Zhu Zhuyun's hands transformed into sharp, needle-like cat claws.
Her eyes simultaneously changed color—the left turned dark green while the right became clear blue.
Four Spirit Rings pulsed rhythmically around her, radiating an intense aura.
"Nether Springfall!"
The light in her eyes grew deep and icy, her entire demeanor devoid of emotion.
This chilling aura somewhat resembled the cold ruthlessness of a predator on the hunt, yet it carried an eerie darkness that sent shivers down one's spine.
Her fourth Spirit Ring, a violet one, flared brightly.
In an instant, a dense surge of inky-black Soul Power erupted, swiftly taking the form of a roaring spirit cat.
"Meow!"
A piercing screech reverberated across the arena.
Dugu Feng was slightly surprised—Zhu Zhuyun's imposing presence was formidable, and this Fourth Soul Skill was entirely different from the one she originally possessed.
It seemed his influence had brought about this change.
The shrill cry pierced straight into his mind, making it feel as though a spectral cat was shrieking inside his skull.
This Soul Skill carried a mental attack.
But that wasn't the deadliest part.
Following the screech, an invisible rift seemed to tear open right in front of Dugu Feng.
Thick, ink-like liquid poured from the fissure, resembling a cascade of dark Nether springwater.
This was Zhu Zhuyun's Fourth Soul Skill—Nether Springfall.
In her previous four matches, Zhu Zhuqing had never needed to use her Fourth Soul Skill to secure victory.
This was the first time she had unleashed such a powerful offensive ability.
Dugu Feng's expression turned peculiar.
The Nether springwater before him bore an uncanny resemblance to poison.
It carried a corrosive force that clung like maggots to bone, eerily similar to the effects of venom.
"Playing this game in front of me? Isn't that like showing off your axe in front of Lu Ban?"
Dugu Feng smirked strangely.
There was no denying that Zhu Zhuyun's Fourth Soul Skill was formidable—a lethal strike from the very first move.
But today, she had met her natural counter.
Dugu Feng made no move to resist, allowing the pitch-black Nether Springfall to drench him completely.
"Ah!"
"What a powerful Fourth Soul Skill!"
Gasps erupted from the audience below, astonished by Zhu Zhuyun's overwhelming strength.
Her Fourth Soul Skill had enveloped Dugu Feng in an instant.
While all eyes were fixed on the spectacle of Nether Springfall—
Zhu Zhuyun's figure vanished.
Not even a blur remained in the air.
In truth, she was closing in on Dugu Feng at blinding speed.
She hadn't pinned all her hopes on the Fourth Soul Skill alone.
Under its cover, she intended to execute close-combat techniques.
Her first three Spirit Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—flashed in rapid succession.
Three offensive skills were unleashed in quick succession:
Nether Thrust, Nether White Claw, Nether Slash.
All close-range attacks.
Shadows of Zhu Zhuyun appeared around Dugu Feng—front, back, left, and right.
The shadowy figures raised their hands overhead, their ten claws merging swiftly into a single blade about a foot long.
The blades shot forth, slashing toward Dugu Feng from all four directions.
Immediately after, a flurry of razor-sharp claw projections followed, gleaming with a sinister chill.
Each of these claw projections carried a dark, corrosive force with piercing properties.
Even the slightest wound inflicted on Dugu Feng would allow these destructive energies to seep in, relentlessly eroding his meridians from within.
Dugu Feng's body was completely covered in the corrosive waters of the Nether Soul Skill, seemingly drenched beyond escape.
This gave Zhu Zhuyun immense confidence.
Even against a Soul King, Nether Springfall's corrosive power was notoriously difficult to cleanse once it took hold.
And yet, Dugu Feng appeared frozen in place, as if paralyzed by fear.
Zhu Zhuyun felt a flicker of unease. Could Dugu Feng's reputation be built on mere luck?
No—there was no way someone could rely on luck to cultivate to the level of a Soul Ancestor.
Her wariness sharpened.
Her attacks grew fiercer.
But in the next instant, she felt her strength drain away—her Soul Power was rapidly depleting.
Zhu Zhuyun's face paled. "I've been poisoned? Impossible!"
They hadn't even made physical contact.
Her preemptive use of the Fourth Soul Skill had been precisely to prevent Dugu Feng from deploying his toxins.
So what was happening inside her?
It had to be Dugu Feng's doing!
At this point, with her combat experience, retreat was not an option.
Gritting her teeth, she mustered every last drop of her Soul Power, unleashing hundreds of claw shadows and slashes toward Dugu Feng.
"You think your Nether Springfall can affect me?"
Dugu Feng's voice was icy, laced with mockery.
Though drenched in the Nether waters, the corrosive energy had no effect on him.
With a cold laugh, his Soul Power erupted violently, a crushing aura sweeping across the arena.
The Nether waters on his body—now stripped of their corrosive power—evaporated into pure energy.
The moment Zhu Zhuyun had attacked, his toxins had already fused with her Fourth Soul Skill.
The corrosive force, as if of the same origin, had been completely absorbed by the External Soul Bone within his body.
Zhu Zhuyun was stunned. She had never encountered such a situation.
Her Fourth Soul Skill… had been rendered useless against Dugu Feng!
How?
He had been completely drenched in it, yet not a single wound marred his body. It was unbelievable.
Then, a frigid wave of Killing Intent surged forth.
White ripples of murderous aura solidified around Zhu Zhuyun like frozen air.
Her claw shadows and Nether Slash, poised inches from Dugu Feng's side, halted mid-air, unable to advance.
The distance between them was less than a finger's breadth.
Dugu Feng could clearly see the panic on Zhu Zhuyun's flushed face.
She had exerted every ounce of her strength.
Yet inside her, it was as if a bottomless void had opened—her Soul Power, her mental energy, all draining away at terrifying speed.
Zhu Zhuyun even wondered if her cultivation had gone awry.
She felt no pain, nor could she detect how Dugu Feng had acted.
"It's you!" she spat in fury.
Dugu Feng's lips curled in disdain.
She finally understood—she was no match for him.
She tried to retreat, to put distance between them, but her body refused to obey.
"I told you—you only had one chance to strike."
Dugu Feng smiled faintly and took a step back.
Zhu Zhuyun collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Her Soul Power was completely depleted.
The entire sequence had been eerie, terrifying.
Zhu Zhuyun seemed shaken to her core.
She hadn't lost consciousness, but it felt like she had plummeted from the heavens into the abyss.
One moment, she was the Star Luo Empire's most celebrated genius, adored by countless.
The next, she had been defeated without resistance—without even understanding how her opponent had struck.
This kind of defeat… was too devastating.
The arena fell into silence.
From Zhu Zhuyun's grand Fourth Soul Skill attack to her swift close-quarters approach, and then to Dugu Feng's victory—it all happened in an instant.
For this Soul Duel, Dugu Feng still d
id not reveal his Spirit Rings.
Only that fleeting, icy Killing Intent let them know he had used the Slaughter God Domain.
Even the formidable Zhu Zhuyun couldn't force Dugu Feng to reveal his Spirit Rings.
Just how strong was he?