Ice Phoenix

Snow Empress's body trembled slightly as she rested her head against Xue Tianyu's sturdy chest.

Listening to the powerful beat of his heart, the defenses around her heart came crashing down.

"Tian Yu..."

Snow Empress's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet filled with a tenderness she'd never shown before.

"I actually... don't mind this."

Hearing that, Ice Empress, who had been splashing around nearby, immediately came over.

Ice Empress blinked her big eyes, beaming as she reached out and poked Snow Empress's arm.

"Snow Maiden, you're admitting it already?"

"I knew it. No woman could possibly resist Tian Yu's charm."

Teased by her best friend, Snow Empress's exquisite face turned even redder.

She reached out with her jade-white hand and gave Ice Empress's waist a gentle pinch beneath the water.

Ice Empress let out a coquettish squeal and burrowed straight into Xue Tianyu's arms, like a clingy little cat.

Xue Tianyu wrapped his left arm around Ice Empress and raised Snow Empress's chin with his right hand.

"Look into my eyes."

Snow Empress lifted her head slightly and met his intensely domineering gaze.

"Say what you just said again, but another way."

His domineering voice carried an unshakable will.

Snow Empress bit her lower lip, struggling fiercely with herself for a moment.

In the end, she let go of all her reserve.

Her jade-white hand rose slowly and hooked around Xue Tianyu's neck.

"Tian Yu, I like you."

"The Far North is too cold. I... I want to stay by your side forever."

Those words took everything she had.

When she finished, Snow Empress buried her face in Xue Tianyu's chest and refused to lift it again.

Xue Tianyu threw his head back and laughed, his laughter echoing through the Hot Spring Palace.

"Good!"

"Since you've said it, you'll be my woman for the rest of your life."

"If anyone dares to look at you for too long, I'll make sure he dies without a place to bury his body!"

The Hot Spring Palace's pool was filled with springtime passion.

Over the next few days, the atmosphere in Spirit City grew increasingly tense.

The final stage of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament officially began.

Under Xue Tianyu's leadership, Skywater Team swept through the competition.

Not a single team could stand in their way.

Whether it was the Star Luo Empire's royal team or the many formidable opponents from the Heaven Dou Empire, they were all utterly helpless before Xue Tianyu.

Most of the time, he couldn't even be bothered to summon his Martial Soul.

A few Frost Sword Qi strikes were enough to sweep the entire field.

Any opponent who tried to fight back was frozen into an ice statue on the spot.

Whenever Skywater Team appeared in the arena, their opponents would sometimes simply forfeit.

No one was willing to face that young man, who seemed like a god of slaughter.

The frost on the arena floor hadn't even had time to melt before the next match was already over.

Skywater Team swept through the competition and entered the grand final without a shadow of a doubt.

The grand final was held in the enormous plaza in front of Spirit Hall's Pope Palace.

The morning sun shone on the Pope Palace's resplendent golden dome, reflecting dazzling light.

Holy Emperor Warriors stood fully armed around the plaza.

The clanking of their armor made the atmosphere solemn and oppressive, with a suffocating pressure hanging over everything.

Pope Bibi Dong sat upon the supreme papal throne.

She held the jeweled scepter that symbolized her authority and looked down at the arena.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood on either side of her, their auras deep and unfathomable.

Only three teams remained standing on the grand final's arena.

The Spirit Hall Academy Team, led by the Spirit Hall Golden Generation.

The Blazing Fire Academy Team, led by Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu.

And the Skywater Academy Team, led by Xue Tianyu.

The referee stood in the middle of the arena and loudly announced the final match rules.

"The grand final will use a single-elimination format!"

"The three teams will compete to decide the ultimate champion!"

As soon as the referee finished speaking, Huo Wushuang of Blazing Fire Academy raised his right hand.

"Blazing Fire Academy is withdrawing from the championship race!"

"We forfeit!"

The whole crowd erupted in an uproar.

Countless eyes instantly turned toward the members of Blazing Fire Academy.

Huo Wushuang wore a bitter expression as he looked toward Skywater Team.

The scene from the preliminary round a few days ago, when Xue Tianyu ignited the Extreme Cold Domain with a single drop of water and froze their entire team into ice statues, still haunted their nightmares.

Competing for the championship against a monster like that was just asking for death.

Huo Wu bit her lip. Though unwilling, she had no choice but to lower her head.

She knew that going up there would be a death sentence.

Bibi Dong furrowed her brows, displeased by Blazing Fire Academy's timidity.

But she said nothing, simply fixing her gaze on Xue Tianyu.

"Since Blazing Fire Academy has forfeited,"

the referee announced loudly, his voice carrying across the entire plaza.

