Qin Xuange’s spear strike was devoid of any fancy flourishes; it was extremely fierce and violent, seeking to defeat the enemy in a single blow.
Before the spear’s tip even arrived, the hearts of Chi Huang, Cang Ling, and the others watching below the stage tightened, and they couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for Jiang Huai.
This was, after all, a full-strength strike from a Half-step Soul Transformation.
Facing this spear that was as swift as lightning and as heavy as a collapsing mountain, Jiang Huai’s expression showed no panic.
The steps beneath his feet seemed slow but were actually swift; he slid back half a step and pivoted his body.
The aura on the Sword in his hand, which had been flowing endlessly in Yin and Yang balance, suddenly shifted.
The Blazing Qi of pure Yang quickly withdrew and condensed, replaced by a soft, The Power of Extreme Yin that seemed capable of absorbing all things, clinging to the blade like a splash of ink.
The edge of the Sword did not dodge; it slanted and tapped against the side of the spear’s tip.
There was no earth-shattering collision as expected, only the muffled sound of a heavy object sinking into a deep pool.
Qin Xuange felt a shock in her arm.
The invincible, surging power originally concentrated at the tip of her spear seemed to vanish like a stone dropped into the ocean the moment it touched the other’s sword edge, absorbed and neutralized layer by layer by a bizarre and eerie vortex of Yin energy.
She felt as if she were not thrusting a spear, but a wooden stick into thick glue.
Seventy percent of her full power vanished in an instant, and the remaining strength was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.
Continuing to thrust forward, she feared she would be unable to penetrate that endless, soft Yin defense to hurt Jiang Huai; withdrawing to retreat, she feared he would take the opportunity to counterattack.
In her hesitation, Jiang Huai’s wrist gave an extremely subtle whirl and a shake.
The Yin power attached to the Sword produced a clever rotational pull, like an underwater current, giving a gentle tug.
Qin Xuange felt the body of her spear skew. Her concentrated momentum instantly scattered, and the tip of the spear was involuntarily pulled aside, stabbing into empty air.
“Not good!”
Qin Xuange’s combat experience was also rich.
She made a prompt decision and, without hesitation, gave a sharp cry, forcibly pulling the Spear out of that soft vortex.
Simultaneously, she exerted force with her feet, intending to retreat violently to open up distance and regroup.
Jiang Huai, naturally, would not give her a chance to breathe.
The sword momentum changed again.
The deep Yin power on the blade withdrew rapidly like a ebbing tide.
In the next moment, a burning, fierce, and irresistible Qi of pure Yang erupted.
Within this Yang power, there actually resided the prestige and strength of Qin Xuange’s previous spear strike.
Yin and Yang cycle, the stars shift.
“Returning it to you!” Jiang Huai gave a low shout.
His arm extended, and the Sword changed from defense to offense, transforming into a streak of Solar Flame Sword Qi.
Its speed was even faster than Qin Xuange’s retreat, pointing directly at the opening in her chest and abdomen that had appeared as she withdrew her spear.
The Sword Technique was sharp, yet it carried the rounded and unpredictable nature of the Wenxuan Swordsmanship—Yin within Yang, and Yang within Yin.
Qin Xuange’s expression changed drastically.
In her haste, she couldn’t fully dodge.
She could only hold her spear horizontally in front of her while Black Light surged wildly around her body, forming a heavy phantom of Black Dragon Scale Armor for protection.
The Solar Flame Sword Qi collided violently with the spear shaft and the scale armor phantom, erupting with a muffled, thunderous bang.
Boom!
Qin Xuange let out a muffled groan.
Her figure was shaken back another two steps, her blood and Qi roiling, and the phantom of her protective scales flickered unsteadily.
Her heart was filled with a mix of shock and anger.
She hadn’t expected her full-strength strike to be used against her, resulting in her own injury.
Is this really the Golden Core Peak? Not Divine Transformation?
Jiang Huai did not let up.
His shadow pressed close as the Sword in his hand alternated between Yin and Yang—sometimes soft as spring rain, sometimes violent as a raging fire—striking at her vitals.
“Good! Very good!” Qin Xuange laughed out of extreme anger.
She was of the Black Dragon Race; her physical body was formidable.
How could she lose to the Human Race in close-quarters combat?
A mere human Cultivator dared to engage in a close-range brawl with her?
Although her Spear was somewhat inconveniently long at close range, with a shake of her wrist, her spear technique changed immediately. It shifted from wide-open battlefield arts to short, treacherous close-combat strikes.
Her long and powerful black Dragon Tail also transformed into a weapon, sometimes sweeping like a steel whip, sometimes thrusting straight like an iron pestle.
Coordinating with her spear technique, her offensive was as relentless as mercury spilling on the ground, incredibly sharp.
Jiang Huai was not to be outdone.
Bearing the Three-Colored Dragon Patterns, although his physique was not as pure as Qin Xuange’s, it far surpassed that of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator.
The Swordsmanship he displayed was even more exquisite, with the Two Energies of Yin and Yang converting at will, combining hardness and softness.
