Ice Lotus Frost Slash

Meng Qu felt the pressure coming from Yu Tianshuang, who stood opposite him with sword in hand, and the faint trembling of his own longsword.

Meng Qu found it utterly inconceivable. The youth in sky-blue clothes opposite him was a level-26 Soul Grandmaster.

How is this possible? Even if the quality of his Martial Soul is higher than mine, what the hell is with this pressure? I'm a level-39 Soul Elder!

The next moment, Meng Qu understood why.

"Ice Heaven Frost Sword-Ice Heaven Concentrated Spirit!"

Standing where he was, Yu Tianshuang casually swung the sword in his right hand toward Meng Qu.

A sharp, frigid streak of ice-blue sword Qi plowed a furrow through the ground, slashing straight toward Meng Qu.

Feeling the fierce wind whipped up by the incoming sword Qi, Meng Qu didn't think twice. He held his fine steel longsword across his body.

"Second Soul Skill-Fine Steel Sword Shield!"

A spectral shield appeared before Meng Qu as he held his longsword across his body. The incoming sword Qi struck the shield with a clang, producing a sharp ring.

Meng Qu had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the sword shield was cracked and nearly on the verge of collapse. He marveled inwardly.

I can hardly believe this attack came from a level-26 Soul Grandmaster. This tangible sword Qi, sharp beyond compare, its terrifying impact, and the frost spreading from the longsword in my hand-it's truly unbelievable.

But just as Meng Qu was about to withdraw the sword shield, an Ice Flower Cluster suddenly burst forth from where it had blocked the sword Qi. In an instant, the impact shattered the shield, then struck the longsword held across his body and pushed him back three meters.

Sword Chen Xin, clad in white with white hair and an imposing, immortal air, looked at the sword Qi and said with deep emotion, "This child has already incorporated sword intent into his attacks. More remarkably, this sword Qi is actually a Self-Created Soul Skill. Such an unrivaled offensive sword Qi can even produce a second, additional attack. Meng Qu is no match for him."

Hearing Sword Chen Xin's assessment, the people outside the arena were lost in thought. Shui Xinrou in particular watched Yu Tianshuang in the arena with a proud smile on her gentle face.

"Cough, cough." Meng Qu, who had barely managed to use his Soul Power to withstand the second stage of Ice Heaven Concentrated Spirit, panted as he looked at the white-haired youth opposite him.

He then suppressed the Soul Power roiling throughout his body from forcibly using it to block the attack.

Looking at Yu Tianshuang with deep wariness, he said, "My teacher once said I was born with a talent for the sword, and I've always thought so too. None of my peers could match me, and even in the Soul Fighting Arena, I could defeat Soul Masters many levels above me. Today, you've shown me what helplessness feels like, but I won't admit defeat just like this. Take this!"

With that, he gripped his fine steel longsword and charged toward Yu Tianshuang.

Hearing Meng Qu's words in the arena, Sword Chen Xin nodded inwardly. The way of the sword should be like the longsword in one's hand: steadfast and unyielding, growing through setbacks.

"Third Soul Skill-Clanging Sword Cry!"

The fine steel longsword in Meng Qu's hand began to hum, hum, hum, and he rushed up to Yu Tianshuang and thrust.

"Ice Shadow Seven Star Steps!"

Yu Tianshuang shifted slightly to one side, dodging the longsword thrust at him, and raised his own sword in a horizontal sweep.

Clang! Yu Tianshuang used the force of the rebound to retreat, then touched his bleeding ear and his right hand, which was still trembling around his sword.

So that's how it is. His Third Soul Skill can add a vibration to his sword. Even without hitting me, the vibration passing by my ear can injure me, and a sword that blocks it will also vibrate, transmitting the force back to me. An impressive Soul Skill, but...

Yu Tianshuang pulled back, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and ran them along the ice-blue longsword in his hand.

As his sword fingers passed over the longsword, it began to erupt section by section with dazzling blue light.

"Ice Heaven Frost Sword-Ice Lotus Frost Slash!"

Yu Tianshuang then pointed his sword at the sky. All at once, bewitching ice-blue lotus buds began to appear across the competition platform. As the buds appeared one after another, the temperature on the platform began to plummet.

Meng Qu felt the temperature around him dropping and saw the ground beneath his feet freezing over. Knowing he couldn't let Yu Tianshuang finish unleashing the move, he gripped his longsword and charged at him, braving the bone-piercing cold.

"First Soul Skill-Startling Wind Slash!"

An unadorned streak of sword Qi shot toward Yu Tianshuang, but after traveling only a few meters, it froze and shattered.

Seeing this, Meng Qu had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep charging toward Yu Tianshuang.

The closer I get to him, the lower the temperature becomes. This won't do. I'm using all my Soul Power to fend off the cold. Even if I reach him, will I still have the strength to attack?

Though he thought this, Meng Qu didn't slow his steps. Without a backward glance, he continued toward Yu Tianshuang at the center of the ice lotus formation.

Seeing Meng Qu draw closer and closer, Yu Tianshuang's handsome face remained utterly expressionless. He slammed the longsword that had been pointing at the sky into the ground at his feet.

As the longsword entered the ground, the lotus buds on the competition platform began to open slowly, one by one. Then they shattered and exploded with a series of booms.

"This is bad!"

Sword Chen Xin cried out and immediately flew into the arena. With one slash, he cut through the icy mist produced by the exploding ice lotuses, then scooped up the unconscious Meng Qu, who had become an ice sculpture, and swiftly flew away.

Watching Sword Chen Xin carry Meng Qu toward the horizon, Yu Tianshuang felt miserable. He gave a self-mocking smile and walked toward Shui Xinrou and the others.

"I'm sorry, Sect Master Ning. I struck a little too hard and didn't control my strength properly."

"No harm done, no harm done. When young people spar, injuries are unavoidable. You needn't blame yourself."

"Little fellow, you've truly opened this old man's eyes. Both of your Self-Created Soul Skills are so astonishing. I'd really like to see what's inside that little head of yours."

"Sect Master Ning, my disciple didn't know his own strength. I apologize to you and Senior Chen Xin on his behalf."

"It's all right. Uncle Jian has already taken Meng Qu for treatment. With Madam Ye of the Undying Sect there, Dean Shui and young friend Yu can rest assured."

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Yu Tianshuang's previously gloomy mood suddenly brightened.

"The Ye Clan of the Nine Heart Begonia and the Undying Sect-the Nine Heart Begonia is the foremost healing-type Martial Soul in the world today, and the Undying Sect, like the Seven Kill Sword's Slaughter Sect, is one of the Lower Three Sects. I want to meet this Madam Ye. She might know where my mother is."