After just one move—
Hun Feng and Hun Yu both pulled back slightly.
They hovered in midair, wings spread behind them, but both their faces were pale.
Clearly, that earlier "big move" had taken a heavy toll.
As the shockwaves faded, Hun Yu was the first to move, shooting toward Hun Feng like a crimson arrow.
A burning red Dou Qi surged around him, spilling out from his body and tinting the sky crimson.
Within that crimson glow surged boundless fire—blistering hot, violently oppressive.
That domineering flame, centered around Hun Yu, formed a lethal arrow aimed straight at Hun Feng.
"Good!"
Seeing Hun Yu rush toward him, Hun Feng was anything but idle. Flames erupted from his body, burning intensely.
The air around him transformed into a sea of fire.
As Hun Yu drew near, Hun Feng threw a powerful punch.
Boom!
Flames exploded outward in every direction.
Both men were blown back several meters before they stabilized themselves.
A flash of shock passed through Hun Feng's eyes, only to vanish in an instant. He stared at Hun Yu.
"You… you've reached five-star Dou Huang?"
From their brief exchange, he had clearly sensed Hun Yu's Dou Qi fluctuations—no weaker than his own.
That alone meant Hun Yu had already broken through to five stars as a Dou Huang—not four.
"A lucky breakthrough, that's all," Hun Yu said calmly.
He raised his hand. Crimson flames flickered in his palm, then slowly condensed into a long spear of fire.
Whoosh!
With a sharp whistle, the fiery spear shot toward Hun Feng.
Hun Yu wasn't one to talk too much—if he could strike, he'd strike.
"Hmph…"
Hun Feng snorted and raised his flaming fist to meet the incoming spear.
His fist blazed fiercely.
Boom!
Under the overwhelming force of his fiery punch, the spear dissolved inch by inch.
Then, Hun Feng shot forward like a released arrow, flame-coated fist leading the charge.
Hun Yu also met him with a punch of his own.
"Xiu'er, who do you think will win?" Gu Yuan asked, his gaze fixed on the fierce clash in midair.
The battle between Hun Yu and Hun Feng was incredibly close—it was hard to predict a winner.
Hun Xiu didn't answer immediately.
He continued watching the fight intently, eyes narrowed in thought.
He had to admit—both Hun Yu and Hun Feng were exceptionally talented. Though their Emperor bloodlines weren't as pure as his, their cultivation had long surpassed his own.
Yes—he had to admit he was weaker than both of them… for now.
But even so—
If he were to face either of them alone, he was confident he could defeat them.
Hun Xiu finally spoke: "Father-in-law, I think Hun Feng will win."
"What? But look at them—they're evenly matched right now. How can you be so sure Hun Feng will win?"
"Is it just because he's your younger brother?"
Gu Yuan shook his head, seemingly disagreeing with Hun Xiu.
But in truth, this was just a test.
With his experience, Gu Yuan already knew that Hun Feng was bound to win.
He just wanted to hear Hun Xiu's reasoning.
Was it simple bias?
Or something more?
The elders sitting on the high platform perked up at this—eager to hear what "insight" Hun Xiu might have.
They too could tell that Hun Feng would be the eventual winner.
Despite appearances, Hun Feng was much calmer, more composed. While Hun Yu was fighting with everything he had, Hun Feng was still holding back—fighting at only 80 or 90 percent strength.
He had yet to go all-out.
Simply put, Hun Feng's cultivation and foundation were both stronger than Hun Yu's.
He wasn't just a five-star Dou Huang, as he appeared.
He was hiding his true strength.
So why were the elders so interested in Hun Xiu's opinion?
Because he was only a two-star Dou Huang.
They wanted to see if someone at a lower realm could still spot the key differences in a high-level battle.
Hun Xiu smiled as he held Gu Xun'er in his arms.
He understood—Gu Yuan was testing his judgment.
"Father-in-law, it's true Hun Yu and Hun Feng appear evenly matched," he said.
"But Hun Yu is going all out with every move, while Hun Feng still seems relaxed and unhurried."
"It's clear he's not using his full strength. He's waiting—for a moment where he can end the fight in a single strike."
"Oh?"
Gu Yuan nodded in satisfaction at Hun Xiu's explanation.
"Hearing it from you like that… yes, I think you're right."
The other Soul Clan elders also nodded subtly in approval.
For someone at a lower cultivation level to accurately observe the dynamic of a higher-level duel—Hun Xiu was proving himself remarkable.
Gu Yuan continued, "Then tell me, Xiu'er—can you tell what level Hun Feng is at now?"
Hun Xiu answered confidently: "He's a six-star Dou Huang, just like Hun Yu. He must've broken through recently and hasn't had time to stabilize it yet."
"He's using this battle to hone and consolidate his power."
"Mm." Gu Yuan nodded again. "Good."
"Now tell me—if you faced Hun Feng or Hun Yu, could you beat them?"
"Of course," Hun Xiu replied, full of self-assurance.
"One move is all it would take."
Though he knew there was a gap in cultivation between himself and the others, he didn't believe that gap mattered.
One move. That was enough.
He had thought to say half a move—but held back. Even a lion goes all out when hunting a rabbit. Half a move might be too arrogant. One move would suffice—maybe even leave a little extra.
"Heh…"
Gu Yuan didn't challenge that confidence—but neither did he fully believe it.
He remained skeptical, as did the other Soul Clan elders seated on the platform.
Truthfully, their first reaction was:
"You're full of crap. There's no way you could do that."
But remembering that it was Hun Xiu who said it, they swallowed those words before they left their throats.
After all—
They had just witnessed Hun Xiu perform an "impossible" feat.
This was the same young man who had survived the Tier 6 Earth-Level Technique "Extreme Wind Finger."
If even that hadn't killed him…
Then was defeating Hun Yu or Hun Feng in one move really that unthinkable?
Compared to cheating death, this sounded like child's play.
So really—could they not believe in him?
But just then, Soul Heavenly Emperor spoke up.
"Xiu'er," he said with a smirk. "You're full of it. There's no way you can do that."
"…Hmm?"
All the elders on the high platform turned to look at Soul Heavenly Emperor, confused by his sudden declaration.
What was he trying to pull?
He should've known better than anyone that Hun Xiu had already pulled off the impossible today.