This time, Lai Yingxin and her four teammates went all out from the very start!

Channeling every ounce of energy into the strike, their skill effects were more potent than ever before!

The clustered Bloodthirsty Direwolves struggled to break free—but for the moment, they were utterly trapped!

Seeing this, Lai Yingxin offered a knowing smile and slowly withdrew from the battlefield.

Just then, Han Xiangxue brushed past her, already holding eight yellow talismans. With a flick of her wrist, she sent them soaring into the sky!

Eight fireballs blazed into existence overhead. Around her, the rest of the team swiftly coordinated with Han Xiangxue’s explosive assault!

A Tier-4 Water Elementalist struck first!

"Tidal Assault!"

Though only a Tier-4 wave, it crashed over every single Bloodthirsty Direwolf.

Two Tier-4 Ice Elementalists followed instantly.

"Summer Frost!"

A mere Tier-3 skill—simple freezing—but after the dousing wave, every Direwolf froze solid on the spot, turned to ice sculptures!

Seizing the opening, a Tier-3 Fire Elementalist joined Han Xiangxue’s eight fireballs.

Nine blazing orbs descended like miniature suns into the wolf pack, erupting in deafening booms!

Meanwhile, the last student—a Wind Elementalist—summoned a roaring tornado!

At that exact moment, a flicker of flame leaped from the Direwolf throng.

The students gasped—had a Direwolf broken through?!

But a closer look revealed it was Qu Yi!

Qu Yi stumbled out, letting out a relieved breath.

Two seconds later, the protective flames shimmering around her slowly faded.

Though Han Xiangxue’s group wielded only Tier-3 and Tier-4 magic, the power was no joke—otherwise, Qu Yi wouldn’t have bolted out the instant she could!

As the tornado swirled upward, infused with raging fire elements, it grew larger… and ignited into a fiery cyclone!

Some Direwolves broke free from the ice in the flames—but one after another, they collapsed within the inferno.

Only a few, having taken lighter damage, barely scrambled out.

Qu Yi and the melee fighters instantly closed in and finished them off in seconds!

When the last Tier-3 Bloodthirsty Direwolf fell, many students collapsed right where they stood, utterly spent.

Qu Yi still had a sliver of strength left. She stood quietly, gazing at the field littered with Direwolf corpses.

The transport team, having just hauled away the Bloodthirsty Werewolf and Tier-4/Tier-5 Direwolves, now rushed over to collect these Tier-3 remains.

Just then, Ye Thirteen approached Qu Yi from behind and gently ruffled her hair.

"Great job, Yi Yi!"

"So tired… Uncle…"

For once, a trace of exhaustion flickered across Qu Yi’s face. She leaned back—

Ye Thirteen sighed helplessly, his right hand catching her delicate frame before she fell.

"If I hadn’t reacted in time," he murmured with a wry smile, "our little hero would’ve face-planted right here."

Propped up by his large hand, Qu Yi tilted her head back, grinning up at his chin.

"I knew I could count on you, Uncle!"

Watching her flushed yet weary face—still bright with spirit—Ye Thirteen’s heart softened. He brushed her cheek gently.

"Maybe… I pushed you too hard."

Qu Yi grinned.

"Hehe~ Only this version of me can keep up with you! I’m still counting on pulling you into our squad—no backing out!"

Ye Thirteen chuckled, shaking his head.

"Beating a pack of Tier-3 fiends has you this proud? Go rest. The adults will handle what comes next."

With a flick of Mage Hand, he levitated Qu Yi toward Lai Yingxin and Han Xiangxue, signaling them to retreat.

Qu Yi shot him a reluctant look—but Ye Thirteen ignored it completely.

Spotting her expression, Lai Yingxin immediately protested:

"Yi Yi-jie, have some mercy! You’re fine, but Xue’er and I are totally drained! One more fiend shows up? We’re toast!"

Qu Yi shot her a mock-annoyed glare—but obediently hooked an arm around each girl and guided her sisters away.

The other students followed, supporting one another as they left the Medium Sky Rift zone.

Meanwhile, the three Soldier-Class Demonhunter support squads had just finished off their two Rank-and-File Fiends.

After catching their breath and turning around, they froze—everyone else’s battle was already over.

Eight Rank-and-File Fiends appearing at once? Unthinkable—even to Ye Thirteen!

This defied all known patterns of a Medium Sky Rift. The squads had felt relieved seeing City C’s Patrol Squad step up.

Though only one Rank-and-File Bloodthirsty Werewolf was present, its summoned Direwolf horde made Lian Zhengzhi’s team certain they’d need to assist afterward.

After all, City C supposedly had only two Soldier-Class Demonhunters.

Even two ganging up on the Werewolf shouldn’t have ended so fast!

And with all those Tier-3 to Tier-5 Direwolves… even with Patrol Squad students helping—*students*—how could *they* have finished first?

But Lian Zhengzhi knew now wasn’t the time for questions. He bowed slightly to Huang Ying, who was directing the fiend-corpse transport.

"Apologies for the trouble, Director Huang."

Huang Ying waved it off instantly.

"No, thank *you* for coming all this way. Rest well—you’ll be needed soon."

"Understood!"

They stepped aside for the transport team, then settled into quiet recovery.

The mood had lightened considerably. Surviving the first wave meant the rest would be manageable.

A Medium Sky Rift typically unleashed only five or six waves—each similar.

Only the final wave might bring a General-Class Fiend.

But with three seasoned Soldier-Class Demonhunter squads—fifteen hunters united—they could handle it.

Everything was looking up.

Yet while the Dragon Realm celebrated nationwide, the Clown-Masked Man, the tattooed bald giant, and the suited man wore grim expressions.

The Clown-Masked Man let out a sigh.

"Guess even a Medium Sky Rift… wasn’t enough."