The morning sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the room as Marco slowly awoke from deep meditation. He gently stroked Qing Yu perched on his shoulder; the little creature was tilting its head looking at him, its eyes sparkling with lively brilliance. After a night of contemplation, Marco had made an important decision.
"Qing Yu, today we're going to the Great Soul Arena," Marco said softly, taking out a gleaming golden badge from the exquisite Spatial Soul Guidance Device "Star Track" around his neck. This was the "Gold Soul Fighter" badge he had earned at Heaven Dou City's Great Soul Arena. Though he had only been at the Soul Honour level back then, this badge bore witness to his glorious achievements against opponents of the same level.
Qing Yu seemed to sense its master's determination, letting out a clear, crisp cry. Marco took out specially made Soul Beast snacks from his Soul Tool and fed them to it. The little creature pecked at them contentedly, occasionally rubbing its head against its master's cheek.
"You need to wait obediently for me in the spectator stands later, understand?" Marco instructed gently. Qing Yu nodded as if it somewhat understood, though a trace of unease still showed in its eyes.
Arriving at the magnificent administration building of the Great Soul Arena, Marco showed the precious Gold Soul Fighter badge to the staff. Upon seeing this badge symbolizing honor, the staff immediately showed respectful expressions and quickly escorted him to the director's office.
"Hello, I'm Chen Ming, director of the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena," said a shrewd and capable-looking middle-aged man who stood up to greet him, his eyes examining Marco for a moment. "May I ask what business brings you here?"
Marco gently placed the Gold Soul Fighter badge on the redwood desk: "I wish to have a soul battle with your arena's 'God Knife.'"
When Director Chen saw the Gold Soul Fighter badge, a flash of barely concealed surprise appeared in his eyes. He carefully picked up the badge, examined its authenticity, then said thoughtfully, "'God Knife' is indeed our star fighter here, but arranging a match requires his personal consent. And..." His gaze lingered on Marco, "According to the Great Soul Arena's rules, we need to test your Soul Power level first. After all, your opponent is a level 44 Soul Ancestor."
Director Chen took out a crystal-clear Soul Power Test Crystal Ball from a drawer: "Please slowly channel your Soul Power into it."
Marco placed his palm flat on the crystal ball's surface. As Soul Power flowed into it, the crystal ball began emitting a soft glow that gradually intensified, eventually stabilizing at the forty-fifth level mark, resembling a brilliant star.
Director Chen's eyes immediately lit up. A level 45 Soul Ancestor who also possessed a Gold Soul Fighter badge symbolizing exceptional combat prowess—this was absolutely a genius-level Soul Master. If he could arrange a duel between him and "God Knife," it would undoubtedly attract the entire city's attention.
"I can go discuss this with 'God Knife,'" Director Chen said cautiously, "but 'God Knife' has an aloof personality and rarely accepts challenges on ordinary days. He might not be willing to accept the match."
However, to Director Chen's great surprise, after learning that the challenger possessed a Gold Soul Fighter badge, "God Knife" readily agreed to the match request. The battle was scheduled for the finale match that very evening, and this news quickly spread throughout Suotuo City.
As dusk fell, the area outside the Great Soul Arena was packed with a bustling crowd. The news of the "Gold Soul Fighter challenging the God Knife" had spread throughout the city like wildfire, and the audience excitedly discussed the upcoming peak showdown. Vendors seized the opportunity to sell various snacks and souvenirs, filling the entire street with a festive atmosphere.
Marco was making his final preparations in the luxurious lounge. He had specifically requested staff to place Qing Yu in a dedicated pet care area. This area, located in the front row of the audience seats, was equipped with a special protective barrier to ensure the pet's safety. The little creature chirped restlessly, and Marco gently stroked its feathers to comfort it, saying, "I'll come to pick you up after the match. Be good."
Manager Chen personally delivered an exquisite silver half-mask: "According to the rules of the Great Soul Arena, participants may choose to wear a mask to protect their privacy. This mask is made of special materials and will not obstruct vision or breathing."
Marco took the mask and put it on gently. It fit comfortably, revealing only his chin and lips. He took a deep breath, adjusted his state, and walked steadily toward the contestant passage.
When Marco stepped onto the spacious arena, the entire venue erupted with deafening cheers. Although the audience did not know his true identity, the title "Gold Soul Fighter" was enough to draw attention. In a specific section of the stands, Qing Yu flapped its wings anxiously, as if cheering for its master.
The "God Knife" was already standing at the other end of the arena, still dressed in simple white clothes and black pants, with that uniquely shaped long knife strapped to his back. When he saw Marco, a sharp, eagle-like glint flashed in his golden eyes.
Before the referee announced the start of the match, Marco spoke first, his voice calm yet powerful: "May I ask why you always carry your Martial Soul on your back instead of retracting it into your body?"
"The blade is with me, I am with the blade," the "God Knife" replied tersely, his voice cold and magnetic, like the sound of a blade cutting through the air. "This is my way."
This answer stirred something in Marco's heart. He recalled his understanding of sword masters from his past life—true swordsmen were one with their swords, never letting them leave their side easily. It seemed the "God Knife" in this world adhered to a similar philosophy.
After the referee solemnly announced the start of the match, both released their Martial Souls almost simultaneously.
Marco's Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit instantly manifested as his Soul Avatar, but he deliberately restrained himself from immediately releasing his Spirit Rings. Azure flames swirled around him, forming a dazzling halo, and the powerful aura made the front-row audience instinctively take half a step back. Within the flames, the faint silhouette of a Phoenix could be seen, radiating a sacred and formidable presence.
