Collision of Domains

On the arena stage

The host swayed her hips, doing her utmost to whip up the feverish atmosphere. "Let us welcome, with our most enthusiastic cheers, the lady who has claimed twenty-two consecutive victories in three days—Weaver of Fate Goddess!!"

"Her Martial Soul is—the Death Spider Emperor!"

"Weaver of Fate Goddess! Weaver of Fate Goddess! Weaver of Fate Goddess!" The thunderous cries nearly lifted the roof off.

This title bestowed by the audience perfectly suited her cold, ruthless style of ending battles with a single spiderweb.

"Next, let us welcome the Goddess's opponent today—" The host drew out her words with a deliberately teasing note. "Black-Clothed Protector! Oh~ what a mysterious title."

"His Martial Soul is—the Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword!"

Zhao Linchuan stepped onto the arena stage amid scattered boos and sneers, forming a stark contrast to the radiant Bibi Dong.

"What Black Protector? Get off the stage!"

"Stop embarrassing yourself!"

"What black-clothed? You're pathetic! Are you worthy of facing Lady Weaver of Fate Goddess?" The taunts continued without end.

"Both sides have one minute to release your Martial Souls! The battle begins at the whistle!" The referee had barely finished speaking.

Bibi Dong instantly completed her possession! Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—six Soul Rings far beyond the standard configuration lit up in an instant. Cold, eerie purple-black armor covered her vital areas as an aura of death spread through the air!

(This used a fanfiction setting: Bibi Dong was a genius who broke through the limits of Soul Masters, so her rings were yellow, purple, purple, black.)

She gave this suddenly arranged Soul Saint opponent all the attention he deserved.

Across from her, Zhao Linchuan lightly pressed his right hand through the air.

Crackle!

Azure-blue arcs flickered and leapt as a longsword, deep azure-green from hilt to tip, condensed in his palm!

The blade was slender and thin as a cicada's wing. Its edge was not perfectly straight, carrying faint rippling patterns like flowing water, while an azure gemstone at the guard glimmered with an inner radiance.

The entire sword exuded a sacred aura—graceful and agile, yet stern and capable of piercing through all evil!

Bibi Dong's pupils suddenly constricted! He was far younger than she had imagined, but what truly made her heart tremble was that the aura emanating from that azure sword faintly restrained her Death Spider Emperor!

A pressure born from her Martial Soul's instincts quietly spread.

Yet rather than making her retreat, it completely ignited her long-dormant fighting spirit!

Finally... someone worthwhile!

She licked her crimson lips, her purple eyes sharp as blades. "Where are your Soul Rings?"

Zhao Linchuan shook his head, his voice calm. "I'm stronger than you."

"If I use Spirit Skills too, winning would be unfair."

"Looking down on me?" Bibi Dong's voice instantly turned icy.

"You could also take it as," Zhao Linchuan raised his eyes, his gaze unfathomable, "a little... courtesy from the strong to the weak."

"Arrogant!!" Such unprecedented contempt utterly enraged Bibi Dong!

She would make this ignorant fool pay the price!

Death Domain! Open!

Whooo—!

A tide from a pitch-black sea of death surged into existence from nowhere, carrying a despairing aura that devoured all things as it crashed toward Zhao Linchuan!

Even the light seemed to be swallowed wherever it passed!

Zhao Linchuan's eyes remained calm as water. His right hand suddenly tightened around the hilt, and he drove the Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword viciously into the hard ground of the Douhun Stage with a backhanded thrust!

Buzz—!

The sword trembled violently! An azure-blue halo exploded outward from the sword in an instant. Countless fine azure arcs danced like frenzied thunder serpents, weaving together into a pure Thunder Domain brimming with destructive force as it charged fearlessly toward the black tide of death!

Sizzle sizzle sizzle—boom!

The two utterly opposing Domain powers collided and annihilated each other madly!

Like the light of dawn, the azure-blue lightning forcibly drove the surging black tide of the death sea back step by step!

"A Domain?! He has a Domain too?!" Bibi Dong's heart shook violently, but instead of frustration, an astonishing smile filled with extreme excitement bloomed across her stunning face!

"This is far too interesting!!!"

Sixth Soul Skill—Blood-Sucking Spider Stinger!!!

She curled her right hand through the air, and a Death Scythe flowing with ominous purple light instantly condensed in her grasp!

At the same time, the space behind her twisted as countless black-purple poisonous stingers, gleaming with lethal ghostly light, formed like a rainstorm!

"Go!" Bibi Dong waved her hand, and thousands of poisonous stingers tore through the air with shrill whistling sounds, shooting toward Zhao Linchuan in an overwhelming barrage!

"Heh..." Zhao Linchuan let out an almost inaudible chuckle and pulled out his sword as he rose!

Azure-blue Soul Power erupted around him, and his entire body became a blurred streak of azure light. He weaved and dodged through the torrential stingers at such speed that only a chain of distorted afterimages remained!

"It would be impolite not to return the favor." Zhao Linchuan's cool voice rang out as he pointed his sword at Bibi Dong!

A bolt of azure lightning condensed to the utmost limit suddenly lit up along the blade!

Clang!

He slashed with one sword! An azure sword aura, condensed nearly into substance and swift as racing thunder, tore through space and shot straight at Bibi Dong!

"He dodged?!" A flash of surprise and irritation passed through Bibi Dong's eyes. He actually did not take her strongest Spirit Skill head-on?!

Fourth Soul Skill—Thorn Spider Armor!!

Purple-black armor instantly covered all her vital areas!

She held the Death Scythe across her chest and frantically poured Soul Power into it, attempting to meet the azure lightning head-on!

Sizzle—boom!!!

The instant the lightning sword aura struck the scythe, it was not blocked. Instead, it suddenly exploded!

It transformed into countless violent arcs, like thousands of thunder serpents, instantly swallowing Bibi Dong whole!

"Urgh—ah!!"

A groan of pain she could no longer suppress rang out! Bibi Dong's entire body shuddered violently. Electricity coiled over her purple-black armor as smoke rose from it, her arm gripping the scythe trembling fiercely. Even every strand of her hair stood on end!

The powerful current penetrated her defenses, making it feel as though her internal organs had been displaced!

The Weaver of Fate Goddess... was being suppressed?!

The audience stands instantly fell into deathly silence!

Countless people sucked in sharp breaths, staring in disbelief at the bedraggled figure on the arena stage.

The Spirit Arena's shareholders looked even more ashen, a chill shooting from their feet to the tops of their heads—they might have been set up by an expert!

"This... isn't fair!" Bibi Dong endured the numbness and searing pain, her voice carrying a trace of hoarseness from the shock and barely perceptible shame and anger.

The hand holding the sharp blade trembled slightly. She had nearly been shocked into... wetting herself just now!

"Oh?" Zhao Linchuan stopped walking, his sword tip pointed diagonally at the ground. "What is unfair about it?"

"You dodged my Spirit Skill!" Bibi Dong gritted her pearly teeth, striving to preserve the pride of a Saintess.

"Even worse... your attack... it... it actually played dirty!" She accused that current explosion of having no martial virtue.

Zhao Linchuan's slender fingers brushed over the icy blade, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "By your rules... should I stand still and take your strongest Spirit Skill, then trade one move for one move with you, beating each other like wooden posts?"

"Hmph! This has always been the tradition of the Soul Master World!" Bibi Dong lifted her chin. Despite her disheveled state, her pride remained intact.

"Heh..." Zhao Linchuan looked as if he had heard something utterly laughable. "Rules? Who made those rules?"