As Tang Yin caught sight of Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, he was instantly captivated by the beauty of the two sisters. Yet, a flicker of skepticism crossed his mind about Tang San's unwavering loyalty to Xiao wu.
"Wait a second… how did Tang San not even flinch around these two? No flutter in his heart for Zhuqing, Huo Wu, Hu Liena, or even Qian Renxue? All top-tier goddesses—and he's just—Immune?" Tang Yin squinted suspiciously.
Either the Asura God purged all his mortal desires… or the Tang Sect's brainwashing runs deeper than I thought.
The host's voice snapped him back to the present as both teams stepped onto the arena.
Tang Yin extended his hand politely toward Shui Bing'er. Her grip was firm, her eyes calm, and her posture poised with the dignity of a captain. She had a kind of heroic aura that genuinely impressed him.
"Is it a façade," Tang Yin asked with an amused glint, "or are you genuinely not even a little intimidated by me?"
Shui Bing'er met his eyes and shook her head gently. "It's not that I'm not intimidated," she admitted, "but I want to give it my all—to win glory for my academy."
A warm smile spread across Tang Yin's face, lighting up his handsome features—so much so that half the Tianshui girls unconsciously straightened their backs. "Then I'll be rooting for you, Captain Bing'er."
For a brief second, Shui Bing'er's icy mask cracked. A flicker of surprise—and something fleeting—crossed her face before she quickly recomposed herself.
The host raised their hand. "Both teams, ready—!"
In perfect sync, both teams released their martial souls. A surge of soul power rippled through the air, stirring the wind and drawing cheers from the audience.
Tianshui had only one Soul Ancestor and six Soul Elders—not ideal for a competitive tournament—but they could always rely on the miracle created by their captain.
The countdown echoed through the arena.
Five... Four... Three... Two... One—
Begin!
Shui Bing'er, captain of the Tianshui Team, was a Soul Ancestor with the Ice Phoenix Wuhun—a top-level control-type beast spirit. She took her leadership role seriously, skillfully directing her team's actions in battle.
The moment Dai Mubai and Tai Long charged head-on, Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran flanked behind them in a coordinated assault. Shui Bing'er raised her hand, eyes glowing intensly:
"First Soul Skill—Ice Bound!"
A surge of frost exploded across the arena. The ground shimmered white, and a biting chill swept forward like a tidal wave. Zhuqing and Yiran swiftly retreated using their movement techniques, but Dai Mubai and Tai Long were caught mid-sprint—too slow, too direct.
In a flash, Tang Yin reacted.
Blue Silver King vines shot out like arrows, coiling around the two men and yanking them back just before the freezing wave could encase them in solid ice. The Blue Silver Vines completely resisted the icy chill, but the frozen battlefield was still Tianshui Team's domain.
Shui Bing'er and the rest of the Tianshui Team froze—not from the cold, but from shock. They had just witnessed the Blue Silver King vines completely resist her ice attack.
The audience gasped as Dai Mubai and Tai Long emerged from the freezing assault unscathed, protected by Tang Yin's timely intervention.
Even Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes in deep thought. Elemental resistance could be explained—but resistance to not one, but two of the strongest elemental attacks? That was something else entirely...
Shui Bing'er quickly regained her composure. As captain, hesitation wasn't an option—not for her, and not for her team. Tang Yin was unpredictable—she had to adapt. Within seconds, she revised her tactics on the fly.
Xue Wu, a Soul Elder with the Slim Snow Dance Decoration—a delicate tool-type spirit capable of weather manipulation—was positioned by Bing'er's side to provide timely support.
(Tang Yin was well aware of their Martial Soul Fusion, but he chose not to intervene. He had wanted the girls to experience defeat today—a necessary lesson to prepare them for the real challenge awaiting in the finals against three Soul King-level geniuses of Martial Soul Hall.)
At that moment, Dai Mubai, burning with frustration, activated his second soul ring and charged straight at Shui Bing'er and her team.
