105: The drawbacks of the Ice and Snow Forest

"From the Senior Division?" Although Shen Guyan had guessed that some students from the Senior Division would refuse to give up and participate in this selection trial before they exceeded the age limit, he didn't expect two to show up at once.

The Sun Moon Federation stipulates that both primary and intermediate academies provide free compulsory education, with three years of primary schooling and six years of intermediate schooling. This means that from the time a student's Spirit awakens at age six and they officially enroll, they are typically over fifteen years old by the time they graduate from the Intermediate Division.

There are several ways to advance to a Senior Academy: either by getting in through excellent grades, or by paying a large sum of money. Alternatively, one can enter a vocational academy to learn a specialized skill.

As for top-tier academies on the continent like Shrek Academy or the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, which have rigorous admission requirements, there is basically only one way to pass their assessments and meet the fundamental requirement of being under fifteen years old—skipping grades.

Therefore, the two students coming down from the Senior Division this time must have skipped grades in the Intermediate Division just like Shen Guyan; otherwise, they wouldn't still be under fifteen.

Two students capable of skipping grades was enough to prove that their talent and strength were sufficiently outstanding.

At this moment, the person Yang Zhanpeng was facing was one of those Senior Division students. Her Spirit was likely the Green Shadow Falcon, which belonged to the Green Shadow Divine Eagle lineage. It was also a top-tier wind attribute Beast Spirit with speed that was infinitely close to the Peak of the agility-attack system, allowing a Spirit Master to move and attack rapidly in battle and seize the initiative.

"I remember that upperclassman is named Song Yuner. She was originally in the same grade as Yang Zhanpeng, but she skipped from the third grade to the fourth grade during her third year. Back then, her Soul Power Rank was always one level higher than Yang Zhanpeng's," Wang Dongqi added from the side.

"Song Yuner, so it's her..." Zhou Tianer was slightly surprised, but she quickly snapped out of it and giggled, saying, "I remember in that year's Class Promotion Competition, Hanyou and I used our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Ice and Snow Forest, and sent her and her teammates flying."

Hearing this, Shen Guyan was momentarily between laughter and tears; it seemed the most Heaven-Defying combination of Sea and Land Academy was still here in the Intermediate Division... "The other student still watching from below the stage is named Xian Lin. He was once known as the number one Prodigy of Sea and Land Academy's Intermediate Division. Like you, he skipped directly from the first grade to the second grade. His Spirit is the Azure Flame Dragon, which is also a wind attribute Spirit. It manifests as Azure Flames generated by the intense friction of extremely compressed wind element, possessing powerful destructive properties, specifically manifesting as decomposition." When Zhou Hanyou mentioned this person, a clear trace of wariness flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Shen Guyan followed her gaze and immediately found the male student she was talking about in the crowd. Judging by his face alone, he seemed to have reached adulthood. His complexion was very fair, his black hair fell freely behind him, and his white clothes with gold trim looked tight and efficient, giving off a very capable impression.

"Xian Lin was already a Rank thirty-seven Spirit Elder when he graduated from the Intermediate Division, and he even broke the Intermediate Division record at the time. When he teams up with Song Yuner, unless Tianer and I use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill right at the start, we are simply no match for them."

"That strong?" Hearing Zhou Hanyou's words, Shen Guyan immediately became interested, feeling a bit eager to give it a try.

As if sensing his gaze, the male student named Xian Lin subconsciously turned his head and met Shen Guyan's eyes.

Upon seeing Shen Guyan sitting in a wheelchair, a thoughtful expression first appeared on Xian Lin's face. Then, he actually nodded toward Shen Guyan and cast him a look filled with expectation.

Shen Guyan's eyes shifted slightly as a warning sign suddenly rose in his heart. Seeing him in this state, this person not only showed no trace of disdain or contempt, but instead developed a bit of Battle Intent!

This person is definitely not simple!

Shen Guyan took a deep breath and returned his gaze to the four arenas.

As time passed, there were wins and losses on the four arenas. Unexpectedly, in the match between Yang Zhanpeng and Song Yuner, the winner was actually Yang Zhanpeng.

Although the challenge failed, Shen Guyan could clearly perceive that compared to the panting Yang Zhanpeng, Song Yuner returned to the bottom of the stage very relaxed and at ease, walking over to Xian Lin's side.

"They probably just wanted to see Yang Zhanpeng's progress," Zhou Tianer said, becoming uncharacteristically serious. "With Song Yuner's strength, she could have completely crushed that guy Yang Zhanpeng."

"Tianer, are you saying she intentionally held back?" Wang Dongqi's expression became increasingly grim. Then, as if thinking of something, she suddenly looked at Zhou Hanyou: "Could it be that their target... is you two?"

Zhou Hanyou gave a bitter smile: "It's very likely. After all, they've been wanting to settle the score ever since they lost to us two years ago."

"What?" Shen Guyan raised an eyebrow. "Even if their Soul Power Ranks are a bit higher than yours, you sisters have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Are you still afraid of them?"

"There's something you don't know, and that is that those two have a Soul Skill Combination," Zhou Hanyou said helplessly. "Although it can't compare to a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, it still gives them the power to fight even against a Spirit Ancestor."

"That still shouldn't compare to the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of you and Tianer, right? A Three-Ring Spirit Elder plus a two-ring Spirit Grandmaster—the power of your Martial Soul Fusion Skill should be comparable to the full-strength strike of an ordinary Spirit King," Shen Guyan said dismissively.

"If only it were really like that..." Zhou Tianer sighed, clearly in low Spirits.

"What do you mean?" Shen Guyan was somewhat puzzled by their concern. After all, The Zhou Sisters were the two candidates personally designated by Zhang Zhenpeng for the selection. Surely no one in the academy would be so blind as to challenge their status?

"Our Martial Soul Fusion Skill actually has a flaw." Zhou Hanyou thought for a moment and finally told Shen Guyan the truth.

"A flaw?"

"Yes, our Martial Soul Fusion Skill has a flaw: our own Spirits are elemental Spirits. To raise the power of our Martial Soul Fusion Skill to its maximum, we need enough time," Zhou Tianer said somewhat awkwardly.

Shen Guyan was stunned, but he quickly understood the point.

Elemental Spirits are indeed rare, but to exert the maximum power of the corresponding element, one first needs to draw in enough Heaven and Earth Origin Power. This meant that even if The Zhou Sisters performed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill right at the start, its initial power might not be stronger than the Soul Skill Combination of Xian Lin and Song Yuner, and might even be slightly inferior.

Not to mention the opponents were two wind attribute Spirit Masters with extremely fast attack speeds.

In other words, if one wanted to quickly break The Zhou Sisters' Martial Soul Fusion Skill, there was only one way... an Instant kill!