"Among us, we need someone to command the entire field," Ye Yin declared, "and I'll take that role."
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing all nodded in agreement.
Ning Rongrong, however, immediately objected. "No, I don't agree! I want to be the commander!"
An awkward silence fell over the group. No one responded to her demand.
"Did you hear me?!" she insisted, her voice rising.
Still, no one spoke.
Finally, Ye Yin broke the silence, unable to watch her stand there so ignored. "Look," he said with a sigh, "they won't listen to your commands. Even if you were the commander, you wouldn't be able to lead them."
Ding!
[Resentment from Ning Rongrong +34!]
"Have you finished discussing?" Zhao Wuji's booming voice interrupted them.
They all turned to look and saw that the first incense stick had already burned down to its end.
"Teacher, we can start now," Ye Yin called out.
Dai Mubai gave Zhao Wuji a slight nod and quickly retreated to the side to watch the battle. Although this was an unequal fight, it was a rare opportunity to see a Spirit Saint like Zhao Wuji in action. As a fellow Strength Attack-type Spirit Master, he wasn't going to miss a chance to learn something.
Zhao Wuji stood up again, clasping his massive hands together and stretching his wrists. A series of ear-splitting cracks echoed from his bones, and the invisible pressure in the air intensified dramatically. He produced another incense stick, but before he could even light it, Ning Rongrong took action.
With a flick of her wrist, several rays of colored light shot from her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, swiftly landing on Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, pointedly skipping over Ye Yin.
Zhao Wuji looked at her in surprise. "I didn't expect to see a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda here!"
With that, Zhao Wuji made his move. Instead of charging forward, he half-crouched and slammed both fists into the ground at the same time. A powerful shockwave rippled outwards across the ground. Though it was an area-of-effect attack, his primary target was clearly Ning Rongrong.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu pushed off with their toes, leaping into the air to easily dodge the attack. Tang San and Ye Yin, who were standing further back, jumped up as well. Ye Yin glanced over and saw Ning Rongrong standing frozen, completely motionless and about to be hit.
I guess I'm still too kind-hearted, he thought with an inward sigh. I can't just watch a companion get hurt.
While still in mid-air, Ye Yin twisted and kicked out, his foot connecting with Ning Rongrong and sending her flying through the air. Just like that, she sailed over the shockwave, landing in a heap on the other side.
She scrambled up from the ground, her face flushed with fury. "You dared to kick me! Ye Yin, you're looking for death!"
Ding!
[Resentment from Ning Rongrong +40!]
Ye Yin sighed again. "How can anyone be so foolish? If I hadn't kicked you, you would've been hit by that shockwave. Didn't you even think to jump and dodge it?"
Ding!
[Resentment from Ning Rongrong +25!]
"I'm a Support-type Soul Master!" she yelled, as if that explained everything.
Ye Yin just spread his hands. "So am I."
Ding!
[Resentment from Ning Rongrong +30!]
This guy was simply too annoying!
At that moment, Ye Yin's first spirit ring began to flicker, flashing five times in quick succession. Four white lights landed on his teammates, while a single black light shot towards Zhao Wuji. This was his first Spirit Ability, Blessing/Curse.
Xiao Wu: Blessing - Attack Power Increase (Level 3). Duration: Fifteen hours.
Zhu Zhuqing: Blessing - Clear Sight (Level 1). Duration: Five hours.
Ning Rongrong: Blessing - Aphrodisiac (Level 3). Duration: Three hours.
Tang San: Blessing - Firmness (Level 2). Duration: Three minutes.
Zhao Wuji: Curse - Kidney Deficiency (Level 5). Duration: Twenty-four hours.
Casting his first Spirit Ability five times in a row was a significant drain on Ye Yin's spirit power. As the effects took hold, all five recipients reacted at once. The faces of the three girls flushed crimson.
Ding!
[Resentment from Xiao Wu +11!]
[Resentment from Zhu Zhuqing +11!]
Xiao Wu recognized the sensation immediately; she had experienced this strange blessing many times before. Zhu Zhuqing had also been subjected to it once and cursed Ye Yin internally, gritting her teeth to endure the feeling.
Only Ning Rongrong was experiencing this for the first time. The sudden and unexpected wave of heat made her tremble all over.
"Ah~" she moaned softly. "Again... come... one... more... time..."
Dai Mubai, watching from the sidelines, was utterly confused. What is she doing? This is a spirit battle! Is she dreaming? Ye Yin just kicked her, and now she's asking for more? Her brain must be incredibly slow.
Tang San also felt the firming effect of Ye Yin's blessing and frowned, confused by the strange sensation. Zhao Wuji felt the curse settle on him but initially dismissed it as a bit of tiredness. He figured he was just overworked from teaching and wanted to end the fight quickly so he could go back to sleep.
But then he saw Ye Yin's spirit rings, and his sleepiness vanished. Two deep, purple rings. A thousand-year first ring and a thousand-year second ring! This kid was strong!
"Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, attack!" Ye Yin commanded. "Little San, do your best to control Teacher Zhao!"
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing shot forward like arrows. At the same time, Tang San's two spirit rings flashed.
"First Spirit Ability, Blue Silver Growth! Second Spirit Ability, Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Thick vines of Blue Silver Grass erupted from the ground, growing wildly and climbing up Zhao Wuji's legs, attempting to bind him in place. With the combined assault from multiple directions, the massive teacher stumbled and fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
When he stood up again, his body had transformed, and he now resembled a massive brown bear. This was his Spirit Avatar.
"You've got some skills," he growled, his eyes fixed on Ye Yin. "Since you have two thousand-year spirit rings, I'll take care of you first!" He also remembered his promise to help Dai Mubai get revenge. "Second Spirit Ability, Vajra Palm!"
Zhao Wuji's second soul ring flashed. In response, Ye Yin's second soul ring also lit up.
"Second Spirit Ability, Soul Skill Curse."
He instantly added a curse to Zhao Wuji's Vajra Palm.
Enhancement: Vajra Palm's attack range and damage are increased.
Side Effect: The attack's trajectory deviates to the left.
Duration: Two hours.
Zhao Wuji threw his palm forward, and a huge, golden palm print shot out. He had aimed it directly at Ye Yin, but the moment the attack was released, its path shifted slightly to the left.
From the sidelines, Dai Mubai felt nothing but excitement, thinking Ye Yin was finally about to get what he deserved. But then he noticed something was wrong. The direction of the attack was a bit off. Why was the Vajra Palm aimed at him?!
"White Tiger Possession!" he roared, summoning his spirit in a panic.
BANG!
The massive palm print slammed squarely into Dai Mubai, sending him flying through the air.
Ding!
[Resentment from Dai Mubai +20!]
Zhao Wuji stood stunned. "What's going on?" he muttered, bewildered. "I clearly aimed at Ye Yin, so why did the attack hit Mubai?"
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