Darkness.
That was all Huo Yuhao could see; pitch black.
Then pain, he groaned as he felt something pierce his left leg and sear through his flesh. The pain was excruciating, but he refused to give in. Gritting his teeth, he focused his energy and activated his Ice God Legacy, attempting to freeze the wound and numb the pain.
But the darkness was suffocating, engulfing him completely. It seemed as though he was trapped in an eternal abyss, with no escape.
"Like it?" Xian Chong's voice reverberated in the dark void, chuckling sinisterly. "It's my Martial Soul's, Darkness, true body!"
'Darkness? The element darkness? Well that figures.' Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed, his Sharingan desperately trying to find Xian Chong's "true body". 'But, aren't soul master with pure element martial soul true body turn their bodies into an elemental?'
Xian Chong's martial soul has always been slightly different than those with a darkness martial soul, it grows stronger in response to his emotions; and he wasn't exactly a good person. He was one that liked to fight, to revel in the suffering of others and causing chaos, it's the reason why he's an Evil Soul Master; he chose the lifestyle. His darkness martial soul was not just pure darkness, but infused with a twisted, malevolent energy that made it even more dangerous.
His martial soul true body had transformed because his seventh soul ring was from a soul beast that gives a rare domain-type soul skill, making it an extremely powerful ability.
Domain type ability are extremely powerful, and the one Xian Chong has is top tier as well. It was a soul skill that created a seperate space within an, where Xian Chong had complete control over the darkness. Inside this domain, he became part of the darkness, manipulate the darkness at will and overwhelming his opponents with darkness-based attacks; all his soul skills would be amplified and any that are activated are guaranteed to hit.
Huo Yuhao's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. He couldn't defeat Xian Chong in a direct confrontation, not while he was using his soul skill. He had to think about another way.
As for just holding out and let 30 seconds pass, he wasn't going to trust an Evil Soul Master in his word.
He had to kill Xian Chong.
'My Sharingan can't see through this darkness and I can't pick up on his mind, so spiritual power is useless right now. That just leaves...' Huo Yuhao winced, as he felt his left shoulder get pierced and he immediately backtracked to escape his attacks.
He began to close his eyes and took a deep breath. His eyesight was useless, his other senses are also dulled and spiritual power wasn't effective, so he had to rely on his other abilities.
A terrifying chill emitted from Huo Yuhao's left arm, black markings suddenly appeared across the left side of his face. Frostbane appeared out of his palm, grasping it with both hands, his body began to emit bright jade-green glow and he stabbed the long ice-crystal sword into the ground beneath him.
"You're not the only one with a domain..." Huo Yuhao muttered as he opened his now jade-green Sharingan eyes.
[Domain of Perpetual Ice] + [Ice Empress' Wrath] + [20% Ice God Legacy]
Instantly, the temperature dropped drastically, and a wave of intense cold spread outwards. A dome of ice and snow encased Huo Yuhao, shielding him from Xian Chong's attacks. The darkness that surrounded him was frozen solid, unable to penetrate the icy barrier.
Xian Chong's laughter faltered as he felt the bone-chilling cold surround him. He had underestimated Huo Yuhao's ability to utilize his Ice God Legacy even in such dire circumstances.
"Tch. You're interesting indeed, boy. I thought I was wrong earlier but you do indeed have a domain, a powerful ice-type as well. It could even fight back against my domain, ah, I really would've been in trouble if you were a bit more stronger." He clicked his tongue and began sending numerous spheres of darkness and sharp dark tendrils towards Huo Yuhao.
"Unfortunately however, you're still a Soul Elder! In my domain, I could sense that you're almost out of juice! Hahaha! Shame, you were only ten seconds away from winning our bet."
Huo Yuhao ignored his taunts and channeled more of his soul power and Ice God Legacy's energy into Frostbane, causing the ice sword to emit another wave of frost and froze the dark tendrils and spheres before they could reach him.
The dome of ice then collapsed, Huo Yuhao kneeled and started breathing heavily, the soul power emitting from his body was almost gone. He had used every bit of his soul power and was now helpless.
Xian Chong grinned in triumph as his body materialized and approached Huo Yuhao, his dark aura radiating around him. "It's over for you," he sneered, raising his hand, a blade of darkness enveloped his hand and he brought it down without any mercy.
*Poof!*
Xian Chong widened his eyes as he saw Huo Yuhao's body proofed into smoke.
"What?! Another clone? But that's impossible!" Xian Chong muttered and started looking around cautiously, his eyes still wide in disbelief.
After all, he was sure he had trapped the real Huo Yuhao into his domain. And in his Everlasting Shadow Garden, he was practically a God so it seemed impossible for him to have escaped.
But little did Xian Chong know, Huo Yuhao wasn't just a Soul Master. He was also a Shinobi!
And a Shinobi knows how to make their presence disappear even before their enemies.
The temperature began to rise as a scorching heat appeared in this lifeless world.
"AAAAAAHHH!!" Before Xian Chong could realize what was happening, he was instantly enveloped in a blazing inferno. The flames licked at his skin, burning away his clothes and searing his flesh. The pain was unimaginable, but Xian Chong refused to give in. He struggled to extinguish the flames, but they seemed to have a life of their own, relentlessly devouring everything in their path.
Huo Yuhao stood at a distance, breathing heavily as his Sharingan lit up with determination.
In order to defeat Xian Chong, he had to use something to defeat the darkness. And what opposes darkness? Light, and no he couldn't use the light element yet, but fire is also a powerful force of light.
