"Match—begin!"
Before the referee had finished speaking, Xu Jiujiu struck first.
As a princess of the Star Luo Imperial Family and wielder of the Star Crown Martial Soul, she knew how impossible Huo Yuhao was to counter. The longer she delayed, the worse her position would become.
Rather than let him dictate the pace, she would seize the opening and strike by surprise, using her strengths to break through his uncanny methods.
Cold light flashed along her silver-white Soul Tool spear. In an instant, Xu Jiujiu closed in and thrust straight at Huo Yuhao!
Huo Yuhao remained unhurried. He raised his dark-gold Yazi Greatsword across his chest, its spine striking the side of the spearpoint with precision.
Clang!
The sharp ring of metal exploded across the arena, and a circular wave of force spread outward.
The instant spear met sword, Huo Yuhao caught a fleeting look in Xu Jiujiu's eyes.
It was the sly sparkle of a scheme going exactly as planned, like a kitten that had stolen a sweet. She seemed intent on the fight, but she had already laid her trap.
A fierce warning surged through him.
Something's wrong. This isn't her real killing move.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao turned his wrist, wrapping the entire Greatsword in Ultimate Wind.
"Beyond the Law: Devour Evil!"
Wind-aspected Soul Power condensed along the blade into a razor-edged slash. Using the rebound from the block, Huo Yuhao slid sideways and back, opening a safe three-meter gap. At the same time, an invisible Sin mark settled around Xu Jiujiu.
As soon as he had made space, Huo Yuhao braced himself for her next Soul Skill.
Xu Jiujiu stood still. She neither advanced nor attacked from afar. She merely lifted her gaze as a halo slowly rose from her Star Crown Martial Soul.
That