Under normal circumstances, even if both sides are Limit Douluo, aerial combat gives flying soul masters an absolute advantage.
However, with the emergence of Battle Armor, especially two-word and above Battle Armor, which grants wings, the advantage of flying soul masters in the air has become less pronounced.
Yet, they still retain some level of superiority.
Although Leng Yaozhu was a flying-type soul master, she was also a fire-type soul master. In the endless mountain range covered in ice and snow, her abilities were naturally weakened to some extent.
Therefore, despite this battle taking place in the air, neither side held an absolute advantage.
As Cao Dezhi summoned his four-word Battle Armor, Leng Yaozhu's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Nine soul rings—five black and four red—gradually emerged around her.
Judging by soul ring configuration alone, Leng Yaozhu was at a disadvantage compared to Cao Dezhi.
However, she showed no signs of panic, nor did she summon her four-word Battle Armor. Instead, she simply extended her hand into the air, and a long sword with gold and red hues appeared in her grasp.
One side of the sword was gold, the other red.
The golden side bore the engraving of a five-clawed golden dragon, surrounded by the sun, moon, and stars.
The red side depicted a lifelike phoenix, beneath which lay mountains, rivers, and forests.
The hilt of the sword was engraved with images of countless beings, symbolizing the vast lands and the multitudes of people.
"Aren't you known as the Ruthless Sword? Then today, I shall face you with my own sword. This sword is called the Yellow Emperor Sword—named after the technique I've been practicing recently," Leng Yaozhu said as she toyed with the blade in her hand.
"Indeed, I had intended to visit the Star Luo Empire and have Xia Yi help me reforge this sword. But because I cannot put my mind at ease regarding the Abyssal Passage, I have temporarily set aside that plan. I can only wait until Xia Yi arrives at the Blood God Legion to complete the reforging. Though the Yellow Emperor Sword remains a mere prototype, it is more than sufficient to deal with you."
"Arrogant!" Cao Dezhi coldly snorted. Seeing Leng Yaozhu dismiss him so casually—when he had already summoned his four-word Battle Armor—was something he could not accept.
They were both Limit Douluo.
He had reached the Limit Douluo realm far earlier than she had, so on what grounds did she dare to look down on him?
The more Cao Dezhi thought about it, the angrier he became. Without hesitation, he launched his attack. The Ruthless Sword erupted with dazzling light, and terrifying sword energy surged forth from his body toward Leng Yaozhu.
"Mere tricks. Sovereign Over All!"
Leng Yaozhu's Yellow Emperor Sword seemed to come alive in an instant. The engravings on its hilt—the countless beings—manifested in the air, surrounding Leng Yaozhu as they knelt in worship.
At that moment, Leng Yaozhu appeared like an empress standing upon an ancient and desolate land. Countless beings looked up to her and submitted to her power. Her beautiful eyes radiated depth and majesty.
Every movement of hers exuded an unfathomable might, an awe-inspiring presence that brooked no defiance.
At this moment, it was as if even heaven and earth bowed before her.
"Break!"
With a soft command, Leng Yaozhu lightly swung her sword
A terrifying aura swept forth—one that seemed capable of slicing through anything.
Before even reaching her, the terrifying sword energy unleashed by the Ruthless Sword shattered entirely under the force of her strike.
"How is this possible!?"
Ruthless Douluo Cao Dezhi's expression changed dramatically. He could feel it—his own sword intent was submitting to Leng Yaozhu's power.
Not only him, but even the Skycrosser Douluo Guan Yue, Light and Darkness Douluo Long Yeyue, and Mirror Douluo Zhang Huanyun were all stunned.
Although Cao Dezhi had reached the Limit Douluo realm long before Leng Yaozhu, her recent transformations had been astonishing.
Every time she appeared, her aura had undergone a qualitative change.
If she were merely a little stronger than Cao Dezhi, everyone might still accept it with difficulty.
But now, it seemed as if the two of them were no longer on the same level.
This was something no one could easily accept.
They were all Limit Douluo—so why was she so much stronger?
"You… you are truly about to break through to the Quasi-God realm," Cao Dezhi muttered in disbelief. He never imagined that Smiling Face Douluo Hu Jie's words would actually be true.
