With Wu Guang constantly provoking and goading him into action, and that the sun had fully set as well, Wang Yong decided to use his strongest technique, the Shadow set.

He had already shown two of the six techniques that comprised the set but had not managed to make Wu Guang worry even a little. Still, the full set when used together was far more powerful. Thus, Wang Yong was completely confident of his victory.

The sun had begun setting down around the same time that Wu Guang had arrived, but the arena was illuminated by rune-lights and so, there was not much difference. Elder Mo had hinted that the Shadow set that almost all of the promising geniuses of the Shadow Leaf Sect practiced grew stronger during dusk and night time. This was partially true, as it indeed grew stronger the less light there was present.

"I hope you can continue in your mocking manner after this!" As Wang Yong shouted, he activated the six techniques of the Shadow set. He had not managed to fuse them together yet, but even so, when used all together, their looks and power were impressive. The respective techniques were called 'Shield', 'Armor', 'Claw', 'Missile, 'Wind', and 'Cloak'.

The first two were a cover of dark qi around one's body, alike to Wu Guang's own 'Flaming Armor'. With the exception that 'Shield' also formed a small circular shield on each of the joints. The 'Claw' and 'Missile' techniques were the ones that Wang Yong had used before, but this time the claws fused with the armor-like cover while the missiles took the shape of spikes along the entire body. These spikes could be sent to attack as previously.

The last two were a bit special, with 'Shadow Wind' being a movement technique and so having no visual impact, while 'Shadow Cloak' was alike to a dark mist that spread out of Wang Yong's new form.

The observers could guess the usage and strength of all the techniques, except for the last. After all, such a technique should be considered more alike to martial skills, as it affected the surrounding qi. Wu Guang was fully calm as well, at least until Wang Yong made a strange movement with his hands.

"That's a control sequence for runes! Wu Guang, be calm!" Zhen Mang was the first to discern what such movements meant, and instantly shouted. Still, his warning was a bit late, as the lights around the stage turned off even before he finished talking.

Albeit Soul realm cultivators had no real trouble fighting in the darkness, they depended only on their aura and not the senses. Senses that could find out concealed opponents were possible only after becoming a Warrior, which was also the reason for why only a few concealment martial skills existed. After all, who would dedicate their life to create a martial skill that could be used only during two minor realms? And Martial skills indeed required a lifelong dedication to create.

"It seems that not only the time but also the venue was chosen to give advantage to your so-called genius. I wonder, Advisor Wang, do all of your family geniuses need to resort to such tricks to win a battle against a cultivator of equal cultivation?" Zhen Gan sarcastically asked.

"Ha! Controlling the runes for the lights around the Stage is something that my Wang Yong prepared himself. It's your Wu Guang fault that he did not check the area beforehand" Wang Jia instantly retorted. Normally the phrase should continue and implicate his master for being careless as well, but with Zhen Mang present here, how could she dare? So she stopped herself in time.

"I was not worried about Wu Guang. I just hope that he knows when to stop" Suddenly Zhen Mang said with a low voice.

"What do you mean?"

"I do not need to explain anything to you" said Zhen Mang while shaking his head.

"What?!"

"And I can not share personal matters of my disciple, can I? Still, let me say three things"

"And what would they be, Head Enforcer Zhen?" Wang Ling joined the conversation sensing that his niece could make a stupid mistake and offend the Zhen brothers.

"He hates assassins. He has killed before. And he can see in the dark" The latter was something present in the reports from the Boundary city incident. Although Zhen Mang doubted that there was anyone from the Wang family that could manage to catch even a glimpse of them, he did not need to hide it. It would be discovered in a few moments anyway.

"Assasins? What could you... Wait! It's said that assassins come with the shadows, you mean?!" Hearing such even Wang Ling lost his composture. He did not care about who and why someone tried to assassinate Wu Guang, nor how the latter could see in the darkness. What he cared about was that Wang Yong had to survive, and ideally win the battle. Wu Guang had been only toying around and so never presented any real danger to Wang Yong, but if he hated people that come from the shadows... It could make Wu Guang use his full strength. Adding to that the fact that Wu Guang had killed before, it could be a disaster!

"Yes"

Regretfully for the Wangs, they learned of this a bit too late. As at the moment that Wang Ling turned towards the stage intending to turn on the light and make Wang Yong fight normally, even at the cost that he lost, Wu Guang made his move.

An instant ago the entire hundred square feet stage was covered in darkness, but now it was like a small sun had descended in the middle of it. The light from this sun resembled a human figure, and the fire was dazzlingly white. It was so bright that even an expert like Wang Ling was forced to squint to see.

Afterward, the sound of flesh and bones being ruptured were heard, and then the screams of pain began.

________________________________________________________________________

After submerging the entire stage in darkness and having tapped on his most powerful combat method, Wang Yong was panting profusely. He had already spent a lot of qi during the previous exchanges, while Wu Guang seemed to be fine. Albeit it was understandable, since the damned bastard had used less than a third of the techniques Wang Yong had.

