NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Crushing Victory
"Hold him off! Focus on taking out Nine Heart Begonia!" Tai Long shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
It became clear that his goal wasn't to defeat Yu Tianheng. Instead, he used his robust body as a shield to buy his teammates time.
Huang Yuan's speed was impressive, and Jing Ling's skeletal martial spirit had a sinister unpredictability. Without the defensive duo of the Shijia brothers present to protect Ye Lingling, there was a genuine chance they could break through to the backline.
If they could eliminate Ye Lingling, there was still hope for victory. Otherwise, as long as Nine Heart Begonia remained active, all their efforts would be in vain.
The two didn't hesitate. With precise coordination, they split apart and attacked Ye Lingling from both flanks.
"Heh, just as expected," Xun Yu muttered with a confident smile. He raised his military emblem, and in an instant, dozens of shield-bearing saber soldiers materialized in the air.
Ten of them formed a tight circle around Ye Lingling.
Eight stood as Xun Yu's personal guard.
The remaining thirty, split into two groups of fifteen, charged Huang Yuan and Jing Ling.
Xun Yu's martial spirit thrived on strategy and numbers. While his summoned soldiers weren't particularly powerful—barely at the level of a ten-year spirit master—they had an overwhelming advantage in numbers and sheer relentlessness.
Even as Huang Yuan tore off arms or Jing Ling shattered heads, the soldiers pressed on undeterred. After all, they weren't real people. As long as Xun Yu had spirit energy to spare, they could be revived repeatedly, stronger than ever.
Curiously, despite being capable of summoning fifty-eight soldiers, Xun Yu had only summoned forty-eight. It seemed the remaining ten had been sent on another mission long before the match began.
"A summoning-type spirit? Xiaogang always said such spirits were rare, but to see one here in Tianheng's team..." Liu Erlong muttered, her sharp eyes narrowing.
Summoning spirits had a decisive advantage in team battles. With a sufficiently large force, they could overwhelm opponents and tip the scales drastically.
"Yu Feng, Oslo, it's your turn," Xun Yu said, turning to the two agility-type spirit masters.
"We've been waiting for this!"
Both darted forward like bolts of lightning, launching a counterattack straight at Jiang Zhu.
"Not good!" Tai Long's heart sank. He had just sent Huang Yuan and Jing Ling to the frontlines, leaving Jiang Zhu completely unguarded.
Meanwhile, the three Spirit Elders—the shield user and the ant user were locked in combat with Nan Feihuang, while the chain spirit master was tangled up with Dugu Yan.
Tai Long made a desperate attempt to break free and protect Jiang Zhu, but Yu Tianheng unleashed a surge of lightning to pin him in place.
"Where do you think you're going?" Yu Tianheng smirked. "Your fight is with me. Did you really think you were holding me back earlier? You've been in the palm of my hand this whole time."
The crushing grip of Yu Tianheng's lightning-infused hands sent a wave of realization crashing over Tai Long.
"So this is the true power of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?" Tai Long murmured, his voice trembling. The sheer strength radiating from Yu Tianheng's grip was equal to his own. "You were holding back before... intentionally letting me restrain you."
"Exactly. Every move your team has made has been within the calculations of our strategist," Yu Tianheng replied, his tone smug.
From the moment Xun Yu analyzed both teams' configurations, he had devised a flawless strategy. So far, the opposing team had played right into their hands.
Even their desperate assault on Ye Lingling was anticipated. It was the perfect opportunity for Xun Yu's soldiers to shine.
Now, Jiang Zhu stood alone, trembling under the ferocious assault of Yu Feng and Oslo.
With one swift claw, Oslo interrupted her healing, while Yu Feng summoned a fierce wind, sweeping her off the battlefield entirely.
"Well done! Time to unleash everything, everyone!" Yu Tianheng roared, abandoning all defense in favor of an all-out assault.
Nan Feihuang, with a mighty swing of his halberd, sent the shield and ant spirit masters flying. At the same time, their retaliatory blows landed heavily on his body, but he barely flinched. With Nine Heart Begonia supporting him, he felt invincible.
"Single-Handed Eighteen Strikes: Swing, Smash, Sweep!"
Nan Feihuang unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, forcing his opponents back step by step.
Yu Tianheng, meanwhile, had no trouble finishing Tai Long. Three strikes were all it took to send him sprawling off the stage.
With a victorious grin, Yu Tianheng turned to help Dugu Yan. Together, they overwhelmed the chain spirit master. Two-on-one left no room for resistance, and he was quickly knocked out.
"Great work, Feihuang. Let's..." Yu Tianheng turned, ready to assist Nan Feihuang, only to freeze mid-sentence.
Nan Feihuang stood with his halberd resting casually on his shoulder, his two opponents sprawled unconscious at his feet.
"Need help with what, Captain?" Nan Feihuang asked, his tone light, yet his smirk brimming with confidence.
"This brat... He's stealing all the spotlight!" Yu Tianheng grumbled.
From the moment Jiang Zhu was eliminated, Nan Feihuang had gone all-out. With Nine Heart Begonia supporting him, his opponents had no chance.
Across the battlefield, Xun Yu approached Huang Yuan and Jing Ling, who were still pinned beneath a pile of summoned soldiers.
"Well? What do you two say now?" Xun Yu asked, his voice calm yet firm.
"Ugh… mmph!" The two tried to respond but could only manage muffled groans.
At that moment, Liu Erlong stepped onto the stage. "Enough. We concede."
With a wave of his military emblem, Xun Yu dispersed his soldiers, freeing the two trapped opponents.
Though disheveled and short of breath, Huang Yuan and Jing Ling quickly recovered, their spirit power unharmed.
"Well fought, Aunt," Yu Tianheng said respectfully, his earlier arrogance replaced with genuine politeness.
Liu Erlong nodded. "Tianheng, you have excellent teammates."
Her gaze swept over the group.
Yu Feng and Oslo, though talented, weren't particularly noteworthy compared to Tai Long and his team. However, the others stood out.
Dugu Yan, the heir to a Titled Douluo, wielded her Jade Phosphor Snake with precision. Xun Yu's summoning spirit was both rare and versatile. Nine Heart Begonia's unparalleled healing was a game-changer, and Nan Feihuang's raw strength and skill set him apart as a prodigy.
This team, she thought, had the potential to make waves in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
Unaware that Nan Feihuang and Xun Yu were only exchange students who would leave in three years, Liu Erlong quietly marveled at their potential.
As the team returned to the preparation room, Qin Ming greeted them with a proud smile.
"Well done, everyone. That was an impressive victory. You barely broke a sweat. Now, would you like to head back, or…"
"Of course not! Let's keep going!" Yu Tianheng said eagerly, his fighting spirit undiminished.
"Let's sweep through the arena!" Nan Feihuang chimed in with a grin.
For him, battle wasn't just a test of strength; it was also an opportunity to grow.