Skyward Flight

"Crack!"

The sound of shattering ice crystals was like thunder. In the center of the storm, Chu Ning walked out slowly, and the ice blades he passed shattered. With every step he took, purple-gold lightning fire burst from the ice cracks. The sabers of the Marquis Wu's Estate guards were broken by the aftershock, and the broken blades were inserted into the corridor pillars, vibrating with a hum. Even more terrifying was that the purple-gold blade energy in his hand was entwined with Zhao Tianyu's Nine Nether Cold Qi, merging with the Profound Yang Fire to form an Ice-Fire Tornado!

The moment the blade energy was unleashed, the Ice-Fire Tornado let out sounds of dragon roars and fox cries. The ground of the Sword Testing Platform was flipped over, turning into sharp ice ridges. Zhao Tianyu's Meteorite Armor's chest plate erupted with dazzling sparks amidst the intertwined ice and fire, and the Town Martial Division inscriptions on the armor were scorched into black ravines.

Zhao Tianyu retreated sharply, his feet leaving deep gouges on the bluestone ground. The chest plate of his Meteorite Armor shattered with a roar, and silver metal fragments scattered everywhere. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.

As he wiped the blood from his mouth, his fingertip quietly crushed an ice crystal talisman—a secret treasure of the Town Martial Division used to record combat footage.

"Hahaha! Ice-Fire Tornado? What a skillful move!" Zhao Tianyu suddenly looked up, his eyes becoming solemn. "The third halberd… never mind, no need. You are enough to represent Marquis Wu's Estate and ascend the Azure Cloud Arena."

The entire venue erupted in an uproar!

"This… this is Chu Ning?" a martial artist muttered, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. "When he first arrived at Marquis Wu's Estate, he was just a Tenth-rank trash!"

"His aura… no, that's not right, this is definitely not just a Tenth-rank aura!"

"This is impossible!" The Cold Marrow Pendant at her waist suddenly exploded, its fragments piercing her palm. The pain jolted her awake; she had been so captivated by Chu Ning's Golden Eyes that her breathing had even stopped for three breaths.

Chu Ning was clearly just an ordinary Tenth-rank martial artist. Even if he had shown his prowess a few days ago and killed Feng Li, a Ninth-rank, it was impossible for him to have transformed to this extent in just a few days!

She had never seen a Chu Ning like this.

Calm, decisive, with restrained killing intent.

He was like… a different person.

Xie Mingli stood outside the Sword Testing Platform, watching Chu Ning walk slowly towards her, her heart shaken.

Yesterday, he still had hair as black as a waterfall, his gaze cool yet containing sharpness. Today, overnight, his temples had turned white as frost, the immaturity and sharpness in his brows had faded, replaced by a deep indifference and a detached killing intent. Those golden-patterned, flowing pupils were like the eyes of gods and demons suspended in the nine heavens, and a single glance sent a chill through her heart.

"What… what has he been through?"

Xie Mingli clenched her fist, her fingernails digging into her palm. She clearly remembered that just a few days ago, Chu Ning at Marquis Wu's Estate still needed her protection. Despite his exceptional talent, he was still only a Tenth-rank martial artist. Yet now, the man standing before her had an aura as deep as an abyss, and even a battlefield Asura like Zhao Tianyu narrowed his eyes slightly, showing a look of scrutiny.

She couldn't imagine what kind of transformation had made a person as if reborn overnight!

Xie Mingli took a deep breath, her gaze following Chu Ning's steps, her heart beating faster involuntarily. She wanted to ask, wanted to confirm, but a hint of fear she dared not speak arose in her heart… even reverence!

The Cold Marrow Pendant around Xie Mingli's neck suddenly exploded, its fragments piercing her skin. Blood slid down her collarbone; this was the first time she had lost control since cultivating the Ice Heart Art.

"What kind of existence has Chu Ning become?"

She had seen prodigies before, but she had never seen anyone transform from a youth on the fringes of the martial path into a powerhouse who made everyone hold their breath and dare not look directly at him in just a few days!

She watched as Chu Ning's frost-white hair brushed past the frozen bloodstains on Wang Lie's head. Chu Ning walked to Xie Mingli's front, slowly cupped his hands towards her, and said, "Miss Xie, there are still six days until the Azure Cloud Arena. I wish to withdraw my application and need to return to Qingyang County to save someone."

Xie Mingli was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "The Wang Family's informants in Qingyang County were replaced by Marquis Wu's Estate people yesterday."

