Taking advantage of her slender, supple build, Xiao Wu could use all manner of highly difficult grappling techniques to pin down her opponents. Ordinary people found them extremely hard to deal with.
But Han Qiu was altogether different. His physique far surpassed that of ordinary Soul Masters, making him a counter to every flashy trick.
With a thought, he was about to free his other hand to seize Xiao Wu when Tang San's attack came on its heels.
As soon as Han Qiu moved, several tough strands of Blue Silver Grass crept in from who knew where and wrapped tightly around his wrist!
Well, well. They really are the male and female leads of this continent. Their teamwork is unbelievably seamless, Han Qiu marveled inwardly. He gave his wrist a powerful jerk, instantly shattering the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around it.
But in that brief opening, Xiao Wu had already hooked both arms around Han Qiu's neck, locking them tight like iron shackles. Then her feet hit the ground, and her back pressed against his chest.
As she saw it, all she had to do was exert a sudden burst of force, and she could flip Han Qiu straight into the air!
The neck was a vital part of the body. When held like that, a person would instinctively fall backward, and she could use the support of the ground to follow through with a heavy throw.
Han Qiu couldn't help nodding slightly. Though this was the first time the two had joined forces, and they had never practiced together, the coordination they had just displayed was more seamless than he could have imagined.
The watching students' hearts tightened, and they scarcely dared breathe.
The moment Xiao Wu planted her feet firmly, locked both arms around Han Qiu's neck, and prepared to hurl him away, something unexpected happened.
A slight smile touched Han Qiu's lips. "Ever heard of breaking ten thousand techniques with sheer strength?"
"What?"
At that critical moment, a calm smile curved Han Qiu's lips. The muscles all over his body suddenly tensed, and an immense surge of physical strength erupted with a boom!
An ordinary person with their neck locked would instinctively lean backward to relieve the pressure, falling into the trap of Xiao Wu's grappling technique.
But Han Qiu's physique had broken through its limits again and again. His physical toughness and strength far surpassed those of ordinary people, and he was not bound by human instinct at all!
Instead of leaning back and losing his balance, he braced his waist, his lower body rooted to the ground like a boulder. He didn't budge an inch.
Then he exerted a little force with his neck. His muscles and bones gave a low, muffled crack as he forcibly held firm against Xiao Wu's neck lock.
"How is that possible?!"
Behind him, Xiao Wu jolted in shock, her eyes full of disbelief.
Today, someone had actually broken free of the neck-locking technique she relied on for victory in such a brutally domineering way!
The instant Xiao Wu's move stalled and her strength faltered, Han Qiu raised both arms. Unhurriedly, he seized the two slender wrists she had looped around his neck.
The pressure of his palms was just right. He didn't hurt her in the slightest, but he firmly locked down every point from which she could exert force, completely denying her any chance to leverage a throw.
At the sight, Tang San's expression changed drastically, and he didn't dare hesitate for a moment.
At his command, Blue Silver Grass burst from the earth and grew wildly. Dense vines formed a net that swept in from every direction, sealing off all of Han Qiu's paths of movement in an attempt to force him to let go!
But beneath Han Qiu's Heavenly Eye, none of the attacks could hide.
Holding Xiao Wu's wrists in one hand, Han Qiu casually swept out with the other. His sharp palm strikes hit with precision, every blow landing on a weak point where the Soul Power connected in the Blue Silver Grass.
Bang! Bang! Crack! Several crisp sounds rang out!
The Blue Silver net attacking from all sides broke apart inch by inch in an instant, scattering across the ground!
With that, Tang San's control was completely nullified, and Xiao Wu's finishing technique was entirely broken.
The perfect coordination of attack and defense the two were so proud of shattered before Han Qiu's absolute strength!
Xiao Wu struggled several times, but her wrists were held fast, and she couldn't break free. Unable to use any of her agile grappling techniques, she could only feel the immense strength of the youth in front of her in astonishment.
"Your teamwork is still very good."
Looking relaxed, Han Qiu gave his assessment in an even tone. "Xiao Wu, your grappling techniques are exquisite, but they focus on holding and controlling your opponent, and they lack destructive power. Little San, your Blue Silver Entanglement is excellent at restraining people, but the grass itself isn't quite tough enough yet."
Throughout it all, Han Qiu's breathing remained steady and composed. He wasn't even the slightest bit out of breath, as though taking on the pair's perfectly coordinated attack had been nothing more than a game to him.
All the students fell silent.
"Han Qiu, you're cheating!" Xiao Wu bent forward slightly, panting, her strength nearly exhausted. She straightened up, planted her hands on her hips, and puffed out her cheeks in defiance. "You're just relying on your tough body! If you're so capable, come at me! Your body is as hard as steel, and we can't hurt you. If you've got what it takes, attack me! My speed and dodging are super impressive!"
"Is that so?"
Han Qiu's lips lifted in a faint smile.
The next instant!
Boom!
A muffled burst of air suddenly exploded!
The ground beneath Han Qiu's feet instantly cracked, sending fragments of stone flying. A fierce current of air exploded outward from him!
Everyone saw a flash before their eyes!
Tang San's pupils contracted. He instinctively activated the Purple Demon Eye to track Han Qiu with all his might, but he still couldn't lock onto the figure that had suddenly vanished!
His heart shook, and he shouted sharply, "Xiao Wu, watch out!"
But he had only just begun to speak; there was no time to finish!
Xiao Wu didn't even have time to react. Her hearing and vision both lagged behind, and she was still caught up in her earlier fit of defiance.
In an instant, Han Qiu's fist had reached her face!
A fierce wind rushed at her, and the pressure bore down on her like an abyss!
The overwhelming pressure of the punch enveloped her entire body, involuntarily halting her breath. Her heart clenched, and a suffocating sensation swept through her. She instinctively closed her eyes.
After a long while, the expected punch never landed.
Xiao Wu cautiously opened her eyes. Han Qiu's fist had stopped less than a centimeter from the tip of her nose. It was so close that the slightest movement forward would have struck her squarely in the face.
Having escaped the blow, she breathed a sigh of relief, stuck out her tongue, and giggled. "Haha, Han Qiu, you missed me!"
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong.
The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet.
Every student stood slack-jawed. Even Tang San was staring blankly behind her, his eyes filled with shock and horror, as though he had seen something unbelievable.
Xiao Wu's heart panicked. Full of confusion, she whipped her head around to look behind her.
The next second, she froze on the spot!
The tree over ten meters tall behind her had already been stripped of every leaf!
He had deliberately missed. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. A wave of lingering fear swept through Xiao Wu.
Leaves filled the air, hovering for a moment before fluttering down!
Crack!
The trunk gave a crisp snap, unable to bear the strain, and swayed gently twice!
Boom!
The great tree broke in two and crashed heavily to the ground, sending dust billowing!
That punch had seemed to stop in front of her, but the terrifying force spilling from it had passed through her and shattered the great tree behind her!
The entire place fell deathly silent.
Tang San stood frozen.
Xiao Wu's eyes widened as she stared blankly at the fallen tree, utterly dumbfounded.
She couldn't imagine what would have happened if that move had really struck her...
Every student's mind went blank.
The entire clearing sank into a deathly hush.
[Congratulations, host. After obtaining a Soul Ring, you successfully defeated Xiao Wu and obtained the lightness technique Ripple Steps.]
A clear, cool system prompt rang out abruptly and distinctly in the depths of Han Qiu's mind.
In an instant, countless profound footwork patterns, movement paths, and techniques for redirecting force flooded into his sea of consciousness.
A smile appeared on Han Qiu's face.