Young Man and Woman

A ten-thousand-foot thunder dragon tore through the sea of clouds, while gale-force winds sliced through the void like blades. Six figures clashed back and forth, and fine cracks often appeared in the surrounding space. Though they faced four opponents with only two, the young man and woman showed no sign of falling behind.

The young man stood in midair atop a golden sword formation, his black robes billowing like ink spilled across the heavens. The jade crown binding his hair reflected a cold gleam amid the lightning.

Suddenly, a bolt of purple lightning struck toward his brow. He raised two fingers like a sword, and golden light condensed into a golden lotus winding around them. As he lifted his eyes, his profile seemed sculpted from ice and snow, his brows brimming with battle intent. His long hair streamed in the wind, yet a faintly indolent disdain for all living things lingered at the corner of his lips.

At that very moment, a figure in plain white drifted gracefully down beside the young man.

It was the young woman. Her wide sleeves bloomed with countless layers of moonlight in the wind, and with a light tap of her toes, an Ice Crystal jade tree instantly blossomed. The instant lightning and fire illuminated her face, even the savage thunderlight seemed to pause for half a breath. Her eyes resembled stars fallen into cold pools, her lips crimson clouds reflected against snowy peaks, and her flowing black hair carried the clear, ethereal air of the Ninth Heaven.

The young man and woman did not exchange a word. The man flipped his palm and sent forth a golden sword lotus, its petals transforming into a rain of swords that poured down from the sky. The woman formed a hand seal with her slender fingers,