The Godwind City Great Soul Arena is located in the eastern part of the city center. The entire building is constructed of bluish-gray granite, and the names of ace Soul Fighting from past generations are engraved on the outer walls. Feng Lingtian looked up at the stone tablet at the very top. The words on it had been blurred by wind and rain, but the two characters " Godwind Academy " were still faintly discernible.
"It is said that before the establishment of the Godwind Academy, there were already Soul Fighting from our academy on this monument," Feng Lingtian said as he walked.
Feng Xiaotian didn't reply, glanced at the monument, and didn't stop walking.
Upon entering the lobby, a mixture of sweat, rust, and faint herbal scents filled the air. Behind the registration desk sat a receptionist in her forties who glanced up at them without changing her expression.
"A newcomer?"
"First-time registration." Feng Xiaotian placed the letter of recommendation on the table. "Student of the Godwind Academy, here for training at the Soul Fighting Arena."
The receptionist took the recommendation letter, her eyebrows twitching slightly, but she didn't ask any further questions and lowered her head to register. Feng Xiaotian didn't give his personal name, only his academy affiliation and rank information. The Soul Fighting Arena only knew they were students of the Godwind Academy, but didn't know their specific identities. (Their names were used later in the battle for clarity.)
When it was Bai Yu's turn to register, the receptionist glanced at her again—a level 26 Support System, which was indeed relatively low in this group full of people of that level. Bai Yu noticed her gaze, pursed her lips, and stood up a little straighter.
There are openings today for solo, duo, and group performances. Which type are you interested in?
"Available spaces today," the receptionist said, glancing down at the slate. "We have openings for solo, duo, and group bookings. Which types would you like to book?"
"All three types are included." Feng Xiaotian took the registration form, filled in the candidates and their rankings for the three events, and pushed it back.
After verifying the information, the receptionist pushed over three match cards. "Singles, Class C, Match 7, you can be matched now. Doubles, Class B, Match 3, there's one more team ahead of you, wait 15 minutes. Teams, Class A, Match 2, the two teams ahead of you, wait at least half an hour. Manage your time well, missing a match means forfeiting."
Feng Xiaotian took the battle card and led the whole team away from the registration desk. When they reached the waiting area corridor, he stopped and turned around.
"It's not convenient to talk much at the registration desk, so let me explain the arrangements now." Feng Xiaotian's gaze first fell on Ji Ning. "You'll be going one-on-one. You're fast and good at one-on-one pressure, so the pace of one-on-one suits you. Also—you're used to going all out from the start, so hold back today. Use half your strength. Winning is fine, but no bloodshed."
Ji Ning paused for a moment, then nodded. He tapped his fingers lightly on the handle, even lighter than before—he was thinking.
"Two people, Su Mei'er and Lu Qing." Feng Xiaotian turned to the two, " Su Mei'er's multi-element control can deal with different types of opponents. No matter if the opponent is aggressive or controlling, she has a way to interrupt their rhythm first. Lu Qing's dual scythes have high burst damage and fast attack speed, and can finish off the opponent on the first hit after she controls them. Control and output complement each other perfectly."
Lu Qing calmly hummed in agreement. Su Mei'er glanced at him, a smile curving her lips—this was her first time partnering with Lu Qing.
"The group consists of seven people: Zhong Yue, Shi Yan, Lu Hanxiao, Ji Ning, Feng Lingtian, Ye Qingyu, and Bai Yu. They will form Defensive Counterattack Formation."
" Defensive Counterattack Formation?" Shi Yan peeked out from halfway through the formation. "Brother Xiaotian, what's this? We didn't learn this in the academy's tactics class."
Feng Xiaotian looked at him. This formation was something he had figured out himself based on the team's Martial Soul configuration; it was definitely not something from the textbook. Shi Yan's question was valid.
" Zhong Yue's Wind Armor Black Tortoise has a wide defensive range, blocking the first wave head-on. Your Bell Shield narrows, specifically designed to block any slip-ins after a breakthrough. The opponent must split up to break through, and that split-up moment is the window for a counterattack." He glanced at Lu Hanxiao, Ji Ning Feng Lingtian. "The three of you flank from the side. Ye Qingyu, amplify your range; Bai Yu, cover the gap. Don't push too far; take a bite and retreat."
Zhong Yue stood with his arms crossed, his chin slightly nodding when he heard "frontal first wave." Shi Yan clenched his fists, his eyes brightening, repeating " Defensive Counterattack Formation " as if chewing on a piece of uneaten dry ration. Lu Hanxiao tilted his head, his lips twitching slightly. Ji Ning tapped his fingers lightly on the handle. Feng Lingtian grinned—he liked the situation of three agile attackers flanking from the side together.
"Let's go to court number seven, section C first. Ji Ning will play first, then we'll review the game, and then wait for the doubles."
The stands at Field No. 7 (C) were not large; the curved steps, which could hold three or four hundred people, were less than 30% full. A group of regulars sat scattered around, holding wooden wine glasses, their eyes lazily sweeping across the center of the field.
