The first match of the second day of the exchange competition was between the Blazing Fire Academy and Skywater Academy.
The deans of the Five Elements Academy were already seated. Huo Xiao sat with his arms crossed in front of the Blazing Fire Academy's seats, looking focused; Shui Lingyuan sat quietly on the side of the Skywater Academy; Yu Leiting held a teacup, occasionally chatting with the teacher next to him; Huyan Zhen still sat at the very edge, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the field, lost in thought. Feng Qingxuan sat in the center of the high platform, and after a brief speech, announced the start of the second day's competition.
The referee stood in the center of the field, and the teams from both sides lined up to enter. The Blazing Fire Academy students, all dressed in red uniforms, marched in perfect unison, like a row of moving flames. The Skywater Academy students, on the other hand, were dressed in ice blue, and the air seemed to cool slightly as they entered. Shui Bing'er walked at the very front of the line, her steps slow but steady, her long ice-blue hair swaying gently behind her. The aura emanating from her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul made her appear more mature than her actual age. The two teams, standing on the field, were like fire on one side and ice on the other.
The referee begins the announcement.
" Blazing Fire Academy, Captain Huo Wushuang, Level 38, Power Attack System, Martial Soul: Fire Shadow Fire Wolf. Vice Captain Huo Yun Huo Wu, Level 36, Agility Attack System Control System, Martial Soul: Fire Shadow. Member Huo Yun, Level 34, Power Attack System, Martial Soul: Martial Soul Fire Crane. Member Huo Yu, Level 34, Offensive Type, Martial Soul: Fire Python. Member Huo Ming, Level 33, Defense System, Martial Soul: Fire Shield. Member Huo Ling, Level 32, Support System, Martial Soul: Fire Ring. Member Huo Xing, Level 33, Food System, Martial Soul: Fire Jujube."
" Skywater Academy, Captain Shui Bing'er, Level 36 Control System, Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix. Vice Captain Shui Ling Xue Wu, Level 34 Support System, Martial Soul: Slender Dancing Snow Satin. Member Shui Ling, Level 34 Agility Attack System, Martial Soul Martial Soul: Ice Spear Ice Butterfly. Member Shui Qing, Level 33 Power Attack System, Martial Soul: Ice Spear. Member Shui Rou, Level 33 Defense System, Martial Soul: Ice Shield. Member Shui Yin, Level 32 Support System, Martial Soul: Ice Zither. Member Shui Yue'er, Level 33 Food System, Martial Soul Ice Fruit."
Feng Xiaotian sat in the stands of the Godwind Academy. When he heard the list being announced, his gaze lingered on the levels of the Blazing Fire Academy and Skywater Academy teams. On the Blazing Fire Academy side, Huo Wushuang level 38, Huo Wu was level 36, and the rest of the team members were between level 32 and 34.
In the Skywater Academy, Shui Bing'er is level 36, and her overall level is similar to that of the Blazing Fire Academy. Compared to yesterday's match between the Godwind Academy and Thunder Academy, the level configurations of these two teams are closer, so it's not a battle of individual skill, but rather teamwork.
The referee raised his flag. "Release the Martial Soul!"
The Soul Ring beneath the feet of both teams lit up simultaneously. Blazing Fire Academy's side was ablaze with red, Huo Wushuang's phantom of Fire Wolf materialized behind him. The wolf's body, formed from flames, was a full two meters tall, and the scorching heat caused the air at the edge of the arena to distort slightly. Huo Wu's Fire Shadow hovered beside her, a crimson halo slowly rotating in her palm.
On the Skywater Academy side, everything was a uniform ice blue. Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix spread its wings behind her, and the surrounding air temperature plummeted. A few fine snowflakes drifted down from above. The auras of ice and fire collided in the center of the arena, and the fine mist generated by the alternation of hot and cold rose up.
"The match begins."
Not long after the start, Shui Bing'er broke Blazing Fire Academy's offensive rhythm with three consecutive Ice Ring casts.
