Huo Yuhao stood tall with the dark-gold Yazi Greatsword in hand, his calm gaze resting on Xu Jiujiu, whose aura had fallen into disarray.
"You're out of moves, aren't you?"
His tone was gentle and direct, without mockery or disdain. He was merely stating how the battle stood.
Xu Jiujiu lowered her eyes and nodded.
"Yes."
From beginning to end, she had played every trump card she possessed.
Star's Guardian's absolute confinement, a clustered bombardment of Soul Cannons, Star Radiance's all-attribute boost, Star's Brilliance's transfer through intangibility—every tactic, formation, and contingency available to a Star Crown Soul Master had been laid bare.
Yet Huo Yuhao had dismantled them layer by layer, pressing her back step by step. She had no answer.
Her defeat was complete, and she accepted it wholeheartedly.
Huo Yuhao raised his sword. The Yazi Greatsword struck Xu Jiujiu's Soul Guidance Lance with pinpoint precision once more.
Golden wind and starlit sparks burst together, sending fine ripples of energy across the patterns etched into the arena floor.
"You're a worthy warrior."
Sincere approval flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes. Win or lose, he had always respected opponents who gave their all.
"In this battle, I'll give you the respect a warrior deserves."
With that, Huo Yuhao decided to hold nothing back.
His Sin Value stood at a constant one hundred. He had long since reached the perfect threshold for Wraith Spirit Liberation!
"The sword is drawn. Until it draws blood, it will not return! Wraith Spirit: Yazi, come forth!"
"Furious Gaze, Sword in Mouth: Punishment Without Pardon!"
Ultimate Wind surged violently along the Greatsword and erupted outward.
High above the arena, the phantom of a Wraith Spirit took shape: a jackal's body, a dragon's head, and a sword clenched between furious jaws. Fierce and imposing, it sent crushing wind