Chu Ning looked up sharply, the golden patterns in his pupils flashing like sharp blades.

She raised her hand and pointed at the rolling head on the ground, saying faintly, "This person is Wang Lie, the captain of the Wang Family's death warriors. Last night, when Wang Lie led thirty death warriors to infiltrate, Commander Zhao was on patrol in Qingyang County and killed him."

The little snow fox suddenly leaped onto Chu Ning's shoulder, the flame patterns on its claws flickering. Chu Ning's five fingers dug deeply into the surface of the profound ice wall, the ice-fire lightning in his dantian spinning rapidly, shaking the ice crystals around him into powder.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" His voice was hoarse, like sand grinding against sand.

Chu Ning suddenly looked at the head with its eyes wide open in death, the blood still fresh, terrifying and hideous. His brow furrowed slightly, and his heart trembled. Last night, he had thought Xie Mingli was merely using him, but now it seemed this outwardly cold woman had secretly protected his family.

His emotions churned, and he finally restrained his sharpness, his tone unconsciously softening, "Miss Xie… thank you."

Xie Mingli's eyes narrowed slightly, she said nothing, her white clothes fluttering like a solitary peak in the cold snow. Zhao Tianyu glanced at Chu Ning and suddenly grinned, "No need for thanks. If you truly feel grateful, then win the championship for Marquis Wu's Estate."

Xie Mingli unfastened the Frost Pattern Jade Pendant from her waist and threw it to him: "Take this, and all the guards in Qingyang County will obey your orders." The jade pendant drew an icy blue arc in the air, but as it touched Chu Ning's palm, it was shredded by the purple-gold blade energy.

"I'm saving people, I don't need borrowed power." Amidst the flying fragments of jade, Chu Ning's white hair danced wildly like silver snakes. "Six days later, the Azure Cloud Arena… if any idle people block my path, I will crush them all."

On the Sword Testing Platform, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Chu Ning lightly tapped his toes, and the profound ice beneath his feet exploded. He slowly rose into the air, his robes billowing in the wind, his long white hair fluttering like a flag in the gale.

Everyone present held their breath, stunned.

"He… he's flying?" A guard's spear clattered to the ground.

Qin Henian looked up at the figure hovering a hundred zhang high, his throat bobbing. "It's not Qinggong, it's true Skyward Flight."

"How is that possible! Levitating in mid-air?!"

"That's a high-level technique that only those who have reached the peak of Fifth Grade, or even Fourth Grade, can master!"

The guards of Marquis Wu's Estate, Zhao Tianyu, Xie Mingli, and even the martial artists watching around the Sword Testing Platform were all shocked beyond measure.

On the Sword Testing Platform, Zhao Tianyu gripped his profound iron heavy halberd, his gaze narrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "This kid Chu Ning… he's been hiding his strength all along!"

Xie Mingli looked up, even more stunned. In just a few days, Chu Ning's growth had reached a point where she had to look up to him.

From the ordinary youth she first met to the white-haired powerhouse flying today, his change was too rapid, too unbelievable.

Chu Ning looked down at everyone indifferently. He didn't pay attention to their shock. His mind wasn't on them at all.

He was thinking about his Elder Sister's safety.

He couldn't wait any longer.

"Elder Sister, wait for me."

Chu Ning pointed his right finger at the sky, and a blood-colored lightning bolt descended from the clouds. This was not the Chaos Tribulation, but a phenomenon he deliberately induced. As the lightning wrapped around his body, the little snow fox poked its head out from his collar, its snow-white paws pressing on the lightning patterns on Chu Ning's chest, and icy blue runes flowed through his meridians.

"Hold on tight," he said, flicking a finger against the fox ear.

"Boom!"

A sonic boom exploded behind him, and the Xuanbing ice floor of the Sword Testing Platform instantly cracked. Xie Mingli raised her hand to block the ice shards that flew at her. When she opened her eyes again, only a purple-gold afterimage remained in the sky. His speed was so incredible that he had carved a hundred-zhang vacuum channel through the clouds.

"Such speed..." Zhao Tianyu's hand, gripping his halberd, bulged with veins. "I fear even the Town Martial Division's Grand Commander..."

"Pass down the order," Xie Mingli said, shattering the ice beneath her feet. "Appoint Chu Ning as a Town Martial Division Inspector, with full authority to handle matters in Qingyang County."

Xie Mingli watched him depart, her heart still unsettled. All she could do now was help him to the best of her ability.

She let out a soft sigh, unsure if her feelings were of relief or