Her first Soul Skill, Ice Ring, is an instantaneous area-of-effect freeze with a short cooldown. While the Ice Seal duration isn't long, it's enough to disrupt the opponent's offensive flow. Just as Blazing Fire Academy's Agility Attack System Huo Yun was about to flank from the left, the Ice Ring exploded beneath his feet, freezing him for half a second. Immediately after, just as Blazing Fire Academy's Control System Soul Skill was released, a second Ice Ring precisely struck Huo Wu's wrist, interrupting the Soul Skill. The third Ice Ring landed in a gap in the Blazing Fire Academy's front-line formation, separating Huo Wushuang and his Defense System teammates for a moment. Three Ice Ring, three crucial moments, each perfectly timed to coincide with the Blazing Fire Academy changed formation.
This wasn't about individual strength, but about the speed and precision of teamwork. On the Blazing Fire Academy side, Huo Wushuang tried to break through head-on several times, but was blocked by the combined Defense System and Support System of the Skywater Academy. Just as Huo Wu was about to unleash Huo Wu control skill, Xue Wu's Slender Dancing Snow Satin had already wrapped around her wrist—the soft yet resilient snow satin didn't make a direct impact, but with a gentle tug, it controlled Huo Wu in another direction.
In the second wave of combat, Blazing Fire Academy began to adapt to the Skywater Academy's rhythm. Huo Wushuang no longer charged head-on, but instead cooperated with Huo Yu to flank and contain the enemy. The impact of the Fire Python Martial Soul created a crack on Shui Qing's Ice Spear, but Shui Bing'er's fourth Ice Ring immediately filled the gap, refreezing the crack. The two sides were locked in a stalemate, and the pace of the battle quickened.
In the third wave, Shui Bing'er changed tactics. Instead of using Ice Ring to block positions, she had Shui Qing's Ice Spear entangle Huo Wushuang head-on, while Xue Wu's Slender Dancing Snow Satin closed in from both sides, trapping Huo Wu beside Huo Wushuang. The two were forced together, and the Blazing Fire Academy formation was completely disrupted. Huo Wu tried several times to force a breakthrough with her Fire Shadow technique, but was pushed back by the Ice Phoenix's ice wings, causing ice shards to explode and scatter across the ground mixed with water mist. In the end, Skywater Academy won the battle with a higher overall team score.
When the two shook hands, Huo Wu practically slapped her hand down, nodded, and turned to leave. Shui Bing'er withdrew her hand, her expression calm, and turned to walk towards her own team.
On the stands, Yu Leiting put down his teacup and said to Huo Xiao, "Your Blazing Fire Academy formation has been countered. You'll have to practice it properly when you get back." Huo Xiao didn't turn around, but simply hummed in agreement.
Feng Xiaotian watched Shui Bing'er walk off the field—her three instant- Ice Ring were all timed perfectly to coincide with the opponent's tactical changes. This kind of calmness and precise judgment cannot be cultivated by talent alone. She is a worthy opponent. Feng Xiaotian's gaze lingered on the Skywater Academy team for a few more seconds.
In the adjacent stands, Huo Wu was vigorously brushing the ice shards off her sleeves when she looked up and saw Feng Xiaotian's gaze fixed on the direction he was looking. He wasn't looking at the Blazing Fire Academy, but at the Skywater Academy. More accurately, he was looking at Shui Bing'er.
Huo Wu paused for a moment.
This man didn't even blink when he was being aggressive towards her in the Heavenly Wind Mountain Range back then, but now he actually looks at others seriously. A strange, inexplicable irritation welled up inside her. It wasn't because she lost the match—she could win it back. It was because there was a seriousness in Feng Xiaotian's gaze towards Shui Bing'er that she had never seen on his face before. It was recognition. His recognition of Shui Bing'er.
She turned her face away, flicked the remaining ice shards off her wrist, and said to Huo Wushuang beside her in an unfriendly tone, "Brother, when is the next match?"
Huo Wushuang glanced at his younger sister, then at Feng Xiaotian, who was looking away from the stands opposite him. He said nothing, but silently handed her the match schedule for the next game.