The Fourth Test (2)

"My name is Tang San" he began. "I am a Control System with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. My strategy will focus on limiting his mobility and controlling the field" he explained, conveying his intent.

Then, gesturing towards Xiao Wu with a nod, he continued, "This is Xiao Wu, an Attack Power System with Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul. She will be our main attacker" he affirmed.

Turning his attention to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, Tang San awaited their introductions.

"Zhu Zhuqing, Agility Attack System with the Hell Civet Martial Soul" Zhu Zhuqing stated flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. "I excel in speed" she added.

Then, it was Ning Rongrong's turn to introduce herself. "Ning Rongrong, Auxiliary System with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda" she announced confidently. "My first spirit ring skill can boost power by 30%, and my second spirit ring skill can boost speed by 30%. The effect increases by 10% with each new spirit ring" she explained with a hint of concealed pride in her voice, due to her support abilities.

"30%!" The exclamation of shock rippled through the group, reverberating with disbelief and awe. "So you are from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan" Tang San remarked, his voice tinged with admiration as he nodded in acknowledgment. "It deserves to be the number one Auxiliary System in the world."

Hearing the praises and exclamations of shock from their companions, Ning Rongrong smiled silently to herself, a sense of pride swelling within her chest.

"Then let's do it this way..." Tang San began, as he laid out their course of action. As he outlined their plan, each member of the group listened attentively.

…

"All right, are you ready?" Dai Mubai asked, his gaze sweeping over the four individuals standing before him. Seeing their determined nods, his aura intensified, as he entered his Martial Possession.

The others followed suit, each summoning their Martial Soul or entering Martial Soul Possession.

However, as his eyes fell upon Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul, Hell Civet, Dai Mubai couldn't suppress a slight tremor within him. So it's really Hell Civet, he thought to himself.

Turning his attention to Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Looks like the fight will be harder than he thought.

Outside of the arena, Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun looked on in surprise at the sight of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. With a chuckle, Ma Hongjun remarked, "Haha, it seems Sixth Brother will have a much harder time than we thought" as he offered Bai Chenxiang his sausage, with a playful gesture, earning a blush from her.

Meanwhile, Oscar felt a mix of surprise and happiness upon realizing that Ning Rongrong and he are from the Auxiliary System. Despite the initial shock, he couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness with her, knowing that they now had something in common.

Dai Mubai seemed to have some sort of history with Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar couldn't help but feel relieved, with his First Brother seemingly uninterested in Ning Rongrong, Oscar felt reassured that he could pursue her without any interference, a thought that filled him with happiness.

Observing the scene before him, Sheng Jun slowly stood up, his voice ringing out loud and clear "Is everyone ready?!" Upon seeing Dai Mubai and the others nod in affirmation, he continued with determination "Start!"

…

Hearing Sheng Jun's command, Dai Mubai sprang into action, activating his White Tiger Shield Body Barrier to shield himself as he lunged toward Ning Rongrong. In the fight between Spirit Masters, it was crucial to neutralize the support first.

However, Tang San had already anticipated Dai Mubai's move. With swift precision, he conjured a wall between Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong, effectively blocking his path. At the same time, Tang San's vines snaked around Ning Rongrong's waist, swiftly pulling her to his side and out of harm's way.

But as Dai Mubai seemingly made his move towards Ning Rongrong, Tang San and the others were caught off guard by his sudden change in tactics. With a burst of speed, Dai Mubai darted towards Xiao Wu instead, delivering a powerful punch to her stomach. Caught off guard and unable to fully evade the attack, Xiao Wu was sent flying across the arena, much to the shock and horror of Tang San and others.

"XIAO WU!" Tang San's voice rang out, filled with concern and self-blame. He berated himself for not anticipating Dai Mubai's deceptive maneuver. In the heat of the moment, he realized the stark difference between theoretical knowledge and real experience.

As panic threatened to overwhelm him, Xiao Wu's weak voice broke through his thoughts. With a cough, she managed to speak, her words carrying a hint of reassurance despite her obvious pain. "Brother...I'm fine," she murmured, her voice strained but determined.

