Chapter 162: 1V7
The final round of the tournament officially began—Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Tianshui Academy.
The match took place on the central stage, immediately drawing a massive crowd. Both teams had already secured their advancement, making this a high-profile showdown.
And today, the only Soul King in the tournament—Luo Ling—was standing on the arena. The audience erupted in excitement.
So far in all the preliminaries, Luo Ling had only fought twice. This would be his third battle, and interest in him had only grown stronger. That elegant yet sinister black scythe of his fascinated countless spectators, especially since no one had yet figured out what his spirit abilities truly were.
While Luo Ling took his place on the stage, the members of Tianshui Academy showed no sign of fear. On the contrary, each one looked determined and eager.
Luo Ling raised a brow, slightly surprised. He didn't realize these young women all wanted to impress him.
The referee signaled both sides to bow politely before the match began.
The two teams stood facing each other. Shui Bing'er, captain of Tianshui Academy, met Luo Ling's gaze. Seeing her up close for the first time, he couldn't help but quietly admire her.
He had known of her from his past life—the elegant, composed figure from an anime. But standing before the real Shui Bing'er, he had to admit she was even more breathtaking.
Luo Ling had met his fair share of beauties—Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong… each unique in her own way.
Shui Bing'er was different. She possessed both grace and intelligence—a serene, noble air combined with sharp wit.
Luo Ling smiled faintly.
"Will I get to see your true strength in this match?" Shui Bing'er asked, eyes glimmering with challenge.
Before he could reply, Dugu Yan snorted coldly. "Hmph, to deal with you, our Xiao Ling doesn't need to go all out."
At those words, Shui Bing'er frowned but said nothing, keeping her calm gaze on Luo Ling.
Seeing the sparks between the two women, Luo Ling chuckled. "You really want to see my true strength? Don't cry when you lose."
"I won't cry!" Shui Bing'er snapped lightly, irritated but composed.
"Then it's settled."
Luo Ling nodded and turned toward Dugu Yan. "Yanyan, take everyone and step back. I can handle this match alone."
Dugu Yan blinked, her expression complicated. "You're really going to go all out?"
She knew better than anyone how terrifying Luo Ling's true strength was. A 1V7 wasn't a challenge for him, but revealing that much power before so many eyes might not be wise.
"I'm just playing with them," Luo Ling said casually, shrugging. "We've already secured a spot in the finals—it doesn't matter."
Hearing that, Dugu Yan sighed, gave Shui Bing'er a meaningful look, then turned to the others. A few whispered words later, Heaven Dou's members retreated off the stage, leaving Luo Ling alone.
"What's the meaning of this? Do you look down on us?" Shui Bing'er finally realized what he was doing and called out angrily.
Luo Ling shook his head. "Not at all. It's precisely because I respect you that I'll show you my real power."
"If I had kept my teammates, my flight support skill and Dugu Yan's poison would've overwhelmed you easily. You wouldn't even get to see me fight."
"You said you wanted to see my true strength. So, this way, you will."
His voice was calm and sincere, and Shui Bing'er's anger wavered. Still, suspicion clouded her face. She didn't truly believe Luo Ling could take on seven opponents alone.
Seeing her hesitation, Luo Ling chuckled. "Don't worry about me—worry about yourselves. When you lose, remember, I warned you."
"Hmph! Stop boasting. When we defeat you, let's see if you'll still be smiling!" Shui Bing'er shot back sharply.
Meanwhile, the referee had been informed about Luo Ling's proposal to fight alone. Excitement lighting up his face, he announced loudly,
"Attention, everyone! At the request of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Luo Ling, this match will be changed from a standard seven-on-seven to a one-versus-seven battle—Luo Ling alone against Tianshui Academy!"
The Great Spirit Arena erupted like thunder. Murmurs, disbelief, cheers, and laughter filled the air.
A 1V7—such audacity! Or was it sheer confidence?
Before now, only one person had ever dared such a feat—the mysterious Demonic Warlock.
Many spectators questioned Luo Ling's judgment. His power was undeniable, but he had only fought a few times—how much could he really do?
In the VIP seats, Emperor Xue Ye looked astonished at the announcement.
"Haha! The boy's got guts! Win or lose, courage like that deserves respect!" Huyan Zhen boomed with laughter.
Though the words sounded complimentary, his tone was tinged with mockery—clearly mocking Luo Ling's supposed arrogance.
But Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "Don't underestimate Luo Ling, Sect Master Huyan. If he chose this path, he has the strength to match it."
He knew better than anyone how terrifying Luo Ling's true power was. If Luo Ling revealed even half of it, a 1V7 would not just be possible—it would be effortless.
However, since Luo Ling's real identity and martial spirit were still disguised, accomplishing that without exposure would be a delicate balance.
Emperor Xue Ye gave a low hum. "A one-on-seven battle? Not impossible. When Luo Ling joined our academy, he single-handedly defeated six of our top team members. I think his chances are excellent."
The air among the nobles crackled with curiosity and rivalry, while Bishop Salas silently stared down at the stage, his eyes gleaming. He was about to witness the Saint Son's true might.
…
After a storm of noise, the match officially began.
From Shrek's rest area, Tang San watched Luo Ling standing alone on the stage. Jealousy and resentment surged through him.
"Keep showing off, Luo Ling," he thought bitterly, clenching his fists. "Soon, I'll catch up. When that happens, I'll crush you beneath my feet!"
On the stage, the battle erupted instantly. Shui Bing'er activated her first spirit skill in the blink of an eye, icy chains rushing to restrain Luo Ling.
Her teammates moved in unison, unleashing their attacks from all sides.
Luo Ling stood calmly, his black scythe of corruption materializing in his hand.
The moment the dark energy spread, every shard of ice that tried to bind him melted away completely. Luo Ling remained untouched.
Facing the wave of approaching Tianshui attackers, his fifth spirit ring suddenly flared beneath him.
It was the first time he had unveiled his fifth ability in the tournament.
A tide of dark energy flooded the arena, oppressive and immense. The overwhelming aura crashed down like a storm—forcing all seven members of Tianshui Academy to the ground, unable to even lift their heads.
(END CHAPTER)
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