The final event of the grade exchange activity, the most prestigious competition of the grade tournament—the group practical combat—was about to begin.
The first-grade participants were already prepared. Class Monitor Jing Shaoyu, Vice Class Monitors Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan, Maintenance Committee Member Wu Siduo, Forging Committee Member Mo Hentian, Na'er, and Ye Xinglan, a total of seven people.
The second-grade participants were also ready, led by their Class Monitor Yuanen Yehui, followed by Design Committee Member Bai Hanying, Forging Committee Member He Xiaopeng, Le Zhengyu, Ye Xingmo, Duanhun Xiao, and Fu Ya, also seven people.
Jing Shaoyu led the first-grade team onto the sparring stage first. He walked at the forefront, with Gu Yue and Na'er on either side, followed by Xu Xiaoyan, Wu Siduo, Ye Xinglan, and Mo Hentian. Their movements were calm and composed, exuding an air of seasoned experts.
Seeing Jing Shaoyu and his team take the stage, Yuanen Yehui also led the second-grade team onto the platform. They were equally confident. Although they had been outmatched in the auxiliary competitions, when it came to practical combat, they were undoubtedly stronger than a group of first-year newcomers, especially since both sides had equal numbers!
On the judging platform, seeing both teams on the stage, Ya Li smiled and asked Cai Yue'er beside her, "Yue'er, what do you think the second-grade's chances of winning are now?"
Cai Yue'er chuckled lightly, "Fifty-fifty. In terms of the seven people on the stage, this year's first-grade undoubtedly possesses second-grade level skills. However, group combat isn't just about individual strength; teamwork is even more crucial."
"So, you're favoring the second-grade then?" Ya Li asked with a gentle smile.
Cai Yue'er nodded, "You could say that. I'm mainly optimistic about the second-grade Class Monitor Yuanen Yehui. This child has Twin Martial Souls, both of which are top-tier Martial Souls. She's also extremely diligent. Despite being a working student, she's already a Soul Grandmaster. If she had the same treatment as ordinary students, she would probably be even stronger now."
Hearing this, Ya Li's smile remained unchanged as she said, "Then let's wait and see. I'll be the referee for this match." As she spoke, she stood up and, without any unnecessary movements, floated down from the judging platform to the sparring stage, looking ethereal.
On the stage, both sides had already taken their positions, facing each other.
At this moment, Yuanen Yehui's aura had surged to an astonishing level, making her, who was of average stature, appear towering in the eyes of Jing Shaoyu and his team. Her fighting spirit had reached its peak.
Jing Shaoyu seemed unfazed, his face still wearing a gentle smile, his handsome features earning him a favorable impression from the second-grade students who were seeing him for the first time.
The second-grade's formation was very standard. Yuanen Yehui, a close-combat assault-type Soul Master, stood at the front, with He Xiaopeng and Le Zhengyu on her left and right. Behind them were Ye Xingmo and Fu Ya, with Duanhun Xiao at the back and Bai Hanying in the center of the formation.
From this positioning, much could be inferred. For instance, He Xiaopeng was likely an assault-type Soul Master, Bai Hanying a support-type Soul Master, and Duanhun Xiao possibly a control-type Soul Master.
Compared to the second-grade's formation, the first-grade's was simpler. Na'er, Ye Xinglan, and Mo Hentian, all close-combat assault-type Soul Masters, stood in the first row. Wu Siduo, a speed-type Soul Master, stood beside Na'er, also in the first row. Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan stood in the second row, with Jing Shaoyu at the back.
Ya Li sat at the edge of the stage on the referee's seat, her smile gentle and kind as she watched the two sides confront each other.
"Final thirty seconds, both sides prepare for combat!" Shen Yi's voice rang out. The auras of both teams were fully unleashed, no longer hidden. Yuanen Yehui directly released her overwhelming aura, attempting to overpower the first-grade team.
But how could the first-grade team let her have her way? Before even stepping onto the stage, Jing Shaoyu had already prepared a countermeasure. He had already found an opponent for Yuanen Yehui. So, when Yuanen Yehui released her aura, Mo Hentian took a step forward, and an equally domineering and overwhelming aura burst forth from his slender frame, clashing with Yuanen Yehui's aura. It immediately turned into a contest of strength between two auras, like two strong men arm-wrestling, neither willing to yield.
Yuanen Yehui looked at Mo Hentian in surprise. For some reason, she saw a bit of herself in this first-year student. A trace of curiosity arose in her heart, but her aura grew even more vast, like a towering mountain. Facing Yuanen Yehui's increasingly overwhelming aura, Mo Hentian silently boosted his own aura. Though his personality was slow, his aura was exceptionally fierce, like a colossal wave.
The match hadn't even begun, but the two sides on the stage had already engaged in an aura-based confrontation. A faint, intense energy fluctuation was subtly brewing.
