The arena went silent. Immediately beside Xi Heji, Xi Fengge and Xi Meiying appeared.
Watching Xi Heji's unmoving body, Xi Meiyings eyes shone a deep blue, her facing showing no emotion as she walked to him, though her body violently shook. Putting her hand in the punctured chest, ice slowly gathered around it to seal off his wound.
The third elder appeared on the arena in case Xi Fengge or Xi Meiying would get violent.
Slowly lifting his body, Xi Meiying handed it to Xi Fengge.
"Take him away"
She said in a dead tone. Xi Fengge hesitantly looked toward her before meeting her eyes.
"Let me take care of this Mei'er"
He didn't feel it was right Xi Meiying had so be the one to support Xi Heji, as he was his grandfather.
Her eyes shone a deep blue.
A forced suddenly compelled him to follow her command. He lost control of his self as his body moved on its own, taking Xi Heji from her arms and immediately leaving the arena.
Refocusing her attention to the father-son duo standing mere feet away, she walked forward.
*Swoosh*
The patriarch and grand patriarch appeared in front of her.
"Remember what I said, Xi Meiying"
Xi Meiying paused for a moment. Raising her hand to the side, ice left her hand as a sword formed. The patriarch noticed his and shouted angrily.
"How dare you raise a sword against the Grand Patriarch! Xi Meiying, do not forget who has power here, the Grand Patriarch can only protect you so much!"
Xi Meiying ignored the patriarchs angry remark, or rather, she seemed to not even hear him.
"Move aside" her emotionless voice sounded.
"You know I can't do that" the Grand Patriarch replied tiredly. He sent her a message through their communication crystal.
'Control yourself Meiying, do not let it influence your emotions so easily, as all our training was not for naught. I will personally punish Xi Haohuan for his ruthless actions, but you cannot cause a scene here.'
Violently shaking, Xi Meiying managed to let out a reply.
"I'm sorry, master"
"It's okay, let's go see how Xi Heji's doing" the grand patriarch said as he walked over to her.
"Grand Patriarch has no need to meddle yourself with your disciple, allow me to teach her a lesson about respecting her elders"
The third elder suggested, walking towards him.
"There's no need"
The grand patriarch waved his hand. Taking Xi Meiying and disappearing from the Arena. The patriarch followed suit, along with the 2nd elder.
The third elder then reached down for the bloodied sword that was still on the ground, while Xi Haohuan knelt on the ground exhausted. Looking back to his son, he let out a smile.
"You were not able to use 'Rendering Earth' before, you have definitely impr-"
The third elder widened his eyes. In front of him, a face so beautiful it left him still in shocked appeared, reaching her Snow White hand towards his forehead. The surroundings turned blue, the only thing in sight an infinite plane of Ice. The arena disappeared. The audience disappeared. The Sun no longer shone. He was by himself with this beauty. But her eyes is what attracted his vision. Eyes so cold they themselves seem to hold winter, glistening blue even though minimal light was present.
Snapping out of it, the third elder jumped back.
"W-what did you do?!"
Looking around him, only seeing a plateau of ice, panic ensued him. Pulling out the Dawn of Diqu, he raised it at her.
"Take me out of here, or I'll make you do it"
She smiled, the expression so unsettling and unnerving, then walked towards him. Forming the same Ice Sword.
'I just have to kill her to break this illusion'
He disappeared, crossing the short distance between them instantly. Seeing as she didn't move, he assumed it to be due to the difference in cultivation.
*Splurt*
Impaling the sword through her, blood spilled out. Her surprised expression betrayed his expectations. Then a voice that caused his body to freeze, contrary to the environment spoke.
"F… Father?"
"Hahahaha!"
The third elder laughed.
"You got me for a moment child!" He continued laughing hysterically.
"Who do you take me for girl? You lack knowledge to think such a tactic would rival my experience."
Removing the sword from her body, he then went for the head, slicing it right off.
The head fell, rolling on the ice floor. Though friction still seemed to be present.
Slashing the sword to his side, the blood slid right off, eerily real. Storing the sword away, the elder looked at the still remaining world.
"Although I may not be able to do anything to you for treason against the clan for attacking me, you would do well to know that your friend won't survive to appreciate this tribute in his name" he said while laughing.
"Remember girl, throwing a tantrum does nothing to change what's already happened. I hope you don't decide to target my son later, or I will not stand by. It is all an aspect of battle, you can't expect to fight without risk of injury."
Seeing the world start to collapse, he smiled.
A voice filled with contempt and mockery, eerily spoke out to him.
"It is as you say, an aspect of battle"
The arena reentered his view, the ice disappeared and in its place the arena. The figures that were there before this 'illusion' reappeared. Though the silent audience added fear to the scene that appeared right in front of him.
Laying on the ground before him, Xi Haohuan laid headless, fresh blood still seeping out at the neck.
"Third elder should think of it as inevitable, as I would've done it sooner or later."
The third elder lay still. He face filled with disbelief. His pupils shaking.
"Think about it this way, Xi Han, you gave him a much more pleasant death than he would've experienced with me… hmm, well, that's natural considering…" Xi Meiying paused for a moment.
"… your his father." Xi Meiying lightly chuckled as her word blended in with the passing wind.
A/N: Just a reminder, this is her Azures Frost state.