Victory Over the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team

Yu Tianheng, Osler, and Yu Feng formed a triangular defense. Yu Tianheng stood at the front and bore the greatest pressure, while Yu Feng and Osler faced less on either side.

"No, captain, I can't hold on much longer."

Even under the lesser pressure at the sides, Yu Feng and Osler were close to their limit.

And they had only been in contact with the Extreme Freezing Ray for a moment. One could well imagine just how powerful Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's combination skill was.

Dugu Yan was frantic at the rear. Watching Yu Tianheng bear the greatest pressure at the front, she felt a slight ache in her heart. She hurriedly released her poison, hoping to attack Skywater Academy's formation and relieve the pressure on him.

"Third Soul Skill, Jade Phosphorus Snake... mmph!"

Just as Dugu Yan was about to release her Soul Skill, a sly little smile appeared on Shui Yue'er's cute, pretty face in the distant Skywater Academy formation. Shui Yue'er seemed to teleport, appearing beside Dugu Yan in an instant as she prepared to release her Soul Skill. Then, with Wind-Treading Snow-Shadow Steps applied to her little foot, she kicked the unsuspecting Dugu Yan off the stage.

She then turned an ill-intentioned smile on Heaven Capital Royal Academy's healing-system Soul Master.

Hearing Dugu Yan cry out in pain behind him, Yu Tianheng couldn't help looking back in worry. Shui Yue'er was advancing step by step, forcing his team's healing-system Soul Master to the edge of the Soul Fighting stage. Dugu Yan was already leaning against the wall below the stage, clutching the spot Shui Yue'er had kicked, her face twisted in pain.

Yu Tianheng saw that his only two remaining teammates on either side of him were also close to their limit. He could only sigh. "Sigh, we surrender."

As soon as Yu Tianheng spoke, Shui Bing'er waved her graceful hand and dispelled her Soul Skill. Shui Yue'er skipped back, and everyone's faces lit up with the joy of victory.

"We underestimated you and were careless this time. The next time we meet, we'll definitely defeat you."

After leaving those parting words, Yu Tianheng supported the two on the stage as they slowly walked off.

"What an absolutely spectacular match! Let's cheer for the Skywater Academy Team's victory!"

After Yu Tianheng surrendered, the host, Doudou, came out and announced the winner.

"Tianshuang, Sister Bing'er, I need to go check on Yan'er."

Looking a little worried and embarrassed, Ye Lingling spoke to Yu Tianshuang and Shui Bing'er.

"Go on, and heal them while you're there. You and Dugu Yan are so close, after all. Don't let the outcome of a match affect your sisterly bond."

Once she had their approval, Ye Lingling hurried toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy's waiting room.

After everyone from Skywater Academy returned to the Soul Fighting Arena's waiting room, Yu Hairou, who had returned from the stands a little earlier, hurriedly examined each of them in detail.

Feeling her gentleness, like that of a big sister from next door, everyone felt a warmth in their hearts. As Yu Hairou treated them, she spoke indulgently to Shui Yue'er. "Yue'er, you mustn't charge into the other side's formation alone next time. It's so dangerous! If their main fighters hadn't been doing everything they could to resist Bing'er's Soul Skill, wouldn't you have been surrounded and attacked when you rushed in?"

Shui Yue'er stuck out her tongue playfully. "Oh, Sister Hairou, I only rushed over because I saw there was no defense at their rear and they'd let their guard down."

"Mm, Yue'er did well this time. Otherwise, if that Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Soul Master had released her poison, it would have been quite a threat, and we might not have won the match so quickly. But Yue'er, next time you have to wait for my orders. You can't act on your own. Individual ability isn't the most important thing in a team battle; we're a team."

After praising Shui Yue'er, Shui Bing'er put on a serious face and criticized her for acting on her own.

Once everyone's injuries had healed and their Soul Power had recovered, Shui Bing'er said, "Everyone has to finish the rest of this week's individual matches today. Hairou, wait here for Lingling and return to the academy together."

As she spoke, her stern gaze remained fixed on Shui Yue'er. But Shui Yue'er didn't look miserable today. Instead, she was the first to leave the waiting room, ready to sign up for her individual matches.

Watching her leave first, everyone couldn't help staring wide-eyed at one another. They rubbed their eyes and said, "Is that really the Yue'er I know?"

As if something had occurred to her, Shui Bing'er looked at Shui Yue'er's pretty departing figure with a gratified expression, then cast a meaningful glance at the equally baffled Yu Tianshuang, seemingly hinting at something.

"Frost Raging Dragon Strike!"

After defeating a Soul King with a single move, Yu Tianshuang left the Soul Fighting stage and headed for the waiting room. He found it empty and thought the others might still be fighting, so he went out to take a look.

He watched Shui Yue'er below, already covered in wounds and panting as she faced her opponent, a level 49 Defense System Soul Ancestor with an optimal Soul Ring Configuration.

This won't do. Yue'er's attacks do too little damage to that Defense System Soul Ancestor. Although most of his attacks miss, Yue'er clearly won't be able to take more than a few hits. More importantly, Yue'er has been using a great deal of Soul Power to maintain her speed and attacks. The Defense System Soul Master, on the other hand, has only been defending and counterattacking, and he's clearly using far less Soul Power than Yue'er.

Defense System Soul Masters already have an advantage over the Agility Attack System, and there's such a large gap between their Soul Power Levels, too. It looks like Yue'er has lost this Soul Fight, but why is she still holding on? I remember Yue'er still has two Soul Fights left this week. Why isn't she saving her strength for the next match?

"Is it hard to understand? Are you wondering why she's still holding on when victory is clearly out of reach?" Shui Bing'er, who had come to Yu Tianshuang's side at some unknown point, voiced the question in his heart.

"Because she doesn't want you to leave her too far behind. She doesn't want to lose even the right to stand behind you and watch your back someday."

Shui Bing'er spoke of the question in Yu Tianshuang's heart in a grave, serious tone.

"But why? I don't understand."

Rather than answer Yu Tianshuang's question, Shui Bing'er silently watched Shui Yue'er launch another attack in the arena, clearly almost at her limit.

After a moment's silence, Shui Bing'er slowly spoke. "You two met when you were six, and you were also her first friend her own age. In the Shui Family and at the academy, the children her age were all afraid of our family's influence and didn't dare make friends with her sincerely. She was very lonely. Although you see her happy every day, always seeming able to bring joy to others, she's very lonely too. Then you appeared, and she had her first friend she could truly open up to, and the first person she liked."

"As time passed, you gradually moved ahead of all of us. She saw it clearly, and she understands herself too. She knows you're already so strong, and as time goes on, you'll gradually move farther and farther away from her, until she can't even see your back anymore. She doesn't want that, so she's doing her best to chase after you now. That's her own choice. Because she likes you. All of us know it; you're the only one who doesn't."

Shui Bing'er's words struck Yu Tianshuang's ears like a bolt from the blue. He stared at the slender figure in the arena, battered and covered in wounds, yet unwilling to give up. Scenes of his time with Shui Yue'er flashed rapidly through his mind like a revolving lantern. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his heart, as though someone were squeezing it, and tears slipped unbidden from the corners of his eyes.

Having understood everything, Yu Tianshuang shouted to Shui Yue'er below, "Come on! Come on!"

Hearing the familiar voice calling down from above, Shui Yue'er couldn't stop tears from streaming down her face. She raised her sleeve to wipe them away, then looked at her opponent with determination in her eyes.

"Mm, I will. You have to wait for me."