Northern Plains, White Dragon Secret Realm, Martial Arts Ice Arena.
This was a vast space, surrounded by spectator stands carved from ice and jade like exquisite sculptures. At this moment, many figures had already gathered—mostly young disciples of various Dragon Clans who had taken human form. The atmosphere was heated.
In the air, two blurs of light and shadow were constantly colliding and separating at a dizzying speed, stirring up ripples of energy that made the ice surface below hum and vibrate.
There were two figures: one red and one black.
The red figure was the contemporary Saintess of the Red Dragon Clan, Chihuang.
Her figure was voluptuous and graceful, with heart-stirring curves. Her fiery red dress snapped and fluttered in the air like a blooming flame. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and beads of sweat formed at her temples. Her beautiful eyes were grave as she wielded her sword with wide, sweeping motions, yet there was a noticeable sluggishness from being suppressed.
The one suppressing her was a tall, dark figure—the Saintess of the Black Dragon Clan, Qin Xuange.
Unlike Chihuang’s mature charm, Qin Xuange possessed a tall and upright stature that felt extremely oppressive even among women. She did not wear a dress but was instead clad in a set of Black Dragon Armor that clung to her body, outlining smooth lines filled with a sense of power. Her ink-black hair was tied high into a crisp ponytail, dancing wildly along with her movements as she thrust her Spear.
The waves of flame from the Red Dragon and the unstoppable, metallic killing intent of the Black Dragon collided violently in mid-air, erupting in deafening roars. The searing and sharp auras permeated the entire arena, making the skin of the spectators below tingle and their breathing turn ragged.
“Hiss, I didn’t expect Qin Xuange’s strength to be so tyrannical. She’s actually been suppressing Saintess Chihuang this whole time.”
“Indeed. Saintess Chihuang’s Sword Formula usually finds few rivals among the younger generation, yet today she has actually fallen into a disadvantage.”
Previously, everyone assumed the competition for the leadership of the Dragon Race’s younger generation would be between Saintess Chihuang and the sisters Cang Jing and Cang Ling of the Yellow Dragon Clan. The Azure Dragon Clan was considered half a step behind, the Black Dragon Clan had been silent for many years, and the White Dragon Clan lived in seclusion.
Who could have predicted that the unassuming Qin Xuange would possess such terrifying strength?
“What a huge loss! I bet on Saintess Chihuang winning three matches in a row!” A petite girl from the Azure Dragon Clan wearing a forest-green dress stomped her feet. Her tender little face crumpled into a frown as she hung her head in dejection.
Hearing these undisguised discussions, a heroic-looking woman from the Yellow Dragon Clan sitting cross-legged near the front row of the stands felt her face flush even redder. She lowered her head in shame.
She was none other than Cang Ling of the Yellow Dragon Clan, who had just been defeated.
She and Cang Jing were known as the Twin Beauties of the Yellow Dragon Clan. Her physical body was powerful and her strength was astonishing. She had originally thought she could compete with Chihuang, but to her surprise, she couldn’t even last twenty rounds under Qin Xuange’s domineering black Spear before being cleanly defeated.
What shocked her and Cang Jing even more was that Chihuang, who was publicly recognized as the strongest, was currently struggling so much and was clearly at a disadvantage.
“Sigh, the heavens have truly blessed the Black Dragon Clan. First there was Qin Qingyue, and now an even younger Qin Xuange has emerged. This momentum…”
In the sky, the fierce battle reached its peak.
Qin Xuange’s Spear moved like a Dragon, forcing Chihuang to retreat repeatedly. Several cuts from the wind of the spear had already appeared on her red dress.
Hearing the faint discussions below, especially the mention of Qin Qingyue, the corners of Qin Xuange’s mouth curled into a slight arc. She delivered a heavy horizontal sweep, the shaft of the spear carrying immense force as it crashed heavily against the sword Chihuang had hurriedly raised to block.
Clang!
The ear-splitting sound of clashing metal made eardrums go numb.
