Standing beside Dai Weisi, Zhu Zhuyun's expression looked slightly unnatural, which didn't escape the keen eyes of Su Ming and Zhu Zhuqing.
Su Ming shook his head, saying calmly, "I've said my piece. Believe it or not, let's start the match. I just hope you both don't end up too badly beaten by Zhuqing!"
Dai Weisi's face twisted slightly, but he forced a laugh. "Ha! What a joke! You think we're no match for Zhu Zhuqing? Don't insult us!"
At that moment, the announcer, Su Yuntao, saw that both teams were ready and began the introductions. "Today's match features Heaven Dou Battle Team versus Star Luo Battle Team. Let's first review Heaven Dou's lineup!"
"Oh my, Heaven Dou has a Soul Emperor, three Soul Kings, and four Soul Elders!"
"Captain Su Ming, a sixty-five rank Control-type Battle Soul Emperor with the Wood Element spirit."
Su Yuntao couldn't help but glance at Su Ming with surprise. He still remembered leading Su Ming's spirit awakening. To think Su Ming had grown so powerful—it turned out he'd really misjudged him back then!
"What!" Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun looked shocked. How was this possible? Su Ming was still so young; how could he be so powerful? Dai Weisi mentally noted this and planned to report it to his father after the match.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuyun's expression softened with some relief. It looked like Zhuqing was in safe hands.
"Vice-Captain Dugu Yan, a fifty-fourth rank Control-type Battle Soul King with the Jade Phosphor Serpent Empress spirit."
"Team member Xiao Wu, a fifty-fifth rank Power Attack-type Battle Soul King with the Soft Bone Rabbit spirit."
"Team member Zhu Zhuqing, a fifty-second rank Agility Attack-type Battle Soul King with the Netherworld Civet spirit!"
"Impressive! This team member's fourth spirit ring is a ten-thousand-year ring. We look forward to her performance!" Su Yuntao announced excitedly.
Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun were once again taken aback. Just days ago, Zhu Zhuqing had only been a Soul Elder with four spirit rings—how was she suddenly a Soul King? Dai Weisi clenched his jaw, the sight of Zhu Zhuqing's five spirit rings making him grind his teeth in anger. Zhu Zhuqing was a threat that needed to be eliminated.
"Now for Star Luo Battle Team's lineup. Captain Dai Weisi, a forty-ninth rank Power Attack-type Battle Soul Elder with the White Tiger spirit, just one step away from Soul King."
"Vice-Captain Zhu Zhuyun, a forty-seventh rank Agility Attack-type Battle Soul Elder with the Netherworld Civet spirit, along with Dai Weisi, the team's strongest attackers!" Su Yuntao narrated enthusiastically, unaware of Dai Weisi's simmering rage at being "just one step away" from Soul King—what used to be a compliment now felt like a taunt.
"Additionally, two auxiliary-type Soul Elders with the Compassionate Water spirit."
With the teams in a three-line formation, Su Yuntao's voice rose in excitement. "Everyone must be eager to witness this exciting match! Let's begin!"
Jumping down from the platform, he left the arena to the two teams.
"Xiao Wu, Yan, Oslo—focus on the others and take them down quickly to clear space for Zhuqing. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun will probably come at her full force," Su Ming instructed briskly.
"Ning Rongrong!" Su Ming called, and she responded by raising her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Nine treasures turn out colored glass. Three says spirit!" Ning Rongrong's voice rang out as she activated a soul power boost for her teammates, prepared to adjust her support based on how the battle unfolded.
Only Oslo and Zhuqing really needed her enhancement; everyone else was more than capable without it.
"Zhuyun, spirit fusion!" Dai Weisi called as the battle began, gripping Zhu Zhuyun's hand.
"Mm." Zhu Zhuyun nodded slightly.
"Spirit Fusion: Netherworld White Tiger!"
A giant Netherworld White Tiger materialized, its presence at least Soul Emperor level.
With a roar, the tiger received boosts from their auxiliary Soul Elders, raising its aura to near Soul Sage level—only lacking a true Spirit Avatar.
From within the tiger, Dai Weisi's voice echoed, "Zhu Zhuqing, you're just a Soul King! You're no match for our Netherworld White Tiger!"
Facing the tiger, Zhu Zhuqing remained calm and unfazed, placing her faith in her teammates.
"Nine treasures turn out colored glass. One says strength; two says speed!" Two beams of light entered Zhu Zhuqing, raising her stats by fifty percent.
Her aura soared, but there was more to come. Green orbs gathered around Su Ming, and his fourth spirit ring lit up.
"Withered Tree Brings Spring!"
A green glow entered Zhu Zhuqing, boosting her attributes by an additional seventy percent, lifting her aura to that of an early Soul Emperor!
