93: Chapter 93 Duan Tao's Strength

Just as Su Mu and Mu Feng had thought, the other match for the junior year also ended in a hasty manner.

The spectator stands instantly erupted into a noisy clamor.

"Refund! Refund!"

"Is this the level of the University Ability Competition? It must be rigged!"

"Fake match! Refund!"

"With this kind of strength, they dare call themselves the outstanding talents of China's younger generation? All they do is admit defeat. If I went up there, I could do it too."

"Did I spend money to watch you guys admit defeat? If you're so spineless, why even participate in the University Ability Competition?"

For a moment, the entire spectator stands boiled with anger, and cold sweat poured down the host's face.

But there was nothing he could do; he could only brace himself and continue announcing the next match.

"Senior Duan Tao of Modu Ability University versus Ban Chao of Guangcheng Ability University.

Would both competitors please enter the stage."

Su Mu looked at Senior Duan Tao with a grin.

"Senior, if your opponent surrenders too, wouldn't that scene be incredibly hilarious?"

Su Mu just thought about that scene and instantly burst into laughter. Right now, the audience was only cursing the students who surrendered. If Senior Duan Tao's opponent surrendered as well, they would probably curse Senior Duan Tao along with him.

Senior Duan Tao didn't seem to notice Su Mu's teasing and looked in the direction of his opponent.

"Probably not. I faced my opponent for this round last year; he's not the type to surrender."

Hearing Senior Duan Tao's words, Su Mu felt a slight sense of pity.

But seeing Su Mu's expression, Senior Duan Tao was instantly speechless and said coldly, "You just love watching the drama unfold!"

"Hehe! As long as the drama isn't on me, I'm happy to enjoy the show."

Ban Chao was the third-place winner of the previous competition. Coincidentally, the two of them had also met in the semifinals last year, and in the end, Ban Chao lost to Senior Duan Tao.

However, their strengths were indeed very close.

The two stepped onto the arena stage. Senior Duan Tao immediately pulled out his long staff, while Ban Chao's weapon was a heavy sword.

A heavy sword has no edge, and great skill requires no carving.

This was a very rare weapon and extremely difficult to Cultivate. Those who practiced the heavy sword always had a feeling of 'looking at a mountain and seeing a mountain, then looking again and seeing it is not a mountain, and looking once more to find it is still a mountain.'

From this, one could see that the path of cultivating the heavy sword was profound and mysterious.

It was hard to say who had the advantage in a duel between a heavy sword and a long staff; it was a showdown between strength and skill.

*Bang—*

As soon as Senior Duan Tao made his move, it was an "Immortal Points the Way." His long staff thrust straight at Ban Chao's neck. This move was extremely fast, but Ban Chao raised his heavy sword with his right hand to block his entire face.

Immediately following that, he kicked the tip of the sword, causing the heavy sword to sweep horizontally instantly before executing a straight thrust.

This move carried immense weight and power, clearly not something to be met head-on. Senior Duan Tao spun to dodge, swinging his long staff in another horizontal sweep.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

After several consecutive rounds, Senior Duan Tao failed to gain even the slightest advantage.

He relied on the flexibility of his long staff to constantly change his angles of attack, but Ban Chao's heavy sword seemed to have eyes, always managing to deflect the staff's attacks with the minimal amount of movement.

After spinning back and sweeping, Senior Duan Tao immediately thrust his long staff forward. With an incredibly solid horse stance, he executed the "Azure Dragon Presents Its Claws" technique, lunging straight out.

However, it was effortlessly neutralized by Ban Chao, who simply bent backward and raised his sword to parry.

"Have you specifically studied my staff techniques?"

Seeing that he hadn't gained any ground after dozens of exchanges, Senior Duan Tao also backed away, pulling back his staff to stand still.

"I indeed have. After all, the feeling of being dominated by your long staff last year was truly unpleasant."

Ban Chao did not hide it and admitted it directly.

This scene was witnessed clearly by all the spectators present, and those who had been clamoring for refunds and calling it a fake match fell silent.

Everyone had heard their conversation just now, and they could sense a faint smell of gunpowder in the air.

"Alright, then it seems winning against you today using only my staff is impossible."

Saying that, a wave of cold air emanated from around Senior Duan Tao, making the entire audience feel as if the temperature was dropping.

"I just don't know how your control over your ability is. A battle between ability users isn't decided by weapons alone."

Seeing Senior Duan Tao start using his ability, Ban Chao immediately followed suit, and yellow flames erupted around his body.

The spectacle of the two unleashing their abilities made the spectators watching the match sigh in admiration.

'This is what the University Ability Competition should look like.'

"I admit that the weapon clash just now was indeed stunning, but I still prefer a clash of abilities."

"Damn! What kind of garbage were those junior year matches just now? They weren't even as exciting as this sophomore semifinal.

They studied for an extra year only to have it all go to the dogs."

The noisy chatter in the spectator stands did not affect the battle between the two on the arena stage.

The massive square arena stage was divided into two extremes by yellow flames and heavy, goose-feather snow.

But this time, the heavy snow completely suppressed the flames.

Ban Chao, standing at the center of the flames, couldn't help but sigh. He then compressed the flames around his body and spoke helplessly.

"In terms of ability control, I am no match for you!"

Senior Duan Tao also retracted his released ability.

Ability control was his most skilled Domain, and he was confident that he could not lose to anyone in that aspect.

"Since the warm-up is about done, let's begin the real duel!"

Senior Duan Tao did not continue talking. Whether it was purely contesting with weapons or abilities, it could only be considered probing and warming up.

A true battle was always a combination of weapons and abilities, as well as a competition in the application of Combat Techniques.

Just as his voice reached the spectator stands, before the audience even had time to react—

The two on the stage moved rapidly, tangled in combat like two roaming dragons.

From time to time, sparks and ice crystals scattered in all directions.

"Senior Sister, I didn't expect Senior Duan to be this powerful!"

Su Mu looked at the exciting duel below and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"After all, he is the top-ranked of the sophomore year, and neither of them has used their full strength yet.

I reckon this is going to be a battle of attrition."

After glancing at the time, Mu Feng spoke.

Su Mu felt the same way; their battle always gave him a sense of endless depth and continuity.

After fighting for nearly half an hour, the two finally retreated to the edges of the arena stage.

After taking a brief breath, as if sharing a telepathic connection, they both began to gather their abilities and prepare their Combat Techniques.

"If you can withstand this move, I will hand over this advancement spot with both hands."

Senior Duan Tao's eyes shone brightly as white cold air continuously gathered.

"If you can break this move, I, Ban Chao, will completely submit to you from this day forward."

Unlike Senior Duan Tao, the flames on Ban Chao's body vanished completely, all gathering above his head.

For a moment, it became excessively quiet on the stage and in the spectator stands; everyone held their breath.

Finally, both of their final Combat Techniques finished gathering.

The white cold air around Senior Duan Tao gathered into a massive white Dragon, its body coiling around him.

Above Ban Chao's head, a massive yellow bird gathered, looking exactly like a Phoenix.

Gathering such Combat Techniques completely drained both of their Source Power.

"Crush him!"

"Defeat him!"

As the final command to attack was launched, the ice-crystal Dragon and the yellow-flame Phoenix charged at each other simultaneously.

*Rumble—*

*Bang—*

A massive wave of energy rippled out from the center, as cold air and scorching heat intermingled.

Just as the energy wave was about to crash into the spectator stands, a golden protective barrier covered the arena stage.

The two massive elemental Sacred Beasts completely dissipated the moment they collided.

*Bang—*

The corners of the mouths of the two who had activated their Eye of Prediction to watch the match curled up involuntarily.