The tournament ground was vast, surrounded by a seated crowd of disciples and elders from various sects. A gentle spiritual mist lingered in the air, charged with anticipation. The combat arena shimmered with engraved formations meant to contain high-level martial arts. From above, the sun bathed the stage in golden light.
A disciple from the referee sect called out, "Next match: Su Yang from Jade Spirit Sect versus Lin Xue from Ice Serpent Valley!"
Whispers spread through the crowd. Lin Xue, known as the Ice Serpent Fairy, was a beauty with terrifying ice arts. She had long silver-blue hair tied in a flowing braid, and her robes fluttered in the breeze, radiating cold intent. She stepped into the arena gracefully, her gaze cold and indifferent.
Su Yang followed, his steps calm and posture relaxed. He wore a simple robe and had no sect insignia on his chest, yet his calm demeanor stood out.
The battle arena shimmered under the enchantments placed by the elders of the Sect Exchange Trial. As Lin Xue stood in the center, her presence was like a blossoming frost flower—beautiful yet chilling. Her cultivation was clearly at Vein Tempering (Mid) realm, but her control over ice made her a dangerous opponent even for someone at the Vein Tempering (Peak) stage.
Su Yang stood opposite her, calm as ever. Although his cultivation was at Bone Tempering (Peak), his actual strength exceeded his stage due to his Karma Fire Body, refined soul, and relentless training. The atmosphere was tense.
From the viewing platform, Sun Xiyan narrowed his eyes.
"That flame aura around him... it's stronger than before. I underestimated him," Sun Xiyan muttered.
Elder Wu of the Ice Serpent Valley, seated near the judges' panel, studied the duo intensely.
"Let's see how Lin Xue handles this. If Su Yang defeats her, he may become a serious threat," Elder Wu thought.
Despite the cultivation gap, many couldn't take their eyes off Su Yang.
"Begin!" the referee declared.
A wave of frost erupted from Lin Xue the moment the battle started. The ground beneath her feet crystallized into frost patterns. With a flick of her hand, several sharp ice spears shot toward Su Yang.
Su Yang didn't dodge. Instead, he formed a seal and muttered, "Flame Bloom."
His palm glowed with orange-red light, and a ring of karma fire erupted around him, vaporizing the spears mid-air. The heat distorted the air.
"He has fire affinity? That too... such a pure one!" someone from the Ice Serpent Valley gasped.
"You're quite confident to burn ice so casually," Lin Xue said, her voice low, eyes narrowed.
She slammed her palms together. "Ice Serpent Dance."
Dozens of thin ice serpents slithered out of the ground and darted toward Su Yang with blinding speed. Their fangs shimmered with frost poison.
"Karma Flame: Spiraling Lotus," Su Yang said softly.
A lotus of golden-red fire bloomed around him and rotated like a blazing shield, incinerating each serpent as they neared.
Lin Xue's eyes widened slightly. "That fire—it isn't ordinary. It purifies."
Su Yang didn't rush. He analyzed her technique calmly. Her ice manipulation is detailed. Her soul control over constructs is strong. She's not holding back.
Lin Xue jumped back and chanted, "Frost Realm Expansion."
A white dome expanded from her body, attempting to encase Su Yang in a cold domain.
Su Yang stepped forward, his hands glowing again.
"Heavenly True Fire: Soul Tempering Pulse."
A rhythmic pulse of heat burst from his body. The Frost Realm shattered mid-expansion.
In the spectator area, Jin Hao's eyes sparkled. "He's forcing her back with each move. Su Yang is using her energy against her."
Lin Xue frowned, then leapt into the air and formed an intricate hand sign. "Ice Binding Chains."
Four chains of ice surged from the arena corners and wrapped around Su Yang like vipers. He didn't panic.
"Now!" Lin Xue waved, and the chains exploded into frost waves, forming a blizzard around Su Yang.
The audience squinted. Snow blocked their view.
Suddenly, a brilliant red glow lit up the mist.
"Karma Fire Burst!"
BOOM!
A column of red-gold fire erupted, cutting through the mist like a divine lance. Lin Xue flew back, barely landing on her feet.
