In Su Ming's hand, a sword burned with dark blue flames, a manifestation of his destructive power.
"Watch closely, Qian Renxue. Don't die on me—feel this with your whole being."
Normally, Su Ming's tone was as calm as jade, warm and unperturbed. But this time, his words were chilling, devoid of any warmth, making Qian Renxue and the others shudder.
"Danger!"
"Left Leg Bone Soul Skill—Angel Displacement!"
Angel Displacement allowed her to dodge swiftly, reappearing in a new location. Yet in the blink of an eye, Su Ming closed the distance between them using Kamui, appearing directly before her. His sword struck down, leaving a long, painful wound on her body. The sharp, ruthless strike startled her; Su Ming's sword was faster, fiercer, wielding several times the power she could manage. And this was just the first move—if he completed all twelve, there'd be nothing left of her.
Strangely, as she looked at Su Ming's cold, intense expression, she felt an unfamiliar sensation, an urge not to resist. But she knew all too well—if she didn't fight back, she'd be done for.
"Second Soul Skill: Wings of Void!"
Channeling all her remaining soul power into this skill, Qian Renxue transformed into a state immune to physical attacks and partially resistant to energy attacks. But it was no use; her injuries multiplied with every passing moment. If things continued, she'd have no way out.
From the sidelines, Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo grew anxious, and even those in the hall felt restless. Su Ming was supposed to be on their side—why was he fighting so fiercely?
Bibi Dong gripped her scepter tightly. Su Ming's uncharacteristic intensity confused her; should she intervene?
In the arena, Dugu Yan made a decision. "Lingling, Rongrong, support Qian Renxue. Su Ming's state seems off."
"You can feel it too, right? That unsettling destructive energy, similar to the aura in Qian Renxue's Angel Domain. But it's suppressing her domain… Su Ming might be on the verge of creating his own domain. We can't interrupt him."
Lingling and Rongrong nodded, agreeing without hesitation. Su Ming's aura was foreign and intense, unlike the gentle, life-filled energy they were accustomed to—even wilder than before.
"But… honestly, he looks amazing surrounded by those dark blue flames," Rongrong murmured.
"Nine Treasures, named for its third and fourth glories: Spirit and Protection!"
Lingling's dual-lotus healing ability bloomed as white petals fell onto Qian Renxue, healing her wounds.
The girls watched the scene tensely, trusting that Su Ming, despite his fierce appearance, had a purpose. As Qian Renxue's strength was gradually restored, she glanced at the sidelines in surprise.
Spectators, however, looked puzzled. Why were Su Ming's teammates aiding someone from Spirit Hall?
As the seconds passed, Su Ming completed his final move, Flame Dance, exhaling deeply to steady himself. He looked down at the dark blue domain surrounding him, then at the battered Qian Renxue. A bit of embarrassment slipped into his expression. Caught up in memories of his past life, he'd felt a rush of adrenaline that had unleashed his destructive energy, creating a domain he hadn't expected.
Still, he knew Lingling and Rongrong had been there to help, ensuring no real harm befell Qian Renxue. Smiling sheepishly, he deactivated his Sharingan and gave Qian Renxue an apologetic look. She stared back at him, her expression laced with irritation and something… more?
Next moment, both of them dispelled their martial spirit avatars and returned to normal.
"Spirit Hall forfeits," Qian Renxue announced, sighing. She looked at Su Ming reluctantly. She had truly believed she could win if he didn't use his full power. But in the end, she lost.
That trick he used—covering the Wooden Giant with Susanoo armor—she hadn't quite figured it out. Still, it wasn't even the full Susanoo, yet she hadn't stood a chance. And then there was his ability to copy her moves… with flawless skill.
She approached, gritting her teeth, "Next time, we'll spar again!"
In a low voice, she added, "You really pulled one over on me, Su Ming. We're supposed to be like siblings, and you didn't hold back one bit. If it weren't for your teammates, were you really trying to kill me out there?"
He replied awkwardly, "Uh… I kinda had a breakthrough on my domain, got a bit carried away. Besides, with your mom watching, there was no real danger, right? Heh…"