The three-colored Dragon Tail behind him was equally flexible.
It frequently collided with Qin Xuange’s black Dragon Tail within a tiny space, making muffled “pa-pa” sounds as bursts of energy overflowed.
On the stage, the two figures interlaced. Black and white Sword Qi tangled with black spear light.
They fought inextricably, with ice shards flying and air explosions continuous, leaving the dragons watching below dazed and gasping in surprise.
The more Qin Xuange fought, the more alarmed she became.
She realized that the strength she took pride in and her Half-step Soul Transformation Cultivation were being neutralized layer by layer by that set of Yin-Yang swordsmanship that moved with perfect fluidity and endless rebirth.
More importantly, she had wagered herself!
If she couldn’t even take down a Golden Core Peak, how could she talk about reclaiming the Dragon Palace? How could she stand among the Dragon Race in the future?
At this thought, a wave of urgency and ruthlessness welled up in Qin Xuange’s heart.
A sharp glint flashed in Qin Xuange’s eyes, and her spear technique suddenly changed again.
Hardening her heart, her Dragon Claw slashed her wrist, allowing a large amount of Essence Blood to flow onto the pitch-black Spear in her hand.
The Spear vibrated violently.
The shaft frantically devoured the Essence Blood and Lingli, erupting with a black light several times more intense than before.
“Break for me!” Qin Xuange shrieked. Human and spear merged into one, turning into a black meteor that charged straight at Jiang Huai.
When it came to Forbidden Techniques, especially those involving Essence Blood and the potential of life and death, the thing Jiang Huai feared least was exactly that.
Seeing the spear light approaching his body, Jiang Huai’s eyes also narrowed.
Far from retreating, he took a step forward.
His left foot stepped on Yin, his right foot stepped on Yang, and the surging Two Energies of Yin and Yang erupted from his body.
With his feet as the center, the Mystic Ice Martial Arts Stage was instantly dyed black and white.
A massive Taiji Yin-Yang Fish pattern suddenly emerged and expanded on the ice surface.
It was as if it had become its own Small World, shielding Jiang Huai in the center.
“Oh no!” Below the stage, Chi Huang saw both sides using Forbidden Techniques at the same time, and regret welled up in her heart.
She only wanted Jiang Huai to help her vent some frustration.
How could she have thought it would drive the two of them to fight with their lives on the line, to such an uncompromising extent?
If Jiang Huai was seriously injured or even… she didn’t dare think further.
It was just for the sake of venting; how did it come to this?
The devastating spear burning with the black light of blood sacrifice collided violently with Jiang Huai.
There was a dull, massive boom.
Immediately following, black and white light erupted, instantly filling the entire Martial Arts Ice Arena.
A terrifying shockwave swept in all directions like a tsunami.
The dragons below only felt a blur of brilliant white and pitch black before their eyes.
Their ears were filled with nothing but the thunderous sound of the ice stage shattering and collapsing.
They could no longer see what was happening in the center of the light.
As the light reached its peak, White Dew, who had been standing still in the distance, immediately rushed into the center of the explosion.
As the light slowly faded and the ice mist gradually settled.
The once wide and flat Martial Arts Ice Arena had now completely disappeared, leaving only a massive deep pit.
White Dew, in her white dress untainted by a single speck of dust, floated quietly three feet above the ground.
Her left and right hands each held someone by the back of their collar.
On the left was Jiang Huai, and on the right was Qin Xuange.
Both were covered in blood and ice dust.
Their Qi was withered and their faces were pale; both appeared heavily injured, making it difficult to tell for a moment who was in worse condition.
White Dew’s cold gaze swept over the approaching Qin Qingran and the trembling dragons below.
She announced calmly:
“A draw.”
Qin Qingran hurried forward, taking Qin Xuange from White Dew’s hand. She scolded her with both heartache and lingering fear:
“Xuange! Why did you have to do this! It was just a match! How could you wager yourself and even use such a Forbidden Technique!”
As she spoke, she helped her stabilize her injuries.
Supported by the Clan Leader, Qin Xuange’s body trembled slightly, but her eyes were blank as if her Soul had not yet returned.
She did not respond to Qin Qingran’s question for a long time.
Others only thought she was suffering from the backlash of the Forbidden Technique and exhaustion from her heavy injuries.
Only she herself knew what had happened at the very end within that black and white light.
She only remembered a sword edge silently pressing against her neck.
Because of the Forbidden Technique backlash and the massive impact, she had fallen to one knee on the ground, barely able to support her body with her spear, looking utterly miserable.
Looking up, Jiang Huai stood before her, looking down with eyes as calm as still water.
The Sword in his hand moved slightly, the sharp blade leaving a tiny blood mark on her fair neck.
In that moment, the cold sensation of death was incredibly real.
She had lost.
Completely and utterly.
If Clan Leader White Dew hadn’t forcibly intervened at the final moment to separate them and lift them up, she would have lost all face by now.
“What’s wrong? Is your Original Source injured?” Qin Qingran became even more anxious seeing her looking so lost.
