Underestimating your opponent is always a big mistake in warfare. Even if they look weak, like Ming Tian and his team, with three young children and two girls, anyone would be tempted to let their guard down.
That's exactly how the Wind, Thunder, Fire Team felt right now. Seeing Ming Tian and his team, they didn't feel any need to be cautious, and thought they had the win in the bag.
Ming Tian's team, however, were smirking inwardly. Anyone who underestimated them would pay a heavy price.
"Alright, state your names, and begin the match!"
The referee shouted, officially starting the match.
"Fang Ting, an agility-type soul master, with the Thunder Sprite spirit!"
As he spoke, lightning flashed around Fang Ting, and a yellow Soul Ring appeared. A Thunder Sprite, shimmering with electricity, dashed out.
"Yow!"
The Thunder Sprite lifted its small head, its long, pointed blue ears perked back. It had a rather long neck, and its eyes were deep blue. Its four feet were planted on the ground, and its body shape was like a slightly enlarged fox. This was the common form and size of sprites. They had bodies made of pure elemental energy, lacking the internal organs of mammals. Their purer elemental bodies gave them a better grasp and control over the elements.
"Xu Xun, an offense-type soul master, with the Evil Wind Demon spirit!"
A yellow Soul Ring rose from Xu Xun, and when he released his spirit, a gust of wind swirled around him. A small tornado about four or five meters tall appeared behind him. The tornado seemed to have a life of its own, with a pair of black, eerie eyes glowing within it. From the sides of the tornado, rotating tendrils like hands grew out, accompanied by howling wind sounds, the battle arena echoed with a "whirring" sound.
"He Mengyan, an offense-type soul master, with the Demon Flame Yaksha spirit!"
He Mengyan in the middle sneered, two yellow Soul Rings circling around him. A dark red figure burning with flames appeared behind him, with long, sharp horns growing from the sides of its giant head. The Demon Flame Yaksha was only a phantom of its upper body, and its terrifying appearance looked as if it had come from a fiery hell.
One with two Soul Rings, two with one Soul Ring. Their spirits were all top-notch. Most people, seeing this configuration, would have already lost their will to fight.
"Heh, this is getting interesting."
Ming Tian sneered and shouted:
"Release your spirits!"
"Ming Tian, an offense-type soul master, with the Three-Tailed Scorpion spirit!"
Ming Tian said, playing the underdog. He released his Three-Tailed Scorpion spirit, his hands transforming into scorpion claws, ready for a Scorpion Claw Slash at any moment.
"Yuan Yu, a control-type soul master, with the Rain Cloud spirit!"
Yuan Yu was calm and composed. A mass of gray-black rain clouds rose from her head, and her yellow Soul Ring shone.
"Yan Qingwan, a support-control type soul master, with the Flame Lotus Maiden spirit!"
Qingwan also showed no fear. She released her spirit, and a crimson lotus bloomed behind her. The Flame Lotus Maiden appeared,
Yan Qingwan's Lotus Maiden gazed at the Demon Flame Yaksha behind He Mengyan with a look of disdain, as if saying, How dare a mere Yaksha challenge the Flame Lotus Maiden?
"Begin!"
The referee, seeing both sides were ready, gave the order to start and then moved to the side, ready to rescue Ming Tian's team, who were too young and naive.
"First Soul Skill, Lightning Dash!"
Fang Ting struck first, his figure vanishing in a flash, too fast to track.
"First Soul Skill, Small Hurricane!"
Xu Xun waved his hands and two rotating tornadoes came towards Ming Tian from the left and right, preventing Ming Tian from coming to the aid of his teammates.
"Second Soul Skill, Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork!"
"First Soul Skill, Ground Flame!"
He Mengyan released his first and second Soul Skills in succession. He held a three-pronged fork in his right hand, and when he plunged it into the ground, three flame attacks erupted from the ground and attacked Ming Tian's team.
"Disperse!"
Yuan Yu shouted, and the rain clouds instantly grew larger, releasing Slow Rain. The Slow Rain quickly expanded, covering the entire arena. Affected by the Slow Rain, Fang Ting's speed slowed.
When Xu Xun attacked Ming Tian, Ming Tian unleashed two Scorpion Claw Slashes, one after the other, to destroy the two Small Hurricanes. Then, he slashed at Fang Ting.
After all, as an agility-type soul master, Fang Ting had low defense and needed to protect Yuan Yu.
