Hua Xue sat in a VIP booth with Xun Xi. The second youngest among the Three Ice Fairies looked putout still. Ever since she lost, Xun Xi had either been sulking or day dreaming like a young girl in love.

I really hope she hasn’t fallen for Jian Wu. That would be… problematic.

Out of all the girls in the Ice Phoenix Sect, Xun Xi was the most expressive, though the average person might not be able to tell. Her face was still mostly blank. The cultivation technique all members of the sect were taught made them cold in both mind and body.

“You should not sulk, little one,” Hua Xue said.

“I’m not sulking,” Xun Xi said with a pout.

Hua Xue gave her a small smile. “If you are not sulking, then what are you doing?”

“… Contemplating.”

“Contemplate later. This is one battle you should not miss.”

At Hua Xue’s instruction, Xun Xi turned back to the battle that had just begun down in the arena. Húndàn Wang sprinted forward to close the distance between him and Mei Xilan. Several blocks of ice sprang up before him, but he either dodged them or cut straight through them. His technique was impressive.

“He’s channeling chi into his sword to create a sharp cutting blade. Not bad. I do wonder why he’s not using sword intent. It would be much more effective, but I guess he still doesn’t have a strong handle on how to properly use it,” Hua Xue murmured.

“Is sword intent really that powerful?” asked Xun Xi.

Hua Xue nodded, though her eyes never left the battle. Húndàn Wang had not been able to close the distance. The moment he got within a dozen chih of Mei Xilan, the young woman unleashed an extremely powerful burst of ice. Snow white crystals spread across the ground and forced the young man back. With Mei Xilan in the center, they formed a blossoming lotus of ice.

[Ice Lotus Burst]

“In the hands of a true master, sword intent can be used to split seas, sever mountains, and rend the heavens. There was once a young man who had been dubbed the Celestial Sword Emperor. His mastery of the sword was such that he could split planets in two,” Hua Xue said.

“What?”

“Nevermind. Anyway, watch the battle. Húndàn Wang is about to use sword intent.”

Just as Hua Xue said this, Húndàn Wang waved his sword through the air. His chi surrounded the blade. However, it felt different this time. There was a sharpness that anyone who was sensitive to chi could feel.

When he waved his sword through the air, he created half a dozen glowing white swords. These swords were made from his sword intent. Another wave sent the swords soaring toward Mei Xilan.

“Celestial Swords!” Húndàn Wang shouted the name of his technique.

“Hmmm. I guess he can’t conceptualize this technique properly without calling out the name. He still has a long way to go,” she murmured to herself.

“Did you say something, Master?” asked Xun Xi.

“… No. Keep watching.”

Hua Xue did not know this technique, but there were many that worked similarly, and so she was able to figure out how it worked with but a single glance.

The swords sailed forward but were soon stopped by several ice phoenixes that Mei Xilan created with a sweep of her hand. Ice phoenix and sword intent clashed and canceled each other out. The explosion of power created miniature shockwaves that traveled across the arena, though they did not reach the stands.

Húndàn Wang slid backwards along the ground. Mei Xilan remained where she was. She waved her hand and sent several more ice phoenixes his way. The young man had no time to create his Celestial Swords, and thus was forced to use close-quarters-combat to defeat her technique.

His footwork was impeccable as he stepped across the ground, swinging his sword from right hip to left shoulder. An ice phoenix was sliced in half. Then he spun. Extending his blade, which was coated in chi, he cut through several more of Mei Xilan’s ice phoenixes. It wasn’t long before every attack had been demolished.

Without missing a beat, Húndàn Wang thrust his sword at Mei Xilan, even though he was too far away to actually hit her.

“Peirce!”

A pure white extension of chi shot from the sword. Húndàn Wang didn’t stop there. He dashed across the ground and circled around Mei Xilan as she erected a barrier.

[Ice Lotus Shield]

A brilliant pale blue lotus that looked like it had been formed of crystals coalesced in the air before her, stopping the sword intent attack in its tracks. Mei Xilan then spun around, sweeping her arm from right to left in a grand gesture, and the lotus followed as though being directed.

Húndàn Wang’s blade came down upon the lotus. He sliced right through it, but it took an extra second, and Mei Xilan was able to move back. She stomped on the ground and ice sprouted around her feet.

[Ice Briar]

Numerous prickly vines made of ice burst from the ground and surrounded Húndàn Wang. They tried to latch onto him, but he backpedaled, swinging his sword left and right. His attacks easily sliced through the briars. He didn’t even realize how much danger he was in until a thick layer of frost covered his sword, dulling its edge.

“It looks like this Húndàn Wang isn’t all he’s cracked up to be. Big Sister Xilan has him completely at her mercy,” Xun Xi declared.

Hua Xue’s small smile was almost unnoticeable as she shook her head. “I would not say that, though Mei Xilan certainly has the advantage right now. I suppose that is only natural. After all, she has cultivated the Ice Phoenix Cultivation Method up to the sixth level. That’s almost as high as the sect master herself.”

“You don’t use the Ice Phoenix Cultivation Method, right?” asked Xun Xi.

“Correct, which is why I didn’t teach her myself.”

