Silence.
After hearing Xiao Hongchen's words, Li Yunfeng fell into a complete silence.
His brain seemed to crash in that instant; his face, which had been tense with nervousness and solemnity, now became incredibly dull.
He stared blankly at Xiao Hongchen in front of him, his mouth slightly open, yet unable to utter a single word.
Who was Xiao Hongchen?
He was the favorite grandson of Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, the undisputed prodigy of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, and a standout among the Core Disciples!
His Spirit was the top-tier 'Three-Legged Golden Toad,' his spirit power cultivation left his peers in the dust, and his mastery of spirit tools had reached a level of perfection.
In Li Yunfeng's understanding, among their generation, Xiao Hongchen was the synonym for invincibility.
But now, what had he just heard?
Xiao Hongchen said he had been 'instantly defeated' by Liu Yuan.
This was simply preposterous.
After all, the term 'instantly defeated' usually implied that the gap in strength between the two sides was already a chasm so vast it couldn't be bridged by skill or tactics.
Li Yunfeng swallowed hard, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling: "Xiao Hongchen... you, is what you just said true? You... you aren't joking, are you?"
How he wished this was just a tasteless joke Xiao Hongchen made to lighten the atmosphere before the match.
However, Xiao Hongchen only shook his head at him.
He said to Li Yunfeng, "Do I look like I'm joking? I can tell you clearly, it's true. Just a few days ago, at the training grounds outside the academy, witnessed by my grandfather, I was... instantly defeated by Liu Yuan."
To add credibility, he even supplemented the details: "I used a carpet-bombing attack, firing dozens of soul tool cannons and rays simultaneously, and the result was him neutralizing it in a single move. And for him to defeat me, it didn't even take a second. That was simply a battle on a different dimension."
*Hiss—*
After confirming the facts, Li Yunfeng couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air, feeling a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
He became completely serious, the last trace of wishful thinking on his face vanishing, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
He knew that things were truly troublesome now.
If even a powerhouse of Xiao Hongchen's level could be instantly defeated by Liu Yuan in a one-on-one fight, it proved irrefutably that Liu Yuan's strength was already far superior to any of the three of them.
A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.
Faced with such a monster-like opponent, did the spirit tools they took pride in and their carefully prepared tactics even have any meaning?
But Li Yunfeng's gaze quickly became firm again.
He clenched his fists tightly, unaware that his nails were digging deep into his palms.
Give up? No, never!
Though he was just an ordinary Soul Engineer, he also had his own pride and dignity.
Even if the win rate for this match was already slim, he would still throw a punch of challenge and make one last attempt!
"I didn't expect Liu Yuan's strength to be so great..." Li Yunfeng took a deep breath, his eyes like torches as they swept over Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen beside him.
"But, I don't want to give up just like this! The match hasn't started yet, so the outcome isn't decided! With the three of us joining forces, we might not be without the power to fight!"
His words were forceful and resonant, reigniting the team's fighting spirit.
Li Yunfeng's gaze finally landed on another key figure of the team—Meng Hongchen.
He quickly constructed a tactic in his mind and said in a low voice, "Xiao Meng, the most unsolvable thing about Liu Yuan is his speed, which is so fast it's like cheating. We absolutely cannot let him charge into our side as easily as before. So, I need you to use your Spirit to restrict him!"
"Your 'Scarlet Clear Ice Toad' Spirit carries lethal poison. As soon as the match starts, immediately release your ice poison and toxic mist with all your might, covering the entire area around us!
The larger the range the better, the stronger the toxicity the better! As long as he wants to get close, he must pass through your poisonous Domain. That will definitely slow down his movements and create an opportunity for us!"
Then, he turned to Xiao Hongchen and said with a firm tone, "Xiao Hongchen, you are our strongest point of attack."
"In a moment, I will use all my defensive spirit tools to guard you, building the sturdiest fortress for you!"
"You don't have to worry about anything; focus all your energy on attacking! Once Xiao Meng's toxins have even the slightest effect on Liu Yuan, immediately use your strongest saturation attack to completely drown him!"
Li Yunfeng's tactical thinking was clear and decisive: restrict Liu Yuan's speed with Meng Hongchen's poisonous Domain, protect the core damage dealer with his own defensive capabilities, and finally have Xiao Hongchen deliver the fatal blow.
This was the only way they could think of currently that might counter Liu Yuan's terrifying speed.
After hearing Li Yunfeng's plan, a glint flashed in Meng Hongchen's eyes, and she nodded.
As for Xiao Hongchen, he let out a heavy breath and said deeply, "Let's try it! We can't just admit defeat!"
After quickly finalizing their strategy, the three didn't delay any further.
With steady and firm steps, they walked onto the much-anticipated final stage together.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, the atmosphere was much more relaxed.
Ju Zi and Ke Ke looked at Liu Yuan's calm and composed expression, as if the ones they were about to face weren't the class's strongest siblings, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, but just some other bottom-feeders.
"Um... Liu Yuan," Ke Ke couldn't help but lean in and ask softly, "It's the finals, you know. The opponents are Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, the recognized strongest combo. Do we... really not need any special arrangements this time?"
Hearing this, Liu Yuan turned his head to look at them, that handsome face still wearing a gentle smile.
He shook his head and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "No special arrangements. It's the same as before; I'll continue to take action, and you two just support from the back."
"Support..." Ju Zi and Ke Ke glanced at each other, both seeing a look of being between laughter and tears on the other's face.
