Victory

Huo Yuhao's third soul ring should have been the lustrous color of white jade.

Yet under the exquisite effect of his Simulation soul skill, it appeared to outsiders to be the same ten-thousand-year black as his first and second soul rings!

Three black rings were reflected in Na'er's silver eyes, and a trace of shock inevitably flashed through their depths. For a moment, she even forgot to attack.

At the edge of the field, a flicker of surprise also passed through Yun Ming's profound eyes.

Looking at the three black soul rings beneath Huo Yuhao's feet, he thought to himself, Spirit Sea Realm!

Three ten-thousand-year soul rings also signified that Huo Yuhao's First Soul Spirit had already advanced to the ten-thousand-year level.

Only Mental Power that had reached the Spirit Sea Realm could support a ten-thousand-year soul spirit.

Moreover, under Leng Yaozhu's guidance, Huo Yuhao had already dared to raise his First Soul Spirit to the ten-thousand-year level. His Mental Power was likely far more than merely having entered the Spirit Sea Realm!

His assessment of Huo Yuhao rose several notches once again. No wonder Leng Yaozhu had called him the "strongest genius"!

A grave expression filled Na'er's delicate little face.

Those three black soul rings of Huo Yuhao's had indeed shaken her mind for an instant.

But only for an instant.

Who was she?

She was the Silver Dragon King's other half!

Well... perhaps not quite half, but at least one-third!

So, she had seen plenty of grand scenes. Naturally, she would not be frightened by a mere three-ring Soul Elder.

"Hmph!"

A crisp snort came from Na'er's nose.

The turbulence in her silver eyes swiftly faded, replaced by an even sharper gleam.

Whoosh!

Na'er's footwork abruptly changed. Her petite body and that slender Silver Dragon Spear seemed to merge into one in an instant.

With the comprehensive amplification of her First Soul Skill, this Power Attack System Soul Master erupted with terrifying speed no less than that of a top Agility Attack System Soul Master of the same rank!

The mere ten meters between them vanished in a single step beneath her feet. Carrying a fierce gust of spear wind, she charged straight at Huo Yuhao!

There were no flashy variations, no probing feints.

Na'er held the spear in one hand, her arm drawn taut like a bow as the spear tip accurately thrust toward Huo Yuhao's face!

Faced with this sudden strike, Huo Yuhao's expression remained almost entirely unchanged.

However, at the critical instant when the silver spear tip was about to touch his forehead...

His right hand... moved.

The movement was simple, direct, and so fast that it left only an Afterimage.

There was no burst of Soul Power, nor any sign of a soul ring shining.

He merely extended his right hand forward and clenched his five fingers through empty air.

Clang!

A clear metallic ring sounded.

A deep-blue longsword, sleek and simple in design, had appeared from thin air in his hand, precisely blocking the Trajectory of the incoming Silver Dragon Spear!

The Silver Dragon Spear slammed solidly against the side of that seemingly slender deep-blue blade. Yet the expected sight of the longsword being knocked away or pierced through never came.

The deep-blue sword merely trembled faintly. A flash ran through the energy circuits on its blade, steadily receiving and dispersing that immense impact. Huo Yuhao, holding the sword, did not even take half a step back!

At the edge of the field, Yun Ming's Eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly the instant he saw the sword in Huo Yuhao's hand. A Soul Tool?!

That was right. The deep-blue longsword in Huo Yuhao's hand was a Fourth-Grade Melee Soul Tool he had crafted himself.

He knew that in the World Ten Thousand Years Later, battle armor reigned supreme, and all Soul Masters aimed to become Battle Armor Masters.

But he found it somewhat difficult to understand why Soul Masters had basically abandoned the use of Soul Tools in battle.

He had once watched a duel where one Soul Master had been completely helpless against a flying Soul Master on the opposing side. Wasn't that a problem that could be solved simply by equipping a flying Soul Tool?!

In any case, in Huo Yuhao's view as someone who primarily cultivated the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, Soul Tools could greatly help Soul Masters improve their combat strength.

Therefore, he had never given up researching or using Soul Tools.

