Mu Xingyuan leaped high into the air, yet instead of falling back down due to gravity, he remained suspended in mid-air, like an Immortal God riding the wind.

This scene not only stunned Ji Yunzhou, but even Zhou Yuanjue and the others below the stage narrowed their eyes sharply.

Impossible!

Flight was the stuff of legends. At humanity’s current level of power, it was practically impossible. Only by reaching a higher, unknown realm might it become achievable.

But how was Mu Xingyuan suspended in mid-air without falling?

Gravity control?! A staircase of air?! Magnetic levitation?!

Or perhaps...

They all exchanged a glance, a glimmer of understanding dawning in their eyes.

Or rather, the one floating in the air wasn’t Mu Xingyuan’s real body at all!

"So it’s true. He has completely mastered the ’Three Souls Yang Spirit.’ The last time I saw him, he could only send out two of his souls."

Bailong remarked with a sigh.

The Spirit Guardians present also had a hint of a smile in their eyes.

’No wonder Mu Xingyuan dared to make that agreement,’ they thought. ’So this was the trap he’d laid.’

The Shadow Race could control their Three Souls, allowing them to leave the body and form a Yang Spirit Divine Fragment. However, not everyone could send out all three at once. Not long ago, Mu Xingyuan could only manage two. It seemed he had made immense progress since then.

It seemed the outcome of this match was no longer in question.

「On the stage.」

’This is also a Divine Fragment?!’

After a brief moment of surprise, Ji Yunzhou instantly understood.

At this level, it was impossible for a person to walk on air. Not even someone with a Spirit Guardian Bloodline could do it!

That left only one possibility. This Mu Xingyuan, walking on air, was also a Divine Fragment, one so realistic it was indistinguishable from the real person!

SWISH! SWISH!

Just then, the other two Divine Fragments ceased their attack and also soared into the sky. All three now hovered at the same height, looking down on Ji Yunzhou.

Ji Yunzhou now understood everything.

Mu Xingyuan’s real body wasn’t on the high platform at all!

The one who had stepped onto the platform to issue the challenge was just a Divine Fragment Mu Xingyuan had released beforehand—a projection existing between illusion and reality, so convincing it could pass for real.

At this very moment, Mu Xingyuan’s true body was hiding somewhere unknown, secretly watching and manipulating everything.

’What agreement?’ he thought. ’How ridiculous.’

"Are you toying with me?"

Ji Yunzhou’s expression was incredibly dark as he stared at Mu Xingyuan and spoke slowly.

"Brother Ji, please don’t misunderstand. To be frank, the abilities of my Shadow Race are quite special. While our Divine Fragments are powerful, our main bodies are not very durable. For this reason, we always hide our bodies before a fight and use our Divine Fragments to engage the enemy. If I were to fight you on this stage with my true body, it would be far too unfair to me. I hope you can forgive me for not telling you sooner, Brother Ji."

The scholarly-looking Mu Xingyuan spoke with a smile as he floated in mid-air, but to Ji Yunzhou, that smile was nothing but mockery.

"Brother Ji, our earlier agreement still stands. My true body is here in this very venue. The bodies of us from the Shadow Race are frail; if an enemy finds our location, it’s as good as a loss. So, as long as you can withstand the attacks of my Divine Fragments and find my body among the crowd, you win. Even if you just throw a stone and hit me, I will concede defeat. What do you say?"

Mu Xingyuan continued, still smiling.

"Find your true body?"

"I don’t think that will be necessary."

Ji Yunzhou suddenly laughed. His eyes grew calm, but one could still sense an ultimate rage brewing just beneath the surface.

"Hiding in the shadows, too cowardly to show your face."

"I came here for a friendly spar, not wanting to spoil the mood."

"But since you’ve decided to make a fool of me, you have no one to blame but yourself."

"Find your real body? Just watch me cut down all three of your Divine Fragments!"

The smile on Ji Yunzhou’s face grew more sinister as the flames of rage began to burn in his heart.

"Heh, you want to cut down my three Divine Fragments? With your strength, Brother Ji, I’m afraid that’s not something you can do."

A faint smile touched Mu Xingyuan’s lips.

The other Spirit Guardians in attendance wore similar expressions.

When opponents were of equal strength, the most effective way to defeat an heir of the Shadow Race was to find their weakness—their true body. Otherwise, fighting against Divine Fragments composed entirely of magnetic fields was no easy feat.

PAT! PAT! PAT!

His fingers jabbed rapidly at points all over his body.

CRACK!! CRACK!!

His muscles suddenly swelled to a terrifying degree, and the faint sound of tearing muscle fibers could be heard. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

In an instant, his frame swelled by nearly half a meter.

VMMMM!!

An indescribably vast magnetic field erupted from his body, transforming into a searing black light that shot madly toward the heavens.

The capillaries inside his body ruptured rapidly, inflicting massive damage. Blood became visible, seeping through the surface of his skin.

At the same time, his expression grew even more terrifying. His entire aura was like that of a Demon God descending upon the world. The Seven Spirits Blade in his hand extended wildly, its form becoming so ferocious and dreadful that it looked like a true Descent Demon Blade.

It must be understood that Zhou Yuanjue wasn’t the only one who could release his own limiters. Back when Ji Yunzhou shattered his Seven Spirits, he had achieved a similar effect and utterly defeated Chris in a single blow.

Now, having advanced to Saint Awakening, he hadn’t completely forgotten the technique. He simply lacked Zhou Yuanjue’s Recovery Ability, and the damage from using this move was too great, so he had refrained from using it until now.

But now, in his towering rage, he couldn’t care about the consequences.

How could a proud and untamable man suffer such humiliating mockery?!

Since his opponent didn’t dare to show his true face, he would simply tear these three Divine Fragments to shreds!

At that moment, not only did the Spirit Guardians present stare in shock, but the color also drained from the once-confident Mu Xingyuan’s face.

’Is that... a Celestial Demon Disintegration-type technique?!! Is this guy insane?!! This is just a friendly match!!’

Yu Guanhai’s eyes widened, a terrible premonition rising in his heart.

"Slash!!"

With a savage grin on his face, Ji Yunzhou unleashed a horizontal slash, his aura surging to the heavens.

SWISH!!

A colossal blade of light shot upwards, spanning dozens of meters. Mu Xingyuan had nowhere to run.

This was Power that transcended his current level.

As the blade’s light passed, one of the Divine Fragments was brutally obliterated in the void, vanishing completely.

SPURT!!

Somewhere in the audience, an ordinarily dressed young man suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining the food on the table red. A look of utter horror flashed in his eyes.

His Three Souls Divine Fragments were inextricably linked to his own life force. With one destroyed, he was inevitably dealt a massive blow.

However, when he looked back at the stage, he saw that the madman he was fighting wasn’t paying any attention to the audience. Instead, he was staring death at his other two Divine Fragments, the terrifying longsword in his hand poised to strike again.

’A madman!! An absolute madman!!’

"I surrender!! I surrender!!"

Mu Xingyuan’s real body screamed at the top of his lungs.