On Broken Sword Cliff, the sea of clouds churned. After consuming the Lonely Wild Goose in the Dark Night and undergoing seven days of tempering, Lu Zhou finally opened his eyes. The sharp Blade Intent around him had withdrawn like deep ocean waters, but Marco could sense his dear friend's cultivation had reached new heights.
"This herb is miraculous." Lu Zhou gently stroked the long blade at his waist, which emitted a pleased hum. "My Soul Power has increased by two levels, and more importantly, my Blade Intent has become more condensed. I've also cultivated Blade Courage."
Marco smiled and nodded. "May Brother Lu's blade path advance further as you journey to the far north."
"See you in Heaven Dou City in one year." Lu Zhou clasped his hands in farewell, his figure disappearing into the northern snow line like a lone wild goose.
Marco watched his dear friend depart until he vanished from sight, gazing at the vast sea of clouds with complex emotions. Six months of fighting side by side had transformed them from strangers to life-and-death companions. Taking a deep breath, he turned eastward. The heavy token in his chest grew warm, pointing toward Spirit City.
He traveled across mountains and rivers, passing through several towns. In a border town, he witnessed remnants of Evil Soul Masters wreaking havoc and eliminated them; at a trade hub, he observed various Martial Souls being ingeniously applied in daily life; in a remote mountain village, he even encountered a reclusive old Soul Master, gaining deeper understanding of the essence of Martial Souls through their exchange.
One month later, a majestic city appeared on the horizon. Spirit City was built against mountains, its towering walls constructed from white giant stones gleaming under the sunlight. Spirit Hall's flags fluttered atop the city walls, with patrolling Soul Master teams maintaining strict discipline. Most awe-inspiring was the magnificent Papal Hall at the city center, its golden dome piercing the clouds, showcasing Spirit Hall's authority.
Marco followed the crowd into the city, finding broad, clean streets flanked by uniformly solemn architecture. Soul Masters wearing Spirit Hall uniforms were everywhere, and the air was thick with dense Soul Power fluctuations. He strolled through the city, experiencing the unique atmosphere of this holy land for Soul Masters.
When he reached the western part of the city, a grand circular structure caught his attention. The building featured classical arched designs, with constant traffic at its entrance and a gilded plaque above reading "Spirit Hall Third Spirit Fight Arena." Curious, Marco walked in.
The arena buzzed with noise, the spectator stands capable of holding thousands nearly full. An intense match was underway on the central stage, where two Soul Honour-level Soul Masters were sparring, their Spirit Abilities colliding and creating waves of energy. Marco found an empty seat in the back rows and quietly observed.
Just then, a clear yet arrogant voice came from behind: "Move! You're blocking my view of the match!"
Marco turned to see a young girl in pale gold martial attire glaring at him. She appeared about fourteen or fifteen, with enchanting features, snow-white skin, and fox-like eyes that naturally carried charm, their gaze sparkling. Several young Soul Masters followed behind her, clearly her companions. This was Hu Liena of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.
Not wanting trouble, Marco shifted aside to clear her view. "My apologies."
But Hu Liena pressed further, looking Marco up and down. "Judging by your attire, you're an outsider, right? Do you even know the arena rules? Seats are first-come, first-served!" Recently frustrated by bottlenecks in her training, she was looking for someone to vent her anger on.
Marco had no desire to prolong the encounter and rose to leave.
"Stop right there!" Hu Liena swiftly blocked his path, a challenging smile playing on her lips. "Since you've come to the Battle Arena, dare to step onto the stage and spar? Let this young lady see what skills you possess!"
Spectators in the arena noticed the commotion and began gathering around. Someone recognized Hu Liena: "It's Miss Hu Liena of the Golden Generation!"
"That lad is in trouble. Miss Hu is a level 37 Soul Honour, and the enchanting abilities of her Enchantress Fox Spirit are nearly unmatched among peers!"
Marco initially intended to refuse, but seeing the growing crowd, he didn't want to appear timid and nodded. "Since that's the case, I ask for your guidance."
