Chapter 239: Starry Ice Phoenix, Continuous Control, Forcing a Spirit Sect Off the Field
"Actually, it isn't necessarily a bad thing that the teams before us dragged things out until this late." Shui Bing'er smiled and nodded at Yu Tianlin, then lifted her eyes to the sky. "At least, it's very advantageous for me."
At this moment, although the last glow of the setting sun had not completely faded, faint stars were already visible in the sky. For Shui Bing'er, who had consumed the Star Luo Spirit Pearl, the presence of countless stars would strengthen her and reduce the drain on her Spirit Power.
"I'll bring everyone the victory."
Encouraged by the team, Shui Bing'er walked into the arena with a calm smile, confidence written all over her face.
The first contestant from Botany Academy was a young man in a bright green academy uniform trimmed with gold. He was tall and well built. If people did not already know that Botany Academy's students all specialized in control, most would have assumed he was a power attack type Spirit Master.
After stepping onto the field, the young man's expression was solemn. Thunder Academy was the number 1 team that had qualified from the Heaven Dou preliminaries, and he could not afford to be careless.
On the other hand, Shui Bing'er remained composed from beginning to end. Her eyes were steady as she observed him, analyzing his condition as carefully as possible.
Neither side exchanged words. With the referee's decision, the match began immediately.
When both Martial Souls were released at the same time, it became clear that this Botany Academy contestant's Martial Soul was a cyan vine. Two yellow and two purple Spirit Rings rose and spiraled around him. Judging by that configuration, he was actually a Spirit Elder.
"Botany Academy really does have some foundation. There's definitely more than one Spirit Ancestor," Lei Bao could not help saying from below the arena when he saw the opponent reveal Spirit Ancestor level cultivation. "Among the 10 qualifying teams from the 4 kingdoms and 1 duchy, Botany Academy should be the strongest."
Yu Tianlin nodded in agreement.
In a tournament like this, teams usually think the same way. The strongest member is typically kept for the end as the final trump card. As for the first one sent out, to avoid damaging morale, strength still matters, so it is often the second or third strongest member who opens.
In other words, Botany Academy choosing this arrangement meant they had at least 2 Spirit Ancestors, and possibly even more.
"Even so, it doesn't matter. Botany Academy isn't a match for us." Yu Tianlin laughed. "I know everyone's strength. I even think that if I'm placed last, I probably won't get a chance to fight at all throughout the advancement tournament."
While Yu Tianlin and Lei Bao spoke off the field, the battle on the arena officially erupted.
The Botany Academy youth moved quickly, trying to seize the initiative. He activated his first Spirit Skill, controlling his vine Martial Soul as it shot toward Shui Bing'er, aiming to bind her in place.
Shui Bing'er did not panic at all. She did not even make a move.
When the vines surged to within 5 meters of her, they abruptly stopped, unable to advance even an inch, let alone wrap around her.
"What's going on?!" The Botany Academy youth's expression changed sharply. He could feel an immense resistance transmitted through his own vine Martial Soul, yet for a moment he could not figure out what was blocking him.
"As expected of Bing'er. In less than half a month after consuming the Star Luo Spirit Pearl, she's already mastered the power of stars this well." Yu Tianlin's lips curved slightly as he watched.
Those with weaker perception might not see it clearly, but it could not escape Yu Tianlin's eyes.
Within a 5 meter radius around Shui Bing'er, there was always a razor thin layer of starlight, faint to the point of being nearly invisible to the naked eye. That starlight formed tremendous resistance, stopping the vines from drawing closer.
The Botany Academy youth might not have understood the details, but he knew something was wrong. He prepared to activate another Spirit Skill without hesitation.
Unfortunately, he was still slower than Shui Bing'er.
Her first Spirit Ring flashed, and Ice Seal erupted instantly, freezing the Botany Academy youth into solid ice.
And it was not just ice.
Inside the ice layer, strands of starlight flowed like threads, further strengthening the binding force.
Plant type control Spirit Masters were often more dependent on Spirit Skills and technique than raw physical strength. For a time, he could not break free from the solid ice reinforced by the power of stars.
Shui Bing'er had already calculated this outcome. Without any hesitation, she directly activated her third Spirit Ring.
Ice Resistance Ring.
A ring of icy blue light burst outward and surged forward. The moment it touched the Botany Academy youth, it blasted him away.
The youth had only just broken free from the ice when he was hit by the Ice Resistance Ring. He was thrown backward, suspended in mid air with nothing to brace against. Instinctively, he controlled his vine Martial Soul to latch onto something and stabilize himself.
But this, too, was within Shui Bing'er's calculations.
His vine Martial Soul was swept by the ice power and froze at terrifying speed. It became extremely brittle, and the moment it collided with anything, it shattered into fragments.
Plant type Martial Souls were not only restrained by fire, they were also restrained by extreme cold.
Thus, under Shui Bing'er's continuous control, the Botany Academy Spirit Ancestor was forced out of the arena. By the rules of the advancement tournament, leaving the arena meant defeat.
Both were control types, yet Shui Bing'er, at level 46, defeated a level 41 Botany Academy Spirit Ancestor without taking any damage. She used only her first and third Spirit Skills, and her own Spirit Power consumption was only about 15%.
Although Shui Bing'er's Spirit Power was higher, this victory was not a simple crush through strength. It was suppression through calculation and control, a textbook display of what a true control type Spirit Master should look like.
In Godwind Academy's area, Huo Wu, who had rested most of the day and recovered a good portion of her Spirit Power, frowned. "Shui Bing'er's control has become stronger again. Even with the fact that ice restrains plants, they're both still control type Spirit Masters. How could she win so easily?"
"Huo Wu, you're actually no worse than her," Huo Wushuang said calmly. "It's just that you're too proud. Sometimes pride blinds you and makes you misjudge."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Sister, I'm not a control type, but that's exactly why I can see more clearly. I understand you better than you understand yourself."
"You're the soul of our team. You must stay calm and rational at all times."
Huo Wu fell silent, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes.
...
[TL: Check out my newly Released fanfic]
[TITLE: Starting in One Piece with Vector Manipulation]