"Shrek Academy is so weak! How are they getting beaten this badly by a mere Qianling Academy? Are their core team members pigs or something?"
"There's only one Soul King leading the team? Are all the other young Soul Masters from Shrek dead? Where's Huo Yuhao? We want to see Huo Yuhao!"
"Damn, is there going to be an upset? Anyone bet on Qianling Academy winning? You're about to hit the jackpot and live the high life!"
Ling Luocheng gazed at the Thousand Strike Spear flying towards her, then glanced at the anxious faces of the many reserve team members standing beside her, all of them tense and ready. A glimmer of tears seemed to flash in her eyes.
Originally, you shouldn't have had to bear such immense pressure. You are still young. The next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament should have been your stage.
But because of that old fool's negligence, because of that bastard's failure to act, the original Shrek Seven Devils were reduced to only her.
As a member of Shrek Academy and one of the seven core team members, Ling Luocheng didn't have the fiery temper of Ma Xiaotao, but in reality, her pride ran deeper than anyone else's.
She could tolerate the insults directed at Shrek Academy from the audience, but she could not tolerate them belittling the core team members of this tournament, nor could she tolerate the tarnishing of her deceased teammates' names!
Familiar names, familiar smiles—Chen Zifeng, Xixi, Yao Haoxuan, Gongyang Mo, Dai Yueheng—all flashed before her eyes.
Even Ma Xiaotao, with whom she had never gotten along, now left a bitter taste in her heart when she thought of her.
"I'm the only one left." Ling Luocheng murmured softly. "Carrying your hopes, I will move forward. Let this be the last time we defend Shrek Academy's millennia-old honor."
In a daze, Ling Luocheng seemed to hear the laughter of her companions, and she saw them watching her with unwavering faith.
Helping Shrek Academy win the championship—that was their last wish before they lost their lives, wasn't it?
"Beibei, you're the oldest among these people, so listen carefully to what I'm about to say." Ling Luocheng spoke softly. "We will not lose this match. But after I use this move, I may fall into a long slumber."
"Find Huo Yuhao. No matter how Xuan Lao acts, make sure to get him back into the competition team! Consider this my request, on behalf of Chen Zifeng and our fallen comrades—ask him to help us win this time and bring victory to Shrek Academy."
"Senior Sister Ling, what are you saying…?" Beibei suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
Why did it sound like Ling Luocheng was leaving her final words?
"Of the Shrek Seven Devils, only I remain!" Ling Luocheng turned and looked at the Thousand Strike Spear that was now less than ten meters away. She touched her chest and said, "But in truth, none of them have left. They are all still here."
"Blood Condenses into Snow, Snow Ring!"
Ling Luocheng's gaze turned cold as she slammed her right hand onto her chest. A mouthful of bright red blood gushed into the air.
An indescribable aura emanated from her body, and in the next moment, her pitch-black fifth soul ring suddenly lit up, releasing a circle of ice-blue light that spread out instantly.
When the ice-blue ring came into contact with the crimson blood, it transformed into a blood-red ring that enveloped the entire stage. Blood-colored snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the extreme cold seemed to freeze even time itself.
The Thousand Strike Spear flying towards them was extinguished as soon as it touched the blood-red ring. It was then encased in a layer of crimson ice and fell to the ground.
The froststorm released by An Lengye dissipated instantly, its power forcibly absorbed into Ling Luocheng's ability.
Shen Ce, sensing the danger, was about to command his team to retreat, but the scene that unfolded left him stunned.
In his line of sight, the referee standing at the edge of the stage froze, and then the unlucky referee turned into a blood-colored ice sculpture, remaining completely motionless.
What just happened?
Before Qianling Academy's members could react, they all simultaneously felt an overwhelming chill. The intense cold washed over them, causing their vision to blur.
Although they were still conscious, their martial souls, soul power, and even the soul skills they had been using were all completely frozen within the blood-red snow.
The members of Shrek Academy exchanged glances. Xu Sanshi, quick to react, hurried forward and pushed all of Qianling Academy's members off the stage, thus eliminating them.
Ling Luocheng withdrew her staff, but her body swayed and suddenly collapsed. Ning Tian rushed over to catch her in her arms.
"Not good! Senior Sister Ling's life force is extremely weak!" Ning Tian exclaimed, and Beibei and the others immediately gathered around. Wang Yan also rushed onto the stage and joined them at Ning Tian's side.
Looking at Ling Luocheng's pale, paper-like complexion and her bloodless lips, Wang Yan couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
Once again, he was powerless to stop his student from collapsing in front of him! Xuan Lao, what are you trying to do?!
As if summoned by fate, Xuan Lao's figure flashed onto the stage, his presence immediately noticeable. He placed his hand on Ling Luocheng's wrist, checking her pulse, and then sensed the flow of her soul power. His brow furrowed instantly.
"She's overdrawn her potential and life force to unleash power beyond her cultivation level. The backlash is severe. She's lucky to still be alive," Xuan Lao clicked his tongue. "What's worse is that her mental strength is completely chaotic. Even I can't help with that."
"So what do we do now…?" Wang Yan started to ask, but when he looked up, he was stunned.
Xuan Lao had already moved away. He was now standing next to the frozen referee, smashing the blood-colored ice and impatiently urging, "Stop wasting time and say it—who won? Speak up!"
With the ice broken, the referee shivered violently, clearly struggling to stay warm. He wanted to say something, but upon seeing the intimidating Xuan Lao in front of him, he swallowed back his protest about assaulting a referee.
"Shrek Academy wins!"
"Hahaha!" Xuan Lao burst into loud laughter, but behind him, Wang Yan and several Shrek Academy students glared angrily.
Ling Luocheng had sustained such severe injuries to defend Shrek Academy's honor, yet this old bastard cared only about the competition's outcome, rushing to confirm the results.
Did the victory of this match matter more than Ling Luocheng's life?
"Wang Teacher, take Senior Sister Ling to the tournament medical facility in the Star Luo Empire," Beibei said coldly, a flash of ice in his gaze.
"Ning Tian, go find Yuhao and tell him everything that happened here. Also, tell him to prepare for the next match."
"Beibei, what are you planning to do?" his friend Xu Sanshi asked, puzzled.
"Power without virtue leads to calamity," Beibei replied quietly. "It's time for the academy's leader of this tournament to be replaced."