he had no choice but to intervene swiftly. With a flash, he positioned himself before Zhou Sichen and Long Xiangyue, dissolving the fierce attack.

As the match came to an end, Lin Qianyi's team claimed another victory. On the arena grounds, their names were once again surrounded by cheers.

In the dormitory, Xiao Xiao fidgeted uneasily. "The finals are about to begin. I'm so nervous. Qianyi, how can you still be so calm? Our opponents will be very strong."

Lin Qianyi slowly walked over to Xiao Xiao and gently rested against her shoulder, her tone soft but full of strength. "Xiao Xiao, what is there to be so nervous about?

We've come this far and faced so many powerful opponents. Even if our palms were sweating with nerves every time, didn't we still make it through in the end? This time is only the finals. The difficulty has merely risen by one level.

Relax and do your best. Whether we finish first or second, both are proof of our efforts." Lin Qianyi had always been someone unwilling to admit defeat, but she said those words to comfort Xiao Xiao's uneasy heart.

As dawn broke, Lin Qianyi, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong headed to the cafeteria together.

Huo Yuhao asked softly, "Xiao Xiao, have you really recovered?" Xiao Xiao broke into a smile, confidence gleaming in her eyes. "Of course. I have Twin Martial Souls—what does a little injury like this count for?

Come on, let's fill our stomachs first, then prepare properly for the upcoming match. We have to seize the final victory."

The four looked at one another and smiled, stacking their hands together as they shouted in unison, "We are the champions!"

It was breakfast time, and there were still few people in the cafeteria. Just then, a provocative voice suddenly rang out. "Aren't you lot being a little too delusional? The champion's spot has long belonged to Class Five of the new students. Hmph!" Three people approached slowly. Leading them was Dai Huabin, a blond-haired youth, accompanied by two girls, one of whom was a black-haired girl sneering coldly.

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao unconsciously clenched his fists tighter. Lin Qianyi merely glanced at them indifferently and said, "Oh, isn't this Young Master Dai? What, you can't stand hearing a few words from others, so you had to come out and make your presence known? Who becomes champion isn't decided by talking big. Let's wait until our strength speaks for itself. Don't end up getting slapped in the face without even knowing what happened."

With that, she led the others away without looking back, leaving only the black-haired girl behind, stamping her feet in fury and unable to say a word.

The afternoon sun spilled across the paths of the academy, making the time after lunch feel especially leisurely. With several hours remaining before the match began, everyone returned to the dormitory to rest briefly and cultivate for a while to restore their energy.

The assessment area was no longer as bustling as usual. The students were all attending class in their respective classrooms, and the entire area was so quiet that only the breeze rustling through the leaves could be heard—the academy had specifically arranged this schedule to ensure the students' safety.

As Yan Shaozhe spoke quietly with several colleagues, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura approaching from afar. "Qian Duoduo, you old fellow, why have you come again?" he called out jokingly, his tone carrying a hint of teasing. "With that smell of money on you, it'd be hard not to recognize you."

A burly man stood on the platform, nearly two meters tall, his wheat-colored skin shining with a healthy glow.

This man was Qian Duoduo, vice dean of the Soul Tool Department. Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, he did not take offense and merely replied with a smile, "I heard today's match would be quite exciting, so I came to take a look. Old Yan, who do you think will win this one?"

After hearing Qian Duoduo, Yan Shaozhe's lips curved into a faint smile. "Lin Qianyi's team and Dai Huabin's team each have their own strengths. The outcome is hard to predict.

However, Lin Qianyi's team does indeed have quite a few outstanding qualities. Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly martial soul is practically one of a kind within Shrek Academy.

Xiao Xiao's Twin Martial Souls possess potential as immeasurable as the brightest star in the vast heavens. Though Huo Yuhao awakened late, his body martial soul also contains boundless power and cannot be underestimated.

As for Lin Qianyi, her top-tier Beast Martial Soul allowed her Soul Power to surpass that of most Outer Court students at such a young age. Such talent is exceptional even throughout the entire Outer Court. She may truly become one of the academy's future stars of hope, so comparatively speaking, Lin Qianyi's team has better odds of winning."