The two ascended the central stage, and the referee hurried over. Hu Liena declared arrogantly, "Today, I'll let you all witness the strength of the Golden Generation!"
Marco stood calmly at the opposite end of the stage while Qing Yu obediently flew to the sidelines to observe.
"The match begins!" the referee announced loudly.
With a sharp cry, Hu Liena activated her Spirit Rings—two yellow and one purple—at her feet, her Martial Soul, the Enchantress Fox, manifesting as her Soul Avatar. Her eyes instantly turned an enchanting pink, and her voice carried a peculiar allure: "Little brother, why not look into my eyes?"
This was her first Spirit Ability, "Alluring Gaze," capable of directly affecting an opponent's mind through eye contact. However, Marco's Double Pupils merely swept over her indifferently, and the enchanting power dissipated without a trace, like clay oxen sinking into the sea.
Hu Liena was startled inwardly but soon smiled again. "Interesting! Second Spirit Ability, Fox Tail Needles!" Three illusory fox tails materialized behind her, each tip condensing into fine, hair-thin silver needles of spiritual energy. These needles shot out silently, targeting the opponent's spiritual consciousness.
Marco's Double Pupils flickered slightly as his figure drifted like willow catkins, evading all the needles effortlessly. He even had the leisure to comment, "Condensing spiritual energy into needles is a clever idea, but they're too slow."
Hu Liena's pretty face flushed red. Her two most prized Spirit Abilities had been completely ineffective? "Third Spirit Ability, Enchantress Fox Transformation!" she cried out, her form suddenly blurring as her speed surged dramatically. She transformed into a stream of pink light, leaving afterimages across the stage. This was her enhancement Spirit Ability, fully enhancing her physical attributes.
"Take this!" Hu Liena moved with extreme speed, her jade-like palm carrying a sharp gust aimed directly at Marco's face. This strike combined mental disruption with physical attack, making it nearly impossible to defend against.
Marco finally moved. With a light tap of "Shave" underfoot, his figure wove through the palm shadows like a ghost, perfectly dodging each attack as if he had foreseen every variation. The two engaged in a rapid exchange on the stage, their movements intertwining in a dazzling display.
Unable to gain the upper hand after prolonged assault, Hu Liena grew impatient. She abruptly changed tactics, coordinating Fox Tail Needles with her palm techniques to form an impenetrable net of attacks. Yet, Marco always found an opening in the nick of time, effortlessly neutralizing them.
"It's time to end this," Marco said calmly. He suddenly accelerated, his figure flashing like lightning to appear behind Hu Liena, his right index finger lightly tapping a vital point on her back. Hu Liena immediately went limp all over and collapsed to the floor.
The entire arena fell silent. No one had expected that Hu Liena of the Golden Generation would be defeated in just a few exchanges, and without her opponent even releasing his Martial Soul.
Marco nodded slightly. "Your talent is good, but you rely too much on Spirit Abilities. Your foundation is not solid enough." After speaking, he turned and walked off the arena stage.
Hu Liena sat on the ground, watching Marco's retreating figure as tears welled up in her eyes. She had never suffered such humiliation before. What pained her even more was that he had remained so calm from start to finish, as if she wasn't even worth taking seriously.
"Wait!" Hu Liena suddenly called out. "What is your name?"
Marco's footsteps did not pause, and only a faint voice drifted back: "Why must we know each other when we meet?"
After leaving the Soul Fighting Arena, Marco found a quiet inn in the western part of the city to settle in. Reflecting on today's battle, he gained a preliminary understanding of the strength of the younger generation from the Spirit Hall. Hu Liena's talent was indeed outstanding, but she lacked systematic guidance and tempering.
Once settled, Marco took out the Qianjun Token and infused it with Soul Power. The token emitted a gentle glow, pointing toward the northern part of the city. He knew that tomorrow he would have to visit that Qianjun Douluo. His father's letter and this token might uncover some long-hidden secrets.
Outside the window, the night view of Spirit City was bustling and mysterious. Stroking the Qing Yu on his shoulder, Marco felt full of anticipation for the upcoming meeting. This sacred land of Soul Masters was bound to bring him new challenges and opportunities.