The dusk deepened, and the golden orange glow of the setting sun slowly faded. The lights of the arena gradually lit up, casting a solemn atmosphere over the upcoming second group match. Chu Yi stood at the edge of the arena, surveying the crowd that was slowly gathering. The sounds of intense discussion filled the air. He remained calm inside, but he knew that the upcoming battle would be a tough one for their team.
Tonight, their opponents were "Mi-Rion Academy," a team with formidable combat strength. According to Qing Xiu'er's predictions, their main force, Eric, was especially dangerous. After entering his berserk state, his combat ability could rival that of a high-level spirit master. It was said that in their last match, Eric's berserk state, coupled with Yamamoto's support, had allowed them to force their opponents back entirely.
"Mi-Rion Academy's other team members should not be underestimated, especially their speed and pressure," Chu Yi murmured, his eyes fixed on the few opponents entering the arena.
With the referee's signal, both teams swiftly entered battle mode. Almost instantly, spiritual energy collided, bursting into sharp, deafening roars. The fluctuations of energy quickly spread through the air, as if the entire arena were shrouded in a spiritual storm.
Lin Xuanwu was the first to charge forward. His iron rings sliced through the air, leaving a trail of silver light. His fierce assault surged like a tidal wave toward the front line of Mi-Rion Academy's spiritual masters. The opposing defensive spiritual master reacted immediately, a protective energy shield rapidly forming around him in an attempt to block Lin Xuanwu's attack. But Lin Xuanwu's strength exceeded expectations. The iron rings smashed into the shield like shooting stars, causing a violent tremor. The shield cracked visibly under the impact, and the aftershock sent the defensive spiritual master stumbling back a few steps.
"Lin Xuanwu's strength has increased?" Chu Yi frowned slightly, feeling a bit surprised upon witnessing this.
At the same time, Qing Xiu'er entered the battlefield from the flank. Her long sword flickered in her hand, spiritual energy shimmering on the blade, producing a faint hum. Her sword shadows were elusive, moving so fast it was hard to follow. She barely gave her opponent a chance to react. In the blink of an eye, a sharp sword beam tore through the defense, leaving a deep wound on the opposing defensive spiritual master.
"Watch the sword!" Qing Xiu'er shouted in a low voice, and her sword suddenly swung out, releasing dozens of sword beams, like silver meteors cutting through the air, directly striking Mi-Rion Academy's back-row spiritual masters. As the sword beams passed, the air hummed sharply, as if the very atmosphere was being torn apart by the sword's energy.
The spiritual masters in the back row reacted swiftly, immediately summoning protective energy shields. However, the speed and power of the sword beams exceeded their expectations. The energy shields only held for a moment before shattering under the impact, and the sword beams struck them, sending them flying to the edge of the arena.
Chu Yi smiled faintly upon witnessing this. "Very good, Xiu'er's sword skills are becoming more exquisite."
However, the Mi-Rion Academy team was not to be underestimated, and the battle did not shift in their favor just yet. Their main force, Eric, finally unleashed his power. He sped toward the center of the battlefield like a gust of wind, his form lightning fast. His massive spiritual energy surged with each punch, crashing toward Lin Xuanwu's chest. The speed and power of the punch were so intense that the air itself seemed to explode with a loud "boom," and spiritual energy ripples became visible to the naked eye.
Lin Xuanwu reacted quickly, his iron rings spinning rapidly in the air, blocking Eric's punch. Yet, even so, the tremendous force pushed him back several steps, and the ground beneath his feet cracked from the impact of the spiritual clash.
"Damn, how can this guy's strength be so strong?" Lin Xuanwu gritted his teeth, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Eric's eyes grew fierce, and his berserk energy began to spread around him. His movements grew faster and more violent, each punch and kick carrying destructive force. In an instant, his attack pace accelerated, as if each strike could summon a storm.
"Berserk state!" Qing Xiu'er's gaze sharpened as she realized Eric's state was spiraling out of control.
Eric was now fully in his berserk state. His form accelerated wildly, like a beast in a storm. He no longer distinguished between friend and foe—anyone near him became his target. The spiritual energy fluctuations on the field grew even more intense, with the berserk energy swirling around him like a vortex, nearly engulfing the entire battlefield.
Amid the fierce fighting, both teams had lost two members each, and the atmosphere in the arena became tense. Chu Yi furrowed his brow, noticing that Eric's eyes were becoming increasingly frenzied. While the berserk power was strong, it seemed to be causing him to lose his rationality.
Qing Xiu'er quickly retreated, knowing she had to create some distance, or she might be caught in Eric's berserk attack.
"We must end this battle quickly!" Qing Xiu'er decided in her mind.
She stood at the opposite end of the arena, gripping her spiritual sword. Spiritual energy slowly gathered on the sword's blade, and a soft yet powerful light began to emanate. At the same time, a gentle yet profound aura seemed to flow from behind her, as if a powerful force silently protected her.
"Qing Yi Sword Style · Dual Ring Mystical Sword!" Qing Xiu'er softly chanted, and with a slight shake of her sword, a massive surge of spiritual energy erupted from the blade. Her gaze was resolute, and the energy surged into the sword, creating circular ripples of profound power in the air.
This move, the "Dual Ring Mystical Sword," was her trump card technique. It gathered spiritual energy into two rings, forming a four-strike long-range spiritual energy wave that was powerful enough to tear through the air.
"Impossible! Dual Ring Mystical Sword is a technique from the [Qing] family, only comprehended by those who reach the 3rd rank spirit master!" A person in the audience stood up in shock. Murmurs quickly spread through the crowd: "Could it be that such a young 3rd rank spirit master exists?"
At the same time, Eric's berserk state reached its peak. His body moved like lightning, his chaotic punches flashing through the air, as if every strike would tear the very space apart.
However, Qing Xiu'er's sword, performing the Dual Ring Mystical Sword, was precise and unstoppable. The sword energy shot through the air like a bullet train, directly hitting Eric in the chest. The impact sent him flying backward, and his berserk power was completely suppressed in that instant.
Eric's body arced through the air in a parabola before crashing hard into the ground with a dull thud.
The air in the arena fell silent, and the berserk energy gradually dissipated. Yamamoto, too, had exhausted his spiritual energy and collapsed on the spot. The referee's voice finally rang out: "Winner, Kion Academy!"
The audience erupted in cheers, and Qing Xiu'er stood in the arena, the light behind her slowly fading as her sword gently trembled in her hand. Although she appeared tired, her eyes met those of her teammates, as if silently saying, "Don't worry, I've got this."