The thirty-meter sword dragon, wreathed in endless sword qi, collided with the bicolored lotus. The sheer scale of the collision felt like a soaring dragon toying with a pearl, as the sharp sword qi began to devour the lotus, which was only a meter in diameter.
The moment the attacks met, a terrifying shockwave swept through the arena. The Spirit Hall Soul Saint, acting as the referee, immediately unleashed his sixth soul skill to form a barrier, shielding the spectators from the expanding energy. Above the stage, the clouds were blasted away, revealing a vast expanse of clear, white sky.
The lotus was swallowed by the sword dragon, but the dragon itself shrank by a third, its length dropping from thirty meters to about twenty.
Feng Xiaotian felt a wave of helplessness. He had used every trump card in his arsenal, yet he hadn't even managed to force out Brother Gu's Martial Soul. The power of that Soul Bone and Gu Xuan's extraordinary mastery of the sword were simply beyond his reach. He was no longer the "frog in the well" he had once been; three years of blood and sweat had brought him great achievements, but Gu Xuan was not the same man either.
Three years ago, Gu Xuan had beaten him with a powerful Martial Soul and raw strength. Today, Gu Xuan had added the mantle of a sword master. Time had truly changed everything, and as the saying goes, one must look at a scholar with new eyes after only three days of absence!
Though Feng Xiaotian felt regret, he wasn't discouraged. Only a genius like Gu Xuan could truly serve as the motivation to push him further.
Feng Xiaotian glanced down at the stage. Huo Yun and Huo Yu had already been subdued by Yu Tianheng and Osler. Though neither of the latter could fly, the shockwaves from the clash above had rattled the two fire brothers and the other two Godwind Soul Ancestors, making them easy pickings. With a Soul King like Yu Tianheng and high-level Soul Ancestors like the Shi brothers, seizing the opening was child's play.
On the New Godwind side, only Feng Xiaotian remained standing, but his soul power was utterly depleted. He had no strength left to fight. Gu Xuan stood atop the head of the sword dragon, looking down at Feng Xiaotian with a spirited gaze.
After a long silence, Feng Xiaotian retracted his Martial Soul and spoke. "Brother Gu, your strength is as formidable as ever. I have lost this round as well." He paused, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. "But Brother Gu, I won't give up. One day in the future, I will defeat you fair and square!"
Gu Xuan smiled. "Brother Feng, it has been a blessing to have you as a companion on this journey. I look forward to your next challenge!"
As Gu Xuan finished speaking, Feng Xiaotian turned to the referee. "Godwind Academy concedes."
This match had forced Feng Xiaotian to reveal everything, yet he still couldn't overcome Gu Xuan, nor even force a Martial Soul summoning. It was essentially a solo showcase for Gu Xuan; his Seven Kill Sword Art was unrivaled in its lethality. This battle firmly established his strength and proved exactly why he stood above Yu Tianheng as the captain.
The two teams stood opposite each other as the light of the Nine-Hearted Begonia fell, healing the injuries of both sides at a visible speed. Though Godwind lost, they had no excuses; even without Gu Xuan, facing two Soul Kings like Yu Tianheng and Ye Lingling would have been an uphill battle.
Because of Gu Xuan, Feng Xiaotian had been forced to use his hidden aces, showing the world his immense talent. Consequently, Gu Xuan's true depth became an even greater mystery. Most of the observers present, aside from the students, were at least at the Soul Emperor level. Their vision was far beyond that of ordinary people.
To defeat a genius like Feng Xiaotian using only an External Soul Bone without a Martial Soul—how powerful was Gu Xuan really? Of course, some wondered if this was his true strength; a sufficiently powerful Soul Bone could indeed grant a soul master power far exceeding their rank before they obtained their Martial Soul Avatar. Regardless, it was clear Gu Xuan hadn't hit his limit.
Many grew envious, and a few Soul Douluos even harbored dark thoughts of killing him to take the bone. However, the Sword Dragon Eight Wings was an External Soul Bone, which meant it became an inseparable part of the host upon fusion. Those with ill intent quickly dropped the idea—they weren't foolish enough to risk being hunted for a prize they couldn't actually obtain.
Gu Xuan led his team off the stage, savoring the victory. Feng Xiaotian's Spirit Fusion Skill with Huo Wu had truly rivaled a Soul Emperor, but it was still a step behind him. If Gu Xuan went all out, he could likely contend with a Soul Saint. With just his wings and the Darkgold Terrorclaw, he was a match for a high-level Soul Emperor. Notably, he hadn't even used the claw in this fight. Over time, that claw had evolved from its original six-hundred-year rank to a ten-thousand-year level, its power becoming incomparable to the past.
The second match began: Seven Treasure Academy vs. Skywater Team.
Dugu Yan took the stage, as Zuo Yan sat this one out. While Skywater was strong, they faced a Rank 54 Control Type Soul King in Dugu Yan. The rest of her team were all Soul Ancestors; Skywater stood almost no chance.
In fact, the other members of the Seven Treasure team didn't even have to move. Dugu Yan, dressed in a jade-green cheongsam with high slits, released her Martial Soul but didn't even bother showing her soul rings. Relying solely on her innate toxins, she poisoned all seven Skywater members, including Shui Bing'er.
This was the result of her evolution. After her Martial Soul evolved into the Ancestor, her poison was no longer mere snake venom; it was the ultimate poison. Even without soul skills, at Rank 54, her innate toxin was enough to terrify a Rank 60+ Soul Emperor, let alone a group of soul masters below Rank 50.
Like Gu Xuan before her, Dugu Yan provided a massive spectacle. Everyone realized that those who hid until the very end were the true aces—once they struck, the world trembled. Dugu Yan's 1-vs-7 victory without using a single soul skill sent her popularity skyrocketing. Her beauty and poise drew the gaze of every admirer in the crowd.
Gu Xuan watched from the stands, pride swelling in his chest. 'That's my woman. Truly beautiful and fierce!'
(End of Chapter)
---
This story is already complete on my Support Page! If you want to stay 2 chapters ahead for free, just search for Fallen_Archangel_ on the orange platform.
Your 5-star reviews and Power Stones keep the chapters coming!