"Second Soul Skill—White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
A blinding beam of light burst from his mouth, roaring across the battlefield. But just as it reached them, Shui Bing'er's second soul ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill—Ice Armor!"
A crystalline layer of ice instantly enveloped her body, and within moments, similar armor spread to protect the rest of the Tianshui team. This soul skill created a coordinated defense, shielding all members from the attack.
Dai Mubai's light wave slammed into the icy barriers and dispersed harmlessly.
Seeing his attack completely neutralized, Dai Mubai clenched his fists, baring his teeth in frustration—only to hear Tang Yin's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Are you done wasting soul power, or should I let you embarrass yourself a bit longer?"
Tang Yin shook his head with a faint sigh. "Looks like I'll have to step in after all," he muttered to himself as his third soul ring lit up with a deep glow, surging with soul power.
"Third Soul Skill—Soul Devouring Cage!"
Seven blood-red cages erupted from the ground, snapping shut around the Tianshui team before they could react.
Shui Bing'er's expression changed instantly. She tried to shatter the cage with a burst of her ice element—but to her shock, it didn't leave so much as a scratch.
Only now did she truly grasp the terrifying resilience of Tang Yin's Blue Silver King. This wasn't just any plant-type spirit—it was their worst nightmare incarnate.
With a casual wave of his hand, Tang Yin separated the six members from one another like pieces on a chessboard.
"No—!!"
Shui Bing'er cried out, watching helplessly as her teammates were torn away. The unity of the Tianshui team shattered, and with it, their hopes of victory seemed to slightly crumble.
Even Xue Wu, their key support, was caught in a separate cage. But unlike the others, she didn't hesitate.With her third soul ring glowing brightly, she raised her hand in desperation.
"Third Soul Skill—Repelling Light!"
A brilliant white flare erupted from her snowflake-like spirit, and the blood-red cage around her cracked violently—then shattered completely.
Tang Yin's eyes widened. A soul skill that breaks control-type techniques? That's… really heaven-defying.
But the moment Xue Wu broke free, she found herself under attack. Ye Lingling had already closed in, her Mysterious Jade Hands glowing faint White. Paired with her ghostly footwork, she moved like a shadow—relentless and silent. Making Xue Wu grit her teeth, barely able to defend under the sudden pressure.
Tang Yin glanced at Dai Mubai, who was already grinning excitedly now that the tide had turned.
"Mubai!" Tang Yin barked. "Go take down the one with the excessive makeup!"
Dai Mubai didn't hesitate. "Heh, my kind of target," he muttered before charging straight at Gu Qingbo—a Soul Elder wielding the Blue Sailfish, an agility-attack type beast spirit.
But despite her speed, the fight quickly turned one-sided. Dai Mubai's reflexes and raw power allowed him to match her movements step for step, and every clash saw her being driven back, taking more and more damage.
Zhu Zhuqing vanished from Tang Yin's side and reappeared before Shui Yue'er— a Soul Elder wielding the Jade Dolphin, an agile attack-type beast spirit. The difference in their levels was glaring; the battle felt less like a fight and more like a one-sided thrashing.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong surged forward to confront Qiu Roushui, a Soul Elder with 'The Hovering Green Lotus Perch'—a power attack-type Tool Martial Soul. She effortlessly dodged every strike before counterattacking, boosting her strength and speed to overwhelm her own opponent.
Meng Yiran unleashed a relentless barrage on Yu Hairou, a Soul Elder with a Coral Barracuda—another power attack-type Tool spirit. Yiran pressed the assault without pause, firing off skill after skill like a machine gun.
Tai Long focused all his power-type soul skills on Shen Liuyu, a Soul Elder wielding Enamel Lucky Crocodile,—an attack-type beast spirit. But against Tai Long's unyielding offensive onslaught, even the crocodile's sturdy armor offered little protection.
Tang Yin slowly walked toward the lone Shui Bing'er. With a flick of his hand, a majestic Blue Silver King emerged, coiling around his right hand like a snake.
