The moment Ye Yin's gaze swept over her, Qian Renxue felt as if an electric current had shot through her body. That familiar, all-encompassing chill washed over her once again, and she had to fight the urge to take a step back.
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +99!]
"Good! Very good!" Xue Qinghe said, forcing his voice to remain steady as he suppressed the storm of emotions and strange sensations inside him. "I have said what I needed to say! You're on your own now! In the promotion rounds, this prince will be watching to see how you 'temper' yourself against even stronger opponents!"
He then turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Teacher, it's getting late. We should be going."
After speaking, Qian Renxue didn't dare to stay for another second. She turned and walked quickly out of the tent with Ning Fengzhi, almost looking like she was fleeing in embarrassment. As the two of them stepped outside, Ye Yin's voice followed them.
"How did you like the gift I gave you last time? If you liked it, I'll use it on you again."
Xue Qinghe stumbled, nearly falling flat on the ground.
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +99!]
Ning Fengzhi was a little curious. While it wasn't a gentlemanly question, he felt it was harmless to ask his student about it. "Qinghe? What gift did Ye Yin give you?"
Xue Qinghe forced an awkward smile. "He gave me a small bottle. He said it was for massages. I haven't had the chance to try it yet."
Ning Fengzhi nodded thoughtfully. "You should try it when you get back. Ye Yin wouldn't give you anything ordinary. Its effects must be astonishing."
Qian Renxue's mouth twitched. The effect was certainly astonishing, but the process was even more unbearably astonishing. "I will," she lied.
Deep within the Royal Hunting Ground, a temporary open-air Grand Spirit Arena had been erected. Its metallic floor gleamed coldly under the sun. Surrounded by tall, dense trees that shielded it from outside view, the arena was guarded by ten thousand Royal Knights.
The fifteen qualifying teams were seated in order on either side of the stage. Unlike the lively and chaotic preliminaries, the atmosphere here was quiet and filled with a murderous intent. The promotion rounds were a series of one-on-one, round-robin battles—a raw display of individual strength with no room for tricks.
As the top seed, Shrek Academy had been given the best viewing position. Their unique, Shrek-green uniforms seemed out of place in the formal royal setting, but they now carried a peculiar sense of intimidation. The gazes from the other teams were a mixture of solemn apprehension and barely concealed curiosity.
The competition proceeded in an orderly fashion. The first few matches were mostly between the lower-ranked academies and were largely unremarkable. When the announcer's voice boomed, "Next up, Shrek Academy versus Barak Academy!" the entire arena instantly fell silent. All eyes focused on the Shrek team.
Who would they send out first? The first fighter often represented a team's strategy and confidence.
Under the crowd's expectant gaze, a tall, elegant figure slowly stood up. Her black combat attire outlined a perfect, slender figure. It was Zhu Zhuqing. She walked onto the stage with light, silent steps, not saying a single word.
Barak Academy sent out their ace, a Level 42 attack-system Spirit Ancestor known for his brute strength and explosive power. He was tall and muscular, and after his Spirit possessed him, he resembled a roaring giant bear. He looked at the slender, cold Zhu Zhuqing and smiled with disdain.
"Little girl, with those thin arms and legs, I'd advise you to surrender now to avoid getting hurt!"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't respond. Her cold eyes simply locked onto him. At the referee's command, the battle began.
The Barak Spirit Ancestor roared and charged toward Zhu Zhuqing like a tank, his massive fist whistling through the air as it smashed down. But in that instant, Zhu Zhuqing's figure blurred, becoming a black streak of lightning that merged with the shadows.
Hell Rush Stab! Nether Claw!
Her speed was terrifying. Just as his fist was about to land, she dodged to the side at an impossible angle. Her sharp cat claws became a blur of afterimages, landing with pinpoint accuracy on his wrist, elbow, and knee—all the vulnerable joints that were crucial for his attack.
Rip! Rip!
The sound of tearing cloth was followed by the shattering of his spirit power shield. The Barak Spirit Ancestor felt a sharp, numbing pain in his joints, and his ferocious charge instantly fell apart. His massive body lost its balance, and he stumbled forward, about to fall.
Like a ghost, Zhu Zhuqing's indifferent figure appeared behind him, her fourth spirit ring flashing.
Nether Shadow Clone!
Her sharp claw blades, carrying a chilling cold, rested against the back of his neck. She didn't use any force, but the bone-chilling sensation instantly froze him in place as cold sweat drenched his back.
"First match, Shrek Academy wins!" the referee announced.
It was clean and decisive. The entire match had lasted less than ten seconds. Barak Academy's ace had been completely helpless against Zhu Zhuqing. A collective gasp rippled through the arena. Her speed and precision were unbelievable.
The faces of the Barak Academy members were grim as they sent out their second team member, an agility-attack system Spirit Elder who was also known for his speed. But in front of Zhu Zhuqing, his proud speed was like that of a snail. Zhu Zhuqing's claws seemed to anticipate his every move. Every one of her dodges was perfectly timed, and every counterattack was aimed directly at a vital point. In less than three minutes, the second team member, covered in several bloody scratches, embarrassedly conceded defeat.
The third opponent came, and then the fourth. Zhu Zhuqing's momentum was like a sword drawn from its sheath, growing stronger and more unstoppable with each battle.
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