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Chen Xiaojun stood at the passage entrance, looking at the arena opposite him, already frozen smooth as a mirror. Skywater Academy's team members were still putting on the finishing touches, ice crystals gleaming coldly beneath the Soul Guidance Lamps.
He knew perfectly well that the sheet of ice was Skywater's home ground.
This bitterly cold arena, too slick to gain a foothold, would soon become the true stage for their contest of strength.
Whether Chang'an's confidence and rotation advantage would work in such an extreme environment remained to be seen.
But on this ice, every one of the girls opposite him looked as though she had come home.
He breathed out softly, and the white mist swiftly dispersed in the cold wind.
His opponent was Skywater Academy's captain, Shui Binglan. She completed one last gliding finish, her skate blade carving a clear line across the ice.
From half an arena away, her gaze swept over and briefly met Chen Xiaojun's calm eyes. There was no provocation, only a cool appraisal like ice and snow.
Beside Shui Binglan, Xue Qingwu was murmuring something to another teammate, a wisp of Soul Power like snowy ribbon drifting gently at her fingertips.
On Chang'an's side, the team members quietly steadied their breathing, testing the hardness of the ice beneath their feet.
Zhu Wuneng muttered, "It's a bit cold here..."
Only after Gao Cuilan shot him a glare from beside the coaches' seats did he hastily fall silent and focus on stamping his feet to keep them warm.
Chen Xiaojun merely raised a hand, signaling the team to remain quiet.
His gaze flashed like lightning as it slowly swept over the teammates standing before him.
The frozen arena made the air especially cold. Even their breath condensed into