Chapter 109: The Critical Strike Spirit Mirror

Some audience members in the front rows, unable to withstand the intensity, had already stood up and were fleeing the arena. The departure of one spectator triggered a chain reaction among those still hesitating; they had come to watch a match, not to gamble with their lives. The stands erupted into chaos. Influenced by those who fled first, entire sections of the crowd stood up and stampeded toward the exits, terrified that lingering a moment longer would cost them their lives.

"Buddy, why aren't you running?" A demon with deer antlers looked down at a wild boar demon whose pants were soaked through. Mimicking the boar’s posture, the deer demon crossed his arms over his chest and puffed out his own. "That’s guts!" The deer demon gave a thumbs-up. To be so terrified yet remain sitting so rigidly—that was a real man.

Hearing the praise, the boar demon turned his head, his face twisted in agony. With a twitching mouth, he stammered, "My... my body is too scared to move. Buddy... give... give a brother a hand..."

"..."

Zhang Yang and his companions, having just reached the entrance of the new arena, were about to head inside when they were suddenly met by a surging crowd of demons pouring out. The demons were clutching their heads and cursing loudly as they sprinted toward the gates. "It was so damn terrifying! I even wet my pants! That freak, Necro-Sword, he’s truly trash. And to think I was one of his die-hard fans! The dog-kin brother sitting next to me was holding a support banner, and he was swallowed whole by that horrific skull that came charging out. It was just too damn scary! If you hadn't pulled me out of there, I would’ve been a goner today. Brother Deer, thank you so much..."

"Don't mention it. But it looks like that guy Jinghai is going to meet his end today anyway. If I weren't afraid of that guy unleashing those vengeful spirits again, I would have stayed to watch the rest. I spent half my savings on this semifinal ticket—what a damn waste..."

Listening to the passing demons, Zhang Yang looked stunned. *Jinghai? Are they talking about Master Jinghai? And why are all these people running out? What on earth is happening inside? They all look like they’ve lost their souls.*

Realizing something was wrong, Zhang Yang turned to Feixue and the others. "It might be dangerous in there. You all should wait outside for now. I’ll go in and take a look; if it's safe, I’ll come back and call you." Without waiting for a response, he draped Qin Xiaochuan’s arm over Xia Dan’s shoulder and hurried toward the arena entrance.

Passing through the long tunnel, Zhang Yang reached the seating area and looked toward the center of the arena. Master Jinghai and Necro-Sword were locked in a standoff.

On the stage, sinister magical sounds screeched. The long blade in Necro-Sword’s hand emitted waves of ghostly wind, drawing in the resentment left by the fallen audience members and coating the steel. A barrier of black, vengeful energy now encased both combatants. "This is the Barrier of Demonic Sound! Well, Jinghai? You can't escape now!" Necro-Sword swung his blade rapidly, the sounds becoming increasingly piercing and shrill. "This barrier not only seals your path, but it also harmonizes with my 'Song of Death' to shatter your nervous system. For a spirit-user like you who has spent a lifetime calling demon-hunting 'justice,' dying under a demon’s blade is hardly unjust!"

Trapped by the barrier, Master Jinghai showed no sign of distress. She crouched slightly, eyes fixed on the energy-shrouded Necro-Sword, and began to lecture him just as she often did with Qin Xiaochuan. "So-called justice is merely the result of me killing more evil beings than others. As for what justice truly is, I have never concerned myself with it. Are you here to seek retribution for all those demons who died by my hand?"

"Enough with the hypocrisy! You preach virtue but strike without mercy. Your 'justice' is no different from violence!"

"On that point, we share a deep understanding. It seems we have some common ground after all."

"Bastard! Are you mocking me?" Provoked by her words, Necro-Sword lunged from the ground, his eyes bloodshot and bulging. Clearly, he had been pushed to his limit. Gripping his blade with both hands, he brought it down in a vicious strike toward her head. "I’ll split you in two!"

Watching the descending blade, Master Jinghai completely relaxed her body. She extended her arms and clapped her hands upward, firmly catching the falling steel. The demonic energy surging within the blade poured into her palms, flowing through her arms and throughout her entire body. As she became saturated with the energy, a thick, milky-white glow erupted from her, making her appear like an incarnation of a goddess of light. A sacred, inviolable radiance appeared on her face, and as she absorbed the demonic power, her features underwent a startling transformation. Her loose skin tightened, her dark complexion returned to the jade-like hue of a young woman, and her elderly visage faded into the youthful appearance she had shown earlier. The sight caused a stir among the demons in the stands.

"Oh! It really is her! Sikong Lang was right—that young girl is none other than that old hag Jinghai!"

"She’s so beautiful! I think I’m in love!"

"Get lost, you idiot! Don’t grab my neck!"

"It’s true, she’s gorgeous! Is that really Jinghai? She’s absolutely mesmerizing!"

"I never imagined Jinghai was so beautiful when she was young! I can't handle this!"

"If she stayed looking like that, I’d propose to her right now!"

"Too beautiful! She's way better looking than the tigress I have at home!"

...

Seeing Master Jinghai restored to her youth, the demons in the stands were in an uproar. As Sikong Lang had claimed, the young girl who had appeared during the fight against the G-Team was indeed Master Jinghai. Many demons began whistling brazenly, expressing their infatuation.

Staring in shock at the girl, Necro-Sword’s eyes widened as if struck by a blow. Master Jinghai, however, remained expressionless. She opened her hands like a lotus flower, and a massive burst of energy erupted from her palms, slamming into Necro-Sword’s chest. "Explosive Spirit Light Mirror!"

All the energy she had absorbed was instantly released, striking him with full force. The long blade in his grip shattered under the immense recoil, leaving only the hilt in his hand as he was sent flying to the edge of the stage.

Watching the sudden counter-kill, Zhang Yang, who had just arrived, couldn't help but gape in disbelief. He had suspected the masked contestant was Jinghai, but seeing it confirmed—and seeing her defeat Necro-Sword in an instant—was staggering. Ever since Qin Xiaochuan and the masked contestant had gone missing, he had assumed the girl had taken an interest in Qin and dragged him off for the night.

He had been planning to use that to blackmail Qin Xiaochuan, but that prospect had vanished. Yet, seeing Master Jinghai again warmed his heart. Ever since he had stayed at her residence with Qin, her hidden kindness had melted his defenses. Though she appeared stern and spoke with biting sarcasm, he sensed the same loving care he had received from his late grandmother. He had long wanted to visit her in the mountains again, and to see her here—so young and beautiful—was a dream come true.

In the stands, Bai Ying and Fei Yan were equally stunned. They had heard of Master Jinghai in the Demon Realm, but this was their first time witnessing her fight. They were amazed that she could defeat an opponent without using her own spiritual power, relying solely on the opponent's own energy.

Though Fei Yan was prideful and rarely impressed, he silently categorized Master Jinghai as someone never to be provoked. The technique of turning an opponent's strength against them was the most dangerous of all; one slip could lead to being devoured by that same power. That she could so calmly assimilate the demonic energy and use her opponent's own moves against them was nothing short of miraculous.