"The warm-up is about done." Lu Zhou suddenly spoke, his voice still icy cold, but his fighting spirit had peaked. He realized that in his normal state, facing Marco who possessed flight capabilities, it would be difficult to gain a decisive advantage. He needed stronger suppression!
Before his words faded, the fluctuations of Soul Power around him abruptly changed. A heavy, viscous, terrifying pressure—one that seemed capable of imprisoning both soul and flesh—centered on him and violently expanded, enveloping an area of ten square meters! This was his fourth Spirit Ability—"Domain Momentum"! A dual-pressure domain of spiritual and physical force, heavy as a swamp!
Within the range of this "Domain Momentum," even while flying in the air, Marco instantly felt his body grow heavy, as if bearing a thousand-pound burden. His speed visibly decreased by over twenty percent! More terrifyingly, an invisible spiritual pressure surged against his consciousness like a tide, unsettling his mind and forcing him to continuously expend additional Soul Power to resist this oppressive force! Flying became sluggish and difficult!
Marco's heart grew stern. He fully activated his flame wings, the Azure Flame blazing fiercely as he attempted to break free from this swamp-like pressure. Yet his speed remained noticeably affected. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Zhou launched a fierce assault, his blade techniques growing heavier. Each strike carried the oppressive force of "Domain Momentum," making it increasingly strenuous for Marco to evade and block.
"I must break through this 'Domain Momentum'!" A fierce glint flashed in Marco's eyes as he pushed the Azure Flame to its limit. "Azure Flame Engulfment!" His entire body was instantly wrapped in blazing Azure Flame, boosting all his attributes by thirty percent! The scorching high temperatures attempted to evaporate and distort the invisible pressure field. Simultaneously, relying on the explosive force of his flame wings, he forcibly accelerated, tracing a zigzagging trajectory in the air. He continuously harassed from a distance with "Devil Wind Leg," searching for an opening.
However, Lu Zhou's "Domain Momentum" proved extremely tenacious. Combined with his exquisite blade techniques, it firmly confined Marco within the ten-meter range, drastically increasing his consumption. Prolonged defense inevitably leads to lapses. During a forced advance, Marco was caught off guard by Lu Zhou. "Night," empowered by both "Edge" and "Domain Momentum," struck Marco's "Azure Flame Guard." The protective shield fluctuated violently, and Marco was sent flying backward, his blood and energy churning, his flame wings dimming noticeably.
At the sidelines, Mother Ye couldn't help but clench her hands in worry. Osler was so tense he hardly dared to breathe.
Lu Zhou, seizing the advantage, pressed on relentlessly. The oppressive sensation of "Domain Momentum" surged against Marco's mind in waves. Gripping his blade with both hands, he prepared to launch a decisive strike.
At that moment, a trace of resolve flashed in Marco's eyes. He knew he could no longer hold back! The opponent's "Domain Momentum" Spirit Ability was almost equivalent to a weakened version of a Domain, making it extremely troublesome. He had to use greater power to overturn the situation in one move!
He violently flapped his flame wings, forcibly ascending to temporarily escape the core area of "Domain Momentum." Taking a deep breath, the primordial power of the Flame Undying Bird within him began to boil and resonate! A vast, profound, and majestic aura—far surpassing what had been displayed before, as if originating from the very source of life—began to emanate from him, spreading outward!
"Brother Lu, be careful! What comes next is my true Domain!" Marco's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
As soon as the words fell, a pale azure light screen—seemingly composed of countless dancing azure flame spirits—suddenly expanded from his center like quicksilver spilling across the ground, instantly enveloping an area dozens of meters around! Within this light screen, the temperature soared to terrifying levels, the air distorted, and everything appeared on the verge of ignition—the Phoenix Domain was fully unleashed!
The moment the Domain expanded, Lu Zhou's ten-meter pressure field formed by his "Domain Momentum" was instantly overwhelmed, devoured, and disintegrated by the Phoenix Domain's higher-level, more complete, and more domineering rule-based power, like snow meeting boiling water! Lu Zhou grunted, his face paling as he felt the Soul Power connection maintaining his "Domain Momentum" forcibly severed—the swamp-like pressure vanished without a trace!
Even more terrifying, he now found himself under the absolute suppression of the Phoenix Domain! His speed and strength were drastically reduced, while his Soul Power poured out like a burst dam to resist the all-pervasive Domain's scorching heat and mental pressure! His usually unstoppable blade techniques were also greatly diminished under the Domain's suppression.
"Is this... the true power of a Domain?" Lu Zhou's heart surged with shock and awe. He had never imagined the gap between Soul Kings could be so vast! Though his "Domain Momentum" was powerful, it was ultimately a Spirit Ability, while Marco's Domain was the embodiment of rules evolved from his Martial Soul's origin! Their levels were completely different!
