The moment Zhao Kun was forced to step back, a wave of shock spread across the arena, because for someone of his status and strength, even a single step backward carried meaning, and although the crack in his Xuanwu defense was small, it was enough to disrupt the absolute confidence that had surrounded him since the beginning of the duel.
Zhao Kun's expression darkened slightly, his gaze locking onto Li Hao with renewed intensity, as the calm arrogance he had maintained began to shift into something colder and more focused, while his aura surged once again, repairing the crack in his defense almost instantly.
"You've improved," Zhao Kun said slowly.
Li Hao did not respond, his breathing steady as he maintained his stance within the ice domain, his Frost Fang Wolf circling cautiously at his side, both of them ready to move at a moment's notice.
"But this is where it ends," Zhao Kun continued.
With those words, he released a deeper layer of his power.
The phantom of the Xuanwu Turtle behind him became more solid, its massive form radiating an ancient pressure that caused the ground beneath his feet to sink slightly, while a faint layer of earth energy spread outward, clashing against Li Hao's ice domain.
The balance shifted again.
And the pressure intensified.