Zichuan's expression changed slightly. He knew he could not take it head-on. His feet shifted, and he rapidly retreated. At the same time, a dark red gleam flashed through his eyes.
A cold, deathly gray force field suddenly spread out from him, covering an area ten meters in radius!
Destruction Domain, activate!
Long Aotian's expression abruptly changed as he stood within the domain! He felt his entire body grow heavy, as though he had fallen into a swamp. His speed and strength were both noticeably suppressed!
The jade-like sheen on his skin dimmed slightly under the erosion of the gray force field! Worse still, the circulation of his Soul Power and the recovery of his blood and vitality both became sluggish!
"A domain?! This is... a domain?!" an older disciple who recognized it cried out in shock.
"How is that possible?! He's only Level 13!"
Long Aotian was equally horrified, but his combat experience was extensive. He forcibly suppressed his discomfort, erupted with Soul Power, and prepared to charge out of the domain's range.
However, this was exactly the opportunity Zichuan had been waiting for!
The instant Long Aotian faltered under the domain's suppression, a fierce glint flashed in Zichuan's eyes. He suddenly spread the five fingers of his right hand and slashed through the air at Long Aotian's sweeping leg!
"Rip—!"
Five incomparably condensed dark golden claw lights, edged with fine black traces, flashed past like cloth being torn apart!
There was no earth-shaking explosion, only a soft, teeth-grating tearing sound.
Long Aotian's lower leg, wrapped in a jade-like glow that he had confidently believed could withstand any attack from an opponent of the same level, was sliced open and shredded as easily as butter meeting a hot knife! Five bone-deep wounds instantly appeared! Blood sprayed everywhere!
"What?!" Long Aotian let out a muffled groan. Excruciating pain struck, and his movement completely deformed as the force behind his sweeping kick sharply weakened.
Zichuan pressed his advantage, closing in once more. Taking advantage of the instant when Long Aotian's old strength had been spent, his new strength had yet to arise, and he was stunned by his injury, Zichuan drove a heavy punch wrapped in Destruction Soul Power solidly into Long Aotian's chest!
"Bang!"
Long Aotian flew backward. He barely adjusted his posture in midair before landing unsteadily, then staggered back another seven or eight steps before finally stopping. His blood and vitality churned in his chest as he lowered his head to look at the five savage wounds on his lower leg, his face filled with disbelief.
The arena fell utterly silent.
Everyone stared blankly at Zichuan, who stood with his fist withdrawn as his dark red hair slowly faded, then looked at the injured and defeated Long Aotian. Their minds could barely process what they were seeing.
He won?
A Level 13 junior disciple had defeated Level 27 Long Aotian?
Though he had used the domain and that bizarre claw strike, a win was a win! And that claw strike... had actually broken through the Jade Skin defense enhanced by Long Aotian's first soul skill?!
"Wh-what kind of claw was that? It's terrifying!"
"Was that an External Soul Bone skill? From a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear?!"
"And that gray force field... it really was a domain! My heavens!"
Discussion erupted all at once, and everyone's gaze became filled with intense excitement and shock.
Long Aotian circulated his Soul Power and barely stopped the bleeding from his lower leg. He looked at Zichuan without the slightest anger on his face. Instead, he revealed a somewhat complicated smile—surprise, acceptance, and above all, the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.
"Dark Gold Terrorclaw... Destruction Domain..." He slowly let out a breath and said seriously to Zichuan, "I was careless. I underestimated you. I lost, and I accept it wholeheartedly."
He walked up to Zichuan and extended his hand. "You're very strong, Zichuan. From now on, we'll grow stronger together."
Zichuan looked into Long Aotian's clear and forthright eyes and smiled as well, reaching out to shake his hand.
"Senior Brother Long, you let me win. I only had the advantage of my Spirit Bone and domain. In terms of actual cultivation and foundation, I'm still far behind."
The two clasped hands. One represented the Body Sect's pride of the past, while the other represented an unknown future.
