As the massive thunderball loomed before him, Wan Jianyi's eyelids twitched violently. Even before the thunder energy struck, its violent power made his scalp tingle.
Thunder-attribute attacks were undeniably among the most formidable of all elemental attributes. With Li Bufan's technique amplified by the Wind and Thunder Left Vambrace, even a Spiritual Element Realm expert wouldn't dare face it head-on.
Wan Jianyi retreated again and again, using sword qi to chip away at the Thunder Slash's power.
While Li Bufan's wind and thunder attributes were terrifying, Wan Jianyi's piercing attribute was no slouch either. Under Li Bufan's relentless pressure, Wan Jianyi was forced to summon his soul manifestation—the Sword of Sharpness. With this boost, his swordsmanship soared to new heights.
Li Bufan was undoubtedly powerful, but his lack of a Spiritual Element Realm breakthrough and his unawakened soul manifestation put him at a disadvantage.
For a time, the two were locked in a fierce stalemate.
Meanwhile, Gu Tengfeng was also embroiled in battle with another Hailan Academy member, clashing back and forth between the free-for-all zone and the offensive-defensive zone, neither able to push into the other's flag-guarding area.
"Who would've thought that even with Ling Feng sealed by the Word Spirit Curse, the remaining members could still hold their own against Hailan Academy?"
The directors and vice-directors on the judges' podium murmured in admiration. It seemed Ling Feng's brilliance had overshadowed the fact that every member of the East Court Sword Team had grown far beyond their former selves, truly making them a powerhouse in their own right.
On the sword fighting arena, sword light clashed, thunder roared, and both sides fought fiercely, each moment fraught with danger.
Meanwhile, Ling Feng remained standing calmly in place, eyes closed as if meditating.
Cai Yan gritted her teeth in frustration but didn't dare leave her post. If Ling Feng broke free, the hard-fought equilibrium would collapse instantly.
But if this continued, even with Ling Feng sealed, Hailan Academy might still lose.
Cai Yan grew anxious. She hadn't expected Li Bufan to be such a formidable opponent, even slightly overpowering Wan Jianyi!
"If you're so worried, why not go help them?" Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, his tone indifferent.
"Hmph! Don't think you can escape my Word Spirit Curse!" Cai Yan clenched her teeth. She wasn't foolish enough to let Ling Feng out—doing so would doom Hailan Academy to the same fate as Wenyuan Academy.
Ling Feng's speed was simply too overwhelming. With Wan Jianyi tied up by Li Bufan, if Ling Feng broke free, Hailan Academy would lose within three breaths!
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let you have your way this time."
Ling Feng shook his head with a soft sigh. While appearing to meditate, he had actually been using the Heavenly Dao Divine Inscription to completely replicate Cai Yan's Word Spirit Curse.
Though Ling Feng had never studied spiritual consciousness techniques before, his soul power—amplified by the Eye of Plunder's repeated thefts—surpassed Cai Yan's.
Coupled with the Heaven-defying abilities of the Heavenly Dao Eye, the four Word Spirit Curses that had taken Cai Yan over a decade to master were fully learned by Ling Feng in less than half an hour.
Cai Yan's pupils shrank as a terrible premonition struck her. She immediately reinforced the four seals of her Word Spirit Curse, tightening the bindings on Ling Feng.
Yet the next moment, Ling Feng's hands moved in a blur, forming seals even faster than hers.
Then, in a clear, resonant voice, he uttered four syllables:
"Capture! Seal! Suppress! Sacrifice!..."
His words rolled like divine thunder, as if celestial chants echoed from the heavens. Mystical inscriptions materialized at his fingertips, swirling around Cai Yan.
Cai Yan groaned, blood spurting from her lips as backlash struck. It felt like thousands of golden needles were piercing her mind.
Ling Feng smiled faintly before shooting forward like a hawk, streaking straight toward Hailan Academy's flag-guarding area.
Cai Yan fought through the pain, shouting a warning. She tried to rush out and assist, only to realize she was now trapped by her own signature technique—except Ling Feng's version was even more unbreakable.
"How... is this possible?"
Her mind reeled in shock. The Word Spirit Curse was her Cai family's secret art, a closely guarded technique with an extreme learning curve. It had taken her nearly twenty years to reach this level.
How had he mastered it?
At Cai Yan's cry, Wan Jianyi and the other Hailan Academy members froze in horror.
Ling Feng had broken free!
Wan Jianyi swung his sword wildly, trying to disengage, but Li Bufan blocked him mercilessly.
"Your opponent is me!"
Wan Jianyi clenched his teeth. Their blades clashed dozens of times in an instant, but he couldn't shake Li Bufan off.
Hailan Academy's flag keeper and another defender lunged forward, determined to block Ling Feng's path.
But all they caught was an afterimage.
Behind them, a crisp snap echoed as the Black Tortoise battle flag toppled.
"First round—Tianwei Academy wins!"
The referee's voice boomed across the arena.
For a long moment, the audience sat in stunned silence, gaping at Ling Feng in disbelief.
Just moments ago, he had been sealed by Cai Yan's Word Spirit Curse.
Now, she was the one trapped.
"How... how can he also use the Word Spirit Curse?"
Feng Yuanzhan, Hailan Academy's director, was utterly dumbfounded. The power of Ling Feng's curse even surpassed Cai Yan's!
"Perhaps he stumbled upon the method in some ancient ruins," Shen Botong mused. "As far as I know, the Cai family's ancestors also discovered it by chance, and their innate soul essence allowed them to master it over generations."
The directors nodded in agreement. No one could fathom that Ling Feng had replicated the technique after seeing it just once. Such a feat was simply too monstrous.
"Regardless, this boy is truly a once-in-a-millennium prodigy—to possess such talent in spiritual consciousness technique as well!"
Mu Yunsang narrowed his eyes, secretly proud. Such an outstanding student belonged to Tianwei Academy!
It took a long while before anyone recovered enough to mutter, awestruck:
"Strong... unstoppable."
Then, like a tidal wave, the entire central arena erupted.
"Ling Feng! Ling Feng! Ling Feng!..."
On the sword fighting platform, Ling Feng reappeared beside Cai Yan. With a flick of his fingers, he released the Word Spirit Curse and smiled faintly.
"Well fought, Senior Sister Cai!"