Day 13 of the qualifiers, Great Spirit Arena of Heaven Dou City.
"Round 12 of the qualifiers, first match: Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Godwind Academy!" The host's voice, amplified by the soul guide, was still crisp and penetrating, reaching the ears of every spectator amid the tidal wave of cheers.
"First to enter, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team!" As his high voice rang out, Yang Yunhai was the first to walk from the tunnel onto the newly expanded 50-meter-diameter stage. Following him were Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Oslo, Shi Mò, Shi Mó, and Ye Lingling.
"They didn't let Yu Feng go up?"
"Why would he? Godwind Academy's whole team can fly. If Yu Feng goes up alone, he'd just get surrounded in midair."
"Looks like Heaven Dou Royal Academy plans to rely on Shi Mò and Shi Mó's defense, then have Dugu Yan petrify one of them to drag down and finish off. A bit conservative, but the most stable tactic."
The audience discussed in low voices.
"Next, the Godwind Academy contestants!" the host announced.
"Captain, what do we do? Heaven Dou Royal Academy looks set to defend and drag it out." One Godwind member frowned as he whispered. "Our flying soul skills constantly drain soul power. If we get stalled, that's trouble. And we still need to guard against Dugu Yan's Petrification Gaze."
"Shi Mò and Shi Mó's fourth soul skills are a big problem too. Once they open, I doubt we can blow them away," another muttered bitterly.
Feng Xiaotian lowered his voice and planned. "Whether it's Shi Mò, Shi Mó, or Dugu Yan, using fourth soul skills costs a lot of soul power. They can't keep casting them. We'll use our aerial speed advantage. Stay wary of Dugu Yan, but focus long-range, low-consumption attacks on Ye Lingling. Those two will have to open their fourth soul skills to defend. Make them do it enough times, and their soul power will drain."
"What really worries me is Yang Yunhai. I don't know if his vines will hold."
After a night's thought, he had realized Yang Yunhai could root his vines in the ground for defense, and with his second skill, Absorption, he could keep drawing energy.
'If they can't be blown away or cut… that'll be trouble. If this drags, we'll definitely lose. Drop to the ground? Against five Soul Ancestors, how do we fight? We'd have no advantage.'
"No matter what, I can't lose today!" His gaze sharpened as he looked toward Blazing Academy's direction.
'So he's that devoted? Then Huo Wu must've said something to him.' Yang Yunhai guessed immediately, shaking his head slightly.
He led his team onto the stage, facing Godwind Academy.
"Yang Yunhai, you're strong. But today, I have a reason I must defeat you!" Feng Xiaotian said seriously.
Yang Yunhai felt like he was staring at a chuuni youth and simply nodded. "Please, give me your guidance."
"Salute!" the referee ordered.
Both sides bowed. Then the referee raised his right hand and dropped it sharply. "Begin!"
"Third soul skill, Stormwind Wings!"
Feng Xiaotian's arms spread wide, wings unfurled from his back, and with a step, he shot into the sky.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" His teammates all rose into the air after him.
On the other side, Yang Yunhai extended his right hand. His martial soul formed a spear, and with a boom, he drove its butt into the ground. "First soul skill, Extension!"
From the spear's impact point, eight vines raced outward along the ground in all directions.
"What's this?" Feng Xiaotian frowned. "Stick to the plan!"
His teammates sped forward overhead, bodies glowing with green light.
"First soul skill, Wind Blade Burst!" Feng Xiaotian twisted in midair, slashing down with his wolf claws. Ten half-arc blades of wind slashed down.
Puff, puff, puff—
each struck one of the vines, leaving pale marks. But nothing more. The vines still spread rapidly toward the stage's edges.
"What is Yang Yunhai trying to do?" Tang San muttered from Shrek's stands.
"They're this resilient!?" Feng Xiaotian frowned again.
"First soul skill, Wind Blade Burst!" He unleashed another ten blades.
"First soul skill, Wind Blades! Wind Spheres!" His teammates added more wind skills, all aimed at Ye Lingling.
"Fourth soul skill, Xuanwu Barrier!" Shi Mò's body shook as a green barrier spread outward.
