16: Coordinate the capture of the light cluster

The moment Jiang Donghua stepped onto the third floor, he felt uncomfortable all over. The air was filled with a viscous Dou Qi pressure, and every step was like treading in a swamp.

Looking up, the entire dome was covered with star-like light clusters, and around each light cluster were visible energy chains emitting a "humming" tremor.

"Sure enough... these are the real treasures."

He narrowed his eyes.

Suddenly, a sound came from the right.

A blue-robed student leaped high, and as his fingertip barely touched a purple light cluster, he was violently flung back, crashing heavily against the wall before sliding down.

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the suspended light clusters on the third floor.

These light clusters were even more dazzling than those on the second floor, with energy fluctuations several times stronger. Each one seemed to possess sentience, moving swiftly and unpredictably within the tower.

"Let's try!"

Jiang Donghua's body flickered, executing Roaming Cloud Steps with full power. He transformed into an afterimage, darting towards the nearest crimson light cluster.

However, just as his fingertip was about to make contact...

"Whoosh!"

The light cluster, as if alive, suddenly accelerated, easily evading his grasp, and vanished into the distance in an instant.

"Damn it!"

Jiang Donghua frowned, cursing inwardly.

"This speed is something a Two-Star Dou Zhe can't keep up with!"

He looked around and noticed many students also attempting to grab light clusters, but most of them, like him, couldn't even touch the edge of a light cluster.

Some even stumbled to the ground, their faces pale, due to forcefully activating their movement techniques, which caused their Dou Qi to become chaotic.

However, at this moment...

"Boom!"

A figure suddenly erupted, moving with astonishing speed, like a black lightning bolt, chasing after a golden light cluster!

Jiang Donghua's pupils constricted.

"A Five-Star Dou Zhe?!"

It was a fellow in black robes, his aura profound and vast, far surpassing most people present.

His movement technique was even more exquisite; with every step, faint Dou Qi ripples spread out beneath his feet, as if he were stepping on invisible stairs, his speed climbing steadily!

"Bang!"

The man struck out with a palm, and the golden light cluster trembled violently, actually being forced to stop for a moment by him!

"Got it!"

He let out a low shout, his five fingers like hooks, fiercely gripping the edge of the light cluster.

The light cluster struggled wildly, golden energy impacting his arm like a tide, but he remained motionless, his entire body's Dou Qi erupting, forcibly suppressing it!

"Hiss—"

A chorus of gasps echoed around.

"Monster..."

Someone muttered softly, their eyes full of reverence.

Jiang Donghua's gaze was solemn.

A Five-Star Dou Zhe was indeed not someone he could compare to right now.

Jiang Donghua's lips suddenly curved into an arc.

"If I can't catch up, then I'll try a different method."

Instead of blindly chasing, he stood still, slowly closing his eyes.

He was sensing.

Though these light clusters were fast, they were ultimately energy bodies, and energy must follow patterns!

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the energy light clusters on the third floor.

Although these light clusters varied in color, aside from the strength of their energy fluctuations, it was impossible to determine what exactly was hidden inside them.

It could be a scroll of Profound Rank High-Grade Dou Technique, or it might just be a rare medicinal herb!

"Unless I get my hands on it, I won't know what it is."

He mused inwardly.

"This is entirely a gamble of luck!"

As he pondered, the competition in the arena had quietly changed.

Several quick-reacting students also seemed to have discovered a pattern; they suddenly stopped their aimless scurrying like headless flies and exchanged glances.

"Surround that purple light cluster!"

A blue-robed youth shouted.

Immediately, five students converged from different directions, cornering a moving purple light cluster.

The light cluster darted left and right but was always unable to break through the encirclement.

"Now!"

One red-haired girl suddenly burst forth, forming hand seals. A Dou Qi chain shot out from her palm, instantly wrapping around the light cluster!

"Got it!"

She shouted excitedly, pulling the light cluster towards her. The moment it made contact, the light cluster suddenly contracted, transforming into an ancient bamboo slip that fell into her hand.

"profound rank mid-level movement Dou Technique, 'Flowing Cloud Steps'!"

The girl exclaimed in surprise.

This scene immediately enlightened everyone.

Jiang Donghua watched as the students in the arena quickly formed several small teams and began to systematically hunt down the light clusters.

The five students under Yan Feng quickly gathered, exchanging knowing glances.

"No one will benefit from fighting alone."

Lin Xiuyuan caressed the jade pendant at his waist, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Since we'll be classmates for the next few years, why not start working together now?"

Shi Lie stood with his arms crossed, his rough fingers tapping his arm.

"How do we divide it?"

Jiang Donghua's eyes flashed, and he quickly analyzed.

"Lin brother and I have the best movement techniques, so we'll be responsible for herding the light clusters. Brother Shi, Brother Zhao, and Miss Ouyang will be responsible for intercepting and capturing them."

He paused.

"Whoever succeeds first will help the others continue, how about that?"

Ouyang Xue condensed a wisp of frost at her fingertips and gently nodded.

"Reasonable."

Zhao Wuchen's eyes glinted with sharpness.

"Then let's move!"

"Whoosh!"

Jiang Donghua and Lin Xiuyuan burst forth simultaneously.

Lin Xiuyuan stepped on the Big Dipper, and his jade pendant suddenly glowed green, unfurling an arc-shaped energy wall in front of him.

Jiang Donghua, on the other hand, performed Roaming Cloud Steps, purple-green flames exploding at his feet, and he shot like an arrow from a bowstring towards a crimson light cluster in the distance.

"Three zhang to the left!"

Lin Xiuyuan suddenly changed direction, his energy wall sweeping across, forcing two moving green light clusters towards the encirclement.

Shi Lie's muscles bulged, and he slammed his palms onto the ground.

"Rock Spire Prison!"

"Rumble—"

Several stone pillars shot up, perfectly blocking the light clusters' retreat.

Zhao Wuchen flicked seven darts from his sleeve, forming a Spirit-Locking Array in the air that momentarily froze the light clusters.

Ouyang Xue seized this fleeting moment, her frost-tipped fingers like hooks, grabbing one of the green light clusters.

"Profound Rank Low-Grade Cultivation Technique, 'Cold Marrow Art'!"

A ripple of emotion flashed through her clear, cold eyes. She quickly tucked the cultivation technique into her embrace and turned to help Shi Lie intercept the other light cluster.

The students from the Central State class not far away suddenly stirred.

"Continue!"

The five fought with increasing vigor, their coordination steadily improving.

Students from other classes watched with envy, but lacking such tacit understanding, they could only watch helplessly as the five continuously succeeded.

On the Stargazing Platform on the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion, several elders guarding the pavilion were observing the situation below through a crystal wall.

When Elder Duan saw the five students from Yan Feng's class cooperatively hunting down the light clusters, his teacup suddenly paused in mid-air.

"Interesting."

He narrowed his cloudy old eyes.

"This batch of youngsters is more sensible than in previous years."

Another grey-robed elder stroked his long beard.

"In previous years, which of those so-called geniuses wasn't arrogant? They'd fight tooth and nail over a single light cluster, and in the end, no one would benefit."

"Hmph."

Elder Duan scoffed, pointing at the crystal wall.

"Look at those little brats who are Four-Star and Five-Star Dou Zhe; they're still fighting on their own."

Indeed, in the image, those black-robed students, though individually powerful, maintained a distance from each other, and their occasional eye contact carried wariness.

One of them finally managed to trap a golden light cluster, but the other two simultaneously moved to snatch it, resulting in the light cluster exploding with a "bang" during the struggle, dissipating into specks of light.

"Fools!"

Elder Duan shook his head.