After successfully winning two matches on the first day, they relied on this focused-fire tactic to win match after match over the following week. Most importantly, Jin Bao discovered that his Cultivation speed after each battle was significantly faster than normal. However, Xu Yu said this was the result of the Spirit Beast meat they ate at lunch digesting within their bodies.
As their winning streak continued, the reputation of Jin Bao's five-person team spread among the freshmen. By the start of the second week, they arrived at the combat training grounds as usual.
"What's the situation? Why won't you let us participate in the Soul Duel?" Xu Yu asked, looking at the person in charge of registration.
"No particular reason. Even the Soul Fighting Arena reduces the number of scheduled matches when a Soul Duel record gets too good! Not to mention our place here. Besides, no one is willing to fight you now. Even if they could win in the end, your fighting style would leave at least one person on the opposing side beaten to a pulp. No one wants to be that unlucky person."
Xu Yu returned to Jin Bao and the others, explaining the situation they had encountered.
"Then what should we do? If we can't do Soul Duels, we won't have any income!" Chi Yun said. They had earned over three hundred points in the previous week, and the thrill of spending those points made it impossible for him to go back to his previous situation.
"How about we act as sparring partners?" Jin Bao asked tentatively. He had looked at the sparring rules; it basically involved helping the opponent test the effects of their Spirit Abilities.
If it were offensive Spirit Abilities, he would be very suitable. In fact, by comparison, it was even more suitable than Soul Duels. Most importantly, the points earned this way would be higher.
"You can be a sparring partner, but what about us?" Chi Yun rolled his eyes at Jin Bao and then glanced at Xu Yu.
"How about the three of us participate in the three-person team Soul Duels instead? After all, under the amplification of your Spirit Ability, the two of us can still use our previous tactics. Maybe they'll think a three-on-three match gives them a chance to beat us!" Chi Yun currently couldn't stand having no point income.
Therefore, even if it meant leaving this team, the two of them were going to participate in Soul Duels!
"This..." Xu Yu glanced at Jin Bao and Keluode. Keluode was fine; after all, they were just friends who had known each other for a few days, and having fought together to earn points, it could be considered a clean break. But Jin Bao was different. Not to mention that his powerful protection in battle gave Xu Yu great peace of mind, Jin Bao was his roommate!
If he abandoned his roommate now to team up with Chi Yun's duo for three-person matches, how would he face Jin Bao in the future?
"Fine! Then you three go together, and the two of us will find someone else to team up with!" After Chi Yun finished speaking, he grabbed Ling Yan and turned to leave, giving Xu Yu no time to regret.
"Can we... really do three-person matches?" Keluode looked at Xu Yu.
Among the three of them, one was a support system Spirit Master with no attack power, and the other two were one control system and one control system with primarily defensive skills. Were they supposed to drag out a match until the opponent's spirit power was exhausted?
Jin Bao said, "If you find a Power Attack System Soul Master to coordinate with, it should be better! Well, I'm going to participate as a sparring partner. Let's have dinner together tonight!"
"Yuan Bao!" Xu Yu watched Jin Bao's departing figure, feeling a bit guilty in his heart.
"Actually, Yuan Bao can be used as a Power Attack System Soul Master. His shield is very sturdy; one slap from it would probably make a typical Power Attack System Soul Master's hand hurt." Xu Yu recalled the agility-attack system Spirit Master who had slapped the shield on the first day and ended up with a bone fracture.
Keluode patted his shoulder. "But Jin Bao is a control system Spirit Master after all. He probably wasn't content with just playing a protective role for you all this time. This is normal. According to the teachers, the core of a team is usually a control system or support system Spirit Master. If it were me fighting like that all the time, I wouldn't be content either."
Xu Yu said, "Then let's find a Power Attack System Soul Master! Do you have any good friends?"
Keluode smiled. "Of course. Follow me!"
On the other side, Chi Yun and Ling Yan, who were preparing to find a teammate, encountered someone.
"You're the ones who were teamed up with that Brilliant Gold Scepter Spirit Master, right?" the person asked, looking at the two of them.
Chi Yun replied, "That's us. But because we had no opponents, the team was forced to disband. Now we're short one person for three-person team battles."
The person smiled. "That's perfect. I am a control system Spirit Master, and I hope to team up with you."
Ling Yan said, "A control system! That's fine, I guess."
"Let me introduce myself. Xiao Lang, Spirit: Dazzling Light Mirror, Level 24 control system Spirit Grandmaster. My First Spirit Skill can blind the perception of anyone it shines upon, and my Second Spirit Ability can create several image Clones of my teammates—though for now, they are just images that vanish upon being hit."
"Tsk tsk, these two Spirit Abilities actually sound like skills for a control system Spirit Master! That Jin Bao's Spirit Abilities are clearly support system ones, even though they're quite useful. Yet he insists on calling them control system skills. I've been wanting to laugh about it, haha!" Chi Yun said, reaching out his hand.
Xiao Lang shook his hand. "I have one request."
Chi Yun said, "Just say it. As long as you're not stealing my girlfriend, feel free!"
Xiao Lang looked at Chi Yun, who was holding his girlfriend. "I have some grievances with that Jin Bao. In the future, I also hope to team up with you and other powerful Spirit Masters for five-person or even seven-person matches. My ultimate goal is a spot for the Inner Academy advancement this year."
Chi Yun laughed. "Haha! A fine ambition! Who isn't aiming for that? Then we shall join forces and focus on earning points first!"
He hadn't been fond of Jin Bao to begin with. Now that he had a better partner to cooperate with, why wouldn't he switch?
On the other side, Jin Bao had no idea that someone was already starting to target him in secret. After arriving at the sparring area, Jin Bao chose to help test the intensity of Spirit Abilities and the maneuverability of agility-attack system Spirit Masters.
"My name is White Shadow, Spirit: Snow Sable, agility-attack system Spirit Master. Do you need to make any preparations?" the woman standing on the other side of the field asked.
Jin Bao smiled. "A normal battle doesn't give you preparation time. Let's start! I have confidence in my defense; feel free to attack!"
White Shadow said, "Alright, I'm starting!" Two spirit rings rose around her body, and she instantly left a trail of afterimages, rushing toward the spot where Jin Bao stood.
"First Spirit Skill, Snow Shadow!"
White Shadow, who was already fast, became even faster. For her first attack, she chose a straight line. Although this made it easy for the opponent to judge her trajectory, an agility-attack system Spirit Master emphasizes speed; as long as one is fast enough, the opponent won't be able to control them.
Watching White Shadow get closer and closer, Jin Bao's First Spirit Ring lit up, and he immediately scattered a handful of energy Money.
"First Spirit Skill, Money Shield - Modified — Money Piercing Array!"
The energy Money that hit the ground instantly transformed into sharp spikes rising from the floor, blocking White Shadow's path.