A silent scene, a suffocating atmosphere.

The dust dissipates...

From the pit in the ground, a figure slowly rises.

In the hazy light, the figure seems to have merged with the surrounding environment.

She is quiet, indifferent.

She exudes a bone-deep chill and detachment, yet carries a逼ren的killing intent.

At this moment, Ruoyu's appearance has changed somewhat compared to before she fell. In addition to the bone mask on her face, her neck… actually has a hole the size of a ping-pong ball, pierced through from both sides. In addition, her eyes have turned black with white pupils, and her hair has grown to her waist.

[Name: Broken Visage]

[Type: Armor]

[Quality: Perfect]

[Defense: Medium]

[Attribute: None]

[Effect: Reduces the duration of negative control effects by 70%]

[Equipment Requirements: Fighting Specialization A, Bound]

[Note: This mask contains some of the Hōgyoku's power. When released, it allows the wearer to temporarily enter "Vasto Lorde" state. However, this power can only be released once. When it is consumed, the mask's quality and effects will be permanently reduced.]

Ruoyu acquired this equipment a long time ago, but she has never "displayed head equipment and clothing" in the scripts, nor has she ever used the "Vasto Lorde" ability. Therefore, from the outside, you can't tell that she has this equipment.

The reason why she hadn't used it before was obvious—after using it, the item's effect would weaken, and it would likely drop directly from a "Perfect" level item to a "Common" or even "Broken" level item.

But… as Ruoyu said, if it's used here, on Xu Huai Shang… then it's worth it.

"The Soul Descent time is almost up, isn't it?" Beneath the mask, Ruoyu's voice became grotesque and deep, as if two people with high and low vocal ranges were harmonizing.

As soon as she stood up, she turned to look at Xu Huai Shang and said this.

Xu Huai Shang also understood that the subtext of her words was—if you still want to win, you'd better act before the Soul Descent ends.

"Not only didn't die… but the wounds on her body have all healed…" Xu Huai Shang observed Ruoyu for a few seconds and muttered softly, "Tch… she's really troublesome…"

Before the words were finished, Xu Huai Shang unleashed another move.

"Tianba… Feng Shen Zhan!" (Heavenly Tyrant… Conferred God Slash!)

After shouting, Xu Huai Shang closed in on Ruoyu in an instant; her movements were light and飘忽, and the fast knife spun and slashed like a vortex, with the狂卷blade aura tearing out arc-shaped slashes like a chainsaw.

"Sword. Xu Hen." (Sword. Phantom Scar)

In response, Ruoyu's body didn't move at all. She simply raised her left hand and used the Origin Water Divine Sword to draw out a wild 片剑光.

In the *Mōryūken* sword technique, there is actually no such move as "Sword. Xu Hen." This style was improvised by Ruoyu. Although the details of the move are far inferior to Feng Zhi Hen's swordsmanship, its sword intent carries on the wild characteristics of *Mōryūken*, complementing the latter.

Chī chī chī chī—

Accompanied by a few rapid strange sounds, the Dou Qi on the knife and sword rubbed and collided in the air once again.

But this time… the balance of power has been broken.

"She actually… blocked it?" After the exchange, Xu Huai Shang was shocked, because the other party was only using one hand at the moment, while the 【Tianba Feng Shen Zhan】 she was using was a move that could only be activated with the power of both hands.

Under such circumstances, even if it was a tie, Xu Huai Shang would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage…

"Sorry… I seem to have underestimated the power of Vasto Lorde." In that instant, Ruoyu actually said indifferently, "It seems… whether your Soul Descent is still there or not, it's meaningless."

Xu Huai Shang didn't respond to her words, but unleashed another move, 【Secret Sword. Oboro Katana】, launching a close-quarters diagonal slash at Ruoyu with a突进居合姿.

Unexpectedly…

Pang—

Her knife did hit Ruoyu's ribs, but it didn't create a wound…

"In this state, the strength of the skin's surface becomes like steel, but the softness and elasticity are the same as ordinary skin." Ruoyu didn't even look down at the other's knife, but just looked at Xu Huai Shang's face and said, "I originally thought that even with such defensive capabilities, I would still be injured by a direct hit, but… I realized just now when I exchanged blows with you… because Vasto Lorde greatly enhances basic physical skills, your strength and speed are no longer a threat to me. So, I concluded that it wouldn't matter even if I was directly slashed by you."

"Unreasonable!" Xu Huai Shang began to get anxious, because at the moment Ruoyu took the knife, the time limit for opening Soul Descent… had also arrived.

"Sakura. Moon Sever!" In the next second, she used the killing move that had once bisected Brave Invincible at the waist.

This move… was not granted by Soul Descent, but was Xu Huai Shang's own skill; compared to using the techniques in Soul Descent, she was obviously more skilled in using her own skills.

Pū—Gū gū—

This knife brought out a strange sound of bones being torn apart… the blade successfully tore open Ruoyu's "steel skin", leaving a horizontal gash in her abdomen.

But…

"Super-speed regeneration is also one of the basic abilities after Vasto Lorde." When Ruoyu said this casually, her wound was already healing at a speed visible to the naked eye…

"In addition, I can now use my hands, and even my mouth, to release Cero, and I don't need any preparation time." After a slight pause, Ruoyu added, "However… it seems a bit of a shame to end such a duel with an energy blast."

"Hmph…" At this time, Xu Huai Shang retreated a few feet, revealing a helpless, bitter smile, "The head and internal organs can't be regenerated, right?"

"Yes, use a stronger attack than that one… behead me, and you win." Ruoyu replied.

"So… is that it?" Xu Huai Shang asked a somewhat strange question to others.

However, Ruoyu understood.

"Yeah, let's leave it at that." She replied.

After saying that, the two exchanged glances.

Then, Xu Huai Shang took two deep breaths, spread her twin blades to both sides of her body, and adopted a posture like a flying swallow spreading its wings.

Ruoyu, on the other hand, split her double swords, stood sideways, and took a slight half-step forward.

Breathing, like an invisible signal.

Once, twice… on the third exhale, they moved.

The double blades turned into 【Falling Flowers and Flying Catkins】.

The double swords unleashed 【Residual Wind Sword Shadow】.

Ding—

In this battle, the knife and the sword… made such a crisp, clear striking sound for the first time.

Two seconds later, two figures passed each other, landed… and stood back-to-back.

At this moment, all the light disappeared, all the sounds fell silent, and all the movements stopped.

The杀阵of knives and swords no longer existed, and that滔天的killing intent was also gone.

A breath later, one person fell.

In the same second, the dawn sunlight拨开the light mist in the sky and灑在了the victor's shoulder…