Chapter 23: Nine-Heart Begonia, The Ultimate Healer

A brilliant match is one where the outcome remains unpredictable until the very end!

Although Yu Tianheng’s attacks were fierce, his martial soul had yet to inflict any substantial damage on Tang Xi. Now, with the electric web and the silver web intertwined, neither side yielded an inch, leaving the onlookers breathless with suspense.

Just as the crowd expected this lopsided battle to drag on, Tang Xi suddenly let out a sharp cry. She thrust both hands forward, and the silver curtain instantly transformed into countless silver threads. Like agile snakes, they coiled around the blue electric web. Immediately after, the ends of the silver threads anchored into the ground and tightened rapidly, producing a screeching sound as they shredded and consumed the electric web bit by bit, dimming the once-dazzling blue sparks.

Yu Tianheng stood in utter shock; he never imagined his prized soul skill could be countered in such a way. Before he could react, Tang Xi seized the moment. Her hands danced rapidly, and the silver sand on the ground seemed to gain a life of its own, converging into a silver torrent that swept toward him.

Caught off guard, Yu Tianheng scrambled to channel his soul power for defense, but he had already lost his footing. The silver torrent surged past him, and in an instant, he was encased, frozen in his offensive stance like a silver statue.

Tang Xi’s second soul skill: Silver-Plated Mirror.

As the battle concluded and the electricity faded, Tang Xi irritably smoothed out her long hair, which had become frizzy from the static, blue sparks still dancing at her fingertips.

Had Yu Tianheng been at his peak, or even at half his capacity, he might have been able to shatter the second soul skill and fight back. However, the skill itself consumed sixty percent of an opponent’s soul power; if he weren’t rescued soon, he risked suffocating inside.

Qin Ming leapt onto the stage and promptly announced, "The match is over. I declare the winner of this year's freshman assessment: Tang Xi from Nuoding Academy!"

Tang Xi waved her hand, and the silver elements slowly receded from Yu Tianheng.

The audience, out of deference to Yu Tianheng, remained still. However, the usually shy Ye Lingling had sparkling eyes and, ignoring the atmosphere, clapped enthusiastically, cheering, "Tang Xi, you were amazing!"

Tang Xi turned back and gave her a faint smile.

As others exchanged glances in the silence, another round of applause broke out: "Clap, clap, clap..."

The crowd looked toward the source and were stunned to see that the one applauding in the silence was none other than Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who had been watching the match all along.

Xue Qinghe clapped calmly and said with a smile, "So that’s how it is. This student possesses an absolute elemental affinity; no wonder she can manipulate metal elements so skillfully. Truly a magnificent performance."

Tang Xi glanced back at him and gave a slight nod.

"Such a rude child, coming from the countryside," someone muttered.

Zhilin quickly glanced at Xue Qinghe’s expression. Fortunately, the Prince showed no sign of offense, only a meaningful look as he mentioned, seemingly in passing, "I recall that an absolute elemental affinity is extremely rare and the training methods for it are scarce, but it seems the Spirit Hall’s library contains relevant instructional texts."

Before anyone else could react, Tang Xi tilted her head, her clear black-and-white eyes wide with a hint of admiration as she exclaimed, "Your Highness is truly as knowledgeable as the rumors suggest, well-versed in both past and present! You even remember the contents of the Spirit Hall’s internal texts so clearly!"

The gentle, jade-like smile on Xue Qinghe’s face stiffened for a split second. He immediately regained his composure and offered a nonchalant explanation: "I wouldn't say I'm well-versed in everything; it’s just that many scholars who leave the Spirit Hall’s library enter the Heaven Dou Empire’s administration, and I merely heard the Imperial Tutor mention it once. Regardless, congratulations on winning the Freshman Selection Tournament. I shall have a special gift delivered to the champion later."

The remark was perfectly reasonable and was quickly glossed over.

Watching Xue Qinghe continue to smile calmly amidst the flattery of the crowd, a cold sneer flashed in Tang Xi’s eyes. Behind her, Yu Tianheng’s frustrated voice rang out: "Hey!"

Tang Xi turned to see Yu Tianheng kneeling on one knee, his hand brushing the thin layer of silver residue on the ground. He looked up at her, murmuring, "I finally figured it out. Just now, you were using your silver elements to channel my lightning into the ground to weaken it, weren't you?"

Seeing him finally snap out of it, Tang Xi, in the interest of humanitarianism, consoled him earnestly: "If your lightning had been any stronger, my silver elements might not have been fast enough to channel and weaken it."

Still unable to accept his defeat, Yu Tianheng stood up. Looking at the plain-looking girl across from him, he finally asked the question that baffled him most: "Where did you get enough soul power to control so much silver? After competing all day, aren't you exhausted?"

Tang Xi, just about to step off the stage, turned back at his question. Her expression carried a subtle, enigmatic smile as she drawled, "How should I put this? Do you remember that we had teammates at the start?"

Teammates?

Yu Tianheng only remembered his own teammate, who provided a strong support boost to combat... Wait, who was Tang Xi’s teammate?

Tang Xi pulled Ye Lingling to her side, her expression turning playful as she introduced her: "My teammate, the Nine-Heart Begonia, possesses the supreme ability of instant recovery. After every match, she helped restore my soul power to its peak. It’s a pity that none of you paid her any mind."

Under the gazes of so many, Ye Lingling felt a bit shy. She timidly waved at Yu Tianheng, "Hi."

The Nine-Heart Begonia, the strongest healing-type soul master!

Could she not only heal injuries but also instantly restore soul power to its peak? Ye Lingling had been standing behind Tang Xi all this time like a protected flower, but all the while, she had been helping Tang Xi recover?

Watching Ye Lingling and Tang Xi standing together, a sense of restless unease welled up in Yu Tianheng’s heart. *I feel like I could win next time in a one-on-one!*

Qin Ming looked at the dozen students remaining in the competition and announced loudly, "The competition is over. Dedicated staff will now lead you to your dormitories to familiarize yourselves with the campus. In five days, official classes at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy will begin."

The students acknowledged the instruction. As they were being summoned by their respective attendants, Qin Ming called out to Tang Xi, who was at the end of the line: "Tang Xi, commoners are prone to discrimination within the academy. Ye Lingling’s family holds a high status in the Empire, so the academy will arrange for you to share a room with her. It will prevent other noble students from looking down on you."

"Thank you, Teacher Qin," Tang Xi said with a smile, exchanging a look with Ye Lingling.

Qin Ming continued, handing a token to Tang Xi: "This is my identification badge. It will make it much easier for you to borrow books from the library in the future."

"Welcome to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."