Chapter 126: Trading Backlines? Isn't That Just Courting Death!
The moment the referee's voice fell.
Two figures shot out almost simultaneously from Jiangnan University's formation.
The one in the lead was none other than Ye Jinghong.
Her form was like a sword, azure battle aura detonating beneath her feet.
She turned into a streak of azure-white light, skimming low across the arena floor at blinding speed.
Beside her, Su Tao, another warrior from Jiangnan University, followed closely behind.
Sword qi and battle aura surged around the two of them, flanking left and right.
Like an open pair of shears, they plunged straight toward Imperial Capital University's formation!
Jiangnan University's mage and support stayed where they were, firmly guarded from the front by a tank.
"Here they come, just as expected."
Lu Li's lips curled into a slight smile, not surprised in the slightest.
He knew better than anyone what Jiangnan University was trying to do.
A piercing charge!
In their eyes, as long as they took him down, Imperial Capital University's buff system would instantly collapse.
Unfortunately, they were thinking far too simply.
Lu Li shook his head and said in a low voice,
"Qingyu, Yuqing, you two go as well!"
The moment his words fell.
Two slender figures shot out from his sides, one on the left and one on the right!
Lin Qingyu's azure battle suit was pressed tightly against her delicate figure by the wind as she sprinted at high speed.
With every stride of her long, slender legs, an astonishing burst of power erupted.
Bai Yuqing was like a bolt of black lightning, shadowing right behind Lin Qingyu, keeping just close enough.
Two radiant beams of holy light also flared up at that exact moment.
Courage Blessing! Guardian Blessing! Weapon Blessing! Divine Blessing!
Golden halos washed over the two women like flowing water, causing their rushing speed to surge once more!
"Here it comes! Diamond cut diamond!"
"Haha, now this is thrilling! Seven days into the tournament, we're finally getting a head-on clash!"
"Lin Qingyu and Ye Jinghong—I wonder whose sword is faster!"
"Does that even need asking? Lin Qingyu may be strong, but Ye Jinghong comes from the Beijing Ye Family! The Ye Family has produced several Sword Saints. In a direct clash, Lin Qingyu probably won't come out ahead!"
"I wouldn't be so sure. Lin Qingyu has Lu Li's buffs; her speed is definitely on another level!"
"Stop arguing and just watch!"
"—"
In the stands, the roars of two hundred thousand spectators erupted like a tsunami.
A direct showdown between top universities pushed the atmosphere in the arena to its peak in an instant.
On the stage, the distance between both sides closed rapidly.
She had already visualized the scene to follow.
Swords clashing, sword qi crisscrossing!
First suppress Lin Qingyu with sword momentum, then find an opening to dash through and take Lu Li directly!
Yet, at the very moment they were about to cross paths.
Lin Qingyu suddenly swerved!
"Wind Shadow Steps!"
Azure wind elemental energy detonated violently beneath her feet.
Like a streak of azure lightning, she slid past Ye Jinghong at an extremely bizarre angle!
No sword was swung.
No collision occurred.
She had bypassed Ye Jinghong entirely!
Seeing this, Bai Yuqing's body flickered as well.
Right on her heels, both of them charged toward Jiangnan University's backline!
"What?!"
Ye Jinghong's pupils shrank, and the strike she had been charging came to an abrupt halt mid-air!
Ye Jinghong's pupils constricted.
She had been fully prepared to strike, but her opponent had never intended to fight her at all!
In that instant, the entire arena fell dead silent.
Immediately after, an uproar surged like a tidal wave.
"Wh-What are they doing?"
"Why did Lin Qingyu bypass her?"
"She's ignoring Ye Jinghong? She's rushing the backline?"
"Are they crazy?! Jiangnan University still has a tank protecting their backline!"
"—"
Countless spectators widened their eyes, faces filled with disbelief.
At the commentary desk, the two veteran commentators exchanged baffled glances.
"Lin Qingyu actually bypassed Ye Jinghong! What kind of play is this?"
"Is she going to flank Jiangnan University's backline together with Bai Yuqing? But Jiangnan University's backline still has a tank guarding them!"
"More importantly, she let Ye Jinghong through!"
"With Ye Jinghong past them, Imperial University's backline is left with only Lu Li, Shen Chuyou, and Chu Nan!"
"One support and two mages—aren't they just sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered?"
"—"
In the stands, confused murmurs rose from the audience in waves.
In the mentors' viewing area.
Li Jian, the leading teacher from Jiangnan University, was momentarily stunned before a sneer curled onto his lips:
"Teacher Song, it seems your team's tactical arrangements leave much to be desired."
He turned his head and looked at Song Wanqiu with a touch of mockery.
Letting Ye Jinghong through?
How was that any different from suicide?
"It's not decided who wins or loses yet. Just keep watching."
Song Wanqiu sat upright in her seat.
Her gentle, pretty face remained completely calm and unruffled, not even batting an eyelid.
Li Jian snorted softly, inwardly cursing her stubbornness.
Saying no more, he turned his gaze back to the arena.
He wanted to see if Song Wanqiu could still keep her composure once Ye Jinghong took down Lu Li!
...
On the stage.
Ye Jinghong had indeed been stunned for a moment.
But after that moment passed, an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy welled up in her heart!
Trading backlines?
Isn't that just courting death?!
Her backline still had a tank dedicated to protecting their mage and support!
Even if Lin Qingyu and Bai Yuqing rushed over, there was no way they could break through that tank's defense in a short time!