Sheng Jun shook his head in mild disapproval, observing the scene outside the arena. "Mubai is too soft. If he had aimed for her face just now, she would have been incapacitated" he remarked aloud, expressing his thoughts.

Oscar couldn't help but protest at Sheng Jun's statement. "First Brother, how could we hit a girl in the face? This isn't a life-and-death battle. Who would do such a thing?" he argued, his voice filled with indignation. Bai Chenxiang nodded in agreement, while Ma Hongjun's expression twitched as he recalled their shared experiences at Nuoding Academy.

Choosing to disregard Oscar's and Bai Chenxiang's objections, as well as Ma Hongjun's reaction, Sheng Jun redirected his focus back to the ongoing battle, as he took a bite of a sausage.

Xiao Wu who has risen to her feet, seamlessly coordinated with Zhu Zhuqing to launch a relentless assault on Dai Mubai. Tang San, utilizing his Blue Silver Grass and his first Spirit Ring Skill: Entangle, restrained Dai Mubai, preventing him from retaliating effectively.

Dai Mubai couldn't help but be surprised, unable to fully process the situation as Xiao Wu's kicks landed with increasing force, each blow stronger than the last. Before he could think of the reason for Xiao Wu's sudden increase in attack power, Zhu Zhuqing unleashed her spirit ring skills. With Hell Rush Stab, she doubled her speed, darting around Dai Mubai in a blur. Then, with precision and agility, she unleashed Hell Hundred Claws, delivering a rapid barrage of strikes, each one hitting its mark with precision and power.

Facing the onslaught of attacks from Xiao Wu, empowered by a 30% power boost, and Zhu Zhuqing, enhanced by a 30% speed boost from Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai's expression shifted into a slight smile. With determination, he activated his Third Spirit Ring Skill: White Tiger Asura Transformation. In an instant, his attributes surged, and a crimson streak appeared in his hair, symbolizing the transformation.

Dai Mubai let out a roar that echoed through the arena, generating a powerful shockwave that sent Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu tumbling backward, creating a brief respite for himself. Yet, his momentum was short-lived as Tang San swiftly intervened, employing his Second Spirit Ring Skill: Parasitism.

From Dai Mubai's body erupted a flurry of Blue Silver Grass, weaving into a dense cocoon that enveloped him completely, ensnaring him within its confines. Simultaneously, Dai Mubai felt a draining sensation as his soul power was slowly siphoned away by Tang San's parasitic skill.

Tang San then seized the opportunity, condensing countless vines into a spear and hurling it into the cocoon, piercing through it.

Panting heavily, Tang San and the others looked at the spherical prison that had enveloped Dai Mubai, relieved to sense no movement from within. "Is it over?" they asked wearily, exhaustion evident in their voices. The intense battle had lasted for nearly 50 minutes, taking its toll on all involved.

Outside of the arena, Sheng Jun couldn't help but smile as he shook his head in amusement. "They have lost," he remarked lightly. Well, even though they had lost, Tang San hadn't used his second Martial Soul or Hidden Weapons either, Sheng Jun thought silently in his heart.

Oscar, standing beside him, nodded in agreement, his expression reflecting a mix of regret and understanding. "They should have listened to your advice not to let Sixth Brother charge it up, at least not this long" he said with a sigh, acknowledging the strategic error that had led to their defeat.

At that moment, a surge of soul power emanated from the cocoon surrounding Dai Mubai, sending a shiver down the spines of Tang San and the others. Tang San's heart sank as he recalled Sheng Jun's warning not to allow Dai Mubai to charge up his White Tiger Intense Light Wave.

Realization dawned on Tang San as he cursed himself for letting his guard down, his mind racing with thoughts of how they could counteract the impending attack.

Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the arena, accompanied by a blinding light that engulfed the entire space. The ensuing explosion reverberated throughout the building, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation as the light gradually subsided.