The "God Knife" also released his remarkable Martial Soul. The uniquely shaped long knife emitted an overwhelmingly sharp blade aura, its surface glinting coldly under the lights, while the cross-shaped hilt appeared particularly mysterious. Surprisingly, he too did not release his Spirit Rings, as if the knife itself contained boundless power. The blade aura vibrated in the air, emitting a faint humming sound.
"After you," Marco made an elegant gesture, his posture calm and composed. He stood with his feet slightly apart, adopting a stance that balanced offense and defense, every muscle in his body primed for optimal action.
"God Knife" gave a slight nod, instantly transforming into an afterimage barely visible to the naked eye. His speed defied imagination, the long knife whistling as it tore through the air, thrusting straight toward Marco's face with ruthless precision. Though this thrust appeared simple, it contained dozens of potential follow-up variations that would force Marco into a passive position regardless of how he dodged.
Marco's heart tightened as he instantly activated Shave, narrowly evading the fierce attack. Simultaneously, he coated his right fist with Armament Haki and launched a powerful straight punch toward his opponent's ribs, the fist cutting through the air with a howl. While this punch seemed straightforward, it concealed hidden intricacies—the force remained condensed, ready to erupt with greater power at any moment.
God Knife lightly rotated his blade, using the back of his knife to precisely block Marco's fist. The collision of two powerful forces produced a clear metallic clang, creating visible ripples in the air. This parry demonstrated God Knife's exquisite blade mastery, not only neutralizing the attack but preserving his own counterattacking options.
This initial exchange made Marco feel unprecedented pressure. His opponent's blade technique was not only extraordinarily refined—each strike carrying an aura capable of tearing through everything—but his power and speed had reached the peak of Soul Ancestor level, even showing signs of potential breakthrough. More terrifyingly, God Knife's sword intent remained pure and unwavering, clearly indicating profound attainment in the way of the blade.
God Knife's offensive surged like tidal waves, his long knife tracing countless cold gleams through the air to form an impenetrable net of blades. His blade technique moved between grand sweeping motions and precise strikes, majestic in momentum yet containing countless subtle variations within that grandeur. Every strike targeted Marco's vital points, making defense extremely difficult. The flashing blade lights created the illusion of numerous simultaneous attacks, dazzling to the eye.
Marco had to push his Observation Haki to its limits just to barely predict his opponent's offensive trajectories. His Double Pupil Eye quietly activated, helping him detect those nearly imperceptible flaws in the opponent's blade technique. Even so, he could only manage a shaky defense, rarely finding opportunities to counterattack.
"Tempest Kick!" Marco seized a fleeting opening, releasing a sharp Vacuum Slash through the air. This Tempest Kick came from an awkward angle with extreme speed, targeting God Knife's relatively weaker flank.
God Knife swung his long knife, dense blade energy crisscrossing to directly disperse the Vacuum Slash. This move made Marco's pupils contract—his opponent's blade energy had condensed to the point of materializing into substantial attacks, demonstrating deep comprehension of the blade path. Achieving such concentration of Soul Power required extremely high control and profound cultivation.
During the battle, God Knife suddenly shifted his blade momentum, transitioning from grand movements to delicate precision. His long knife moved like a striking venomous snake, each thrust aimed at Marco's most vulnerable angles with unpredictable, elusive techniques. This combination of rigid and flexible blade work showcased his comprehensive mastery of the blade path.
Marco was forced to switch from offense to defense, coordinating his Six Styles with Haki to barely withstand this tidal wave of attacks. Yet his opponent's blade techniques seemed endless, each strike carrying a bone-chilling coldness that made Marco feel unprecedented pressure. Several times, the blade edge narrowly grazed his body, creating dangerously close situations.
What shocked Marco most was that "God Knife" hadn't used any Spirit Ability from start to finish, yet managed to pressure him using only a blade. This pure mastery of the blade path truly lived up to the title "God Knife," making Marco take this duel even more seriously. He realized this wasn't merely a contest of Soul Power, but a clash of martial realms.
During an intense exchange, God Knife's long blade suddenly accelerated, its tip thrusting toward Marco's throat at an unpredictable angle. The strike was swift as lightning with a treacherous trajectory, nearly sealing off all evasion routes. Marco hastily leaned backward as the blade tip grazed his mask, sending forth a shower of dazzling sparks in an extremely close call.
The entire audience gasped in astonishment at this thrilling moment, some even standing up in tension. On the spectator stands, Qing Yu chirped anxiously, fluttering her tiny wings repeatedly, clearly deeply concerned for her master's safety.
Stabilizing his posture, Marco's expression beneath the mask turned grave. He realized that without revealing his true capabilities, defeating this powerful opponent would be difficult. The opponent's blade path cultivation far exceeded his expectations - he would have to go all out to stand a chance.
The Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit began operating at full capacity, azure flames soaring skyward and eliciting deafening exclamations from the crowd. Powerful Soul Power fluctuations radiated outward from him, even causing ripples in the protective barrier at the arena's edge.
"Finally getting serious?" A glint of anticipation flashed in God Knife's golden eyes as his long blade emitted a faint hum, as if also excited for this duel. The blade intent around him grew more substantial, his entire being transforming into an unsheathed sharp sword.
The two combatants clashed once more, azure flames intertwining with fierce blade energy as deafening roars erupted from their collisions. This time, the battle's intensity surpassed all previous exchanges, the entire arena trembling slightly under the powerful energy impacts. The audience held their breath, eyes fixed unblinkingly on every movement in the arena.
This duel had transcended the scope of ordinary Soul Ancestor-level competitions, resembling more a peak confrontation between two peerless geniuses. Each displayed extraordinary strength and talent that left all spectators awestruck. Qing Yu continued her anxious chirping from the stands, tiny wings fluttering incessantly with concern for her master. Meanwhile, Marco on the arena had fully immersed himself in this exhilarating battle, every movement condensed with his complete cultivation and wisdom.