NOVEL NEXT Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Peak Duel (Part 1)
Chapter 163: Peak Duel (Part 1)
Jing Ling was merely a Soul Elder with a rank 35 cultivation. His martial spirit was unremarkable, and Qian Renxue never thought he could pose any significant threat to Xiao Yu. After drawing a bye in the matchups, she didn't even return to the waiting area of the Spirit Hall Academy. Instead, she stood leisurely at the edge of the arena, arms crossed, looking relaxed as she waited.
After Jing Ling was eliminated, she stepped onto the stage with an elegant stride.
"Do you still remember our bet?"
Qian Renxue smiled faintly, but Xiao Yu sensed an unprecedented determination beneath her expression.
"Of course!"
Xiao Yu nodded. Perhaps sensing the seriousness hidden behind Qian Renxue's smile, he refrained from his usual playful banter and teasing.
"To be honest, I've been reflecting over the past few days about why I agreed to your bet in the first place. You, aside from being a bit stronger and more talented, are nothing but a shameless flirt—a carefree playboy! You're terrible!"
Cough, cough, cough!
Seeing that Qian Renxue was about to expose more of his less-than-honorable traits, Xiao Yu couldn't help but cough awkwardly.
"But... letting go of you is something I can't bring myself to do. I feel so conflicted!"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, looked directly at Xiao Yu, and said, "So, I don't want to think about it anymore. Let's settle everything with a proper fight!"
"Alright!"
Xiao Yu, understanding the importance of not rushing things when pursuing a girl, agreed calmly. Pushing too hard would only backfire. "Let's have a proper duel and see whose martial spirit is superior!"
"One fight will settle it!"
As she spoke, the fifth soul ring on Qian Renxue's body lit up. A longsword wreathed in golden flames condensed in her hand. Her angelic wings flapped, and in a flash, she charged forward like a bolt of lightning.
Facing such a formidable opponent, Qian Renxue showed no intention of holding back. The Angelic Domain unfolded, radiating a brilliant golden light. The sheer might and divine aura unique to her Six-Winged Angel martial spirit surged toward Xiao Yu.
Within the Angelic Domain, Xiao Yu immediately felt his soul power circulation slow, and his senses dulled. It was as if a hazy golden veil covered everything around him.
"So this is the innate domain bestowed by a god-gifted martial spirit?"
Xiao Yu shook his head helplessly. Although his martial spirit was also classified as god-gifted, it hadn't awakened a domain ability yet. He had previously inquired about this with the system, which told him that his domain skill would only manifest after breaking through to rank 70.
Domains truly display their full power only after a soul master becomes a Soul Sage. Without a martial spirit avatar, the innate domain serves only as limited support. Once the martial spirit avatar is activated, the domain's effects can fully manifest.
Xiao Yu suspected that his martial spirit might undergo another evolution upon breaking through rank 70.
Since Qian Renxue hadn't reached rank 70 either, the interference of her Angelic Domain on Xiao Yu was ultimately limited.
With a long howl, a burst of pitch-black light erupted from Xiao Yu's body. The power of the Underworld, representing death and darkness, spread outward like a tidal wave, colliding fiercely with the divine aura of the Six-Winged Angel in mid-air.
Gold and black—two utterly opposing forces—each claimed half of the arena. At the center of the convergence of these two lights, Xiao Yu and Qian Renxue clashed fiercely, swords in hand. As their blades collided, sparks flew, and soul power surged like an unrestrained flood, sweeping outward.
"Their strength may already surpass mine!"
In the Shrek Academy rest area, Flender's face grew solemn as he felt the soul power ripples spreading from the arena's center.
Standing beside him was his prized student, Qin Ming. Upon hearing this, Qin Ming's eyes widened in disbelief. "Dean, you must be joking. They're only Soul Emperors!"
"It's the difference in their martial spirits!"
Yu Xiaogang's face was ashen. Having had a former relationship with the Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff, he was well aware of the existence of the god-level martial spirit, the Six-Winged Angel. Seeing Xiao Yu standing toe-to-toe with Qian Renxue in a direct clash, it became clear that Xiao Yu's martial spirit was also at the god-level.
Tang San's expression, however, was even darker, twisted into an extreme grimace. As the proud Tang God King, his ego was extraordinarily lofty. How could he possibly accept being reduced to the role of a mere supporting character?
Sensing Tang San's frustration, Yu Xiaogang immediately assumed the role of a mentor and offered encouragement to his prized student: "Xiao San, don't lose heart. You possess twin martial spirits—an advantage neither of them has. In the future, when you all break through to Title Douluo, they will never be your equals!"
That's right!
I have twin martial spirits. In the future, I'll be able to attach eighteen spirit rings. No matter how strong their god-gifted martial spirits are, they can only have nine spirit rings. Moreover, I possess Tang Sect's secret techniques and hidden weapons that this world has never seen. How could they possibly match me?
Under Yu Xiaogang's guidance, Tang God King's expression gradually calmed, and a wave of confidence welled up within him. He watched Xiao Yu and Qian Renxue's duel on the stage with an air of superiority.
At the entrance to the Supreme Pontiff's Palace, Bibi Dong sat in the center. To her left were Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, while the honorary elder Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan Master Ning Fengzhi occupied the right. All of them were focused intently on the battle taking place.
"Perhaps the glory of the two peaks of the soul master world will be revived in the future," Sword Douluo Chen Xin mused, his eyes glinting with battle intent. "When the two of them break through to Title Douluo, I'd very much like to face them in battle."
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, seated on the other side, nodded in agreement. Indeed, both Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had broken through Soul Emperor level long after their twenty-fifth birthdays. With Xiao Yu and Qian Renxue clearly surpassing their talents, there was little doubt that they could reach such heights.
Bibi Dong, however, wore an expression of mixed emotions. Her feelings were a chaotic blend of pride and dread. On one hand, the two onstage were her daughter and, quite possibly, her future son-in-law. On the other hand, reason told her that they might someday become the greatest obstacles to her ambitions.
In contrast, Ning Fengzhi's face was filled with jealousy and envy. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was in a state of transition, with no promising successors besides Ning Rongrong. The rest of the younger generation amounted to little more than mediocrity.
If only those two on the stage belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan! If they could grow to their full potential, we wouldn't just challenge the Clear Sky Clan for dominance among the top three clans—we could even shake the position of Spirit Hall itself!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In the center of the stage, Xiao Yu and Qian Renxue's fierce clash continued. Sword light filled the air like a storm of shadows. Each collision erupted with deafening explosions, and the energy ripples from their strikes distorted the air. The arena beneath their feet was in shambles, with debris flying in all directions. Spirit Hall's experts stationed around the arena had to activate soul power shields to prevent the flying stones from harming the surrounding students and teachers.
(End of Chapter)
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