He used the Great Fireball Jutsu to set Xian Chong on fire and used his soul skill, Flame Control, to manipulate and intensify the flames.
As for how he escaped Xian Chong... it was when back before the ice dome collapsed.
Back in the Extreme North, Ancestor had taught him a certain ice jutsu that belonged to a bloodline clan that specializes in ice jutsu. It was called Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, a secret technique that only those with the blood of that clan could use it but with his ability to use Ultimate Ice and the Ice God Legacy, Huo Yuhao could recreate the jutsu.
Using the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystal Jutsu, the user creates several large mirrors out of ice, which he surrounds a target with. By entering one of these mirrors, the user reflection will appear in all of them. The user can travel between these mirrors near-instantaneously, giving the appearance that he occupies all of them simultaneously.
Huo Yuhao however, didn't create any mirrors. No, he used the most important part of the Jutsu; entering the mirrors and travelling across other mirrors.
In his case, after he created a Shadow Clone in his place and letting out a powerful wave of Ice God Legacy, he then created a small ice crystal fragment on the ground and entered it. Xian Chong hadn't seen his little trick because the ice dome block his view and that the Shadow Clone had some of his remaining soul power.
Huo Yuhao's control over fire was impressive, fueled by his determination and the power of his Ice God Legacy as he was almost depleted of soul power. The flames grew hotter and more ferocious, burning away Xian Chong's defenses and his resistance.
"Ah! Aah! Aaaaaah!! Y-You little shiiiiit!!"
Xian Chong screamed in agony as the flames consumed him, his dark aura fading away under the overwhelming power of the fire.
The Everlasting Shadow Garden distorted, with Xian Chong's concentration shattered by the pain. The dark void crumbled, revealing the true surroundings - one of the rooms of the main building of the Ironblood Sect.
As the fire continued to rage, Huo Yuhao watched, his eyes, dripping with blood as he overused his martial soul, was filled with a mixture of relief and satisfaction.
"Man, fuck you." He muttered, grinning darkly.
Finally, the flames died down, leaving only a charred and lifeless body in its wake. Xian Chong lay motionless on the ground, his body completely burned beyond recognition.
Huo Yuhao slowly approached the remains, his expression cold and detached.
Then, using his remaining soul power to create an ice chair, he collapsed on the ice chair; looking completely exhausted.
"I'm so tired..." Huo Yuhao groaned, still feeling in pain for his left shoulder and leg from getting skewered.
With great difficulty, he took out a healing pill out of his storage belt. It wasn't some rare healing pill that could regenerate one's limbs but it was a pill that forces the one who ate it to accelerate their regeneration.
He swallowed it with a grimace and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pain as he focused on healing his injuries.
As he sat there, waiting for his injuries to heal, he couldn't help but think about his fight with Xian Chong.
'I got extremely lucky. If that guy wasn't so arrogant and let down his guard when he thought he was about to kill me at that moment, I would have died.' He clenched his hands, and his drive to get stronger grew even more resolute.
'I have to increase my cultivation strength! No matter how many jutsus and soul skills I have in my arsenal, soul power and spiritual power is still the fundamentals and source of my abilities.'
Suddenly, he felt something heavy appear on his lap.
Without opening his eyes, he already who it was. With a sigh, he then said. "Xiao Dong, guard me for a while alright?"
*Sniff*
Xiao Dong, the big fluffy Snow Rabbit, cutely tilted its head.
"...Oh my Ice God, yes! I'll double your food when we get home so just, guard me."
*Sniff* *Sniff*
"Hm? You worried about Teacher Ya? Nah, don't worry about her. Based on my calculations, I'm pretty sure she's having an easier time than us."
....
"HAHAHAHA! DIE! DIE! DIIIIEEE!!" Tang Ya laughed maniacally, her body emitting a dark glow as she sent numerous dark-blue thorny vines, covered in pink smelly flames after an enraged looking bald old man that was the size of a bear and had the look of one; covered in fierce brown colored fur and had sharp black claws.
"YOU BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT TOU DID TO MY SON!" Tie Li roared, swiping at the vines with his sharp claws. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break free from the vines that wrapped around his massive body.
Tang Ya smirked, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she raised her hands and flipped off Tie Li. "Bring it on, asshole!" she said with a twisted grin.
The entire training hall was completely on fire.
....
"Yup. I'm sure she's doing okay. Now shoo, I'm going to recuperate here so do your job." Huo Yuhao closed his eyes and started circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill to increase his healing process and soul power recovery.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
The fluffy Snow Rabbit sniffed the air once again before hopping off Huo Yuhao's lap and taking its position as a guard.
It sat by the door, alert and vigilant, its fluffy ears perked up, ready to protect its master.
"Did you find the intruders?"
"No. Shit! Where the hell are they hiding at?!"
"What about that place?"
Xiao Dong's ears stiffened, hearing some voices and footsteps coming near it and its master.
Its red eyes twinkled with determination and bloodlust.
It had been getting too bored lately, and feeling the people coming near it were weak, it decided that it was going to show them the progress of its secret training!
Xiao Dong was going to strike the fear of the Snow Rabbit upon these lowly humans!
....
AN:....I lost the 50/50 and got a c1 Mona.
First off, yay. I finally got a five star on c1! Secondly, it's fricking Mona again! Ugh!! Now I have to do several hours of world quests to farm primogems.
Silver lining here is that in my Honkai Star Rail, I got Black Swan! Booyah! Hehe. Now I'm also pulling for Imbibitor Lunae's Light Cone.
...I have a problemđź«
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