Behind the two, Yan Qingwan was also busy. The Lotus Maiden behind Yan Qingwan used her hands to control a small spinning red lotus and threw it at Ming Tian, and then controlled the release of four or five more small red lotuses, which flew towards Fang Ting, Xu Xun, and He Mengyan respectively.
Yan Qingwan's first Soul Skill, Heartfire Lotus.
The Heartfire Lotus could be used for both support and attack. When supporting their own side, it could double the effects of their soul skills. When attacking the enemy, it could burn their bodies, including soul skills and souls.
This first Soul Skill was taken from the Flame Fang Beast's innate soul skill, Soul Guard!
Seeing Ming Tian slash towards him with a Scorpion Claw Slash, Fang Ting wanted to retreat.
How could Yuan Yu let him? She released another Slow Rain on the path of Fang Ting's retreat.
Fang Ting was surprised at how precisely Yuan Yu had calculated his retreat route, and inevitably retreated into the rain clouds.
The lightning flashing on Fang Ting's body weakened a bit after entering the rain clouds, his speed was reduced. Seeing Ming Tian's Scorpion Claw Slash coming, he was about to use his first Soul Skill again, but a Small Hurricane blocked the attack for him.
Xu Xun had already engaged Ming Tian. They exchanged Scorpion Claw Slashes and Hurricanes, constantly clashing. Then, Yan Qingwan's Heartfire Lotus arrived. The small red lotuses entered Ming Tian's body, and Ming Tian felt a burning sensation all over his body, and his soul power became scorching hot. His original purple scorpion claws turned crimson red.
Ming Tian was delighted and unleashed another Scorpion Claw Slash. This time, the Scorpion Claw Slash was several times larger than before, and its deep purple color turned deep red, carrying a hint of burning power.
Xu Xun was shocked and quickly released seven or eight Small Hurricanes to block the attack, but it was still broken by this Scorpion Claw Slash, which then attacked him.
"CLANG!!!"
He Mengyan arrived in front of Xu Xun in time, using his Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork to block this weakened Scorpion Claw Slash. The Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork shook after blocking the attack, and He Mengyan was surprised by the energy of the attack.
As for the Ground Flame attack, combined with the Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork, the other three had already dodged the attack range.
They loosened their guard after this attack, and that was when Yan Qingwan's scattered small lotuses arrived.
He Mengyan shouted in dismay and quickly used the Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork to protect himself in front of him, swinging it in a circle to try and block the lotuses.
The Lotus Maiden behind Yan Qingwan chuckled, these small lotuses' attack paths were controllable. The Lotus Maiden raised her jade hand and lightly pointed, and under her control, those lotuses bypassed He Mengyan's defenses and precisely flew into the bodies of the three.
The three felt as if their soul power was being burned, including their souls. Their faces contorted in pain.
"Being forced to this point by a few little kids is truly detestable!"
He Mengyan raged, swinging his Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork. Flames flowed from the three tips of the fork, and he plunged the Heaven-Supporting Flame Fork into the ground again. Countless cracks appeared on the ground, and each crack flowed with flames, expanding in all directions.
At the same time, Xu Xun also roared, and his first Soul Skill shone. More than ten Small Hurricanes swirled towards Ming Tian's team.
Fang Ting used Lightning Dash again, while also providing support.
"Yuan Yu!"
Ming Tian shouted. Yuan Yu understood what was happening. The Slow Rain was still falling, and this time, a black rain cloud appeared above the heads of the three opponents. The rain cloud descended directly from above, enveloping them. Three rain clouds also appeared beneath Ming Tian's feet, lifting them up, avoiding the Ground Flame attack from He Mengyan.
The Lotus Maiden behind Yan Qingwan also shot out countless small lotuses into the Small Hurricanes, breaking them down. Ming Tian's scorpion claws formed wings behind him, and the Dark Evil God Tiger phantom hid within the rain clouds. The self-spirit fusion skill was activated, Evil God's Punishment!
The three were just emerging from the rain cloud's coverage when the Evil God's Punishment's immobilization purple light arrived, freezing them for a second. Three Evil God Scorpion Tails emerged from the ground beneath their feet, binding them tightly. The scorpion tail hooks, shining with a ghostly purple light, this time showed no mercy, hooking into the three's shoulders. Scorpion venom seeped in, and their faces turned purple.
"I advise you to admit defeat, there's no antidote for the scorpion venom."
Ming Tian said.
The three had not yet reacted to the situation. The referee was stunned, and the audience was stunned.
"We... forfeit..."
He Mengyan said reluctantly.
The scorpion tails released them, and the poison was removed. Ming Tian's team smiled. This was their first collaboration, and they won!