Excluding Mu Nianbing, Ai Jiangtu, Mu Ningxue, and Nan Rongni, the remaining members of the team competed in one-on-one matches to determine the weakest member.
After several rounds of matches, only Li Kaifeng and Zhao Manyan remained.
In truth, Zu Jiming's strength was slightly weaker than Li Kaifeng's. However, he had better luck and was matched against Zhao Manyan in his first match.
Zhao Manyan had almost no offensive ability except for a single Raging Waves spell.
His defensive magic struggled to deal with Zu Jiming's poison gas and venomous insects, resulting in an undeniable defeat.
After multiple rounds of elimination matches, it was finally Li Kaifeng and Zhao Manyan's turn.
Both of them had already lost several matches, so this duel would essentially decide who would be eliminated.
In fact, Li Kaifeng's magical attainments were not inferior to Mu Tingying or Zu Jiming. The real gap between them lay in magical equipment.
For the sake of fairness, the rules required Li Kaifeng to defeat Zhao Manyan within thirty minutes. Otherwise, he would automatically be considered defeated.
An assassin-type mage versus a defense-oriented mage—neither side clearly held the advantage.
During the battle, Li Kaifeng launched attack after attack, but he could not break through Zhao Manyan's powerful defenses.
This was a crucial match, and Zhao Manyan used nearly all of his magic equipment and magical artifacts.
His defenses were so strong that they could even withstand Super Level magic.
"Hmm? Li Kaifeng seems a bit off."
From the spectator stands, Mu Nianbing noticed something unusual.
The magic power around Li Kaifeng suddenly surged dramatically, instantly condensing five Giant Shadow Nails.
Normally, three Giant Shadow Nails were already enough to severely damage a person's soul.
Mu Nianbing suddenly recalled that Li Kaifeng had secretly cultivated a forbidden technique known as the Blood-Slaying Art.
The Blood-Slaying Art could greatly enhance the power of magic by extracting magic power directly from the user's own body.
However, this was a forbidden technique banned by the Magic Association across all five continents.
At first glance, the technique seemed powerful, but anyone with common sense could tell it would cause severe damage to the user's body.
Even if the technique were offered to Mu Nianbing for free, he would not be interested.
The Ice Accumulation Ring he possessed was far superior to the Blood-Slaying Art. It had no side effects and only required magic power to be stored gradually.
Of course, magical artifacts like the Ice Accumulation Ring were incredibly rare and almost impossible to obtain.
However, Mu Nianbing also knew of another item with a similar function—elemental diamonds.
Elemental diamonds could store magic power and recharge a mage like a battery, serving a function similar to the Ice Accumulation Ring.
Feng Li, as a Super Level Mage, also noticed Li Kaifeng's abnormal behavior.
"Blood-Slaying Art?!" Feng Li's tiger-like eyes widened, and anger flashed across his face.
If a National Team contestant were discovered practicing the Blood-Slaying Art, they would immediately be banned from the World School Tournament.
Feng Li waved his hand, and numerous Shadow Nails instantly appeared around Li Kaifeng.
The Shadow Nails intertwined and formed a Shadow Binding Array, instantly immobilizing him.
"Li Kaifeng, you actually used a forbidden technique against your teammate!"
Feng Li would normally tolerate someone secretly cultivating a forbidden art, as long as it wasn't used recklessly.
But using such a technique against a teammate was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
"I'm sorry, Instructor. I just didn't want to leave the team. I want to go to the Venice Tournament."
Li Kaifeng lowered his head, his face full of regret.
"Enough. There's no need to say anything more. Pack your things and return to the country with us."
Feng Li's anger gradually subsided as he spoke expressionlessly.
Li Kaifeng's use of a forbidden technique was an undeniable fact—and he had even used it against a teammate.
His elimination was therefore inevitable.
Hearing this verdict, Li Kaifeng collapsed onto the ground, completely defeated.
No one in the crowd showed any sympathy.
A person willing to harm his teammates for personal gain was not worthy of pity.
After the eliminated member was decided, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially Zhao Manyan, who felt as if he had gone from hell to heaven in an instant.
Although the training had been difficult and full of pressure, almost no one wanted to leave the National Team—not even Mo Fan.
"Brother Bing, I'd like to request a leave of absence. Can you make an exception?"
Mu Nianbing looked at Mo Fan, who was wearing a flattering expression, and immediately showed a look of disdain.
"Why do you need leave?"
"I need to return to the country to handle some personal matters."
Mu Nianbing naturally knew what Mo Fan was referring to.
It was most likely related to the Ninghua Evil Pearl.
However, Mu Nianbing had no intention of interfering in Mo Fan's affairs—whether it was the Demon Element or the Ninghua Evil Pearl.
"Then go back," Mu Nianbing said calmly.
Mo Fan was somewhat surprised by how easily Mu Nianbing agreed.
"Brother Bing, you aren't planning to find an excuse to expel me after I leave, are you?"
Mo Fan remembered that Mu Nianbing once charged him three hundred million for a trip to the Blazing Wasteland North.
Agreeing so quickly made it seem like a trap.
"Are you looking for trouble? If I tell you to go back, then go back. If I didn't let you go, would you actually stay?"
Mu Nianbing kicked Mo Fan in the rear with annoyance.
Mo Fan was speechless. The item he carried now was a hot potato, and he wanted to hand it over as soon as possible.
"Brother Bing—no, Godfather—please don't mess with me!"
After parting ways with Mo Fan, Mu Nianbing went to Mu Ningxue's room.
Mu Ningxue initially thought her cousin was planning something mischievous, so she instinctively pressed herself against the door.
Her graceful figure looked extremely tempting.
Mu Nianbing originally had serious matters to discuss.
But after seeing this scene, he decided to handle the current matter first.
After some time, Mu Ningxue lay in Mu Nianbing's arms with a flushed face, tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
"Xue'er, I need to leave the National Team for a while," Mu Nianbing said softly.
He had originally considered taking Mu Ningxue back to the country with him.
However, after thinking it over, he dismissed the idea.
Mu Ningxue was still a substitute member, and if she disappeared for too long, she might be directly expelled.
Mu Nianbing, on the other hand, was both the team captain and the nation's best hope of winning the championship.
Even if his absence was discovered, it would not cause serious consequences.
"Why?" Mu Ningxue hugged Mu Nianbing tightly, looking up at him with reluctant eyes.
Although joining the National Team had always been her dream, without Mu Nianbing by her side, much of that excitement seemed to disappear.
"I need to return to the country to handle something related to my breakthrough to the Super Level."
Mu Nianbing spoke honestly.
For him, Mu Ningxue was someone he trusted completely.
"Breakthrough to the Super Level?" Mu Ningxue's eyes widened in shock.
That meant Mu Nianbing had already reached at least High-Level Tier 3.
She didn't doubt his words at all—she was simply stunned.
She had started cultivating earlier than him, yet now she had fallen so far behind.
"Oh, and Little Snow Girl will stay with you for now."
Mu Nianbing was worried Mu Ningxue might feel lonely, so he left Little Snow Girl to accompany her.
Mu Ningxue's third element was Summoning Element, and as long as she didn't form a contract, it wouldn't transform into the Death Element.
...
Author's Note:
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