He drove both hands into the Arena floor. Ten chains plunged into the ground like tree roots, then burst wildly from beneath Ling Juehan's feet.
The ten scarlet chains slithered like venomous snakes underground, reaching from every direction for Ling Juehan's feet, waist, arms, and neck, seeking to bind him completely.
Deep furrows were plowed into the ground wherever the chains passed.
A dark red, molten glow churned within the furrows. The ground had been scorched by Hong Xiao's bloodline power.
Ling Juehan tapped the ground with his toes and floated upward like a snowflake. At the same time, he struck the great bell with his right hand.
Clang...
The bell rang again, this time with an intensely sharp, piercing force.
Ice-blue sound waves slashed in every direction like invisible blades of ice, severing the chains as they burst from the ground.
But the severed chains immediately regrew. Scarlet light flashed at each broken end, and a new length of chain emerged. They kept coming, endlessly renewed.
The fallen fragments dissolved into scarlet motes of light and sank back into the ground. New chains grew in their place, the cycle repeating without end.
"You can't cut them all!"
Hong Xiao laughed and slammed his hands together.
"The chains are formed from my bloodline. As long as my bloodline endures, the chains will never run out!"
He gave a violent tug. Every chain snapped taut at once, sealing off all the space around Ling Juehan.
Ling Juehan's movement faltered. The chains had already wrapped around his right ankle.
Scarlet runes spread up the chains, scorching his moon-white robe.
The ice-blue patterns on the robe flickered fiercely beneath the burning runes, desperately resisting the invading heat.
Ling Juehan glanced down at the chain around his ankle. A faint ripple crossed his ice-blue