The ice ring exploded outward, sending freezing ripples across the arena. This time, however, Lu Yuan was ready. In that instant of resistance, his fifth spirit ability blazed to life. His entire figure dissolved into pure Sword Qi, an untouchable shadow slipping between worlds—one that no enemy could lock onto.
"Binger!"
His voice rang out suddenly behind Shui Bing'er.
Her senses were sharp. Startled, she instantly pushed herself away from him. But before retreating too far, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.
"Binger, you've got a lot of water there," Lu Yuan teased. When his fingers brushed her smooth skin, he'd felt droplets of cold clinging to her fragrant shoulders.
Shui Binger's pretty eyes flickered with embarrassment. "Hmm… isn't it snowing?"
Lu Yuan tilted his head, rubbing his arm as a cool sensation spread across him. "Snow, huh? Then why does it already feel like I'm freezing over?"
"Dage! Only now you feel it? We're practically turning into ice sculptures over here!" Yu Tianheng's voice cracked, his body stiff with cold. Next to him, Xue Wu spun gracefully, her entire body engaged in that strange, captivating dance. She had been moving since the beginning, weaving frost and rhythm together, preparing to unleash the Martial Soul fusion technique with Shui Bing'er.
Lu Yuan hadn't once interrupted her.
Do you like watching her dance this much? Yu Tianheng thought bitterly.
"Hey," Lu Yuan scratched his temple and frowned. "Why didn't you two brats remind me earlier?"
"…"
Yu Tianheng could only stare at him wordlessly. Weren't you the one commanding this whole match? Even before the battle, Teacher Qin Ming stressed the danger of the Martial Soul fusion. But instead of listening, you kept staring at the opponents' photos!
And now you're blaming us?
"You guys can step back," Lu Yuan finally said. "These two girls… I'll handle them."
He could already feel the weight of the Martial Soul fusion pressing heavily across the arena. Ning Rongrong and the rest of their team would crumble if they tried to face this power head-on.
Above them, snow whirled violently. The storm gathered strength, until the air itself began to scream. Snowflakes twisted and danced, rotating into a vortex that expanded endlessly.
Shui Bing'er's power surged, her body glowing faintly as she injected her Martial Soul's strength into the vortex. In the next breath, all those snowflakes condensed into a massive bird of pure frost and ice—a majestic blue Ice Phoenix, seven meters long!
It loomed overhead like an empress descending from heaven, its cry freezing the hearts of the onlookers. Then, with Shui Bing'er's precise control, the Ice Phoenix leveled its wings and swept down toward Lu Yuan.
The arena itself began to freeze, the temperature plummeting dangerously low. Crack after crack split across the granite ground as frost imprisoned everything in sight.
Lu Yuan's expression sharpened. With a flick of his wrist, he poured his power into the soul bone in his left arm. His black flame sword erupted, darkness blending with fire. The energy seared through the air, melting ice and snow for three meters around him.
"Heh… two beauties," Lu Yuan smirked, his voice loud enough for the entire arena to hear. "If you lose today, you'll have to drink with me!"
He bent his knees deeply, the ground beneath him cracking. Then his body shot upward in a blur, charging straight into the Phoenix diving from above.
"Sword—Will!"
"Break through the air!"
Two of his spirit techniques detonated together. Nine strands of Sword Qi, black as night, laced themselves around his body. They sliced forward in formation, a storm of blades that clashed directly against the descending Phoenix.
The impact shook the heavens.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The arena lit with violent clashes as sword met storm. Energy crackled, snow burst apart, and within seconds the proud Ice Phoenix shattered into countless shards, collapsing in an avalanche of blue fragments that scattered across the ground.
"Hah… hah…"
Both Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu staggered. Their power drained completely, the Martial Soul fusion broken. Pale and weak, their bodies collapsed toward the ground as their exhausted gazes landed helplessly on the advancing figure.
Lu Yuan stepped closer slowly, each deliberate footfall echoing across the silent arena.
The referee cleared his throat, voice flat, as though the ending was inevitable from the very start. "The overall champion of this year's Tiandou Contest… goes to Tiandou Royal Academy!"
