An ancient, primal aura erupted suddenly around Jing Qingtong, as if she had transformed into a primordial demon god. A faint red glow radiated outward from her slender figure, sending chills through every observer.
In that moment, her thin form exuded overwhelming terror—silencing the entire arena.
The two spirit beasts charging towards her found their momentum instantly halted. From the caverns lining the coliseum came a chorus of distant lamentations.
Every spectator froze. Instructors paled and shielded their students. Nervous freshmen covered their mouths, some trembling with tears.
Even Du Weilun couldn't help himself—eight spirit rings flared around him instinctively.
Yan Shaozhe's face grew serious as he stared at Qingtong's three blood-red spirit rings. He murmured in disbelief, "Three ten‑thousand-year rings… impossible. She had one purple and two black before. Is this fake? Or a soul technique?"
Qingtong ignored the reactions and focused on the Veiled Spirit Snake and Golden-Blooded Tyrant Bear. Though the beasts' will to charge was crushed, defeating them would require more than just aura suppression.
She had no ice-emperor aura like Huo Yuhao—yet someone did.
In the Sun Moon Empire, Jing Shengyu touched the ten-thousand-year embryo of the Snow Emperor without waiting for Tianyin Douluo. A freezing chill surged through his body, and the brutal aura of the ancient beast transmitted through their soul connection to Qingtong.
She instantly radiated a savage, beastlike energy—as though she had truly become a ten-thousand-year spirit beast. Behind her, icy snowflakes began to fall, her presence turning frigid.
Under the combined weight of her aura and that of the beast embryo, the two spirit beasts collapsed in submission—deprived even of their consciousness to resist.
"Ic… Ice! How is this even possible?" Yan Shaozhe muttered, bewildered by the sudden ice aura manifesting from Qingtong. Neither her Lingmou soul nor her Evil-Flame Phoenix had any ice attribute!
Could it be she had a third spirit—and that one was ice?
Lost in speculation, Yan Shaozhe watched as Qingtong stepped before the beasts, tapped their heads, then looked back at Du Weilun. "Teacher, I'm done."
"Uh—yes, finished," Du Weilun stammered, still trying to recover from the shock.
Before he could continue, a furious voice echoed from outside: "Du Weilun! Did you just casually release your own pressure inside the arena?"
Master Gong Chaglong roared from the stands.
Du Weilun quickly explained the entire situation to him.
"Three ten‑thousand‑year spirit rings? This is Shrek Academy, not a freak show!" Gong ChangLong scoffed. "Are you dragging me into another lie?"
Du Weilun pointed at Qingtong. "See for yourself."
Gong Changlong glared at her—and before he could speak, Yan Shaozhe floated down from the platform, addressing him calmly. "Master Gong, please don't overreact. The spirit-affiliated faculty will cover any arena damage."
Gong Changlong's expression softened slightly. He looked at Qingtong and asked, "Young lady, how can you bear the power of three ten-thousand-year spirit rings at your age?"
Yan Shaozhe weighed in: "Could it be a soul skill?"
Qingtong nodded. "Yes—my Lingmou spirit's soul skill, called Simulation."
"Simulation… a fitting name," murmured Yan Shaozhe, visibly awed.
If used skillfully, such a soul technique could be game-changing.
Gong Changlong smiled and said, "Anytime you need the arena or a spirit beast hunt, come find me. I won't refuse."
Struck by the sincerity, Yan Shaozhe gently protested: "She's my student—I'll handle it."
Gong Changlong's waved him off. "Your students are yours. Mine are mine." He chuckled before excusing himself to attend the frightened arena beasts.
Yan Shaozhe told Du Weilun to announce Qingtong's perfect score. Before dispersing, he leaned toward her. "Come by the inner courtyard sometime—I need to ask you something."
Qingtong nodded, then rejoined Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
Freshmen cast haunted, wary looks after her. Even rational logic couldn't dismiss that terrifying aura—it had been real.
Qingtong approached Instructor Zhou Yi. "Teacher, did I pass with full marks?"
Zhou Yi shook his head, smiling in exasperation. "You left us stunned—almost made me think you were a ten-thousand-year beast in disguise!"
Wang Dong came forward, patting her shoulder. "Amazing. You've got real star power."
Xiao Xiao's eyes sparkled. "So cool, Qingtong!"
Qingtong waved them on. "Let's eat!"
They were almost out of the arena when Ma Xiaotao intercepted them.
"How did you get back without telling me?" Ma chided. "If not for the teacher, I'd have no clue. And that commotion—was that you?"
Qingtong nodded. "Yes. What do you need, senior?"
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