“There’s no way you can keep this distance forever!”
This time, the Bingyong Lady didn’t dodge. She swung her spear, cleaving through the fireball and closing in on Xinyue.
Both of them favored agile combat styles, but the Bingyong Lady’s strength and defense were far superior to Xinyue’s, so… Xinyue’s usual Fighting Style: Kiting was ineffective against her.
“Watch out! I’m increasing my power to one percent! If you can hold out for half a minute, you pass!”
The Bingyong Lady’s speed suddenly surged!
The figure in Xinyue’s eyes rapidly grew larger— the Bingyong Lady was right in front of her in the blink of an eye.
“It’s over!” The Bingyong Lady thrust her spear straight at Xinyue’s throat.
Xinyue, however, smiled faintly. “Sorry.”
Her wings curled abruptly, and blazing feathers detached, scattering in all directions around the Bingyong Lady.
Then, Xinyue’s speed skyrocketed— retreating at five times her previous pace!
Her speed was actually even greater than that; the previous movement had only been a trap, designed to lure the Bingyong Lady into the skill’s range.
Once inside the skill zone, those scattered feathers would all turn into powerful bombs. The shockwaves from their explosions could immediately incapacitate any opponent caught in the trap!
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Heat and pressure erupted from all sides, centered on the Bingyong Lady.
The situation was dire, but Yazhe watched calmly.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The explosions sounded as if they struck a heavy iron bell.
A golden light bell shield spread around the Bingyong Lady, resisting all the shocks.
She remained unharmed.
But she didn’t continue attacking.
“You little girl, you passed.”
Her gaze was like a general praising a soldier, filled with satisfaction.
She waved her hand, sending a soil-yellow light toward Xinyue.
Xinyue absorbed the Attaching Spirit; the Firebird swallowed the glow.
It was the Blessing of the Gym Leader, similar in effect to what she received after defeating wild Immortal Spirits. It would enhance the cultivation level of her Immortal Spirit.
Normally, it would only add a little experience— no big changes expected.
But after the Firebird absorbed the light, its feathers suddenly shimmered with a flash.
Several feathers turned a vivid teal!
Exactly the same teal as Bi Fang!
“You’re going to get an evolution opportunity…” Xinyue suddenly recalled the Prophecy she had received in White Marsh Hall. “No way?! My evolution chance is the Firebird evolving into…”
Evolving into Bi Fang?!
Xinyue was dumbfounded.
Though the evolution wasn’t complete yet, those teal feathers and the slightly altered beak were getting closer and closer to Bi Fang’s appearance.
“We can’t be sure yet. Maybe it’s just the bird’s molting season,” Yazhe heartlessly commented. “Don’t get your hopes up too early, or you’ll be disappointed.”
Xinyue pouted.
This guy really kills the mood.
“Next challenger.”
Without rest, Yazhe accepted the second round.
This time, it was Cluru.
“Don’t use your full power.” I quickly warned her. “It’s being streamed live. Don’t reveal too many tricks—save your best moves for those jerks later.”
Cluru nodded.
Just passing the gym was enough. There were no extra rewards for killing Yazhe.
She pulled out a box.
The Bingyong Lady looked confused.
Cluru didn’t say a word— she quietly climbed into the box.
And stayed perfectly still.
The Bingyong Lady: ?
Has the fight even started?
So strange…
“If you don’t move, I’ll attack!”
“Mm.” Cluru gave a muffled hum.
The Bingyong Lady leapt forward and cautiously jabbed her spear into the box.
But as soon as the spear tip went in, she regretted it.
She couldn’t pull it out.
It was like the spear had turned into the sword in the stone— she couldn’t push it further, nor could she pull it free.
As if something was holding it tight.
The Bingyong Lady had no choice but to tear apart the cardboard box.
The box shattered, revealing the scene inside.
A mass of twisted tentacles, bundled into a huge knot.
The Bingyong Lady’s fist punched into it, hitting soft mud with no damage at all— and nearly got tangled in the tentacles.
“…”
Such a shameless defensive skill.
Her only way to harm the tentacles was with the spear, but the spear had been swallowed up and couldn’t be retrieved.
The situation was at a stalemate.
“Spirit Merging!”
Yazhe was finally forced to merge spirits.
After merging, he could use more powerful Immortal Techniques.
Yazhe and the Bingyong Lady merged, transforming into a golden armored warrior.
“Ha!”
His fist wrapped in soil-yellow light, his arm extended into a massive rock hammer, and with earth-shattering force, he smashed down onto the tentacle mass!
Plop—
Ah, the satisfying feeling of stepping on soft mud.
The tentacles, soft-bodied, easily absorbed the force.
The jelly-like mass only quivered.
Then nothing happened.
“…”
“Come on! If you’ve got guts, come out and fight!”
Yazhe was desperate.
He shaped rock into a blade and hacked furiously at the tentacles!
This time, it worked.
Maybe half a tentacle was severed.
Then he couldn’t cut any deeper.
The stone blade was swallowed like quicksand.
The wound healed instantly.
Things that couldn’t be crushed or cut by hammer or blade were maddening!
They completely countered rock and martial elements— the physical Immortal Spirits!
Using full power to release high-level techniques like Earth Spikes would definitely break through the tentacle defense… but the girl wrapped inside would probably be impaled directly.
“That’s enough! You passed!” Yazhe grit his teeth, extremely reluctant. “Here’s your Emblem and Blessing!”
Disgusting. This kind of battle was just awful!
No satisfying punches, no thrilling mind games.
Just endurance.
And he was helpless against her.
“Thanks.”
Cluru didn’t care about Yazhe’s mood at all. She accepted the Emblem and Blessing and went back to the corner, locking herself inside a box again.
“…”
I watched the live stream and saw the chat full of mockery directed at Yazhe—everyone was firmly on Cluru’s side.
After all, a cute girl was always adored.
Cute is justice.
“You’re finished.” Yazhe’s anger bar was clearly maxed out. He glared at me, gritting his teeth. “You’ll regret being the last to face me— I’m really angry now.”
“Sorry, I didn’t sleep last night. You’re not the only one pissed off here.”
Sleep affects temper the most.
I just drank seven cups of coffee.
I need to vent!
“Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re the Qilins Master!”
Yazhe picked up his spear and shook off the slime.
“Is that so?” I nonchalantly formed the hand signs. “You better go all out, or it’ll be embarrassing for the Gym Leader to lose to a student.”
“Hahaha, good! I like your arrogant attitude!”
“Well then, let’s end the pre-fight trash talk.”
Yazhe: Spirit Merging!
Me: Harmony of Heaven and Man!