A key characteristic of the Divine Dragon Emperor's Dragon Soul is that it is immortal and indestructible, and its soul strength is unparalleled.
Qi Ling had previously defeated many powerful enemies by virtue of his soul strength. This was a characteristic bestowed upon Qi Ling by the Divine Dragon Emperor, and it had nothing to do with his own attributes and strength.
After hearing Qi Ling's explanation, Xiao Ye pouted and said, "Hmph! It's infuriating, Qi Ling! This ability of yours is clearly targeting me! It's too much!"
Qi Ling gently pinched Xiao Ye's cheek and said, "Shouldn't you be glad that my ability can restrain you? Otherwise, were you really planning to give up your ability to save me?"
"Anyway, with Qi Ling by my side, if I lose my abilities, I'll let you support me for the rest of my life!" Xiao Ye said with a smile.
"Taking care of you is no problem, but I'm afraid if you pull a few more stunts like this, I won't be able to handle it," Qi Ling said. "The competition isn't over yet, Xiao Ye, do you still plan to continue?"
"I can't go on anymore, really," Xiao Ye said helplessly. " Qi Ling, didn't you see that the battle markings on my body have all disappeared?"
"This is not only because I have exhausted my power, but also because the sacrificial process has been affected, so I will be unable to use the various secret techniques of the Night Clan for some time."
So, to put it simply, I've already lost this match.
"Oh? Xiao Ye, you've already lost two matches, what are you going to do?" Qi Ling couldn't help but ask.
"Relax, I never intended to win the match in the first place," Xiao Ye said. "My only goal was for you to win! Now it seems, Qi Ling, you've lived up to my expectations and become even stronger, so of course I can rest easy."
Although Xiao Ye said that, it was still a pity to lose the competition qualification. Fortunately, there is a revival competition for substitutes. If the number of people who pass the competition is less than 29, the substitutes will be selected from among the crowd.
After the competition concluded successfully, it turned out that the number of participants who actually passed was insufficient to support the subsequent matches, so a competition for substitute spots had to be held.
In the end, Xiao Ye successfully advanced to the next round thanks to her outstanding skills. However, it was a pity that Ye Mingzhu and Ye Mingyue were eliminated, while others such as Ye Jiangming and Luna also made it into the competition.
Including Zhen Hong, Kurumi, Qian Jiyin, who were exempted from the test, a total of 32 people entered the next round of the competition. Qi Ling glanced at them and saw that by this point, most of them were familiar faces and could be considered strong players.
And unsurprisingly, people like Qian Xunji and Chu Ling also successfully passed the previous rounds and entered this round. Whether they actually won four matches or passed the elimination rounds, they all have real skills.
"Oh dear, we've finally gathered all the contestants. That was no easy feat," Alice said as she reappeared before the group. "Since everyone looks so eager to compete, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Let me tell you the rules for the next round."
According to Alice's explanation, the rules for the next round of the competition are also very simple. First, the 32 contestants will be randomly divided into 4 groups of 8 people each, and then 2 people will be selected from each group to participate in the final.
In the group stage, the rules of the competition also changed. First, the 8-person groups had to voluntarily form 4 pairs to compete. In other words, the two players from the winning team would advance to the next round.
In this way, all the players have to consider much more than in an individual competition.
Firstly, regarding the selection of one's partner, naturally, it would be best to choose someone one knows and can trust. However, since they are divided into four groups, this may not be possible.
In addition, choosing a strong partner is naturally more beneficial to the game. Alternatively, if your own skills are lacking, finding a strong teammate can also increase your chances of winning.
More importantly, players with complementary skills will undoubtedly have a greater advantage in this stage and be able to demonstrate their abilities to a greater extent.
Although she didn't know who came up with this competition format, Qi Ling seemed quite indifferent to it. As for partners, it would be better to team up with someone she knew, but it didn't matter if she couldn't.
Since most of the remaining people were acquaintances, it was inevitable that there would be people she knew in the same group. After seeing the selection of her teammates, Qi Ling instantly decided who she should choose as her teammate.
"Oh my, Mr. Qi Ling, does this mean we're thinking the same thing?" The enigmatic Kurumi smiled as Qi Ling approached her. "Are you here to invite me to team up for the competition?"
Qi Ling smiled and said, "Ah, that's right. Although I don't know yet whether we're friends or foes, I do know you're a smart person, and teaming up with a smart person obviously increases your chances of winning."
"Thank you for the compliment, Qi Ling. What a coincidence, you're also a powerful man, and powerful men are the most attractive to women," Kurumi laughed. "Besides, if I didn't team up with you, I probably wouldn't have been able to pass this competition."
"You flatter me. Actually, there are many strong people in this group, and I'm not sure if I can win the competition," Qi Ling said.
"Hehe, Qi Ling, don't be modest. I know that to pass the competition, the important thing isn't being on your team, but not going against you!" Kurumi laughed. "So, please take care of me."
Coincidentally, two familiar faces were also assigned to Qi Ling's group: Qian Xunji and Xue Qinghe. Naturally, the two of them had already formed a team.
Upon seeing Qi Ling, Qian Xunji and Xue Qinghe turned pale. They never expected to be grouped with Qi Ling again; they couldn't shake off this shadow.
Not only Qian Xunji and Xue Qinghe, but everyone else in this group also looked at Qi Ling with serious expressions. After all, although everyone regarded Qi Ling as their biggest rival, at the same time, no one would refuse to team up with Qi Ling.
Unfortunately, just as Qi Ling approached Kurumi, everyone's plans fell through, meaning their chances of clearing the game had plummeted to their lowest point.
It was at this moment that the six people, including Qian Xunji, looked at each other, seemingly having reached some kind of agreement.