"Tianwen Academy vs Blue Sunshine Academy."
Upon hearing the announcement of the next match, Gu Yi was surprised that it was their turn. However, this wasn't a particularly difficult opponent. The Seven-in-One Fusion Technique might be a bit troublesome, but only a bit.
Even though they didn't have Tang San's Purple Demon Eye this time, Wang Yanran's eyes gleamed with a brilliant light. The three most dedicated students in the academy were Lin Qing, who bore a blood feud and had lost her parents; Wang Yanran, who wanted to impress Gu Yi; and Zhu Zhuqing, who wanted to break free from her family's constraints. They trained with a relentless intensity, needing no supervision, fully self-disciplined and earnest, qualities that Gu Yi deeply admired. Only those who had endured hardship from a young age without breaking could achieve such dedication. Even Oscar, serious as he was, couldn't compare to them, as he lacked a firm goal and wouldn't push himself to the limits.
As expected, when the Blue Sunshine Academy contestants appeared, everyone noticed a change. Four of their core members had been replaced by new faces, and even their spirit ring combinations were less than optimal. Their lead instructor, Shi Nian, was nowhere to be seen. Soon, a pillar of seven-colored light enveloped the entire arena, leaving no one untouched. Both the students of Tianwen Academy and Blue Sunshine Academy vanished.
"Xiaogang, is this the legendary Seven-in-One Martial Spirit Fusion Technique?" Flander asked, shocked and concerned, as this was Gu Yi's academy, and he felt guilty for how things had turned out.
"Why do you care? If they both take each other out, it's great for our Shrek Academy," Yu Xiaogang replied coldly, watching the rainbow light with a sense of satisfaction. He knew this wasn't a true Seven-in-One Martial Spirit Fusion Technique, but rather a Seven-in-One Fusion Technique. Although the names were similar, the difference in power was vast. Even so, it was a formidable and rare skill. He doubted that Tianwen Academy's team could withstand it. If some of them were crippled in the process, even better. His deepest grudge wasn't with Bibi Dong anymore, but with Gu Yi, who had destroyed his martial spirit.
"Do you think they'll come out of this unscathed?" Flander asked again, his concern growing.
"I don't know, but it doesn't look good," Yu Xiaogang replied.
Flander looked at Gu Yi, standing outside the arena, but saw no change in his expression. Gu Yi remained calm as if his students weren't in any danger at all. "What are you thinking?"
Many eyes were on Gu Yi, curious about what decision he would make. In the grand scheme of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, Gu Yi's presence was even more dazzling, as he had single-handedly created an alternative method of cultivating spirit power. More importantly, he had made it public, and his strength was extraordinary. Everyone in Heaven Dou City knew of Gu Yi's power, at least at the level of a Titled Douluo.
With such accolades, he naturally drew all eyes. But those eyes were disappointed—Gu Yi showed no anxiety, no fear, just a calm demeanor. Ning Fengzhi, too, felt a sense of relief seeing this.
Not long after, the light dissipated. The students of Blue Sunshine Academy lay on the ground, writhing in pain, while Tianwen Academy's team stood unharmed. The only exception was Wang Yanran, who had stepped forward to shield her six teammates, now pale and visibly exhausted. Gu Yi smiled slightly—Wang Yanran had not let him down, or rather, she never had.
"Yanran, what kind of skill was that? I didn't even see what happened," Ma Hongjun exclaimed, having thought they would lose, given the opponent's bizarre and intangible techniques. Even his Phoenix Flame, despite its destructive power, was useless if it couldn't hit anything.
The others were equally surprised, unaware that Wang Yanran had such a trump card. It was a clash of mental power, something beyond their understanding. Spirit-type spirit masters, once fully grown, could be terrifyingly powerful, with combat prowess far beyond that of ordinary spirit masters. However, cultivating strong mental power was no easy feat, especially since high-level spirit-type soul beasts were incredibly rare.
Back at the academy, just as they were about to rest, the tournament committee arrived with Platinum Bishop Salas of the Heaven Dou City Spirit Hall, ten Temple Knights—all above the rank of Spirit King—Ning Fengzhi, and Bone Douluo.
"Dean Gu, I'm here to investigate your students for violating tournament rules and causing significant mental harm to Blue Sunshine Academy's students. I ask for your cooperation," Salas said, though he had received a letter from Bibi Dong and decided to leave Tianwen Academy alone, as he believed the Spirit Hall wouldn't lose anyway. But now, with Blue Sunshine Academy's situation, it was a good opportunity to have them expelled from the tournament, eliminating one of the Spirit Hall's competitors. It was a simple task, and whether it succeeded or not was inconsequential. That's why Salas hadn't addressed Gu Yi as Elder, indicating that this was official business, not related to his duties in the Spirit Hall.
"Have you thoroughly investigated?" Gu Yi asked, standing at the academy's entrance.
Salas was momentarily confused, not understanding the question. "What do you mean? Are you suggesting, Dean Gu, that you intend to defy the Spirit Hall's investigation?" His words were heavy, placing Gu Yi in opposition to the Spirit Hall.
"Teacher, should we just go with them? It's not that big of a deal," Wang Yanran, looking weak, stepped forward, not wanting Gu Yi to confront the Spirit Hall because of her.
"Where do you think you're going? Get back here," Gu Yi scolded before turning coldly to Salas, "You dare come here and interrogate my students without having fully investigated the matter? Do you think Tianwen Academy is so easy to bully?"
As he finished speaking, Gu Yi vanished from his spot, as if cutting through space, reappearing beside Salas. He placed his right hand on Salas's shoulder, unleashing a powerful aura and killing intent that made Salas's face darken. Even the scattered pressure and killing intent caused the Temple Knights to buckle. At the center of the storm, Salas was in dire straits, summoning all his spirit power, his martial spirit and spirit rings manifesting, but to no avail. The crushing force was too overwhelming, unmatched in power, undeniable.
The solid ground beneath them began to crack under the pressure, and Salas eventually fell to his knees. "I know exactly the extent of the Blue Sunshine Academy students' injuries. If you have any more foolish thoughts, I'll take your head."
(End Of Chapter)