Whoosh!
Elder Xuan vanished from the Spirit Arena.
While most Core Disciples stood frozen, the second-years reacted instantly—having learned in the class promotion exam that adaptability meant victory.
"Xiao Tian!" Chen Junting called.
Ning Tian's right hand rose in perfect sync. "Nine Treasures manifest in Glazed Tile!" Nine-colored radiance swirled around her, coalescing into a nine-tiered, nine-hued pagoda. Her four soul rings—two yellow, one purple, one black—rose beneath her feet, pulsing in harmony with the pagoda's glow.
Her presence immediately drew eyes.
"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasures Pagoda!"
"No—Nine Treasures!" a sharp voice corrected.
The rumors were real—the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda stood before them! Core Disciples unfamiliar with Ning Tian instantly agreed: "Eliminate the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda user first!"
Her Soul Ancestor cultivation alone was threatening—
but what came next terrified them.
"Nine Treasures named: Second—Attack, Third—Defense, Fourth—Soul!"
Her yellow, purple, and black soul rings flared. Seven streams of multicolored light shot from the pagoda, striking six allies with tailored amplifications.
This was Six Aperture Wishful Heart—a rare mastery of the sect's secret technique, allowing Ning Tian to amplify six allies with different soul skills simultaneously.
"Hah—thanks, sister-in-law!" Xu Sanshi roared, his defense surging. His Xuanming Tortoise Shield deflected all incoming attacks like an immovable fortress. Behind him, Jiang Nannan struck—a fourth-year eliminated in seconds.
Swish—!
A shadow lunged at Ning Tian.
Chen Junting's eyes flashed. The Seven Kill Sword materialized midair, cleaving the attacker's claws. His left palm slammed forward—
"Agh—!"
Sword intent flooded the fourth-year's abdomen. Before his scream faded, Elder Xuan's soul power yanked him from the arena.
"You're out," Xuan Zi muttered, discarding him like trash before resuming his watch.
ROAR—!
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu unleashed their trump card—the colossal Nether White Tiger, shaking the arena.
But their target? Chen Junting and Ning Tian.
If they didn't eliminate this group, they'd be the next to fall.
The tiger's claws slashed—
"Dai Huabin!" ×2
To the left, a crimson dragon claw wreathed in scorching flames warped the air.
To the right, a diamond-flecked arm radiated frost, freezing the ground.
BOOM! BOOM!
Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao—amped by Ning Tian's attack boost—blocked the strike. Cold and heat ravaged the Nether White Tiger, its face contorted in agony. Huo Yuhao's eyes gleamed with vindictive joy.
BUZZ—!
A sword cry echoed. Chen Junting soared, his 10,000-year black soul ring blazing. A giant sword plummeted—the sword qi alone piercing the tiger's "王" mark.
The fusion skill shattered. Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu collapsed, extracted by Elder Xuan before the blade struck.
"Clear the field!" Chen Junting commanded.
His sword fingers swept down. The giant sword crashed, unleashing a tsunami of sword qi. His first two soul skills ignited—dozens of swords embedded in the arena, forming a Sword Domain.
Under "Sword Wings Soar", the blades ripped from the ground, merging into a cataclysmic river of swords surging toward the remaining students—like the Yangtze racing to the sea.
Huo Yuhao shared Spirit Detection with all allies.
Chaos erupted:
- He Caitou, boosted by 50% soul power, transformed into a war machine—metal tubes erupting with solidified light.
- Wang Dong, wings ablaze with "Light of the Butterfly Goddess", launched golden orbs fused with He Caitou's barrage.
- Bei Bei, 50% attack amplified, crackled with blue-purple lightning. "Thunderous Fury" detonated—bolts merging with the sword energy wave!
The arena thundered. One by one, students were plucked from the chaos by Elder Xuan. Before they could react, wine-scented air filled their nostrils—they awoke midair, cocooned in white light.
"You're all eliminated," Xuan Zi stated flatly.
Nine remained.
Then—silence.
Xu Sanshi dismissed his martial soul, grinning. "Told you! Team up, and we crush them. Checked the time—we finished in one minute flat. No margin for error!"
He sidled up to Jiang Nannan. "What do you think, Nannan?"
Jiang Nannan, arms at her sides, nodded with weary fondness. Since learning of Xu Sanshi's care for her mother, her tolerance for him had soared—her old disdain nearly gone.
But worry flickered. She counted the survivors. "Is this… okay? Elder Xuan said only seven win."
Chen Junting chuckled. "So, Sister Nannan… want to keep fighting?"
Jiang Nannan shook her head instantly. How could they eliminate friends?
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