"First stage cleared."
A cold, robotic voice echoed through the pure white space. "Second stage begins. Defeat your opponent."
As soon as the words fell, another pillar of light descended from ahead. Within the radiance, a tall, straight figure rapidly coalesced into form. It was a blue-haired youth with neat, short hair and handsome features. His brow carried a hint of relaxed laziness, as if he were indifferent to everything. He stood there casually with a smile on his face, giving off an elegant and gentle impression.
The moment Huo Yuhao clearly saw the other's face, his gaze abruptly sharpened. This face slowly overlapped with a figure from a fragment deep in his memories. Although the youth before him appeared a few years older, the spirit in his eyes and that unique aura were almost identical to the Bei Bei he had once met briefly on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest ten thousand years ago!
If the person before him was truly Bei Bei... In a flash of insight, the spirit abilities used by the golden-haired girl earlier flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind one by one. He had felt a sense of familiarity before, and now it all matched the information about the ten-thousand-year-old era he had seen in the Spirit Pagoda library. That girl earlier must have been Jiang Nannan, one of the Shrek Seven Devils from ten thousand years ago!
Just as his thoughts raced, a piercing thunderclap ripped through the silence of the space without warning! The Bei Bei opposite him moved. His lazy gaze instantly turned sharp as lightning, and dazzling blue electric light erupted from his entire body. He seemed to transform into a walking thunderstorm, charging towards Huo Yuhao with terrifying momentum that made his scalp tingle!
Ever since the original Shrek Seven Devils achieved godhood and ascended twenty thousand years ago, the title Shrek Seven Devils had become the supreme symbol of honor within Shrek Academy. This title was not granted to every generation, but those who did obtain it were invariably the rarest of talents among their peers. That generation of the Shrek Seven Devils from ten thousand years ago, with their glorious achievements and individual strength, were legends who could easily rank among the top throughout the twenty-thousand-year annals of history.
As a member, Bei Bei's formidable strength was beyond doubt. However, the Huo Yuhao standing opposite him now was even stronger! Even though he faced a four ring Spirit Ancestor with only three spirit rings as a Spirit Elder, his vast Spirit Sea Realm mental force, coupled with the formidable physique tempered a thousand times over through the Body Sect's secret methods, had long since elevated his practical combat ability above that of ordinary Spirit Elders, and even some Spirit Ancestors.
Although Bei Bei's assault was fierce, swift, and carried the force of thunder, it was ultimately dismantled one by one under Huo Yuhao's exquisitely masterful combat control. After a fierce battle, the blue lightning gradually dimmed. Huo Yuhao's longsword pierced Bei Bei's vital point, and his opponent dissipated into motes of starlight before his eyes.
"Second stage cleared," the robotic voice sounded once more. "Ultimate assessment, first stage. Prepare."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow slightly. Not only was there no fatigue in his eyes, but a flicker of curiosity also flashed within them. It seemed the advanced difficulty set by Teacher Wu Changkong wasn't challenging enough for him. And this upcoming ultimate assessment, judging by the name, should be the final challenge of this test. He took a deep breath. Battle intent sparked like embers in the depths of his Spirit Eyes, his gaze burning as he stared into the pure white void ahead. He was determined to see for himself just who this so-called ultimate opponent would be!
Light swirled within the pure white space, and another figure coalesced within a pillar of light. It was a youth who appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, standing as straight as a pine tree with delicate features. Most striking were his eyes—bright, profound, as if they could see through a person's heart.
The moment Huo Yuhao saw him, his pupils involuntarily contracted. Too similar. The eyes and the facial contours bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to himself. At this moment, he finally understood who he would face in this ultimate assessment. His opponent was the self from ten thousand years ago, from the original course of history.
Indeed, he was also one of the Shrek Seven Devils and also a disciple of the Tang Sect. In terms of strength, he was probably the strongest among that generation of the Seven Devils. It was only fitting that he guarded this final gate. The dormant battle intent in Huo Yuhao's eyes erupted into a blazing fire, making his eyes sparkle brilliantly. He, too, wanted to personally measure just how powerful that historical self truly was!