But what about her side?
Lu Li, Shen Chuyou, Chu Nan.
One support, two mages.
Not a single one capable in melee combat!
Especially Lu Li; once she closed the distance, he would be fish on the chopping block!
"Full speed ahead!"
Ye Jinghong shouted sharply, her speed increasing rather than decreasing!
She no longer paid any mind to Lin Qingyu and Bai Yuqingcircling around behind her.
Instead, she channeled all of her battle aura into her legs.
Like an arrow loosed from a bow, she shot straight toward Imperial Capital University's rear!
Su Tao followed close behind; one on the left and one on the right, they crossed half the stage in virtually the blink of an eye!
"They're here!"
Chu Nan's expression shifted, and he instinctively began chanting a spell.
But Ye Jinghong was simply too fast.
So fast that before he could even raise his staff, she had already closed in right in front of him!
"Su Tao, you deal with Shen Chuyou!"
Ye Jinghong barked coldly, suddenly pivoting and lunging straight toward Lu Li!
Su Tao understood the cue, leveling his greatsword and pouncing toward Shen Chuyou like a tiger descending the mountain.
Shen Chuyou's silver-gray eyes flickered slightly.
With a light wave of her staff, an ice wall abruptly shot up from the ground.
And Ye Jinghong was now only five meters away from Lu Li!
She could even clearly see every nuance of Lu Li's expression.
That face was far too calm.
So calm that an inexplicable trace of unease stirred in her heart.
Yet at this point, the arrow was nocked to the string and had to fly!
"Lu Li, it's over! Swift Shadow Slash!"
Ye Jinghong let out a clear cry.
Her slender figure surged like azure-white lightning, crossing the five-meter distance in an instant!
Simultaneously, battle aura erupted from the tip of her sword, condensing into a ten-foot sword beam.
The sword beam was as thin as a cicada's wing, slicing the very air into fine ripples.
Chapter 127: Dropping the Act, Laying My Cards on the Table!
"Swift Shadow Slash! A B-rank skill for Sword Masters!"
"Even though its rank isn't exceptionally high, word has it that Ye Jinghong has leveled it all the way up to Lv 10!"
"Hiss—that high? That really is terrifying."
"Now let's see how Lu Li deals with this. If he gets hit, Imperial Capital University's buff system will collapse in an instant!"
At the commentary desk, the commentator's voice suddenly pitched up.
In the stands, countless spectators held their breath.
The venue of two hundred thousand people went so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
In the audience, Shen Moli subconsciously covered her eyes.
Her fingers parted slightly, yet she didn't dare truly look.
Hailing from an Imperial Capital aristocratic family as well, she knew all too well how powerful Ye Jinghong's strike was.
Lv 10 Swift Shadow Slash paired with the Ye family's secret swordsmanship arts possessed enough explosive power to insta-kill peers of the same rank!
Was Imperial Capital University going to fall right here, just like last time?
At that critical juncture.
Lu Li moved!
No retreat, no dodging.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the dawn battleaxe was already in his grasp.
He didn't even blink, merely raising his arm from low to high.
Facing the slashing sword light, he swung upward with casual ease!
"Sky Strike."
A low voice resonated.
A golden axe light swept upward in a perfect arc!
An E-rank skill, Sky Strike!
A basic skill known by virtually all melee classes.
Yet this simple axe swing collided dead-on with Ye Jinghong's sword blade!
"CLANG——!!!"
An earth-shattering clash of metal exploded violently!
Golden holy light and cyan sword energy collided furiously, kicking up a visible shockwave!
And then, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded unfolded.
Ye Jinghong's seemingly unstoppable strike was violently parried away!
"What?!"
Ye Jinghong's pupils constricted.
She felt an unimaginable surge of colossal force surging down the blade.
That power was boundless and heavy, like a volcano dormant for ten thousand years suddenly erupting!
The webbing between her thumb and index finger went numb, her entire arm trembling slightly under the tremendous impact.
Unable to maintain her forward momentum, she was forced backward by the recoil, sliding across the ground!
"How is this possible?!"
"Parried?! Lu Li actually parried Ye Jinghong's Swift Shadow Slash?!"
"My god! That's a Lv 10 B-rank skill!"
"Sky Strike? Isn't that just an E-rank skill?!"
"Parrying a B-rank skill with an E-rank skill? Am I hearing things?!"
"..."
In the stands, the audience exploded in uproar.
At the commentary desk, both commentators were so worked up their voices broke:
"Sky Strike! Lu Li only used a single Sky Strike!"
"An E-rank skill forcefully parried Ye Jinghong's Lv 10 Swift Shadow Slash!"
"This is simply unbelievable! This isn't a crush in technique—it's a pure stat crush!"
"But this makes no sense! Ye Jinghong is a Sword Master, investing primarily in Strength and Agility!"
"Lu Li is a Paladin; he should be investing primarily in Intelligence!"
"Reasonably speaking, how could a support who focuses on Intelligence block a full-power strike from Ye Jinghong?!"
"..."
That was the real reason behind the entire arena's shock.
A professional's stat allocation determined what they specialized in.
As a Sword Master, Ye Jinghong's Strength and Agility were frighteningly high.
Her Swift Shadow Slash was a lethal strike that merged speed and power flawlessly.
And what about Lu Li?
In everyone's eyes, he was just a support relying on Intelligence!
A support directly took a full-strength blow head-on from a swordsman focusing on Strength and Agility.
