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Chapter 54 - 51. Training Fighting Skill (4)

SHHHRRRAAKK!!

A wave of golden energy sliced through the air with a force that nearly split the sky—but just a split second before it could strike Yu Shang's body…

"Fifth Soul Ring: Shadow Substitution!"

A black soul ring glowed beneath his feet—the fifth ring! Just as Tianyu's slash was about to land, his own shadow—cast on the ground by the golden aura—shimmered.

Then zup! In the blink of an eye, Yu Shang's body vanished from his spot and reappeared behind Tianyu, taking the place of the shadow.

Tianyu's golden slash shot straight forward, hitting nothing but air, carving into the battlefield and splitting the ground for dozens of meters ahead.

The wave of golden energy surged forward like lightning, blasting apart the earth in a thunderous explosion. But...

Yu Shang was no longer there.

Tianyu furrowed his brow, sensing a presence behind him.

"Shadow Substitution…?"

He spun around quickly—just as Yu Shang launched a counterattack!

SZZZT!

Yu Shang's black claws, shrouded in a deadly poisonous mist, slashed toward Tianyu's neck. This time, he wasn't holding back—it was a killing blow.

But Tianyu was ready.

BAM!

With an almost impossible reflex, his right hand blocked the attack, while his left hand clenched into a fist and—

DORR!!

His golden punch struck Yu Shang's abdomen with a force that made the air quake.

"Ghk—!!"

Yu Shang was thrown backward, blood spurting from his mouth. But he didn't give up—he twisted midair and landed on one knee, his face filled with disbelief.

"He… anticipated Shadow Substitution…?"

Tianyu didn't give him time to think.

BOOM!

With a single step, Tianyu was already in front of Yu Shang again, his hand hardened like a dragon's claw, ready to rend.

Yu Shang raised his arm, trying to defend—

KRAAK!

The bones in his arm cracked, nearly snapping.

"Impossible…!" Yu Shang thought, cold sweat trickling down his temple.

His body was thrown once more, crashing hard into the ground and scraping across the battlefield, leaving a long trail. Dust flew everywhere, partially obscuring the view, but the sound of his ragged breathing remained loud and clear.

Tianyu stood not far away, no longer advancing. The golden aura around his body slowly faded, but his gaze remained sharp and alert. He had no intention of underestimating his opponent—even if that opponent was nearly defeated.

Yu Shang struggled to rise, one knee pressed against the ground. His arm, which had tried to block earlier, was trembling violently. His right arm was nearly unusable, and his shoulder throbbed as if fractured. But what stung more than the pain… was Tianyu standing across from him—virtually unscathed. Only a tear on his side showed he had been wounded at all. Yu Shang had managed to land only one blow throughout the entire match.

That fact alone… hurt more than any punch.

He lowered his head. His teeth clenched—not from fear—but from the sting of his pride being torn apart. He had given everything. Even used his fifth soul skill, his ultimate move. But still, his opponent—a six-year-old boy—read him like a book, and countered.

Silence.Huo Yunxi and Xu Jiujiu, who had been watching, remained wordless—afraid to interrupt a duel that felt like a fight to the death.

Finally, Yu Shang clenched his left fist—the only hand he could still move—and slammed it into the ground.

"I surrender."

The words came out quietly, but clearly enough for everyone present to hear.

Finally, Yu Shang clenched his fist—with his still-functioning left hand—and drove it into the ground.

"I surrender."

The words came out quietly, yet clearly enough for everyone present to hear.

Tianyu took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The golden aura surrounding his body gradually faded, leaving only a small six-year-old boy who now looked utterly exhausted. His chest rose and fell, his body drenched in sweat. His breathing was ragged and uneven. Now that his Martial Soul had deactivated, the pain and fatigue he had been suppressing all rushed in at once.

His stomach let out a loud growl. The physical exertion and the activation of the word "龙" earlier had drained his energy reserves completely.

From the edge of the arena, Huo Yunxi and Xu Jiujiu quickly rushed over, their faces filled with worry.

"Tianyu, are you okay?" asked Huo Yunxi, her eyes immediately focusing on his abdomen. "I saw you got hit here earlier."

Her Spirit Eyes activated at once, carefully scanning Tianyu's internal condition.

Tianyu nodded weakly, allowing Huo Yunxi to examine him. His body was still weary, but he did his best to stand tall. Xu Jiujiu stood beside him silently, but her sharp gaze betrayed her worry and the frustration still simmering inside.

"I'm fine," Tianyu whispered hoarsely. "The wound… is already healed."

Huo Yunxi shook her head, her voice trembling. "Internal injuries aren't always visible. Your ribs or organs might be…" She took a deep breath. "Don't say 'I'm fine' when your body clearly says otherwise!"

Tianyu looked at the little girl, tears welling up in Huo Yunxi's reddened eyes. Gently, he patted her head with a warm smile. "My body's different, Yunxi. I really am fine." He pinched her chubby cheek lightly.

"Tap—"

Grrrruuuuuukkkk!

A loud growl suddenly broke the seriousness of the moment. Tianyu quickly pulled his hand back, his face turning red.

"Hehe… sorry. Turns out… I'm really hungry."

Xu Jiujiu, standing beside them, watched the interaction with a complicated expression.

Tianyu's weary face, his gentle smile, the way he touched Huo Yunxi's head and pinched her cheek—it all looked… too familiar.

Too sweet.

Too irritating.

Xu Jiujiu furrowed her brows, her lips unconsciously pursed. She didn't know why her chest felt tight watching that scene. Hadn't she been the one taking care of Tianyu all these months? The one guiding his training, always watching over him from afar?

And now that same little boy was smiling so tenderly at another girl. Even pinching her cheek!

"Hmph."

A soft scoff escaped Xu Jiujiu's lips. Tianyu and Huo Yunxi both turned to look at her.

Huo Yunxi noticed the sharp look in Xu Jiujiu's eyes and immediately felt awkward. "I-I was just checking his injury," she stammered.

Xu Jiujiu looked at Tianyu, then responded coldly, "If the check-up is done, we should head to the medical room. If you pass out from hunger here, you'll have no one to blame but yourself, Tianyu."

Tianyu scratched his head, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Yeah, yeah, I know… Sister Jiujiu."

Xu Jiujiu quickly turned her face away. "Don't think you're off the hook. We're going to have a long talk later. You disobeyed my orders in the middle of that match."

Her tone was stern, but her cheeks had flushed slightly. Deep inside, she couldn't ignore the subtle but very real pang of jealousy that had bloomed within her.

"Let's go," she added without waiting for a reply. She walked ahead quickly, but still glanced back to make sure Tianyu was following.

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