Dragon Soul Battle Body, Sword Shadow Follow

The deathly silence on the examination platform was broken by Beibei's heartfelt "Thank you for your guidance."

The students below looked at one another, completely unable to understand what was happening. Senior Beibei had lost, yet he was thanking his opponent? This was simply the strangest examination in Shrek Academy's history.

Yet Beibei's expression was incomparably sincere. He straightened up, and the Fighting Spirit in his eyes had not faded. Instead, it became purer and more fervent.

"Junior, you made me understand that soul skills are not everything in battle." Beibei slowly flexed his wrist. The black ring of his fifth soul ring, representing Ten Thousand Year Soul Power, flashed briefly. "Then let me experience your 'purity' in another way!"

Before his words had even faded, an entirely different aura erupted from Beibei's body!

If he had been a violent Lightning Mage before, then at this moment, he became a true ancient Tyrant Dragon! The blue-violet lightning was no longer energy released outward. Instead, it flowed through his muscles and bones like blood. His body seemed to grow several inches taller, and golden Dragon Pupils gleamed in his eyes, filled with primal power.

This was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Inherited Secret Technique—Dragon Soul Battle Body!

He abandoned long-range soul skill bombardment, drawing all his Soul Power inward to strengthen his body for the most primitive and savage close-quarters battle!

"Come!" True flames finally ignited in Ji Juechen's eyes as well.

Breaking through attacks from afar was a contest of intellect. But close-quarters combat was the most direct expression of his swordsmanship!

"Ha!"

With a furious roar from Beibei, the ground beneath his feet instantly cracked. His body became a streak of blue lightning, crossing more than ten meters in an instant as a straight punch carrying the force of Qian Jun blasted toward Ji Juechen's face!

There were no dazzling effects from soul skills in this punch, only pure power and speed. The force of the punch even made the flags at the edge of the platform snap loudly in the wind!

Facing this thunderous punch, Ji Juechen advanced instead of retreating.

He likewise stepped forward, twisting his body at an extremely slight angle and narrowly avoiding the fist. At the same time, the sword in his hand moved.

It was neither a slash nor a thrust.

He used the flat of his blade to precisely meet Beibei's incoming forearm.

"Buzz—!"

A deft force passed through it. Beibei felt as though his power had struck a ball of cotton, only to be guided aside by a spiraling force. His punch, capable of shattering stone, grazed past Ji Juechen's ear and struck empty air.

"It's Force Dissipation!" An experienced teacher below cried out in shock. "What precise judgment and timing!"

Beibei's strike missed, but he did not pause. He turned with the momentum, his elbow slicing like a blade toward Ji Juechen's ribs! His experience in close-quarters combat was exceptionally rich, his attacks unceasing like a raging storm.

Ji Juechen's figure continuously shifted and weaved within that tiny space.

His footwork was strange, without any fixed pattern. Every step landed in the most crucial position, allowing him to evade Beibei's heavy attacks with the smallest possible movements.

And his sword became the absolute core of this close-range battle.

The sword was no longer merely a sword.

It became a ruler, measuring the angle and trajectory of Beibei's every movement.

It became a crutch, supporting Ji Juechen's balance amid the storm-like attacks.

It became a scalpel, precisely tapping Beibei's wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees... every vulnerable point of his joints.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The crisp collisions connected into a continuous stream, like torrential rain striking an iron roof.

The more Beibei fought, the more alarmed he became. He felt as if he were fighting a phantom. Every punch and kick of his was anticipated in advance. Meanwhile, his opponent's sword always appeared in the places that made him most uncomfortable, constantly wearing down his strength and disrupting his rhythm.

This is far too passive!

Beibei roared inwardly, driving the Dragon Soul Battle Body to its limit as blinding lightning erupted from his entire body!

First Soul Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!

This time, his soul skill and physical body fused perfectly! His hands instantly transformed into dragon claws covered in lightning. They were no longer weapons for long-range attacks, but sharp tools of close-range tearing!

"Break for me!"

Both claws struck out together, carrying two intersecting blue arcs of lightning that sealed off all of Ji Juechen's paths of escape!

Faced with this certain killing blow, Ji Juechen finally stopped evading.

He took a deep breath, divine light blazing in his eyes.

Second Soul Skill: Sword Shadow Clone!

A clone identical to him instantly appeared before him and met the crossing dragon claws.

"Boom!"

The clone was instantly torn apart by the dragon claws. But in that instant of explosion, Ji Juechen's true body slipped out from the smoke and dust like a ghost, his sword drawing a profound arc through the air.

Third Soul Skill: Sword Shadow Follow!

His sword seemed to come alive, transforming into a streak of light that clung tightly to Beibei's arm as it traveled upward. Beibei felt his arm go numb. The conduction of his lightning had actually been temporarily cut off by that single sword strike!

It was that one-tenth of a second of hesitation!

Ji Juechen's sword had already reached his chest.

The cold sword tip stopped over Beibei's heart. Even through a layer of clothing, Beibei could feel the sharpness radiating from it, sharp enough to pierce anything.

The victor had been decided.

On the examination platform, the two maintained that pose without moving.

Beibei slowly lowered his lightning-covered hands, and the Dragon Soul Battle Body dissipated with them. Looking at the sword tip so close before him, he let out a long breath and revealed a relieved smile.

"I lost," he said frankly. "I lost with complete conviction. There are no traces of 'technique' left in your fighting. Everything has become instinct. Junior, what you taught me was the path of 'pure' combat."

Ji Juechen sheathed his sword and nodded.

"Your body is very strong, but the fusion between your Soul Power and body is still not coordinated enough."

Once again, he gave the most direct and incisive assessment.

Beibei was first stunned upon hearing this, then fell into deep thought. Recalling the battle just now, there truly had been a delay of several tenths of a second whenever he shifted between his soul skills and physical combat. Ji Juechen had magnified that flaw without limit, ultimately leading to his defeat.

"Thank you for your guidance!" Beibei bowed deeply once more, even more respectfully than before.

He knew that today's battle would become the most important turning point on his Martial Path.

The audience below had long since recovered from their shock and erupted into thunderous applause and cheers!

They might not have understood the profound principles within it, but they understood that exhilarating battle. They understood Ji Juechen's strength, so powerful that it inspired despair!

From this day onward, no one in Shrek Academy would dare underestimate this silent sword-holding youth again.