A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-Cain
-Goha21
-Splendid
-Mp Gaming
-TylerD
-Orion Chung
-Patrick Darmon
-SATIONAS
-Gonzalo Sumalavia
-Sethos
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
It was the holiday season, and the sparring arena had no healing-type soul masters on standby.
The duel between Bai Xu and Gu Yue unfolded here.
After an intense battle, Gu Yue summarized, "We both command the three elements—water, fire, and earth—but our approaches are vastly different. Your control is more precise, and you can freely alter the forms of the elements, shaping them into blades, spears, axes, or swords at will. However, your power draws from your internal vital energy, while mine consumes soul power. I can accelerate the unstable fusion of different elements, manipulate fission, and create massive explosions. But you cannot. Your elements seem capable of mutual transformation or suppression, likely tied to the five organs of your body. Your technique is truly remarkable."
Bai Xu replied, "You're impressive as well. You've already reached level 42, and you're a One-Word Battle Armor Master. Your mecha skills must also be at an exceptionally high level."
Gu Yue smiled faintly. "Would you like to experience my One-Word Battle Armor? I haven't gone all out in our earlier match."
"Sure, let's both fight at full strength."
Bai Xu and Gu Yue stood facing each other, a hundred meters apart. The aura of a four-ringed Soul Ancestor unfurled, and Gu Yue's One-Word Battle Armor materialized, her silver eyes gleaming with power.
Bai Xu settled into his stance, his energy condensed inward. "Perfect. I've developed some self-created techniques. Mind being my test subject?"
"Bring it on!"
"The path of metal is honed through sharpness—tempered a thousand times to forge the essence of Geng Metal. Geng Metal carries a killing aura, its unyielding nature supreme. It governs the world's severing force and commands the transformation of weapons among mortals."
As Bai Xu spoke, a blade slowly formed in his hand. Unlike before, the sword's body was golden, but its edge was pitch-black, exuding a faint murderous intent. With the slightest movement of his arm, it seemed capable of slicing through space itself.
Gu Yue's expression turned grave—this golden sword posed an immense threat.
Bai Xu raised the blade and slashed. A golden-black sword beam shot across the arena, hurtling toward Gu Yue with undiminished force even after traversing a hundred meters.
She wasn't foolish enough to take it head-on. Using her movement technique, she dodged—not particularly fast, but she didn't even need spatial element manipulation to evade it.
Glancing at the hundred-meter-long scar gouged into the arena floor, then at the faint cracks forming on the protective barrier behind her, Gu Yue remarked, "The destructive power is formidable."
"That's just the beginning. It's not over yet!"
The battle erupted in earnest. Bai Xu charged toward Gu Yue at high speed, but she countered by manipulating light and dark elements to disrupt his vision.
Yet, it did nothing to break Bai Xu's rhythm.
"I told you—earth element mastery enhances spiritual perception. Even without sight, I know exactly where you are," Bai Xu declared confidently.
However, the dark elements surrounding him soon thickened, transforming into a murky swamp that trapped him as if in quicksand, making it impossible to pull free.
The darkness seemed to corrode Bai Xu's body, sapping his strength and draining his soul power.
"Useless!"
A protective golden light erupted around him, repelling the darkness. Bai Xu swung his sword, unleashing golden sword energy that cleaved through the black mist, revealing Gu Yue's distant figure.
Exposed, she didn't panic. Instead, she smiled. "Bai Xu, with my One-Word Battle Armor, my combat power has skyrocketed. Now, I can even execute pinpoint explosions. The elemental fission I used against you last time involved only four elements—this time, it's seven!"
Gu Yue clenched her hand, and the black swamp covering the arena surged toward Bai Xu like sticky tar, clinging to his golden barrier.
The remaining six elements—light, space, fire, and others—rapidly coalesced around him, encasing his entire body.
BOOM!
A human-shaped explosion detonated, sending plumes of smoke and elemental chaos spiraling outward. The layered effects of elemental fission were something even the Golden Dragon King's scales might not withstand.
