During the following period, Shui Wuhen and Qian Renxue kept chasing each other, occasionally releasing Ice Shard, Ice Beam and other Spirit Skills to interfere with one another.
Although there were occasional close-range clashes, Articuno still managed to hold on with the help of Light Screen, Reflect, and Roost.
In this back-and-forth exchange, Shui Wuhen gradually noticed Qian Renxue's weakness.
"Why does Qian Renxue have so many close-combat Spirit Skills?"
Shui Wuhen was somewhat puzzled. Although he himself often used close-range attacks like Ice Slash, in reality he only had one melee Spirit Skill—Triple Spin Strike.
The rest, such as Ice Shard, Ice Beam, and Blizzard, were all long-range attacks, allowing him to maximize Articuno's ability to fly.
It was just that the Ice Slash he derived from Triple Spin Strike was too powerful—high burst, low consumption—so he rarely needed to kite.
After all, as his sixth Spirit Skill, Blizzard still consumed quite a lot of spirit power.
But Qian Renxue was different. Most of her offensive Spirit Skills were melee-type. Her only golden sword light wasn't particularly powerful either, meaning she could only exert her true strength in close combat.
"Could it be… I'm going to lose in such a stifling way?"
At this moment, Qian Renxue's spirit power was already nearing exhaustion. She even discovered that no matter how much she conserved it, her spirit power was draining at an abnormal speed!
But soon, Qian Renxue shouted inwardly: "No, I will not lose!"
"Shui Wuhen, take my final strike! Angel Descent!"
Without further hesitation, she raised her sword high, preparing to unleash her strongest attack once more.
Instantly, the golden angel once again swung its sword downward!
"She still has enough spirit power to use this move?"
Seeing this, Shui Wuhen was greatly surprised, but he remained completely calm. His strongest defensive Spirit Skill—Protect—was already ready.
A pale blue barrier instantly appeared around Shui Wuhen, shielding both him and Articuno.
A devastating golden sword strike descended, and shockwaves of golden energy rapidly spread outward, causing the entire Spirit Hall square to tremble.
The next moment, the Angel Domain and the angel phantom disappeared, revealing the battlefield once more.
However, when everyone saw the scene on the arena, they were all stunned, because it was not what they had expected.
The arena had already shattered into ruins. Standing atop the ruins, Shui Wuhen's clothes were slightly soiled, but his body remained upright. Articuno beside him was still full of energy.
On the opposite side, Qian Renxue's face was pale as she planted her sword into the broken ground just to barely remain standing.
Even a child could tell who had won.
"Brother!"
Seeing this, Shui Bing'er was overjoyed. Although she believed in her brother's strength, she had not been fully confident in his victory over Qian Renxue.
But now, it was clear—her brother had won. How could she not be excited?
"Shui Wuhen… won!"
On the other side, Feng Xiaotian was so excited that he grabbed the railing, his eyes wide open.
Feng Xiaotian had fought Qian Renxue before. Although she hadn't used her full strength in their battle, he believed even their dean Feng Qingcang might not necessarily defeat her.
And now, Shui Wuhen had actually defeated Qian Renxue. Did that mean Shui Wuhen's true combat power had reached the level of a Soul Douluo?
In reality, Feng Xiaotian still underestimated Qian Renxue's strength. With the Six-winged Angel Spirit and the amplification from her Spirit Avatar and Angel Domain, her strength had already faintly surpassed the Soul Douluo level.
Even against ordinary Titled Douluo without domains or top-tier spirit bones, she could still contend to a certain extent.
The reason she lost to Shui Wuhen was mainly because Protect was too powerful. Otherwise, with her attacks capable of instantly killing most Soul Douluo-level opponents, Shui Wuhen—after being weakened by Light Screen and Reflect—would have been severely injured or even instantly incapacitated.
"This…"
The Red-clothed Bishop acting as referee looked at the scene on the field and then awkwardly glanced at Qian Renxue.
Deciding victory or defeat was easy, but the meaning behind this result was far too significant. Not to mention anything else, just the three ten-thousand-year spirit bones as rewards were not something he could bear responsibility for.
On the field, Shui Wuhen calmly looked at Qian Renxue and asked, "Do you still want to continue?"
In truth, after that exchange, Shui Wuhen's spirit power was also running low. If Qian Renxue had prolonged the fight, the outcome would have been uncertain.
Hearing this, Qian Renxue forcefully lifted her sword and walked toward Shui Wuhen.
Seeing this, Shui Wuhen frowned slightly. This Qian Renxue was far too stubborn—even in this condition, she still refused to admit defeat?
"Wuu~~"
Seeing this, Articuno was about to fly forward, but was stopped by Shui Wuhen.
Then Shui Wuhen said to the referee beside him, "I concede."
At these words, not only Qian Renxue, but almost everyone present was stunned.
Even the Red-clothed Bishop was momentarily frozen before subconsciously asking, "Are you sure you want to concede?"
"I'm sure."
Shui Wuhen nodded. The fight could not continue. With Qian Renxue's stubborn personality, no one knew what might happen next.
As for spirit bones, Shui Wuhen was confident he would obtain them in the future—he could always hunt more ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
Hearing this, the Red-clothed Bishop was overjoyed, looking at Shui Wuhen with gratitude.
His action had solved a huge problem and relieved him of potential punishment.
Immediately, the Red-clothed Bishop announced: "Since Tianshui Academy concedes, the winner is Spirit Hall…"
"Wait!"
Just as he was halfway through his announcement, Qian Renxue suddenly spoke, interrupting him.
Then she looked at Shui Wuhen, her eyes filled with anger.
In others' eyes, Shui Wuhen's concession might be tactful, but to Qian Renxue, it was the greatest humiliation.
It meant she could not accept defeat, forcing her opponent to concede in order to preserve her reputation—something the proud Qian Renxue could never accept.
She clenched her fist and said, "Shui Wuhen, this battle… you won!"
With that, she took out the three spirit bones from her storage device and threw them directly to Shui Wuhen!
Shui Wuhen subconsciously caught them, looking at her in surprise. These were top-tier ten-thousand-year spirit bones—she just gave them away like that?
"But…" Qian Renxue's tone changed as she firmly said, "Don't think this means you've really won. One day in the future, I will surpass you!"