The referee was a thin, frail old man in his fifties with an unusually loud voice.
"Round 7, Class C, the third singles Soul Fighting of the day! Red team, Ji Ning from the Godwind Academy, level 33 Agility Attack System, Martial Soul - Hummingbird!"
Ji Ning stepped onto the field, his steps light, a short blade tucked into his waistband.
"Blue Team, Tie Shan! Level 34 Power Attack System, Martial Soul - Two-Handed Greatsword!"
Tie Shan emerged from the opposite passage, his footsteps thumping on the ground. Broad-shouldered and thick-backed, he carried a heavy sword, its blade a full four feet long. He walked to the center of the arena, glanced down at Ji Ning, and grinned. " Agility Attack System? With your build, one hit from my sword and you'd be sent flying."
Ji Ning ignored him. He placed his right hand on the hilt of the short blade, his stance appearing loose, but he could actually kick out instantly from any direction.
The referee retreated to the edge of the field and raised his flag.
"Start!"
Tie Shan's First Soul Ring lit up—a century-old Yellow Soul Ring. The heavy sword was enveloped in Soul Power, its blade gleaming with an iron-gray light. He pushed off the ground with his right foot, charging forward like a charging rhinoceros, swinging the heavy sword in a wide arc and slashing down. The wind from the sword whipped up dust that flew to both sides, and the audience in the front row subconsciously leaned back.
Ji Ning didn't retreat. The sword's edge rapidly magnified in his pupils—three feet, two feet, one foot—
He disappeared.
The First Soul Ring lit up—Hummingbird Sting! The entire person transformed into a blur, not retreating, but cutting inwards along the spine of the sword towards the inner side of Tie Shan. The short-distance burst of the Hummingbird Martial Soul was so fast that it was almost impossible for the naked eye to keep up.
Tie Shan's heavy sword slammed down where Ji Ning had just stood, cracking the stone pavement. His pupils constricted sharply—where was he?
It was too late to draw his sword and defend. The four-foot heavy sword was impossible to turn once it was at point-blank range. Ji Ning was on his left side—the back of the blade struck his left wrist joint precisely. Tie Shan's left hand went numb, and his supporting hand loosened its grip.
"Damn it—" Tie Shan roared, swinging his sword back with one hand. This strike was even more ferocious than before, enraging him.
Ji Ning activated Hummingbird Sting again, this time dodging backward, his entire body hovering close to the tip of the sword as he floated backward. It wasn't a jump, nor a roll, but rather like a feather blown away by the wind. Hummingbird's characteristic: It can change direction at will in mid-air without needing to use leverage.
Tie Shan Sweep missed its mark; the force was too great, causing the attacker to spin more than half a circle, exposing their side.
Ji Ning's Second Soul Ring lit up—Hummingbird·Hover. He suddenly stopped in mid-air, his feet not touching the ground, his body motionless, hovering behind Tie Shan as if nailed to the air.
Someone in the audience stood up.
The short blade was drawn. The tip of the blade stopped at the back of Tie Shan's neck, an inch away from his skin.
Tie Shan's body stiffened.
The referee blew his whistle repeatedly.
Ji Ning wins!
A moment of silence fell over the stands, followed by a cacophony of voices. Five seconds later, two Soul Skill, a fatal blow to the throat. Tie Shan planted his heavy sword in the ground, rubbed the back of his neck, his face flushed red.
"You..." he gritted his teeth, "Well done."
Ji Ning sheathed his sword, glanced at him, nodded, and turned to walk off the field.
Feng Lingtian slapped his thigh from the stands. "Crisp and efficient! That's how a hummingbird should fight a greatsword— Tie Shan Strength looks intimidating, but as long as you don't directly confront his sword, he's helpless."
Feng Xiaotian nodded slightly and wrote a line in his notebook. Feng Lingtian leaned over and glanced at it. "Speed advantage."
"The first sword strike from Tie Shan was too full of force." Su Mei'er leaned back lazily in her chair. "The second strike was even more foolish—after being caught in close combat, instead of retreating, he advanced, offering himself up sideways. It wasn't that Ji Ning was too fast, it was that he was too slow."
Ji Ning walked back to the stands and sat down behind Feng Xiaotian. Su Ran raised his hand, his palm surging with pale blue Soul Power, and his First Soul Ring lit up. He whispered, " Wind Grain, live." A small, green ear of rice appeared in his palm, which he handed over.
Ji Ning took it, put it in his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed it. The Soul Power consumed by the two Hummingbird Sting attacks was recovering at a comfortable pace.
Feng Lingtian muttered to himself, " Su Ran's Wind Grain Ears always seems so convenient."
Su Ran smiled but didn't say anything.
Feng Xiaotian closed his notebook and glanced at the end of the corridor, towards field number three. The cheers from the previous pair had just faded. There was still a quarter of an hour left.
"Take a break. In fifteen minutes, it will be your turn, Su Mei'er and Lu Qing."