"This time is different," Chen Junting said calmly.
He met Dai Yueheng's gaze and explained, "If Senior Ling Luochen ends up on Yuhao's team, and she gains the benefit of his Ultimate Ice… we'll be facing a Control-type Soul King wielding that same Ultimate Ice."
Dai Yueheng's eyes narrowed. He understood instantly. With Ling Luochen's spirit empowered by Huo Yuhao, their side would be at a massive disadvantage. His decision was swift.
"I'll take Ling Luochen."
Across the room, Ma Xiaotao's lips curled into a smirk.
The player selection continued. After two rounds, teams were finalized:
Ma Xiaotao's team: Yao Haoxuan, Chen Zifeng, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong
Dai Yueheng's team: Gong Yangmo, Ling Luochen, Xixi, Chen Junting, Ning Tian, Beibei
He Caitou and Wu Feng were excluded from this round. Xuan Lao, lounging on the platform with his wine, waved them over to watch.
"Well, that's sorted," Xuan Lao announced. "You've got ten minutes to strategize. When the fight starts, the losing team has to shout 'I'm a pig.' Consider it… character-building."
The room collectively sighed.
Classic Xuan Lao.
Still, no one dared object. Both teams retreated to opposite ends of the arena, forming huddles.
On Dai Yueheng's side, Xixi glanced at her teammates and hesitated.
"We're... all offense and support," she muttered. "No control-type. Our team comp is a mess."
"This is what Elder Xuan always emphasizes," Dai Yueheng replied firmly. "Real battlefields don't hand you ideal teammates. We make do. Adapt and execute."
"We don't even need to overthink this," Chen Junting said suddenly, stepping forward.
Everyone turned to him.
"Turn the fight into a duel."
He let the words hang in the air before continuing. "We've got two top-tier supports. Instead of compensating for our weaknesses, we double down on our strengths. Forget formation—break them apart. Make this a series of one-on-one battles."
Dai Yueheng nodded, eyes sharpening.
"Divide the battlefield. Gong Yangmo—how's your soul tool training coming?"
"Not bad," Gong Yangmo replied. "Xixi and I have been prepping gear that suits our martial spirits. It's not enough to dominate, but I can definitely hold off Yao Haoxuan. Maybe even beat him."
"Perfect," Dai Yueheng said. "Then here's the match-up plan:
I'll take Ma Xiaotao.
Chen Zifeng and Huo Yuhao go to Junting.
Xixi, take Jiang Nannan—keep Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao split.
Beibei covers Xu Sanshi.
Gong Yangmo and Ling Luochen, handle Yao Haoxuan together.
Everyone clear?"
A round of determined nods followed.
"Time's up!" Elder Xuan called. "Let's go! And no holding back!"
BOOM. Two energies detonated across the field.
Dai Yueheng roared, white tiger spirit flaring, and shot forward like a launched cannonball.
A phoenix cry answered him—Ma Xiaotao unleashed a golden-red wave of fire as phoenix wings spread wide behind her. The firestorm surged, overpowering the air.
But then—four lights burst across Dai Yueheng's body: red, orange, orange, green.
The boosts from Gong Yangmo and Ning Tian hit him in sequence.
His momentum erupted, blasting past Ma Xiaotao's with ease.
Then came the transformation.
"White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
"White Tiger Demon God Transformation!"
His aura surged toward peak Soul Saint territory.
"White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
Dozens of blinding orbs rained down toward the enemy formation.
At the same moment, a thick fog spread—Huo Yuhao's spiritual detection activated, blanketing the arena. But Ning Tian countered with her Illusory Space, jamming his network.
Three seconds later, the fog dissipated.
Ma Xiaotao's team was scattered.
Their formation—completely broken.
"What the hell—Dai Yueheng's going all out already?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes blazed. "Yao Haoxuan, support boost—now!"
Yao Haoxuan's buffs fired off like waves, trying to steady their side. But his debuffs barely scratched the enemy team.
Then it began—
Chen Junting moved.
His ten-thousand-year soul ring flared to life.
"Fourth Soul Skill—Sword Domain: Raging Sky!"
Swords rained from above like a silver storm.
Huo Yuhao's eyes glowed as his spiritual detection kicked in, trying to warn the others—but Chen Junting's third soul ring lit up.
He raised a finger—and reversed the flow.
The sword rain soared back upward, formed into three massive swords.
One aimed directly at Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, glowing with locked-on intent.
"Move!"
Yuhao shoved Wang Dong to the side as the sword cleaved between them, dispersing into thousands of shards.
"Buzz—"
Sword energy surged and snapped into position—five walls of blade energy, dividing the field into five isolated zones.
Everyone understood instantly.
He split the battlefield. One-on-ones.
"You bastard," Ma Xiaotao hissed at Dai Yueheng. "You want to play it that way?"
Dai smirked, "White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
WHOOOM.
His second wave launched upward as Ma Xiaotao countered.
"Phoenix Meteor Shower!"
Two ultimate-level attacks collided in midair—flaming meteors versus searing tiger light.
The battlefield shuddered under the blast.
---
Elsewhere
Xixi vs. Wang Dong.
She deployed her flying and melee soul tools and blitzed toward him, lightning-fast.
"Clang!"
A flash—Jiang Nannan teleported in and blocked with Invincible Golden Body.
"Wang Dong, I'll cover you! You break the barrier and get to Yuhao!"
"You're not going anywhere." Xixi surged forward again.
A blinding strike, reinforced by lightning soul tools, slashed down.
Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan braced—
Meanwhile
Xu Sanshi vs. Beibei.
"Move aside!" Xu roared, raising his turtle shield.
"Sorry," Beibei said, "This road's closed."
Lightning danced around him as his dragon claws lit up.
Both launched their soul skills.
BOOM!
Lightning and shockwaves collided. Xu's shell cracked slightly. Beibei's arm shook from the blow.
But neither backed down.
Back with Huo Yuhao—
He tried to break from the barrier.
SLASH—
A sword passed his cheek, cutting a lock of hair.
Chen Junting's voice came from the mist.
"Don't get distracted in battle."
Yuhao turned in time to deflect Chen Zifeng's strike.
His thoughts spun.
Why hasn't his soul power run dry? After that soul skill?
He didn't know the secret—Chen Junting's wrist guard was amplifying and recycling his energy through formation patterns.
But there was no time to figure it out.
"A thirteen-stringed instrument in the cup!"
Chen Junting raised his sword.
The duel was only just beginning.
---
(End of Chapter)
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