Difficulty

Both sides ascended the ring and announced their names. The blond girl's name was Wang Dongqi, while the other two, almost identical in appearance except for their hair color, were named Zhou Hanyou and Zhou Tian'er.

Observing their opponents, the three girls found the situation a bit peculiar. Their academy had thoroughly investigated Class Zero's information, knowing that the two strongest students, Anping and Gu Yuena, remained undefeated in individual competitions.

Expecting to face them, they were surprised that the two strongest students weren't participating. In their perspective, despite the three opponents achieving four consecutive victories, it was only because they faced relatively weak opponents earlier.

Having completed a round-robin, they would find it hard to believe that the other party hadn't researched their competitors.

Zhou Tian'er, lively by nature, couldn't resist smiling at her opponents and remarked, "Little brother, little sister, why aren't your two strongest students on stage?"

Annoyed at being called "little brother," Xie Xie retorted, "Dealing with the three of you is more than enough."

Zhou Tian'er, seemingly coaxing a child, added, "We aren't like the stray cats and dogs you faced before. It might be better for you to concede defeat; otherwise, the beating might hurt, and it'll seem like we're bullying the small ones."

Xie Xie snorted and said, "You'll have to concede defeat if you want it. Don't assume we'll be merciful just because you're girls."

"Three, two, one, the game begins!" The referee, unable to tolerate the banter, hastened the countdown.

As soon as the referee finished speaking, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie advanced, targeting Zhou Hanyou and Wang Dongqi, respectively. Xu Xiaoyan, keeping her distance, moved strategically, waiting for the opportune moment to intervene.

Having witnessed this team's prior matches, Class Zero knew they faced two elemental soul masters and one melee soul master. Their strategy involved Xie Xie trapping the melee Wang Dongqi, the resilient Tang Wulin confronting the twins, and Xu Xiaoyan providing support from a distance.

In response to Tang Wulin's charge, Zhou Hanyou emitted white light, the first soul ring beneath her feet flickering as an ice wall materialized on Tang Wulin's trajectory. Zhou Tian'er gestured toward Tang Wulin, causing thin vines to sprout from the ground, reaching out for him.

The timing of the ice wall's appearance was impeccable. There was no time to slow down or change direction, and the vines were immediately in front of them. Tang Wulin raised his arms in front of him and accelerated forcefully, smashing directly into the ice wall. With a resounding crash, the ice wall shattered into pieces, leaving Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou momentarily stunned.

On the other side, Wang Dongqi summoned her lightning sword martial soul and charged at Xie Xie. Brandishing the blue-purple sword with silver lightning in her right hand, she sent a bolt of silver electricity towards Xie Xie.

Xie Xie swiftly sidestepped as the lightning struck the ring. Observing Xie Xie evade the initial strike, Wang Dongqi accelerated suddenly. Raising the long sword in her hand, the second soul ring beneath her feet flickered, and silver electric lights danced like small snakes, creating a power grid covering most of her body.

Undeterred, Xie Xie maintained his speed, utilizing the ghost shadow step he acquired from joining the Tang Sect. His figure flickered like a phantom, evading the descending lightning with precision.

Witnessing this, Wang Dongqi smiled. Unacquainted with the Tang Sect's secret technique, she hadn't expected to miss against an agility-type soul master. Xu Xiaoyan, observing Zhou Hanyou and Zhou Tian'er, was astonished. The soul rings beneath their feet shimmered as they advanced. Waving the star wheel ice staff in her hand, a blue ice wheel shot towards Zhou Tian'er.

As the ice wheel rotated rapidly, and Tang Wulin approached Zhou Tian'er, the latter skillfully dodged towards Zhou Hanyou. Activating her first soul ring, vines swiftly coiled around their waists, pulling them back and avoiding the ice wheel. This simultaneously increased the distance between them and Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin approached Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou while charging. His first soul ring glowed as he deployed strands of Blue Silver Grass towards Wang Dongqi.

"Dong Qi, be careful!" Zhou Tian'er urgently warned as she observed the unfolding scene.

Preoccupied with her battle against Xie Xie, Wang Dongqi couldn't react in time despite the warning. Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou, entangled in their own confrontation, couldn't come to her aid. Wang Dongqi found herself ensnared by Tang Wulin's strengthened Blue Silver Grass, struggling but unable to break free. Xie Xie deftly evaded, and the Light Dragon Dagger was poised at Wang Dongqi's neck.

Referee declared Wang Dongqi out, and she descended from the ring disheartened. Zhou Hanyou and Zhou Tian'er were taken aback by the tactical brilliance of their opponents, their expressions stiffening.

Amidst the unfolding drama, Xie Xie grinned confidently at Zhou Tian'er, seemingly saying, "Surprisingly, our target was always Wang Dongqi."

Yet, the game persisted despite one player exiting. Undeterred by Xie Xie's confident smile, Zhou Tian'er snorted. Two soul rings gleamed successively as green light radiated from the ground. Numerous vines sprouted and spread towards Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.

Tang Wulin sensed that his Blue Silver Grass was suppressed, losing control. Swiftly withdrawing his martial spirit, he summoned the Golden Dragon Claw to destroy the entangled vines, striding towards Zhou Hanyou.

Stepping on the ghost shadow, Xie Xie skillfully evaded the vines beneath his feet. When unavoidable, he swiftly severed them with his dagger, closing in on Zhou Tian'er. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, now in close proximity, faced reduced speed due to the entangling vines.

Spotting an opportunity, Zhou Hanyou activated his second soul skill, summoning ice picks to encircle Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, creating an ice prison. The pervasive cold air infiltrated their bodies; while Tang Wulin, with his robust physique, endured, Xie Xie's movements became sluggish.

Observing Xie Xie's struggle, Tang Wulin swung his golden dragon claw at the nearest ice pick, shattering it. Determined to restrain them, Zhou Hanyou, with a flash of his third soul ring, activated the amplifying soul skill Ice Spirit. His body glowed with ice-blue light, and a colossal ice wall materialized, sealing the gap Tang Wulin had breached. The cold air emanating from the ice wall seemed sharper than before.

Simultaneously, Zhou Tian'er controlled vines to eliminate Xu Xiaoyan. Opting for entanglement rather than aggression, possibly due to their shared gender, Zhou Tian'er managed the vines without resorting to forceful methods.

Deprived of Xu Xiaoyan's interference, Zhou Tian'er extended the vines strategically around the ice prison, preventing Tang Wulin from breaking the ice pick once more. Sporting a smile, Zhou Tian'er taunted, "Little brothers, admit defeat quickly. You have no chance."

"Impossible," Xie Xie's voice quivered under the influence of the chilling air.