"the championship will be decided between Spirit Hall Academy and Skywater Academy!"

The seven members of Spirit Hall Team immediately stepped onto the arena.

Hu Liena walked at the front, her figure alluring, though her eyes brimmed with venomous hatred.

Xie Yue and Yan followed close behind, their bodies radiating powerful Soul Power.

They considered what had happened outside the Hot Spring Palace a few days ago the greatest humiliation.

Today, under the gaze of the entire continent, they would reclaim Spirit Hall's dignity.

On Skywater Team's side, Shui Bing'er and the others were just about to step forward.

Xue Tianyu raised a hand to stop them.

"Just watch from below."

Shui Bing'er froze.

"Captain, this is the grand final. We're facing the Spirit Hall Golden Generation."

Xue Tianyu didn't even turn around. His gaze swept across the arena with contempt.

"Do I need the whole team to deal with a few useless trash?"

He walked onto the arena alone, his steps unhurried.

On the vast arena, there was only one lonely figure on Skywater Team's side: Xue Tianyu.

Hu Liena trembled with rage at the sight.

"Xue Tianyu, you're too arrogant!"

"How dare you enter the grand final alone?"

Xue Tianyu clasped his hands behind his back and looked coldly at Hu Liena.

"Arrogance needs strength to back it up."

"And all you're fit for is being trampled under my feet."

He raised one finger and pointed at Hu Liena.

"I'll give you a chance."

"Today, I'll fight you one-on-one, Hu Liena."

"If you can make me take even half a step backward, I'll count this grand final as a win for Spirit Hall."

The whole plaza fell silent.

Then the stands erupted in earthshaking cries of astonishment.

Countless Soul Masters stared at the tall, straight-backed young man on the arena, their faces filled with shock.

He'd count it as a loss if the core member of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation made him take half a step back?

What kind of outrageous arrogance was that?

Hu Liena laughed in fury, her exquisite face twisting.

"Xue Tianyu, do you really think you're invincible?"

"Today, I'll tear that mouth right off your face!"

On the papal throne, Bibi Dong tightened her grip on her scepter, a cold glint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

That brat dared to show such contempt for Spirit Hall's dignity!

The referee looked to Bibi Dong for her approval.

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her face as cold as ice.

The referee immediately raised his right hand and brought it down hard.

"Skywater Academy versus Spirit Hall Academy! Let the match begin!"

Boom!

The seven members of Spirit Hall Team released their Martial Souls at the same time.

Their multicolored Soul Rings instantly lit up the entire plaza.

Hu Liena let out a shrill cry.

Her Demon Fox Martial Soul possessed her!

A fluffy fox tail sprouted behind her as her bewitching aura burst forth.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—five Soul Rings revolved beneath her feet.

As Spirit Hall's holy maiden, her strength stood head and shoulders above the rest.

"Fox Charm!"

The Second Soul Ring beneath Hu Liena's feet blazed brightly.

A cloud of thick pink mist poured from her mouth and instantly swept toward Xue Tianyu.

The pink mist held immensely powerful mental control.

Once inhaled, even a high-ranked Soul Emperor would instantly lose the ability to resist.

Xue Tianyu stood where he was without even lifting an eyelid.

He let the pink mist completely engulf him.

Seeing this, Hu Liena broke into a coquettish laugh.

"You don't even dodge? You really don't know when to quit."

"Against my charm, that strength you're so proud of won't do you any good!"

Xie Yue drew his Moon Blade, while Yan formed the arms of a Magma Behemoth.

The two were just about to charge into the mist and deliver a fatal blow to Xue Tianyu.

A crisp cracking sound suddenly came from the center of the mist.

Crack! Crack!

The thick pink mist was actually freezing over at a visible speed!

The pink vapor turned into countless tiny ice crystals that pattered to the ground.

In the blink of an eye, all the mist had vanished.

Xue Tianyu stood unharmed in the same spot.

The surrounding air had plunged to a bone-chilling temperature.

He brushed the ice crystals from his sleeves, his face full of mockery.

"Is that the charm you're so proud of?"

"Such a low-class trick, and you dare show it off in front of me?"

Hu Liena's expression changed dramatically, shock written all over her face.

Her charm skill hadn't even been able to touch the slightest bit of his mental defenses!

"Impossible!"

Hu Liena shrieked as the Fourth Soul Ring beneath her feet blazed with a dazzling black light.

"Demon Fox Fire!"

Clumps of dark-red foxfire gathered in midair, blazing with scorching heat as they rained down on Xue Tianyu.

Every ball of foxfire held enough destructive power to melt fine steel into molten metal.

