Chapter 182: Xiangjia Team

Gu Qi's martial soul is Yan Eagle, which is both a fire‑attribute martial soul and an avian‑type martial soul.

It should have been an exceptionally outstanding martial soul, but it happened to encounter the water‑ice Shui Bing'er that counters it.

Possessing the top‑tier beast martial soul Ice Phoenix, it not only counters by attribute but also absolutely suppresses at the martial soul level.

The phoenix is the king of all birds, while the eagle is merely one of the fierce birds; how could the two possibly be on the same level?

If Tie Li's Thunder Dragon Hammer possesses an almost limitless, near‑ultimate Thunder and Lightning Attribute, then her Shui Bing'er has an almost ultimate ice attribute.

Gu Qi had not yet launched an attack; the suppression from the martial soul froze his posture, and his entire strength might not even reach fifty percent.

When Shui Bing'er released her martial soul, Zhang Xiaohe, aside from Gu Qi, felt the greatest impact.

The White Fox martial soul has an ice attribute, but its ice attribute differs greatly from Shui Bing'er's.

It is like a centurion among foot soldiers facing a marshal who commands ten thousand troops.

Because they understand Gu Qi's martial soul, they concluded that the Tian Dou Royal Academy's deputy team could not be their opponent.

In their eyes, Gu Qi, the Soul Ancestor, is the deputy team's main fighting force; eliminate him and the team loses its threat to them.

The next scene indeed unfolded exactly as they had guessed.

When Shui Bing'er released the Ice Phoenix martial soul, the First Soul Ring suddenly lit up.

First Soul Technique, Ice Seal!

A rapid‑cast control‑type soul skill with extremely strong control effect, closely tied to her high‑level ice attribute.

Especially when it hits Gu Qi, the attribute counter and the aura of the Ice Phoenix produce a very noticeable effect on him.

"You should be eliminated," Shui Bing'er's voice rang out.

Her Second Soul Ring lit up, and several ghost‑blue ice spikes formed in the air, each bearing extreme cold.

This sudden turn left the members of the Second Team unable to intervene, forced to watch Gu Qi be eliminated.

Perhaps the referee sensed Gu Qi's abnormal condition and declared his elimination by intervening in the match.

Losing a main player severely affected the Second Team's morale and strength.

It can be seen from their current state.

Members of the Tianshui Team launched their assault; faced with their ferocious attack, the Second Team could not last five rounds before being eliminated.

"What's going on? Constantly losing—does it live up to the name of your Tian Dou First Academy?"

"Three straight losses already—aren't you ashamed?"

"Just scram back, stop entering the competition—what a disgrace."

From the stands came waves of insults; as the Tian Dou Royal Academy's deputy team, they were fighting on home ground in Tiandou City, where locals mostly supported them, yet they kept losing.

Most spectators don't understand martial soul counters or team coordination; they care more about the spectacle of the Soul Battle and its outcome.

But both have little to do with the Tian Dou Royal Academy's deputy team.

To the crowd, the match resembled pure crushing.

Starting with three straight losses, it's a slap in the face of the Tian Dou Imperial House.

Sure enough, after returning to the lounge, Zhao Tianhe received orders: the next match must be won.

Undoubtedly, this means Tie Li must take the field; the Tian Dou Imperial House still needs to save face now.

"Next match, our opponent is Xiangjia Academy; this time, Da Li, you must go out, we can't lose again," Zhao Tianhe said with a wry smile.

"Alright."

Tie Li nodded; his calm, resolute face gave everyone considerable confidence.

Zhao Tianhe had intended to discuss tactics, but suddenly felt it unnecessary.

He gave a brief instruction, and the group left the lounge.

"Three‑loss team? Don't worry, we'll hand you a fourth loss right away, hahaha."

Stepping out of the lounge, they ran into the Xiangjia Academy Team, whose faces wore disdain.

They wield the top‑tier beast martial soul Diamond Mammoth, and the squad includes three Four‑ring Soul Ancestors; the team's Soul Master lineup already outmatches the opponent.

Moreover, a Four‑ring Soul Ancestor of the Second Team was injured by the Tianshui Academy Team, unable to exert full power.

This is also an effect of the Preselection's tight format; teams lacking resilience are easily eliminated.

Hu Yanli, at the front of the Xiangjia Team, originally intended to stand before Gu Qi and give him a warning.

In Hu Yanli's view, Gu Qi should be the team's Team Leader.

To his surprise, Gu Qi actually gave way, and Tie Li slowly stepped forward,

Facing an opponent taller and broader than himself, Tie Li's expression remained calm, a faint aura of soul power pressure emanating.

Hu Yanli's forehead broke into a cold sweat.

Is... is this a Soul Ancestor's soul power fluctuation?

He felt immense pressure on Tie Li, like a small mountain pressing on his back.

Only then did he realize the Tian Dou Royal Academy's deputy team had concealed its strength; the real Team Leader was the youth before him.

Tie Li leaned close to his ear and uttered a crisp "Roll," causing Hu Yanli to involuntarily give up his position.

A Xiangjia Team member beside them tried to act, but Hu Yanli blocked them, forcing them to watch helplessly as they left.

"Team Leader, didn't we agree to give them a warning? How did we just let them go?" a Xiangjia Team member said.

Hu Yanli wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, recalling Tie Li's soul power pressure and felt startled.

"His strength is great; perhaps the Tian Dou Royal Academy deliberately concealed it," Hu Yanli speculated that Tie Li's soul power level might reach forty‑eight, maybe forty‑nine.

Even so, Hu Yanli refused to accept the fact that his soul power level had broken through to fifty.

If he truly were a Soul King… impossible, absolutely impossible; grandpa said that aside from the three monsters of the Spirit Hall, no other team could have a Soul King.

Even if the Tian Dou Royal Academy's squad had a Soul King, he should be placed on the main team; how could he be on the deputy team? Unless the academy has produced multiple Soul Kings, but is that possible?

Realizing this, Hu Yanli's pressure eased considerably; as long as he isn't a Soul King, he feels confident of victory.

"It's fine, once we get onto the arena we'll give them a good lesson." Hu Yanli said from the passage.

He has absorbed a Head Soul Bone; for this Preselection, he is fully confident in leading the team into the next round—that's what Hu Yanli himself believes.

Tie Li led his team out of the Grand Soul Battle Arena; at that moment, Tuo Yu came up beside him and spoke.

"Boss, the Elephant Armor War Team we'll face in the next round seems strong; do we need to devise tactics to counter them?"

"You guys rest next match; leaving it to me is enough." Tie Li said lightly, yet it startled people—was it arrogance or absolute confidence in his own strength?

(End of chapter)