Chapter 404 - A Battle of Kings

Duan Hunxiao’s melancholic tune continued to resonate throughout the arena. The intensity of the blizzard began to weaken, clearly showing it was having an effect on the other team. Bai Hanying smiled and took a step back, letting Duan Hunxiao take her place. A tree branch covered in beautiful blossoming flowers appeared in her hand. This was her martial soul, the Cherry Blossom! She swung it with a flourish, dispersing the petals through the air. They floated to her teammates and released a gentle light as they came to rest on each of them.

Tang Wulin was wrong. They did have a support-type soul master. That was Bai Hanying!

This single move drastically bolstered the strength of the second grade team.

At the very center of the arena, the two class presidents met. A boom tore through the air, the ground trembling as their fists met in midair. Yuanen Yehui was shocked to find herself being pushed by Tang Wulin’s strength. The golden aura around Tang Wulin flared as he exerted strength through his legs and leaped after her in pursuit.

Although Yuanen Yehui was sent retreating, she didn’t suffer any real injuries. With some breathing room now, she retaliated and used Air Cannon, sending a bombardment of shockwaves back at Tang Wulin. Duan Hunxiao took this chance to blow another note. Tang Wulin’s strength dipped under the note’s influence.

Yet Tang Wulin’s expression was as serene as still water. He thrust his hands out before him and used Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon! A powerful repulsive force deflected Yuanen Yehui’s barrage to the side. Turning his head, Tang Wulin sent a look Duan Hunxiao’s way. Duan Hunxiao had just been about to blow another note, but Tang Wulin’s eyes flashed purple as he spiritually attacked him.

Soul Tuning was a powerful crowd control soul skill. Once someone fell prey to its effects, it would be hard for them to break free. However, these effects took time to appear. That was Soul Tuning’s fatal flaw. The moment Tang Wulin interrupted it, the blizzard regained its frigid strength and rapidly swelled to envelop the entire battlefield.

It was at this moment that Ye Xingmo reached the first grade team. He Xiaopeng and Yue Zhengyu followed right behind him, the three forming a spearhead to penetrate through the first grade team’s formation. They had practiced this tactic before, their spacing between each other was perfect. All three were just close enough to support each other at a moment’s notice, yet far enough to not hinder one another.

On the first grade team’s side, only Ye Xinglan stood in their way. Ye Xingmo raised his sword and thrust it outward before him, the golden star on his forehead shining as a golden beam extended from his sword’s tip.Ye Xinglan struck out with her own sword to meet Ye Xingmo’s. A sprinkle of light trailed behind her sword, outlining the path it took. The instant the two swords met, a baptism of light engulfed the stage. The miserable shriek of metal against metal pierced the air.

The clash swept Ye Xingmo’s sword aside. A hundred threads of starlight burst from the tip of Ye Xinglan’s sword, threatening to swallow him up.

Is this… martial soul suppression? This realization left Ye Xingmo dumbstruck, but he didn’t stay defenseless. His Starsaint Sword began to shine as he used his third soul skill. He became one with his sword as he fell back, an aura of starlight gathering around him and deflecting the incoming threads of starlight to either side of him.

Threads also flew toward He Xiaopeng, who brandished his hammer with both hands like a sledgehammer, obliterating the threads with a single swing. Beside He Xiaopeng, Yue Zhengyu slashed out with his holy sword. Nine afterimages of his blade appeared in the air, and an instant later, the criss-crossing threads of starlight scattered into thin air. He didn’t pause at all while doing this and continued to advance on Ye Xinglan.

As Yue Zhengyu slashed at her, Ye Xinglan’s first soul ring lit up. Starlight burst from her sword. This soul skill bore a striking resemblance to the one Ye Xingmo used just now, except it was far brighter. She swung her sword to meet Yue Zhengyu’s, and a metallic clang rang out. His weapon having been readily deflected, Yue Zhengyu retreated two steps while Ye Xinglan retreated one.

They were evenly matched.

This is… The spectating students of the first grade stared blankly at the the two. The sight even had Wu Siduo at a loss. It initially seemed rash for Tang Wulin to rush forward without a care for his companions, but Ye Xinglan proved herself strong enough to hold the line. She had managed to fight alone against three opponents! All three were in the second grade and either had four soul rings or were just short of that number! Yet Ye Xingmo had been easily suppressed by Ye Xinglan and Yue Zhengyu had been blocked. This turn of events utterly confused He Xiaopeng.

Despite facing three powerful opponents, Ye Xinglan kept her momentum going. She pulled back her sword and pinched its tip between the fingers of her other hand. In a clear martial form, her foot slid out from underneath her, and she lashed out with her sword. A shard of starlight shot out of it, zipping straight for Ye Xingmo before he could land. She was still using only her first soul skill.

Stuck in mid-air, Ye Xingmo had no way to dodge. However, a beam of holy light came flying out of nowhere and intercepted the starlight! A hint of embarrassment showed on Ye Xingmo’s face as he knew he had just been saved. At that same moment, He Xiaopeng reached Ye Xinglan. He brandished his hammer and used his first soul skill, Tremor Burst! A series of explosions rent the air, engulfing everything in a three meter radius. He Xiaopeng’s Eight-petal Plum Blossom Silver Hammer was no ordinary martial soul. It possessed an inkling of the space attribute!

Yet Ye Xinglan still showed no fear. Her second soul ring lit up as she responded with a stroke of her sword, a net of starlight instantly blossoming into existence. The net was wide enough to encompass both He Xiaopeng and Yue Zhengyu! She wasn’t going to retreat in the face of just three opponents.

Meanwhile, the blizzard continued to build up strength. Its frigid winds stabbed chilling daggers into everyone on the second grade team. Even the students in the audience that were closest to the stage could feel the temperature dropping.

Tang Wulin and Yuanen Yehui clashed once more at the center of the stage, rocking the entire arena with shockwaves of energy. The exchange sent both of them reeling backward. They were still evenly matched!