Time flew by, and the combat on the 2nd stage, where two 1st level Warrior Lords, one called Li Chin, the other Zhong Xinyi, fought, had already finished with the former winning. A narrow victory, it should be said, as neither of the two combatants showed anything unexpected, their clash developing in the most book-like manner.
Starting with a physical exchange, then an aura clash, and moving to techniques and skills show off, finishing with the trump cards. As for the victory, it wasn't anything grand either, with Li Chin's trump card, a scythe-like blade of wind he released with a kick being just a bit stronger than his opponent's flame-covered mace attack.
And it would be rare to point out a person in the arena that even followed the combat itself, with only a few glances thrown at it by the ones that for some reason had betted on either of the newly arrived and unknown 1st level Warrior Lords.
The attention of everyone followed the other three combats, and while the ones on the 1st and the 3rd stages looked more akin to a spar, the 4th stage, Chun Hua against Xun Gengxin, was worth all of the attention on it.
***
Chun Hua had shown her skill in her first debut combat, and no one could call her anything but strong. Not after the one-sided and accomplished in a single exchange win against the more-or-less known Shi Huang. The arrival of a dark horse like Xun Gengxin, who countered attacks that not many of the observers believed themselves capable of, only added fuel to the fire.
And as Chun Hua disappeared from the stage, merging into the void entirely, something nearly unheard of for a low-level Warrior Lord, the combat promised to become even more impressive.
*Swoosh* *Rip*
A slender arm suddenly emerged a few inches from Xun Gengxin's neck, and the dagger held in it scrapped against the latter's aura cover, even cutting a small part of his martial robe.
Chun Hua's arm disappeared into the void again, making the low-level observers and even a couple of the hidden experts gasp. And to question themselves, just what amount of skill and talent she had? To partially appear from the void and immediately disappear, not giving even the slightest chance to counterattack?
Not many Warrior Kings would be capable of replicating such a feat, probably not even in such renowned powers as the [Void Palace].
And it wasn't just a single-time occurrence, as in the span of a few breaths, Chun Hua repeated such attacks a dozen times. Each time her attacks chipped more and more at the aura cover of her opponent, forcing the latter to spend an increasing amount of soul power keeping it up and, at the same time, not allowing him to concentrate on sensing her.
"Before, I had doubts about how she managed to do so. And even though I am now aware of the reason, I can not help but marvel at Chun Hua's control and concentration while moving inside the void." He Delan explained in a low voice, masking it from anyone but Ma Su and the Bai sisters nearby.
And though she was sure no cultivator below the Emperor realm could overhear her words, she still did not mention the reason - Chun Hua's being not human but an [Astral Devourer].
{You should be capable of the same. Or am I wrong?} Bai Rui asked via transmission, unable to mask her voice with qi.
"That I am, but it's something that took me several years of practice, and I am an entire realm and half over her. So you could say that not only me but probably all of the Palace elders, except Head Kongbai, are somewhat envious of her race." He Delan answered, before directing her full attention on the stage again, as now two dagger-wielding hands appeared, and from opposite sides of Xun Gengxin, breaking all of the conceivable methods of usual combat. After all, it wasn't like if Chun Hua's limbs were thrice the length of a person!
*Slash* *Rip*
One dagger slashed at Xun Gengxin's wrist, barely touching the robe but still penetrating the aura cover nearly entirely.
But the other wasn't a simple attack but an actual martial skill.
*Swoosh* *Tear* *Splatter*
With him being unprepared for it and distracted by the first slash, a ray-like skill was released from the dagger's tip not only broke through Xun Gengxin's defenses but directly penetrated through the latter's wrist, leaving a perfectly circular hole on it.
Xun Gengxin released an audible groan of pain as, in place of blood, blood-red ice crystals emerged from the wound. Chun Hua's skill had not injured him, but the ice-element aura of the skill also managed to penetrate his body, making the injury fairly more dangerous than it looked!
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Fan Jia and Ye Yijun's duel continued as before. A thin sword and a broad spear clashed, again and again. And while the changes in the exchange could be overlooked by a mere observer, for the present experts, it wasn't so. And if asked, they would respond that both sides were preparing something.
Stealthily or not, hiding their qi and aura gathering or not, the exchange was slowing down into a nearly-mechanical set of actions, something impossible for such a battle. And the only reason for such was that the combatants were preparing some kind of skill, trump-card even.
