It felt strange, like the star skill was alive, clinging to her heart like a bloodthirsty bug, devouring her blood, constantly swelling, shaking, and screaming…
The four-leaf clover-shaped star nodes were completely stained red, and surrounding them were streaks of red light, like blood vessels and fur.
Li Yang felt dizzy, the symptoms of blood loss overtaking her, but at that moment, she felt…
“Frenzy” was released, and a more intense star brilliance spread throughout her body.
Li Yang turned into a flash of red lightning, instantly charging toward Zhong Qian.
Zhong Qian’s eyes flashed with surprise. He raised his heavy sword to block, but Li Yang’s speed was too fast.
She bypassed him and reached his back, her twin blades drawing crimson arcs.
Several “Disruptions” like hungry wolf fangs bit into Zhong Qian’s neck, triggering the “Execution” effect…”
At that moment, Li Yang couldn’t stop herself. Professor Xu quickly spoke up: “Stop!”
A spiritual pressure like a sky curtain pressed down, freezing the bloody afterimage in mid-air.
Professor Xu paused before continuing, “Li Yang wins.”
“Too amazing! Her spiritual power is so high, if she joined the Spiritual Department, they might get another ‘God of Replication.'”
The audience was silent, with only the teachers from the Star Assistant Department rushing to the stage to give urgent medical treatment to the two students with serious injuries.
The scene below the stage was noisy, but the two people on stage were oblivious to everything.
Zhong Qian attacked more fiercely, and Li Yang seemed to be at a disadvantage, only passively taking hits.
However, anyone with a keen eye could see that Li Yang was waiting for the right moment.
With a whoosh, the heavy sword struck Li Yang’s left shoulder.
She used the tree bark for protection, crouched down, and quickly retreated, but she still felt a sharp pain spreading from her shoulder to her fingertips, like an electric shock.
Fortunately, it was her left shoulder. If it had been her right shoulder, she wouldn’t be able to hold onto Ying Yue now.
Zhong Qian struck again with his sword.
Li Yang knew that the “tree bark” could no longer withstand another blow.
She quickly dodged and activated “Shadow Concealment.”
No, she needed to make Zhong Qian “calm down.”
This heated state was too troublesome.
Even if she saw an opening, she couldn’t get through to injure him.
Zhong Qian’s mental power was lower than Shen Shangchi’s.
If even Shen Shangchi couldn’t see Li Yang, Zhong Qian certainly couldn’t.
The crowd had quieted down a bit. Instead of shouting “Go for it!” they were now focusing, trying to figure out Li Yang’s position.
“This star technique combination is extremely strong when used at high speed. Imagine if this were an actual battle… who could avoid Li Yang’s assassination?”
“Unless they have a close-range defensive star technique, and they must have it activated at all times.”
“A third-grade beginner certainly wouldn’t have that kind of configuration, so Li Yang can easily kill someone in the third-grade realm.”
“Honestly, it’s the limited nature of the month test that has hindered Li Yang… What assassin would face someone head-on?”
“So, even if Zhong Qian wins, it doesn’t mean Li Yang lost.”
The Star Combat system people began to realize and started arguing in the comments:
“You don’t want to cheat, do you?”
A mental system girl coughed lightly and said, “How could that be? We agreed that Zhong Qian would win. Even if Li Yang doesn’t lose, I’ll still send Zhong Qian gifts.”
They didn’t acknowledge defeat, and instead, they accepted a draw.
Li Yang’s “Shadow Concealment” had evidently been anticipated by Zhong Qian.
He calmly stood still, gripping his heavy sword in a perfect defensive stance.
He couldn’t see Li Yang’s position, but he was certain that she would attack.
All he had to do was defend.
This was the limitation of Li Yang’s combo in this competition.
Of course, many others were also restricted.
For example, the mental and auxiliary star systems… at least for the fourth-grade and below, they had to team up.
If they fought alone, they’d be utterly defeated.
Also, the Star Magic system could be countered by the Star Combat system.
For example, with Ying Qi’s strong offensive star techniques, if someone helped her block, she could take on ten people at once.
This month test was truly the domain of the Star Combat system.
In fact, the top three entrants were theoretically all from the Star Combat system—Li Yang’s combination was also theirs.
Li Yang couldn’t keep hiding forever.
The second stage of “Shadow Concealment” used almost no star power to conceal her star nodes, but the effect of hiding her body was quite consuming.
In such a balanced fight, every bit of star power mattered.
A slight mistake often determined the outcome.
After using “Frenzy,” the effect of “Shadow Concealment” immediately disappeared.
If she didn’t use “Frenzy,” the speed of “Breakthrough” wouldn’t be enough, and she wouldn’t be able to execute her combo.
At this moment, she was only half a meter away from Zhong Qian.
She instantly activated “Frenzy” and “Breakthrough,” seamlessly linking the two and executing a combo that left the Star Combat system spectators gasping in astonishment.
“This replacement technique is amazing!”
However, Zhong Qian reacted with a counter move, stepping aside and interrupting Li Yang’s next “Breakthrough.”
Since there weren’t enough “Breakthrough” uses, she couldn’t unleash “Execution.”
Thus, Li Yang’s offensive was interrupted again.
What should she do?
How could she defeat Zhong Qian?
Even if she interrupted his heated state, Li Yang couldn’t break through his defense.
Zhong Kun gloated from the sidelines:
“My brother is stable! Once he wears Li Yang out, he’ll win the competition!”
Yu Hongyuan wasn’t convinced:
“Lin Zhaoxia can use the Frenzy version of ‘Frenzy,’ my senior sister can do it too!”
