97: Strong winds
Qi Ling's already somewhat displeased expression grew even gloomier at Li Wen's actions, becoming as dark as the sky before a storm.
"Good, good, good!"
These three simple words, however, seemed to carry a profound meaning, as Qi Ling practically squeezed them out from between his clenched teeth with all his might.
It's understandable that Qi Ling's heart was already burning with a bit of anger, provoked into a "red-hot" state by Li Wen's arrogant display.
Actually, if Li Wen had merely wanted to take advantage of his weakened state, launching a sneak attack to secure victory after his energy was depleted, then Qi Ling might not have been so enraged.
After all, in such a fiercely competitive environment, using some tricks is common.
However, what Qi Ling found unacceptable was that Li Wen completely disregarded him, the examiner, seemingly treating him as an entity that could be easily manipulated and defeated.
Such disdain and insult were undoubtedly a huge provocation for Qi Ling.
One must know that this pet beast had already comprehended a domain Skill, and was only half a step away from the Monarch Tier.
Such terrifying strength was enough to make most people feel awe and trepidation.
Yet, even so, Li Wen still dared to be so arrogant and overbearing, completely ignoring Qi Ling.
How could he dare to be like this?
As for what Li Wen was thinking, he certainly felt it didn't matter.
However, at least for now, Li Wen had not yet reached the point where he believed he could 100% defeat a quasi-Monarch Tier opponent.
It's just that up until now, the opponents he had encountered were too weak, unable to truly test the real strength of his trump card, Bud.
One must know that with his own score of over two thousand points, even if the score was cut in half, at least a thousand points would still remain!
Getting ninety points in the practical combat was practically a done deal, foolproof!
What's more, according to his carefully planned scheme, a significant portion of the candidates in this exam had already undergone a round of "score reduction by half." As a result, the competitive pressure he faced would naturally not be too great.
Therefore, this moment was a rare and golden opportunity for verification.
However, what was frustrating was that looking around, those who could serve as sparring partners were either too weak to provide any meaningful training or ridiculously powerful, exceeding his current scope of capability.
And an opponent like the Gale Hunting Falcon, with just the right amount of strength, was truly rare!
Its intensity surpassed the commander tier but had not yet crossed the million-level threshold of the Monarch Tier.
If he were to encounter a powerhouse that had directly stepped into the Monarch Tier, then his adorable Bud might not even muster the courage to fight, let alone gain experience and growth from the battle.
After a brief but sufficient rest, the anger in Qi Ling's heart had not completely dissipated, but he still suppressed his emotions and conveyed an important message to Li Wen—his pet beast had fully recovered.
He disdained using underhanded tactics like sneak attacks.
Because in Qi Ling's view, even if others could be villains, he must adhere to the path of a gentleman.
Upon receiving Li Wen's signal that he had received the message, a look of determination flashed in Qi Ling's eyes; he knew that the upcoming battle would require his full effort.
So, he unhesitatingly revealed the powerful trump card he had not used before due to continuous control.
He muttered something under his breath, then roared, "Mystic form of Falcon Assault, 'Hunting Hour'!"
As his voice fell, a mysterious and powerful force suddenly erupted from him.
At the same time, a strange light enveloped Bud in the distance; this was clearly the so-called target Lock-On.
Once successfully marked, in the subsequent battle, all Skills Qi Ling cast would be like precision-guided systems, heading straight for the target.
Especially his most proficient Skill, Falcon Assault, was even more formidable at this moment.
If he wished, he could instantly move behind his opponent at any time, delivering a fatal blow.
How could Li Wen possibly overlook such crucial Skill information?
However, even though he understood its importance, he still chose to remain still, not instructing Bud to make any unnecessary moves.
Bud stood steadily in place, adopting a posture of readiness, and then unhesitatingly unleashed her unique Xuan Yuan Sword Dance Skill.
This Skill was truly miraculous, capable of parrying almost all types of Skill attacks, like an indestructible shield, always convenient to use anytime, anywhere.
However, it should be noted that "all Skills" here refers only to the type of Skill.
If the damage caused by a certain Skill far exceeded Bud's maximum endurance, then even the most powerful parrying stance would likely be unable to sustain itself.
Just then, the Gale Hunting Falcon, having teleported behind Bud, launched a fierce attack, but its damage was instantly and successfully blocked by Bud.
Not only that, but while completing her defense, Bud also smoothly swung out an incomparably sharp sword qi, which solidly struck the Gale Hunting Falcon itself.
After failing to land a hit, Qi Ling clearly realized that relying solely on a surprise attack seemed unlikely to achieve the desired effect.
So, he made a decisive decision, quickly adjusted his combat strategy, and turned his attention to tracking.
Immediately after, he commanded the Gale Hunting Falcon to use Gale Shuttle, retreating rapidly like an arrow released from a bow.
He quickly created a safe distance from Bud, ensuring that Bud could no longer easily launch direct attacks against him.
"Use Feathered Arrow Rain."
"Use Wind Blade Storm."
In an instant, the surrounding air became extraordinarily violent, like a lit powder keg!
A colossal, sky-obscuring tornado appeared out of nowhere, like a roaring giant dragon, wantonly wreaking havoc with bared fangs and claws.
This tornado was not an ordinary natural phenomenon; it contained countless incredibly sharp Wind Blades.
These Wind Blades gleamed with a cold light, like the scythes in the hands of the Grim Reaper, spinning rapidly in the air.
Each rotation emitted a chilling aura, seemingly wanting to cut the entire world into pieces.
When the Wind Blade Storm swept through, everything in its path immediately fell into chaos and disarray.
Whether it was hard rocks or sturdy trees, under the relentless cutting of the Wind Blades, they all turned into dust.
Even the seemingly invisible and colorless air seemed to be torn apart at this moment, emitting sharp, piercing howls.
At the same time, the previously calm air currents above the sky began to surge violently, quickly condensing into dense arrow rain, like swarms of locusts.
These arrows, carrying a fierce momentum, poured down overwhelmingly, like a doomsday downpour.
However, what was astonishing was that all the Wind Blades and arrows seemed to possess their own consciousness, all precisely Lock-On to one target—Bud.
They relentlessly rushed towards Bud, without any deviation or dispersion, wasting not even a trace of their destructive power.