Both were fighting speed with speed, their attacks a torrential storm unleashed with no reservation.

Qin Rui’s Swordsmanship was indeed formidable, a testament to the heritage of the Qin Family’s Direct Lineage from the Central Province.

He executed all sorts of exquisite Secret Techniques with ease, as if he didn’t need to worry about Replenishing Qi. He flowed from one move to the next without pause, his power never diminishing in the slightest.

Li Hao also demonstrated an astonishing level of skill.

In the previous round, he had been completely suppressed by Xu Wuyi’s "Soul Suppressing" Domain. Unable to utilize his speed, he had suffered a frustrating defeat.

Now, facing Qin Rui, he was under immense pressure, but he could finally unleash his speed advantage to its fullest.

His dual blades formed an impenetrable whirlwind of steel. His Body Technique was so fast it blurred beyond the limits of human sight. He would often dodge a fatal sword thrust by a hair’s breadth, only to retaliate with several slashes of his own at an even greater speed.

The glint of his blades was sharp, aimed precisely where Qin Rui would be forced to defend.

Fighting speed with speed, they were surprisingly evenly matched. For the moment, neither could gain an advantage over the other.

From the stands, gasps of shock and cries of admiration rose and fell in waves.

"So fast! I can’t see a thing!"

"Now *this* is a duel between top-tier Geniuses!"

"Li Hao really is strong! His speed is keeping up perfectly with Qin Rui’s sword!"

"Qin Rui’s Swordsmanship is just too exquisite! His attacks are like the tide, one wave after another!"

In the East Courtyard’s rest area, Xu Wuyi watched the fierce battle on the stage with rapt attention.

Shen Wei clicked his tongue. "Jeez, these two... each one is faster than the last! That kid Li Hao is a real beast now that he has those resources!"

Zhou Mingxuan said gravely, "They’re both offensive-type Martial Artists, with relatively weak defenses. If they keep this up, it will come down to who makes the first mistake, or who breaks first."

Xu Wuyi nodded slightly.

The situation on the stage seemed balanced, but it was incredibly perilous. The slightest mistake could decide the winner in an instant.

Just as they predicted, in the fierce exchange of blows, neither fighter could completely evade the other’s attacks.

After three or four minutes of high-intensity combat, both fighters began to sustain injuries.

Several cuts appeared on Qin Rui’s expensive training uniform, sliced open by a blade’s edge. Seeping blood stained his lapels red.

Though none were fatal, the accumulating wounds disrupted his rhythm, and his movements were no longer as fluid as they were at the start.

Li Hao was in even worse shape. His left leg had been struck by one of Qin Rui’s unorthodox spinning sweeps, which carved a gash deep enough to reveal bone. Blood gushed out, dyeing half his pant leg dark red.

The leg wound severely hampered his Body Technique. His once phantom-like speed had clearly slowed.

The tide of battle began to turn against Li Hao.

Li Hao gritted his teeth, forcing himself to endure the searing pain from his leg. ’If this drags on,’ he thought, ’I’ll lose for sure.’

’The leg wound will only get worse, and my advantage in speed will be completely gone.’

’I have to risk it all!’

A look of grim resolve flashed in his eyes. He frantically burned the last of his Qi and Blood, forcing his speed to increase another notch despite his grievous injury!

He abandoned all defense, his dual blades a blur as he lunged at Qin Rui like a madman. It was a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble!

Qin Rui’s brow furrowed slightly, but his Sword Momentum remained unchanged as he met the assault with steady composure.

’This is Li Hao’s final gambit,’ he knew.

After another perilous exchange, Li Hao seized the split second when Qin Rui’s Sword Momentum faltered. He pushed off hard with his foot, ignoring the tearing pain from his leg, and his body flickered as if teleporting, forcing his way behind Qin Rui!

This was the one and only chance he had created, at the cost of worsening his own injury!

His blades crossed, silent as a scorpion’s sting, as they stabbed toward the vital point on Qin Rui’s back!

The turn of events was blindingly fast. Qin Rui, seemingly slowed by the long battle’s drain on his Qi and Blood and the effect of his own wounds, reacted half a beat too late. He failed to turn and block in time!

"An opening!"

In the South Courtyard’s rest area, someone couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

Countless spectators in the stands held their breath.

A stunning light erupted in Li Hao’s eyes. ’Victory is within my grasp!’

He desperately surged his Qi and Blood, trying to make his blades just a fraction faster—to plunge them into Qin Rui’s body before he could turn.

Qin Rui was also struggling to raise his arm. He was in slightly better condition than Li Hao; if he could just get one strike off, he could secure victory.

And yet, in that critical, hair-trigger moment that would decide the match, an image of Qin Yi’s refined, smiling face inexplicably flashed through Li Hao’s mind, along with the words he had once spoken:

"...Qin Rui has certainly received far more resources than you. If you can defeat him, it will prove that our judgment was correct."

Those words echoed in his mind like a curse.

Qin Yi had spoken in such high-minded terms, saying he hoped Li Hao would prove himself. But now, as Li Hao faced Qin Rui—the true member of the Direct Lineage, into whom the Qin Family had poured countless resources—an indescribably complex emotion welled up inside him.

’Is this gratitude? Jealousy? Or... is it a trace of something I don’t even want to admit to myself? That hidden sense of inferiority and hesitation I feel when facing a Genius from the Main Family?’

It was just that—an insignificant, split-second flicker of hesitation. But it was enough to slow his blades by a crucial instant.

For Martial Artists of their caliber, that single instant was the difference between life and death.

Qin Rui hadn’t fully turned, but a Martial Artist’s keen Spiritual Sense and perception of killing intent allowed him to detect that momentary pause!

He didn’t hesitate for a second. Without even looking back, the wrist of his sword hand bent backward at an impossible angle.

As if alive, the longsword carved an uncanny arc, passing with absolute precision under his own ribs and stabbing directly behind him!

PFFT!

The sound of the blade sinking into flesh was sickeningly clear.

Li Hao’s forward momentum came to an abrupt halt.

He looked down in disbelief at the blood-soaked tip of the sword protruding from his chest.

Agonizing pain shot through him, but the chill in his heart was even colder than the steel of the blade.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.

His vision was swiftly swallowed by darkness, finally dissolving into a flash of white light on the stage.

Qin Rui slowly withdrew his longsword and turned to look at the spot where Li Hao had vanished, panting slightly.

His face was also pale. That final backhand strike had taken almost everything he had.

It had not been an easy victory.

"West Courtyard, Qin Rui is the victor!"

The referee’s announcement brought the intense and brief clash of aces to a close.

The arena was silent for a moment before erupting into a deafening uproar.

"He won! Qin Rui won!"

"That was too close! Li Hao clearly had a chance at the very end!"

"A real shame. Li Hao lost, but he can hold his head high!"

"Qin Rui’s reaction time is insane! To pull off a counter-kill in that situation!"

...

In the West Courtyard rest area, Tana and Xu Zhi both breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Zhi said in admiration, "Old Qin’s reaction time in the heat of the moment is just impeccable!"

Tana also nodded emphatically. "All that matters is he won!"