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No retreat left!
Yuanen Yehui's expression shifted slightly. After her full-powered burst, she was temporarily unable to muster the strength to deal with the explosion of the elemental vortex.
Though her defense was formidable, she certainly didn't have a penchant for rushing headlong into explosions.
In that moment of hesitation, she could only quickly step forward a few paces, dodging the core of the vortex's blast.
"Wu Siduo, circle around and trap her!"
Xu Yuan issued the command.
Wu Siduo had actually received Xu Yuan's hint early on and had been holding back during the fight. Now, with the opportunity ripe, she unleashed her full power, forcing Le Zhengyu back before charging toward Yuanen Yehui.
Le Zhengyu's face changed, and he immediately moved to intervene.
Earlier, Yuanen Yehui had already been pushed to the center of both teams' formations due to her clash with Tang Wulin. To avoid the vortex's explosion, she had retreated deep into Grade One's territory. If Wu Siduo managed to flank her, Yuanen Yehui would be completely surrounded.
The Sacred Angel above Le Zhengyu released a blazing white-gold flame.
His second soul ring shone brightly as a sword of purest, most sacred fire condensed in his hand.
Holding the Angel's Holy Sword, he slashed downward, unleashing a torrent of scorching sacred flames that surged toward the back of Wu Siduo's Hell White Tiger form.
Ye Xinglan thrust her sword forward, the stars gleaming brilliantly.
This strike wasn't aimed at Ye Xingmo but instead intercepted Le Zhengyu's holy flame sword qi.
Ye Xingmo's body tensed as he felt an overwhelming pressure closing in from the surrounding space.
Fang Yuan's gravity field was now perfectly positioned to envelop him.
In just an instant, the original matchups dissolved as everyone abandoned their opponents, causing a dramatic shift in the battlefield's momentum.
Wu Siduo flanked Yuanen Yehui, Le Zhengyu's interception was blocked by Ye Xinglan, and Ye Xingmo—Ye Xinglan's opponent—was temporarily restrained by Fang Yuan, creating this fleeting opening.
As for Fang Yuan's opponent?
Fang Yuan's Spirit-Sealing Stele wasn't purely offensive or defensive—it was more accurately categorized as a control-type ability.
Control-type abilities were the most versatile and impactful in battle because they could simultaneously handle a powerful foe while influencing at least one other enemy's actions in that critical moment.
The encirclement was set.
Caught in the aftershock of the explosion, Yuanen Yehui was forced another two steps forward. After stabilizing herself and preparing to unleash another burst of strength, Tang Wulin's second Golden Dragon Ascension struck.
It seemed like the suppressed dragon's defiant counterattack. This Golden Dragon Ascension was far stronger than the previous one, with its reversed blood flow unleashing unprecedented power.
"I never expected that, in such a short battle, Wulin's mastery of Golden Dragon Ascension would advance so significantly," Zhuoshi remarked from the stands, his eyes filled with delight.
In such a brief time, Tang Wulin hadn't just mastered Golden Dragon Ascension—he had rapidly progressed, and now he was improving right before Zhuoshi's eyes. How could he not be thrilled?
Wu Siduo also leapt down in her Hell White Tiger form, her massive tiger claws descending.
Yuanen Yehui unleashed two air cannons with both fists, colliding with Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw and Wu Siduo's Hell White Tiger claws.
BOOM!
Two fists couldn't match four hands.
Tang Wulin's attack was stronger than before, and Wu Siduo, in her Hell White Tiger form, possessed astonishing strength. Together, they overwhelmed Yuanen Yehui.
After gaining the upper hand, they pressed their advantage—not literally inch by inch, but steadily advancing.
In the relentless clash of raw power, Tang Wulin and Wu Siduo's numerical superiority allowed them to quickly force Yuanen Yehui back, driving her farther and farther from her team.
"You!"
