This sort of admission of defeat, Zhao Enquan really found it hard to voice.

But Lin Yi said, Ding Yue would die.

So in the end, reason triumphed over everything.

The three main referees exchanged glances and quickly blew the final whistle.

Announcing Pei Junxi as the winner.

Soon after, the dozen or so Priests and medical staff waiting on the sidelines rushed onto the arena to begin treating Ding Yue.

The entire scene turned bizarre.

The shock that Ding Yue's last attack had brought everyone had not yet subsided.

Yet they heard the referee announce that Pei Junxi was the winner in the end.

And the winner still lay in a state of shattered flesh and blood.

"No… this is not good!"

"He has over a hundred negative effects on him that can't be dispelled!"

"His life force is depleting rapidly, and the Life Maintenance Array is absolutely useless!"

The next moment, Zhao Enquan heard the dozen official Priests on the stage exclaiming.

The man leading them stood up abruptly: "Back away quickly, these conditions on him can be contagious!"

His warning came just in time.

But still, he was a step too late.

"Aaaah!"

A young priest who was near Ding Yue and had just touched the side of his neck to feel his pulse shrieked in pain.

The next moment, terrifying red blotches appeared all over his skin.

He collapsed onto the ground, foaming at the mouth.

"Move aside."

Just as everyone was at a loss and even contemplating a hasty escape, a calm voice was heard from below the stage.

Lin Yi had somehow stepped onto the arena.

"You there, contestant, you can't…"

The referee tried to stop him.

But Lin Yi couldn't bother with such concerns.

With a reach of his hand, the cold air instantly condensed!

Ding Yue was engulfed entirely in ice.

Tier Seven Ice Magic, [Soul Freeze]!

This was a control skill.

But Lin Yi discovered a more useful aspect of this skill.

And that was saving lives.

As long as someone was encased in ice, regardless of the negative status, it would be simultaneously suspended.

Lin Yi had used this before in the Heart of the Swarm instance.

Now it was second nature to him.

Lin Yi's rescue was timely.

Ding Yue's plummeting life value came to a halt.

Had it been delayed by even a few seconds, he would have completely transformed into a pool of viscous liquid, continuing to spread a dreadful plague.

"You're quite sharp."

"What remains is of no consequence…"

"Compared to such subpar food, I fancy you more."

Suddenly, from somewhere on the arena, Pei Junxi's cold voice rang out.

Turning back, everyone saw his countless shattered flesh pieces wriggle and coalesce.

Slowly forming into a humanoid shape.

Shortly after, Pei Junxi reappeared fully intact.

Only now, he no longer had his previous demeanor.

A crimson tongue protruded from his mouth, flicking continuously.

The way he looked at Lin Yi was truly like he was staring at a delicious meal.

This bizarre and horrifying scene left the entire crowd in absolute silence.

"Contestant Pei Junxi… seems to be showing his true strength…"

Normally chatty Ah Liang didn't even know how to express it right now.

In fact, previous opponents against Pei Junxi ended up much like Ding Yue.

There are many who still haven't woken up yet.

But since Lin Yi initially set the precedent, plus in previous competitions, there always seemed to emerge such monster-like contestants.

Thus, the tournament committee wouldn't penalize contestants for this.

Competing implies being ready for severe injury or even death.

"I request an analysis."

Seeing Ding Yue encapsulated in ice, hanging by the last breath, Zhao Enquan suddenly spoke to the referee.

...

Over ten minutes later.

The Xia Team's infirmary.

Looking at the analysis results.

Zhao Enquan's face looked extremely grim.

"We've been deceived…"

"Wasted an analysis opportunity for nothing!"

On the screen, regarding Pei Junxi's strange method from earlier, the tournament committee provided their analysis.

[Undying Plague]

[Tier: 7]

[A contagious abnormal state that seems to devour the life force of living beings, converting it for personal use.]

[Source: Undying Plague]

The entire description was merely conjecture, with lacking detail.

Such a situation only indicates one thing.

That this is not a skill.

This is a "contagion" itself.

Or rather a biological organism like a virus or bacterium.

"It's a battle pet."

Lin Yi spoke out the answer.

After all, he had the [Eye of Omniscience], and with careful observation, he could glean more information than the tournament party.

Hearing this, Zhao Enquan and the other Xia Team members were shocked!

Huh?

This is a battle pet???

"Bacteria, viruses, pathogenic organisms, they're considered living entities…"

"He actually uses such things as a battle pet."

"I always thought he might possess some kind of debilitating magic, making one lose their abilities, but I never imagined he could control the plague itself."

"I didn't do enough homework."

Zhao Enquan felt some guilt.

Lin Yi shook his head: "This should count as one of his trump cards, being misled by appearances is quite normal."

As they were speaking, suddenly the infirmary door was burst open.

Several medical staff carried a stretcher into the room.

Lying on the stretcher was the team's youngest, yet not weak, position number 3 player, Guan Xingwu.

"Mr. Wv!"

"What happened to Mr. Wv?"

The vice-captain Guo Yinglong, who had the closest relationship with Guan Xingwu, eagerly inquired upon seeing him in this state.

"We… aren't too sure either."

"His breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure are all gradually weakening."

"We can detect brainwaves, but he just can't wake up."

"We are also powerless, please understand."

The few staff in white coats bowed slightly and then left the ward.

Zhao Enquan's face was somber.

Previously, he had spoken boastfully, planning for six Xia Team members to make it to the top eight.

Now, two members were in bizarre conditions.

Ding Yue was infected with numerous ailments, unable to survive without being frozen.

Guan Xingwu was unconscious, with all vital signs gradually declining.

The end outcome might be that he never wakes up.

"Who was Mr. Wv's opponent…?"

While they were in the ward, the competition continued.

"The number two contestant from East Japan, Uehara Rina."

"Known for Illusion Techniques."

Zhao Enquan provided the answer.

"So Mr. Wv was caught in an Illusion Technique, unable to wake up…?"

Zhao Enquan nodded.

"What should we do…"

Momentarily, Guo Yinglong also wore a troubled expression.

As his words fell, they noticed a white-haired girl standing next to Lin Yi, who appeared at an unknown time.

The girl drew her sword and slashed towards Guan Xingwu.

Everyone had no time to stop her.

However, Lin Yi waved: "He's okay now."

"After sleeping, he'll wake up soon."

Sure enough, just after Lin Yi spoke, they saw Guan Xingwu take a long breath on the stretcher.

His stiff limbs began to move.

The vital signs on the monitor steadily climbed, becoming stable.

"Contestant Lin Yi, please proceed to the preparation area, your match is coming up."

The announcement rang out, startling Zhao Enquan: "Wasn't the second match in the upper bracket just starting?"

Due to Ding Yue's situation, Lin Yi, who was supposed to appear in the second match, had been deferred to the third match in the upper bracket.

And now, that advanced third match was over too!

This meant one thing, undeniably!

It meant a one-sided victory, swiftly defeating the opponent.

Just like Guan Xingwu and Ding Yue's matches.

"Lin Yi…"

"Singer is, after all, the number one from Curry Country, be cautious."

"This year's competition… it's all monsters…"

Watching Lin Yi's departing figure, Zhao Enquan expressed his concern.

"I will."

Lin Yi waved.

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