Not only did he block it, but he also parried her killer move using the most basic E-rank skill!
This was as absurd as a healer priest suddenly slapping an equal-level Berserker flying!
Meanwhile, on the arena stage.
Ye Jinghong was pushed back over a dozen steps by the recoil before barely steadying herself.
Her right arm, holding the sword, still trembled slightly out of her control.
For the first time, a look of shocked uncertainty appeared on her sharp, gallant, pretty face.
"This power?! Are you really a support?"
She glared fixedly at Lu Li, her voice laced with unconcealed shock.
With that strike just now, she even felt Lu Li's Strength was greater than hers!
No, not just a feeling.
It was a fact!
The force transmitted from that battleaxe definitely exceeded her own!
"I never said I was just a support."
Lu Li grinned.
The dawn battleaxe spun nimbly in his palm before resting steadily back onto his shoulder.
His smile carried a hint of banter and confidence.
No more pretending.
He was showing his cards.
Hearing this, Ye Jinghong's slender brows furrowed.
The audience in the stands erupted into an even wilder frenzy.
"Lu Li isn't a pure support?!"
"Holy crap! So he's been putting on an act all these days?!"
"I knew it! How could a support be this arrogant? He definitely had hidden strength!"
"..."
Amid the arena-wide clamor, Lu Li suddenly moved.
He raised his left hand, fingers splayed, as spiritual light swirled in his palm.
Right on time.
The cooldowns on his buff skills had just refreshed.
Lu Li let out a low grunt and tapped his fingertip between his brows!
"Divine Blessing!"
"Courage Blessing!"
"Guardian Blessing!"
"Weapon Blessing!"
One buff skill after another rained down upon himself as if they cost nothing!
"BOOM——!!!"
The instant all the buffs stacked onto him.
An indescribably terrifying holy light erupted violently from inside Lu Li!
Unlike the gentle golden light when buffing his teammates.
This time, the holy light was concentrated to the extreme and violent to the extreme!
Beams of golden light surged into the sky from beneath his feet.
Thick as giant trees, the light pillars pierced through the stage one after another, rocketing straight toward the dome!
"Buzz, buzz, buzz——!"
The entire arena stage hummed with a deep vibration under the surging holy light.
At this moment, did Lu Li look even remotely like a support?
He was clearly a god of war descending from the heavens!
That suffocating, terrifying pressure swept in all directions like something tangible!
Even through the magical barrier, the audience in the stands could feel that palpitations-inducing oppression!
"Wh-what is this?!"
"My god! That holy light is about to burst the stage open!"
"What terrifying holy light! Even from this far away, I can feel the pressure!"
"..."
The spectators stared with mouths agape, their faces filled with utter disbelief.
At the commentary desk, both commentators had leaped to their feet in excitement:
"Lu Li buffed himself!"
"Too shocking! The density of this holy light is leagues above when he buffed his teammates!"
"I've commentated over a dozen exchange tournaments, and I've never seen such a terrifying buff effect!"
"..."
And on the arena stage.
Lu Li slowly raised his head to look at Ye Jinghong across from him.
Grinning, he bared two rows of stark white teeth:
"Come. Let me show you what real combat is."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he moved!
Boom——!
Lu Li kicked off the ground with explosive power, shooting toward Ye Jinghong like a cannonball!
"So fast!"
Ye Jinghong's pupils constricted.
Fast, far too fast!
She could only catch a blurry golden afterimage!
Chapter 128: Jiangnan University Turtles Up! A Paladin Defying All Reason!
"Something's off with this Lu Li!"
Ye Jinghong's expression shifted slightly.
Almost instinctively leaping back, she skimmed backward four or five meters like a swallow.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she flicked her wrist and slashed three times in rapid succession with her longsword.
Triple Slash!!
It was a universal skill for swordsman-type classes.
It unleashed three consecutive slashes, each lunging forward a certain distance.
It could be used to deal damage as well as to advance.
However, this time, she wasn't lunging forward—she was retreating!
Using the thrusting momentum of the three slashes, Ye Jinghong vaulted backward by a full twenty meters!
At the same time, she didn't forget to shout a warning to Su Tao on the other side:
"Su Tao, pull back!"
The Jiangnan University warrior was currently ensnared by Shen Chuyou's ice walls and lightning, unable to advance even an inch.
Her endless barrage of defensive spells...
...was tougher to crack than a tortoise shell, preventing him from even getting close.
Hearing his captain's command, Su Tao didn't hesitate for a moment.
Raising his greatsword across his chest, his battle aura erupted as he used the momentum to leap back!
"Hm?"
Having swung at empty air, Lu Li raised a brow.
He had thought that Ye Jinghong, being a successor to the Ye Family's way of the sword, would at least have some backbone.
To his surprise, she didn't even have the courage to clash with him head-on and had chosen to retreat outright.
At that moment, Lin Qingyu and Bai Yuqing also fell back.
Lin Qingyu's teal battle robes fluttered.
Her slender legs landed steadily as her sword tip pointed diagonally toward the ground.
Bai Yuqing pouted, her adorable baby face filled with displeasure.
Clearly, their surprise attack on Jiangnan University's backline had not yielded much success either.
Meanwhile, Jiangnan University's five members had already reformed their formation.
The Shield Warrior, Zhou Tong, held a heavy shield, bracing at the very front like an iron wall.
The mage and support took cover behind him, layers of Magic Shields illuminating around them.
The shields were a deep blue, their surfaces rippling with light like water waves, despairingly thick.