"Seven-Element Great Fission! Though my current strength is insufficient to unleash its full power or chain-cast it, the offensive force it generates is already beyond what any peer can endure. If you can still withstand this—"
But then, the figure emerging from the smoke left Gu Yue stunned.
Beneath his golden barrier, Bai Xu's body was encased in a layer of solid rock, with a watery shield sandwiched between the stone and the light. Three layers of defense overlapped—Bai Xu's clothes were slightly torn, and minor burns on his arm were already healing thanks to the wood element's restorative power. His aura remained completely unaffected.
"Seems like… it's still not enough, Gu Yue!"
Bai Xu grinned, then took a single step—instantly closing the distance to Gu Yue.
Whoosh!
Space rippled slightly as Gu Yue vanished. Bai Xu wasn't surprised. Lightning crackled in his palm, and he hurled a bolt toward a spot a hundred meters away.
The moment Gu Yue reappeared there, the lightning was already at her face. Forced to teleport again, she emerged elsewhere.
"Such acute perception. You can even detect the slightest spatial fluctuations?" Gu Yue broke into a cold sweat. Bai Xu was truly formidable.
But she remained composed. "The outcome is still undecided! Bai Xu, I am strong!"
Gu Yue charged straight at him, her battle armor glowing as if she intended close combat. The seven elements in her hand coalesced into a staff, which she lightly tapped forward—space rippled outward.
Bai Xu's pupils contracted. His right fist smashed downward just in front of him.
Gu Yue's spatial teleportation had placed her right before him—a bold move.
This was a gamble: whether her spatial jump was faster than Bai Xu's punch. Fortunately for her, instantaneous movement outpaced even his speed.
His fist stopped just short of her cheek, but her staff had already touched his chest.
Bai Xu felt his entire body lock up, completely immobilized.
"Seven Elements: Annihilation Lightning! You're not the only one who wields thunder." Gu Yue gave him a playful smile. The residual energy from the earlier explosion still lingered, and the seven elements in the air instantly transformed into bolts of elemental lightning, lashing toward Bai Xu.
But then, Bai Xu's soul projection separated from his body, his spectral face nearly touching Gu Yue's. He smiled back. "Oh? I'm not the Golden Dragon King, whose strength lies only in his body. My soul power is almost stronger than yours!"
His spectral finger tapped Gu Yue's forehead, making her recoil in pain. Then, he flicked her metallic battle armor before retreating to his physical form.
The destructive force of the elemental lightning was no joke—Gu Yue had even added a piercing effect, as though the Silver Dragon's abilities inherently countered the Golden Dragon's.
Even Bai Xu couldn't escape unscathed.
BOOM!
Bai Xu's own thunder and golden light erupted in retaliation. When the smoke cleared, it was Bai Xu who looked worse for wear—his upper garments were shredded again, his injuries slowly healing under the wood element's influence. But his aura had noticeably weakened; the toll was significant.
Gu Yue laughed. "It's not over yet, Bai Xu! I still have more tricks!"
Bai Xu interrupted, "Though battle armor pushes a soul master's limits, it's still insignificant before me. Gu Yue, this ends now."
Before she could unleash her next move, the battle armor on her right arm suddenly morphed—transforming into metallic chains that coiled around her entire body, binding her tightly.
Golden patterns spread across Gu Yue's form, sealing her soul power and spiritual energy, forcing her to confront reality once more.
Bai Xu looked down at her, amused. "Well? What do you think of this new technique? It's a sealing art—capable of locking away a soul master's power."
This was a move Bai Xu had developed specifically for soul masters, designed to counter even the mighty demigod-level battle armor masters of the continent.
Gu Yue's face flushed. She gritted her teeth and hurriedly said, "I get it! Now release me—this position is… embarrassing."
One had to marvel at how quickly people here matured. At just twelve or thirteen, their physiques were already well-developed. If this kept up… was it really a good thing?