The torrential rain poured down, slicing through the sky with a faint whistling sound, as if the raindrops were not water but one sharp, slender dagger after another.
In fact, it was exactly so.
The silver lines in the sky hit the ice like invincible needles, easily piercing through the layer and leaving tiny holes invisible to the naked eye.
If a sufferer of trypophobia with excellent eyesight were here, their scalp would surely tingle at the sight of the ice.
Since the first day of combat practice, when Bai Shuanglian easily frozen the Water-shaped Legion, Ling Xiaoyou had never used that tactic again.
Instead, she solidified the rain into sharp silver needles.
Every rainfall consisted of countless silver needles scattering and piercing toward her enemy.
This solidification was a technique she had learned through diligent training and improved understanding of Magic Arts.
Now, even she found it difficult to influence the rain once it fell, let alone Bai Shuanglian.
In short, the rain was no longer affected by external factors and could not be easily frozen by her opponent.
Once the rain started, Ling Xiaoyou could maintain a continuous barrage against Bai Shuanglian.
Of course, such an attack did not have a particularly large impact on Bai Shuang; it was merely better than nothing.
Bai Shuanglian only needed to use Spirit Power to prop up a shield to easily block the sharp rain.
Looking at Bai Shuanglian, who had already raised her shield, Ling Xiaoyou prepared to take out her Cloud Water Bow to give her opponent a few arrows to taste.
But before she could draw her bow and notch an arrow, she saw Bai Shuanglian’s figure blur for an instant.
When she reappeared, she was already right in front of her!
Startled, Ling Xiaoyou immediately canceled her move.
She gripped the Cloud Water Bow with both hands and used its body to block a heavy slash from Bai Shuanglian!
Clang!
The blow was massive, and Ling Xiaoyou felt her arms go numb.
She even felt that if her Cloud Water Bow wasn’t made of high-quality materials, it might have been sliced in half by that single strike!
Even though her attack was blocked, Bai Shuanglian did not stop.
Maintaining her posture from the slash, she moved to stab toward Ling Xiaoyou.
At the moment of impact, however, Ling Xiaoyou’s figure dissipated like smoke.
Bai Shuanglian froze for a second.
When she looked up, she saw Ling Xiaoyou had already distanced herself.
The Cloud Water Bow was drawn, and three arrows were already aimed at her from afar!
Ling Xiaoyou smiled smugly at the bewildered Bai Shuang.
‘I’m no fool. Playing close combat as a long-range archer against a melee swordsman like you is asking for death.’
The moment she had blocked the attack, she had flashed away, leaving only an afterimage behind.
The small hand pulling the bowstring let go.
Whoosh!
Three arrows shot through the air and arrived in front of Bai Shuanglian in a flash, aiming straight for her heart!
After her special training, Ling Xiaoyou’s accuracy had improved greatly.
At least within a certain range, she could reliably hit her target.
Facing the arrows, Bai Shuanglian would have had many ways to respond if she were using her full Cultivation, but currently, she could not use those methods.
Without time to think, her Ice-Blue Longsword danced, cutting the arrows apart at the last possible second.
However, her reaction was ultimately a bit slow.
A spray of red bloomed from her arm.
It wasn’t real blood, but simulated red water splashes.
Since the two were only practicing, they didn’t need to fight to the death; they only needed to mark where injuries would have occurred.
Ling Xiaoyou was delighted to see the red spray.
This meant Bai Shuanglian was injured!
‘Defeat Bai Shuanglian while I have the advantage!’
Just as the thought surfaced and the arrows for the Cloud Water Bow reappeared, an ice spike shot up from the frozen surface toward her.
Fortunately, Ling Xiaoyou reacted in time.
Her figure mistified and vanished, avoiding immediate defeat.
Such an emergency dodge consumed a significant amount of Spirit Power.
Ling Xiaoyou gasped for breath and looked at Bai Shuanglian, whose expression hadn’t changed as her figure flashed forward again.
‘Here she comes!’
Ling Xiaoyou turned, drew her bow, and fired an arrow at point-blank range!
But the arrow was cut down as if Bai Shuanglian had predicted it.
An icy light flashed in Bai Shuanglian’s eyes, and in the next instant, extreme cold air enveloped the area, causing Ling Xiaoyou’s body to freeze for a moment.
Bai Shuanglian seized that split second.
The longsword that had cut the arrow slashed down, and red water splashed from Ling Xiaoyou’s front!
Luckily, at the same cultivation realm, Ling Xiaoyou was much faster than Bai Shuanglian.
She avoided her vital spots just in time, otherwise, the practical session would have ended right there!
Even so, she was in a desperate situation!
Bai Shuanglian had already charged right into her face, reaching the point where she could practically grab her.
It was impossible to dodge!
She had to face Bai Shuanglian — this person who turned into a Big Demon King the moment she started fighting!
‘Now is the time to test that idea!’
Ling Xiaoyou’s eyes narrowed, her crimson pupils reflecting Bai Shuanglian’s figure.
The Ice-Blue Longsword cut through the air, whistling as it slashed down again.
Ling Xiaoyou didn’t move at all, as if she were paralyzed by fear, simply watching the blade fall.
‘Did Xiaoyou… give up?’
As the thought appeared, Bai Shuanglian realized her arm had become sluggish, as if she were stuck in a swamp.
No, it wasn’t just a feeling; it was a fact!
Bai Shuanglian looked in surprise at the thick fog that had somehow covered the entire field.
It wrapped around her body, making her feel like she was covered in glue and unable to move.
‘Is this a new use of a spell?’
Even fog was just water and could be frozen easily.
As the cold air appeared, Bai Shuanglian felt the surrounding fog move.
It gathered around her with deceptive speed.
The moment the cold air emerged, the thick mist seeped in, assimilated it, and turned it into more fog.
‘She’s… assimilating my ice?’
Bai Shuanglian thought about it.
No, it was more like using dense fog to disperse the cold, making it easy to turn back into mist.
After all, ice was just a form of water.
If water could turn to ice, ice could certainly turn back to water!
After figuring this out, Bai Shuanglian smiled, seemingly satisfied with Ling Xiaoyou’s progress.
Ling Xiaoyou stood outside the small, dense patch of fog she had created, sensing Bai Shuanglian’s movements.
She was confused.
‘Eh? Why isn’t she moving? Is she charging up an ultimate move?’
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly saw a spark of fire ignite within the fog.
A moment later, infinite Golden Flames swallowed the mist, and Bai Shuanglian stepped out from the heat.
‘Wait, wait, wait?!’
Ling Xiaoyou was stunned.
‘She can break through that too?! If this doesn’t work, I’m really out of tricks!’
Just as she was about to admit defeat, Bai Shuanglian smiled at her.
“Congratulations, Xiaoyou. You won this battle!”
Ling Xiaoyou froze.
“Eh?!”