"Pope, I know Yan has the fire attribute, but he may not necessarily be able to counter Wuchen. If Yan loses, the captain's position goes to Wuchen."
"Naturally, I can afford to lose. Besides, if Young Master Gu can win, there's no reason he can't be captain."
Bibi Dong very much hoped Gu Wuchen would lose the match. Such an outstanding disciple ought to be taught by her, not held by someone from the Qian Family.
"Ahem, Young Master Gu, you're strong, but if you can beat Yan, you'll be our captain."
Xie Yue admired Gu Wuchen. Weak all over, he was helped off the field by Hu Liena.
Once they were off the field, Xie Yue asked Hu Liena, "Nana, if Yan loses too, you'll be the only one among us left to rely on."
"Young Master Gu hasn't mentioned competing with you."
"We'll talk about it when the time comes."
Hu Liena brushed the matter aside with a vague answer.
Compete in what?
The charm she was so proud of, which even Xie Yue and Yan couldn't resist, had been easily broken by Gu Wuchen, and she hadn't told her brother about it before.
Now that it had been brought up, it was truly embarrassing.
Why did we have to spar when all three of us were here? Could Gu Wuchen be my lifelong nemesis?
She had been reprimanded by her teacher twice in a row.
After Yan was helped off, immediately afterward, Yan clenched his fists and strode toward Gu Wuchen.
"Martial Soul: Flame Lord. Level thirty-two Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."
With a low shout from Yan, earth-yellow and fiery red light erupted at once, and his burly body was instantly covered in lava armor.
Three Soul Rings, two yellow and one purple, rose from beneath his feet, and waves of searing heat spread in all directions.
Yan stared fixedly at Gu Wuchen, his eyes brimming with battle intent:
"So what if you have the ultimate ice attribute? Fire naturally counters ice. Let's see if you can withstand my attacks."
As long as he won the match, he could surely make Nana see him in a new light. Besides, Xie Yue had already tested Gu Wuchen, and now it was his chance to show what he could do.
"Begin the match!"
As the dean's words fell,
The First Soul Ring beneath Yan's feet suddenly lit up.
"First Soul Skill, Hell Magma Rush!"
In an instant, the ground cracked open, and scalding magma erupted with terrifying force, surging straight toward Gu Wuchen.
Gu Wuchen had long since prepared a countermeasure for an attack like this.
The Second Soul Ring beneath Gu Wuchen's feet lit up at the same time. He used Snow Shadow Instant Movement, instantly turning into a formless shadow of snow. As he avoided the rush of magma, he appeared at Yan's side.
"Snow Dust Ice Blade!"
A blue blade of ultimate ice coated the Dustless Sword. Gu Wuchen slashed, and it slammed into the lava-clad fist Yan swung in haste.
Extreme cold collided with scorching flames, and hissing white mist instantly filled the entire arena.
Yan felt a bone-piercing chill in his fist. A thin layer of ice had actually formed over his lava armor in an instant, leaving him shaken to the core.
This was no ordinary ice attribute. It could actually suppress his Flame Lord directly!
Bibi Dong's expression froze. That's not right. In theory, it should have been able to counter him. Why did it turn out like this?
This makes no sense!
"Second Soul Skill, Granite Rock!"
Yan didn't dare let his guard down. He unleashed his Second Soul Skill, covering his entire body in thick granite armor. His strength and defense soared as he charged at Gu Wuchen, determined to close in and suppress him.
A Tool Martial Soul Master's body could never be as tough as his.
Instead of retreating, Gu Wuchen advanced. The full power of the Golden Body Tempering Technique erupted as he raised his left arm across his body and took Yan's full-force punch head-on.
A dull impact rang out. Gu Wuchen's feet didn't move, but the rebound sent Yan stumbling back two steps, his face full of disbelief.
"This is bad. Yan's going to lose."
From below the stage, Xie Yue had already declared the outcome. Since Gu Wuchen could take that blow from Yan, there was no suspense left in the fight.
Hearing her brother say that, Hu Liena understood as well.
"Third Soul Skill, Hell Flames!"
Having been driven back repeatedly, Yan was now thoroughly enraged and unleashed his Third Soul Skill.
An endless sea of scorching flames spread outward from him, sealing off all of Gu Wuchen's escape routes. The searing heat nearly set the air itself ablaze.
Below the stage, a flicker of anticipation passed through Bibi Dong's eyes. A wide-ranging fire-attribute attack was precisely the bane of the ultimate ice attribute. She didn't believe Gu Wuchen could still break out of this predicament.
But the next second, a cold light flashed from Gu Wuchen's right arm, and his Soul Bone Skill erupted at full power.
"Sacred Ice Wuchen Slash!"
A sacred ice sword projection burst apart with a roar, and countless ice swords swept across the arena. The boundless sea of fire was frozen solid in an instant, and even the lava and granite armor on Yan's body was completely covered in thick, hard ice.
Yan's body stiffened. Before he could break free, the cold blade of the sword was already pressed steadily against his neck.
"You lost."
Gu Wuchen's tone was calm.
Yan stood rooted to the spot, looking at the frozen arena around him.
"Why were you able to beat me?" Yan asked, unwilling to accept it.
Gu Wuchen said calmly, "Because my ice attribute has long since surpassed that of ordinary ice-attribute Soul Masters. So the advantage you thought you had doesn't hold."
Hearing this, Yan unclenched his tightly balled fists.
Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed as well.
The Golden Generation had still been crushed by Wuchen.
That feels great.
Bibi Dong's last hope died completely, and she clenched her fists tightly.
She had thought that, with Xie Yue wearing Gu Wuchen down and Yan's attribute countering his, victory was assured. She hadn't expected Gu Wuchen to defeat two members of the Golden Generation in a row.
Hearing Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo laughing beside her, she was furious and vexed, yet utterly helpless.
Gu Wuchen put away the Dustless Sword, twirling it several times in the air and tracing dazzling sword flowers before sheathing it with a flourish.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Yan looked at Hu Liena below the stage and said, "His Holiness the Pope, Nana hasn't fought yet. To win, he has to beat all three of us at least."
She had almost forgotten that Hu Liena hadn't gone yet. Perhaps the charm of Hu Liena's Demon Fox Martial Soul could win the match.
As Yan's words reached her, Hu Liena's lips twitched. Idiot Yan, you did that on purpose, didn't you?
Why bring it up now? Don't you know I don't want to fight at all?
Xie Yue nodded too. "Nana, why don't you give it a try?"
Yan added, "That's right, Nana. Give it a try. What if you win?"
Seeing Hu Liena hemming and hawing, Gu Wuchen immediately teased her. "That's right. As the Pope's disciple, don't you even have the courage to issue a challenge? If you're scared, just say so."
Hu Liena stared hard at Gu Wuchen, wishing she could eat him alive.
You know perfectly well I can't beat him, yet you're still adding fuel to the fire. What are you up to?
With so many people watching, and if she didn't speak up, it surely wouldn't end.
In the end, she could only lower her head, clutch the hem of her skirt tightly with both hands, and say in humiliation, her face slightly red, "I... I lost to Young Master Gu twice before."
"What?"
Xie Yue and Yan were shocked. How had they not known? But seeing Hu Liena so ill at ease, they understood.
Gu Wuchen smiled. "Wouldn't it have been better to say so earlier? There's no shame in losing. Just win next time."
Hu Liena glared at Gu Wuchen. "Young Master Gu, you... you're too mean."
Furious, Hu Liena turned and fled this place of trouble.
"This had nothing to do with me."