The Finals Begin
The two semi-final matches, which went from fourth to second place, were even more intense than the quarter-finals.
The Red Team—the team that included Phantom Bronze Mirror —encountered a team primarily focused on poison-based control. The battle was extremely close; the Misty Mist Bell's "Blinding the One Leaf Obscures the Eye" and the opposing team's poisonous mist swirled in the center of the arena, creating a thick fog of gray-white and dark purple, making it impossible for either side to see clearly. In the end, Phantom Bronze Mirror, the Soul Master, used his Mirror Clone to replicate the opposing poison-based control Soul Master, fighting poison with poison, and relentlessly wore down his opponent until his Soul Power was exhausted, finally securing a hard-fought victory.
The other semi-final was much more straightforward.
Xu Yu's five-man team gave their opponents no chance to breathe from the very first second of the match. Sun Chuantao's Giant Ring Blade opened with a sweeping attack, the blade tracing a semi-circular arc that forced the opposing Agility Attack System Soul Master to the sidelines; Li Kai's Black-Horned Mountain Boar charged forward like an armored chariot, shattering the opposing defenses; Wei Zhan's Army-Breaking Battle Axe followed closely, striking the shield of the opposing defensive Soul Master, forcing him to retreat seven or eight steps. Zhang Ping's Golden-Waisted Flying Swallow flanked the enemy, specifically targeting isolated targets. Xu Yu himself stood at the rear, each strike of his Brilliant Gold Scepter adding a layer of golden light to his teammates.
The entire battle ended in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Four of the five opponents were knocked off the stage, and the remaining one voluntarily conceded defeat.
"This team," Yan clicked his tongue in the stands, "Is really reckless. Three Power Attack System press forward like bulldozers; anything that gets in their way is crushed."
"He's reckless, but not brainless," Xie Yue commented at the time. "Look at Sun Chuantao, the angle of his Giant Ring Blade keeps changing; he's not just slashing randomly." Li Kai was responsible for frontal restraint, Wei Zhan for heavy attacks to break defenses, Zhang Ping for finishing off the enemies, Xu Yu for providing buffs from behind. The division of labor was very clear.
Ning Buhui remained silent. He knew the original members of the Spirit Hall, so he wasn't surprised by the strength of Xu Yu and his group. He simply memorized the Martial Soul and Soul Ring Configuration of the five members of Xu Yu's team.
After two days of fierce competition, only two teams remained out of the eight.
On the day of the finals, the stands of the arena were packed. Not only the teachers and deacons of the Spirit Hall Academy, but also Soul Master from several nearby cities came after hearing the news. The news spread quickly—the fact that a hastily formed team had made it to the finals was interesting enough; what's more, one side was the Phantom Bronze Mirror team, which had won all the way through with tactics and strategy, and the other side was the Xu Yu team, which had crushed them with absolute strength.
The clash between spear and shield has always been the most captivating spectacle.
The two teams entered the arena through the side passages.
On the red team's side, the Phantom Bronze Mirror Soul Master walked in the very center, the bronze mirror in his hand gleaming coldly. To his left was the Sky-Breaking Spear, and to his right was the Mist Bell, with the Iron Wall Ape and Shadow Cat on either side. The five of them moved at a steady pace, their formation impeccable, clearly preparing for a protracted battle.
Across from him, Xu Yu walked at the very back, with three people standing side by side in front of him— Sun Chuantao on the left, Li Kai in the middle, Wei Zhan on the right, and Zhang Ping half a step behind them, her movements nimble, like a swallow ready to pounce at any moment.
The two teams stood in the center of the field.
The referee stepped forward and scanned both sides. "Ready?"
Both teams nodded simultaneously.
Release your Martial Soul --
Almost simultaneously, ten Martial Soul appeared beside the ten people. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple—four Soul Ring slowly rose beneath their feet, and the fluctuations of Soul Power instantly swept across the entire area.
On the Red Team's side, Phantom Bronze Mirror's bronze mirror flickered in his hand, its surface humming and shimmering with cold light; Sky-Breaking Spear's tip pointed diagonally at the ground, silvery-white battle aura spreading upwards along the shaft; Mist Bell Shadow Cat's ten fingers were slightly bent, his fingernails protruding half an inch from the tips, shimmering with gray shadows; Mist Bell's bronze bell swayed gently in his hand, emitting a barely audible tinkling sound; Iron Wall Ape crossed his arms, gray-black stone armor extending from his elbows to his shoulders.
Opposite them, Sun Chuantao's Giant Ring Blade hummed as it was drawn, the dark gold patterns on its blade lighting up one by one, like a lit fuse; Li Kai let out a low roar, two black curved horns suddenly growing from the back of his head, his back arching, making him appear much stronger; Wei Zhan's Army-Breaking Battle Axe was infused with Soul Power, the edge of the blade glowing with a faint red light; Zhang Ping lowered her body, a pair of golden wing-like light patterns unfolding on her back and waist, her aura suddenly becoming erratic; Xu Yu's Brilliant Gold Scepter had a golden bead on its head shining brightly, a faint golden halo spreading out from him, enveloping his four teammates in front of him.
"Both teams' lineups," Hu Liena leaned forward slightly, her gaze sweeping across the field. "The Red Team still uses the same old lineup—Copper Mirror for support, Mist Bell for control, Iron Wall Ape for defense, Sky-Breaking Spear for offense, Shadow Cat for agility. A standard pentagonal team."
"What about Xu Yu?" Yan asked.
"Three Power Attack System grouped together, one agile attacker roaming, and one support." Xie Yue answered for her, "There's no dedicated controller, no dedicated defender. It's all about overwhelming them head-on."
"So here's the question," Yan stroked his chin, "The bronze mirror's maze is notoriously troublesome. Last time, the blue team fought for ages and still couldn't break it, only managing to shatter it with the combined efforts of two people. Xu Yu's team has three strong attackers attacking together; can they break it open?"
"That depends on what Xu Yu thinks," Ning Buhui said calmly.
The referee's flag is lowered. "Five, four, three, two, one, the final match begins!"
Almost the instant the referee finished speaking, Xu Yu began to unleash his Soul Skill in quick succession.
"First Soul Skill, Edict of Strength."
Four pale golden beams emanated from the tip of the staff, striking the four teammates precisely. The muscles in their arms tensed instantly, Sun Chuantao's knuckles turned white as he gripped the knife, and his aura of power surged unexpectedly.
Immediately afterwards, the Second Soul Ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill, Edict of Speed."
Four more golden lights fell. Zhang Ping's figure instantly became blurred, Sun Chuantao's dagger-wielding phantom formed a line in the air, and even Li Kai's clumsy figure seemed a bit lighter.
As the two amplifications descended, Xu Yu's Third Soul Ring lit up without pause. The golden bead on the staff suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, and a ring of light spread out from him, enveloping all four people in front of him.
"Third Soul Skill, Golden Radiance Shines Everywhere."
All attributes increased by 40%.
In an instant, the Soul Power fluctuations of the four people surged. The bluestone slab under Sun Chuantao's feet silently cracked with fine lines, Li Kai's Black-Horned Mountain Boar phantom almost solidified, Wei Zhan's battle axe's crimson light surged by half a foot, and the Golden Swallow Light Patterns behind Zhang Ping almost burst out of her body.
Yan, watching from the stands, gasped, "A triple boost right from the start... That's too ruthless."
"That's not all." Xie Yue's eyes were grave. "He still has his Fourth Soul Skill to use."
In the arena, the Phantom Bronze Mirror Soul Master remained expressionless. At the same moment that Xu Yu stacked his amplification, his First Soul Ring lit up.