The atmosphere in the arena was electric, the air thick with anticipation. The spectators held their breath, their eyes glued to the platform where Li Xuan and Lin Mei stood, locked in a deadly contest of wills. No one had expected the match to become this intense—least of all Lin Mei.
For her, this battle had begun as just another easy victory. But now, as she wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, she realized this was no ordinary opponent. Li Xuan, a mere Qi Refining disciple, had forced her onto the defensive. Her pride burned, and her anger flared.
"You've done well," Lin Mei admitted coldly, her voice carrying across the arena. "But this ends now."
Li Xuan's eyes remained calm, though his heart pounded in his chest. He had pushed his body to its limits, utilizing the Ninefold Ascension Technique in ways few could imagine, but he knew this fight was far from over. Lin Mei was stronger—much stronger—and her cultivation level at Core Formation gave her an overwhelming advantage. He could not afford a single mistake.
Without warning, Lin Mei raised both arms, and the temperature in the arena plummeted even further. The ground beneath her feet cracked and frosted over, her aura expanding as her full power was unleashed. A towering glacier erupted from the floor of the platform, shimmering in the sunlight and casting a shadow over Li Xuan.
The crowd gasped in awe. It was a show of power far beyond what anyone had expected. Lin Mei was done playing games.
"This will crush you," Lin Mei declared, her voice like the crack of ice.
The glacier groaned as it tilted forward, crashing down toward Li Xuan with the force of an avalanche. For a moment, it seemed as if nothing could stop it—the sheer size and power behind the ice were overwhelming.
But Li Xuan was not a novice. His mind raced as the Eternal Codex pulsed within him, offering guidance in his moment of need. In an instant, he activated the Cloak of Shadows, vanishing from sight as the glacier slammed into the ground where he had stood just moments before.
The platform shook, cracks spider-webbing across its surface as the glacier settled, sending icy shards into the air. But Li Xuan was already moving. Hidden within the shadows, he reappeared behind Lin Mei, his Qi swirling as he prepared his next attack.
Drawing on the Codex's power, Li Xuan focused his Qi into his palm, forming a condensed sphere of energy. This was one of the more advanced techniques the Codex had revealed to him—a dangerous attack that required perfect control. But if it landed, it would turn the tide of the battle.
Lin Mei's eyes widened as she sensed the surge of energy behind her. She spun around just in time to see Li Xuan's attack streaking toward her. Reacting on instinct, she summoned a shield of ice, but it wasn't enough. The condensed Qi smashed through the barrier, exploding against her chest and sending her flying backward.
The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, unable to believe what they were seeing. Li Xuan stood, breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on Lin Mei as she struggled to get back on her feet.
"How…?" she muttered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "How can someone at Qi Refining have this much power?"
Li Xuan didn't answer. The truth was that even he wasn't fully sure how he had survived this long. The Eternal Codex had saved him countless times, revealing techniques and strategies that seemed to be tailored perfectly to the situation. It was as if the Codex knew exactly what he needed, when he needed it.
But even with the Codex's help, he was reaching his limit. His body ached from the strain of using the Ninefold Ascension Technique, and his Qi reserves were dangerously low. If Lin Mei launched another attack at full power, he wasn't sure if he could withstand it.
Lin Mei rose to her feet, her gaze cold and filled with fury. "I underestimated you, Li Xuan," she admitted, her voice ice-cold. "But that ends now. You've forced me to use my strongest technique."
With a flick of her wrist, the air around her crackled with energy. The ice beneath her feet expanded, spreading across the platform as a towering storm of frozen Qi formed above her. The entire arena seemed to freeze over, the temperature dropping to unbearable levels.
"Frost Domain!" she shouted, her voice reverberating through the arena.
The spectators gasped in shock as the frozen storm intensified, swirling with deadly shards of ice that could tear through anything in their path. Li Xuan's eyes narrowed. This was it—the final, ultimate attack.
But he wasn't done yet.
As the Frost Domain expanded, closing in around him, Li Xuan summoned every ounce of Qi he had left. The Ninefold Ascension Technique surged within him, pushing his body beyond its natural limits. His meridians burned, but he couldn't stop now. This was his only chance.
The Codex whispered again, revealing a technique that he had never used before. It was risky, dangerous even, but it was his only option. Channeling the last of his strength, Li Xuan leaped into the air, directly toward the center of the Frost Domain.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Li Xuan seemed to fly straight into the heart of Lin Mei's attack, his body engulfed in the icy storm. For a moment, it seemed as if he had made a fatal mistake.
But then, the impossible happened.
A brilliant flash of light erupted from the center of the storm, blinding everyone in the arena. The Frost Domain shattered, the ice dispersing into nothingness as Li Xuan emerged, his body surrounded by a shimmering shield of Qi.
The crowd erupted into chaos, disciples shouting in disbelief as Lin Mei staggered backward, her eyes wide with shock. She had poured everything into that attack, and yet Li Xuan had somehow survived.
"Impossible…" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "How could you…?"
Li Xuan landed softly on the ground, breathing heavily but still standing. He had done it—he had survived. But the cost had been immense. His body ached with exhaustion, and his Qi reserves were almost completely depleted.
Lin Mei collapsed to one knee, her strength completely drained. She had lost. There was no way for her to continue the fight.
The crowd was silent, stunned by the unexpected outcome.