Under Ning Tian's buff from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, Xie Huan Yue and Dai Huabin moved with lightning speed—especially Dai. His Evil‑Eyed White Tiger soul was already somewhat mutated, giving him far greater stealth and agility than a normal one, and in the blink of an eye, he closed the distance to Wang Dong.
"Second Martial Skill: White Tiger Blazing Wave!"
"Third Martial Skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
Dai Huabin unleashed both powerful attacks in quick succession. Wang Dong, benefiting from Jiang Qingtong's Spiritual Detection Sharing, reacted instantly—but even as he dodged Dai's strike, Xie Huan Yue slammed into him from another direction!
"Shoot! I can't dodge both!" Wang Dong thought, trapped between attacks from two directions.
Bolstered by Ning Tian's support—and already Soul Elders themselves—there was no way even Wang Dong could withstand this.
Seeing the crisis, Xiao Xiao immediately raised her hand. Two centuries-old soul rings flaunted subtle changes, merging into a single, ornate flute—the Nine Phoenix Lotus Flute—revealing her hidden second martial soul at this critical moment.
The audience gasped, their surprise echoing through the arena. Even on the judging high platform, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier couldn't help but glance over.
"A second martial soul?!" Cai Meier exclaimed.
Yan Shaozhe's eyes deepened. He murmured, "Another twin martial soul… If Qingtong stays at Shrek Academy, she's bound to lead the next generation."
The flute's clear melody flowed through the air. Dai Huabin and Xie Huan Yue staggered as if wading through sludge—the flute's slowing effect real.
Ning Tian, after a moment's shock, quickly dispelled the debuff. But that brief delay was enough: Wang Dong broke free.
Landing on his feet, he looked at Xiao Xiao and gave a thumbs-up: "Nice job, Xiao Xiao!"
Xiao Xiao smiled back. "Be careful, Captain!"
Dai Huabin frowned as he took in the Three‑Lives Soul‑Suppressing Cauldron hovering over Xiao Xiao's head and the flute in her hand. "Twin martial souls… after all this time, she only uses it now?"
Xie Huan Yue said quietly to Dai, "A defender worthy of the stand has real skill. Once we crack Jiang Qingtong, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao will collapse."
Over many battles, opponents had clearly pieced together the trio's tactics—Jiang Qingtong's spiritual soul mastering from the rear. To counter that, Ning Tian focused support on the attackers.
Dai Huabin called, "Ning Tian!"
She acknowledged, reinforcing both himself and Xie Huan Yue. The glow of her pagoda intensified.
Xie Huan Yue and Dai Huabin charged again: Xie toward Wang Dong, Dai toward Xiao Xiao.
Despite wielding two martial souls, Xiao Xiao remained a two‑ring Elite Soul Master—against a three‑ring Soul Elder like Dai with his mutated White Tiger soul, she could not match him.
Three‑Lives Cauldrons split to block Dai Huabin's path, giving Xiao Xiao a moment.
She then raised her flute again—but Ning Tian's buff made her slowing effect ineffective.
"Cauldron Tremor!" Xiao Xiao shouted, merging the cauldrons into a single massive weapon. Its devastating shockwave charged forward like an unstoppable giant.
Even Dai Huabin couldn't stand firm; he dove aside. Xiao Xiao used the opening to retreat to Jiang Qingtong's side.
Meanwhile, Wang Dong combined Divine Butterfly Light with Winged Cleave to go head‑to‑head with Xie Huan Yue—but the latter's martial soul and Ning Tian's buff made his attacks useless.
"Third Martial Skill: Elephant's Fury!" Xie Huan Yue roared as he struck.
Jiang Qingtong called out, "Wang Dong, retreat—!"
But pride got the better of him. "No! Watch this!" he announced.
The two soul techniques struck each other in a brutal clash. Wang Dong was smashed back by overwhelming energy, his stamina weaponized by facing the Soul Elder's might.
Jiang Qingtong rushed in and caught him before he hit the ground.
The crowd erupted.
This was unlike anything they'd seen so far. The trio had dominated before, but now their resilience was tested.
The thrice‑ringed opponents—Ning Tian, Xie Huan Yue, and Dai Huabin—had rallied the crowd's hopes.
"Xie Huan Yue! Ning Tian, go! Dai Huabin, fight! For freshman honor!"
Students cheered from the stands, forgetting that the defenders were also freshmen.
Pushed back, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao looked battered. Xiao Xiao's expression was solemn as she gripped her Nine Phoenix Flute; Wang Dong panted heavily, his soul power nearly spent after colliding with Xie Huan Yue.
Xiao Xiao whispered, "Using both martial souls drained me—I can't hold on much longer."
Wang Dong, hearing the cheers, spoke gravely, "Sorry—I should've listened to you and backed off sooner."
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