As Vina pondered, Long Aotian, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly stood up.
"Let me go."
Vina blinked in surprise, meeting his gaze.
"Aotian, weren't you saving your strength to fight Chen Junting? If you compete now, you won't be at your peak when you face him. That would—"
Her words carried no doubt that Huo Yuhao would lose.
"No matter," Long Aotian cut in. His eyes pierced through the arena, locking onto Chen Junting across the way. "Defeating this Huo Yuhao will cost me little. It won't hinder my duel with him."
In a flash, he leapt onto the stage.
Huo Yuhao, mid-recovery with a soul recovery bottle, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He looked up—just as Long Aotian landed.
"It's him!"
Their first meeting in the hotel lobby had left little impression—Long Aotian's focus had been solely on Chen Junting. But now, under that predatory gaze, Huo Yuhao felt like prey before an apex predator.
This man's power was terrifying.
Even as an Ultimate Ice-attribute Soul Emperor, Huo Yuhao doubted he could win—and might even fall here.
"No wonder he ignored everyone else back then."
It wasn't arrogance—it was absolute confidence.
Just as Huo Yuhao prepared to summon the Ice Empress to fight, Chen Junting rose from the ready zone.
Everyone sensed it—a surge of battle intent radiating from him.
"Excited already?" Ning Tian murmured.
Chen Junting strode toward the arena, each step amplifying his aura—from unassuming calm to razor-sharp intensity.
"Few in this tournament stir my interest. He's one of them."
The moment he stepped onto the platform, Huo Yuhao instantly retracted his defensive spiritual pressure. At Chen Junting's nod, he left without waiting for the referee's call.
Now only Chen Junting and Long Aotian remained, advancing toward the center in eerie unison.
With every step, their oppressive auras intensified—soul power and spiritual energy fused seamlessly, as if one entity. This mastery was the threshold to surpassing Level 95 Super Douluos.
Long Aotian's eyes flickered with surprise—but his stride never faltered. A knowing calm settled on his face.
On the main stand, Sun Moon's Grade 9 soul engineers exchanged stunned glances.
These two mere Soul Saints had surpassed them in foundational realms. Some realized their own stagnation might stem from failing to reach this unity.
And now, these prodigies of the Three Great Empires—no, heaven-defying geniuses—were embracing soul tools and soul spirits. If they matured…
Jing Hongchen and Zhongli Wu leaned toward Xu Tianran, voices low, killing intent flaring.
This "Snow Demon Sect" member—truly the Body Sect's Long Aotian—must not be allowed to grow. Eliminate him legitimately in the arena, even if it provoked Du Busi.
Xu Tianran's eyes gleamed. "State Preceptor, I leave this to your Holy Spirit Cult."
A double entendre: kill Long Aotian and prevent Du Busi's retaliation. Ideally, trap Du Busi in Mingdu too.
Zhongli Wu nodded—but unease gnawed at him.
Chen Junting and Long Aotian were outliers. Even his disciple Yan Feng, despite his soul tools and evil arts, lagged far behind in realm comprehension.
"If needed," Zhongli Wu mused, "I'll forcibly elevate two Soul Emperors to Soul Saint rank."
—
Meanwhile, Chen Junting and Long Aotian continued their silent clash, oblivious to all else.
Oh—and one other person remained on stage: the referee.
He stood awkwardly, torn between speaking up or staying silent.
Am I being completely ignored?
…Well, I am the referee. They wouldn't dare. (Yes, they absolutely would.)
After a painful internal pep talk, he cleared his throat. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect competitor has withdrawn, forfeiting the match. Individual Elimination Round, Match Four—state your names!"
"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—Chen Junting."
"Snow Demon Sect—Long Aotian."
"Return to your positions. Prepare for combat."
Only then did they break their standoff, turning to their respective halves. Though the arena was riddled with cracks, they walked as if on solid ground—air itself cushioning their steps.
At the edges, they turned simultaneously.
Long Aotian's aura receded, yet he seemed to merge with the arena itself—Unity with Heaven and Earth.
Chen Junting matched him perfectly. Where Long Aotian blended with the world, Chen Junting's human presence vanished entirely. He became pure sword intent—Man and Sword As One.
In the rest area, sword-obsessed Ji Juechen's eyes lit up. He'd never seen Chen Junting display this!
"I must make him go all out after this match!"
The referee fled the stage. "Begin!"
Chen Junting's fingers snapped into a sword stance. Two sword qi (energy) blades tore through the air, striking Long Aotian in an instant.
Long Aotian didn't dodge. His hands formed a mystic seal—right palm facing left, fingertips down; left palm vertical, fingertips up. A jade-like glow enveloped him, turning his body into living sculpture.
Whirr—!
The sword qi struck, making him stagger and shattering the jade aura.
Chen Junting's eyes gleamed.
Long Aotian had fused soul power, spiritual energy, and his very being with the heavens and earth to deflect the blow—a technique Chen Junting hadn't mastered.
Then let my opponent teach me.
After all—the best teacher is your rival.
Long Aotian wasted no time. He glided forward like a shadow, seven rings rising beneath him: Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black.
In response, Chen Junting drew the Seven Killings Sword—and detached its seven rings:
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red, Orange.
The last two rings stunned the crowd.
Even Long Aotian's eyes narrowed—this orange ring's quality clearly rivaled, if not surpassed, the sixth ring's hundred-thousand-year grade.
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