Chapter 61: What If Wang Dong Is a Girl?

The golden light faded, but its echo lingered in the air like the sound of a drawn sword still trembling in its sheath.

High above the battlefield, Ning Tian hovered with wings spread wide, her face pale beneath the moonlight. Her eyes tracked the golden road carved through the earth below. She let out a slow breath, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

But in her gaze—undeniable respect.

She'd sensed something off before the attack. Her instincts screamed at her. But Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner had already stepped too deep into the trap. She hadn't been fast enough to warn them.

In the end, she escaped using her external soul bone—Tear Wind Wings.

"You really gave me a surprise."

On the ground, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong pulled each other up, sweat-soaked and panting. Their spirit power was nearly drained, but their eyes lit up when they saw Ning Tian still standing—hovering—alive.

They hadn't expected her to escape. But either way—

They had won.

"Xin! Finish it!"

Dugu Xin didn't waste a word.

His soul rings activated at once. His snake eyes turned a venomous yellow, and even the scales on his tail shimmered gold. As his coiled form struck, a thick black mist burst from his mouth—filled with invisible toxins and razor-sharp poisonous barbs.

Above, Ning Tian narrowed her eyes.

She couldn't retreat now. She was the young master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Even if she stood alone, she wouldn't run.

Wind exploded behind her.

She swept the Tear Wind Wings forward, hurling wind blades like a storm of white daggers. They clashed with the poisonous fog mid-air, tearing apart the barbs and scattering the miasma.

Then, with perfect timing, she dove to strike at Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong directly—

—but Dugu Xin met her head-on.

The exchange was brief but intense.

Moments later, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had recovered enough soul power to fight again. With all three bearing down on her, even the agile Ning Tian couldn't hold out. Her mobility was unmatched—but she was still a support-type.

In the end, the match was over.

Huo Yuhao's team advanced to the finals.

—

On the viewing platform, Elder Xuan had finally stood up.

Qian Duoduo muttered in awe, "Two martial soul fusion skills. Two external soul bones. These semifinals are better than any final in the last thousand years."

He paused, then sighed. "And now, I probably lost my best shot."

His eyes drifted toward Yan Shaozhe.

"You're not really going to let me take him, are you?"

Shaozhe smirked.

"What do you think?"

That smug look nearly made Qian Duoduo explode. His lips curled, his shoulders dropped. He turned to Fan Yu and sighed.

Fan Yu gave a small nod of resignation.

But then—

"You want him that badly?Take him."

The voice came from the side.

They all turned.

Elder Xuan. Still chewing a chunk of roast chicken, his words were casual—but the impact thundered through the platform.

Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu blinked in disbelief.

And then... relief.

"Wait—why?" Duoduo blurted. "You're siding with us?"

Wang Yan immediately objected, stepping forward with frustration.

"Elder Xuan, we can't give Huo Yuhao away! He has a top-tier martial soul—and a martial soul fusion skill! He belongs in the Martial Soul Department!"

Fan Yu scowled. Qian Duoduo looked like he was about to explode.

"Again?" he hissed. "Can someone gag him already?"

Fortunately, Elder Xuan was unmoved.

He took a sip of wine and waved a hand. "The kid's got potential,But he's not a true original martial soul. Under that kind of pressure, there was no mutation—nothing. First soul ring's only ten years. Too old, too weak.I'm not interested."

Then he shrugged.

"Since the Soul Guidance Department wants him, they can have him."

Wang Yan opened his mouth again, but Fan Yu clapped a hand over it, and Duoduo glared him into silence.

Yan Shaozhe simply nodded. "Very well."

He turned to Du Weilun.

"Huo Yuhao will be removed from the core and pre-core list of the Martial Soul Department. The Soul Guidance Department may name him a core disciple."

"Understood," Du Weilun replied without objection.

—

Outside Arena Two.

Wu Feng stood silently, fists clenched, flames in her eyes. She looked at Ning Tian, head lowered.

"Young master... I failed."

Behind her, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood side by side.

Wang Dong puffed up his chest, grinning smugly. Huo Yuhao looked down awkwardly, unsure how to respond to Wu Feng's glare.

Wu Feng was practically vibrating with rage.

If not for Ning Tian standing there, she might've tried to punch someone.

Ning Tian sighed. "No.We lost."

She smiled faintly and glanced back at the arena.

"They were better. Especially that martial soul fusion skill..."

That's when Chen Junting arrived.

"You hid it well," he said, looking at the three boys.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, embarrassed. Dugu Xin gave a light chuckle. Wang Dong grinned wide.

"Not bad, right? That was meant for you, by the way. If you'd walked into the Golden Road, you'd have lost just like they did."

Chen Junting didn't respond. He just smiled faintly.

As the group started heading toward the cafeteria, Ning Tian leaned gently against his arm.

"We lost... to a martial soul fusion skill."

Chen Junting rested his hand on her forehead, brushing away a stray lock of hair.

"I watched. As a support-type soul master and team captain, you did great."

Ning Tian smiled through her fatigue.

She adjusted quickly, letting go of the loss. But curiosity lingered.

Her mind kept circling back to the martial soul fusion skill.

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao.

What if...

But then she sighed. "It's a pity. Wang Dong joined the Tang Sect."

A flicker of regret crossed her face. "If I had known... I might've tried to recruit him. He's clearly from a good background. I assumed he'd never join us. But then he chose the Tang Sect."

Chen Junting's expression shifted subtly. A smile played at his lips.

Ning Tian caught it.

"What?"

He leaned in.

"What if Wang Dong... is a girl?"

—

(End of Chapter)

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Stones me~~