Niu Gao, recovering from his shock at Yang Wudi's indignant scowl, chuckled ungraciously. He nudged Titan with his elbow and whispered, "Not bad, old ape, you've kept this well hidden! Now I completely believe she was the one who fought Hu Yan Zhen during that night battle."
Titan's eyes twinkled with amusement, his heart swelling with pride. "Naturally, she is our Vice Sect Master." And the Master's bloodline, he added silently.
Bai Chenxiang, a contemporary who had only recently surpassed the Soul Sect realm, pursed her lips and watched in silence as the young girl dared to replenish her opponent's strength before engaging, disregarding any advantage from her injuries. Envy and a sense of self-recrimination flickered within her.
Tang San and Tang Sui were both just past twenty, not yet twenty-one... The same age, yet their strength was worlds apart...
A flicker of sadness crossed her eyes before she quickly regained her focus and continued to observe the battle.
"It looks about ready. Then, senior, I shall begin." Estimating that her spirit abilities had reached their full effect, Tang Sui spoke first. Yang Wudi's face darkened, and he let out a cold snort.
"Begin your what!"
"First Spirit Ability, Spirit Infusion."
Tang Sui showed no intention of being polite to Yang Wudi. Her first spirit ring pulsed, and with a light step, she floated out, vanishing from Yang Wudi's sight in an instant. She reappeared behind him, closing the distance. Her demon power and spirit power converged in her palm, striking downwards simultaneously with three masks that flew towards her, intending to crush Yang Wudi like a compressed biscuit.
How could Yang Wudi not feel the whistling sounds of air being torn from all four directions simultaneously?
But his expression remained unperturbed. His aura surged, and just as the attacks were about to land, Yang Wudi let out a powerful roar: "Tremor!"
His first yellow spirit ring pulsed, and his terrifying aura once again ascended to its peak!
"Whoosh—!"
Crimson spiritual energy overflowed. His long spear traced an elegant arc through the air, sweeping away the masks with a move that seemed to conquer all. He spun his waist, and the glinting spear tip pointed directly at Tang Sui!
Sensing the danger, Tang Sui's pupils contracted. Her palm twisted, striking the shaft of the Soul Breaking Spear. However, she was repelled by the powerful spiritual energy that enveloped the spear, and her palm was raked by the sharp spiritual energy, drawing blood.
"Cough!"
A trace of blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
Suddenly disappearing from Yang Wudi's attack range and appearing in the opposite direction of the spear tip, Tang Sui hovered in the air, her eyes wide with astonishment as she looked at Yang Wudi, who radiated immense power, holding the Soul Breaking Spear as if he had become one with it, transforming into a divine weapon.
With just one palm strike, she had not only failed to break Yang Wudi's spiritual energy but had also injured two of her meridians!
That undeniable aura of bloodlust and terrifying sharpness, forged in battle, was something she had only felt when facing the King of Slaughter.
She lowered her hand, the wounds on her palm healing imperceptibly under the nourishment of her demon power, but her heart sank.
"Such a terrifying attack..."
Tang San, seeing the blood at the corner of Tang Sui's lips, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for her.
Even without facing it directly, he could tell and feel that the sudden surge of power was several times more terrifying than his own Slaughter God's Domain's evolved skill, Slaughter God's Charge!
His Slaughter God's Domain was barely enough against Senior Yang Wudi, let alone Sui Sui, who didn't have the Slaughter God's Domain!
Bai He, his initial astonishment replaced by worry, sighed.
"Alas," he muttered, "I told him that dealing with Old Goat required a gentler, drug-based approach!"
"Oh? A good reaction. But can you defend against this one?!"
Yang Wudi looked at the hovering Tang Sui, unfazed, his expression intensely focused, carrying a sharpness that could pierce through anything. Without wasting words, he hurled his spear. His body followed the spear, like a shot arrow, moving in a straight line of attack, transforming into a streak of bloody light. In an instant, the spear tip was mere inches from Tang Sui's heart!
"Whoosh!"
Yang Wudi, one with his spear, transformed into a sharp beam that pierced straight through Tang Sui, but struck nothing, missing its target.
On the balcony, those who had tensed their hearts watched as Tang Sui's body blurred and evaded, finally letting out a collective sigh of relief.
"That was close," Ma Hongjun said, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead, empathizing.
Though the duel had just begun, he felt as if it had already been a long time.
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Cycle Mask."
Her pitch-black spirit ring flickered. Tang Sui still hadn't used an offensive spirit ability, continuing to apply support buffs to herself. She then activated her third spirit ability, Phasing, her gaze fixed intently on Yang Wudi, as if assessing something.
"Why isn't the young lady attacking?" Tilong, who knew Tang Sui possessed offensive spirit abilities, was as restless as an ant on a hot pan.
Tang San's lips were tightly drawn, and a drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Sui Sui's trump card hadn't been revealed yet. Her lack of attack was likely due to her still probing Senior Yang Wudi's offensive power.
But if this continued...
Unaware of Tang Sui's intentions, Yang Wudi let out a soft scoff. He manipulated his Soul Breaking Spear, and his third purple, thousand-year spirit ring flared brightly: "You think this can stop me? If you can't touch it, what about an explosion?"
"Third Spirit Ability, Detonate!"
The Soul Breaking Spear in Yang Wudi's hand trembled, and the spear tip suddenly erupted with a layer of black light, increasing its attack power to an even more terrifying degree.
Even without hitting anything, the spirit power colliding with the air generated immense explosive force, giving the spear greater destructive power and even distorting space!
Feeling the pressure, Tang Sui's form vanished into the void, attempting to evade.
But the figure and spear behind her, as if equipped with radar, precisely tracked her movement.
Wherever Yang Wudi passed, the air erupted in a series of explosions, making one's scalp tingle!
Tang Sui, who had intended to first deplete her opponent's spirit power and mental energy before drawing him into her domain for a direct suppression, abandoned this plan upon seeing his relentless pursuit and unyielding assault. A dark light flashed in her deep blue eyes.
Attack Mode, activate!
The jade-white mask was instantly stained with ink. Tang Sui, fleeing for her life, suddenly paused. With a sideward movement and raised hand, solidified black-red demon power and spirit power instantly formed a barrier, enclosing Tang Sui. She did not dodge or evade, but met the pursuing Yang Wudi head-on, her ten-thousand-year fourth ring humming!
"Cinder Evolution Skill—Black Cinder!"
"Buzz buzz—!"
The three masks, with a hundred percent hit rate and quadruple critical damage, instantly materialized before Tang Sui. In attack mode, all attributes doubled again. Wind stirred, space warped, and the heavens and earth changed color!
Like a lawnmower with eight times the efficiency, powered and charging towards Yang Wudi, that stubborn and unyielding leek, determined to give him a buzz cut!
Yang Wudi, who refused to yield and chose to face the challenge head-on, let out a roar, pushing his spirit power to its absolute limit. He also met this terrifying attack without dodging.
"Boom boom—!"
An explosion that could be described as a terror attack resounded above the Yu Clan. The entire Dragon Xing City seemed to tremble, the ground shaking, instilling a sense of unease in people, who couldn't understand what was happening.
At this moment, the combat stage, or rather, the entire courtyard, was filled with thick smoke, making it impossible to discern the victor.
On the balcony, the group anxiously stood up from their seats, craning their necks to peer into the dense smoke. As the outlines gradually became clearer, their hearts leaped into their throats.
Who won?!
— Author's Notes —
I have exams at school the day after tomorrow, and exams on the weekend. What kind of earthly suffering is this, sniffle.