The arena platform continued to form cracks all along its surface, while the air above the arena trembled from the power clash between the two domains. Both John and Alix grit their teeth in strain as they unleashed their maximum power through their domains.
"Gah!"
Most of the disciples in the arena suddenly cried out in anguished pain as the two domains expanded, washing over the disciples.
The formation barriers surrounding the arenas protected the disciples from harmful physical attacks, but did nothing to negate soul affects. The disciples all grabbed their heads in pain as the mental and soul assaults from the two domains washed over them, nearly instantly driving them mad and snuffing out their souls.
Blood began to leak out of their noses and mouths, and some began to claw their own flesh apart from the pain they were feeling. Even the two other Emperor's frowned as they felt the domains start to affect them, and flared out their own powers to protect against it.
The Elder's, watching from high above in the stands, frowned as they saw this. Several suddenly moved to different parts of the arena, and flared their powers outwards, pushing back the soul domains of the two fighters.
Thanks to the interference from the Elder's, the soul effects were washed away, returning the disciples back to normal. All were breathing heavily as they thanked the nearby Elders for saving them.
"Wow, just being under the domains for a few seconds nearly killed us. Just how strong are these soul affects in the middle of the arena," a disciple couldn't help but exclaim.
"I'm sure it's much stronger in the middle of the arena than on the outskirts by us. Just how strong are those two?" another replied.
The Elder's stayed in position to make sure that no more harm came to the disciples in the stands, while the fight continued to rage on in the arena below.
Alix, still burning his blood essence and utilizing his maximum power, erupted with his absolute strongest Crimson Hell Domain he could muster. It was the strongest domain he had ever used, and would be strong enough to be effective against a Meridian Forging expert.
However, no matter how much power he exerted, he still was not able to overwhelm John's domain.
John stared at Alix with gritted teeth as he too flared his power. He was using nearly all of his essence Qi at this time, and was holding very little back. Even so, Alix was even with him, revealing just how strong his soul domain was, and how powerful burning blood essence was.
With his higher cultivation, blood essence burning, and incredible control over blood and the Crimson Hell Domain, Alix was on par with John regarding the domain.
As it was right now, it was equivalent to John fighting an extremely talented Early Meridian Forging expert. If he could use his body power as well, he would be able to overwhelm Alix eventually, but without using his Immortal Asura Body, the battle had become a lot more difficult.
'Even with me nearly using my full essence power, he's still even with me. I might have only started training this domain recently, so my control is far from perfect, but he's still far stronger than I expected, but that makes me want his blood essence even more.'
"What's going on? Why has one domain not been overwhelmed yet?" A confused disciple asked.
"There's only one explanation," another disciple replied. "Their domains are exactly even in power, and so neither can overwhelm the other."
"What? How is that possible? Alix has a slightly higher cultivation, is burning blood essence, and has the best control over the Crimson Hell Domain of all disciples. How can John possibly keep up?" another asked in stunned confusion.
"There's only one explanation," the disciple replied. "His essence Qi is far beyond Alix in terms of power, and through that alone is he keeping up."
The disciple's answer stunned all those nearby who heard it, as such a thing was nearly inconceivable.
Alix was an Emperor, who should have completed seven dantian compressions. However, John was showing even greater might, revealing that his compressions had to be higher. None of them had expected such a thing to be possible, but the truth was clear before their very eyes.
Rumble!
The arena and sky above continued to rumble with absolute power as the domains constantly clashed against each other. Alix's teeth were bared as he grit them from the strain of burning blood essence and using his peak power, while John grit his teeth in strain as well.
'He's burning too much blood essence. If I let this go on any longer, there won't be any blood essence left to absorb. I can't hold back anymore.'
John had been holding just a small sliver of power back in reserve, but the time to unleash it had arrived.
John slowly raised his scythe above his head, and focused his mind as he prepared to unleash a technique he had not used in a long time. His scythe began to emit absolute power, drawing the attention of all, including the Elders.
"What technique is the boy about to unleash?" an Elder commented as he leaned forward in his seat. None of them had ever seen this technique used by anyone in the sect.
Other nearby Elder's stood up from their seats as they looked at John, as the technique he was using right now was beyond anything they had expected. At the same time, there was the profundity of a singular Dao infused into his blade, further amplifying the attack.
"The Dao of Annihilation!" an Elder exclaimed in shock. "How does this boy know how to use Dao's already, and a high level one like Annihilation at that?"
Elder Praxx ignored their prattling as a small smile appeared on his face.
"It seems as if I chose wisely," he murmured to himself.
In the arena below, John's narrowed eyes stared at Alix as he suddenly slashed his scythe forward. A scythe image of absolute speed and sharpness pierced out towards Alix, reaching him in an instant.
Divine Reaping Scythe!