The sword in Yuliana's hand flashed. A pure vein of green lightning drove straight for Atorn's heart.
Atorn had not expected the sudden shift from defense to lethal assault. Panic flared in his eyes. He tried to slip aside.
However, Yuliana was too fast. A heartbeat later, the sword was thrusting toward his heart.
Splurt!
Yuliana's sword stabbed into Atorn's shoulder. Blood flowing out.
With a ragged cry, Atorn staggered back, forcing space between them while his wounded arm hung useless at his side.
"How dare you wound me?" he rasped, clutching the bleeding shoulder.
Murderous intent filled his eyes.
Yuliana withdrew the sword with icy calm. "You brought this on yourself," she answered.
"I will kill you for that!" Atorn roared.
He lunged once more. This time, his fury fed the darkness inside him. Black demonic aura surged like a breaking tide, seeking to swallow Yuliana whole. She did not retreat. Her sword danced faster still, weaving arcs of green light that met the demonic aura head-on.
Green sword light clashed with the demonic aura, carving a razor-sharp boundary through the battleground. They traded strike for strike until the earth around them was a cratered ruin strewn with broken stone.
"They've crossed a hundred exchanges already!" someone breathed, awestruck.
No spectator dared blink. Even the act of breathing seemed a risk.
A duel between cultivators at the Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine carried the weight of life and death.
Atorn's aura faltered, rhythm ragged. Blood still seeped from the wound in his shoulder. The protracted fight had drained the demonic aura that cloaked him.
This will kill us both. I need to make it quick.
The remaining green blades kept coming. Atorn swung his spear frantically, sparks strobing, but the tide was too thick. A fistful of blades punched through his guard, sank into flesh, and the spear slipped as blood sprayed scarlet arcs across the ground.
Reeling, Atorn stared at Yuliana, eyes blazing with defiance that was already fading to despair. "I… have lost," he whispered. Strength fled. He crumpled, knees first, then face-first into the dust.
Yuliana lowered her sword and drew a long, heavy breath. Her gaze on Atorn's fallen form held not even a shadow of mercy. In this duel, one rule existed: win or die.
Halfway up the mountain, the watching cultivators erupted. Rocks echoed with their jubilation. "We won! She did it!"
"Yuliana is unstoppable!"
Aurelius allowed himself a smile. "She carried every ounce of our hope and did not falter." His voice trembled with relieved pride.
Across the field, Soul Devourer's expression curdled to storm-cloud black. Murderous intent flashed behind his eyes, yet he had promised that if his man lost, he would withdraw. He wrestled his fury into silence.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance)
Josephine's first time seeing Jared kill isn't with Leyton but with Falcon. Pay attention to your work....
You need to correct yourself,dear author. Josephine was in the City of Herbs when she was a kid, so why is the city's smell surprising to her?...
I need more chapters...
When can I get the next chapter...