“No… I…” Qin Xuange opened her mouth, but her throat felt incredibly dry.
She couldn’t say any words of defense or admission of defeat.
In the end, she just dejectedly lowered her head, the entire dragon shrouded in defeat and confusion.
On the other side, Jiang Huai was also supported by Chi Lian and the hurrying Chi Huang.
He looked up at White Dew, who was still floating in mid-air, wanting to see a hint of concern or inquiry on her face.
However, White Dew only gave him a faint glance.
Her gaze was so calm it was almost indifferent.
She didn’t lower her head to check his injuries, didn’t ask how he felt, and didn’t even say a single extra word.
She casually let go, leaving Jiang Huai with Chi Lian, and then without hesitation turned around, transforming into a streak of white light and leaving this ruined ice field directly, without staying for even a second.
Jiang Huai was a bit puzzled by White Dew’s coldness, and a sense of bewilderment and disappointment rose in his heart.
Why didn’t she even take a second look? This attitude…
“Don’t ever do this again! If you don’t want to fight, then don’t. Why bother gambling so much and fighting so hard?”
Chi Huang looked at the several gruesome wounds on Jiang Huai’s body and his outer garment, which had practically been turned into rags.
Her heart was filled with lingering fear and a complex flavor, her tone carrying a hint of blame.
Chi Lian, however, quietly nudged her way half a step forward to stand in front of Jiang Huai.
She took a clean, warm Handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped the blood and ice dust from his face.
She stood very close, her plump and soft body almost pressed against Jiang Huai’s side.
Her warm breath brushed lightly against his cheek, her voice soft and graceful:
“Husband Lord, do you feel alright? Where are you hurt? Will you let your Concubine take a look?”
Her brows were clouded with a faint sorrow and worry, and her tone was filled with complete reliance and concern.
“Husband Lord, let us go back and heal your wounds. Your Concubine will stay with you, alright?”
Chi Huang looked at Chi Lian’s intimate posture, practically half-embracing Jiang Huai, and heard those natural calls of “Husband Lord.”
The slight, strange emotion that had just risen in her heart was instantly crushed by a strong sense of sourness.
A hollow feeling of loss gripped her heart.
This time, Chi Huang understood. She understood completely.
“I’m fine.” Jiang Huai forced a smile.
In reality, his blood and Qi were roiling, and his internal organs were significantly damaged.
He was only standing because he was being supported by the prototype of the Small World that had begun to take shape within his Dantian.
“It seems like we won’t be able to have any matches here for a while. Let’s head back first.” He paused and looked at Chi Lian, his tone carrying some apology.
“I wanted to let you show your face a bit.”
Upon hearing this, Chi Lian leaned against him even more tenderly and said softly:
“Your Concubine doesn’t care about showing her face or not. As long as you are safe and sound, Husband Lord, that is all that matters.”
She supported Jiang Huai and turned to leave.
As they passed by the still somewhat dazed Chi Huang, Chi Lian gave a slight nod and said softly:
“Miss, this Concubine will take my Husband Lord back to heal his wounds first.”
“We will come find you another day, Miss.”
Chi Huang was snapped back to her senses by that “Miss.”
Looking at Chi Lian’s gentle appearance, her heart was filled with even more of a mixed bag of emotions.
She could only stutter in response:
“Oh… okay, it’s fine. You two go back first.”
She watched with wide eyes as Chi Lian helped Jiang Huai away.
Her chest felt as if it were stuffed with cotton, suffocatingly tight.
In the past, Chi Lian was just an unremarkable maid by her side…
How could it be her turn to snatch away, to snatch away the person who was supposed to marry her?
“What’s the matter? Does your heart feel a bit unpleasant? A bit of regret?” A familiar and charming voice suddenly rang softly in her ear.
Chi Huang instinctively turned her head.
She saw that the Clan Leader, Chi Hong, had at some point quietly arrived behind her and was looking at her with a smile.
“What is there to regret!” Chi Huang immediately straightened her back.
“Just a man who flirts everywhere and has an unsettled heart!”
“I don’t care at all! I don’t feel a single bit of regret! Really!” she said in a rapid string of words.
Chi Hong did not argue.
Her smile only deepened as she moved with Lotus Steps to Chi Huang’s side, reaching out her slender hand to gently rub the top of her head.
“Fine, fine, you don’t regret it.” Chi Hong’s voice was soothing.
Compared to the other Red Dragons, Chi Hong was very fond of her own Saintess.
“Well, I’m just… just…” Chi Huang leaned against Chi Hong and murmured.
Chi Hong gazed in the direction where Jiang Huai and Chi Lian had disappeared, her red lips parting slightly:
“Don’t be in a hurry.”
Chi Huang was confused.
She turned her head and looked up at the incomparably charming profile of her Clan Leader:
“Clan Leader, what do you mean by ‘don’t be in a hurry’?”
Chi Hong looked down and winked at her. Her smile contained a deep meaning, but she said no more, only repeating:
“In short, just don’t be in a hurry.”