Ma Hongjun's Despair! King of the Deep Sea?! Even the Phoenix is Prey!

"Crack... crack..."

A crisp sound, like shattering ice crystals, suddenly rang out.

The moment the violent deep purple torrent of flames came into contact with this chill, it was as if a pause button had been pressed.

Immediately after, starting from the very front of the flames, it began to freeze inch by inch!

The purplish-red flames were covered by a layer of pale blue ice, and then, they exploded!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only ice crystal fragments flying everywhere, refracting a strange and brilliant light on the street where the flames had not yet completely extinguished.

Within a single breath, the Phoenix Fire Line, which was enough to peel the skin off a Soul Ancestor, completely vanished.

As if it had never appeared.

"This... this is impossible!"

Ma Hongjun's smug expression instantly froze, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief.

His heart churned with monstrous waves at that moment.

"Domain? No! He didn't even release his martial soul!"

"What the hell is this? My Phoenix Flame... my Phoenix Flame was instantly frozen?"

He couldn't comprehend what was happening before his eyes.

One had to know that his Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul's flames were one of the top-tier flames on the Douluo Continent, comparable to extreme ice, and one of the hottest existences!

How could it be frozen by mere cold air?

Could this chill be the legendary... absolute zero, which could even freeze time?

Not far away, Xue Qinghe, who had been watching the battle with a spectator's mentality, had his gentle smile completely frozen on his face.

So strong!

True surprise and solemnity flickered in her deep eyes.

This young man named Lan was truly a complete monster.

He could freeze and crush even the domineering and unparalleled Phoenix Flames so effortlessly...

Even more terrifying was that chill, which seemed to penetrate flesh and ignore soul power defense, reaching directly into the depths of one's soul.

Even she, a distant bystander, couldn't help but shiver, feeling her soul tremble slightly.

Such domineering water, ice, and darkness triple attributes!

Where did this kid come from?

"Hiss..."

The Purple-Armored Scorpion-Tailed Girl also trembled from the sudden chill, instinctively hugging her arms.

But there was no fear on her beautiful little face.

Instead, her bright eyes flickered with a strange light.

She looked at the young man's back, as if watching a god walking in the mortal world.

So strong!

Master is so strong!

The Purple-Armored Scorpion-Tailed Girl shivered all over from the cold, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, revealing a smile of adoration.

She suddenly turned her head and stared at the horrified Ma Hongjun with the eyes of a dead man.

"Master is the Abyss."

"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

The girl's voice was clear, but it carried a chilling coldness that originated from the same source as the chill.

"Little fatty, you're dead!"

Ma Hongjun's scalp tingled under her gaze. He was both shocked and angry, knowing that he had encountered a tough opponent today and could no longer hold back.

He roared, and his soul power surged again.

"Second Soul Skill, Phoenix Bathing in Fire!"

"First Soul Skill, Phoenix Fire Line!"

A circle of scorching orange-red light rose from his feet, instantly enveloping his entire body, making him look like a burning firebird.

Then, he opened his mouth and spat.

Another deep purple torrent of flames roared out.

Amplified by the second soul skill, the temperature and power of this Phoenix Fire Line were more than double what they were before!

The scorching tide swept through the long street.

The ornamental trees on both sides of the street, without even being touched by the flames, instantly withered, spontaneously combusted, and turned into charcoal under the terrifying high temperature.

This attack was something even a level forty Soul Ancestor would not dare to face head-on.

Yet, Lan still did not release his Martial Soul.

He did not even pause his footsteps, walking forward step by step, unhurried and steady, straight into the towering sea of fire.

His footsteps were silent.

A bizarre scene played out once again.

Before that figure, the violent flames seemed to encounter an invisible chasm.

The firelight stalled, then froze inch by inch, turning into deep blue ice sculptures before silently dissipating into a sky full of crystalline dust.

From beginning to end, the flames could not come within three feet of Lan.

"Great!"

The Purple-Armored Scorpion-Tailed Girl was so happy she nearly jumped, her scorpion tail swaying excitedly behind her.

"In the face of the deep sea, these flames don't even count as embers!"

"What Evil Fire Phoenix? It isn't even fit to tie my master's shoes!"

Not far away, Xue Qinghe watched Lan's back in silence, her gaze complex to the extreme.

So strong.

This thought surfaced once again, but this time, it was accompanied by an inexplicable heartache.

Her soul seemed to be trembling slightly.

It was not out of fear, but a palpitation originating from the depths of her bloodline, an unspeakable sorrow.

What kind of misfortune have you... endured?

Why is my soul weeping for you?

Xue Qinghe subconsciously clenched her hands, a sudden impulse surging in her heart to step forward, embrace the youth, and soothe the loneliness and trauma that seemed to be born within him.

"Damn it!"

Ma Hongjun's heart sank to the bottom of the abyss.

All his pride, all his trump cards, appeared like a joke before this youth.

Fear had completely occupied his heart.

He steeled himself, a look of desperation crossing his face, and violently pushed his soul power to the limit.

Behind him, a pair of magnificent flaming wings suddenly unfurled.

"Third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wings Soaring!"

"Brat, take this!"

After shouting this threat, he looked aggressive, as if he were about to fight to the death.

However, in the next second, he flapped his flaming wings violently, but instead of charging at Lan, he turned around and fled!

His speed was as fast as an arrow leaving the string.

The wind is tight, time to bolt!

Can't win, run fast, go back and call for help!

This was the most honest thought in Ma Hongjun's mind.

"..."

Xue Qinghe was left speechless.

She had thought the chubby boy was finally going to show some real skill, but after charging up for so long, it was just to turn around and run?

"Truly shameless."

The Purple-Armored Scorpion-Tailed Girl curled her lip in disdain.

Just then, Lan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke again.

"Want to escape?"

"Too late!"

The moment his voice fell, Ma Hongjun felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his crown.

It was not a cold caused by soul power, but a trembling from the depths of his soul, the feeling of being locked onto by a natural predator.

All the fat on his body was shivering.

Run!

This thought screamed frantically in his mind, yet his body felt as if it had been frozen, making even flapping his wings incredibly difficult.

"Ahhh!"

In desperation, Ma Hongjun whipped his head around, disregarding any soul skill techniques, and spat out a ball of violent flames!

However, it was useless.

That figure seemed to shatter space, ignoring the distance entirely.

With a single step, he crossed from the other end of the street to stand right before him.

A hand, pale and slender, coated in a faint, ghostly blue chill, pressed casually against that mass of phoenix flames.

Hiss—

The violent fire did not even ripple before it was extinguished into nothingness.

Lan raised his eyes, gazing at him with calm composure, as if he were looking at... prey.