Zhu Zhuqing was surprised at the increase, realizing that Su Ming's fourth ring seemed to have grown even stronger. Her confidence grew as she faced the Netherworld White Tiger—she had more abilities left to reveal if needed.
Dai Weisi was stunned, yelling, "Su Ming! What kind of boost is that fourth spirit skill? It's even stronger than the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
Su Ming only smiled silently, offering no answers. His skill not only boosted all attributes but also greatly enhanced self-healing—a versatile, invaluable skill.
With Zhuqing focused on the tiger, Su Ming turned to the other opponents, swiftly clearing the field.
Apart from Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun, Star Luo's remaining members were no higher than rank forty-four, making them easy targets for Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan.
Seeing that his involvement wasn't needed, Su Ming stood confidently on the sidelines, watching over Rongrong and Lingling for their safety. After his relationship with Lingling was confirmed, he taught her the Lingbo Microstep technique, improving her self-defense.
Then, one of the Star Luo Battle Team members caught Su Ming's attention. He recognized the spirit ability—Mirror Realm—which belonged to the soul master Li Yang, currently being targeted by Oslo.
"Third Soul Skill: Mirror Shield Cascade!"
Instantly, several mirrors appeared above Li Yang.
"Everyone, get into the mirrors!" Li Yang shouted.
With those words, every soul master except the Netherworld White Tiger retreated into the mirror realm.
In the spectator area, Dugu Bo chuckled as he observed the technique. "What an interesting ability. I wonder how the little monster plans to handle this."
In Dugu Bo's eyes, trying to use space manipulation against Su Ming was futile. Still, he thought of a solution and wondered if Yan and Su Ming would think of the same.
On the battlefield, as the Star Luo team vanished, the mirrors began rotating, seeking opportunities to attack. Xiao Wu and the others returned to Su Ming's side.
"Brother, this technique resembles one of your abilities, though it seems that the space inside the mirrors can't be closed," Xiao Wu noted. She had struck at the mirror space with her attack, but it passed through harmlessly, leaving the mirrors untouched.
"Everyone, don't rely on your sight—use your mental perception to track the mirrors' movements!" Su Ming instructed. To him, their movement was slow, though he had an idea for dealing with them.
"Dugu Yan, release your Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor poison into one of those mirrors. Let's see how long they can stay in there!" Su Ming smirked.
Realizing his plan, Dugu Yan grinned. With her refined skills, her poison was deadly; anyone weaker than her couldn't survive it for even half a minute.
Su Ming cautioned her, "Hold back a bit. We don't want them collapsing inside before they get a chance to surrender—I might not be able to save them in time."
Dugu Yan huffed playfully but complied, her third soul ring lighting up.
"Third Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Violet Poison!"
She held back to avoid being too lethal. A thick green mist flowed from her mouth into the densest cluster of mirrors.
Dugu Bo watched with a silent nod of approval.
Within five seconds, the mirrors vanished, and Li Yang's team reappeared, clutching their chests and visibly struggling.
The Netherworld White Tiger noticed its team's struggle but could do nothing, as Zhu Zhuqing had them completely occupied.
Their surprise at Zhu Zhuqing's strength was growing. The Netherworld White Tiger boasted a defensive shell, yet her attacks broke through it effectively. They couldn't believe how strong she had become since her time in Heaven Dou Empire.
Dai Weisi, concerned for his teammates, called out, "Su Ming! Please, spare my teammates. I'll surrender on their behalf so they can step down safely."
For the first time, Dai Weisi put his pride aside, understanding that Su Ming held the authority here.
Su Ming glanced at Dai Weisi, recalling that in the original story, Dai Weisi had shown similar loyalty. After Li Yang had used his ability to teleport Dai Weisi away from Tang San's Blue Silver Impaling Array, Dai Weisi had repaid him by targeting the Heaven Dou auxiliary soul masters to reduce pressure on his team.
"Alright. Now then, Star Luo Royal Academy, only you two remain."
"Lingling!" Su Ming turned to her.
While he could detoxify them himself, his skill was single-target and wasn't specialized for healing. Lingling's area-based healing would be more effective, and it was a chance for her to shine in her first match.
Lingling nodded, summoning a dual-colored lotus in her hands. White petals floated toward the Star Luo team, gradually cleansing the poison from their bodies.
Afterward, Li Yang and his teammates, although recovering, looked visibly weakened. Lingling herself was slightly breathless; the detox had used a third of her soul power. She was relieved Yan hadn't unleashed her full poison power, or it would've exhausted her entirely.
Li Yang turned to Dai Weisi, guilt evident. "I'm sorry, Captain. It's my fault—"
But Dai Weisi cut him off. "It's not your fault; the power gap is just too great. Now hurry and get off the stage."
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