A Tiger's Valor, A Dragon's Dominion
The collision was a brief, violent punctuation in the pale silence. Yao Xuan's dragon-clawed fist, a conduit of tens of thousands of kilograms of force, met the White Tiger's desperate, slashing guard.
CRUNCH!
The sound was not clean, but wet and final. The illusion's formidable tiger claws, capable of shredding steel, shattered on impact. The bones in both forearms snapped like dry twigs, the limbs twisting into useless, grotesque angles. The simulated entity was hurled backwards, a puppet with its strings cut.
"Too straightforward," Yao Xuan murmured, a flicker of disappointment in his nine-colored eyes. He had hoped for more of a duel, a taste of the legendary monster's famed resilience. He closed the distance in a single, spatial-step-assisted stride. Before the illusion could even process its catastrophic injuries, Yao Xuan's left claw descended in a merciful arc, connecting with its forehead. The figure dissolved into a shower of azure motes.
'A pittance,' he thought, the reward reflecting the lack of challenge. 'But then, what did I expect from a mere two-ringed reflection?'
The mechanical voice confirmed his victory and advanced him. The next illusion was identical—another Level 23 Dai Mubai. It fell just as quickly, a repetitive exercise dispatched with bored efficiency.
Light coalesced once more. This time, the figure that formed was more substantial. Taller, broader, its aura denser and sharper. Three soul rings rose behind it—two yellow, one purple. A Level 33 Soul Elder. The eyes still held that fierce, double-pupiled blue, but now they glinted with the sharper intelligence of a third ring.
'Finally, a bit more weight to the legend,' Yao Xuan mused, his blood energy stirring with mild interest. 'Let's see how many moves this one can inspire.'
The illusion did not hesitate. Its third purple ring flashed immediately—White Tiger Vajra Transformation. Its body swelled further, muscles knotting like ancient roots, dark tiger-stripes etching across its skin. Its presence became a tangible wall of bestial might and reinforced defense. With a ground-shaking roar, it launched itself forward, not with simple speed, but with terrifying, weighty momentum, its now-giant claws aiming to crush Yao Xuan in a single, overwhelming embrace.
Yao Xuan responded in kind. "Ancestral Dragon Body!" he intoned, his second purple soul ring igniting. This was not the passive enhancement; this was the active soul skill, drawing deeply on his soul power. His own frame seemed to solidify, the nine-colored scales on his skin gleaming with an internal light. Strength, defense, agility—all surged to meet the oncoming titan.
He didn't retreat. He met the charge head-on, a dragon facing a diving tiger.
BOOM!
This impact was different. It was a thunderclap of colliding titans. The air vibrated. Yao Xuan felt the force—significant, respectable. It was the difference between being hit by a carriage and being hit by a siege engine. His feet slid back half a meter on the white floor, leaving faint scuff marks.
The White Tiger illusion fared worse. It was thrown back several meters, a guttural, simulated snarl of pain and surprise tearing from its throat. Its right forearm, though not shattered, was bent at a severe, unnatural angle. The Vajra Transformation had saved it from complete destruction, but the disparity in foundational power was still a chasm.
Yao Xuan flexed his fingers. 'Better. His defensive skill is noteworthy. But his raw power… still lacking.' He had held back, using only the enhanced physique from his soul skill, not even layering on his bloodline's transformation or his most penetrating attack. He wanted to feel the rhythm of a Soul Elder-tier legend.
The illusion, displaying that legendary tenacity, pushed through the pain. It switched tactics, using its greater mass and reach to attempt grapples, to slam Yao Xuan with its shoulders, to use the environment of its own body as a weapon. It was clever, adaptive.
Yao Xuan weaved through the assaults, parrying a heavy swipe with his scaled forearm, redirecting a charge with a sharp, precise kick to its knee. It was a sparring session now, Yao Xuan analyzing the fight patterns of a historical master of physical combat.
But after a half-minute of this, the intellectual curiosity was satisfied. The illusion, though valiant, could not bridge the gap. Its movements were becoming predictable, its energy flagging under the constant pressure of Yao Xuan's superior might.
'Enough.'
As the illusion gathered for another lumbering charge, Yao Xuan decided to conclude the lesson. He didn't need a soul skill. He simply channeled a greater portion of his blood energy into his right arm, the scales there glowing brightly. As the tiger lunged, Yao Xuan sidestepped with fluid grace, his right claw shooting out in a devastating reverse strike that caught the illusion across the torso.
THWACK!
The sound was like a giant whip cracking. The illusion was lifted off its feet and slammed into the ground, carving a shallow trench. It struggled to rise, a flickering, unstable blue light around it—its first soul skill, White Tiger Protective Barrier, activating instinctively as a last defense.
Yao Xuan stood over it. "Your spirit is commendable," he said quietly, as if the construct could hear. "But this era has its own legends to forge."
His claw descended one final time, piercing through the flickering white barrier with a sound like tearing silk. The illusion dissolved into light.
The points were a steady trickle, a useful side benefit. But Yao Xuan's mind was already on the escalating challenge. If a Soul Elder-tier Dai Mubai was the first stage of 'Advanced,' what came next? A Soul Ancestor? The full Shrek Seven together?
A flicker of concern, soft and unbidden, crossed his mind. 'Gu Yue's trial is likely tailored to her control-type abilities. She's brilliant, her power profound… but I hope the system isn't too harsh on her.' It was a protective instinct, rooted in Na'er's memory and Gu Yue's present vulnerability. He trusted her strength implicitly, but the desire to shield her was a constant, gentle hum in his heart.
The pale space shimmered, the air growing heavier, charged with the promise of a greater test. Yao Xuan settled into his stance, the nine-colored light around him steady and ready. The Hall of Heroes was beginning to live up to its name. He wondered which ghost of glory would answer the call next.