The experts would be mistaken, though, as Fan Jia wasn't slowing down because she was preparing. She did because she was ready to release her illusions, yet she wanted to goad her opponent into acting first.
After all, it would be far easier for Ye Yijun to fall under the illusion after she was distracted by her own attack. Not to mention that Fan Jia still held a burning desire to prove herself capable, and while she knew it was unlikely, she still wanted to try and win without resorting to her illusions.
Yet as it would turn just a few breaths later, Fan Jia's desire-based plan would lead to a disastrous result, her loss.
***
After the first breaths of the exchange, Ye Yijun understood that Fan Jia was nearly her equal. A bit surprising, to say the truth, as she herself was the most average of fighters.
And while Ye Yijun had not expected to meet demon-tier geniuses while fighting on the Zihoadao's arenas, especially with the ongoing war, she still believed that the fighters here would be above her level. And actually, judging from what she saw of the clash between the swordmasters in the 3rd stage, Ye Yijun's thoughts weren't so far from reality.
Yet, Fan Jia was as average as herself, which had made Ye Yijun clash with her opponent in melee since the start. The chance for even combat was rare, so why miss it? Still, Ye Yijun intended to battle as much as possible in the arena, so losing her first fight was out of the question.
An average fighter was one thing, but an average cultivator would have never become an inner disciple, especially a rising star of a power, even if the latter was just a 4th tier one like Ye Yijun's [Fanged God Sect].
And Ye Yijun wasn't an average cultivator indeed. Her talent for the martial path wasn't so clearly shown, with neither her body, qi control, nor aura being above the most-common Warrior Lord. But, she had a rare talent. One that was discovered and nurtured by the [Fanged God Sect] elders, and her independent journey to this island wasn't anything but a test to see if she merited to be a personal disciple. And no mere personal disciple, but the one of the Sectmaster!
But what was this talent? What did earn so much attention from the usually secluded Sectmaster? Enough to even think of her as a candidate to become his disciple, maybe even acquire a higher, successor status?
The only thing stopping her was her lack of ability to read Fan Jia's actual abilities, as the latter had not used any techniques, martial skills, or either, keeping to physical combat only.
***
Ye Yijun's aura suddenly flared, from the retracted qi cover turning into a roaring torrent that enveloped nearly half of the stage, forcing Fan Jia back, less she wanted to turn it into a clash of auras.
The strongest attacks of a Warrior Lord were still the martial skills, and any of them required at least some amount of kept-back aura. But Ye Yijun had just pulled out all stoppers, infusing all of her remaining soul-power into gathering this roaring wall of qi. So, what would she attack with then?
A spirit technique based on inner qi? None of them from an equal-strength opponent would be of threat to a Warrior Lord.
Mind-power? Spells required time to cast, and the casting process would be sensed by the opponent, allowing them to react with either a ward or some other way. As for attacking the opponent's mind directly, Fan Jia did not believe Ye Yijun to be more potent than her in mind-power. Especially not with illusions being part of the consciousness realm, meaning that Fan Jia's mind was anything but average.
Ye Yijun's talent was a rare one indeed. Probably even unheard of by most cultivators even. To infuse the entirety of one's inner reserves, be it qi, soul, or consciousness, into a single attack.
An attack that was neither a technique, skill, or spell.
It could be considered a simple one-shot of pure force. And being so, with no element, strenght or weaknesses. Only usable once per combat, as Ye Yijun would require at least some time to recuperate the minimum amount enough for normal circulation, it was nonetheless nearly impossible to counter. At least without being able to phase into the void, controlling one of the Dao, or having a developed domain.
Essentially, one could say that no cultivator below the Warrior Emperor realm could hope for anything but meet it with blunt force, bar some exceptions like Chun Hua, who could actually phase with ease and no preparations.
With qi required to replenish both soul- and mind- powers, and her aura being used to open the distance to avoid being injured herself, one of the limitations of her ability, as she would be injured by it unlike any ordinary technique or skill, Ye Yijun had only one nearly untouched pool to utilize, mind-power.
"I am sorry, but it's my win." Ye Yijun quietly murmured as she closed her eyes and inwardly released all of her mind-power, directing it at Fan Jia.
"Huh?!" Fan Jia only managed to exclaim in doubt and surprise, not expecting such words from her opponent. And then, she was swept away by an unseen stream of force. One that she only managed to sense at the last moment, when she had no way to avoid in the measly few feet she had towards the stage barrier.
*SHATTER* *CRASH*