At the center of the red circle, the Spiritual Dragon soared while the twin Phoenixes danced wildly through the air. Three beasts condensed entirely from Spiritual Power clashed in a frenzied battle, their talons rending the very space apart and leaving trails of black fissures in their wake.
A terrifying surge of Spiritual Power enveloped the entire area, forming a special field where no trace of Dou Qi existed—only the raging tides of pure Spiritual Power.
This was another realm, one that rivaled the might of Dou Qi but had long since fallen into obscurity—the realm of Spiritual Power.
In this era where Dou Qi reigned supreme, those who still cultivated the ways of Spiritual Power and soul-based combat techniques were nearly extinct—save for the Alchemists of the Pill Tower.
The immense pressure of that unseen might filled the grand hall. The audience could feel it invading their very souls, evoking awe, dread, and suffocating reverence. Yet none could look away. Every clan representative craned their necks and widened their eyes, unwilling to miss a single instant of this clash beyond their comprehension.
Among the Five Great Families, Cao Dan, Cao Xiu, Dan Xuan, Ye Xinlan, as well as the eliminated Bai Ying and Qiu Ji, all stared intently at the red circle. This was no ordinary match—it was the battle of the younger generation's pinnacle Alchemists.
Bai Ying and Qiu Ji were utterly dazed, secretly relieved they'd been eliminated earlier. If we had stayed until now, we'd be corpses. Even a peak Dou Zong might not escape unscathed in that storm of tearing black fissures.
Liu Xi remained seated cross-legged, calm and composed, a faint smile playing at his lips. His gaze never left the center of the field. Forming hand seals, he guided the Spiritual Dragon's movements precisely—every strike, every sweep of its claws drew blood from the twin Phoenixes, scattering plumes of ethereal feathers as their Spiritual Power bled into the air.
The fierce gales and shockwaves of Spiritual Power surged toward Liu Xi, yet all of it dissolved harmlessly within the invisible wind barrier circling him. Not even a thread of his robe stirred, let alone his seated form.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen, however, were far less composed. The Phoenixes under their control let out anguished cries, and their pale faces glistened with sweat, evoking both pity and awe.
They might have reached the same Spirit Realm, but their control and strength were nowhere near Liu Xi's monstrous level. His Spiritual Power, vast and ferocious, crushed theirs utterly.
Dan Chen, timid as ever, said nothing. She simply clenched her teeth and urged her Spiritual Phoenix to charge once more, its wings flashing as it darted toward the Spiritual Dragon's unguarded back.
Pa!
The Dragon's tail lashed out like a mountain crashing down. The Phoenix was sent flying, spinning through the air as its ethereal form wavered, nearly dissipating entirely.
Cao Ying's lips curled into a faint smile—fragile and alluring against her ashen complexion. She laughed softly.
"Originally, I thought Master Liu was merely a lucky man who stumbled upon some great fortune to reach the level of an 8th Tier Alchemist. But it seems I was wrong. You truly are the real thing—perfect in every way, without flaw or weakness."
Her smile deepened, tinged with defiance. "Then defeat me! What's the meaning of holding back like this? Want me to surrender? You'll be disappointed, because I, Cao Ying, would rather be defeated than yield!"
Liu Xi met her gaze. The determination in those phoenix eyes rivaled that of any man's ambition. He chuckled quietly—he had planned to leave both girls some dignity, not to completely crush them. But seeing her like this…
"Heh, as you wish."
His hand seals shifted abruptly, and the Spiritual Dragon roared. A wave of power far greater than before exploded from its body, its eyes blazing with savage light.
A deep, resonant dragon roar thundered across the hall, shaking the very souls of all present. Even the twin Phoenixes froze mid-flight for an instant.
'Now!'
The Spiritual Dragon lunged forward, claws tearing through one Phoenix in a single strike before whipping its tail to obliterate the other. The blast sent waves of Spiritual Power sweeping outward like a storm.
The shockwave forced Cao Ying and Dan Chen back several steps before they stabilized themselves, both of their faces pale as snow.
The audience gasped in awe. This wasn't just a contest—it was a revelation of power. The collision of pure souls could be even more dangerous than any Dou Qi clash.
"Go."
Liu Xi's low murmur echoed. The Spiritual Dragon coiled and pounced once more, this time directly at Cao Ying.
Her pupils reflected the dragon's descending shadow, yet there was no fear on her face. Her jade hands blurred through complex seals, drawing torrents of Spiritual Power to her palms.
Within the distorted air above her palm, an illusory handprint began to take shape.
'The Soul Mystic Palm, huh…?' Liu Xi's smile deepened. 'You wield it quite skillfully. Same strength as before—but the power's doubled.'
The Spiritual Dragon roared and closed in within a few feet. Cao Ying's expression sharpened as she cried out:
"Soul Mystic Palm!"
The glowing handprint shot forth like a comet, tearing through space itself as it collided head-on with the dragon.
Boom!
The two forces clashed violently, sending shockwaves rippling in every direction. Even the reinforced floor of the grand hall cracked apart under the unseen pressure.
Cao Ying staggered backward more than ten steps, yet her face held no despair—only pride and confidence.
With her Soul Technique's amplification, she finally felt she could fight Liu Xi head-on.
She giggled softly, her voice charming and full of pride. "The Ancient Alchemists once mastered ways to fully unleash their Spiritual Power, techniques strong enough to rival even Dou Techniques. They called them Soul Techniques. Most are lost to time, but the one I just used is among the few that remain. Master Liu, it seems we're equals once again."
Liu Xi's smile turned odd. 'Still haven't learned your lesson, huh? Guess I'll have to hit you harder.'
(End of Chapter)
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This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on P4 treon, For those who want to read 2 chapters ahead for free, you can find me on P4 treon by searching for my username: Fallen_Archangel_.
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