Chihuang felt an overwhelming force surge toward her. Her palms throbbed with pain, and her sword nearly flew from her grasp. A sudden sweetness hit the back of her throat as a surge of hot blood rushed up. She gritted her teeth hard, forcing herself to swallow the mouthful of blood, but her face instantly turned several shades paler, and her Qi became turbulent.
Seeing this, Qin Xuange did not take the opportunity to press her attack. Instead, she retreated half a step in the air, pointing her spear diagonally. She looked down at the unstable Chihuang from a height, her voice carrying undisguised pride: “It seems the position of the strongest in the Dragon Race of the Five Provinces still belongs to us, the Black Dragon Clan.”
Chihuang forcibly suppressed her churning blood and tightened her grip on her sword hilt. Gasping for breath, she spoke with difficulty, “Still? Are you referring to Qin Qingyue?”
At the mention of the name Qin Qingyue, a near-devout, fanatical light erupted in Qin Xuange’s cold red eyes. She shook the spear in her hand, the tip tracing a sharp pattern in the air.
“Naturally, it is her!” Qin Xuange’s voice rose slightly, filled with reverence. “Naturally, it is the current number one of the Dragon Race, Qin Qingyue.”
Within the Black Dragon Clan, there was more criticism than praise for Qin Qingyue, but in Qin Xuange’s heart, Qin Qingyue was the senior she most desired and admired. The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace should have been in the hands of a powerhouse like her.
Upon hearing this, a look of blatant mockery appeared on Chihuang’s pale, beautiful face. Once her breathing settled slightly, she scoffed, “Qin Qingyue? Does Qin Qingyue even know she belongs to the Black Dragon Clan? Are you the one who invited her to return to the lineage?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Xuange’s pupils constricted.
Chihuang understood immediately. Her gaze swept over the other woman’s Profound Armor, that Spear, and even that high ponytail. She sneered, “No wonder you’re dressed like this; you’ve certainly learned to imitate her well. This armor and spear are identical to Qin Qingyue’s, and even the makeup on your face is the same.”
The cold light in Qin Xuange’s eyes intensified. “The blood of my Black Dragon Clan flows within her body, and her Dragon Scales are profound black. This is an indisputable fact! No matter what, she is a member of my clan! One day, she will return!”
Before her voice had even faded, she seemed to have no intention of speaking further with Chihuang. The spear in her hand suddenly erupted with a piercing dark light. The spear tip thrust forward with a ruthlessness far exceeding anything before.
Chihuang’s expression changed drastically. She met the attack in haste, but her defense was easily torn apart. Finally unable to hold on any longer, she let out a muffled groan, her body flying backward like a kite with a broken string.
Below the stage, Cang Jing of the Yellow Dragon Clan saw this and her face instantly darkened. An earthy yellow light flashed around her as she prepared to take flight to catch her.
However, a white blur was faster.
An arm reached out, steadily supporting Chihuang’s soft and slightly trembling waist. The other hand gave a gentle pat, sending a wave of gentle Yin-Yang Lingli into her body. It quickly smoothed out the chaotic Red Dragon flame and the rampaging spear energy within her.
Chihuang felt herself fall into a warm embrace. She instinctively turned her head to look, and a familiar, handsome face entered her vision.
Chihuang froze. Her red eyes blinked, staring at this face for a moment as countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Ultimately, a thousand words transformed into an almost inaudible light hum and a resentful scolding that she could only grit her teeth over in the depths of her heart:
‘You visionless philanderer! Why didn’t you choose me back then?’
She didn’t know how many times she had secretly replayed this insult in her mind.
“Why are you here?” she asked, her voice somewhat hoarse and weak, with a trace of eye-catching bright red blood remaining at the corner of her mouth.
Jiang Huai looked down, his eyes landing on the blood on her lips, and his brow furrowed even tighter. He reached out with his thumb and wiped the blood away for her.
“She hit you that hard?” Jiang Huai said softly.
