NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: The Empress Sets Her Eyes on Xiao Xingyu Again!
Chapter 68: The Empress Sets Her Eyes on Xiao Xingyu Again!
Five minutes earlier.
The situation on the stage had reached a stalemate. As both competitors approached the brink of exhaustion, the outcome remained undecided. Just when everyone expected the match to end in a draw, Xiao Xingyu quietly activated his Demon Eye.
His pupils turned a blood red, with strange runes appearing around them. In his enhanced vision, the thirteen Evil Eye Grey Wolves were clearly visible.
Xiao Xingyu’s eyes sparkled as he smiled slightly. "So that's how it is."
The subtle differences between the original and the clones of the Evil Eye Grey Wolf were revealed to him through the Demon Eye!
"I've found the way to break the deadlock; now to remind Six Jin."
Giving a discreet hint to Murong Xinxin required some finesse.
"I have an idea!"
On the stage, Murong Xinxin was drenched in sweat, yet her beauty remained unaffected.
"I've done my best; it seems we can only settle for a draw."
Murong Xinxin understood the current situation well; with her spiritual energy nearly depleted, defeating Zhou Ye was becoming impossible.
Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught Xiao Xingyu’s movements. Murong Xinxin turned slightly to glance at her teammate in the prep area.
At that moment, Xiao Xingyu was facing her, repeatedly mimicking deep breathing.
"This guy is just being silly again! Like a child, no sense of seriousness..."
Murong Xinxin thought to herself, but she was momentarily lost in thought.
"Deep breath."
"Breath..."
"Right, it's the detail I overlooked—breathing!"
Her quick mind and synergy with Xiao Xingyu allowed her to grasp the hint he was giving her.
The battle resumed!
This time, Murong Xinxin took the initiative to attack.
"Both competitors are running low on spiritual energy; it's time for the final showdown."
"Unless something unexpected happens, both will end up in a draw due to depleted energy."
"Wait, something unexpected seems to be happening!"
"Incredible! The Snowfeather Hunter has struck the original Evil Eye Grey Wolf!"
The host's shout echoed the thoughts of the audience.
Just moments ago, Murong Xinxin commanded the Snowfeather Hunter to unleash a sudden cold arrow, flapping its wings to launch several ice spikes.
Sizzle—
The sound of ice spikes piercing flesh rang out.
On the stage, the twelve Evil Eye Grey Wolves stood intact, yet the original was struck by three ice spikes in its chest, freezing the blood before it could even spill.
The host exclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, the tide has turned! Murong Xinxin seems to have found the technique to capture the original Evil Eye Grey Wolf!"
Zhou Ye's expression reflected disbelief; he hadn't anticipated the proud illusion of the Evil Eye Grey Wolf would suddenly falter.
"How could this happen..."
"No, she must be lucky."
Sizzle—
Zhou Ye was stunned again as another ice spike pierced the original Evil Eye Grey Wolf.
The twelve clones on stage seemed to lose their effectiveness in confusing the opponent.
No matter how the clones and the original swapped positions, Murong Xinxin was able to accurately pinpoint the original Evil Eye Grey Wolf.
"The Snowfeather Hunter has struck the original Evil Eye Grey Wolf again!"
"This battle has been truly magical!"
"I believe the audience and I share the same sentiment; we haven't seen any flaws in the illusion."
"But Murong Xinxin has seen through the intricacies, while we remain oblivious!"
To the average observer, the Evil Eye Grey Wolf's illusion seemed flawless.
However, Murong Xinxin suddenly appeared to be acting with enhanced perception, easily locking onto the original and ignoring the clones.
After more than an hour of stalemate, the scales of victory finally began to tip in one direction.
In the prep area, Xiao Xingyu sighed with relief, displaying a proud look.
"It seems Six Jin has good insight; she quickly understood my hint."
When the right person is involved, the synergy is natural.
The rapport between Murong Xinxin and Xiao Xingyu was just that.
In the high observation area, Empress Shangguan Lan and Zhou Xiong were watching intently.
"The situation is shifting; Murong is gaining the upper hand, and your son is in danger!"
Zhou Xiong couldn't help but look at Murong Xinxin with newfound respect.
"This Murong girl is impressive; she managed to see through the flaws of the Evil Eye Grey Wolf."
Shangguan Lan spoke softly, her eyes focused.
"The Evil Eye Grey Wolf's clones can mimic the original's expressions, actions, and sounds..."
"But as the battle drags on, the original becomes fatigued, leading to heavier breathing."
"This is the only difference between the original and the clones."
Clones, after all, are illusions and not physical entities.
The original, due to overexertion, exhibits heavy breathing that the clones do not.
After receiving Xiao Xingyu's hint, Murong Xinxin quickly recognized the subtlety.
When she observed the thirteen Evil Eye Grey Wolves again, she noticed one was breathing heavily, showing slight spasms in the area of its lungs.
That was the original Evil Eye Grey Wolf!
This flaw would typically go unnoticed, only revealing itself after an extended battle.
As the fight continued, Shangguan Lan suddenly shook her head.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"
"The flaw of the Evil Eye Grey Wolf wasn't discovered by Murong Xinxin herself."
"Then it was..."
"It was that boy who found it."
Following Shangguan Lan's gaze, Zhou Xiong looked at Xiao Xingyu in the prep area.
"You mean it was Doctor Xiao?"
Shangguan Lan's eyes shimmered.
"You know Xiao Xingyu?"
"I have a close friendship with him; we're partners as well..."
Zhou Xiong explained.
After hearing this, Shangguan Lan's calm demeanor rippled with intrigue.
"I didn't expect this boy to not only possess exceptional talent in beast mastery but also to excel in medicine."
Shangguan Lan had previously visited Huangyan City a few times and was well aware of the torment and damage caused by Sand Mites.
Even the best beast doctors around her could not find a way to eradicate the Sand Mites.
"This battle is over."
Shangguan Lan felt there was no need to watch any longer and turned to leave.
Before departing, she gave a final instruction.
"Lord Zhou, the western frontier has been unstable recently, with divine beast monsters on the loose. No matter what, you must protect Huangyan City."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
After Shangguan Lan left, the match on stage was also declared concluded.
Murong Xinxin gathered all her remaining spiritual energy and commanded her Snowfeather Hunter to unleash its attack.
"Frost Burial!"
With a determined shout, Murong Xinxin released her full power.
The Snowfeather Hunter soared, its wings flapping fiercely, unleashing a gale.
The ground cracked open, and countless shards of ice erupted.
The original Evil Eye Grey Wolf, unable to escape, was encapsulated in a massive ice block.
Under the sunlight, the large rectangular ice block resembled a coffin, prepared for a burial!
Zhou Ye, pale-faced, chose to concede.
"I... lost."
Murong Xinxin retracted her energy, and the ice block melted away.
The trembling Evil Eye Grey Wolf collapsed to the ground, weakened but not in danger of death.
The Supernova Competition prioritized friendship over competition.
Murong Xinxin valued martial ethics and ensured the battle ended without causing fatal harm.
"Congratulations to Qinglong Academy for securing another victory!"