Ye Jinghong and Su Tao stood beside Zhou Tong, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Protected by a heavy tank, covered in Magic Shields, all members holed up tightly.
In an instant, the entire team had pushed their defense to the absolute extreme.
"Holy crap! Jiangnan University chose to go on the defensive?"
"Tsk, that Sword Master is known for her offensive prowess! To think she'd be forced into an ironclad defense!"
"Looks like Imperial University is putting too much pressure on them."
"No kidding! A support turned into a main carry, swatting aside a Swift Shadow Slash with an axe—you'd be terrified too!"
"What happened to the head-on clash between top universities? They chickened out just like that?"
"What do you know? That's tactics! Didn't you see Ye Jinghong almost get cleaved by Lu Li's axe?"
"..."
In the stands, the audience buzzed with discussion.
No one expected Jiangnan University, who had talked so much trash before the match...
...would turtle up into an ironclad fortress in the very first round.
In the cheering section belonging to Imperial Capital University...
Shen Moli's eyes widened in pleasant surprise at the sight.
She had originally thought Imperial University might lose.
But she never expected such a mind-boggling turnaround!
She suddenly straightened up, causing her ample bosom to heave dramatically.
"Imperial University! Imperial University! Imperial University!"
Waving the school banner in her hands, she cheered loudly, her voice rising in wave after wave.
The members of the Imperial University cheering section around her also began roaring along, waving their black-and-gold banners into a rolling sea.
"Did you see that?! Jiangnan University is scared of us!"
"Imperial University will win! Imperial University will win!"
"Lu Li! Lu Li! Lu Li!"
"..."
Waves of cheers rolled across, making the entire venue tremble slightly.
In the mentors' viewing area.
Song Wanqiu turned her head slightly, a faint smile appearing on her gentle, lovely face.
Parting her red lips, her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of Jiangnan University's supervising mentor, Li Jian, beside her:
"Teacher Li, your Jiangnan University doesn't seem quite so formidable after all.
You've turtled up after just a single clash?"
"Hmph."
Li Jian snorted coldly, his expression as sour as if he had swallowed a fly.
He stared fixedly at the arena stage, squeezing out words through gritted teeth only after a long pause:
"This is only the beginning. Teacher Song, you might be celebrating too early."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The corners of Song Wanqiu's red lips curled slightly. Saying no more, she turned her gaze back to the stage.
Her calm, unruffled demeanor made Li Jian seethe with even more frustration.
...
On the arena stage.
"Their Magic Shields are too thick. I can't break through their defenses in a short amount of time."
Bai Yuqing said dejectedly after regrouping with the team.
When she lunged at Jiangnan University's backline earlier, she had stabbed repeatedly with her daggers, only to leave a few white scuffs on that deep-blue shield.
Lin Qingyu followed up:
"Their Shield Warrior is on an entirely different level from the ones we faced before. I can't break their formation quickly either."
Her sword was swift, but the Shield Warrior's shield was enough to block any sword technique.
With a mage behind him constantly applying shields, it was even harder for her to pierce their defenses.
"Jiangnan University is a top university as well. It's only normal that we can't take them down right away."
Lu Li wasn't surprised by this.
If they could be handled in a few minutes like ordinary universities,
then Jiangnan University would hardly be worthy of the title of a top academy.
"Now that they've tucked their heads into their shells,
continuing like this will probably turn into a war of attrition."
Shen Chuyou murmured contemplatively, her silver-gray eyes fixed on the opposing side.
"A war of attrition?"
Lu Li narrowed his eyes.
This battle was a pivotal match for Imperial Capital University to announce its return.
To show the momentum and spirit of Imperial University, they had to win cleanly and decisively.
If they got bogged down in a battle of attrition, even a victory would lose much of its luster.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
"Captain, how about you break their formation first,
and then we follow up with an assault to take them down in one fell swoop?"
At that moment, Bai Yuqing suggested with a beam.
The moment she said that, Shen Chuyou, Lin Qingyu, and Chu Nan all turned their gazes toward him in unison.
Although they usually trained together,
they knew very well that Lu Li's true strength went far beyond what he had shown.
During training, he mostly acted as support and rarely went all out.
"Works for me."
Lu Li smiled faintly, fighting spirit rising in his eyes.
"I'll breach their line first. Follow my lead and act according to the situation."
"Got it!"
Lin Qingyu and the others' eyes brightened as they readily agreed.
"If I'm breaking their formation alone, the buffs on me can't be this basic."
Lu Li pondered briefly, raising a hand to cast another buff on himself.
Hummm—!
A brilliant, dazzling burst of golden holy light surged forth from deep within his body.
Unlike the previous blessings, this holy light had a deeper hue and a far denser aura.
Countless golden runes manifested from the void, spinning rapidly around him.
Every single rune contained boundless holy power, forcefully boosting his four-dimensional attributes once again!
Blessing of Kings!
[Blessing of Kings (Grade B+, Lv 3): Condenses holy light to enhance all four-dimensional attributes. Duration: 3 minutes.]
This skill had been taught to him by Teacher Song Wanqiu during their special training.
However, it could only be cast on himself for now; only after upgrading it to Lv 5 could it be cast on others.
That was why he hadn't used it until now.
Now, however, he could put it to immediate use.
Boom—!
As soon as Blessing of Kings was applied,
Lu Li's already terrifying four-dimensional attributes surged upward once more!
Golden holy light churned and blazed around him.
