Zhu Zhuqing wasn't discouraged by her missed attack.
After all, her opponent was a Soul Elder, not much weaker than she was—and unlike her, he could fly.
"Looks like he plans to keep dragging it out from the air. Fine, let's see how long he lasts," she thought calmly.
Zhu Zhuqing understood this was just a probing strike. Keeping himself airborne was draining his soul power, and if he launched attacks from too high above, the effectiveness of his soul skills would drop with the distance.
Meanwhile, Huo Yun was also frustrated.
"That was close… I need to be more cautious around her. But my soul skills aren't exactly ideal for this."
Hovering motionless midair, Huo Yun suddenly saw Zhu Zhuqing simply standing there with arms crossed, calmly watching him.
"No good. I can't keep flying forever—my soul power consumption is far worse than hers. If this goes on, I'll lose. I need to act."
Irritated by her relaxed demeanor, Huo Yun descended slightly and activated his third soul ring.
"Third Soul Skill: Fire Crane Clone!"
A flaming red crane, about three meters long, formed beside him and dove toward Zhu Zhuqing.
Shriek—!
As the crane attacked, it left a blazing trail of fire across the stage.
Zhu Zhuqing responded instantly, releasing her Nether Spike from her claws to clash with the clone.
Huo Yun smiled as the crane entangled Zhu Zhuqing in melee, while he began launching attacks from above using his first soul skill, Fire Feather.
But Zhu Zhuqing dealt with his attacks with ease and fluid movement.
"Vice Captain, Huo Yun's attacks just can't keep up with her speed," Huo Chui said helplessly.
"She's too fast. She's taken agility-type combat to the extreme," Huo Jun added in frustration.
"He'll find his chance," Huo Wu said sternly, watching from the sidelines.
"Boss Dai, looks like the Blaze team is getting desperate," Ma Hongjun said to Dai Mubai.
"Master, how do you think they'll break this stalemate?" Dai Mubai asked Yu Xiaogang.
"That agility-type has already used his third ring skill. He must be anxious and looking for an opening. But Zhu Zhuqing was trained by a Titled Douluo. She won't show one easily," the Master replied coolly.
"Maintaining his Fire Crane Clone, plus using ranged attacks, drains a lot of soul power. He'll soon go all-in. The fight will be decided quickly after that," Yu Xiaogang predicted.
Sure enough, Huo Yun's soul power began plummeting as he maintained the clone and launched more attacks.
"No more delays. Second Soul Skill: Rain of Fire Blades!"
The Fire Crane's feathers transformed into hundreds of flaming daggers, shooting toward Zhu Zhuqing.
She exploded with speed, her movement like Xiao Wu's teleportation, leaving countless afterimages on the arena floor.
"Wait—she was holding back before?! This is her real speed?" the spectators gasped in shock.
"Damn it! What kind of speed is that?!" Huo Yun exclaimed.
"Screw it—Fire Crane Wings!"
Suddenly, the Fire Crane Clone appeared right in front of Zhu Zhuqing, and Huo Yun detonated it.
Zhu Zhuqing quickly crossed her arms, soul power surging to shield her chest as the explosion rocked the stage, forcing her back a step.
"Now's my chance!" Huo Yun roared.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Blazing Field!"
Engulfed in a torrent of fire, Huo Yun hurled himself at Zhu Zhuqing like a flaming comet. The flames spread in a wave across half the arena, rising into a fiery tornado aimed to swallow her whole.
"Finally came down, huh? Fourth Soul Skill: Dark Nether!" Zhu Zhuqing declared.
With her fourth ring shining, she used Dark Nether for a burst of explosive power and leaped high into the air, combining it with Nether Spike, driving her claws straight into Huo Yun's chest.
"W-What?! She got faster again?!" Huo Yun screamed as pain exploded through his body.
"This ends now. Third Soul Skill: Nether Slash."
With cold determination, Zhu Zhuqing brought her hands together and struck with precision, knocking Huo Yun straight to the ground.
"Ugh…" Huo Yun rolled his eyes and passed out instantly.
"Huo Yun!" Huo Wu and the others from Blaze Academy cried out, rushing to his aid.
"Zhu Zhuqing has now secured five consecutive victories!" Meng Shenji announced to the crowd.
"Yes! Beautiful win!" Ma Hongjun cheered loudly.
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang stepped onto the stage. Huo Wushuang helped carry Huo Yun away, leaving Huo Wu alone to face Zhu Zhuqing.
"Your run ends here," Huo Wu declared sharply.
"Blaze Academy's final fighter, Vice-Captain Huo Wu, enters the field."
"Begin!" Meng Shenji announced without delay—there were still many matches left today.
"Fire Shadow Martial Soul!"
Huo Wu's Martial Soul erupted as a blazing flame shadow appeared behind her, equal in size to her body.
Whoosh—!
Huo Wu took the initiative and punched toward Zhu Zhuqing.
Despite having already fought five matches, Zhu Zhuqing showed no signs of backing down against Huo Wu's fierce sixth-round assault.
"First Soul Skill: Fire Fist!" Huo Wu's fists were wrapped in thick fire, striking in unison with her Martial Soul's flame shadow in a brutal combo.
"Nether Spike!" Zhu Zhuqing met the flurry of attacks head-on, relying on her superior speed to intercept Huo Wu's relentless strikes.
The arena was filled with their clashing figures.
"You don't think Zhuqing's going to take all six fights, do you? She's not even giving me a turn," Xiao Wu said with a pout.
"Unlikely. She already used her third and fourth skills earlier. Her soul power should be running low. Huo Wu is two levels below, but she's entering the fight at full strength," Tang San analyzed calmly.
"Exactly, good observation, Tang San. Zhu Zhuqing probably doesn't have much left in the tank," Yu Xiaogang agreed with a nod.
In the back, even Lin Fan didn't think Zhu Zhuqing would win this round. He knew Huo Wu had a special talent: Ring Fusion.
Huo Wu could merge her four soul rings to unleash her most powerful attack.
"Second Soul Skill: Nether Hundred Claws!" Zhu Zhuqing struck again, launching a rapid barrage.
"Third Soul Skill: Flame Repulsion Ring!" Huo Wu countered swiftly, her soul ring pulsing.
Zhu Zhuqing was knocked back mid-attack, her barrage interrupted.
Every time Zhu Zhuqing tried to close the gap, Huo Wu's Flame Repulsion Ring would send her flying.
"This isn't working… She's fast and aggressive. I won't be able to keep using my ring to repel her much longer. I need to finish this quickly," Huo Wu thought.
Suddenly, Huo Wu and her Fire Shadow Martial Soul took to the air. All four soul rings lit up.
"Ring Fusion!"
"What kind of soul skill is this?!" Zhu Zhuqing gasped.
This was her first time witnessing someone merging all of their soul rings.