Xue Tianyu snorted.

"Playing with fire?"

"Your flames aren't even fit to warm my hands."

He stamped his right foot hard against the ground.

Rumble!

Centered on him, a layer of deep-blue frost swept across the entire arena in an instant.

Extreme Cold Domain, unleashed!

The terrifying chill made visible ripples shimmer through the air around them.

The dark-red foxfire raining down was snuffed out the instant it touched the Extreme Cold Domain!

It didn't even leave a single spark behind.

The tiles across the arena began to crack, and a thick layer of ice covered every inch.

Hu Liena felt the bone-piercing cold and began to tremble violently, unable to control her body.

The terror of having even her blood freeze solid left her mind completely blank.

"Now, it's my turn."

As soon as Xue Tianyu finished speaking, he vanished from where he stood.

He moved so fast that he left no afterimage behind.

Hu Liena's pupils contracted sharply as an intense sense of impending death engulfed her.

"Liena, watch out!"

Xie Yue shouted from afar and hurled both Moon Blades, trying to stop him.

But Xue Tianyu had already appeared like a ghost right in front of Hu Liena.

He paid no attention to the Moon Blades flying toward him.

He swung his hand back and slapped Hu Liena hard across her exquisite face.

Pa!!!

The crisp, resounding slap rang across the entire plaza.

Hu Liena spun through the air like a kite with its string cut, turning seven or eight times before crashing hard onto the solid ice.

Pfft!

She spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with several broken teeth.

One side of her face swelled up in an instant, five red finger marks clearly visible.

"You... you dare hit me in the face?!"

Hu Liena clutched her cheek, her gaze filled with humiliation and venom.

Since childhood, as the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, she had never suffered such a disgrace.

Xue Tianyu walked toward her step by step, his eyes filled with nothing but utter contempt.

"So what if I hit you?"

"With looks like yours, do you really think every man in the world has to come running when you call?"

The two Moon Blades halted in midair, just half a foot from Xue Tianyu's back.

A thick layer of frost froze them in place. Then they shattered inch by inch, becoming a heap of scrap metal.

Suffering a backlash from his Martial Soul, Xie Yue spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to his knees.

Yan let out a furious roar, magma erupting from his entire body.

"Bastard! I'll kill you!"

He swung his enormous lava fists like a maddened beast, charging at Xue Tianyu from behind.

The other members of Spirit Hall Team also unleashed their strongest Soul Skills, trying to surround him from the sides.

Xue Tianyu kept walking and didn't even look back.

He casually swept a hand behind him.

A Frost Sword Qi several meters long ripped through the air!

The sword qi was razor-sharp, carrying the force to tear through everything.

Ssshh!

The lava covering Yan split cleanly in two.

The sword qi slashed hard into Yan's chest.

Yan let out a pig-like, bloodcurdling scream. A horrific wound, deep enough to expose bone, appeared across his chest.

Not a single drop of blood flowed from the wound.

The extreme cold had already frozen his blood vessels and internal organs.

Yan's massive body crashed to the ground. He passed out on the spot, his life hanging in the balance.

Then, the sword qi's remaining force swept across the arena.

The four remaining members of Spirit Hall Team had no time even to scream before their Soul Power defenses were cleaved through.

All four were sent flying in unison and slammed into the edge of the platform, severely injured and unconscious.

One move!

With just one move, he had crippled most of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation's fighting strength.

The entire arena fell silent. Only the crowd's heavy breathing could be heard.

Bibi Dong abruptly rose to her feet on the steps of the Pope Palace.

A terrifying pressure of Soul Power erupted from her, distorting the air around her.

She glared at Xue Tianyu on the platform, her eyes burning with fury.

Xue Tianyu walked up to Hu Liena and looked down at her.

"Is that all the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall can do?"

Hu Liena endured the pain and struggled to get back up.

"I haven't lost!"

The pitch-black fifth Soul Ring beneath her feet suddenly blazed with unprecedented light.

At the same time, she forcefully drove every last bit of Soul Power left in her body.

Demon Fox Martial Soul Avatar!

A massive phantom of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox took shape behind her.

The Demon Fox's eyes were blood-red as it let out a piercing shriek.

Its enormous tails lashed toward Xue Tianyu's head like steel whips, whistling through the air.

This strike contained all of Hu Liena's resentment and fury.

Xue Tianyu didn't even spare the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox a proper glance.

He slowly raised his right hand.

In the center of his palm, a crystalline Ice Snow Lotus quietly bloomed.

Then a clear, piercing cry rang through the heavens!

Screee!!!

The power of ultimate frost transformed into an Ice Phoenix dozens of meters long, soaring into the sky.