"I have to finish this quick" Muttering under his breath, Wang Yong rushed towards his opponent. He could not see in the darkness either, but the 'Shadow Cloak' had another function, the mist would work as a feeler for the cultivator and so they could locate any target in an area five feet from them.

With the 'Wind' part of the set providing him a boost, he took flight and planned to descend on an unsuspecting Wu Guang. Regretfully for him, the plan failed. A single instant before his claws could touch Wu Guang, the latter suddenly was enveloped by fire. The light from it was so strong that it dazzled Wang Yong, and so he did not react in time to avoid or even parry the incoming punch.

Another instant later, Wang Yong recovered himself, but it was too late, Wu Guang's flame-covered punch was only an inch from his body.

Then, the pain began.

________________________________________________________________________

When his opponent activated his set and turned off the lights, Wu Guang remained calm. He planned to use his senses to locate Wang Yong and silently knock him out of the stage. But with his senses, he heard even the half-whispered words that Zhen Mang said to Wang Ling. Inwardly he smirked and thought "So I hate assassins? I wonder why they decided that it was so... Still, why don't I show them a good show then?".

Wang Yong's location and movements were crystal clear to him. The 'Shadow' set was indeed impressive, when mastered it could completely suppress normal Spirit realm cultivators and even contest with Soul realm cultivators and martial skills. Still, neither Wang Yong had mastered the set to such level nor was Wu Guang normal in any way. The main factor for this was actually not the senses, but his mind power. Albeit he had decided to not use it for this battle, the passive increase in sensitivity was still present. As the technique did not erase Wang Yong's presence, had never lost track of him, with light or without it.

When Wang Yong rushed forward and jumped, intending to use his claws to attack Wu Guang's supposedly uncovered head, the latter closed his eyes and inwardly muttered

"Flaming Body"

Like a raging blaze intending to consume everything on its path, Wu Guang's qi surged out of his body and ignited. He had mastered the four techniques of the Set and had reached the real essence of it. Now with only a single command the flames appeared and covered him from head to toe.

The flames took the form of a closed armor, with a bizarre visage formed of multi-colored flames in place of Wu Guang's face. It did not affect Wu Guang's movement or senses, but from outside it looked like he had switched places with a flaming demon.

With the flames being dazzlingly white, a show of his mastery of the technique, they not only dispelled almost all the darkness around him but also practically stunned Wang Yong. Wu Guang had promised a show, and he indeed disliked sneak attacks, especially during such a 'safe' duel. So he did not stop by only by dispelling the shadows but proceeded to gather a few strands of the 'Ghostflame' that permeated his flames into his fist before punching at his approaching opponent's chest.

Wang Yong was covered with a shadow armor made of qi, but how could it resist a full-strength punch covered with a quasi-spiritual flame? Wu Guang was sure that the current 'Ghostflame' could even burn to death a Soul realm cultivator, needless to say breaking a spirit technique.

*Crash* *Snap* *Tear*

Wu Guang's fist indeed broke through the 'Shadow Armor'. It also went deeper, breaking ribs and tearing flesh. Still, Wu Guang did not intend to kill his opponent, so using the impact, he sent Wang Yong flying back.

As his fist separated from the smoldering wound, Wu Guang made sure to recall the 'Ghostflame'. This was done mainly to not weaken it, as a few strands were already a heavy loss for the undeveloped flame. He also dispelled the entire 'Flaming Body' right away, as there was simply no need to keep it up.

A second later, Wang Yong began screaming in pain. Thankfully Wu Guang was submerged in darkness so nobody could see that his face was covered with a slight smile. His thoughts would also surprise or anger the observers, as they were along the lines of "It seems that I have reached a combat prowess that of a beginner Soul realm cultivator. Hmmm, I wonder who should I test it upon?"

________________________________________________________________________

The entire exchange took only a few moments. In fact, less than half a minute had passed since Wang Yong had activated his entire 'Shadow' set.

Wang Ling as well the rest of the observes, including the Zhen brothers, were stunned to see the sudden outburst of flames and their instant disappearance.

What bought them out of contemplation were the pained screams that began to sound from the stage that was covered in darkness again.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH" "HELP MEEEEEE" "AAAAAAAARRRGHH"

Wang Ling was the first to react, activating the lights on the stage. It was a lie that Wang Yong had prepared this himself, as in truth this was all of Wang Ling's plan for a sure win. Well, at least the first part of it, as the second was the 'Destruction' rune he had given out before the duel. The latter was not used yet, and hearing the screams, Wang Ling doubted that it would be.

As the lights illuminated the stage, the image everyone saw stunned even some of the Wangs and their guests. This stunned group did not include Wang Ling, but the words that Zhen Mang said while observing Wang Yong rolling on the floor however, did.

"Well, I doubt that your genius can continue fighting. Should we say that he lost and retire the barrier? I feel that Wu Guang needs to rest after such a battle"