Chapter 122: Lingxiao’s Tears vs. Lingmeng

Only Shenzaiguo and Ling Meng remained.

Against the adorable and vulnerable-looking Shenzaiguo, she could never bring herself to strike. Moreover, during their previous training sessions, she had clearly realized that Shenzaiguo was a powerful offensive fighter. If she used “Blood Sacrifice to the Sword” or “Holy Blood Transforms into a Dragon” and unleashed her full strength, Ling Xiaolei’s barrier would never withstand it. Besides, after an entire holiday apart, Shenzaiguo’s strength had surely improved again.

After eliminating her choices one by one, only Ling Meng remained.

In truth, Ling Xiaolei had been looking forward to fighting Ling Meng. One was a member of the Light Elf tribe, the other of the Dark Elf tribe, and both possessed a deep-seated refusal to lose to the other.

Although Ling Meng’s cultivation had always focused more on support and healing, her control spells were also formidable, and her level was higher than Ling Xiaolei’s. She could not afford to underestimate her. Even so, compared with the others, Ling Meng was probably the weakest of the group.

Having made her decision, Ling Xiaolei said, “Dean Yunlan, I would like to challenge Ling Meng!”

Every student present turned their eyes toward her, making Ling Xiaolei feel somewhat nervous.

“Wow... She’s challenging Ling Meng!”

The crowd erupted.

“This is incredible! A battle between a Light Elf and a Dark Elf—which one of them will win?”

Teacher Yunlan said, “Everyone, please clear the area. Ling Meng, Ling Xiaolei, prepare yourselves for the duel. If Ling Xiaolei wins, she will enter Class S. Ling Meng’s eligibility for selection, however, will not be affected.”

The students consciously withdrew to the side, surrounding a circular clearing in the forest and leaving an open space ten zhang in diameter.

Students training freely in the nearby woods also hurried over from every direction after hearing the news. Ling Meng’s admirers in particular, along with the students from her class, gathered excitedly to cheer her on. The scene quickly became extremely lively.

Ling Meng and Ling Xiaolei took their places at opposite ends of the clearing and each conjured a staff. After exchanging a glance, their eyes seemed to say the same thing:

“Just wait and see. I’ll make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!”

The spectators discussed the match with great interest.

“Who do you think will win?”

“Of course the Light Elf! The goddess Ling Meng is sure to triumph!”

“That Dark Elf looks very composed.”

“She hasn’t even caught up to Ling Meng’s level, and she still wants to defeat her through actual combat? I don’t think she can do it...”

Hei Yu himself could not make a confident prediction. Although he had great faith in Ling Xiaolei’s binding abilities, she could not use a familiar in front of everyone, and her strength would inevitably be limited.

He knew that ever since she had learned the spells for controlling familiars, Ling Xiaolei had devoted the focus of her training over the past six months to them.

“Ahem.” Teacher Shi coughed, reminding the students, “Everyone nearby, watch quietly. No discussing the match!”

Yunlan also stepped aside and gestured to the two contestants.

“Are you ready?”

Ling Meng and Ling Xiaolei planted their feet firmly, poised to strike, and answered together, “Ready!”

“Very well. Begin!”

The moment Yunlan’s words fell, the two of them shot forward like arrows, each locking onto the other’s movements. Ling Xiaolei spread out her perception net, ready to seize control at any moment, while doing her best to widen the distance between them. She raced around the clearing in sweeping arcs.

Both were elves, with small frames and astonishing speed. Both also specialized in long-range attacks, making distance and nimble movement crucial.

As she leapt and ran, Ling Meng continually displayed her agile footwork, giving Ling Xiaolei no opportunity to cast a binding spell.

Ling Xiaolei had originally intended to use Binding Chains at the very start and end the fight quickly. She had not expected Ling Meng to see through her plan in advance. Ling Meng kept moving and dodging like a little deer in the forest, her agility far surpassing Ling Xiaolei’s. At the same time, she sent wave after wave of holy-light magic toward Ling Xiaolei, disrupting her judgment.

“Restraining Mark!”

The battle had begun with such a tense and fierce chase that everyone present held their breath. Since both combatants possessed binding abilities and were evenly matched, even the slightest mistake could determine the outcome.

“Go, Sister Ling Xiaolei!” Shenzaiguo cheered anxiously from the sidelines.

Ling Xiaolei swung her staff, scattering one Restraining Mark after another. Suddenly, she raised the spellbook in her left hand. Its pages flipped open on their own, and the contents flowed into her mind. There, she found a record of a skill that could be used after her perception ability had been further enhanced.

She gently closed her eyes, then opened them again in an instant.

“Perception Fusion—Enhance—Predictive Perception!”

A perception net suddenly spread out beneath Ling Meng’s feet, covering a much larger area. But that was not all. Ahead of Ling Meng’s rapidly moving figure appeared a purple silhouette visible only to Ling Xiaolei. It revealed where Ling Meng would move next and what action she would take.

Although it could predict her movements by only half a second, that brief advantage could prove decisive at a critical moment.

Once she had clearly seen Ling Meng’s next move, Ling Xiaolei immediately launched her attack.

“Binding Chains—Entangle!”

Ling Meng was still taking pride in her fluid and unpredictable evasions when her very next step landed directly in the chains that had just risen from the ground. They instantly wrapped around her ankle. By the time she tried to turn, it was already too late.

Seeing that her attack had succeeded, delight flashed across Ling Xiaolei’s face. She clasped her hands tightly, drawing her fingers together, and increased the chains’ strength.

“Chain Strangulation!”

The purple chains rapidly coiled up Ling Meng’s body like giant pythons. They abruptly lifted her from the ground and suspended her in midair, binding her tightly. As she struggled with all her strength, the delicate flesh of her shoulders and arms was pressed until streaks of blood appeared.

Although the chains were far weaker than those once used by Ling Xi, they were already vastly stronger than before.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

She kicked and thrashed desperately.

Seeing their goddess subjected to such torment, the surrounding students drew sharp breaths.

“Don’t be so cruel to our goddess!”

Ling Xiaolei walked forward and pointed her staff at Ling Meng.

“You can’t use magic anymore. Admit defeat obediently!”

“Hmph.” Although her arms were immobilized, Ling Meng remained completely unafraid. “Casting magic doesn’t necessarily require a staff.”

Hearing this, Ling Xiaolei cautiously retreated.

Indeed, weapons merely increased attack power and magical potency. Even without a staff, a mage could still cast spells with bare hands.

A warm, pale-yellow radiance gradually rose from Ling Meng’s body. The purple chains binding her began to fade and fall away. Even the wounds they had carved into her shoulders quickly healed beneath the enveloping light.

“Holy Light!”

She suddenly exerted her strength, broke free of the chains, and spread her arms wide. A powerful, warm radiance descended over the students’ heads. In their daze, they seemed to see an angel unfolding her wings in the sky.

Floating in midair, she declared, “The Dark Elf tribe has never defeated the Light Elf tribe. Because light counters darkness!”