Chapter: Shattering Ice
Without saying another word, Su Yang charged toward the Ice Golem.
The Golem stood silently at first, its massive body hunched like a statue. But the moment Su Yang approached, its glowing blue eyes flared, and the air turned razor-sharp with killing intent.
In a sudden flash, the Ice Golem lunged. Its colossal frame moved with terrifying speed, its massive fist already swinging toward Su Yang.
> "Roar!!"
The air trembled with the Golem's bellow as its punch came crashing down. Su Yang met the attack head-on, his Mountain-Splitting Punch crashing forward with equal ferocity.
BOOM!
The ground shook. Wind howled in every direction. The shockwave from the clash cracked the stone floor beneath them. Su Yang was blasted backward, skidding across the icy surface. The Golem, on the other hand, staggered only a few steps.
Still, Su Yang stood back up—gritting his teeth, blood trickling from his fist.
---
Meanwhile, Lu Ying remained at a distance, her eyes closed in focus, palms raised as she gathered True Ice Qi. Waves of freezing energy rippled from her body, surrounding the Golem's limbs. A thin frost began forming around its knees and arms, slowing its movements.
But the Ice Golem sensed her interference.
With an angry growl, it turned from Su Yang and began stomping toward Lu Ying.
> It's trying to break her concentration...! Su Yang realized.
Without thinking, he bent his knees and leapt, once again intercepting the Golem's path. As he soared through the air, he launched another Mountain-Splitting Punch, his fist blazing with spiritual force.
The Golem turned mid-step and countered with its own punch.
CRACK!
The clash erupted like thunder. Both were knocked backward once more—but this time, blood sprayed from Su Yang's hand, his knuckles split and his bones aching from the impact.
---
Despite the pain, Su Yang rose again.
Lu Ying remained firm, her focus unwavering. Her ice continued to wrap around the Golem's legs and arms like frozen chains. Her energy pulsed stronger now.
Su Yang narrowed his eyes and clenched his injured hand into a fist.
> This is it. I have to end this—now!
He channelled all of his remaining energy into his core, feeling it surge upward into his arm. Then, with a shout, he closed the distance one more time.
BOOM!
His fist slammed into the Ice Golem's chest, and a deafening crack echoed as fractures split across its crystalline torso.
The Golem staggered.
Su Yang fell back, gasping for air.
Then—he heard her voice:
> "Freeze Terror!"
He turned to see Lu Ying, both hands extended, her arms glowing with deep blue light. Her breath came out in icy puffs, and her entire body shivered from the effort. But the Golem—was completely frozen.
Its movements stopped mid-step, turned into a statue of ice, locked in her deadly technique.
> "Now!" Lu Ying cried, her voice strained. "I can only hold it for a moment!"
Su Yang didn't hesitate. He reached into his spatial ring, pulled out his yellow-tier sword, and gripped it tightly.
He poured everything—his spirit energy, his qi, and even a fragment of his will—into the blade. It began to glow with a searing white aura, Sword Qi pulsating from its edges like a heartbeat.
His body moved on instinct.
He gathered his strength, bent low, and launched himself forward—a blur of silver and white streaking through the air.
> "Razing Fall!" he roared.
His sword cleaved down with a howling cry, a brilliant arc of light trailing behind him. Time itself seemed to pause for a moment.
Then—
SLASH!!
His blade passed clean through the Golem's torso. A loud crack rang out.
The Ice Golem stood frozen… then suddenly shattered, breaking apart like glass under pressure. Crystals exploded in all directions, collapsing into sparkling fragments across the cave floor.
---
The battle was over.
Su Yang exhaled and let himself collapse onto the ground, lying flat, his chest heaving. His sword clattered beside him, and his right hand—already injured—was now torn, swollen, and soaked with blood.
Lu Ying rushed to his side, kneeling beside him. Her face was pale, her body trembling, but her eyes were filled with concern.
> "You're hurt badly," she said, voice shaking.
Su Yang managed a weak smile.
> "We did it, didn't we?"