Starting the match with a Martial Soul Fusion Technique was Gu Yue's idea.
Even if Jing Shaoyu was a bit slow to realize it at first, he now understood her intentions. She wanted to make a statement—her way of showing that, although she couldn't perform the dual cultivation with him like Xu Xiaoyan, her heart was still with him. What could he do but go along with her wish?
But this decision spelled trouble for the Tianhai Academy students, making them the first unfortunate victims of Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue's Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Now, Bi Ran, Wu Hanyu, Lei Jun, Wang Sicheng, and Wang Nianxi stood paralyzed with shock, faces pale with fear as they faced the majestic dragon before them. Their bodies stiffened involuntarily, an instinctive reaction to a primal terror.
The Origin Dragon gave them a brief, dismissive glance before opening its massive mouth. A rainbow beam, pulsing with various elemental forces, shot forth. Wherever the light passed, the air rippled with volatile elemental energy, creating turbulence across the battlefield.
The rainbow light headed straight for the Tianhai Academy team. Sensing the terrifying energy, they all began to tremble. Bi Ran, at the front, gritted his teeth and raised his Iron Wave Shield Martial Soul. His three soul rings shone as he activated all his skills, making the shield grow larger, thicker, and heavier as it protected him.
The reassurance of his Martial Soul settled Bi Ran for just a moment before the rainbow light hit his shield, and he felt his entire body go weightless. Then, he remembered nothing more.
Thus, the much-anticipated match between Tianhai Academy and Donghai Academy ended unexpectedly, yet fittingly.
When Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue activated their fusion technique, the audience erupted in excitement. And when the rainbow light engulfed the Tianhai Academy team, the arena reached a fever pitch. Witnessing a Martial Soul Fusion Technique in the youth division team match was nothing short of extraordinary.
Long Hengxu, the instructor from Donghai Academy's junior division, was stunned, his eyes wide and his expression blank. These two kids had a fusion technique? Why hadn't anyone informed him?
In a corner of the audience, Wu Zhangkong observed the Origin Dragon with his usual calm, while the woman beside him was visibly surprised.
"Senior brother, your students are quite... impressive!" Shen Yi remarked, her face full of admiration.
"Hm," Wu Zhangkong nodded coolly, without denying it.
In stark contrast, Tianhai Academy's director, Long Huan Tian, was less than thrilled. His students had essentially been used as a backdrop, and he wasn't happy about it. Worse still, his students had been completely consumed by the Origin Dragon's attack—if the referee hadn't signaled they were unharmed, he might have stormed out of his booth.
"Damn it!" he swore. "Just what kind of monsters are this Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue? As if their own skills weren't strong enough, they even have a rare fusion technique! This is almost unfair!"
"I think it's safe to say Donghai Academy is taking the youth division's five-person team championship this year," said Zhang Leipeng, director of Hailu Academy, with a bitter smile.
"No doubt about it," agreed Xu Le and Xie Xueyun, the directors of Linghai and Ninghai Academies, sharing a resigned glance.
When the rainbow light finally faded, the Tianhai Academy team reappeared, visibly shaken but unharmed.
Though Gu Yue controlled most of the fusion's power, Jing Shaoyu could still influence it enough to prevent real harm. They were here to compete, not make enemies, so he had softened the attack's strength at the last moment to avoid casualties.
As the Origin Dragon dissipated, Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue reappeared, calm but visibly drained. The only unusual sight was their posture—Gu Yue was nestled in Jing Shaoyu's embrace, while he held her close with a contented smile. This scene made Xu Xiaoyan fume, her little face puffed with irritation, her gaze icy enough to keep Tang Wulin and Xie Xie silent in her presence.
"Hmph! It's fine. I can dual cultivate with him, and she can't!" she thought to herself, feeling a bit better with the reminder.
With the match over, Donghai Academy advanced to the fourth round.
Long Hengxu helped the team fend off the eager crowds and got them back to the hotel.
"Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, does Teacher Wu know you two have a Martial Soul Fusion Technique?" Long Hengxu asked, barely able to contain his excitement.
"I know," a cold voice interrupted before Jing Shaoyu could reply. Wu Zhangkong entered the room, his face as stoic as ever, answering Long Hengxu's question.
"You knew? Why didn't you report it to me?" Long Hengxu's expression turned disgruntled, his voice mixed with frustration and a hint of resentment.
"Why would I?" Wu Zhangkong replied calmly. "It's a matter for the students themselves, not under the academy's purview. Whether they choose to disclose it is up to them, not me. Isn't it a bit overreaching, Director Long?"
Long Hengxu was momentarily at a loss, realizing Wu Zhangkong wasn't entirely wrong. He forced an awkward smile, saying, "Ah, well, I got a bit carried away. Haha, it's my fault! You kids did great today; keep up the good work in the next rounds. I'll be going now."
Long Hengxu quickly excused himself, leaving behind Wu Zhangkong, who maintained his poker face, and the five students, struggling to stifle their laughter.
"Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, tell me your reason for revealing your fusion technique today," Wu Zhangkong asked, his gaze steady.
"No reason," Gu Yue answered casually.
Jing Shaoyu sighed inwardly and added, "Teacher Wu, we just wanted to test how our fusion technique would perform in a real battle, as we've only used it against a soul beast before."
"I accept that explanation," Wu Zhangkong replied, giving each of them a brief look before leaving as quickly as he'd arrived.
With only the five of them left in the room, Tang Wulin quickly sensed the brewing tension and nudged Xie Xie, speaking loudly, "Xie Xie, I'm starving. Aren't you?"
"Yes! Let's go eat!" Xie Xie instantly picked up on his cue, matching Tang Wulin's volume as they swiftly left the room.
Now, only three remained—Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, and Jing Shaoyu, who was already feeling a headache brewing.
"Brother Shaoyu, I want to participate in the next match too!" Xu Xiaoyan's tone held a hint of challenge as she looked at him.
"No," Gu Yue replied flatly. "We need to keep some cards hidden for later."
"I don't care!" Xu Xiaoyan ignored Gu Yue, pleading with Jing Shaoyu, "You're the captain, so it's your decision!"
Caught between Xu Xiaoyan's pout and Gu Yue's steely gaze, Jing Shaoyu opted to dodge the issue. "Well, uh, it's too early to say. We don't know our next opponent yet. How about we wait until we see the fourth-round matchups?"
Before either of them could respond, he quickly moved toward the door. "Oh, I just remembered, I have something to take care of! I'll be out for a while, so I'll skip dinner. You two enjoy yourselves—bye!"
With that, he slipped out of the room, leaving Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue in standoff mode. Xu Xiaoyan huffed, stomped to her room, then returned a moment later with her blanket in hand, marching straight into Jing Shaoyu's room. Gu Yue watched this unfold with a stoic expression.
Jing Shaoyu, meanwhile, headed to the hotel lo
bby, where he saw two familiar faces waiting.
"Class President, long time no see!"
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