Ju Zi couldn't help but complain in a low voice, "Where is the support? Our spirit tool scopes haven't locked onto an enemy once from start to finish, and the triggers haven't been pulled even once. Can you call that support? It's more like being cheerleaders, right? Or just there for the atmosphere?"
Ke Ke also echoed with a bitter smile, "Exactly. I feel like our role is just to make up the three people needed to go on stage so you can rightfully fight one-against-three. We aren't teammates; we're practically your exclusive viewing seats!"
Although they were complaining, they didn't have any dissatisfaction in their hearts.
They knew clearly that with their strength, they really couldn't help much in a battle of this level; forcing themselves to stand out would only make them a burden.
This kind of complaining was more of a self-mockery about their "insufficient strength and inability to fight alongside him," as well as a heartfelt lament over Liu Yuan's unfathomable power.
Liu Yuan just smiled at their conversation and didn't explain much.
He knew that any verbal comfort wasn't as substantial as a hearty victory.
Besides, this was just a class training match after all.
If it weren't for him being a newcomer and many students being curious about his strength, everyone might not even care this much.
Soon, the three members of Liu Yuan's team also stepped onto the stage.
When the two finalist teams faced each other from afar in the center of the stage, the atmosphere of the entire arena was instantly ignited to its peak!
The gazes of all the students were focused on the stage, their breathing becoming rapid, their hearts filled with endless expectation and curiosity.
"It's finally starting! Liu Yuan versus the Hongchen siblings! This is definitely the top-tier duel of our class!"
"Do you think Liu Yuan can still get an instant win this time? Xiao Hongchen and the others must be prepared, right?"
"Definitely! Look at their positioning; Li Yunfeng is clearly going to protect Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen is probably going to use a large-range Spirit Ability! This tactic is very targeted!"
Amidst the heated discussions, Mr. Xuan on the judges' bench also sat up straight, his sharp gaze scanning back and forth across the six individuals.
He raised his right hand high and then swung it down abruptly!
"Finals, begin!"
*Wring—!*
Almost the instant the words left Mr. Xuan's mouth, Xiao Hongchen's team moved with lightning speed!
Meng Hongchen gave a soft shout, her 'Scarlet Clear Ice Toad' Spirit instantly possessing her as rings of dark green spirit rings rose up. Without the slightest hesitation, she slammed both hands onto the ground!
"Third Spirit Ability, Ice Poison Array!"
"Fourth Spirit Ability, Toad Poison Mist!"
In an instant, a wave of dark green cold air centered on her, spreading crazily in all directions like a tide. A layer of ice crystals shimmering with an eerie green light rapidly condensed on the hard metal floor of the stage.
At the same time, large patches of poisonous thick fog appeared out of thin air, completely enveloping the half of the field where the three of them were, forming an absolute poisonous Domain!
Any living creature that stepped in would simultaneously endure the slowing effect of the frost and the erosion of the poison.
Simultaneously, Li Yunfeng roared, and several thick alloy shield spirit tools appeared out of thin air, forming an indestructible mobile barrier in front of him and Xiao Hongchen.
And behind him, Xiao Hongchen's eyes burst with intense light. With a wave of his hands, a giant soul tool cannon with a menacing design and a muzzle shimmering with terrifying energy light was summoned.
Xiao Hongchen braced it steadily on Li Yunfeng's defensive position, the muzzle locked dead onto Liu Yuan's direction, ready to launch a thunderous strike at any moment!
This series of smooth and seamless coordination instantly caused a burst of exclamations from the students outside the field.
"Heavens! I see it! Meng Hongchen used a large-range poison array to block all of Liu Yuan's paths for getting close!"
"Li Yunfeng acts as the meat shield, and Xiao Hongchen is the mobile turret! This tactic is too perfect! No matter how fast Liu Yuan is, he can't just ignore such a large-range poison, can he?"
"As expected of Xiao Hongchen and his team! Liu Yuan is in trouble now!"
On the judges' bench, Mr. Xuan's eyes also shimmered with deep curiosity and inquiry.
"Oh? Using large-range field restriction Spirit Abilitys to counter absolute speed? It's indeed a textbook response. So next, Liu Yuan, how will you break this move?"
On the stage, Ke Ke and Ju Zi looked at the grand and ominous-looking poisonous mist Domain before them, and their pretty faces couldn't help but tighten with nervousness.
They looked at Liu Yuan in front of them: "Liu Yuan, what do we do now? We can't get through!"
Liu Yuan gazed at the poisonous mist, but the corner of his mouth curled into a faint arc as he replied calmly, "Act according to plan."
The moment the words fell, he moved!
He didn't choose to take a detour, nor did he try to break it with long-range attacks. Facing that daunting poisonous Domain, Liu Yuan chose the most direct, most violent, and most unbelievable way!
"Extreme Speed."
Two faint words were uttered from his mouth.
*Swish—!*
An emerald green light flashed again!
And in the next second, before Xiao Hongchen and the others could even react.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Three dull sounds of impact rang out almost simultaneously, crisp and clean.
Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Li Yunfeng, like three sandbags kicked away at will, left the ground at the same time and were kicked off the stage cleanly by Liu Yuan, one kick for each.
The entire arena fell into a dead silence.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Every person's face was written with a giant question mark, their brains a complete blank.
What happened?
The match... is over again?
Didn't Meng Hongchen already use multiple Spirit Abilitys for field control? What about that poisonous Domain covering half the field? What about the frost that could slow down a Spirit King? Why was it all useless against Liu Yuan?
Just why was this the case?!
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