When the smoke cleared, Su Yang stood in the center, his robe burned at the edges, a slight cut on his lip, but his aura... stronger.
I see, Su Yang thought. Her power lies in layered control. But now...
His body trembled slightly as his blood boiled. A breakthrough surged inside him.
[Congratulations: Host has advanced to Blood Tempering Realm (Low)]
Golden energy surged briefly before stabilizing.
Gasps echoed. "He broke through mid-fight?!"
Su Yang exhaled deeply. "Let's end this."
Lin Xue, realizing what happened, bit her lip. "You monster... Still, I won't back down."
Both fighters leapt toward each other—
Fire met ice in a dazzling mid-air clash.
The entire arena shook.
A gong echoed across the arena.
BOOM!
The fight began.
Lin Xue took the initiative. With a sweep of her hand, shards of crystalline frost exploded from beneath her feet. "Glacial Lotus Formation!" she cried.
Ten ice lotus petals surged forward in the air, rotating at deadly speed. Each petal could slice through stone.
Su Yang's eyes narrowed. He raised his palm and muttered, "Blazing Skin Wall."
A layer of thin red light surged across his skin. The lotus petals collided with him—but instead of cutting him, they hissed and melted into steam.
Lin Xue's eyes widened. "He neutralized my attack?"
Su Yang didn't waste time. He dashed forward, fists burning with reddish-orange fire. "Karma Flame Burst!"
His fist collided with Lin Xue's hurriedly conjured ice shield.
Crack!
The shield shattered instantly, and Lin Xue flew backward, skidding across the stone platform.
She coughed, but her expression didn't falter. "He's stronger than I thought."
Raising both hands, she summoned a swirling orb of cold air.
"Serpent Queen's Cry!" she shouted.
A serpent made entirely of ice surged from the orb, its maw open and fangs sharp.
Su Yang felt the intense spiritual pressure—it wasn't just a construct. Lin Xue had imbued it with her spirit energy.
He closed his eyes briefly. "Let's try this then."
He stepped back and drew a circle in the air with his fingers, forming a seal.
"Karma True Flame Array!"
A golden circle of flame appeared beneath his feet and expanded. The ice serpent screamed as it entered the field, melting rapidly under the oppressive heat.
The spectators were stunned.
"Isn't he just Bone Tempering (Peak)? How can he fight on equal ground with Vein Tempering?"
"His flame arts are... abnormal."
Sun Xiyan clenched his fists. "Elder was right. He could be a threat to our plans."
Back in the ring, Lin Xue was sweating. The intense heat was disrupting her energy flow. Her frost aura was weakening.
But she wasn't done yet.
She bit her lip and brought her palms together.
"Ice Soul Pulse—Blooming Serpent Dance!"
Thousands of snowflakes swirled into the air, forming a giant serpent made of glacial petals. It spun around her like armor and launched at Su Yang.
Su Yang felt the spiritual pulse of her skill—this was her trump card.
But he had one too.
He focused all his internal energy into his dantian and whispered:
"Karma Flame—Blazing Heaven Palm."
A fiery palm, ten times larger than his actual hand, materialized mid-air. It radiated golden-red light and intense spiritual heat.
BOOM!
The two techniques collided in a thunderous explosion. The arena trembled. Frost and fire clashed violently, steam rising like a fog across the field.
Moments later, the steam cleared.
Lin Xue was on one knee, panting. Her serpent technique had been shattered.
Su Yang stood tall, his shirt partly burned from his own flames, breathing heavily but still full of energy.
"I… lost," Lin Xue admitted, a faint smile on her lips. "You're… very strong."
Su Yang nodded and offered her a hand.
"You're strong too. I had to use my best moves to win."
She took his hand, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
In the judge's corner, Elder Wu narrowed his eyes.
"Not only does he have high comprehension… he also has compassion. That makes him dangerous."
Back near the viewing area, Sun Xiyan's elder stepped forward and whispered to him:
"Let it go for now. But once the Trial ends, we'll isolate him. A boy with law-defying flames and spatial-type beasts must not live freely."
Sun Xiyan nodded, cold malice flashing in his eyes.
"Then let's crush him when he least expects it."