Chapter 354
Sparring?
Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Yu Feng, and the others looked at each other, their expressions a variety of emotions.
Shock, bewilderment, disbelief, and even a sense of absurdity.
A city lord?
A little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?
The second young lady of the Xingluo Zhu family?
A granddaughter of a dragon god and a snake goddess?
Why would four people suddenly want to join their student team?
This is simply a fantasy!
Qin Ming was completely dumbfounded. He looked at Meng Shenji, then at Lin Xia, and then at his group of petrified teammates, feeling like his brain wasn't working properly.
What is the chief strategist up to?
Should the city lord be allowed to join the student team training?
Is this...is this reasonable?
Meng Shenji seemed oblivious to everyone's stiffness, and continued to smile amiably.
"Lord Lin and the three young ladies are undoubtedly strong. Their addition will greatly enhance the overall strength of our Royal Fighting Team! I hope you can quickly familiarize yourselves with each other, cooperate sincerely, and strive for greater glory for the academy and for yourselves!"
Yu Tianheng, being the captain, forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, took a deep breath, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute to Lin Xia, and spoke with a complex tone and a hint of probing.
"Lin... City Lord, welcome to the Royal Fighting Team. I am the captain, Yu Tianheng."
He looked at Ning Rongrong and the other two women.
"The three of you are also welcome."
Dugu Yan, Yu Feng, and the others also realized what was going on. Regardless of what they thought, they still had to put on a show of politeness and bowed to express their welcome.
Ye Lingling also bowed slightly.
Ning Rongrong looked at Yu Tianheng and the others trying to remain calm and secretly found it amusing, but also felt a little smug.
Zhu Zhuqing remained calm.
Meng Yiran breathed a sigh of relief, at least she hadn't made a fool of herself.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
On one side is a parachuted soldier with a powerful background and enigmatic abilities, and on the other side is a proud and arrogant top genius from the academy who is used to cooperating with each other.
Beneath the surface of politeness lies a vast chasm and an unspeakable barrier.
Yu Tianheng clearly also felt this unspoken awkwardness.
As the team leader, he deeply understands the importance of teamwork, especially when facing such a special group.
His gaze swept over Lin Xia, finally settling on him.
The young city lord was unusually calm, as if joining the team was a trivial matter.
This unfathomable depth, on the contrary, stirred up Yu Tianheng's inherent pride and a hint of unwillingness to admit defeat.
He wanted to know what kind of power this city lord possessed that would make the chief so exceptional.
"cough."
Yu Tianheng spoke again, his voice steady, with a hint of challenge.
"Lord Lin, ladies, now that we'll be teammates, it's important that we get to know each other's strengths and fighting styles. How about... we have a sparring session?"
He stared intently at Lin Xia.
"Let's stop here and consider this just getting to know each other, okay?"
This suggestion instantly ignited the atmosphere on the training field.
Yu Feng's eyes lit up, eager to try.
"The captain is right! New teammates, you get to know each other the fastest by fighting!" He had long been curious about Lin Xia, the legendary city lord.
Oslo licked his lips, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
The Graphite and Stone Mill brothers also clenched their fists, eager to understand the strength of the powerful.
Dugu Yan crossed her arms, a playful smile curving her lips.
"Great! It'll be a good opportunity to see the City Lord's demeanor."
She wanted to see what this young man, whom even her grandfather had mentioned, was capable of.
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and muttered softly.
"He brought this on himself..."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered as she looked at Lin Xia. Meng Yiran, on the other hand, clenched her fists nervously.
Qin Ming frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but Meng Shenji stopped him with a look.
Meng Shenji also wanted to see how Lin Xia would respond, or rather, he wanted to see how much strength Lin Xia was willing to reveal.
All eyes were on Lin Xia.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xia's lips slowly curved into a very faint smile. The smile was neither ostentatious nor contemptuous, but rather carried a calmness that looked down upon all living beings and a hint of... indescribable amusement.
It was as if Yu Tianheng's suggestion was as naive as a child waving a stick in front of a giant.
He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Huang Dou crowd, whose fighting spirit was rising, before finally landing on Yu Tianheng. His voice was clear and unreadable, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"A friendly spar? That's fine."
His gaze shifted to the most open area in the center of the incredibly spacious training ground, large enough to accommodate battles between large soul beasts.
"The venue... this will do."
Before he finished speaking, Lin Xia didn't even make any move to summon a spirit ring. He simply raised his right hand casually, his index and middle fingers together, as if he were just casually tapping the air in front of him.
Om-!
An indescribable, terrifying pressure erupted without warning!
It wasn't a shock of soul power, but a terrifying oppression originating from a higher level of existence, a pure level of life!
In an instant, the light in the entire training ground seemed to dim by a third. The space, like the surface of a lake tossed with a boulder, violently distorted and rippled, emitting a low, strained hum!
The incredibly solid obsidian floor, centered on Lin Xia's feet, was cracked and splintered in a spiderweb pattern!
Countless pebbles were lifted into the air by an invisible force!
"what?!"
Yu Tianheng was the first to be hit, his face instantly turning deathly pale. It was as if he had been struck hard in the chest by an invisible giant hammer. He groaned and staggered back several steps. His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was about to burst out of his body uncontrollably!
The playful smile on Dugu Yan's face froze instantly, replaced by extreme horror. She felt her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul emitting a terrified hiss deep within her soul, almost shrinking back into her body!
She staggered backward, her emerald green pupils contracting in fear.
The excitement on Yu Feng and Oslo's faces was instantly replaced by boundless fear. Like fallen leaves in a storm, they were pushed backward by the terrifying pressure and almost fell to the ground, their eyes filled with disbelief and horror.
"Roar!"
The Graphite and Stone Mill brothers roared simultaneously, their martial spirits instantly possessing them. The phantom of the Xuanwu Turtle's thick shell appeared, attempting to resist the terrifying pressure. However, their burly bodies still trembled violently, their legs feeling as heavy as lead, leaving deep footprints on the ground beneath their feet!
Their proud defenses appeared so fragile in the face of this oppressive force!
Ye Lingling let out a muffled groan, her delicate body trembling slightly. The light of her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul flickered erratically. She clutched her chest, and for the first time, such intense fear was revealed in her usually cold eyes.
The oppressive aura made her feel as if her healing martial spirit was about to be extinguished!
Qin Ming's expression changed drastically. He instantly unleashed his Soul Emperor-level Soul Power to protect himself, but he still felt as if he were in a deep-sea whirlpool, and even breathing became difficult!
He stared at Lin Xia in horror. This... this is really the kind of pressure a Soul Master can possess?
There was no fluctuation of soul power, yet it was even more suffocating than the soul pressure of a Title Douluo!
The smile on Meng Shenji's face vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of fear.
As a Contra Master, he felt it even more deeply!
This oppressive force... transcends the realm of soul power!
It was a terrifying aura that originated from the very essence of life, from the ancient wilderness!
It was as if a slumbering, primordial beast was being awakened! (End of Chapter)