As expected, everyone else lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious or on the brink of losing consciousness. Only Tang San remained kneeling, his body wracked with heavy coughs as he surveyed the aftermath. His gaze fell upon the unconscious form of Xiao Wu, who had succumbed to her injuries and lost consciousness before him.

"Xiao Wu..." Tang San's voice was filled with anguish as he reached out to her, his heart heavy with worry for her well-being. Before he could react further, due to him creating multiple layers of walls made of Blue Silver Grass to shield them from Dai Mubai's devastating attack at the last moment, the strain of overusing his soul power finally caught up to him, and he too succumbed to unconsciousness.

…

Sheng Jun and the others approached cautiously, as they assessed the aftermath of the explosion. Oscar couldn't help but voice his relief, his words tinged with gratitude and concern.

"At least Sixth Brother had some consciousness left in him and lessened the power at the last second" Oscar exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. "I don't know what would have happened if the charge had hit them at full strength"

As they reached the arena, Sheng Jun wasted no time in springing into action. Activating his Martial Soul Possession, he unleashed his Third Spirit Ring Skill: Healing, channeling its power to aid Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others. After all, Oscar's sausage, while effective for combat situations, may not have been the most suitable choice for the current scenario. Its ability to increase the regeneration speed of all attributes, albeit to a small extent at this stage, was more geared towards enhancing performance during battles rather than providing immediate healing.

After some time, most of them began to stir awake, their injuries nearly fully healed thanks to Sheng Jun's intervention. However, he deliberately left Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong slightly sore all over, ensuring they wouldn't be able to walk, at least until they had a good night's rest.

Turning his attention to Oscar and Dai Mubai, Sheng Jun subtly communicated his intentions with a wink, indicating what they needed to do next. Catching his signal, Dai Mubai and Oscar exchanged knowing glances before coughing lightly and approaching Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.

Zhu Zhuqing initially attempted to resist Dai Mubai's assistance but eventually relented as she found herself enveloped in his strong embrace. As she looked into Dai Mubai's determined gaze, a sense of relief washed over her. "He's this strong... so he really didn't give up" she thought to herself, finding solace in his unwavering support as she closed her eyes, surrendering to the comfort of his embrace.

Though not as resistant as Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong still hesitated before ultimately relenting, allowing Oscar to support her. As she looked into Oscar's handsome face, a faint blush tinted her cheeks. Who wouldn't appreciate the concern of someone so charming?

"XIAO WU!!" As Tang San finally regained consciousness, his immediate concern was for Xiao Wu's well-being. Startled awake, he accidentally bumped his head into hers as she cradled his head in her lap, causing her to protest with a slight pout. Relief flooded Tang San as he realized she was unharmed, but guilt weighed heavily on him as he blamed himself for not being able to protect her.

"Xiao Wu, I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you" Tang San murmured, his voice heavy with regret. Their eyes met, and at that moment, a peculiar tension began to envelop them.

"Brother..." Xiao Wu's voice was soft, almost a whisper, as they shared a lingering gaze, the air thick with unspoken emotions.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the emotional tension in the air, Sheng Jun looked around for some relief, only to find that everyone seemed to be caught up in their moments. His expression darkened as he realized the unintended consequences of his actions, cursing himself inwardly.

"Did I shoot myself in the foot?" he muttered silently, regretting his decision to help Dai Mubai and Oscar.

"Ahem!" cleared his throat loudly, His voice cut through the silence, drawing everyone's attention back to him. Tang San, who had been lost in his thoughts, immediately spoke up, voicing his concerns about their performance and whether they had failed the test.

Sheng Jun's smile reassured them, dispelling their worries. "Of course not" he assured them, "I already mentioned that exceptional performance can also lead to a passing grade without fulfilling all the conditions. So, congratulations, all of you have passed"

Sheng Jun smiled 'warmly' before instructing, "Take them to their dorms and let them rest for today". With that said, Sheng Jun exited the arena swiftly, feeling the need to leave the tense atmosphere behind. He couldn't bear the thought of lingering in such atmosphere any longer, lest he really become a dog.