The eighty students who failed were having a mental breakdown after they were kicked out from the Dome of Illusion.
It might look so cruel from the outside, but this method was the most practical and efficient way to teach these young students survival of the fittest to a whole new level.
However, the twenty remaining students were undaunted. They were determined to come out as the winner as Fang Zheng's voice reverberated in the sky. Igniting their spirit to win the tournament by any means necessary.
Prince Jiang Feng leaped forward as he unleashed his Martial Spirit, the Golden Flame Dragon. Pursued by the other prominent students who were also contesting for the top position.
Jiang Feng snorted, "Hmph! Puny peasants!"
The Golden Flame Dragons roared aloud, cracking and tearing the very fabric of reality inside the Dome of Illusions.
The Golden Flame Dragon charging its fiery breath, the energy sphere in its mouth grew brighter over time.
"Tch! This is bad!"
Ling Zhao reacted quickly, dashing towards Qiqi to protect her instinctively. Kwan Xi Lan, on the other hand, used this opportunity to save her own skin.
Its fiery breath engulfed the pursuers who tried to usurp the Airdrop from him. Those students who were below the Ninth Stage Body Foundation were burned into ashes in a matter of seconds. No cries nor agony, their souls were also perished. Leaving their body but just an empty shell!
There were only eight participants that remained in the Dome of Illusion.
"Bare witness and tremble! I, Prince Jiang Feng, the future king of Kowloon Kingdom, ordered you to bow before me and be my servants! Those who defy my words shall receive the divine punishment from my Golden Flame Dragon!"
Bai Zan, Sun Hua Qiang, Cheng Xue and Yao Mu looked at each other. They were aware that defying Jiang Feng's words was the same as offending the Royal Family.
They were still young, their future was way more important rather than fighting for the Tournament's prizes. Thus, they decided to side with Prince Jiang Feng which would take them to a higher place in the future.
Xiao Qi and Kwan Xi Lan stood behind Ling, healing their wounds while at it
"You have my gratitude, Ling Zhao," said Kwan Xi Lan, cupping her fist before Ling.
Ling turned his head sideways and slightly nodded. He then glared at Prince Jiang Feng, eyes filled with animosity. 'As expected from a noble-born. He sees us, common folk as nothing but as a mere livestock to be slaughtered!'
"What's the matter, Ling Zhao? Don't you want to come to my side as well?" said the Prince as he extended his hand.
Ling Zhao, however, was a man of determination, discipline and sheer will. He won't allow himself to be somebody's property, ever again!
"As if! I would rather slit my own throat rather than joining your side. I am but a servant of myself!"
Prince Jiang Feng was disheartened upon hearing it. And then his expression changed drastically which resembled that of a demon's incarnation himself!
"Those who defy my words shall be vanquished! Get rid of them!"
Ling dashed away to divide their number as Bai Zan and Cheng Xue charged at Qiqi and Kwan Xi Lan.
"Qiqi, I will leave them to you! I'm going to deal with Cheng Xie and Yao Mu!"
"Understood, brother Ling!"
Kwan Xi Lan assessed the situation and decided to lure Bai Zan to the tree lines and use them to her advantage.
On the other hand, Qiqi went to a nearby creek where she could bend the water and reduce the necessary Qi Energy to use her Martial Spirit when facing Cheng Xue who was notorious for his genius sword martial art.
Meanwhile, Ling Zhao was ganged up by Sun Hua Qiang and Yao Mu, and soon, Prince Jiang Feng will join the fray also after he finished replenishing his Martial Spirit's Energy.
"Hehe!" Yao Mu snickering about when Ling was cornered. "Are you sure to leave your girls behind with them? Especially with Cheng Xue. He's quite a maniac, you know."
"Shut up Yao Mu and finish the fight so I can get back to sleep." said Sun Hua Qiang, drawing his sword from its scabbard.
Ling Zhao indeed felt something was amiss, so he began to question his decision earlier to let Cheng Xue fight against Qiqi.
However, he had faith that Qiqi would emerge victorious. She's quite strong and also has a mysterious quirk that he always felt around her after all.
"It doesn't matter to me. Just come to me at once, you spineless cowards!"
Ling summoned the Blood Spear and brandishing the Iron Spear on his right left.
"Winged Tiger!" Yao Mu shouted the name of his beast.
A loud roar reverberated as a juvenile Winged Tiger came forth from Yao Mu's shadow, eager to pierce Ling Zhao's neck with its pair of long canines.
Sun Hua Qiang, on the other hand, unleashed his Martial Spirit in front of others for the very first time. A huge spherical object arose from the ground. It was a dark, jelly-like malevolent creature with oozing acidic goo that can melt the soil and it was quite big at that.
Prince Jiang Feng was quite impressed with his newly-hired subjects. He grinned and said; "Oh? You guys have a quite unique Martial Spirit, I see."
Yao Mu punched his palm, displaying his confidence. "Fret not, Your Highness! My Winged Tiger will have a feast on his flesh and gnaw on his bones!"
"Smelly Slime, devour his mind and soul."
Ling Zhao jumped sideways by hundreds of meters away to avoid the onslaught from the beast Martial Spirits.
Unexpectedly, the joint attack from the Winged Tiger and the Smelly Slime was quite effective to overwhelm Ling Zhao.
The agile Winged Tiger pouncing and chasing Ling to every direction with its superior agility as a winged beast.
Meanwhile, the Smelly Slime shot out a barrage of acid goo all over the place, and made Ling Zhao harder to land his footing.
However, none of their attacks came to fruition after wasting so much energy.
Ling smirked ear to ear upon realizing that their movement became sluggish. "How scary. Is that all you've got? Didn't you say that your cat will feast on my flesh and gnaw on my bones?"
"Don't you dare call my Winged Tiger a cat!" Yao Mu was taunted by Ling Zhao's mockery.
"Huh? Not a cat? Oh well, it must be a kitten then! My bad." Ling Zhao wore a smuggish face to keep Yao Mu agitated and eventually lost control of his Martial Spirit due to mental instability.
"You! I will kill you personally after this tournament!"