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In a normal situation, if Cui Yajie had fully focused on evading, she might have been able to dodge Xiao Xiao's Ultimate Weapon. If she had succeeded, she wouldn't have been struck by Yuwen Tuo's flames afterward.
Unfortunately, just as Huo Yuhao's mental attack had failed against Yuwen Tuo earlier, Cui Yajie's charm ability—essentially a technique that influenced the opponent's mind—was similarly ineffective against Yuwen Tuo's overwhelming psychic power.
In that brief moment when Cui Yajie attempted to invade Yuwen Tuo's spiritual sea, she was met with an extraordinary sight. It was as though she had entered a golden world, filled with countless razor-sharp golden sword qi, each one possessing unstoppable cutting power.
Most notably, Yuwen Tuo's soul bore no resemblance to a typical human form. Instead, it manifested as a radiant golden sword—a manifestation so unique and intimidating that it sent shivers down her spine.
Terrified, Cui Yajie immediately withdrew her psychic energy. However, even in that split second, her mind felt as though it were being shredded by thousands of blades, leaving her in excruciating agony.
This was why she became so vulnerable to Xiao Xiao's Ultimate Weapon and subsequently fell victim to Yuwen Tuo's flames. She simply couldn't fathom how such an aggressively sharp and destructive soul could exist. Yuwen Tuo's spiritual realm was akin to a legendary divine sword—its edges honed to perfection, its power incomparable.
"Hot… so hot! It hurts!!!"
Cui Yajie collapsed to her knees, clutching her head tightly while her fox tail curled inward. Her cries echoed through the battlefield—not feigned or exaggerated but genuine screams of torment.
The heat came from her scorched fox tail, while the pain stemmed from the brutal tearing of her psychic energy. Mental anguish often exceeded physical suffering tenfold.
Fortunately, at this critical moment, Xiao Xiao unleashed her Tripod Shockwave. The attack not only knocked Cui Yajie unconscious but also extinguished the flames engulfing her tail.
Xiao Xiao, despite being young, still possessed a kind heart. Though she disapproved of Cui Yajie's earlier flirtatious behavior toward Yuwen Tuo, she couldn't bear to see another girl endure such torment. Prolonged mental anguish could lead to a complete breakdown, potentially driving someone insane.
By rendering Cui Yajie unconscious, Xiao Xiao ensured her safety.
"Yajie!" Dai Huabin shouted anxiously. Their pre-battle strategy had been clear: Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu would launch a fierce assault on Yuwen Tuo, while Cui Yajie used her charm ability to briefly mesmerize him for just one second—enough time to gain the upper hand.
Once Yuwen Tuo was caught in their relentless barrage, Dai Huabin was confident that his Blade Dance would never stand a chance against their combined strength.
But none of them expected their team's primary control-based spirit master to be defeated within moments of the battle starting.
"What are you doing worrying about others right now?" Yuwen Tuo suddenly slashed his blade toward Dai Huabin.
A mere second made all the difference—it was like crossing an unbridgeable chasm. Since Cui Yajie failed to hold him back for even a single second, Yuwen Tuo seized the opportunity to activate his first soul skill, summoning the Flame Devourer Blade.
The target of this slash wasn't aimed directly at either Dai Huabin or Zhu Lu but instead struck between the two, forcing them apart with its overwhelming blade pressure.
Yuwen Tuo understood his opponents' psychology well. Knowing that Dai Huabin wanted to prevent him from performing his Blade Dance, he countered by disrupting their plan to use their Fusion Skill.
"Huabin!" Zhu Lu sensed the immense power behind Yuwen Tuo's strike—it surpassed even the attacks of a three-ringed Soul Elder like Dai Huabin. Without hesitation, she activated her second soul ring, launching herself from the left. "Second Soul Skill: Phantom Hundred Claws!"
"First Soul Skill: White Tiger Protective Barrier!" Dai Huabin simultaneously activated his defensive skill, reinforcing his strength and defenses before attacking from the right with his tiger claws.
"Second Soul Skill: Starfire Blaze Across the Sky!" Yuwen Tuo spread his fiery wings, soaring into the air instantly.
Both Zhu Lu's cat claws and Dai Huabin's tiger claws missed their mark entirely.
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu exchanged glances, nodding slightly. They had anticipated that their initial strikes wouldn't hit Yuwen Tuo. Those attacks weren't meant to harm—they were designed to force Yuwen Tuo away, giving them enough room to clasp hands and fuse their soul powers.
Dai Huabin harbored deep fears about facing Yuwen Tuo after witnessing Cui Yajie's swift defeat. He didn't dare waste time testing him further; his only goal now was to unleash their ultimate Fusion Skill, Ghostly White Tiger, and end the battle decisively. Delaying any longer risked unforeseen complications.
However, the fact that Dai Huebin chose to attack Yuwen Tuo rather than immediately activating Ghostly White Tiger sealed their fate—they would never get the chance to use it during this fight.
"Wildfire Scorched Earth Technique!" Yuwen Tuo executed a downward slash, unleashing a cascade of fire.
In theory, his attack was slightly delayed. By rights, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu should have clasped hands first.
But this too was part of Yuwen Tuo's calculations.
A melodious flute tune rang out as Xiao Xiao switched her martial soul. Using the Meng Chun Liu Qu, she played the first soul skill of the Nine Phoenixes Pay Homage Flute: Sluggishness.
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu were abruptly slowed by 20%. That small percentage proved decisive, causing their movements to lag ever so slightly.
Their hands were less than two centimeters apart—but Yuwen Tuo's blade arrived first.
Realizing that pressing forward to fuse their souls would result in their palms being severed, they reluctantly abandoned their attempt. Withdrawing their hands, they narrowly avoided the blade but lost their opportunity to perform the Fusion Skill.
After landing, Yuwen Tuo held his blade with one hand and unleashed a spinning slash. A fierce wave of blade energy surged toward Zhu Lu, who braced herself to block it with her claws.
Past experiences had taught her a valuable lesson: any soul master below the third-rank Soul Elder level who dared to face Yuwen Tuo head-on would inevitably be defeated in seconds.
Thus, Zhu Lu endured the impact for barely a second before shifting sideways, dodging the blade altogether. She was wise—clearly learning from those who had fallen prey to Yuwen Tuo's overwhelming power earlier.
Yuwen Tuo smiled faintly, unperturbed. With a flick of his wrist, he transferred the blade to his left hand and swung again, this time targeting Dai Huabin.
"This Yuwen Tuo... His left-handed strikes are just as powerful as his right! He truly wields dual blades with equal proficiency!" Dai Huabin exclaimed in astonishment.
Despite activating White Tiger Protective Barrier, the sheer force of Yuwen Tuo's Flame Devourer Blade far exceeded his expectations. This wasn't merely a century-level soul skill—its devastating power pushed Dai Huabin to his limits almost instantly. The barrier shattered rapidly.
Acting decisively, Dai Huabin twisted the surrounding air, causing purple ripples to emerge. A thousand-year soul ring rose above him, imbuing his body with newfound vigor. His physique swelled dramatically, muscles bulging grotesquely until his shirt burst open, revealing sharply defined contours. Most strikingly, black stripes appeared across his skin, resembling those of a true tiger.
This was the third soul skill common among members of the White Tiger Dai family: White Tiger Diamond Transformation.
For a limited time, resistance to abnormal states, along with attack, defense, and strength, doubled significantly.
Though potent, this third soul skill came with a glaring drawback—its high soul power consumption. Even a Soul Elder like Dai Huabin could sustain it for only a short period.