After the first duel ended, the subsequent matches proceeded smoothly. Unfortunately, they were far less thrilling, often turning into one-sided routs.
When Xilutaiya was about to go up to draw lots, Yelu waved to her and walked over.
"Tiya, you don't need to go up. The teacher spoke to me about it specifically." Today, he was serving as both Haide's student and Viscount Xuefeng's liaison, handling communications with the students in the arena.
"This..." Xilutaiya glanced toward the VIP viewing box in the distance, then stopped in her tracks. "I understand. But did Teacher mention why? Skipping the matches will dock my score, won't it?"
"Teacher said your progress in practicing the Dew Prayer Method will be converted into a duel score," Yelu explained. Then, he offered the quiet girl some words of comfort. "It's quite all right. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Mastering the techniques of horticulture takes a great deal of time and effort, which is no different from combat."
"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Senior Yelu." After thanking him, she returned to the rest area.
Quite a few students witnessed this exchange and began whispering among themselves.
"Miss Tiya was going to step up? Could she even hold a sword?"
"I saw Yelu stop her. Better that she sits it out—I'd be terrified of hurting her if we fought."
"Though her constitution is delicate, Tiya's marks in secret history have always been at the top. She might even rival Miss Iona."
"She'll probably follow the Scholar path in the future anyway. Combat isn't really necessary for that."
"Teacher Haide is very fond of her. He must have made a special allowance this time."
"Heh, if you scored full marks in secret history every time, the teacher would look out for you too."
Amid the chatter and laughter, another match concluded, and a new pairing was called.
"Seventh match: Suolin versus Kailun."
"Ah, she actually got matched with that guy Suolin!" Kemiya grumbled softly from the rest area, indignant at Kailun's draw.
"It's fine. We're bound to run into the stronger students sooner or later anyway." Kailun didn't seem particularly bothered. She adjusted her leather training armor, pulled it snug, and strode toward the elevated platform.
"Good luck!" Kemiya waved from behind.
Xilutaiya, just returning, crossed paths with Kailun and gave her an encouraging nod.
"Thanks, Tiya." Kailun took up her spear and stepped onto the stage.
The match commenced shortly after. In the duel, Kailun continually leveraged the reach of her spear to maintain distance, doing her utmost to suppress Suolin's offense. Regrettably, the disparity in their raw strength was not something pure technique could overcome.
'Strength Burst!'
The 'Blood Law' attribute power within Suolin boiled in an instant, causing his physical strength to surge drastically. His howling blade sheared straight through the wooden shaft of Kailun's spear. Lunging forward, he drove a heavy kick that sent Kailun hurtling several meters through the air before crashing down off the platform.
In truth, this was already the result of him holding back as much as possible. Had he struck with his sword instead of his foot, Kailun might well have been cut clean in two.
"His control of power still needs work..." In the VIP viewing room, Scholar Haide shook his head.
"Haha, he's just a youth; there's no need to be so harsh. He hasn't even reached the 'first-order' yet. Managing to master an ability like 'Strength Burst' is already quite commendable." Viscount Xuefeng beckoned an attendant over. "Fetch a bottle of healing potion from the stores, give it to the girl just now, and have a physician look her over."
"Yes, my Lord."
Following that bout, the matches grew rather dull until Iona took the stage. With her dazzling swordsmanship, she effortlessly dismantled her opponent, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers from the spectators.
In the waiting area beneath the platform, Xilutaiya and Kemiya stayed by Kailun's side, asking how she was feeling.
"It still aches terribly. I doubt I can participate in the rest of the rounds," Kailun said, shaking her head with a pale face.
"It's all that brute Suolin's fault, striking so hard!" Kemiya fumed.
Before she could complain further, the referee's voice rang out across the training ground.
"Next match: Kemiya versus Suolin."
"Eh? Did they call me? Did they just call my name? I'm going to teach that jerk a lesson!" Kemiya instantly brightened up.
Kailun shook her head, grasping Kemiya's hand to hold her back. "If you go up, you'll only get hurt."
"Are you really going to fight, Kemiya?" Xilutaiya asked with concern. She had an inkling of Kemiya's hidden methods, yet she still felt the risk was far too great.
