Chapter 72: Ding Yumian Takes the Stage

The battle began. Both contestants simultaneously initiated their StarOrbit, casting elementary spells.

In less than half a second, a fiery red flame burst from Dongfang Ming's hand, forcing Lu Jun to halt his Cursed spell mid-cast.

Although Lu Jun excelled at interrupting spellcasting with his curse magic, there was still a critical time gap involved. As long as magic required the manipulation of Star Orbits, there was always a subtle delay that could be exploited, even if it wasn't apparent to onlookers.

Previously, Lu Jun's higher spiritual realm allowed him to execute a one-second Star Orbit, crushing numerous freshmen. However, against Dongfang Ming's natural talent, he was at a disadvantage.

Talent—it truly was a vast chasm.

Boom!

Lu Jun flicked his wrist, and with a sweeping slash, he extinguished the incoming fiery mass. A burst of crimson flames erupted in mid-air, sending waves of heat radiating outward and filling the air with the stench of burnt ashes.

Dongfang Ming's flames were still ordinary mortal fire, far from being infused with Spirit Seed, as they would be two years later.

However, Dongfang Ming smiled, seemingly confirming his suspicions: as long as his casting speed was fast enough, his magic would remain uninterrupted.

Viewers in the livestream chat burst into laughter:

"Finally, someone who can actually fight! The earlier opponents couldn't even cast a single spell. If I didn't know better, I'd think this was supposed to be a battle between elite mages from Pearl University. To outsiders, it looked more like a street brawl!"

"This doesn't make sense. How is Dongfang Ming casting spells so quickly?"

"You must be new. That's called natural talent—rapid casting..."

As Lu Jun's heavy sword defeated opponent after opponent, the Beast Battle Arena drew an ever-growing crowd eager to witness the spectacle.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Undeterred by the commotion, Dongfang Ming continued casting half-second elementary Flame Bursts, each one blazing forth with incredible speed. Flames danced in both his hands, resembling twin revolvers or pea shooters, as a relentless barrage of fireballs streaked toward Lu Jun.

Lu Jun rotated his massive dark-gold greatsword, sweeping it around himself like a black whirlwind. Each fireball that approached him was obliterated, their remnants scattering in a sea of embers. Flames raged all around him, but none could penetrate his defense.

He knew deep down that dealing with an opponent like Dongfang Ming required more than brute force or skill. It was all about leveraging his summoned Metal Element in advance.

Thud! Thud!

Lu Jun propelled himself forward with the aid of a green Wind Track underfoot, his heavy sword slicing through the air as he charged at Dongfang Ming. From above, it looked as though a shadow was carving a path through a sea of fire, dispersing flames to either side like walls splitting apart.

Whoosh!

Unexpectedly, a gust of wind surged beneath Dongfang Ming, propelling him backward at a speed that matched Lu Jun's charge. It was none other than a Wind Element spell—Wind Track.

The two circled the Beast Battle Arena, one chasing and the other retreating, as Dongfang Ming deliberately restricted himself to only casting elementary spells.

Lu Jun suddenly stopped in his tracks, his expression cold and calculating. He clenched his fist, and almost instantly, a dense green spiderweb materialized in mid-air around the arena, forming an intricate trap that ensnared Dongfang Ming.

Caught off guard, Dongfang Ming exclaimed, "When did you set up the Spider Web Trap?"

His mind was in turmoil. He had been casting elementary spells non-stop, leaving no room for his opponent to cast even an elementary spell, let alone an intermediate one.

Lu Jun responded calmly, "I set it up at the very beginning of the challenge."

Dongfang Ming was left speechless. He couldn't accuse Lu Jun of breaking any rules; after all, leaving behind environmental advantages during continuous battles was entirely plausible. He had simply overlooked this possibility.

With Dongfang Ming's defeat officially announced by referee Gu Han, the audience was a mix of disappointment and exhilaration:

"What a shame. He's clever but still fell short by one move."

"Don't worry. Lu Jun's been using intermediate spells and fighting for so long; his mana consumption must be significant. Another hundred challengers will wear him down!"

"Quick, quick! Don't let him rest and recover his mana!"

On the field, Lu Jun exhaled deeply. Battling intermediate mages with natural talent was like comparing heaven and earth. In hindsight, Mo Fan only defeated Dongfang Ming because of his carelessness. If Dongfang Ming had restricted himself to elementary spells like he had here, Mo Fan wouldn't have been able to finish the fight quickly, jeopardizing the mission to escort the Totem Black Snake.

Similarly, Lu Jun knew that if he continued to drag this out, he would eventually win, but it would leave him severely drained. Opting for a timely resolution, he had used the Spider Web Trap to end the match decisively.

Without pause, new challengers stepped forward, throwing themselves at Lu Jun like moths to a flame.

Two hundred... three hundred... four hundred...

In no time, Lu Jun had defeated five hundred opponents. His black-gold greatsword pierced the ground as he leaned on it, panting heavily. His muscles ached, his body was exhausted, and the mana in both his Metal and Curse Element Nebulae had noticeably dwindled.

Killing five hundred pigs would be exhausting, let alone five hundred mages.

Hours passed. Outside the Beast Battle Arena, the sky had turned dark, and inside, the lights were fully illuminated. The battles continued endlessly.

The livestream chat was a revolving door of viewers. Conversations had slowed, but the stream's popularity soared as it spread beyond its initial audience. Many office workers tuned in after their shifts, marveling at the ongoing spectacle:

"He's still fighting even after I've finished work."

"Which opponent is it now? Can someone keep count?"

"It's the 503rd!."

"Alright! Keep going, keep reporting!"

On the field, Huang Xingli stepped up to challenge Lu Jun. She was also an intermediate Fire Element mage but lacked innate talent. Unsurprisingly, she met the same fate as Bai Zhengfeng and was swiftly defeated.

Returning backstage, Huang Xingli fumed, "That guy is insufferable! Just because he has a rare Curse Element, he thinks he can monopolize all the resources. If only I had a spiritual magic tool, I wouldn't have to tolerate such arrogance."

She turned to a stunningly elegant woman and clung to her arms, pouting, "Sister Ding, you're the only one here with Psychic Magic that can counter Lu Jun. Please help us!"

"Yeah, please, Sister Ding! Those resources are critical for our cultivation," the other female students pleaded, their voices full of desperation.

Ding Yumian sighed. She had no intention of intervening in such matters, but she couldn't resist her friends' entreaties. Resources were vital for mages, after all.

"Fine," she relented, "I'll take the stage."

Moments later, as the referee announced her entry, Lu Jun was resting against his sword, only to see a graceful woman with long black hair stride onto the stage. Her figure swayed with each step, and her braided hair fell like a gentle cascade, exuding an aura of elegance and refinement.

Unlike her fiery and assertive peers, she had an air of calmness and warmth.

Lu Jun instinctively sensed her strength—a subtle, almost intangible danger. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Your name?"

"Ding Yumian," she replied with a soft smile. "You seem exhausted. Would you like to rest and recover your mana before we begin?"

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