The spectators burst into enthusiastic cheers and applause. Regardless of who won or lost, the sect having two such exceptionally gifted juniors was a tremendous joy!
At the back of the crowd, Du Busi had appeared at some point. With his arms folded, he watched the two youths reconcile with a handshake. The smile on his rugged face stretched to his ears, and his eyes were filled with undisguised pride and satisfaction.
Meanwhile, in Zichuan's Sea of Consciousness, the God of Destruction merely offered a bland assessment.
"Passable. That little dragon brat is somewhat interesting, but unfortunately, he has taken too narrow a path. Skin? Hah, how could that compare to directly controlling destruction and life?"
"Hiss!"
Long Aotian sucked in a sharp breath. The five bone-deep wounds on his lower leg not only caused piercing agony, but threads of dark red, destructive energy lingered around their edges, eroding them and preventing his flesh from healing itself. They brought an unceasing burning, numbing sensation.
This Destruction Power was even more troublesome than he had expected.
"This destruction attribute truly is domineering..."
His brows furrowed as he prepared to circulate his Soul Power and forcibly disperse the remaining destructive energy in his wounds. However, a warm, gentle power brimming with vigorous vitality suddenly enveloped his injuries.
Long Aotian looked up in astonishment. Zichuan, standing before him, had somehow changed his hair from dark red to a gentle emerald green.
The fierce dark red gleam in his eyes had been replaced by clear jade-green, and the heart-palpitating aura of destruction around him had vanished without a trace. In its place was a warmth and tranquility that felt like a spring breeze.
Life Form.
Emerald Life Soul Power fell softly over the wounds on Long Aotian's lower leg like the finest spring rain. The stubborn destructive energy rapidly faded beneath the cleansing of that pure, majestic life force, like ice and snow melting away.
The intense pain in the wounds was instantly relieved. Flesh wriggled, grew, and closed at a visible rate. While they could not possibly heal completely in an instant, the bleeding had stopped, and the injuries had visibly improved, leaving behind only a cool, soothing sensation.
"This..." Long Aotian was stunned. He looked from his rapidly healing wounds to Zichuan, whose entire presence had become utterly different, and felt dazed for a moment.
The surrounding Body Sect members were all dumbfounded as well.
"H-his hair changed? It changed again?"
"He was so murderous just now, but now... why does he seem so peaceful?"
"He's treating Aotian? With Life-attribute Soul Power? Isn't he a destruction attribute?"
"Twin Martial Souls can be used like this? Beat someone up, then immediately heal them? What is this? Alcohol followed by iodine—fighting and disinfecting at the same time?"
Someone muttered that line, prompting everyone to burst into laughter. The atmosphere instantly shifted from shock to something rather strange.
Long Aotian could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth. Looking at Zichuan's earnest expression as he treated him, he helplessly shook his head with a bitter smile. "Junior Brother Zichuan, you... I really don't know what to say."
Zichuan withdrew his hand, and the emerald light faded. Somewhat embarrassed, he scratched his head as his hair turned black again.
"Sorry, Senior Brother Long. My Destruction Power is not very easy to control, and the lingering corrosive effect is rather troublesome. I used Life Power to disperse it so you could recover faster." He paused, then added,
"Besides, I did not know my own strength and injured you. I should treat you."
His words were sincere, and his eyes were clear, without the slightest hint of hypocrisy or showing off.
Long Aotian looked at him, and the last trace of discomfort he had felt due to his defeat vanished completely. He moved his nearly fully recovered lower leg, which now bore only a few faint marks, then laughed freely and firmly patted Zichuan on the shoulder.
"Enough. A loss is a loss. I was careless and underestimated your Dark Gold Terrorclaw and that strange domain. You're strong, Zichuan. I, Long Aotian, accept my defeat wholeheartedly."
His tone was open and forthright, his gaze bright. There was only recognition of a powerful opponent and anticipation for a future rival, without the slightest shadow of resentment or jealousy.
Before you continue