"Three, two, one! Begin!" At Shen Yi's command, the ultimate showdown between the first-grade and second-grade began!
Yuanen Yehui almost without hesitation stomped her left foot, launching herself like a cannonball loaded with gunpowder straight at Mo Hentian. Four Soul Rings instantly appeared around her body, which rapidly expanded and grew. Her Titan Giant Ape Martial Soul had fully manifested, and her third Soul Skill, Golden Titan, was unleashed, boosting her imposing presence even further.
Mo Hentian's reaction was equally swift. As Yuanen Yehui charged forward, he also dashed out. Streams of dark light flowed in his right hand, and a massive black hammer appeared in his grip. Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings flew from the Sky-Hate Hammer and landed behind him. His first Soul Skill was released, causing the Sky-Hate Hammer to suddenly double in size.
Such intense actions from both sides also excited the others. A head-on collision was always the most thrilling.
Both teams simultaneously took their respective actions. Na'er summoned her Silver Dragon Lance, while Ye Xinglan summoned her Star God Sword. Both were Soul Venerables with three thousand-year Soul Rings, one exuding a powerful aura, the other a sharp one—neither was to be underestimated.
Gu Yue stood in place, raising her right hand with her index finger pointing to the sky. In the next second, a blizzard erupted around her, quickly sweeping from their side to the opponents'. The heavy snow immediately interfered with the opponents' movements and visibility.
Wu Siduo cleverly vanished with the appearance of the blizzard. No one knew where she had gone or where she would reappear.
Xu Xiaoyan stood obediently beside Jing Shaoyu, not making a move yet. It wasn't her turn to act. She watched as Jing Shaoyu raised his Staff of Stars, casting Starlight Boil on Mo Hentian, Na'er, and Ye Xinglan at the front, boosting their combat power.
On the other side, the other members of the second-grade team also released their Martial Souls simultaneously. He Xiaopeng's Martial Soul was a bright silver hammer with a plum blossom-shaped head, floating with two yellow and one purple Soul Rings. His Martial Soul was named Plum Blossom Silver Hammer, a Weapon Soul primarily focused on strength, making him naturally an assault-type Soul Master.
Le Zhengyu also released his Holy Angel Martial Soul. His second Soul Ring flashed, and a Holy Light Sword appeared in his grasp. He and He Xiaopeng charged toward the first-grade team from left and right.
Behind them, Ye Xingmo and Fu Ya also accelerated. Ye Xingmo held a sword resembling the Star God Sword, with a golden star appearing on his forehead. His body became more agile, and with a flash, he surpassed He Xiaopeng. With another flash, he appeared near the first-grade team.
Fu Ya's Martial Soul turned out to be an owl. Three purple Soul Rings lit up, and a pair of wings spread out, lifting her petite body into the air. Her gaze became exceptionally sharp, staring directly at the first-grade team. With a sway, she suddenly disappeared.
Finally, Bai Hanying and Duanhun Xiao also took action. Bai Hanying's Martial Soul, as her name suggested, was a plant-type Martial Soul named Cold Cherry Blossom, a support type. At this moment, she waved the cherry blossom in her hand, and the petals scattered, gently falling on her companions, causing a faint light to appear on their bodies.
Duanhun Xiao flicked his wrist, and a long flute appeared. Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings floated around the flute. He placed the flute to his lips and blew gently. A mournful flute sound echoed across the stage, instantly causing dizziness among the first-grade team.
Duanhun Flute, third Soul Skill, Flute Sound Sees Off the Departed.
Jing Shaoyu was quite surprised. He hadn't expected the second-grade team to have a control-type Soul Master who relied on sound. He immediately raised his Staff of Stars, and the Soul Rings behind him appeared. His third Soul Ring shone brightly, and a shower of green raindrops fell, instantly dispelling the dizziness for his entire team.
The blizzard raging on the stage affected He Xiaopeng, significantly slowing his speed, but it didn't have much impact on the others, especially Ye Xingmo, who had already charged into the first-grade team and was intercepted by Ye Xinglan.
Seeing this, Jing Shaoyu knew he didn't need to focus on this part of the battle. Ye Xinglan's Martial Soul was the Star God Sword, while Ye Xingmo's was the Star Saint Sword. Martial Soul suppression was inherently unavoidable, and their Soul Power levels were similar, so Jing Shaoyu couldn't see any reason for Ye Xinglan to lose.
Others had also engaged in combat. Na'er blocked Le Zhengyu, repelling him with a single lance strike, then intercepted He Xiaopeng. She fought two opponents alone without any pressure, her movements fluid, even forcing Le Zhengyu and He Xi
aopeng to retreat step by step. Her Valkyrie-like demeanor was on full display.