However, deep down, Huo Yuer knew she still had one chance to turn the tide—activate her soul bone skill and unleash the Emperor Cold Sky Domain.
But that was Ye Wen's ultimate trump card, one he had repeatedly warned her not to use lightly.
Without it, though, facing someone as cunning as Ma Rulong left Huo Yuer with no real chance of reversing her situation.
"How frustrating!" Huo Yuer bit her lower lip tightly, halting her pursuit of Ma Rulong . Her exquisite face was etched with regret.
She had thoroughly studied the Sun Moon team before the match. If they hadn't sent out someone like Ma Rulong right away, she could have at least held her ground long enough to defeat four or five opponents before resorting to the humiliating trump card Ye Wen had given her.
From the sidelines, Ye Wen observed Huo Yuer's current state, a faint smile of anticipation playing on his lips. When he had first handed over this trump card, Huo Yuer had been delighted. But after learning its activation conditions and using it once, her expression had turned to one of outright resistance. Since then, she had avoided using it altogether.
Hmm, the other girls had reacted similarly.
Ye Wen had thought the design was incredibly cool—it had been a massive hit among the youth in the original timeline.
Seeing Huo Yuer stop her pursuit, Ma Rulong was momentarily surprised but shrugged it off. He had his own battle rhythm. If Huo Yuer wasn't going to chase him, he immediately activated the remaining turrets on his body. Fifty to sixty barrels swiveled and locked onto Huo Yuer simultaneously.
It was undeniable—the soul engineers of the Sun Moon Empire were truly extravagant.
Was it really necessary to be so cautious, so excessive, against a mere Soul Elder? Deploying this many cannons felt like using a howitzer to swat a mosquito.
Just as Ma Rulong was about to unleash his barrage, Huo Yuer planted her sword into the ground and swiftly yanked a circular piece of metal from the necklace around her neck with her right hand.
Her eyes glared fiercely at Ma Rulong , as if silently accusing him: 'You forced me to do this!'
But Huo Yuer knew she couldn't delay any longer. Reluctantly, she struck an exaggerated pose and pressed the metal plate onto her left wrist.
Before anyone could figure out what she was doing, Ma Rulong opened fire.
"Fire!! ×60"
At the same moment, Huo Yuer awkwardly muttered the keyword to activate her trump card—a word she didn't fully understand but found strangely embarrassing.
[Henshin]
By the time the scorching soul-guided rays reached her, Huo Yuer had already revealed her transformed form. She now stood protected within a circular energy barrier.
The crowd instinctively assumed it was the invincible shield capable of withstanding a three-second assault from an eight-ring Soul Douluo. But they quickly dismissed that thought—the duration of such disposable soul tools rarely exceeded three seconds. Yet, Huo Yuer's protective barrier had already lasted for over ten seconds.
Only then did the spectators notice the thick metal bracer that had appeared on Huo Yuer's wrist. The metal plate she had just placed there now fit perfectly into it.
Only a few sharp-eyed individuals spotted the geometric snowflake pattern engraved on the metal plate.
While Ma Rulong was still pondering the nature of Huo Yuer's defense, her body began moving involuntarily.
Though these movements could be described as actions, they more closely resembled a dance. Huo Yuer's expression made it clear she had no desire to perform them, even though the dance itself was undeniably beautiful.
As she danced, a series of mechanical sounds emanated from the bracer on her wrist.
[Ultimate]
[Absolute Cold]
[Snow Empress' Supreme Power]
[Super——Transformation!!!]
When the voice faded, Huo Yuer stopped dancing.
A translucent silhouette emerged from within her body, enveloping her entirely and solidifying into real armor.
[Snow Empress Mode GO!!!]
Unlike Mi Jia's futuristic-looking armor, Huo Yuer's suit leaned toward the style of ancient battle armor, resembling Divine Armor but fundamentally different. Instead of the standard 20-level boost provided by traditional Divine Armor, this armor forcibly elevated her soul power to Level 70.
Though this Level 70 wasn't quite on par with a true Soul Sage, it was sufficient to manifest her True Body martial soul.
This was the culmination of centuries of technological advancement in the original timeline: Soul Power Armor Technology.
This armor sacrificed all other enhancements, focusing solely on defense and amplifying the soul master's cultivation level. While true Soul Sages possessed liquidized soul power, research indicated that manifesting a True Body only required sufficient soul energy—a feat achieved even ten thousand years ago, notably through Tang San's seven-soul fusion technique.
Though performing those moves in public was deeply embarrassing, Huo Yuer felt a surge of confidence as she sensed the immense soul power coursing through her veins.
Still, something felt off. Why was it so quiet? Earlier, the audience had been murmuring incessantly during the fight.
Huo Yuer glanced up, only to find everyone gazing at her with enraptured expressions.
???
Confused, the 13-year-old Huo Yuer conjured an ice mirror to check if there was anything strange about her appearance that might explain their odd behavior.
But when she caught sight of herself in the mirror, even she froze momentarily.
Her soul-guided armor was modeled after Divine Armor, but instead of a conventional helmet, a crystalline ice crown adorned her head—an elegant touch.
But that wasn't the most striking change. After donning the armor, Huo Yuer seemed to undergo a transformation. Her height, originally around 160 cm, shot up to nearly 175 cm. Her golden eyes, paired with a frosty visage that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Snow Empress, combined with the regal blue-and-white armor, made her look like an invincible Valkyrie standing atop the mountain of victory.
Realizing why the crowd had fallen silent, Huo Yuer sneered disdainfully.
'Pathetic fools, lusting after my appearance.'
Having endured the darkness of the world, Huo Yuer's heart now held only Ye Wen and her fellow disciples—no room remained for others.
When her icy gaze fell upon Ma Rulong , he shuddered, snapping out of his trance.
"Let's continue," Huo Yuer said coldly. "Round two."
------------------------------------------------------
400+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)