Almost at the exact same instant, Mental Detection activated simultaneously! Every minute change within the entire pure white space was brought under the absolute control of both individuals. This time, Huo Yuhao chose to take the initiative! Pushing off with his feet, his figure shot forward like an arrow from a bow. The black, fourth grade spirit guide longsword in his hand tore through the air with a sharp whistle, aimed straight at the other's chest!
However, the Huo Yuhao opposite had already predicted the trajectory through Mental Detection. His steps shifted lightly, his body moving like willow catkins in the wind. A few exquisitely precise evasions allowed the sharp sword tip to graze past him several times. While dodging, the third, profound black spirit ring at his feet shimmered with a dark light!
Huo Yuhao, still charging forward, suddenly felt his body grow heavy. A strange sense of weakness spread from his limbs and bones, as if an invisible hand had quietly siphoned away a portion of his strength. Group Weakening! Huo Yuhao knew about this spirit ability that his historical self possessed, but he hadn't expected to experience it firsthand now.
Immediately after, the opponent's fourth, ten thousand year spirit ring also abruptly lit up! Alarm bells blared in Huo Yuhao's mind. He forcefully halted his charge, his vast mental force instantly constructing a solid barrier within his spiritual sea. Even so, he still felt a wave of dizziness, and the scene before his eyes blurred for an instant.
Fourth Spirit Ability: Mental Confusion!
The effectiveness of this spirit ability depended on the absolute difference in mental force between the two parties. Although the current Huo Yuhao only had three spirit rings, the intensity of his mental force was in no way inferior to that of his four ringed self from ten thousand years ago. Therefore, the dizziness lasted only a brief moment before being forcibly dispelled by his even more immense mental force.
And at that very moment, the Huo Yuhao opposite closed in like a shadow! The four spirit rings at his feet suddenly vanished, replaced by a single, blood red spirit ring adorned with four dazzling golden patterns. Simultaneously, a terrifying cold energy frantically gathered and condensed over his hands. In the blink of an eye, a layer of ice crystals completely covered his palms and forearms, as if he had donned a pair of diamond gauntlets.
Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Spirit, First Spirit Ability—Ice Empress' Pincer!
Carrying an extreme cold that seemed capable of freezing souls, the other Huo Yuhao threw a punch. Where the fist passed, it seemed to leave a trail of fine ice crystals in the air! Huo Yuhao had now fully regained his clarity. Facing this punch, he unhesitatingly brought his longsword horizontally before him.
Clang!
The icy fist violently collided with the metal blade, producing a deafening roar. A bone-chilling cold rapidly spread along the sword's body! Using the tremendous force, Huo Yuhao's figure floated back several meters, creating some distance. Both possessed the near-prophetic divine skill of Mental Detection. Each other's moves and intentions were almost transparent to the other.
It was like two top disciples taught by the same grandmaster. Their methods, habits, and adaptations were all thoroughly understood, resulting in a stalemate where neither could gain an advantage over the other. So, they exchanged dozens more blows, but neither could break the other's defense!
Facing this self from ten thousand years ago, Huo Yuhao harbored no thoughts of holding back. His eyes turned fierce, his Spirit Sea Realm mental force highly concentrated! An invisible mental force field suddenly boiled. Three condensed, almost tangible Soul Lashes viciously whipped towards the other's spiritual sea!
"Ugh!"
The Huo Yuhao opposite stiffened violently, an expression of unconcealed pain appearing on his face for the first time. Seeing this, Huo Yuhao knew the other's mental force was likely inferior to his own. A fleeting opportunity in battle had presented itself; now was the best moment to strike!
Spirit power erupted from his feet, and his figure transformed into a blur as he shot forward. The pitch black, fourth grade spirit guide longsword in his hand, with pinpoint accuracy, pierced the chest of himself!
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