Kun laughed heartily:
“You’re dreaming. Lin Zhaoxia was guided by a grandmaster, plus she… hey, she’s really strong, and no one else can compare.”
Feng Yiqiao and the others also thought Yuyuan was too naïve.
How could Li Yang use that effect?
Yu Hongyuan remained defiant:
“Our teacher is also a grandmaster! My senior sister is also blessed by the heavens! If Lin Zhaoxia can do it, my senior sister definitely can!”
Zhong Kun waved his hand dismissively:
“Do as you like, anyway, my brother’s sure to win!”
After saying this, Zhong Kun felt an inexplicable pang in his heart.
Could it be that he really had the bad luck of being a raven?
The competition resumed with Zhong Qian’s fierce attacks, and Li Yang continued to passively take hits while looking for an opening.
Many from the Star Combat system thought, “It’s stable now. Li Yang is excellent, but she’s at a natural disadvantage against Zhong Qian’s combo.”
At this moment, a few higher-ranked mental system students noticed something odd and said, “Wait, Li Yang has removed the ‘tree bark.'”
“Is she really going all out?”
The students from the Star Magic system couldn’t resist and secretly peeked at the screen.
They had expected to see Li Yang lose in disgrace, but instead, she was trying to imitate Lin Zhaoxia.
The Star Combat system people were really bad at focusing on the key points, so they couldn’t help but comment, “This is like a real-life version of Dong Shi copying Xie. If she messes up, she could lose her life!”
Li Yang was being overly greedy, aiming for the top spot when she could have easily secured third place.
Now, people would call her arrogant.
Feng Yiqiao nervously clenched his fists: “Why did she remove the tree bark? This is…”
Lu Shunshun and Xia Putao were also anxious: “This isn’t good, her body is the most important!”
They were no longer paying attention to the live stream comments.
All they cared about was Li Yang’s safety.
She had never been competitive by nature. Logically speaking, third place should have been enough.
Why was she so desperate for first place?
Lin Zhaoxia had won against Zhong Qian covered in blood.
What about Li Yang? She would probably fare worse.
They weren’t worried about her life being at risk, but being injured that badly would still be extremely painful.
At this point, Li Yang couldn’t care less about anything.
When she removed the “tree bark,” she felt lighter, and the depletion of her star power lessened significantly.
Defensive star techniques protect, but they were also a “burden.”
Now, Li Yang felt as though she had removed a heavy load and was much lighter.
She charged at Zhong Qian once again, using the blood exchange technique just like Lin Zhaoxia.
Zhong Qian wounded her, and she stabbed him right back.
In just one minute of fighting, they were both covered in blood.
Li Yang had never used “Frenzy” in actual combat before.
She had only simulated it dozens of times in her mind, following Lin Zhaoxia’s videos.
Could she do it?
She didn’t know.
But Li Yang couldn’t afford to lose.
She had to win first place in the month test!
The heavy sword caused deep cuts on her body.
At first, she felt immense pain, but eventually, it faded.
The air around her reeked of blood, and it was as if she had detached herself from her body, coldly observing her own condition.
Not enough.
It wasn’t enough yet.
“Frenzy” felt like a greedy beast, stretching out its crimson tendrils, absorbing the blood and vitality spilling from her body.
It felt strange, as if the star technique were alive, clinging to her heart like a blood-sucking worm, devouring her blood, swelling, trembling, and howling…
The four-leaf clover-shaped star node turned completely red, with red rays bursting from it, resembling both blood threads and soft fur.
Li Yang felt dizzy, and the symptoms of blood loss began to take over.
But at that very moment, she felt…
The release of “Frenzy” spread an even more intense star power throughout her body.
Li Yang became like a bolt of red lightning, charging straight at Zhong Qian.
Zhong Qian’s eyes flashed with surprise.
He raised his heavy sword to block, but Li Yang’s speed was too fast.
She bypassed him and reached his back, her twin blades carving out crimson trails as several “Breakthroughs” lashed at Zhong Qian’s neck, triggering the “Execution” effect…
This time, Li Yang couldn’t stop herself.
Professor Xu’s voice rang out, “Stop!”
A mental pressure, as overwhelming as the heavens, froze the blood-red afterimage in mid-air.
Professor Xu paused for a moment before speaking again:
“Li Yang, wins.”
She was too excellent! If her mental power were this high, she’d definitely be a powerful force in the mental system!
The audience went silent, while the teachers from the Auxiliary Star System rushed onto the stage to administer emergency medical treatment to the two students, whose injuries were severe.
Li Yang collapsed on the ground, unable to move a single finger.
Every wound on her body screamed with pain.
After the surge of adrenaline had subsided, she felt as if she were going to die, killed by the pain.
“Teacher…” Even in this weak state, Li Yang still looked at the medical teacher and asked weakly, “Does the medical insurance cover this?”
The teacher, unable to hold back her laughter, said, “It does.”
Li Yang sighed in relief, completely relaxing and lying flat without moving.
The Auxiliary Star system’s healing technique was truly amazing.
As the milky-white starlight seeped into her wounds, it felt warm and comforting.
With such heavy injuries, relying on medicine would have cost a fortune, but the Auxiliary Star system only needed to use some starlight to quickly stabilize the wounds.
“Take this pain-relief pill.”
The teacher smiled and said, “Don’t worry, it’s covered.”
Li Yang obediently opened her mouth.
After taking the pain-relief pill, Li Yang felt as if she had come back to life.
This feeling was incredible… No wonder some people got addicted to these pills.
One moment, she was in agony, wanting to die, and the next moment, the world felt so wonderful, such a huge contrast was truly intoxicating.
Li Yang even felt like she could jump up and shout, “I could fight three hundred more rounds!”
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