A horrifying, suffocating pressure radiated outward like a tangible force!
Lin Qingyu and the others subconsciously took half a step back.
Even just standing beside Lu Li, the overflowing pressure made their chests tighten slightly.
"This is way too exaggerated!"
Lin Qingyu couldn't help but gasp in a low voice.
Beside her, Shen Chuyou not only felt no discomfort, but the demonic energy inside her was suppressed significantly instead!
"This effect..."
Shen Chuyou's lovely eyes sparkled.
Lately, relying solely on Holy Light Potions was struggling to suppress the increasingly potent Succubus Bloodlineinside her.
"If possible, I might have to see if Lu Li can help."
Shen Chuyou mused inwardly.
Lu Li had no idea what was crossing her mind.
After applying the blessing, his tall frame blurred as he lunged straight toward Ye Jinghong's position.
Boom—!
His speed reached an absolute extreme.
A golden afterimage flashed across the stage.
It was as though even the air let out an explosive boom from the collision!
"What's going on?! Imperial University is actually attempting a solo line break?"
"Wait, am I seeing things? He's a Paladin!"
"Something is wrong, deeply and completely wrong!"
"A solo breach? What does he have to pull that off?!"
"..."
In the stands, nearly two hundred thousand spectators widened their eyes almost simultaneously.
A solo formation break wasn't unheard of.
But those were always classes with extreme mobility.
For example, Ye Jinghong's Sword Master, or Lin Qingyu's Sword Maiden class.
Using high mobility to weave in and out, constantly dragging and disrupting the enemy formation.
But Lu Li was a Paladin!
Sure, Paladins were tanky.
But that also meant they were sluggish!
Even if built as a damage dealer, it didn't change the class's inherent clunkiness.
A Paladin trying to break a formation alone was like trying to drift a heavy tank!
Instead of breaking through, he would be surrounded by Jiangnan University and ground down to death!
At the commentary desk, both commentators shook their heads repeatedly:
"Lu Li's decision is honestly a bit too reckless."
"Indeed. While Paladins boast strong defense, mobility is ultimately their shortcoming."
"Charging single-handedly into an ironclad defense of Jiangnan University's caliber could very well land him in a passive, dangerous bind."
Before the words could fully settle, the commentator suddenly seemed to spot something unbelievable, his voice spiking sharply:
"Wait! So fast!"
"Lu Li's speed is too fast!"
"My god! This speed has completely outstripped both Lin Qingyu and Ye Jinghong from before!"
"How is this possible?! What primary attribute is he even investing points into?!"
"How are both his Strength and Agility absurdly high?!"
"..."
On the arena stage.
Lu Li's figure had turned into a streak of golden light.
That speed was a full tier faster than when Lin Qingyu had dashed at full throttle earlier!
Even Ye Jinghong's speed while executing Triple Slashpaled in comparison!
In the stands, countless spectators stared dumbfounded.
"Holy crap! A Paladin running faster than a swordsman?!"
"Just what attributes is he allocating his points into?!"
"Strength high enough to swat away Ye Jinghong's blade, agility high enough to chase down a Sword Master—is this really a fucking Paladin?!"
"..."
At this moment, the entire venue plunged into profound shock.
Lu Li's speed completely shattered everyone's preconceptions of the Paladin class!
Chapter 129: Breaking the Formation Alone! The Overwhelming Lu Li!
In just two breaths, Lu Li had already crossed a distance of over fifty meters.
Fast, far too fast.
The golden afterimage tore through the air, as if a streak of golden lightning had exploded across the entire arena.
"So fast!"
Ye Jinghong's expression changed drastically.
She had anticipated that Lu Li was fast, but she never imagined he would be this swift.
Even if she went all out with Triple Slash, she could never have crossed over fifty meters in two breaths!
Yet Lu Li had done it.
What's more, his speed was still climbing!
"Qiao Yue! Cast your spell, now!"
Ye Jinghong made an instant decision and barked sharply.
Qiao Yue.
Level 21, the main roster mage of Jiangnan University.
The team's absolute powerhouse damage dealer!
Long before Ye Jinghong called out, he had already begun chanting.
Almost the moment her voice fell, his skill was already near completion.
Vast amounts of wind elements swirled wildly toward the tip of his staff, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand!
At the commentary desk, the two veteran commentators sat bolt upright at the sight.
"Here it comes! Qiao Yue is making his move!"
"That's an A- rank spell, Wind Blade!"
"My god! The match barely started, and Jiangnan University has already unleashed an A- rank trump card!"
"This skill is by no means simple!"
"Indeed! Although Wind Blade is a single-target lock-on skill, once released, it splits into thousands of wind blades, carpet-bombing the target's entire area indiscriminately!"
"No matter how fast Lu Li is, it's impossible to emerge unscathed under that density of attacks!"
"His advance is bound to be halted!"
Before the words could finish echoing, Qiao Yue swung his staff downward violently on the arena!
"Wind Blade!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
Countless wind blades condensed out of thin air, hurtling toward Lu Li like a torrential squall!
Thin as cicada wings, the wind blades were sharp enough to slice through the air.
There were at least a thousand of them!
Over a thousand wind blades shot forth simultaneously, blotting out the sky.
They blanketed nearly half the arena in front of Lu Li.
In the stands, countless spectators gasped.
Even the team members of Modu University and other colleges turned slightly pale.
Faced with an AoE attack of this density, they would have had no choice but to brace and endure it head-on.
"Watch out!"
