A Dazzling Slash

"You wish!"

Shui Bing'er shouted coldly. Soul Power surged through her body at high speed, her blue hair fluttering as she began to summon her Martial Soul. A sacred and noble phantom of an Ice Phoenix slowly emerged around her, rolling waves of icy chill spreading outward as the surrounding temperature abruptly plunged below freezing.

Three brilliant Soul Rings rose at once—two yellow and one purple. A Level 31 Battle Soul Venerable!

"Blazing Lion!"

Seeing Shui Bing'er summon her Martial Soul, Li Lingtian's eyes grew solemn. Facing the top-tier ice-type Martial Soul, the Ice Phoenix, he did not dare be careless. With a furious roar, Soul Power erupted around him, and a flaming lion emerged from his body!

Soul Rings slowly rose beneath his feet, likewise two yellow and one purple!

This was the ordinary Beast Spirit, the Blazing Lion. Though it could not compare to Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix, his level was a full four levels higher than hers. He was a Level 35 Battle Soul Venerable!

A fierce battle between Soul Elders erupted in an instant!

Ice rapidly spread across the ground, congealing into thick crystals; blazing flames burned fiercely, sending waves of scorching heat billowing outward.

Within the forest, frost and flame collided violently. Powerful Soul Power swept through the air, and the surrounding ancient trees gradually became covered in conical ice crystals, while their branches bore blackened scorch marks.

This battle was somewhat unexpected!

Although Shui Bing'er and Li Lingtian were separated by four levels, from the very beginning of the fight, Shui Bing'er had firmly held the upper hand, suppressing Li Lingyun the entire time!

The left side of Li Lingtian's face was swollen high, both eyes bruised black and blue, and even the corners of his mouth were bleeding. He looked utterly wretched, beaten so badly that he could not fight back.

"Damn it!"

His face darkened, viciousness surging in his eyes as he coldly fixed his gaze on the powerful girl before him. His heart was filled with rage.

The Ice Phoenix truly deserved its reputation as a top-tier Martial Soul. Its power was simply beyond comparison with ordinary Martial Souls. Though his level far exceeded Shui Bing'er's, once they truly fought, he was completely no match for the girl.

At that moment, Shui Bing'er pressed her advantage, unleashing her third Soul Skill in an attempt to defeat Li Lingtian in one go.

"Third Soul Skill—Repelling Ice Ring!"

A ring of icy-blue light instantly burst from Shui Bing'er's body, forming a crystalline ice ring that radiated a terrifying chill capable of freezing the world.

Her gaze was icy, her blue hair flowing. Like an incomparably graceful celestial maiden, she charged at Li Lingtian with killing intent blazing around her.

"Oh no!!"

Li Lingtian went pale with shock. Looking at Shui Bing'er charging toward him, his face filled with terror.

He knew clearly just how terrifying her third Soul Skill was. Its damage was incredibly high, and it carried a freezing effect as well. If he was struck by this move, even if he did not die, he would be severely injured.

"Third Soul Skill—Crimson Flame Aegis!"

With a loud shout, he hurriedly summoned a flaming shield to resist Shui Bing'er's attack.

"Boom!"

However, an astonishing scene unfolded. Shui Bing'er actually shattered Li Lingtian's Crimson Flame Aegis head-on and sent him flying viciously backward.

"Ah! How is this possible..."

Li Lingtian screamed, vomiting blood as he staggered back more than ten steps before crashing heavily into a boulder and smashing it apart.

His face turned deathly pale. Severely injured, even his Martial Soul dissipated as he suffered a complete defeat.

Watching Shui Bing'er approach step by step, Li Lingtian's heart gradually sank to the bottom.

"Bing'er! It was all my fault. I was blinded by desire. For the sake of our past friendship, please, spare my life!" He desperately begged the girl for mercy.

"Friends? You secretly poisoned me while I was off guard, and you still dare talk about friendship? Die..."

Shui Bing'er's expression was cold and indifferent. She had no intention of sparing Li Lingtian as her fist, infused with icy Soul Power, smashed viciously toward his head!

At that moment, her delicate body suddenly trembled, and her attack came to an abrupt halt. As though she had suffered a heavy blow, she stumbled back four or five steps and slammed hard into a tree.

"What's happening?! My Soul Power..."

Shui Bing'er was alarmed and uncertain. The Soul Power inside her body was strangely dissipating, and even the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul returned to her body beyond her control.

Before long, her eyes became clouded again. Hot sweat streamed down her smooth forehead, and even her breaths turned scorching.

"Hahahaha, the effects of the Passionate Rose have finally erupted!"

At the sight, Li Lingtian was instantly overjoyed and burst into laughter. "Bing'er, I forgot to tell you—the Passionate Rose is not merely a drug that confuses the mind. It can also cause a person's Soul Power to collapse, making it impossible to recover for a short time. You must be feeling weak all over now, unable to use even a trace of Soul Power, right?!"

"Li Lingtian, you despicable scoundrel!"

Shui Bing'er's cheeks were flushed red, fragrant sweat soaking her body. She leaned weakly against the tree, glaring coldly at Li Lingtian, her eyes filled with fury.

"Hmph, Bing'er, you brought all of this upon yourself. If you had accepted my love earlier, why would I have resorted to such measures? You can only blame yourself for being too proud and looking down on everyone, throwing away my affection like trash. That is why things have come to this!"

Li Lingtian snorted coldly, raising a hand to wipe the blood from his face as he slowly climbed to his feet. A sinister smile appeared on his lips as his greedy gaze swept over Shui Bing'er's graceful curves, the heat in his eyes growing ever more intense!

He could not wait to see this proud girl submit before him!

"Bing'er, let me enjoy you properly!"

Li Lingtian licked his lips excitedly and reached Shui Bing'er in two or three strides. His sinful hand slowly reached toward that pure, flawless cheek...

"No! Don't come any closer! Help! Someone, save me!"

Watching that demonic claw reach toward her face, Shui Bing'er could not help shedding crystalline tears, her heart filled with despair.

"Go ahead, scream all you want. It won't matter even if you scream your throat raw. No one will come to save you!"

Li Lingtian sneered, his eyes full of mockery. He was about to have Shui Bing'er, whom he had coveted for so long, and his entire body trembled with excitement.

"Shing!"

At that moment, a clear, waterlike sound of a blade being drawn suddenly rang out.

The blade's edge was like ripples across water, quietly spreading through the air.

Gentle, yet carrying a measure of sharpness!

It silently swept across Li Lingtian's neck...

Li Lingtian's pupils contracted. Before he could react, his head had already flown into the air!

"What a beautiful blade..."

Shui Bing'er stared blankly, her gaze somewhat dazed, deeply captivated by that slash.

That slash was like a breeze brushing over water, like a meteor cutting through the night sky—gentle as water, yet carrying a sharp killing intent. It was breathtakingly magnificent!

For the first time, she realized that killing could possess the feeling of art!

Raising her eyes slightly, a cold and stern youth gradually came into view.

His black hair hung loose, and his features were handsome. He held a slender longsword in his hand, but most incredible of all was that the snow-bright blade was not stained with even a trace of blood.

The instant he sheathed his blade, that bloody head happened to roll to his feet.

It stunned everyone present!

Shui Bing'er's gaze grew somewhat dazed.

She did not know whether it was that slash that had captivated her, or the youth before her...