Chapter 345: Let’s Fight!
Everyone treated Xu Zhi’s words as a joke—just some playful pre-match banter to liven the mood. Clearly, no one took her seriously.
Her apparent arrogance seemed like nothing more than a performance. Only Xu Zhi herself, along with her teammates, knew that when she said her team was the strongest, she meant every word.
But aside from them, no one believed her. The livestream chat was already flooded with criticism, questioning why Lian City Light Institute’s decision-makers would make such a choice.
With an [Executor] present, no one suspected Xu Zhi of being “problematic” like Dingchan’s first-year. Yet it was precisely because the Executor’s presence validated her “innocence” that people felt even more justified in criticizing her.
A genuine first-year—why wasn’t she staying on the bench? What was she doing on stage?
The arguments didn’t stop, even as the match began.
The blade Xu Zhi carried wasn’t anything special—a standard horizontal saber forged from extraordinary materials provided by the academy. Its only properties were durability and sharpness. While it would be considered a treasure to ordinary people, for her it was merely usable.
It wasn’t that the academy couldn’t provide better—Xu Zhi simply didn’t need anything beyond those two qualities.
As the host stepped off the stage, counted down, and declared, “The match begins,” Xu Zhi immediately activated [All-Seeing Eye] and drew her blade.
“We can see from current statistics that 76% of voters believe Lingzhou will win this match.”
“The match has begun. As we all know, the core of Lingzhou Light Institute is Jiang Qing, a [Lamp]-type extraordinary. Lian City’s first-year contestant is also [Lamp].”
“It will be interesting to see how these two [Lamp] users perform in this match.”
Though they said this, most people clearly didn’t consider Xu Zhi and Jiang Qing to be on the same level.
These two teams might fight for a while—but between the two [Lamp] users, it seemed like a one-sided situation.
On the field, the players couldn’t hear the commentary.
The instant the match began, Xu Zhi activated [All-Seeing Eye]. At the same moment, a chill mist spread across the battlefield, frost forming instantly over the ground. Yet at the same time, a blazing “sunlight” poured over the arena, distorting the scene before Lian City’s team.
It was like the shimmering distortion of heatwaves—mirage-like illusions appearing before their eyes.
This was Jiang Qing’s domain.
Within it, she could perceive all of her opponent’s movements, manipulate light to distort vision, create illusions, and—when focused—briefly glimpse “five seconds into the future.”
Those five seconds were the most troublesome part.
In a constantly shifting battle, facing an opponent who could predict the future—even briefly—was incredibly dangerous.
And this was with Qiu Hou already sealing one of Jiang Qing’s abilities at the start.
Qiu Hou couldn’t seal domain-type abilities, and each of Jiang Qing’s three abilities was formidable on its own.
He had sealed the one the team least wanted to face.
What remained was this domain—and a purely offensive ability.
That offensive ability had a peculiar condition: as long as there was “light,” it could function. In some ways, incredibly powerful; in others, exploitable.
Even standing still, Lian City’s members could feel their bodies being scorched by light. When beams of light swept unpredictably through the domain, failing to dodge in time could result in losing a limb.
But some of those beams might only be illusions.
And that was the problem.
This time, Lian City fielded Xu Zhi, Qiu Hou, Su Ran, Shu Yushan, and Chu Xiaoyue.
Against Jiang Qing, Su Ran had to be present. Qiu Hou was responsible for sealing her most troublesome ability and supporting the team.
From Lingzhou’s perspective, Qiu Hou must have been a headache.
The moment the match began, countless abilities clashed. The overlapping domains weakened each other, preventing either side from gaining a decisive advantage.
Lingzhou’s strategy was simple—charge directly at Qiu Hou. Their goal was to free Jiang Qing’s third ability. They were confident that once the seal was broken, the match would quickly end.
At the same time, they didn’t ignore Xu Zhi. Lingzhou wasn’t foolish—they didn’t believe she was merely filler. At this stage, Lian City wouldn’t risk fielding a first-year without reason.
Xu Zhi could feel herself being targeted.
But it didn’t matter.
Coincidentally, Jiang Qing’s domain and offensive ability would pose serious problems for most teams—they’d have to distinguish real attacks from illusions.
But Xu Zhi had [All-Seeing Eye].
She could see through the illusions—and call out the real threats.
And in this match, she didn’t intend to remain just a “support.”
While relaying information, Xu Zhi had already drawn her blade and charged straight at Jiang Qing!
Su Ran and Qiu Hou held the rear and couldn’t move freely. Shu Yushan protected them from the midfield. Chu Xiaoyue alone couldn’t handle offense.
And now—
it was time for Lian City Light Institute to reveal their true form.
Who would have thought—a first-year [Lamp] could act as a second damage dealer?
When Xu Zhi rushed forward with her blade, the sight stunned many.
“Am I seeing this right?! Lian City’s first-year is charging straight into Lingzhou’s formation!”
“Shu Yushan, the secondary carry, is holding the midfield to protect the backline instead of advancing. Are they really sending a first-year to lead the charge?!”
[What are they thinking?!]
What were they thinking?
—Bang!
As Xu Zhi approached Jiang Qing, a figure suddenly shot in from the side, launching a powerful kick toward her.
She raised her blade to block—and, to her opponent’s shock, didn’t move an inch.
“You… how is your strength this great?”
The attacker was a [Forge]-type. In his mind, he had imagined countless scenarios where this first-year would be sent flying.
But not this.
She had taken the blow head-on—effortlessly.
“This counts as strong?”
Xu Zhi replied casually.
At the same time, she calmly called out an incoming attack direction to Shu Yushan—
and swung her blade toward the [Forge] user.