Le Zhengyu glared at Ye Xinglan, seething with anger. The Sacred Angel fused into his body, sacred flames swirling around his holy sword as he unleashed another terrifying wave of flame-infused sword qi.
Ye Xinglan remained composed, her three soul rings facing off against his four. Undaunted, she thrust her Star God Sword forward, its starlight dazzling.
Her gaze was unwavering.
Her sword intent was extraordinarily focused.
Real combat was the best way to improve, especially true battles with life-and-death stakes.
The mock battles in the Soul Arena merely honed techniques. As soul masters grew familiar with the arena, the pressure it exerted on them diminished over time.
"Gu Yue, create a water-fire tornado and launch it toward their rear!"
By now, Gu Yue had already formed a water-fire tornado. Following Xu Yuan's instructions, she hurled it toward the opposing team's rear.
Ye Xingmo, having adapted to the increased gravity of Fang Yuan's gravity field, was about to join the assault on Ye Xinglan when his expression suddenly shifted. Holding his Star Saint Sword, he unleashed a fierce slash toward the air, intercepting the water-fire tornado to prevent it from landing on the two support-type soul masters in the backline.
Duan Hunxiao's face darkened as he stared at the seven members of the opposing team.
How could they be so perfectly coordinated?
In the earlier exchange, even a single moment of misstep or lack of coordination would have led to total defeat.
Yet, this seamless tactical shift had directly allowed Grade One, Class One to suppress Yuanen Yehui—the strongest member of Grade Two—and put her on the verge of being eliminated.
Duan Hunxiao blew into his flute again, the sound piercing and sharp. A needle-like surge of mental energy followed the sound waves, targeting the opponents.
Xu Yuan resisted the urge to instantly wipe out all seven Grade Two students using the dream realm space. Instead, he stabilized his own mental energy, weakening the mental force embedded in the sound waves by several degrees.
Combined with the stabilizing effect of his mental link on his teammates' minds, the dizziness they experienced was minimal. Though their strength faltered momentarily, they were able to recover and regroup quickly.
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In the stands.
Watching Xu Yuan, who stood at the center of his team seemingly inactive yet subtly influencing every aspect of the battle, Yali nodded approvingly, deeply satisfied.
She recalled her husband's summary of Xu Yuan's cultivation plan for the coming years.
Concealment, nurturing.
"Hiding one's edge, honing the ability to command and control the battlefield as a control-type soul master—this will also aid Xu Yuan's future cultivation of the final three ultimate techniques. Harnessing the forces of heaven and earth isn't just about brute force."
"Nurturing gun momentum, using the process of restoring the essence of the Tianyuan Five Elements Spear to withdraw the spear and cultivate his own spear momentum, waiting for the day when a single spear thrust will shock the world."
Yali recalled Yun Ming's words and compared them to Xu Yuan's current state, noticing how they were already beginning to align.
"Xiao Yuan has already started trying to adapt ahead of schedule."
Yuanen Yehui no longer cared about conserving her strength. Her four soul skills continuously activated without pause, unleashing air cannon after air cannon to fend off the combined assault of Tang Wulin and Wu Siduo.
She was being driven back further and further, and the chances of her teammates providing support dwindled with each passing moment.
Especially since her teammates were still tied up.
BOOM!
BOOM!
A dragon roar echoed. A flicker of exhaustion passed through Yuanen Yehui's eyes, but her resolve hardened as she once again conjured an air cannon.
This guy… his stamina was insane. Every claw strike seemed to evolve, adapting and growing stronger.
Was his blood essence still so potent? Hadn't it burned out yet?
BOOM!
Another clash erupted, and Yuanen Yehui's eyes widened in shock. Tang Wulin's progress had taken another massive leap, his explosive power staggering as he forced her back.
(T/N: I might switch between 'Netherworld' and 'Hell' for the Martial Soul, I personally think Netherworld is the more 'accurate' answer, but the wiki calls it 'Hell'.)
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