Cao Ying's smile grew brighter, her charming features glowing with that mix of arrogance and competitive fire unique to her. She had always been proud and unwilling to admit defeat. In the past, Dan Chen had been her only rival—but now, with Liu Xi standing before her, she had met a true enemy.
Yes—an enemy.
Until today, she had never encountered someone who could stand on equal ground. Yet Liu Xi's very existence completely overshadowed her brilliance. The feeling of being suppressed ignited a fire within her. For the first time, she felt that her hands itched to fight—to surpass him, to defeat him.
Taking a slow, deep breath, her ample chest rose and fell slightly as both hands lifted, forming two distinct, intricate seals. Her fingers wove together rapidly, as though her left and right hands were dueling each other in the air.
As her seals shifted faster and faster, torrents of Spiritual Power surged between her palms. A strange pressure spread through the hall, causing many to change expression. Though none present were ordinary, few possessed such mastery over Spiritual Power. On this continent where Dou Qi ruled supreme, that kind of soul-deep suppression left even experts feeling suffocated.
Seeing her actions, Liu Xi smiled calmly. He too extended his hands and began to form seals—movements that appeared slightly less practiced but equally precise.
Not only Cao Ying, but even the sharp-eyed elders in the audience immediately noticed: Liu Xi's hand seals were exactly the same as Cao Ying's.
Her confident smile faded. Confusion flickered in her eyes. 'How could he know the Soul Mystic Palm's seals? He's not from the Pill Tower…'
'No way—he couldn't have learned it just by watching me once. And that movement… it's clumsy, but far too natural for a first attempt!'
There was no time to dwell on it. The Spiritual Power gathering between Liu Xi's palms grew denser by the second, vast and unending like an ocean that threatened to drown everything.
Feeling that immense pressure, Cao Ying had to admit—the Soul Mystic Palm in Liu Xi's control carried far more force than her own.
Still, she refused to yield. Her brows knitted as both palms thrust forward one after another.
Her left palm launched first—an enormous handprint roared forth like a feral tiger descending the mountain, and even the onlookers heard its low growl echoing within their souls.
Her right palm followed—this second strike was several times stronger, the Spiritual Power coalescing into a storm that carried a faint draconic roar, shaking the entire hall.
The twin palm imprints streaked through the air, tearing open dark rifts in space. A destructive aura rippled outward.
Violent winds surged, but Liu Xi didn't even blink. The invisible wind barrier around him kept his hair and robes perfectly still, untouched by the chaos.
"Soul Mystic Palm!"
With his Spiritual Power pushed to its limit, Liu Xi thrust out his palm. A solid, resplendent handprint burst forth, carrying the might to sweep across heaven and earth.
A suffocating wave of energy erupted, filling the grand hall with an almost tangible aura of death.
Even without using his Dou Zun strength, Liu Xi's mid-Spirit Realm Spiritual Power was vast enough that when he unleashed this high-level Soul Technique, it felt like heaven itself trembled.
Bang! Bang!
The three Spiritual Hands collided, detonating with an earth-shattering roar. The entire space within the red circle shattered into fragments of black void, as if reality itself were devoured by darkness.
Shockwaves spread violently. The marble floor beneath them cracked apart, then disintegrated entirely into dust, swept outward in a hurricane of force.
Elder Sheng's expression changed drastically. He shot forward instantly, his voice booming through the hall.
"Everyone, retreat at once!"
No one needed to be told twice. The unleashed force was enough to obliterate anyone without Dou Zun strength or 7th Tier soul defenses.
The storm tore through half the plaza, flattening the nearest family seats. Only the farthest spectators escaped unharmed. Thankfully, everyone had quick reflexes—no one was seriously injured—but their eyes remained locked anxiously on the center of the chaos.
More than ten minutes later, the raging tempest finally began to fade. All eyes turned toward the field once again.
In the middle of the ruined square, Cao Ying was on one knee and Dan Chen lay prone beside her—both disheveled, both pale, their expressions a mix of frustration, disbelief, and awe.
Not far from them stood Liu Xi. When the last trace of wind vanished, he flicked his sleeve, dismissing the transparent shield of wind surrounding him.
Aside from the small circular platform beneath the three of them, the entire plaza had been annihilated—reduced to fine dust.
Liu Xi smiled faintly, his tone light and teasing.
"Still want to fight, or should we call it a day?"
He looked perfectly composed, as though this weren't a brutal duel but a casual stroll.
Moments ago, when his Soul Mystic Palm collided with Cao Ying's twin strikes, the unleashed energy had far exceeded his expectations.
Liu Xi himself wasn't in any danger—but if Cao Ying or Dan Chen had taken the blast head-on, they would've been seriously injured. And Liu Xi hadn't come here to make enemies. Winning was enough; destroying them would serve no purpose.
Thus, he'd made a split-second decision.
He rose, flashing toward the barely conscious Dan Chen. Just as he was about to lift her clear, a strange suction force burst from her body—like a vortex pulling directly at his soul.
That startled him.
Fortunately, his soul had long since transcended the mortal level. The fusion of five Heavenly Flames had refined his soul into a near-perfect Divine Spirit, immune to such absorption.
No matter how strongly Dan Chen's power pulled, it couldn't move him an inch. With a relieved sigh, Liu Xi lifted her with ease and flashed to Cao Ying's side instead of tossing her away.
He set Dan Chen down gently, then turned back, fingers weaving through a blur of seals. The wind barrier surrounding him expanded outward, forming a translucent dome that enveloped all three of them.
Even now, Liu Xi hadn't violated the rules—he hadn't drawn upon his Dou Qi, only his pure Spiritual Power, to shield them from the lingering storm.
Throughout it all, neither Cao Ying nor Dan Chen spoke. They simply watched his back with complicated gazes—until the last traces of the Spiritual tempest faded completely.
When the dust finally settled, the scene before everyone's eyes was exactly as it now stood.
(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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