"That handsome white-haired young man, is he really Ignaz, the vice-captain of Vast Sea Academy?"
"A few years ago he was already a Spirit Ancestor. By now, doesn't that mean he's at Spirit King level?"
"Vast Sea Academy suddenly has two Spirit Kings on their team… Can Bing'er's group really win this sparring match?"
…
All around, the girls from Skywater Academy couldn't help being stunned by Ignaz's striking looks and the quiet sense of power he gave off. Still, when it came to their own academy's team, doubt lingered in their eyes.
At the same time, the seven members of Skywater Academy stepped onto the center of the stage. At the very front stood Shui Bing'er, her gaze fixed on Ignaz at the head of Vast Sea Academy's lineup. She couldn't shake a faint feeling of longing.
But when she locked eyes with Dugu Yan, the corner of her lips curved into a knowing smile.
Even if he gave me that immortal herb last night, letting my spirit evolve, he still has to be punished today. Who told him to disappear all this time without contacting me? And besides, this is the perfect chance to let Big Brother Ignaz witness the true strength of my evolved spirit.
With a clear cry, the Frost Phoenix emerged from behind Shui Bing'er. The icy chill it radiated was even sharper than before.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"When did Sister Bing'er's Ice Phoenix change like that? Look, its golden feathers make it even more regal!"
In the stands, Li Xianyue and several Skywater Academy instructors were also stunned by the sudden transformation.
"Xianyue, Shui Bing'er's spirit seems to have evolved. What's going on?"
"I don't know either. Maybe it's a delayed evolution from when she absorbed that baby phoenix spirit beast—it matched her spirit perfectly."
The teachers exchanged looks and nodded. That explanation made sense enough.
Li Xianyue, though, remained half-skeptical. Absorbing a phoenix chick as her second spirit ring should've caused an immediate change, not one this late. But then again, before fusing with the phoenix, Bing'er's Ice Phoenix spirit had some clear flaws. With the phoenix supplementing its origin, plus her third ring coming from an ice crystal bird, maybe it wasn't so strange the spirit finally changed now.
Then, as captain and leader, Shui Bing'er stepped forward.
"Shui Bing'er, martial spirit Frost Phoenix, level 40, three-ring Spirit Ancestor."
"Xue Wu, martial spirit Silk Snow Dance, level 41, four-ring Spirit Ancestor."
"Yu Hairou, martial spirit Coral Barracuda, level 41, four-ring Spirit Ancestor."
…
The seven girls revealed their spirits one by one, their eyes wary as they stared at Ignaz's team.
On the Vast Sea side, Dugu Yan and the others also summoned their spirits and spirit rings, which drew another round of shocked cries from the Skywater girls.
"Vast Sea Academy having one Spirit King like Dugu Yan was already enough, but now they've got two more Spirit Ancestors too?"
"Two Spirit Ancestors, two Spirit Kings, and three Spirit Elders that aren't exactly weak… What chance does Skywater have to win?"
"Unless Sister Bing'er and Sister Xue Wu can use their fusion skill to take out those five below Spirit King rank right at the start, we've got no hope."
…
Ignaz only summoned his Blood Thunder War Spear, not even bothering to reveal his spirit rings.
Right then, as both teams braced to clash, a voice from behind Ignaz cut through the tension.
"Team battle isn't fair for Bing'er's side. Last time we lost to their fusion skill. This time, our real goal is to beat their Snow Dance fusion. So, for fairness' sake, Lingling, you and Brother Ignaz should take on Bing'er and Xue Wu in a two-on-two. What do you think?"
"No objections."
"Sister Yan, we'll follow your lead."
…
Everyone but Ignaz agreed. Even Yang Yong, hesitant at first, gave in once he saw Zhu Zhuqing nod. Hanging his head, guilt washed over him—he couldn't face his ally Ignaz.
"You guys…"
"Wasn't this supposed to be a team battle? How did it turn into a two-on-two? If I join, won't that make things unfair for Bing'er's side too?"
Dugu Yan brushed off Ignaz's protest, her tone firm, almost commanding.
"I don't care. We lost last time because of their fusion skill. With your Spirit King power, you're saying you still can't beat it? Even if you get hurt, you'll have me backing you up."
"Fine, fine. I'll step right into your trap then. I'll go. Lingling, you better be ready to heal me fast."
He had already guessed at their scheming—no, at *her* scheming—and wasn't surprised things had shifted into a two-on-two.
In fact, he was curious. Just how powerful would the fusion skill of one Spirit Elder and one lower-ranked Spirit Ancestor really be?
The Skywater students went wild at Dugu Yan's proposal. They wanted nothing more than to see their academy's pride defended. Chants filled the arena:
"Two-on-two! Two-on-two!"
The teachers saw the crowd's excitement boiling over and, after a brief discussion, gave their approval.
Both academies' teams withdrew, leaving only four figures on the stage.
"Lingling, stay right behind me at all times."
But before Ignaz could finish his warning, Shui Bing'er unleashed her first spirit ability: Ice Seal.
The entire arena froze in an instant. Ignaz and Ye Lingling were encased in a massive block of ice before he could even react, locked in place and completely immobilized.
"Xue Wu, while he's trapped, let's unleash that move. We'll finish this in one strike."
"Got it."
Xue Wu didn't question her at all. Against a Spirit King, once they'd pinned him down, they had to throw in everything they had—one clean burst, no holding back.
If they hesitated and let Ignaz recover, the outcome would be completely different.
The two girls leapt into the air, backs pressed together, hands linked. Snowflakes whirled thicker across the arena as the temperature plunged again, frost spreading rapidly toward the front.
Down below, most of the students shivered violently and bolted for the stands.