Chapter 220: Ji Juechen, Defeated Beyond Recovery!
Faced with Ji Juechen's attack, Huo Yuhao refused to sit idly by.
Behind him, golden light surged, and the Eye of Destiny on his forehead erupted with a dazzling radiance, akin to a second sun rising into the sky.
For a Body Spirit Master, a Gold tier Second Awakening was an ultimate trump card. After all, such an awakening could amplify a soul master's combat strength by one to three times.
However, while Body Spirit Masters could unleash devastating power with this ability, the energy consumption was immense. Even Du Busi, the Body Sect's Sect Master, couldn't maintain a Gold tier Second Awakening for extended periods.
"Gold tier Second Awakening?!" Xiao Hongchen's face was filled with shock.
The surrounding students were equally stunned.
Such a level of awakening was incredibly rare. Records indicated that only the Sect Masters of the Body Sect throughout history had ever achieved it each one a near invincible powerhouse.
Huo Yuhao's vertical eye, which had initially gleamed rose gold, rapidly shifted through various hues black iron, bronze, silver until it finally settled into a pure, dazzling gold.
"Soul Shock!"
Three beams of golden light shot out from his three eyes, streaking toward Ji Juechen.
This was a strengthened version of Soul Shock, now infused with the power of destiny. Compared to its previous form, its strength had multiplied several times over.
With his immense spiritual power, Huo Yuhao was fully capable of using both martial souls simultaneously. As he launched Soul Shock, his second martial soul, the Ice Jade Scorpion, manifested at his side, summoning a barrage of ice.
At the same time, Ji Juechen's "Kill" sword aura was upon him.
Yet, the attack failed to reach Huo Yuhao.
The "Kill" character slammed into layers upon layers of frozen shields, instantly encasing it in solid ice.
Crack! Crack!
The ice shattered under the pressure of the sword aura, but as soon as one layer broke, another took its place. The endless wave of ice gradually wore down the lethal attack until it completely dissipated.
Ji Juechen tried to continue his offensive but before he could move, Soul Shock struck.
Crack!
His mental defense soul tool shattered instantly.
A dull groan escaped his lips as his mind blanked out, his consciousness slipping into a daze.
Despite his formidable willpower, Ji Juechen struggled against the effects of Soul Shock, barely managing to break free from the daze
Only for another three beams of Soul Shock to land.
Thud!
Blood dripped from Ji Juechen's nose as his body stiffened again.
Watching the opportunity, Huo Yuhao activated another soul skill
"Spirit Burn!"
Within Ji Juechen's spiritual sea, ghostly flames ignited, rapidly consuming his mental energy like a candle being devoured by fire.
Under the relentless cycle of Soul Shock and Spirit Burn, Ji Juechen never even got the chance to unleash a single soul skill.
His body convulsed once then he collapsed, completely unconscious.
Ji Juechen, defeated beyond recovery!
"The winner Huo Yuhao." Kong Deming announced the result before turning to Huo Yuhao with admiration. "Yuhao, your strength has grown immensely. Even without using your soul spirits, you defeated Ji Juechen purely through sustained soul skill assaults."
"However," he continued, "this combat style is only effective for those with immense battle power and near limitless soul reserves. If a weaker soul master tried this, it would be highly inefficient."
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.
Although his Gold tier Second Awakening significantly boosted his combat prowess, both maintaining the awakening and constantly activating soul skills were incredibly draining.
Nearby, Xiao Hongchen was completely dumbfounded.
The moment Huo Yuhao triggered Gold tier Second Awakening, he knew the battle was tipping in Yuhao's favor.
But because Ji Juechen had the Seven Kill Sword and a higher cultivation level, he still believed Ji Juechen had the advantage.
Yet Ji Juechen was defeated this quickly?
He was the top student of the Combat Soul Engineering Department!
And now? He barely lasted a minute!
Xiao Hongchen replayed the fight in his mind. Ji Juechen had only launched a single attack before being overwhelmed by Huo Yuhao's mental abilities.
If this had been a real life and death battle, Ji Juechen would have already been dead.
Damn... I completely underestimated Yuhao.
His power had already surpassed what I imagined possible.
How long has he even been cultivating? And he's already surpassed me in combat strength?!
Xiao Hongchen's frustration deepened. When Huo Yuhao had first arrived at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, he was merely a low ranked soul master. Back then, Xiao had looked down on him after all, he was only a Soul Elder, while Xiao was already a Soul Ancestor.
But now?
Huo Yuhao had caught up to him in soul rank and completely outclassed him in battle!
"Yuhao is simply too strong!"
Beside him, Meng Hongchen added salt to the wound with a smirk.
"Xiao, it's only natural that Yuhao surpasses you in combat. Otherwise, how could he be Sun Moon's Number One Genius? My dear 'Second Genius Brother'~?"
Xiao Hongchen's face darkened.
"I know, you don't have to keep repeating it…" he grumbled.
His frustration only worsened as he muttered, "What bothers me the most is that… the stronger I get, the wider the gap between us grows. Instead of catching up to Yuhao, I feel like I'm only falling further behind."
If this continued, he might even lose his title as Sun Moon's 'Second Genius' altogether!
Meanwhile, Underwater...
Bai Xiuxiu had arrived at the location where she had seen the golden explosion only to find nothing but empty ocean.
"Huh? Where's the treasure? Did some other sea soul beast snatch it before me? No way! I usually have great luck!"
Her disappointment was evident. This was a huge letdown for her "innocent, young heart."
Still, it was a minor setback. She quickly recovered and started looking around again.
As she swam upward, she suddenly saw a massive shadow.
"What…?"
From its outline, it resembled the ships built by some Sea God Island soul masters.
But even among those…
This ship was enormous.
The sheer size of it shocked her.
She instinctively swam closer, arriving near the bottom of the ship.
If I could take human form, she thought, I'd totally sneak aboard and explore the human world!
Too bad I can't transform yet… my cultivation still isn't high enough.
She had always been fascinated by the human world. Sure, she knew that some humans hunted soul beasts but she was still irresistibly drawn to their civilization.
And besides...
As one of Sea God Tang San's personal sea soul beasts, she had heard all the legends about him and Xiao Wu's love story countless times.
She couldn't help but wonder...
Wouldn't it be amazing to see the human world for myself?
(End of chapter.)
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