"???"
Ma Hongjun, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling looked utterly bewildered at Shui Yue'er and her team.
These women were completely breaking the rules of engagement! They had outright stolen their food supplies!
So, who exactly was Oscar supporting this time?
Oscar was equally dumbfounded. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. His first spirit ability had been outright snatched by the members of the Tianshui female squad!
"Shrek Academy truly lives up to its name as the Academy of Monsters. Such a young food-type spirit master, and already his future seems limitless," Shui Yue'er said with a smile, weighing Oscar's first spirit ability in her hand.
She didn't eat it, though—who knew what strange effects this first spirit ability might have?
The other two who had grabbed Oscar's first spirit ability also refrained from consuming it. It was best not to act recklessly when they didn't fully understand its effects. After all, the incantation Oscar had chanted earlier was... rather disgusting.
That being said, Shui Yue'er had a point. A food-type spirit master like Oscar, who was not only so young but also had a spirit power level reaching the Spirit Elder stage, was a rarity.
Since the start of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament qualifiers, there hadn't been a single food-type spirit master with this level of cultivation.
He was the first—and perhaps the last.
Everyone knew that food-type spirit masters were recognized across all spirit master classifications as having the slowest and most difficult cultivation speed. Oscar's future prospects were indeed boundless!
"Little Ao, Brother Ao! I'm officially convinced!" Ma Hongjun exclaimed with a look of despair as he turned back toward Oscar.
Having no supplies was one thing, but having their supplies stolen? Unbelievable!
Fortunately, their opponents didn't seem inclined to eat the food-type spirit ability. Otherwise, this fight would have been even more challenging!
After saying this, Ma Hongjun immediately launched an attack on Shui Yue'er. The two had similar spirit power levels and were evenly matched in strength.
However, Ma Hongjun had the upper hand thanks to the adhesive and high-temperature effects of his evil fire, making it relatively easy for him to handle Shui Yue'er.
The only thing he had to watch out for was Shui Bing'er's instant ice seal—that spirit ability was truly overpowered!
An instantaneous cast with a freezing effect—nearly impossible to guard against.
"Third Spirit Ability: Repelling Ice Ring!"
At that moment, Shui Bing'er's voice echoed across the field. Her third spirit ring flared, creating a tornado of snow and ice centered on herself.
Shui Bing'er's Repelling Ice Ring was similar to Huo Wu's Repelling Fire Ring, differing only in elemental attributes. It absorbed attacks and repelled enemies, sending them flying.
The one sent flying this time was none other than Tang San, who had been charging at Shui Bing'er with his Clear Sky Hammer.
"Damn it!" Tang San gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected Shui Bing'er to be so difficult to deal with.
With her instant ice seal and repelling ice ring, she was the epitome of a true control-type spirit master!
As for his Blue Silver Bind? It was better not to mention it.
In the original story, it was precisely Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu who made Tang San, despite having a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring, feel utterly defeated.
If not for his immunity to fire and ice, Tang San wouldn't have stood a chance against them, even with his ten-thousand-year ring.
If not for Dugu Bo's advice, Tang San might have given up cultivating the Blue Silver Grass altogether at that point.
Here, however, Tang San didn't have fire or ice immunity, and his morale had already taken a significant hit.
Fortunately, the overwhelming strength of the Clear Sky Hammer allowed him to regain some confidence.
"With just one strike, I can definitely take Shui Bing'er out of the fight!"
"But I can't hit her!" Tang San thought to himself in frustration.
The Clear Sky Hammer's spirit abilities, even the second one with its fire attribute, were close-combat attacks. If he couldn't land a hit, there was nothing he could do!
"I'd like to see how many times you can use your third spirit ability!" Tang San gritted his teeth, determination blazing in his eyes.
At this moment, Dai Mubai's voice rang out.
"Tang San, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu are about to complete their fusion. Their spirit fusion ability is strong enough to make even most Spirit Kings retreat!"
Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's spirit fusion ability had a long wind-up time. However, once activated, its power was undeniable.
Perhaps their spirit fusion compatibility was somewhat low, as Xue Wu mostly played a support role in their combination.
Unlike Dai Mubai's Evil Eyes White Tiger and Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Spirit Cat, which complemented each other perfectly, forming a 90% fusion compatibility—Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's fusion wasn't quite as seamless.
Hearing this, Tang San's emotions wavered. This was his first time facing a spirit fusion ability!
Wait—Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu had a spirit fusion ability?!
Not only did Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's expressions change, but so did those of the other participants and the Tianshui female squad.
The academies that hadn't yet faced Tianshui Academy were especially wary of Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's spirit fusion ability.
Meanwhile, the Tianshui female squad looked puzzled. Their spirit fusion ability had never been used publicly—how did Dai Mubai know about it?
"We must act quickly."
When two Spirit Elders released a spirit fusion ability, it was strong enough to make even Spirit Kings retreat. That was a fact!
Spirit fusion abilities weren't something to be taken lightly. Evil Moon and Hu Liena, both Spirit Kings, had managed to defeat a Spirit Sage from Spirit Hall using their fusion ability—albeit with some leniency from their opponent.
"Captain?"
Though their fusion ability had been exposed, Dai Mubai and Dugu Yan showed no signs of moving. Were they overconfident, or merely careless?
This left Xue Wu hesitant. Should they proceed with their fusion ability or not?
Shui Bing'er was equally conflicted. If their spirit fusion ability failed to secure a victory today, it would significantly hinder them in tomorrow's match.
She glanced at the unflinching Dai Mubai and Dugu Yan, then at the approaching Tang San.
Even dealing with Tang San alone required their spirit fusion ability. Against two Spirit Kings who hadn't even expended any energy yet, their chances were slim to none.
"The referee—I concede this match on behalf of Tianshui Academy," Shui Bing'er said reluctantly, shaking her head.
There was no way around it. They simply couldn't win.
If they were only up against Dai Mubai or Dugu Yan, they could still try their luck. But against two unspent Spirit Kings? Their odds were far too slim.
Hearing Shui Bing'er concede, Xue Wu halted her snowstorm, and everyone else stopped their attacks as well.
The Tianshui female squad looked visibly dejected. This was their first loss in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament qualifiers.
Even though they had known their chances were slim, they had wanted to give it a try. Otherwise, they could have just danced for the audience and conceded straight away.
The spectators, though a bit disappointed at not witnessing Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's spirit fusion ability in action, understood. After all, Shrek Academy was simply too powerful—both in individual and collective strength.
Besides, Shrek Academy still had several official team members and even a vice-captain who hadn't participated yet...
(End of Chapter)