With a creak, the latch inside the rear city gate broke and slowly opened inward.
The city gate was deserted, with only white snow and ice as far as the eye could see.
Mu Guang quickly assumed a defensive stance.
The others also took a half step back, cautiously observing the area inside the city gate.
A few seconds passed, but no one came out; it was as if the city were deserted.
"Squad leader, shall I take two people in to scout ahead?" Yan Zitao volunteered from behind.
Mu Guang pondered for a moment, then said, "Hmm."
Yan Zitao led his two teammates slowly towards the back city gate.
After entering the back gate, Yan Zitao quickly and warily looked to both sides.
There was no one there, and nothing to hide behind; it didn't look like anyone was hiding on either side of the road.
However, having learned from Xu Jintang's previous sneak attack, Yan Zitao remained cautious and continued to probe deeper into the city.
At this moment, the sounds of battle from the front city gate had already reached this side.
You can tell from the sound that the fighting over there is very intense.
In comparison, this place is far too quiet.
Could it be... that Xu Jintang and the others forgot about the defenses of the rear city?
"Team Leader Yan, we've checked both sides, there's no one there," two team members reported.
Yan Zitao looked around. All the hiding places had been searched by his team members, so there was no way anyone could hide there anymore.
He felt slightly relieved, turned around, and waved to Mu Guang outside the city gate, "Squad Leader Mu, there's no one here. I guess everyone's gone to defend the front city."
The two team members lamented, "This defending team was incredibly meticulous; they launched so many surprise attacks before, but when it came to our defense, we completely forgot about the back gate."
Upon hearing the reply, Mu Guang immediately led his team into the city.
But this attack went too smoothly, making him feel that something was amiss.
After entering the city, Mu Guang looked around, then suddenly remembered something and his gaze fell on the two overlooked city gates. "Did you check behind the city gates?"
After the words were spoken, everyone fell silent.
"Oh no, we didn't check the city gates!" Yan Zitao shouted nervously.
At this moment, Xu Jintang and Xue Zhongqi, who had been hiding behind the city gate, emerged one on each side.
Xu Jintang kicked the city gate, and the heavy wooden door slammed shut.
On the other side, Xue Zhongqi pushed the city gate with both hands, taking one step at a time, and closed the other gate as well.
Xu Jintang leaned against the city gate behind him with a smile, "Squad Leader Mu, what a coincidence, we meet again."
Realizing that their entire team was trapped inside the city, Mu Guang's expression gradually turned serious. "Even if we're all locked up in the city, the two of you alone can't hold us all back."
The other team members also drew their weapons, assumed fighting stances, and watched Xu Jintang warily.
"That's right, the two of us can't keep you here." Xue Zhongqi leaned against the city gate, casually fanning himself with a folding fan. "But, there's something that can keep you here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Zhongqi's smile vanished. He quickly activated his mental power, took out all the remaining inscriptions from the bracelet's space, and tossed them into the air.
"Squad leader!"
Xu Jintang also took out the remaining inscriptions from his bracelet's storage space and tossed them to the other person, saying, "Here."
Xue Zhongqi's eyes turned serious. He raised his hands and instantly connected several strands of mental energy in the air.
Under its control, dozens of Inscription Talisman quickly arranged themselves into a mysterious array pattern in the air.
A blinding white light shone from the array, and powerful array energy slowly spread out.
When used alone, the attack power of Inscription Talisman is actually not that great.
However, when arranged into a formation, its power increases by at least three times.
This was also a new piece of knowledge that Xu Jintang learned from the intranet forum after joining the Inscriptionist Association.
"Everyone back off!" Mu Guang shouted immediately, sensing the terrifying power of the array patterns. He raised his hands, and the Xiaoshan Cauldron he was holding instantly grew larger, blocking everyone's way.
As the Inscription Talisman array in his hand took shape, Xue Zhongqi glanced at the opposite side and saw Mu Guang blocking the way, so he quickly turned.
With a nimble dodge, he brushed past Mu Guang and hurled the Inscription Talisman array in his hand at the team member behind him.
The array patterns burst forth with intense light, and the power fluctuations were so great that they caused strong air current vortexes, distorting the surrounding air.
Ordinary First Tier students are simply no match for them.
Even Yan Zitao Second Tier, didn't have time to resist before he was swallowed up by the power of the array patterns, and the group of people disappeared before their eyes.
"The number of players eliminated from the attacking side has increased to forty-seven."
With just one move, the siege team suffered heavy losses.
Apart from Mu Guang, all of his teammates were "killed in action".
Mu Guang's brows furrowed quickly, and his hands clenched slightly.
Xue Zhongqi stopped, somewhat pleased with himself, and looked at Xu Jintang with a face full of expectation for praise. "Was that a good move?"
"It wasn't for nothing that I risked my life to save you from the other side," Xu Jintang commented casually.
This move was a trump card she had planned with Xue Zhongqi long ago.
Because the number of inscriptions required is very large, they are only allowed to use it once.
Xu Jintang and Xue Zhongqi have kept it until now.
Seeing such amazing results today, all those nights she stayed up late creating the inscriptions weren't for nothing.
