"What?!"
Xie Yue's true form was hidden among the afterimages, and his pupils contracted sharply at the sight.
His Moon Wheel Dance was something ordinary defenses couldn't possibly block against such dense, high-speed slashes.
Yet this wooden wall remained completely unmoved, firmly stopping his blade net outside.
Su Yu stood behind the Wood Interlocking Wall, clearly feeling the vibrations transmitted through it, yet showed no trace of panic.
His fingertips twitched slightly, and several thick vines suddenly sprouted from the top of the Wood Interlocking Wall, lashing out at the afterimages.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several afterimages were struck by the vines and instantly dissipated.
Xie Yue's true form was forced to reveal itself, staggering back two steps.
Looking at the still stable Wood Interlocking Wall, his expression finally turned grave.
"This defense..."
He tightened his grip on the Moon Blade in his hand, for the first time feeling the frustration of having strength but nowhere to apply it.
Su Yu's voice came from behind the wall, carrying a tone of composure:
"Your speed is fast, but not enough."
Before his words faded, the Wood Interlocking Wall suddenly split open in the middle, and Su Yu's figure shot out from within like a ghost:
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
Multiple wooden vines appeared from Su Yu's arms, binding towards Xie Yue.
Xie Yue's pupils contracted sharply. Soul Power erupted beneath his feet as his figure transformed into afterimages again, attempting to evade the entangling vines.
But this time, Su Yu's wooden vines seemed to predict his trajectory. The branches turned with lifelike flexibility, relentlessly pursuing him.
"Clang! Clang!"
Xie Yue swung his blade to cut through two approaching vines, only to see several new thin vines instantly sprout from the severed ends, winding towards his wrists.
His heart sank—the regenerative ability of this Wood Release was actually so formidable!
"Trying to bind me? Not so easy!"
Xie Yue roared angrily, his first Soul Ring glowing brightly once more as the light on his Moon Blade grew increasingly intense.
"First Soul Skill: Moon Wheel Dance!"
His body spun rapidly in the air, the Moon Blade transforming into a silver whirlwind that shredded through the oncoming vines.
For a moment, wood chips flew everywhere, and the sound of vines being torn apart was continuous.
But Su Yu's face showed no trace of panic. He pushed both hands forward.
More vines surged from the ground, quickly covering the entire arena.
"No matter how fast you are, you can't outrun the growth speed of these wooden vines."
Su Yu's voice was calm yet carried undeniable authority.
Xie Yue's spinning attack gradually slowed. His Soul Power consumption was enormous, while the surrounding vines grew increasingly dense, almost completely sealing off the space around him.
As he attempted to break through, a thick main vine suddenly shot out from the side, striking his back like a steel whip.
"Ugh!"
Xie Yue grunted, his form becoming unsteady as the momentum of his spinning blade attack instantly collapsed.
Seizing the opportunity, several vines instantly wrapped around his limbs, binding him firmly.
The Moon Blade clattered to the ground with a "clang." Xie Yue struggled a few times but found the vines tightening further, making even the circulation of his Soul Power become sluggish.
Su Yu walked slowly to stand before him, withdrawing the excess vines while leaving only those restraining him:
"I concede to your superior skill."
Seeing this, the referee loudly announced:
"Su Yu wins!"
Thunderous cheers instantly erupted from below the stage. On the high platform, Golden Crocodile Douluo clapped his hands in admiration:
"What an impressive Great Forest Technique! Both offensive and defensive, perfectly executed. This young man's mastery of Wood Release has reached perfection!"
Holy Dragon Douluo stroked his beard, looking towards Bi Bidong beside him:
"Your Holiness, this old man truly envies you for taking on such an outstanding disciple!"
After Su Yu stepped down from the stage, Hu Liena was the second contestant to compete.
Her opponent was also an agility-attack type Soul Master, with a Gale Wolf King Martial Soul and approximately level thirteen Soul Power.
While the Gale Wolf King Martial Soul was decent, its attack methods were too limited, and Hu Liena's first Spirit Ability was an area-of-effect control skill.
Naturally, this Gale Wolf King Soul Master was no match for Hu Liena.
Soon, the ten contestants determined their winners, and the final five competitors were Su Yu, Hu Liena, Tuoba Yu, Yan, and Lin Yifeng.
The five stepped onto the stage to draw lots, and in this round, Su Yu surprisingly received a bye.
Tuoba Yu versus Yan!
Hu Liena versus Lin Yifeng!
Hu Liena took a deep breath and was the first to step onto the arena.
From the opposite entrance, Lin Yifeng walked out slowly. His stature was similar to Hu Liena's, with delicate features and a sharp gleam in his eyes.
He raised his hand and clenched it, and a pitch-black spear materialized in his grasp.
The spear shaft glinted coldly as his first Soul Ring quietly lit up beneath his feet.
"Please advise me."
Lin Yifeng cupped his hands in salute, his voice clear and resonant. He planted his spear, its tip pointing directly at Hu Liena, exuding a steady aura.
Hu Liena nodded slightly. With a flash of her Martial Soul's radiance, a Fox Spirit Avatar materialized behind her.
A fluffy fox tail swayed gently behind her, carrying a faintly bewitching aura:
"Show me mercy."
At the referee's signal, Lin Yifeng moved first.
His Soul Power erupted beneath his feet, his figure swift as lightning. The spear shot toward Hu Liena's chest with a sharp, piercing whistle.
"First Soul Skill: Spear Shadow!"
The spear instantly split into three afterimages, indistinguishable from the real one, simultaneously targeting Hu Liena's vital points.
Instead of retreating, Hu Liena advanced. The bewitching power of her Bewitching Fox Soul subtly spread, a faint pink light flashing in her eyes.
"First Soul Skill: Demon Fox Bewitchment!"
Lin Yifeng's movements faltered slightly, a momentary daze appearing in his eyes.
Seizing this instant of hesitation, Hu Liena's figure drifted away like willow catkins, evading the spear shadows' assault.
By the time he regained his focus, Hu Liena was already before him, fist aimed at his chest.
"Not good!"
Lin Yifeng's heart tightened. In his haste, he couldn't retract his spear and could only yank back his left hand, using his palm as a shield in front of his chest.
Fist and palm collided fiercely. Lin Yifeng felt a clever force transmit through—not a brute impact.
His arm involuntarily recoiled, and his chest churned with unsettled energy.
His spear-wielding right hand loosened its grip, nearly dropping the weapon.
"How could this be..."
Lin Yifeng's eyes widened in astonishment.
He had assumed control-type Soul Masters were weak in close combat, never expecting Hu Liena's footwork and strikes to be so agile.
Hu Liena pressed her advantage without relenting. The moment her fist retracted, she pivoted on her feet.
Her right leg swept out with a gust of wind, aiming straight for Lin Yifeng's knee. The kick was cunningly angled, bypassing his defensive stance.
Lin Yifeng hastily retreated but was half a step too slow. His knee was struck.
A numbing soreness immediately spread, and he staggered back several steps before barely steadying himself.
At such close range, Lin Yifeng's spear couldn't utilize its advantages at all.
"Your spear technique is strong, but you rely too much on your Martial Soul. Your own combat prowess is lacking."
Hu Liena stood firm, the Fox Spirit Avatar swaying gently behind her.
"A Soul Master's means of battle aren't limited to just Spirit Abilities."
Lin Yifeng looked at her, his face full of bitterness. In close combat, he, a power attack specialist, was actually no match for Hu Liena!
He tightened his grip on the long spear and was about to launch another attack when he saw a flash of pink light in Hu Liena's eyes.
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