But she had barely slid half a step when she stepped on a stone slab half an inch higher than the surrounding ones.
During that earlier round of earth-element setup, Gu Yuena had quietly altered several height differences across the platform.
Her toe paused lightly on the raised slab, and her speed inevitably slowed by a beat.
That beat was enough!
Xu Youyou seized the instant she stumbled. She pointed the tip of her staff downward, and her first soul ring lit up. The Starwheel Chain emerged from the staff tip, a silver-white chain of light silently darting along the arena floor and precisely wrapping around Su Yue Li's left ankle.
Su Yue Li lowered her head to look at the silver-white chain around her ankle. Still frozen in her forward-charging posture, she hung in midair as though an invisible hand had grabbed her by the nape from behind. Her entire body leaned forward, yet she could not advance even an inch.
The battle on the entire arena was decided within three breaths.
Gu Yuena withdrew her hands and gently pressed her palms downward. The protruding earth and stones on the platform returned to level ground.
Xu Youyou flicked her wrist, and the Starwheel Chain loosened from Su Yue Li's ankle, turning into scattered motes of light that dissipated into the air.
Tang Wulin had already withdrawn his Blue Silver Emperor martial soul.
He gave the broad-shouldered youth opposite him, whose knee was still pressed against the arena floor, a slight nod. His tone was as mild as if they had arranged afternoon tea. "If you'd shifted that last step half an inch to the right before exerting force, you wouldn't have stepped into empty air."
Lu Zheng braced himself against his knee and stood up. He lowered his head