On the battlefield of the quarterfinals, the atmosphere was tense and electric. This showdown would pit Kion Academy against the formidable Starling Academy. Kion Academy, after several hard-fought battles, had finally made it to the top eight, demonstrating impressive combat skills and seamless teamwork. However, their opponent, Starling Academy, was an even more formidable force.
Since its inception, Starling Academy had consistently been a favorite in major competitions. Their head mentor, Qin Ou, was a powerful 6th-tier spirit master. His brother, Qin Lian, was the city lord's strongest personal guard, having reached the pinnacle of 7th-tier spirit mastery. In this city, the two brothers represented the esteemed Qin family's status and influence.
The five members Qin Ou had selected for the competition were all exceptional in strength. Among them, Qing Wan, a 3rd-tier pinnacle spirit master, stood out as the brightest. Starling Academy had made a name for itself by combining powerful spirit energy manipulation with meticulous tactical planning, making it the most daunting challenge for Kion Academy.
As soon as the starting horn blared, tension skyrocketed between the two teams. The spiritual energy fluctuations at the center of the battlefield were oppressive, like a brewing storm ready to explode. Spectators around the arena held their breath, their eyes glued to every movement from both teams.
On the Kion Academy side, Chu Yi and his teammates wore serious expressions. Although they had won several tough battles, facing a top-tier team like Starling Academy brought inevitable mental pressure. Everyone knew this was going to be an exhausting fight. Chu Yi silently calculated, his fingers lightly brushing over his talismans, ready to unleash his lightning-based attacks at any moment. He understood that they couldn't afford to drag the battle out too long, as Starling Academy's superior overall strength would gradually overwhelm them.
On the other side, Starling Academy's team exuded confidence. Their presence was calm yet powerful, as if they already knew the outcome. Qing Wan stood in the center, her gaze sharp and composed. Her wind-elemental spirit energy flowed subtly in the breeze, ready to turn into a deadly weapon at a moment's notice. Her teammates were equally prepared, waiting for the signal to launch a swift offensive.
Among the highlights of this battle was the clash between Qing Wan and Qing Xiu'er. Both stood at the center of the arena, their eyes reflecting an unmistakable rivalry. Despite both being from the Qing family, in this moment, they were merely warriors, standing on opposing sides of the battlefield.
The moment the battle began, the situation quickly escalated to a fever pitch. Starling Academy's Luo Fei was the first to strike, unleashing a torrent of wind-elemental spirit energy that swept across the battlefield, attempting to scatter Kion Academy's formation. Chu Yi and his teammates responded immediately, their spirit energy flaring up as they fought to hold their positions.
Zhang Hui followed closely behind Luo Fei's attack, conjuring an immense stone wall with his earth-elemental spirit energy to shield his team. The wall was as solid as a mountain, effectively blocking all of Kion Academy's counterattacks, rendering them ineffective against Starling's team.
At the same time, Yan Peier began summoning water-elemental spirit energy, conjuring several water dragons that coiled around the battlefield, aiming to entrap members of Kion Academy. Her water dragons moved with agility and cunning, frequently launching surprise attacks on Kion Academy's backline, forcing them to split their focus.
Meanwhile, Li Cheng stood at the rear, channeling fire-elemental spirit energy in his hands. With a furious roar, scorching flames erupted from his palms, sweeping towards Kion Academy. The intense heat turned the ground black, and the air was thick with the smell of burning.
Kion Academy's members fought valiantly, but Starling Academy's attacks were relentless, leaving no room for respite. Qing Wan moved like the wind, suddenly appearing at the front of the battlefield. Her sword slashed through the air, the sword energy sharp enough to force one of Kion Academy's members to retreat. Her speed was so fast that she seemed almost impossible to track, and every strike was executed with deadly precision.
Chu Yi saw an opening and quickly unleashed a talisman, using a lightning-based symbol to disperse Li Cheng's fire attack. Thunder cracked loudly in the air, and in the blink of an eye, Chu Yi darted forward, appearing behind Starling Academy's formation like a flash of lightning.
Amid the intense battle, Chu Yi finally found the perfect opportunity. He swiftly retreated to the back of his team, his hands deftly pulling out a series of talismans. Infusing them with his spirit energy, his eyes glinted with sharp determination. The air around him began to subtly shift as electrical currents crackled between his palms. The talismans' lightning symbols glowed, radiating a purple hue.
"Thunder Cage Formation, activate!"
With a low chant, Chu Yi threw several talismans into the air. They spread out, quickly forming a massive web of lightning that enveloped Starling Academy's team. The lightning intertwined, creating a colossal Thunder Cage, trapping Starling's team within.
The Thunder Cage wasn't just a powerful offensive array; its primary function was to lock down its targets. Inside the cage, anyone who tried to break out would be hit by devastating lightning strikes. These strikes didn't just deal damage; they severely restricted the flow of spirit energy, making it harder for the trapped opponents to fight back.
Starling Academy's team immediately felt the pressure of the Thunder Cage. Luo Fei tried to cut through the formation with wind blades, but every time his attacks hit the cage, the lightning retaliated, forcing him to retreat. Zhang Hui attempted to raise more stone barriers to shield his team, but the relentless lightning strikes shattered them as soon as they formed.
Li Cheng refused to back down, gathering all his fire-elemental spirit energy in an attempt to burn through the cage. However, his flames, despite their intensity, were quickly snuffed out by the unyielding lightning currents, leaving him scrambling to avoid further attacks.
Even Qing Wan was caught within the cage. Though her spirit energy was powerful, the Thunder Cage severely hampered her wind-elemental abilities. Every time she tried to break through, the lightning would strike her with pinpoint accuracy, forcing her into a defensive stance.