Realizing no allies were nearby, Shui Bing'er wasted no time. Her third soul ring lit up.
"Third Soul Skill—Chopping Ice!"
In an instant, jagged ice craters erupted from the ground around Tang Yin, attempting to trap and restrict his movements. For a brief moment, it worked. But only for a moment.
Tang Yin's faint smile didn't waver. He wrapped the Blue Silver King around his fist, then shattered the surrounding ice with a powerful sweep—ice shards scattering as he stepped out, completely unbothered, a relaxed smile on his face.
Shui Bing'er gritted her teeth and launched a flurry of ice-based attacks. But every blast melted into futility against Tang Yin's elemental resistance. Nothing left a mark.
Forced to play her trump card, she soared into the air as her fourth soul ring flared brilliantly beneath her feet.
"Fourth Soul Skill—Ice Phoenix Descent!"
A majestic Ice Phoenix avatar erupted into existence above Shui Bing'er, its wings was outstretched as it let out a piercing screech. It dove with terrifying grace, trailing a storm of frost behind it.
The moment it struck, a freezing explosion tore through the battlefield, the temperature plummeting in an instant. Tang Yin stood at the center of the blast, his figure briefly obscured by a swirl of icy mist.
"Tang Yin—!!" Liu Erlong shot to her feet, eyes wide with worry.
For several heartbeats, his figure was nowhere to be seen—only swirling mist and shards of frozen air.
When the frost cleared, his robes were tattered at the edges, and frost clung to his sleeves—but not a single scratch marked his skin.
"Fuu—" Liu Erlong slumped back into her seat, shoulders relaxing. "Don't scare me like that, You guy..."
That moment told Shui Bing'er everything:
Even my strongest attack… didn't leave a mark.
A sense of helplessness crept into her chest, and for the second time, her cold, composed face cracked once again today.
Without hesitation, she turned and dashed toward Xue Wu, who was barely holding on under Lingling's relentless assault. Because only one option remained—a fusion attempt.
When Xue Wu saw Shui Bing'er rushing toward her in desperation, she instantly understood what Bing'er intended. Without hesitation, she reached out and clasped her hand tightly with Bing'er.
"Drifting Snow Domain!!!"
Both shouted in unison.
In an instant, the arena was swallowed by a storm of ice and snow. The air turned frigid, visibility dropped, and the ground shimmered with frost. The Lanba girls' movements slowed drastically, while Dai Mubai and Tai Long were frozen in place, unable to move a step forward.
It wasn't just soul fusion—it felt like a domain, overwhelming and absolute. More powerful than anything the Tianshui duo had displayed.
Above them, their Martial Soul Fusion formed a swirling cloud, unleashing a hail of razor-sharp ice crystals that tore through the air like a storm of blades. The spectators shivered in the cold arena expecting Tang yin's defeat.
Yet in the middle of the chaos, Tang yin stood untouched, his energy absorption shielding him passively. Still, to avoid drawing unwanted suspicion, he wrapped the Blue Silver King around himself like body armor and walked through the storm at an unhurried pace.
The audience was stunned—completely silent in disbelief. None more so than Emperor Xue Ye, who instinctively turned to Ning Fengzhi for an explanation.
Ning Fengzhi smiled politely as he casually spouted nonsense to cover for Tang Yin:
"From what I can observe, it seems Tang Yin's spirit has undergone a rare mutation. He likely possesses exceptional resistance to both fire and ice element. A unique blessing. It appears Lanba's victory is all but certain."
Back on the battlefield, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu watched in horror as Tang Yin calmly approached, the storm of ice parting around him as if it recognized its master. His smile was polite—almost friendly—but to them, it felt like defeat itself was strolling toward them.
"Your ice attribute is utterly useless against me, Bing'er," he said softly. "It's just your bad luck to be matched up with me. So… shall we wrap this up quickly?... I...am...inevitable."
As he spoke, his second soul ring flared to life.
"Second Soul Skill—Cloud Vine Binding."