Hua Xue had only given Mei Xilan several techniques like Ice Briar, Ice Shield Lotus, and Lotus Burst. She would have taught the girl more, but those were the only techniques she had that Mei Xilan could learn. The rest were too advanced for her, or anyone else on this small closed world.

***

Húndàn Wang narrowed his eyes as channeled more sword intent into his place, shattering the ice surrounding it. He continued to pump out chi, change it into sword intent, and surround his blade with a sharp edge.

Several dozen ice briars came at him, but he cut them all down. His sword created silver flashes as he swung it. Despite his elegant swordplay, he was constantly being forced back.

This woman… is really strong.

They were both at the first subrealm of the Human Limit Realm, which meant their strength was about equal, but it was clear that this woman had far more chi at her disposal than he did.

It was to be expected. Húndàn Wang had focused all of his effort into mastering the sword. His cultivation method not only demanded it, but he had more love for swords than he did cultivating. His techniques also didn’t cost as much chi as most since they were smaller and more localized attacks. He didn’t think he’d ever find himself in a situation where he had to worry about running out of power.

I should have worked on increasing my reserves, but it’s too late for regrets.

Mei Xilan stomped on the ground again. Húndàn Wang expected her to create more ice briars, but this time, what spread across the ground was just a sheet of pure ice. He was confused at first--at least, until the ice reached him.

“Wha…?!”

The ice was slippery. He couldn’t gain any traction and slid across the ground, falling onto his backside.

Mei Xilan raised her hand and a large Ice Phoenix appeared above her. Húndàn Wang thought it was going to charge forward and slam into him, but instead, it opened its mouth and released an icy blast of freezing cold air condensed into a beam.

[Ice Phoenix Breath]

The attack was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was like a pure white beam of freezing cold energy.

He scrambled to his feet, though he kept slipping across the surface. His disadvantageous position made it hard for him to attack. Yet attack he did. Húndàn Wang channeled whatever chi he could into his blade, causing it to glow a bright white, then swing it with all his might.

“Cut it!!”

His battle cry echoed around the arena as a powerful crescent blade shot from his sword and slammed into the ice breath. He had packed a lot of chi into that attack. Yet even so, the ice breath did not get sliced in half. The two attacks fought for supremacy, pushing against each other.

Húndàn Wang knew this attack wouldn’t end well, so he slid across the icy surface to get out of harm's way. The two attacks exploded seconds after he did, sending a shower of ice and chi in all directions. It looked almost like fireworks at a festival.

Standing dozens of chih from where he had been, Húndàn Wang peered into the steam that had formed as a result of the clashing techniques. It soon dissipated, revealing Mei Xeilan, unharmed and standing exactly where she had been. Several ice briars surrounded her. They were much thicker than the ones she had used to attack him, so these must have been used as a defense. The ice briars retreated as though sensing that the danger was gone.

“You are incredibly powerful. I did not expect to find anyone in the Shang Kingdom who could challenge me,” Húndàn Wang said after a moment.

“Your words honor me,” Mei Xilan said. Her voice was cold and seemed uncaring, but she spoke politely.

“Since you are so powerful, I have decided to show you my greatest technique. I hope you will accept it.”

“Very well. Feel free to send your greatest technique at me. I will receive it.”

Battles between cultivators were interesting and unorthodox. It was considered honorable among cultivators to let each other show off their techniques. To not allow a cultivator to show what they are made of was considered an insult to the Martial Dao, which was said to invoke karma’s wrath.

Of course, not every cultivator felt this way, and some battles were just dirty. This was especially true when cultivators fought for resources. They would not hesitate to use whatever dirty tricks they could.

But that was neither here nor there.

Húndàn Wang took a deep breath, slid his feet apart, and raised his sword until it was eye level and pointed right at Mei Xilan. Chi exploded from his body as he released all constraints. He focused that chi into his sword, changing it from pure chi to sword intent. A soft silver glow surrounded his blade. It was very different from everything he had done up to this point. Sweat formed on his brow as he struggled to contain the energy, to keep it from being released. He sharpened it into a fine point along the edge.

“Here I come! Prepare yourself!”

With a burst of power from his leg, Húndàn Wang dashed forward faster than he had during their battle so far. He pushed his body as hard as he could to reach Mei Xilan faster than she could react. He was there within a split second, sword raised above his head, ready to be brought down.

“Celestial Sword Burst!”

Húndàn Wang did not have perfect control over his technique, so he needed to call out the name to help conceptualize it. He swung the sword down on Mei Xilan’s head.

It was blocked.

A tiny ice lotus had bloomed in front of his sword and blocked it.

“Ice Lotus Shield,” Mei Xilan murmured softly.

She’s condensed all of her chi into this tiny point. That makes it considerably harder to cut through. But I won’t give up!

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Húndàn Wang screamed as he channeled even more chi into his sword. The sword shook violently as he overloaded it with as much chi as he could muster.

The ice lotus cracked.

Then it burst apart.

Húndàn Wang continued through with his swing as Mei Xilan stepped back, though she was not fast enough to completely avoid the sword. Her veil was sliced off. It fluttered to the ground, exposing her face for the first time.