Wind skills slammed against it, rippling it, making it look thin and wavering.
Meanwhile, vines reached the arena's rim, then split again, spreading along the circular edge.
"Captain, something's wrong!" a Godwind student called from overhead.
Below, apart from Shi Mò and Shi Mó holding the shield, all the Heaven Dou Royal members were pressing their hands to Yang Yunhai's back.
It looked like they were channeling power for something big.
"Don't hold back! Break them now!" Feng Xiaotian barked. "Second soul skill, Double Wolf Body Enhancement! Fourth soul skill, Demon Wolf Claws!" A wolf shadow appeared behind him, claws extending with green light, then he surged downward.
His teammates followed up with their attacks.
"Fourth soul skill, Xuanwu Barrier!" Both Shi brothers expanded a more solid barrier around their team.
At that moment, the vines around the rim suddenly shot upward, sprouting every half meter.
From afar, it looked like a massive net rising, covering the whole stage.
"Damn!" the audience gasped.
"Captain, he's trying to trap us!"
"Break the barrier now!" Feng Xiaotian shouted, gritting his teeth.
But there was no way out. If they flew beyond the stage, they'd exhaust their soul power in the air and fall. Leaving the stage meant automatic defeat.
The vines closed overhead, forming a giant birdcage.
"Holy—!" the spectators roared in shock.
Then, countless thorned vines shot from the cage walls toward Godwind Academy.
"Damn it!" The Godwind members panicked, flapping desperately to dodge.
Feng Xiaotian felt despair. The attacks were too dense, the vines all barbed. Getting touched would mean serious injury. Their lack of defense was their fatal weakness.
And once touched, Yang Yunhai's third soul skill would take effect.
"First trap them, then saturate with attacks? Heaven Dou Royal Academy… what a terrifying tactic!" Spectators were excited beyond words, watching Godwind's desperate dodges inside the cage.
"This scene's no worse than Blazing Academy's firestorm yesterday. Incredible!"
"Yang Yunhai never fails to surprise us," Emperor Xue Ye praised from the VIP box.
"Indeed," Ning Fengzhi smiled, his eyes burning with interest.
Down on the field, Yang Yunhai raised his spear.
"Third soul skill, Parasite!"
His vines exhaled faint white mist.
"…" The Godwind team's scalps tingled.
'How do we dodge this?!'
Within moments, one member cried out—though he avoided the vines, the near-invisible seeds had already spread through the air. Vines sprouted from his body, binding him tightly before he fell.
"Damn it!" Feng Xiaotian clenched his teeth, glancing at Blazing Academy, face flushed.
One after another, his teammates dropped.
"We surrender!" At last, he spat the words through clenched teeth.
Yang Yunhai withdrew his vines and spear. He had been waiting for a chance to skewer one of them, but clearly, there was no need.
The birdcage tactic had worked far better than expected.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy wins!" the referee declared.
Yang Yunhai nodded toward Feng Xiaotian, then led his team offstage.
Feng Xiaotian stood in silence for a moment before leading his own team away, looking defeated.
Tang San was silent too, deep in thought.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy's tactic is almost unbeatable." Ma Hongjun gave a bitter smile. "Unless we can break the Shi brothers' turtle shell or cut through Yang Yunhai's vines, I don't see a way."
Everyone's faces darkened.
Other academies felt the same and left in silence.
Later, in the rest area—
"Huo Wu, I—" Feng Xiaotian's words faltered when he saw Blazing Academy. His face showed clear frustration.
"You lost to tactics. That's not shameful, nor your fault," Huo Wu said coolly. "You still have one last chance to beat Yang Yunhai: in the finals." She turned and left.
Feng Xiaotian bit his lip, watching her back.
"Huo Wu, why did you say that?" Huo Wushuang asked once they were outside.
"Just so he can accept the loss without excuses," she said flatly.
"…Fine," Huo Wushuang sighed.
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou Royal Academy's private lounge—
"Let's return to the hotel," Yang Yunhai said with a smile. "We'll come back this afternoon to watch the next match."
In the afternoon, Shrek Academy would face Blazing Academy.
After all, Tang San had no fire immunity.
(End of Chapter)
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