Behind him, Shen Chuyou and Chu Nan reacted with lightning speed, both acting almost simultaneously.
"Flame Shield!"
"Light Shield!"
A crimson and a golden Magic Shield instantly materialized, crossing a hundred meters to envelop Lu Liwith pinpoint precision.
"With two layers of shields, they should block most of the wind blades for the captain," Chu Nan sighed in relief.
Shen Chuyou did not speak.
Her silvery-gray eyes remained fixed on that golden silhouette.
She had an intuition.
Lu Li didn't need their protection at all!
Sure enough.
Facing the thousands of wind blades, he didn't slow down in the slightest; instead, the corners of his lips curved upward slightly.
Raising his left hand, holy light gathered furiously in his palm, and he swept it forward!
"Holy Light Shield!"
His low voice rang out clearly amidst the whistling wind blades.
Hum—!
A blinding golden holy light erupted from his palm!
The light was so brilliant that it nearly dyed the entire arena gold!
The next instant,
a shield wall of light, five meters tall and three meters wide, condensed out of thin air before Lu Li!
The wall of light was forged from the purest holy light, flowing with a liquid-like golden radiance.
At the very center of the light wall, a massive cross insignia emerged!
The insignia radiated an immensely solemn aura, as if imbued with the will of a deity, indestructible.
"What skill is that?!"
"A five-meter-tall wall of light? My god!"
"How can a Paladin's defensive skill be this powerful?!"
"Such dense holy light! Even through the magic barrier, I can feel that sacred presence!"
"..."
Gasps of shock erupted one after another throughout the audience.
The next second, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded unfolded.
Thousands of wind blades slammed into that wall of holy light in relentless succession!
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!
The teal wind blades struck the golden wall of light, producing a barrage of ear-grating detonations.
Yet what followed stunned every onlooker.
The wind blades capable of slicing through steel seemed to vanish without a trace upon touching the light wall, like clay oxen entering the sea.
Swallowed whole by the golden holy light!
Not a single wind blade could pierce that wall of light.
Not a single wind blade could inflict the slightest scratch on Lu Li!
"How is this possible?!"
Qiao Yue's pupils shrank, his face filled with sheer disbelief.
His Wind Blade was an A- rank spell leveled up to Lv. 3!
Even a Shield Warrior of the same level going all out in defense could never take it head-on without a scratch!
But Lu Li?
With just a single wall of light, he had completely blocked the all-out attack!
Without even leaving a dent?!
This was no longer a matter of being strong or not.
This was an outright crush!
"W-What kind of defense is this?!"
"An A- rank spell, thousands of wind blades, completely swallowed by a single wall of light?!"
"The damage dealer of Jiangnan University couldn't even breach Lu Li's defense?!"
"Are you kidding me! How are they supposed to fight this?!"
In the stands, the audience erupted completely.
In Jiangnan University's cheering section, the thunderous cheers ground to a sudden halt.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, gazing in disbelief at the tall, upright figure on the arena.
In the preparation area, Gu Lingyun of Modu Universityhad his brows knitted tightly together.
He knew better than anyone what Qiao Yue's Wind Bladewas capable of.
Even if it had been him taking it, he could never have handled it so effortlessly.
Yet Lu Li?
A single wall of light had swallowed all the attacks whole.
Meanwhile, under the cover of Holy Light Shield, Lu Liaccelerated once again!
His figure shot through like golden lightning piercing a rainstorm.
Amid the explosive aftershocks of the countless wind blades, he forcefully carved a path open!
"Here he comes!"
Ye Jinghong's expression turned grim.
They were currently using a purely defensive formation.
Zhou Tong's burly physique served as an iron wall, firmly shielding everyone behind him.
Therefore, to break the formation, Lu Li would have to take down the Shield Warrior first!
And the moment Lu Li struck at Zhou Tong, that would be their best opportunity to strike back!
"Su Tao, Qiao Yue, get ready!"
Ye Jinghong lowered her voice, pouring battle aura frantically into her longsword.
"The moment he touches Zhou Tong, we strike together and bring him down!"
"Right!"
Su Tao and Qiao Yue responded in unison.
Five pairs of eyes locked onto the approaching golden figure.
Twenty meters.
Ten meters.
Five meters!
Lu Li had arrived!
However, the scene that followed caught everyone off guard.
Lu Li didn't draw his dawn battleaxe.
Facing the iron wall of a Shield Warrior, he showed not the slightest intention of using his battleaxe.
He merely raised his left hand and lightly pointed his slender index finger forward.
The gesture was nonchalant, as if pointing at an ant blocking his path.
Then, he spoke.
"Chain Lightning."
Boom—!
A deafening roar exploded outward!
An extraordinarily thick streak of golden lightning blasted from Lu Li's fingertip!
Golden throughout, the lightning resembled liquid thunder of divine retribution.
Under the terrifying amplification of multiple buff skills, the Child of Light talent, and the Angel Bloodline,
the power of this Chain Lightning had reached an indescribable level of dread!
The blinding thunderclap pierced through the air in an instant!
Wherever it passed, space itself seemed to be ripped open!
Golden arcs danced and crackled wildly, giving off a sacred pressure that made souls tremble!
"Not good—!"
Zhou Tong's pupils contracted sharply, reflexively raising his heavy shield before him.
"Shield Defense!"
Earth-yellow battle aura poured madly into the shield as the B-rank defensive skill 'Shield Defense' was pushed to its absolute limit!