This Fourth-Grade Soul Guidance Longsword was not merely a weapon. It was also a tool within his combat system, meant to compensate for his weakness in close-range physical attacks.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao appeared not to have used any soul skill. Yet beneath the concealment of Simulation, his Spirit Detection soul skill had long since spread out. He already knew every detail of Na'er's attacks!

Cling! Cling! Clang! Clang!...

Crisp, dense metallic impacts erupted endlessly through the Small Courtyard like a torrential downpour striking banana leaves.

Silver spear shadows and deep-blue sword light intertwined and flashed, moving so fast they dazzled the eye.

Na'er's offensive came in waves—thrusts, lifts, sweeps, and smashes. Her spear technique was agile and vicious, displaying the dominance of a Power Attack System Soul Master to the fullest.

Yet in the face of this storm-like barrage, Huo Yuhao remained standing firm, neutralizing Na'er's fierce attacks one by one.

After dozens of exchanges, Na'er had still failed to force him back even half a step, much less pose any effective threat.

At the edge of the field, Yun Ming's eyebrows furrowed tighter and tighter.

But it was not because Na'er had been unable to break through for so long. It was because of Huo Yuhao!

In Yun Ming's eyes, although Huo Yuhao's swordsmanship had achieved precise blocks, the sword's momentum itself was hollow, mechanical, and devoid of soul.

For such swordsmanship to give birth to Sword Intent was practically impossible.

What Yun Ming did not know was that Huo Yuhao had never systematically studied any swordsmanship.

The "sword techniques" he displayed at this moment relied entirely on the extraordinary information-processing and predictive abilities granted by Spirit Detection, along with his control over his body precise down to the smallest detail.

Every block was the optimal response he made after calculating Na'er's attack Trajectory, force, speed, and other factors.

As Huo Yuhao dealt with her attacks, he was also rapidly assessing Na'er's strength.

After these dozens of exchanges, he already had a clear understanding.

The Silver Dragon Spear was of extremely high quality. Na'er's Soul Power was condensed and solid, her spear technique foundation was exceptionally firm, and her combat instincts were sharp...

Her overall strength was absolutely no weaker than that of an ordinary three-ringed Soul Elder.

However, he, Huo Yuhao, had never been an ordinary Soul Elder.

Just as Na'er's powerful sweeping strike was deflected by Huo Yuhao's upright sword, sending the spear shaft swaying upward, with its old force spent and its new force yet to emerge...

The black First Soul Ring beneath Huo Yuhao's feet suddenly flashed without warning!

This time, he did not use Simulation to conceal the glow from activating his Soul Skill.

Alarm bells rang wildly in Na'er's heart!

Her silver Eyes constricted as Soul Power surged madly within her. Facing his ten-thousand-year Soul Skill, she prepared to defend or evade.

However, before Na'er could make any move, a sharp stabbing pain erupted from deep within her mind, as though she had been viciously pierced by a fine needle!

Immediately afterward, a strange numb, tingling sensation spread from that point of pain like an electric current, instantly sweeping through every limb and bone in her body!

Her movements inevitably suffered a fatal delay, and even her attempt to draw back the Silver Dragon Spear for defense was half a beat too slow!

"Now!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Huo Yuhao's Eyes, and his footwork transformed from utter stillness into extreme motion in an instant!

He no longer defended passively. Instead, he closed in, the Soul Guidance Longsword in his hand tracing a simple arc.

Clang!

With a light sound, the Silver Dragon Spear was effortlessly knocked aside, leaving her wide open!

And before Na'er had fully recovered from the mental stab and bodily stiffness, Huo Yuhao's longsword, sheathed in deep-blue icy light, lightly touched the space before her fair, slender throat.

The cold touch of metal seeped through her skin, carrying an undisguised sharpness.

All sound came to an abrupt halt.

Within the Small Courtyard, only the rustling of leaves in the breeze remained.

Na'er stood frozen in place, her silver Eyes wide as she stared at the sword tip inches away, then at Huo Yuhao's calm, unruffled Eyes behind it.

The hand holding her spear dropped weakly. Her little face was full of frustration, along with a trace of lingering confusion.

The victor had been decided.