Little Dai? The Ultimate Dai!

"Substitute?"

Gu Yue's delicate brows furrowed imperceptibly at these words. She felt the fluctuations of cultivation power emanating from Jiang Xiu and a sharp glint flashed through the depths of her eyes.

My foolish Na'er, you don't dare to face me yourself, so you sent someone to fight in your stead? No matter. Once I defeat this human, I will come looking for you. There is nowhere you can hide.

Gu Yue thought to herself as her slender, fair hands moved slightly. A faint cyan glow emerged in the space around her, and nimble wind elements gathered around her body.

Jiang Xiu walked calmly to a spot directly opposite Gu Yue, his gaze and spiritual power both assessing her.

An Elementalist. At this stage, Gu Yue must have gradually recovered her control over the six elements.

Jiang Xiu's gaze tightened slightly as he watched the elemental lights manifesting one by one beside her, silently deducing the truth.

The Silver Dragon King had split into two beings upon taking human form; Na'er had inherited the Silver Dragon Spear, while Gu Yue had inherited the power of the elements.

Furthermore, Gu Yue's cultivation had already reached level twenty-five.

In the observation room.

Leng Yaozhu and Na'er sat in leather chairs, their eyes fixed on the soul guidance screen before them, which displayed the scene inside the battle space.

"Let us begin. Let this Pagoda Master see just what kind of genius you have unearthed."

Leng Yaozhu waved her jade hand, speaking to the middle-aged man behind her—the master of the East Sea Spirit Pagoda branch.

"Yes!"

The middle-aged man nodded respectfully. Immediately, a faint light barrier rose within the battle space on the screen, enveloping Gu Yue and Jiang Xiu.

"Boss, stay sharp! Don't lose face! Give Gu Yue a good thrashing!"

Na'er clenched her fair little hands into fists, her purple eyes locked tightly onto the screen.

"Na'er, who do you think has a higher chance of winning, Gu Yue or Xiao Xiu?"

Leng Yaozhu asked Na'er with a smile.

"Hmm... three-seven, I suppose."

Na'er pondered for a moment before speaking with a serious tone.

"Oh? You hold Gu Yue in such high regard, Na'er?"

A hint of surprise flashed through Leng Yaozhu's beautiful eyes. Hearing that Gu Yue held a seventy percent advantage, she couldn't help but ask softly.

"No, Master, you misunderstood. I meant that in three minutes, Gu Yue will have fallen seven times."

Na'er smiled mysteriously. Having spent four years by Jiang Xiu's side, she knew his terrifying strength all too well; Gu Yue's current power was simply not enough to withstand him.

My foolish Gu Yue, just honestly let me set the stage for your defeat.

At that moment, a mechanical voice echoed through the battle space.

"The battle begins. It shall continue until one side is defeated."

Jiang Xiu and Gu Yue stared at each other. As the voice faded, both summoned their martial souls simultaneously.

A blurry figure appeared behind Gu Yue, and six elements circled her like six shining gemstones. Immediately after, two yellow, hundred-year soul rings rose from beneath her feet.

Gu Yue had been in the human world for less than a year, and she had yet to utilize any of the resources available at the East Sea Intermediate Academy. Furthermore, she had intentionally kept her cultivation at level twenty-five, though even this was considered top-tier genius for her age.

But the next moment, Gu Yue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. A tall, black figure rose behind Jiang Xiu, then flowed over him like liquid to form a suit of dark armor.

Beneath Jiang Xiu's feet, two dark purple soul rings rose. These rings were so deep in color they were almost black, flickering with a faint, ominous light, nearing the ten-thousand-year threshold.

"Hmph! Today, I will show you that there is a gap even among geniuses."

Gu Yue's eyes were as calm as water. She knew she was not the only genius in this world.

Instantly, the wind-attribute elements around her surged. With a flash of cyan light, Gu Yue put distance between herself and Jiang Xiu. As a long-range soul master, the greater the distance, the more advantageous it was for her.

At the same time, a red glow ignited in her hand. Several clusters of scorching, violent flames appeared, streaking toward Jiang Xiu like meteors. The intense heat caused the air to ripple, and the barrage was so precise that it sealed off every one of Jiang Xiu's paths of retreat.

"Since I've decided to start with you, let me make you feel the weight of absolute suppression!"

Jiang Xiu's expression remained unchanged. He took a fierce step forward, and a layer of dark, icy black light erupted, instantly enveloping the fireballs. After a few wisps of white smoke rose, the flames were extinguished in an instant.

Jiang Xiu charged straight at Gu Yue, a Dark Straight Blade manifesting in his hand, spitting out a sharp, lethal edge.

Although Gu Yue's cultivation was lower than his, Jiang Xiu dared not be the least bit careless, for her control over herself and her combat experience far exceeded his own.

Gu Yue was essentially a max-level veteran playing on a low-level account; the gap in cultivation could be infinitely bridged by her skill.

Yet, Jiang Xiu had absolute confidence in himself. After all, he hadn't been standing still these past few years.

"Elemental Tide! Ice Spikes!"

Gu Yue remained unhurried. The moment her first soul skill lit up, the surrounding elements grew even denser. Countless sharp ice prisms gathered in her hands, and as she brought her palms down, they rained toward Jiang Xiu like a dense storm of arrows.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Jiang Xiu shifted his stance, his blade hacking out continuously to form an impenetrable wall that deflected every incoming ice prism, all while he continued to close the distance between them.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Just then, the situation changed abruptly. Rows of dark yellow earth walls rose from the ground, while in mid-air, flashes of yellow light converged, transforming into sturdy ropes that lashed out at Jiang Xiu, every strike aimed directly at his vital points.

"Na'er, it seems the human you found still needs more training."

In the distance, Gu Yue's red lips curled slightly, her expression tinged with arrogance. Under these circumstances, she did not believe Jiang Xiu had any room left to dodge, and once he was trapped, he would be at her mercy.

"Born of heaven and earth, Flawless Golden Body!"

Jiang Xiu did not dodge as Gu Yue had anticipated. Instead, he tossed his Dark Straight Blade aside and pressed his palms together into a fist. His entire body's blood energy surged like a rushing river, and a wave of surging crimson light instantly enveloped him.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A massive roar erupted. The next moment, a scene unfolded that caused Gu Yue's delicate face to lose all color: Jiang Xiu, like a ferocious beast, smashed straight through the blockade of earth elements. The ice spikes seemed to be merely scratching an itch, failing to break his defense in the slightest.

"Is this something a ten-year-old human boy can achieve?!"

Gu Yue was shocked, unable to believe her eyes. Seeing the Dark Straight Blade Jiang Xiu had thrown earlier, she prepared to mobilize the wind elements once more to shift her position.

She gambled that this move of Jiang Xiu's would consume a great deal of energy; as long as she stalled for time, she would still be the winner!

But soon, Gu Yue realized something was wrong. The black straight blade flying toward her flickered with a faint mark, and the moment it drew near, a layer of deep, dark radiance swept out, opening a gaping maw toward her.

"Oh no! It's a domain!"