Yet it was useless.
The golden lightning slammed directly into his heavy shield.
"Boom—!!!"
An earth-shattering explosion bloomed amidst a sky filled with golden thunder!
Zhou Tong's epic-grade heavy shield, renowned for its defense,
was like paper before this bolt of lightning, pierced in an instant!
"Pfft—!"
Piercing the heavy shield without losing momentum, the golden lightning blasted brutally into Zhou Tong's chest!
His wall-like burly body was completely swallowed by the terrifying lightning!
Armor shattered, flesh charred.
Before Zhou Tong could even let out a scream, he was blasted backward through the air by the lightning!
And all of this was merely the beginning.
The moment the golden lightning struck Zhou Tong,
it rebounded wildly in all directions as if possessing a life of its own!
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
One, two, three, four arcs!
The golden lightning leaped wildly through Jiangnan University's formation!
Every arc struck a team member with pinpoint accuracy!
"Ah—!"
"Ugh—!"
Screams rang out one after another.
Ye Jinghong fared slightly better, barely warding off the lightning, though left in a disheveled state.
Struck by the lightning, Su Tao flew backward heavily, electricity crackling wildly all over him!
Qiao Yue didn't even have time to cast a Magic Shield on himself
before the bouncing lightning pierced his body, knocking the staff from his grip!
Even the support hidden at the very back couldn't escape the pursuit of Chain Lightning!
A single strike.
Just one single strike!
Jiangnan University's ironclad formation collapsed completely under a single Chain Lightning from Lu Li!
Silence.
Dead silence fell over the entire arena.
In a stadium of two hundred thousand people, you could hear a pin drop.
Then came a tsunami-like uproar!
"My god!!!"
"Chain Lightning?! What kind of skill is that? Breaking the formation in one blow?!"
"Jiangnan University's Shield Warrior got one-shotted by a single Chain Lightning?!"
"That's a Level 20 Heavy Shield Warrior! In a full-defense state, he couldn't even withstand one Chain Lightning?!"
"Is he even fucking human?!"
"A Paladin?! You're telling me this is a Paladin?!"
"..."
In the stands, the audience went completely wild!
At the commentary desk, both commentators were so excited their voices cracked:
"One strike! Lu Li needed only one strike to blast right through Jiangnan University's defensive formation!"
"That's Jiangnan University! Last year's runner-up! Yet they couldn't even withstand a single move from Lu Li!"
"In all my years commentating on the exchange tournament, I've never seen such a terrifying scene!"
"Just what kind of monster is Lu Li?!"
In the preparation area.
Gu Lingyun of Modu University had already risen from his seat.
He stared intently at the golden figure on the arena.
For the first time, an unprecedented gravity appeared on his handsome face.
"Lu Li..."
He slowly let out a breath.
"Is this your true strength?"
In the mentors' viewing area.
Song Wanqiu looked at the god-like figure on the arena.
A proud smile bloomed on her gentle, pretty face.
This was her student.
This was Imperial Capital University's ace of this generation!
At last, in this very moment, he was unleashing all his brilliance!
Chapter 130: Jiang University Concedes! The Audience Erupts!
"Imperial University! Imperial University! Imperial University!"
In the stands, Shen Moli crazily waved the school flag in her hands.
Her striking, lovely face was flushed bright red.
The astounding fullness at her chest heaved violently with every jump.
But she couldn't care less about any of that right now.
She was far too excited.
For three consecutive years, Imperial Capital Universityhad finished dead last among the top three universities.
When this year's roster was announced, the internet was flooded with overwhelming doubt.
They said Imperial University would be eliminated in the group stage, that Song Wanqiu was digging her own grave,
and that this weird line-up wouldn't even make the top three.
Even members of the support squad like them were pointed and mocked at whenever they walked around campus.
But what about now?
Lu Li alone, with just a single strike, had shattered last year's runner-up, Jiangnan University, into complete disarray!
What's more, Lu Li came from the Support Academy!
The Paladin—a class that so many people looked down on as nothing more than freeloaders.
Now, on the highest stage in the nation, right before two hundred thousand spectators,
he had blasted right through the ironclad defense of last year's runner-up, Jiangnan University, in one hit!
This undoubtedly brought immense glory to their Support Academy!
"Lu Li! God of War!"
"Lu Li! The strongest!"
Beside her, the other support squad members also stood up in wild excitement.
Black and gold flags waved into a surging ocean as cheering roared in wave after wave.
"Captain is way too fierce!!"
On the arena ring, Bai Yuqing's eyes were wide as saucers.
Others might not know how terrifying Jiangnan Universitywas, but she had experienced it firsthand.
Just moments ago, she and Lin Qingyu had joined forces to raid the opponent's backline.
Her daggers had struck repeatedly, yet couldn't even break through that Magic Shield!
That was Jiangnan University!
Last year's runners-up!
Every single member was ridiculously strong!
Yet what about Lu Li?
First he charged forward, and then with a single Chain Lightning, he flattened their entire team!
"We agreed you'd break their formation, but you wiped out their whole team instead?! Isn't that a bit too outrageous?!"
Bai Yuqing couldn't help but murmur, her baby face filled with shock and adoration.
"Lu Li..."
Beside her, Lin Qingyu stared blankly at the figure on the arena ring.
Lu Li was extremely handsome to begin with.
Sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, and a tall, upright posture.
At this moment, he was enhanced by the lingering aura of golden holy light and divine punishment lightning.