Feeling the warmth of his thumb and the displeasure in his tone, the inexplicable grievance in Chihuang’s heart suddenly dissipated a little, replaced by a strange, soft sensation. She leaned against his arm, tilting her face up. Light shimmered in her red eyes as she asked softly, “Then what should we do? Do you want to take revenge for me? You are… considered a man of our Red Dragon Clan, after all.”
Jiang Huai met her burning gaze and nodded, saying simply, “I can.”
At this time, Qin Xuange stood on the stage, having retracted her spear. She didn’t pay much attention to Jiang Huai’s appearance, deeming it insignificant. She turned her spear tip, pointing it directly at the foul-faced Cang Jing of the Yellow Dragon Clan below, her fighting spirit high.
“Cang Jing of the Yellow Dragon Clan, do you dare to come up and fight?”
Cang Jing’s expression shifted uncertainly. Her strength was on par with Cang Ling’s. Since Cang Ling had been defeated so decisively, her own result likely wouldn’t be much better. Moreover, Qin Xuange had already fought experts like Chihuang and Cang Ling in succession. If she were to lose now, the face of the Yellow Dragon Clan would be completely dragged through the mud today. But if she were too cowardly to respond, it would be an equally great humiliation.
Beside her, Cang Ling gave a bitter smile and was about to force herself to say something to ease the tension.
Then, a calm voice rang out from beside Chihuang.
“How about I do it instead?”
Upon hearing this, all the Dragons turned their heads in unison toward the source.
They saw the white-clothed youth who had been supporting Chihuang. He gently handed Chihuang over to a nearby Red Dragon disciple to look after, then tapped his toes on the ice. His figure landed lightly in the center of the vast ice arena, facing the tall Qin Xuange from a distance.
His face was handsome, and although he wore only simple white clothes, he possessed an elegant and ethereal grace amidst this snowy landscape.
“Jiang Huai?!” Cang Ling was the first to recognize him. She hurriedly rubbed her eyes and then vigorously shook Cang Jing’s arm. “Look! It’s Jiang Huai! It’s really him!”
Since their last meeting in the Secret Realm, she still remembered this Little Lord.
Qin Xuange furrowed her heroic brows slightly, her sharp gaze sweeping over Jiang Huai. A hint of confusion and impatience flashed in her eyes. She said coldly, “First, this is an internal martial arts exchange of our Dragon Race. Those who are not of the Dragon Race are not permitted to interfere. Second, I, Qin Xuange, do not like bullying the weak. Below the Nascent Soul stage, one has no qualification for me to draw my spear. Third…”
She heightened her tone. “If you don’t know what’s good for you, even if you are a man, I will beat you just the same!”
Facing Qin Xuange’s aggression, Jiang Huai merely shook his head calmly. “Who said I am not of the Dragon Race?”
As his voice fell, a sudden change occurred.
His white clothes fluttered without any wind. Beneath his robes, at his lower abdomen, lower back, and hips, patterns of light suddenly ignited. Radiance in three colors—red, black, and white—intertwined and flowed, emitting the pressure of the Dragon Race.
At the sides of his head, a pair of Dragon Horns shimmering with a three-colored halo slowly grew out. Behind him, a slender and powerful Dragon Tail covered in fine, three-colored Dragon Scales unfurled with a snap, swaying gently in the air.
Three-colored Dragon Marks, three-colored Dragon Horns, and a Dragon Tail!
This unprecedented sight made the entire Martial Arts Ice Arena instantly erupt with excitement.
“Where did this Three-Colored Dragon come from? And it’s a male cultivator?”
“Three colors? Why three?”
“Is this a half-dragon?”
“Do you think he can turn into a cute boy?” The crowd of Dragons began to discuss fervently.
Jiang Huai held his sword, the tip pointing diagonally toward the ice, as the Two Energies of Yin and Yang rose around him. He looked at Qin Xuange, his expression turning cold.
“Also, as the Husband Lord of Qin Qingyue, I shall inform you on her behalf. She is Qin Qingyue, and that is all. She has nothing to do with the Black Dragon Clan that has spent years hunting her down.”