Life and Destruction, Fighting While Disinfecting!

Zichuan's expression shifted slightly, knowing he could not take the blow head-on. He shifted his feet, retreating rapidly while a flash of dark red light ignited in his eyes.

A cold, deathly gray force field suddenly expanded from his center, shrouding a ten-meter radius!

Destruction Domain, activate!

Caught within the domain, Long Aotian's expression changed abruptly! He felt his entire body grow heavy, as if sinking into a quagmire; his speed and strength were clearly suppressed!

The jade-like luster on his skin even dimmed slightly under the erosion of the gray force field! More distressingly, his soul power circulation and blood recovery became sluggish!

"A domain?! This is... a domain?!" An elder disciple who knew his stuff exclaimed in shock.

"How is that possible?! He's only level 13!"

Long Aotian was also horrified, but with his extensive combat experience, he suppressed his discomfort, erupted with soul power, and prepared to charge out of the domain's range.

However, this was the very opportunity Zichuan had been waiting for!

In the split second that Long Aotian faltered due to the domain's suppression, a sharp glint flashed in Zichuan's eyes. He splayed the fingers of his right hand and slashed through the air toward Long Aotian's sweeping leg!

"Sshhh-la!"

Five terrifying, condensed dark gold claw marks, edged with fine black traces, flashed and vanished as if tearing through fabric!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a faint, teeth-grinding tearing sound.

Long Aotian's calf, encased in that jade-like luster and confident enough to withstand any attack from his peers, was sliced and shredded as easily as butter under a hot knife! Five deep, bone-reaching wounds appeared instantly! Blood sprayed!

"What?!" Long Aotian let out a muffled grunt. The intense pain caused his movements to collapse completely, and the force of his sweeping kick was drastically reduced.

Zichuan did not let up. He pressed forward, taking advantage of the moment Long Aotian's old force was spent and his new force had yet to arise, while he was still reeling from the injury. He landed a heavy punch, imbued with destructive soul power, squarely onto Long Aotian's chest!

"Bang!"

Long Aotian flew backward. He managed to adjust his posture in mid-air, landed unsteadily, and staggered back seven or eight steps before finally stabilizing. His chest heaved as his blood surged. Looking down at the five gruesome wounds on his calf, his face was filled with disbelief.

The arena fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at Zichuan, who stood with his fists retracted as his dark red hair slowly faded back to its original color, then looked at the injured and defeated Long Aotian. Their minds could hardly process what had happened.

He won?

A level 13 junior brother defeated the level 27 Long Aotian?

Although he had utilized a domain and that bizarre claw strike, a win was a win! And that claw strike... it actually managed to break through the Jade Skin defense bolstered by Long Aotian's first soul skill?!

"What... what kind of claw was that? It's terrifying!"

"It must be an External Soul Bone skill, right? From a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear?!"

"And that gray force field... it really is a domain! My god!"

The murmurs erupted into a roar, and everyone's gaze became incredibly fervent and shocked.

Long Aotian circulated his soul power to barely stem the bleeding from his calf. He looked at Zichuan, his face devoid of any anger; instead, he wore a complex smile—one of surprise, relief, and, more than anything, the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.

"Dark Gold Terrorclaw... Destruction Domain..." He exhaled slowly and said earnestly to Zichuan, "I was careless and underestimated you. I lost, and I accept it wholeheartedly."

He walked up to Zichuan and extended his hand: "You are very strong, Zichuan. From now on, let's grow stronger together."

Zichuan looked into Long Aotian's clear, candid eyes and smiled, reaching out to shake his hand:

"Senior Brother Long, you were too kind. I only had the advantage of the soul bone and the domain. In terms of true cultivation and foundation, I still have a long way to go."

Their hands clasped together. One represented the pride of the Body Sect's past, the other represented an unknown future.

The onlookers erupted into enthusiastic cheers and applause. Regardless of who won or lost, having two such brilliant and talented juniors appear in the sect was a momentous occasion!

Behind the crowd, Du Busi appeared at some point, arms crossed, watching the two youths shaking hands in reconciliation. A grin stretched to his ears on his rugged face, his eyes filled with undisguised pride and gratification.

Meanwhile, in Zichuan's Sea of Consciousness, the God of Destruction merely commented indifferently:

"Passable. That little dragon cub is somewhat interesting, but it's a pity—his path is too narrow. Skin? Hah, what could be more satisfying than directly controlling destruction and life?"

"Hiss!"

Long Aotian drew a sharp breath. The five bone-deep wounds on his calf were not only agonizing, but the edges of the wounds were being eroded by wisps of dark red, destructive energy that prevented the flesh from healing, bringing a persistent burning and numbing sensation.

This destructive power was even more troublesome than he had anticipated.

"This destruction attribute is truly overbearing..."

He furrowed his brows, about to circulate his soul power to forcibly dispel the residual destructive energy, when a gentle, moist, and vibrant force suddenly enveloped his injury.

Long Aotian looked up in astonishment to see Zichuan standing before him, his hair having shifted from dark red to a gentle emerald green at some point.

The sharp, dark red glint in his eyes had been replaced by a clear, verdant hue. The heart-palpitating aura of destruction around him had vanished, replaced by a warmth and tranquility that felt like a spring breeze.

Life Form.

The emerald-green life soul power, like the finest spring rain, fell gently onto the wounds on his calf. Under the washing of this pure and vast life force, the stubborn destructive energy melted away like snow in the sun.

The intense pain in the wounds eased instantly, and the flesh began to squirm, grow, and knit together at a speed visible to the naked eye. While it could not heal instantly, the bleeding had stopped, the injury had clearly improved, and only a cool, comfortable sensation remained.

"This..." Long Aotian was stunned, looking at his rapidly healing wounds and then at the completely transformed Zichuan, feeling momentarily dazed.

The surrounding members of the Body Sect were all left staring in a stupor.

"Changed, his hair changed again?"

"He was just radiating such murderous intent, so why is he... so peaceful now?"

"Is he healing Long Aotian? Using life-attribute soul power? Isn't he a destruction-attribute user?"

"Can Twin Martial Souls even be used like this? Healing right after beating someone up? What is this? Alcohol and iodine, disinfecting while you fight?"

Someone muttered this, drawing a burst of laughter from the crowd and instantly shifting the atmosphere from shock to something rather peculiar.

Long Aotian couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Looking at Zichuan's focused expression as he healed him, he shook his head with a helpless, wry smile: "Junior Brother Zichuan, what am I supposed to say to this?"

Zichuan withdrew his hand, the emerald light fading, and scratched his head in embarrassment as his hair turned back to black:

"Sorry, Senior Brother Long. My power of destruction is a bit hard to control, and the residual corrosive effects are quite troublesome. Using the power of life to dispel them helps you recover faster." He paused, then added, "Besides, I didn't know my own strength. Since I hurt you, it's only right that I heal you."

His words were sincere, his eyes clear, devoid of any hypocrisy or showboating.

Long Aotian looked at him, and the last trace of awkwardness from his defeat vanished into thin air. He flexed his calf, which had almost fully recovered, leaving only a few faint marks, and laughed heartily before giving Zichuan a firm pat on the shoulder:

"Alright, a loss is a loss. I was careless and underestimated your Dark Gold Terrorclaw and that strange domain. You are strong, Zichuan. I, Long Aotian, am thoroughly convinced."

His tone was open and his eyes bright, filled only with the recognition of a strong opponent and anticipation for future battles, without a shred of gloom or jealousy.