In that instant, only that dazzling and massive pillar of light remained on the field—the seven members of Canghui Academy's team had simultaneously vanished without a trace.
"What's going on?" On the VIP stands, Emperor Xue Ye was visibly shocked, murmuring, "Could this… could this be a Seven-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique?"
Beside him, Ning Fengzhi wore a grave expression, but he shook his head. "No, it shouldn't be. In my memory, no one on the continent has ever completed a Seven-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique. However, even if it isn't one, it should still be some form of fusion skill. Even if it's not a true Martial Soul Fusion Technique, its power must far exceed the simple sum of their individual strengths. This Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament has truly opened my eyes. The young people of today are considerably stronger than we were back then."
As the continent's foremost auxiliary Spirit Master, he had a deep understanding of Martial Souls. He had even studied gem-type Martial Souls in particular. In truth, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was a sublimation of the gem-type Martial Soul—only its direction of sublimation had turned toward support.
Although Ning Fengzhi could not say with certainty why an ability so resembling a Seven-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique had appeared, he had a vague suspicion. It was likely that the Martial Souls of those seven Canghui Academy members had reached a certain degree of compatibility, and through specific soul skills obtained after acquiring their Soul Rings, they had managed to forcibly combine them into a coordinated combat force.
At this point, anyone with a sharp eye could discern the cultivation path of those seven Canghui Academy members. And this revelation left many people dumbfounded. All seven members of Canghui Academy's team were Control Type Soul Masters.
An entire team of seven Control Types—this was a first in the entire history of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
The pillar of condensed seven-colored light expanded in an instant, spreading across the entire arena in the blink of an eye. Brilliant rays of gem-like radiance burst forth from within. The dazzling light appeared to carry no offensive power whatsoever, yet the spectators in the stands had been completely captivated by it. The mesmerized, almost trance-like sensation left many ordinary people in a state of bewildered fascination.
The seven members of Shrek Academy's team still had not moved—because Tang San had told them not to.
But changes had occurred among them as well. Apart from Tang San, the other six had all closed their eyes. Their formation had shifted too, almost as if mimicking their opponents. The six besides Tang San stood in a circle, with Tang San positioned at the very center.
The seven-colored light continued its advance toward them.
"Fools of Shrek Academy, you should feel honored—you are the first opponents to experience our Seven Asura Illusory Realm. You will perish in your own suffering. Goodbye."
The seven-colored light surged outward, engulfing the entire platform in an instant. The platform was circular, and the pillar of seven-colored light was circular as well. At this moment, the towering column of multicolored radiance illuminated nearly the entire competition arena.
The shimmering, kaleidoscopic light filled the air with an otherworldly atmosphere.
Shrek Academy's seven members had been completely enveloped—or rather, swallowed whole.
The entire audience had fallen silent. The commentators on the VIP stands could not utter a single word. Before the match began, who could have predicted something like this? Even the four other matches taking place alongside this one had ground to a halt.
The sheer scale of that seven-colored pillar was simply too spectacular. Not only the competing students, but even the teachers from various academies watching from the sidelines stood with mouths agape in disbelief.
Was this really a competition between academies? Even Spirit Hall's Continental Spirit Master Ranking Tournament didn't seem to compare.
The name "Seven-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique" was not something only Emperor Xue Ye could think of—but those others who arrived at the same phrase did not have the head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan beside them to provide an explanation.
The tide had turned. The pillar of seven-colored light seemed to have become a symbol—a symbol of Canghui Academy's rise.
Though the result of the match had not yet been determined, the overwhelming Soul Power fluctuations had already shifted every Spirit Master's perception of this battle.
The spectators' reaction was even more direct. That massive, resplendent display of light was the most magnificent spectacle since the preliminary rounds had begun. Although many among them had been rooting for Shrek Academy, spectators would always be spectators—in their hearts, it was only ever the strong who held the spotlight.
At this moment, not only had no one been cheering for Shrek Academy, but a good number of people had already begun silently chanting the name of Canghui Academy in their minds.
What was a Seven-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique? A devastating skill wielded by seven individuals whose Martial Souls achieved complete resonance? It was the kind of powerful soul skill that existed only in legends. And that was precisely why Ning Fengzhi had said he had never witnessed one before.
Consider this: Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul Fusion Technique alone was already sufficient to turn the tide of a hard-fought battle. The Great Master, Flandre, and Liu Erlong's Three-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique had earned them renown across the land.