The Illusory Eye's New Ability

Mid-Air Shinobi Execution—one of the Ninja's airborne combat techniques. It was a taijutsu move in which one pounced on an opponent who had exposed an opening while airborne and executed them.

Reckless enemies would sometimes leap high into the air, stubbornly believing that the greater the distance they put between themselves and their enemy, the safer they would be, and the more powerful their attacks could become. But they forgot that someone suspended in midair with nowhere to brace themselves was no different from a falling leaf.

Clang!

The crisp metallic ring left Huo Yuhao somewhat stunned.

In Ashina, his Mid-Air Shinobi Execution had never failed him. So long as an opponent gave him the chance to use such a technique, they were almost always killed instantly. There had never been an exception.

Whether it was the Monkeys of Sunken Valley, the Centipede Monks of Senpou Temple, the Okami Warriors of Fountainhead Palace, or even the Shichimen Warriors that could be called Evil Ghosts, as long as they rashly leaped into the air, Huo Yuhao would execute them with a single slash. There was no second possibility.

But unfortunately, this was Douluo Continent. This overwhelmingly domineering killing technique had finally met a setback.

Huo Yuhao had initially thought the clang from his Katana strike was caused by the Referee Teacher beside the Soul Duel Stage intervening. After all, although he had held back his strength in that final slash, anyone with eyes could see that if it had landed solidly, Xu Sanshi would have been splattered with blood on the spot.

Yet to Huo Yuhao's surprise, after they both landed and he performed a swift backflip to touch down, he discovered that although Xu Sanshi had been thrown into complete disarray by the slash aimed at his neck and had staggered back several steps before regaining his footing, he was practically unharmed.

"Hmm."

Huo Yuhao thoughtfully looked at the Mystic Tortoise Shield in Xu Sanshi's hand. At some point, it had split into several smaller shields that circled Xu Sanshi protectively. When Huo Yuhao had launched his Mid-Air Shinobi Execution, one of those small shields had detached and positioned itself against Xu Sanshi's neck, blocking the fatal blow.

A scorch mark left by Sacred Flame was clearly visible on that tortoiseshell shield.

Interesting. Was this the Second Soul Skill Bei Bei had mentioned?

Huo Yuhao activated the Illusory Eye once more and warily watched the equally grim-faced Xu Sanshi. His gaze swept over the small shields that had automatically split apart and were orbiting Xu Sanshi, then over the Second Soul Ring beneath Xu Sanshi's feet.

But in the next instant, a flash of astonishment appeared in Huo Yuhao's eyes. The contrast between his shocked expression and the composure he had displayed before, remaining unruffled even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, was so stark that quite a few people noticed it.

"What a precise slash. What masterful technique. Is that kid using a Self-Created Soul Skill? No, this isn't a Self-Created Soul Skill. It seems more like a killing technique that requires no Soul Power, yet has been honed thousands upon thousands of times."

The old man known as Xuan Zi, who had originally planned to leave the Soul Duel Zone with Wang Yan, could not help but brighten at Huo Yuhao's clean, decisive slash. He muttered to himself, even forgetting to eat the Chicken Leg he had just taken out.

"Did Little Yuhao not do his homework? Xu Sanshi blocked that strike, and Little Yuhao looks very surprised."

"Bei Bei isn't being very fair here. Logically speaking, he's sparred with Xu Sanshi so many times that he should know Xu Sanshi's two Soul Skills inside and out. He actually didn't tell Little Yuhao?"

Not far away, several black lines appeared on Bei Bei's forehead as he listened to the discussions. How could he possibly have failed to explain Xu Sanshi's two Soul Skills to Huo Yuhao? He had even told Huo Yuhao about certain small habits Xu Sanshi had during Soul Duels that others would never notice.

For that very reason, Bei Bei could not help growing curious as well. What exactly had Huo Yuhao discovered to make him so astonished?

Huo Yuhao's astonishment was not without reason. Thanks to his diligent use of the Illusory Eye over the past three months to gauge the heat of barbecue skewers and observe the circuitry of Soul Guidance Core Arrays, his Mental Power had advanced yesterday to the second realm of Mental Power—the Spirit Connection Realm.

According to what Qian Daoliu had said before, if Huo Yuhao wanted to hear Qian Daoliu speak the name of that Outer God within his Sea of Spirit without being noticed, his Mental Power had to reach at least the Spirit Sea Realm, the third realm of Mental Power.

Although Huo Yuhao had only just broken through to the Spirit Connection Realm, he had already noticed that aside from his Sea of Spirit expanding, his Illusory Eye seemed to have gained another ability. He simply had not yet discovered what new ability it had awakened.

It was only when Huo Yuhao focused his attention on the Second Soul Ring beneath Xu Sanshi's feet that he realized what incredible ability the Illusory Eye had awakened alongside the advancement of his Mental Power.

From Xu Sanshi's Second Soul Ring, he saw several tiny lines of golden text.

Soul Skill—Mystic Dark Tortoise Shield Array: Splits the Black Tortoise Shield into multiple shields for multidirectional defense, creating a layered defensive effect. The separated shields can also be precisely moved to the side of allies to take damage for them.

Those willing to support others are equally deserving of respect. Perhaps they, too, should be called heroes?

Huo Yuhao's pupils abruptly contracted as he read those lines. Only then did he suddenly realize just how outrageous a Buff the Illusory Eye had granted him after his Mental Power reached the Spirit Connection Realm.

He shifted his gaze to the First Soul Ring beneath Xu Sanshi's feet, and soon several more tiny lines of golden text appeared.

Soul Skill—Mystic Tremor: A wide-range knockback skill with a certain stunning effect. If the enemy's cultivation is inferior to that of the Soul Skill's user, they will be stunned while being knocked back; at the very least, they will be pushed away and have the distance widened.

The Soul Skill's clumsiness originated from a less-than-pleasant night. The distinction between Black Tortoise and Mystic Dark Tortoise lies in whether it bears a snake upon its back. If the user of this Soul Skill can find their snake again, perhaps the originally cumbersome Mystic Tremor will undergo some marvelous transformation?

Before he had time to think further, Xu Sanshi, a regular of the Soul Duel Zone, seized the opportunity with great skill. The moment he saw Huo Yuhao's stunned expression, Xu Sanshi charged at him once more.

Faced with Xu Sanshi's heavy, powerful punch, Huo Yuhao merely shifted his right foot into a T-Step. With a slight twist of his upper body, he sidestepped Xu Sanshi's confident blow.

The distance between them was now so close that they could practically hear each other's breathing. Huo Yuhao drew his right fist, which gripped the Katana, to his chest, then slowly pushed his elbow outward. His left hand formed a palm and pressed against his right fist holding the blade.

His T-Step extended forward, his hooked foot passing between Xu Sanshi's legs. He lowered his center of gravity, then, like an earth dragon suddenly rising, his small body erupted with immense force in an instant. His right foot stepped out, his left palm thrust forward, and his previously lowered body surged upward. The power of his entire body gathered in his right elbow before it smashed heavily into Xu Sanshi's wide-open chest!