The phoenix groaned as Pearls attack hurt her more than any of his previous actions. White Tigers Roar. Just my luck you would have it.

She sounded more annoyed at herself than angry toward Pearl.

Pearl hefted his spear, ready to continue the fight, but the air around the phoenix distorted, burning red hot as it made her look like a ball of flame.

May I ask if that is one of your bloodline techniques? Pearl asked.

You arent aware of the Vermilion Birds Burning Domain? she asked. You should study your opponents some more.

Pearl knew he should have, but there just wasnt much time. He stared at the burning domain, knowing that he would burn deeply if he tried to teleport around her. Not just that, even if he attacked her with his spear, his spear would get too hot for him to handle properly.

He could likely coat his palm with his Qi and protect himself, but the spear would surely lose a lot of durability. He couldnt afford that just two years into his ten-year-long trial.

So, the phoenix asked, how do we proceed from here?

Pearl raised an eyebrow. What do you mean?

The phoenix gave a look that told Pearl to just look at their situation. I cant get close to you without you teleporting away, and you cant get close to me without hurting yourself. The White Tigers Roar is a strong technique, but Im not going to let myself get caught off guard by it. So, how do we proceed?

Pearl thought for a moment, seeing the truth in her words. If they were to treat this as a serious battle, neither of them would do anything to allow the other to get a hit in.

Still, this wasnt a real fight, so they had to try to see if they could do something. How would they know without trying?

How about this? Pearl said. We continue fighting until one of us gets hit. Whoever deals a proper hit on the other one wins. Just one attack.

The phoenixs face changed a little, the idea making sense in her head. That sounds like a proper plan, she said. But only for five minutes. If neither of us lands a hit in that time, we both leave.

Pearl nodded. Sounds good to me.

They both fell into their own battle stances, getting ready to fight.

The phoenix attacked first, fire swirling around her as she sent it toward Pearl.

Pearls spear spun before him, blocking nearly all of her attacks with it. While he did that, a part of his mind tried to consider how he was going to win this.

I cant get close, so that is out of the question, he thought. I cant attack directly either since she will block my attack. My roar wont work without me getting closer either since her own mental strength is stronger than mine.

Pearl wished his spear could deal spiritual damage to his opponent. The Spiritual Providence technique that allowed Alex to imbue spiritual energy into his attacks wasnt a technique he had learned just yet. He knew he should have, but he rarely got the time to ask for it.

Spatial distortion wont work. And neither will any of my bloodline techniques, Pearl thought.

The only thing that could possibly work was his Blood Essence, but that would only work because he would overpower her directly, breaking through the barrier.

And that most definitely was not an option.

I really need to deal with that barrier somehow, he thought. Thats my main issue. Can I force her to stop using it? The amount of heat shes producing must be burning through her Qi anyway. She cant keep it up foroh, thats why she wanted the battle to last no more than five minutes.

The phoenix had made herself nigh invincible for the given timeframe, so the only outcomes in her view were either she won or no one did. Pearls victory simply wouldnt exist from her point of view.

Can I use my Intent to force her to shut down her barrier? My Intent is not strong, but it should give me

Pearl paused for a moment, a sudden realization hitting him. His eyes widened, and he grabbed the spinning spear. Fire surged past him as his spinning barrier disappeared, but Pearl was long gone from that spot even before the fire reached him.

He teleported, arriving right behind the woman.

The heat was unbelievable, to the point where all of his body would immolate in a single touch. However, Pearl did not worry. As he appeared, not a hint of the heat surrounding him dared touch his body.

The Spirit Reversal Technique was meant to fight against all aura, and not just Spirits and Creations. While Pearl had only used it against those two until now, he had just realized that there was so much more he could do.

The heat from the phoenixs Burning Domain was useless at that moment as Pearls body burned away Qi at an excessive rate to protect him. And in his right hand, the spear shot forward.

The woman realized too late what had happened. Even as she tried to protect herself, she was already too late.

Pearl stabbed her in the back, tossing her body forward with explosive force. He could have likely stabbed deep into her body, but he had no intention of wounding her grievously.

The woman stopped a distance away, turning around with a look of shock on her face. She was about to retaliate when she realized at the last moment that she had lost.

The burning domain disappeared, and she took on her human form again.

You… won, she said, almost unable to believe her own words.

Pearl grinned brightly. I did, he said. Thank you for the opportunity.

The woman stared at him for a long time, her eyes still quite wide. You won, without changing into your beast form too, she said. Pearl, right? Ill remember you.

With that, she turned around and left.