"Then I'll return to the front city to defend it." Xue Zhongqi closed his folding fan and resumed his serious demeanor.
Mu Guang's eyes darkened.
His teammates all died in front of him; he had to save those two no matter what.
" The Cauldron's Resonance!" Mu Guang manipulated the Xiaoshan Cauldron to attack Xue Zhongqi, clearly not wanting him to leave.
Xu Jintang immediately activated her supernatural power, standing in front of Mu Guang, "You go, I'll handle this."
She used the ground as leverage to leap into the air, then kicked at Xiaoshan Cauldron with a loud "clang," sending Xiaoshan Cauldron bouncing back.
Taking advantage of the situation, Xue Zhongqi leaped onto the roof and ran quickly towards the front of the city.
The number of players eliminated from the defending side has increased to three.
The announcement slowly began.
Since the start of the competition, the support team has had zero eliminations, but in tonight's decisive battle, Yu Wanyao's team went all out, they immediately found themselves struggling to keep up.
When Xue Zhongqi arrived at the city gate, three members of the support team had already been eliminated.
"Squad Leader Xue, we might not be able to hold out any longer." Yan Yuting said in a panic as soon as he saw Xue Zhongqi.
Yu Wanyao and her group were already in a frenzy, and she alone was no match for the students from the support class.
Xue Zhongqi's gaze fell on Yu Wanyao below, a serious look appearing in his eyes. " Yu Wanyao, I'll handle this."
The golden light of Xiaoshan Cauldron was dazzling, and under Mu Guang's control, it smashed towards Xu Jintang again and again.
"Clang, clang--"
Xu Jintang raised his foot to kick Xiaoshan Cauldron, and every time he made contact with Xiaoshan Cauldron, his whole body would go numb from the shock.
After exchanging blows several times, Xu Jintang stopped and stepped onto the ice.
Mu Guang summoned Xiaoshan Cauldron back to his side, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
" Xiaoshan Cauldron Suppression!"
Xu Jintang narrowed his eyes slightly.
This should be the second skill effect that Mu Guang acquired after becoming Second Tier ability user.
After activating his second skill, Xiaoshan Cauldron's suppressive power increased several times over.
Xu Jintang was completely overwhelmed. He braced himself against the giant cauldron with both hands, his internal organs were injured, and a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't waste your energy. Even Second Tier melee ability user couldn't withstand the power of my Xiaoshan Cauldron with their bare hands." Mu Guang's brows furrowed as he continued to apply pressure to Xiaoshan Cauldron.
Each time mental energy was applied, the vibrations of Xiaoshan Cauldron became increasingly violent.
The tremor traveled along Xu Jintang's arm and into her body.
We can't keep pushing ourselves any further.
Xu Jintang had no choice but to let go and quickly retreat.
She glanced down at her hand; even after being freed from Xiaoshan Cauldron, her arm was still trembling slightly.
Xu Jintang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the trembling in his arms, and rushed towards Mu Guang again.
Before he could even touch the person, Xiaoshan Cauldron quickly returned to defend, standing in front of Mu Guang.
Xu Jintang's punch landed on the cauldron again.
The shockwave from Xiaoshan Cauldron erupted, sending her flying back several meters.
Xu Jintang clutched his chest, slumped to the ground, and more blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. He seemed to have completely lost his fighting ability.
"Squad Leader Xu, please forgive me." Mu Guang stepped forward, came to Xu Jintang's side, and bent down to remove the jade pendant from her waist.
Just then, Xu Jintang suddenly reached out, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and activated the hidden arrow in his right arm.
"Whoosh--"
Several flaming arrows shot out at high speed.
Mu Guang's expression changed, and she dodged to the side.
At this moment, Xu Jintang slightly curled the corners of her lips and raised her hand to grab Mu Guang's arm.
It's normal that he couldn't beat Xiaoshan Cauldron; how could human strength possibly be stronger than an object?
But if it were to fight Mu Guang, she would absolutely crush him.
Xu Jintang's spiritual power erupted in an instant, gathering in his palm.
She grabbed Mu Guang's arm and pulled hard.
Mu Guang, who was bending over, stumbled and was pulled to the ground.
He quickly raised his hand to brace himself against the ground, trying to control Xiaoshan Cauldron.
Xu Jintang stood up, pulled Mu Guang up into the air with his backhand, then bent down and slammed him to the ground.
The force was so great that it directly cracked the ice layer on the ground.
A crisp cracking sound rang out, and Mu Guang, who had been thrown to the ground, felt a sharp pain in his spine, his face instantly turning pale. "You were faking that on purpose?"
"Your Xiaoshan Cauldron is indeed very effective against me, but I am not without the power to resist." As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Jintang gave him no chance to resist and immediately took off the jade pendant from his waist and crushed it.
Xu Jintang stood up and looked towards the city, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
The blood was indeed real; the shockwave from the Xiaoshan Cauldron had numbed her internal organs.
However, there's no time to focus on healing right now.
She turned and quickly ran towards the front of the city.
[Wow, this year's challenge even includes Inscription Talisman and arrays. I heard that perfectly creating such Inscription Talisman and arrays requires a very high level of skill from the inscription master.]