"Of course! If I have to swallow this, I won't be able to sleep for a month." Kemiya pulled her hand free from Kailun's grasp and trotted briskly toward the raised platform. "Just watch what I can do, Kailun!"
As she walked, she slipped a small vial of potion from her bosom, downed it in one gulp, and stepped up onto the stage.
Name: Kemiya Polk
Race: Human (Mortal Body)
Status: Healthy (Illusion Pupil - Potion Active)
Talent:
Sweet Dream [Excellence Rank]: You easily enter pleasant dreams, granting you a distinct advantage in mental and meditation training.
Destiny Card: [Daydreaming Girl] (Rank: None)
'Your mind is always filled with all kinds of daydreams; your thinking is vibrant.'
Ability Cards:
[Meditation Method Lv.2] (Mist Shadow): Within misty dreams, your thoughts swirl and transform, tempering your mind.
[Eye of Phantasmal Incantation Lv.1] (Mist Shadow): Your pupils shift like smoke; anyone who meets your gaze is disrupted and swayed by your spirit. (What you can do at present is still very limited.)
[Empty Slot]
Skill: [Secret History Knowledge Lv.2]
————
On the elevated platform, Suolin and Kemiya stood facing each other from opposite sides. Suolin was currently pondering how much force to use and what manner of strike could remove her from the ring without inflicting injury.
Having injured Kailun just moments ago, he was well aware that Kemiya must despise him right now.
"Suolin."
Kemiya suddenly called out his name, causing him to instinctively look toward her.
That single glance froze Suolin on the spot. What kind of eyes were those? Her originally normal brownish-black pupils now seemed filled with swirling white mist that churned like smoke.
Such a bizarre sight instilled an intangible dread in Suolin, leaving him afraid to make the slightest move.
Under the blazing sun, bean-sized beads of sweat poured relentlessly from Suolin's forehead and back. His hands and feet turned icy cold, as though he were standing before some sinister anomaly lurking inside a mortal shell. The profound terror of the unknown tautened his nerves to the breaking point, and an unseen panic crept through his flesh.
His body trembled, the earth seemed to pitch and sway, and the fierce sunlight overhead appeared to dim into blackness. Every passing second dragged on like an eternity.
At last, unable to endure any longer, Suolin collapsed to the floor and lost consciousness.
"Phew..."
Seeing Suolin go down, Kemiya slowly sank to her knees as well, clutching her throbbing head, which felt as if it were about to burst.
Though her mental strength exceeded Suolin's, she had not yet attained 'first-order Mist Shadow,' and the Eye of Phantasmal Incantation was not particularly potent at inducing and maintaining overwhelming terror. Had she not bolstered herself with that potion beforehand, she likely wouldn't have been able to knock Suolin out cold.
"Kemiya wins!"
Though the duel was extraordinarily strange, the referee appeared accustomed to such oddities, possessing some familiarity with methods that surpassed common sense.
"In the end, Kemiya couldn't resist playing her trump card. Now she won't have the strength to continue through the upcoming matches," Scholar Haide remarked.
"Teacher, have you known for a long time that Kemiya possessed abilities of the 'Mist Shadow' attribute?" Yelu asked, curious.
"Indeed. In fact, I was the one who taught her the meditation method," Haide said, recalling events from two years ago. "Back then, her parents brought her to me, saying the child was constantly dreaming, talking in her sleep at night, and restless during the day. I noticed her mind was exceptionally active and guessed she possessed some innate talent, so I tried teaching her the meditation method. She picked it up very quickly. Unfortunately, her affinity lies with the 'Mist Shadow' attribute. Going to the forest to study under those witches would probably be her best path forward; otherwise, I would have taken her as my personal student right then."
"Those witches specialize in the three lunar attributes. Even the 'Candle Fortress School' does not take them lightly."
"If you travel to the Hidden Woodland, you'll encounter members of their school there as well."
"I won't be able to go there, Teacher," Yelu said with clear self-awareness.
"So you have other plans?" Scholar Haide turned his head to look at the student beside him.
"Yes. I've decided to continue my itinerant studies until I enter the 'second-order Secret Words' attribute, then travel to Candle Fortress to apply for eligibility to step through the threshold."
"That is an arduous path," Scholar Haide observed slowly. "I hope you truly see it through to the end." His voice carried a wistful weight, as though recalling memories from long ago.
Chapter 29