"Let me try," a voice sighed.
Guan Yue appeared beside Cao Dezhi. He cupped his fists toward Leng Yaozhu and said, "We are all here to guard the Abyssal Passage. A full-blown fight would do more harm than good. Let us keep this exchange to a friendly match. Blood One, what do you think?"
Cao Dezhi's expression darkened. He had not yet been defeated.
Yet Guan Yue had already stepped in—was he already assuming that Cao Dezhi was no match for Leng Yaozhu?
Moreover, Guan Yue had just addressed Leng Yaozhu as "Blood One."
What did that mean?
Cao Dezhi was unwilling to accept this. Even though it was clear that he was not Leng Yaozhu's opponent at present, as fellow Limit Douluo, it should not be easy for her to completely defeat him—especially if she agreed not to go all out.
Who was Guan Yue to make that judgment?
Furthermore, even if he did lose, what was Guan Yue's intent by stepping in?
Was he implying that he was stronger than Cao Dezhi?
Cao Dezhi was unwilling to accept this. But the next second, his eyes filled with shock once more.
Guan Yue extended his hand, and his Moonlit Divine Spear materialized, glowing with a soft, milky-white radiance.
The moment the Moonlit Divine Spear appeared, Guan Yue naturally harmonized with the world itself, resonating with the very laws of the universe.
"Q-Quasi-God…!"
Cao Dezhi was once again stunned.
He never expected that among the four Limit Douluo present, he would be the weakest.
If it came to combat, Long Yeyue, due to her aging body, might not defeat him.
But in terms of cultivation, he was undoubtedly inferior to her.
Guan Yue was always terrifyingly low-key.
Cao Dezhi had originally assumed that he was the weakest of them all.
Yet now, he had already reached the Quasi-God realm?
Cao Dezhi felt like crying.
Among their generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters, it was understandable that Yun Ming was stronger than him.
But he never imagined that the most unassuming Guan Yue had also surpassed him.
After all, he had been their team leader back then!
Guan Yue looked at Leng Yaozhu and smiled faintly. "I admit that if we were at the same level, I would not be your match. But unfortunately for you, among our generation, aside from the Sky-covering Douluo, I am the first to reach the Quasi-God realm. You may have defeated Ruthless Douluo, and you may now be Blood One, but I cannot entrust that position to you. Therefore, I shall take it instead."
As Guan Yue spoke, he glanced down at Long Yeyue.
Before coming to the Blood God Legion, Chen Xinjie had repeatedly asked him to look after Long Yeyue.
But truthfully, even without Chen Xinjie's request, he would have done so.
He had volunteered to come to the Blood God Legion for Long Yeyue.
He was Yun Ming's junior brother.
Long Yeyue was Yun Ming's Master's wife—his sister-in-law.
Leng Yaozhu despised Long Yeyue more than anyone.
Had she not spread plagues among ordinary people to delay Yali and plot against Xia Yi?
Could Leng Yaozhu possibly not hate her?
If Leng Yaozhu took the Blood One position, would she not take revenge on Long Yeyue?
Guan Yue could not risk that.
"Heh, Quasi-God, is it? Don't think you're the only one who can break through."
Leng Yaozhu gripped her Sword and took a single step forward.
In an instant, her aura changed drastically.
"Buzz!"
A deep humming sound echoed.
Everyone present, including the ordinary soldiers of the Blood God Legion below, felt the space around them distort and blur.
Even though it lasted only a moment, in that instant, they heard the voice of the entire world calling out.
Yes—the entire world.
Every natural element surged violently toward a single direction.
Everyone looked up into the sky.
"Blood God Camp's Blood One is breaking through to the Quasi-God realm! All personnel, enter meditation and cultivate!"
Mirror Douluo Zhang Huanyun's voice rang in the minds of every soldier.
Even the energy tides from a Limit Douluo's breakthrough were an invaluable opportunity for nearby soul masters.
And now—this was a Quasi-God breakthrough!
Limit Douluo were not uncommon.
But confirmed Quasi-Gods were exceedingly rare.
Even Zhang Huanyun himself had never witnessed such a breakthrough before.