Gentle yet firm, the Blue Silver King vines extended and coiled around the two girls like silken threads—impossibly strong. Then, with effortless grace, he flung them outside the boundary of the stage, disqualifying them in a single motion.
Seeing their captain defeated so easily, the remaining Tianshui members exchanged brief glances. There was no fight left in them. One by one, they raised their hands in surrender, accepting defeat without further resistance.
Despite their loss, the members of Tianshui didn't harbor any hostility toward Tang Yin. He hadn't humiliated them—on the contrary, he had allowed them to display their strength and teamwork. His victory was overwhelming, but not cruel.
But Shui Bing'er didn't see it that way.
As the match ended and the storm settled, she strode up to Tang Yin with icy determination. Without a word, she grabbed him by the collar, annoyance flickering in her usually calm eyes.
"Why didn't you go all out from beginning?!"
Shui Bing'er snapped, grabbing Tang Yin by the collar, her voice low and trembling.
"Were you… pitying us?"
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears—not from pain, but from humiliation. For someone as proud and composed as her, this was really unbearable.
Tang Yin blinked in surprise at her sudden outburst. But rather than pulling away, he met her gaze with a soft, reassuring smile.
"It's not that I went easy on you," he said softly.
"I just wanted to see how strong your team really is. If I'd ended the match right away, then wouldn't I have missed out on your brilliant performance—how you pushed back and even defeated every member of the Lanba Team?"
He gestured behind him at Zhu Zhuqing and the others, still recovering on the sidelines.
"I wanted them to taste defeat—because, to be honest, no other team had managed to beat them until now. But you did. You only lost to me. So don't sell yourself short, Bing'er."
His voice dipped slightly, calm and sincere.
"You're strong. In fact… you're one of the strongest girls I've ever met."
Shui Bing'er stood frozen, her grip on his collar loosening. The anger in her chest twisted into something else—confusion, daze, & a sudden rush of heat that flushed from her ears down to her neck.
"Tch…" she muttered, spinning on her heel. She stomped once, then stormed out of the arena without another word.
But inside, her thoughts were in chaos—not from sting of defeat, but from that moment… and the frustratingly flustering realization that her most humiliating loss had come with the sweetest compliment she'd ever received.
Finally, Lanba Team was officially declared the victor—making them the only undefeated team in Tian Duo Empire's preliminary round.
The crowd erupted.
"Seven Dragons of Lanba! Undisputed Team!"
"Seven Dragons of Lanba! Undisputed Team!"
Their chant echoed across the arena, shaking the walls and sealing Lanba's dominance in the minds of every spectator.
Before Tang Yin could even catch his breath, Zhao Wuji tackled him in a bear hug, laughing boisterously like a proud uncle patting him on the back with heavy enthusiastic thump.
But then—
A blue blur streaked across the stage.
Liu Erlong, her joy completely unrestrained, stormed onto the platform. Without hesitation, she grabbed Zhao Wuji's collar and flung him aside like a sack of potatoes, earning a startled yelp from the big short man.
In the next moment, her arms wrapped tightly around Tang Yin. Instinctively, he caught her by the waist, steadying her as she practically leapt into his warm embrace.
Her face buried against his chest, her voice muffled, she whispered, "You did it…"
In the stands, Qian Renxue—still disguised as the imperial prince—felt a strange unease gnawing at her, but she quickly shook it off.
Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er—along with many female readers watching—felt the same subtle tension but couldn't quite put their finger on it.
Even Ning Fengzhi—calm and composed—couldn't hide the flicker of surprise in his eyes. He saw through the facade: Liu Erlong's feelings weren't mere happiness. They were something far deeper…it was genuine love.
Meanwhile, Tang Yin basked in the glory, embraced by Liu Erlong and the other Lanba girls as fans cheered their victory.
From this day forward, countless families across the Tian Duo Empire dreamed of sending their children to Lanba Academy, now officially recognized as the finest Soul Master Academy in the entire empire.