His eyes were as calm as still water, yet seemed to harbor boundless divine brilliance.
He looked just like a deity descending from the heavens, majestic and pure.
He commanded reverence so intense one dared not look directly at him, yet was impossible to turn away from.
This Sword Maiden, who was usually as cold and sharp as a blade, was now captivated.
In her usually fierce, beautiful eyes, nothing remained but unreserved admiration and gentleness.
If her old classmates from No. 7 High School saw this scene, their eyes would probably pop out.
When had that aloof Sword Maiden, who never gave anyone a pleasant look, ever looked at a boy like this?
Yet Lin Qingyu herself was completely unaware of it.
She simply felt that the figure bathed in holy light...
seemed even more dazzling than the way of the sword she had painstakingly cultivated for so many years.
"As expected, the Magic Shield wasn't needed."
Splendid light shimmered in Shen Chuyou's lovely eyes as well.
A ripple stirred in her silver-gray eyes, one she didn't even notice herself.
She came from the Imperial Capital Shen Family and had been the indisputable top genius among her generation in the clan since childhood.
An S-Rank Talent Elemental Body, combined with the Succubus Bloodline.
She had always possessed absolute confidence in her own talents.
Yet in front of Lu Li, these talents she took pride in seemed so insignificant.
Just moments ago, she and Chu Nan had joined forces to cast two layers of Magic Shield on Lu Li.
Yet those two shields hadn't served the slightest purpose.
It wasn't that their actions were redundant,
but that Lu Li simply didn't need them at all!
At the front of the arena, Lu Li slowly drew back his left hand.
Golden sparks still danced on his fingertips a few times before finally fading into the air.
He raised his head and looked at Jiangnan University's scattered formation across from him.
Finally, his gaze landed on Ye Jinghong.
"Still want to fight?"
he asked.
Not far ahead, Ye Jinghong was kneeling on one knee on the ground.
Her longsword was planted beside her, barely supporting her body.
Compared to the other team members, her injuries were relatively minor.
However, her heart had already sunk to the absolute bottom.
She swept her gaze across the arena.
Apart from herself, Su Tao, Qiao Yue, Zhou Tong, and the support in the backline were all down.
Some were charred black all over, some were coughing up blood, and some had long passed out.
Not a single one could get back up.
And the opposing team...
Ye Jinghong raised her head.
She looked at Lu Li, who stood before her like a god.
Then she glanced at the four team members behind Lu Li, all in pristine condition.
She couldn't help but show a look of despair.
Could they even fight anymore?
How could they possibly fight?
Although Ye Jinghong was proud, she was no fool.
Continuing the fight would be nothing more than bringing humiliation upon herself.
Besides, Jiangnan University had more than just this single match today.
If her team members suffered injuries that were too severe to recover in time,
and were subsequently defeated by other ordinary universities, that would be a complete joke.
When that happened, let alone competing for the championship, Jiangnan University might not even secure a top-three spot.
With these thoughts in mind, Ye Jinghong took a deep breath.
She forced herself to stand, looked at Lu Li with a complicated expression, and spoke:
"Jiangnan University concedes."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it resonated clearly across the entire venue.
"Jiangnan University concedes! Imperial Capital Universitywins this match!"
The referee's voice rang out immediately after.
BOOM—!!!
In an instant, the entire venue completely erupted!
Cheers, applause, and screams interwoven together, pouring down like a tsunami!
"We won! We won!"
"Imperial Capital University won!"
"We defeated Jiangnan University!"
"..."
In the stands, Shen Moli and the others cheered even harder.
Waving the school flag, her eyes turned red, and her voice became raspy.
Three years.
Three whole years.
Imperial Capital University had finally risen again!
Finally, the Imperial Capital University that once looked down on all rivals had returned!
In the mentors' spectator area.
Li Jian, the team mentor for Jiangnan University, had an ashen expression.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
He could only watch helplessly as the disciples he took pride in were carried off the arena ring one by one by the medical team.
On the other side, Song Wanqiu had a look of emotional contemplation.
She had long known Lu Li was strong.
However, for him to be strong to this extent far exceeded her expectations.
Taking on five alone.
And against last year's runner-up, Jiangnan University, no less!
Even the Blessing of Kings she had taught Lu Li was used by him with such superb mastery.
"Lu Li, you truly gave me a massive surprise."
Song Wanqiu's red lips curled slightly as brilliant light danced in her lovely eyes.
On the arena ring, Ye Jinghong shot one last look at Lu Li.
Only then did she turn around and walk toward her fallen teammates on the ground.
Unwilling!
She was so unwilling to accept this!
But so what?
Lu Li was terrifyingly powerful.
Jiang University had no strength to resist whatsoever.
On the other side, Lu Li also turned around and walked back to his teammates.
"Captain! You're way too fierce!"
Bai Yuqing was the first to rush forward, her baby face overflowing with excitement:
"Wiping out their whole team with a single Chain Lightning—who could possibly withstand that!"
"Lu Li, well fought."
Lin Qingyu also came forward to greet him.
A lingering faint blush still remained on her cool, lovely face.
Shen Chuyou walked to his side, looking at him with her silver-gray eyes and nodding gently.
"We beat Jiangnan University! We really won!" Chu Nanwas equally thrilled.
"This is only the beginning," Lu Li chuckled.
His gaze crossed the roaring crowd, landing on Modu University's preparation zone.
Next, all they needed to do was defeat Modu University.
Then, they would claim the championship for the team tournament!
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