Yet, instead of extinguishing, the fighting spirit in his eyes was thoroughly ignited by this desperate situation! The flesh between his thumbs and index fingers had already split open, blood staining the hilt, but he still gripped "Night" tightly, pouring his remaining Soul Power, willpower, and even life potential unreservedly into the blade. With a roar of defiance, he merged with his sword, transforming into a stream of light burning with his final radiance, and launched his ultimate, most tragic charge toward Marco, who stood like a deity at the Domain's center! This strike contained all his dedication to the Way of the Blade!
Facing this life-risking attack, Marco's gaze remained as calm as still water. Within his Domain, his perception extended infinitely, grasping everything. With a gentle flap of his flaming wings, his figure vanished from sight as if teleporting, reappearing the next instant beside and behind Lu Zhou's charging trajectory! Marco's right leg, coated in Armament Haki so dense it resembled a black hole and bolstered by the Domain's vast Azure Flame, became a cyan-black lightning bolt tearing through space. A single, seemingly simple yet perfected "Devil Wind Leg"—containing the essence of all his Martial Art, Haki, Soul Power, and Domain—struck silently, faster than thought, with impeccable precision at the base of Lu Zhou's hilt, precisely as his old force ended and new force had yet to form!
"CLANG——!!!!!"
A terrifying roar, capable of shattering souls and eardrums, erupted violently! Crimson destructive blade light and azure life flames madly intertwined, collided, and annihilated each other, forming a brief tri-colored energy sphere of black, red, and cyan before exploding with a deafening boom!
Lu Zhou felt an indescribable, sky-overturning force transmit from the hilt. "Night" let out a mournful cry as it was torn from his grasp! He was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, blood spraying wildly, as if struck head-on by a primordial beast!
Just as he was about to crash heavily onto the ground, risking broken bones and tendons, a gentle yet irresistible force appeared out of nowhere, catching him softly and placing him steadily on the ground. Li Zhaoyan had appeared in the arena at some point, his sleeves lightly brushing away to dissipate the final impact force.
In the arena, the raging light screen of the Azure Flame Domain slowly receded and calmed. Marco flapped his fiery wings, landing gracefully back on the ground. His breathing was somewhat hurried, his face slightly pale—fully deploying his Domain had also taken a massive toll on him, but he clearly still had strength to spare. He looked at Lu Zhou, who was being supported by his father, and asked with concern, "Brother Lu, how are your injuries?"
With Li Zhaoyan's Soul Power aiding him, Lu Zhou stabilized his injuries. His face was as pale as paper, but his hawk-like eyes shone with startling intensity. He shook his head, refusing further assistance, and stood firm on his own. His gaze was complex as he looked at Marco. Taking a deep breath, he admitted frankly, "I lost. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly... Your Domain is a power on another level." He had nothing more to say. In the face of absolute Domain suppression, his Spirit Abilities, though powerful, were like fireflies compared to the bright moon.
The sidelines fell into a brief, dead silence before erupting into heated discussions and exclamations of awe.
"He... he won! Boss won!" Osler was so excited he nearly jumped, his face flushed red. "Domain! Is this the true power of a Domain? It's too strong!"
Ye Lingling let out a long sigh of relief, her chest rising and falling slightly. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed at Marco, who stood in the arena like a god of war. She murmured softly, "Phoenix Domain... Brother Ke has already reached this stage."
Qiu Yao clapped her small hands, hopping with joy, her eyes filled with worshipful stars.
Li Zhaoyan looked at the two young men in the arena, a pleased and even proud smile appearing on his face. This sparring match had far exceeded his expectations. He had witnessed Lu Zhou's extraordinary talent in the Way of the Blade, his unyielding will, and his four uniquely effective and exquisitely coordinated Spirit Abilities. Even more, he had seen his own son Marco—his terrifyingly solid foundation, his bizarrely powerful self-created physical techniques and Haki, his crucial flight ability, and ultimately, the deciding factor of the match: Domain power, something only top-tier geniuses could achieve! Given time, these two shining stars would surely illuminate the entire Soul Master Realm.
"Alright, the spar ends here," Li Zhaoyan announced in a resonant voice, tinged with a barely perceptible excitement. "Both of you have demonstrated exceptional strength and potential beyond your years. Your future achievements are limitless. Today's battle has brought gains for each of you; you should carefully reflect on and absorb them."
Marco walked up to Lu Zhou, extending his hand sincerely. "Brother Lu, I must acknowledge your superior skill. Your Spirit Ability combinations were masterful, and the pressure of your Domain Momentum gave me a hard time. If not for my Domain, I would surely have been the one defeated."
Lu Zhou grasped his outstretched hand, giving it a firm shake. A faint smile appeared on his pale face, but his eyes grew even sharper and more determined. "Next time, I will become stronger and challenge your Domain."
The two looked at each other and smiled. In their eyes was the respect of worthy rivals, the mutual recognition of kindred spirits, and a shared pursuit of higher realms. The morning sun had fully risen above the horizon, its golden rays flooding the training ground. This peak duel between young kings slowly drew to a close, but the legendary journey that belonged to them had only just begun.