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Swish—!
As Chen Junting leapt into the air, thirteen azure-blue sword qi slashed through the atmosphere, crisscrossing with lethal precision.
They trapped Huo Yuhao from every angle, targeting his thirteen weakest points.
Forced to react, Huo Yuhao switched to his Ice Empress Emperor Scorpion martial soul, severing his Spirit Detection link.
Instantly, Ning Tian—hovering above—activated "Illusionary Realm" without hesitation. Ethereal mist seeped through the sword barriers, blanketing the entire arena except the Ma Xiaotao–Dai Yueheng zone. The enemy team was now fully isolated.
In Huo Yuhao's zone—
Thirteen sword qi bore down. Huo Yuhao crossed his arms, activating Emperor's Ice Armor and Ice Empress's Pincers. Diamond-like ice crystals enveloped his limbs, forming scorpion claws.
He thrust forward—
soul power erupting as frost that froze the air.
CLANG—!
Though his soul rings came from a 400,000-year Ice Empress Emperor Scorpion, Huo Yuhao was outmatched. Chen Junting, amplified by Ning Tian's and Gongyang Mo's soul skills, wielded overwhelming power.
Twelve sword qi pierced Huo Yuhao's ice defenses, hurtling toward his body. The thirteenth shredded his claws.
Just as defeat loomed—
WHOOSH!
Huo Yuhao spun dizzily—then found himself beside Elder Xuan.
Xuan Zi had extracted him the moment the swords would've struck.
Pale from soul power exhaustion—but unharmed. Xuan Zi had purged the killing intent taht had already seeping into his body.
Huo Yuhao blinked—then spotted Yao Haoxuan.
"Hey," Yao Haoxuan greeted weakly.
"Senior Yao… you're eliminated too?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed. That's why something felt off earlier—Yao Haoxuan's amplification was missing.
Yao Haoxuan grimaced. "I was trapped with Ling Luochen, Gongyang Mo, and Ning Tian. Without you to counter Ling Luochen, I stood no chance. Tried taking out one of them—but that damn Gongyang Mo actually learned soul engineering!" He gestured helplessly. "Hope Ma Xiaotao doesn't kill me."
Huo Yuhao said nothing. Fat chance.
Just then—
"You okay, Yuhao?" He Caitou asked, while Wu Feng shot him a concerned glance.
"I'm fine," Huo Yuhao sighed, staring at his shattered ice claws. "I'm just… foolish. Refusing to concede against Senior Brother Junting's obvious superiority."
He turned to the battlefield, unfazed by his loss.
His friends swallowed their consoling words and followed his gaze—
—but saw nothing through the mist.
Only Xuan Zi, munching chicken and swigging wine, watched with rapt delight.
---
In the Mist
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Chen Junting and Chen Zifeng blurred across the arena, Seven Kill Sword clashing with Soulchasing Sword. Their forms wove through frost and flame—slashes, thrusts, parries—each move a masterpiece of swordsmanship.
A hundred exchanges in seconds.
Ning Tian had left a ten-meter clear zone around them—so they could duel without obstruction.
Suddenly, Chen Zifeng's 10,000-year soul ring blazed. Blood-red light erupted; the air thickened with the stench of carnage.
"Annihilate!"
The Soulchasing Sword's essence revealed—murderous, swift, merciless.
A spear of killing intent shot for Chen Junting's throat.
Chen Junting sidestepped—
sword flashing.
Six sword qi carved a "Kill" character in midair—azure light sharp enough to slice steel.
Chen Zifeng felt his own bloodlust within that "Kill" glyph.
BUZZ—!
Their blades crossed—then parted.
Chen Junting's sword rested on Chen Zifeng's neck, not a drop of blood spilled.
"I lost," Chen Zifeng breathed—then grinned. His cultivation had broken through, and his sword intent deepened.
"Congratulations, Senior," Chen Junting said, white hair fluttering. "If you seek to master killing swordsmanship… visit the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Chen Zifeng's eyes lit up—
—but in a blink, Xuan Zi yanked him from the arena.
"So petty," Chen Junting muttered, then mentally checked his teammates.
Even with his array-inscribed soul engineering wristband, his soul power neared exhaustion. Maintaining the sword barriers via "Sword Wings Soar" drained him—though "Sword Domain: Tempest" now ran autonomously.
Updates flooded in:
Xu Sanshi was eliminated by Bei Bei (who was now out of soul power).
Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong overwhelmed by Xi Xi's aerial dominance—even Wang Dong's Hao Tian Hammer only scratched her. After Jiang Nannan's Invincible Golden Body and Blink wore off, they fell like lambs to slaughter.
Only Ma Xiaotao remained—but trapped in a war of attrition with Dai Yueheng, unaware her team was gone.
Chen Junting dissolved the sword barriers.
Ning Tian dropped the Illusionary Realm.
The six surrounded Ma Xiaotao.
Ling Luochen struck first—"Ice Mist: Numbing Cold". Sky frosted blue; chilling currents weakened Ma Xiaotao's phoenix flames and drained her soul power.
Trapped, outmaneuvered, and alone—
Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth… then yielded.
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