Applause never came. Cheers never rose. The spectators could only gape.
"Lu Yuan, this monster, he's too much…"
"I thought for sure Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu had a chance. A Martial Soul fusion is unstoppable—but in front of him…"
"Even worse, he let them unleash it on purpose, just to break it head-on!"
"No one has ever dared face Tianshui Academy's Martial Soul fusion directly, much less split it apart with one strike!"
The arena buzzed with disbelief.
"Well, at least it was fun," Lu Yuan chuckled, stepping up to the trembling Shui Bing'er. His hand reached out and lifted her easily into his arms. "Binger, you're far stronger than Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang combined."
Turning slightly, he grinned. "And little beauty Xue Wu—don't run. I'll carry you in a moment."
The audience gasped.
"He—he just picked her up!"
"Is no one going to stop this shameless guy?"
"That's my goddess he's carrying, damn it!"
Jealous rage painted countless faces red, but not one of them dared step forward.
"Put me down!" Shui Bing'er twisted in his hold, her usually calm demeanor crumbling under the weight of embarrassment.
"Don't move, Binger! You've drained yourself dry, you're weak right now. I'll take you home," Lu Yuan said flatly.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. She had no chance of breaking free, but she still whispered, softer this time, "Please… put me down, alright?"
No matter what, she was the Big Sister of Tianshui Academy. To be carried like a princess in front of tens of thousands—it was humiliating beyond words.
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Fine."
He gently set her beneath the edge of the fighting platform, then turned back. "Huh? Where's my other little beauty?"
"She ran off before you even turned around," someone muttered.
"Tch. Too naughty. I'll catch her another day," he shrugged.
After the match, Ning Fengzhi was the first to arrive backstage. His calm smile betrayed only a hint of exasperation. "Congratulations, Xiao Yuan."
Lu Yuan clapped him on the shoulder. "Uncle Ning—you haven't forgotten that wine you promised me, right?"
"…Of course not. Once you return to the sect, I'll cash in every last jar," Ning Fengzhi's faint smile twitched. This brat never thought of glory or titles—only wine!
Soon after, the Dragon and Snake couple approached. Their granddaughter Meng was still under Tiandou Royal Academy, so naturally they attended this championship.
"Ning Sect Leader, we haven't even had the chance to thank you for arranging Ranran's noble status," the Dragon Serpent Douluo said respectfully.
"You needn't be so polite," Ning Fengzhi replied with practiced grace.
"Xiao Yuan, where are you rushing off to?" the elders asked when they saw him leaving before the award ceremony even started.
"To see Old Man Meng!" Lu Yuan declared bluntly.
The Emperor himself had already kept his word—sending over a hundred jars of fine wine two days ago. But the crafty old headmaster Mengshenji, who promised him ten jars, was still pretending nothing happened. Lu Yuan's teeth itched with irritation. Catch one Phoenix-tailed Cockscomb Snake together, and suddenly the old man forgets every promise!
Gu Rong clapped Lu Yuan's shoulder. "Smelly brat, you performed amazingly. After this, I'll certainly tell Elder Chen Xin myself. Let's go together—we need to see Mengshenji anyway."
"Oh?" Meng Shu chuckled. "By the way, how did your granddaughter and this boy get acquainted?"
"Chasing a Phoenix-tailed Cockscomb Snake," Gu Rong explained with a laugh. "Met him deep inside the Star Dou Forest…"
Later, inside Tiandou Royal Academy—Mengshenji's office was bustling with voices.
Not only was Baibaoshan present, but Zhilin as well. Surprisingly, a new group had arrived: the entire staff and student body of Shrek Academy!
Flender sat proudly, Yu Xiaogang and the burly Zhao Wuji taking seats beside him. Behind them, Tang San and the rest of the Shrek monsters stood straight, their auras drawing attention even without a single word spoken.
A few days earlier, the Tiandou council approved their integration. Records showed the Shrek students reaching Soul Sovereign rank by twelve years of age. The Senate found the talent astonishing—far above the average academy crop. Naturally, they'd agreed to Shrek's conditions with little hesitation.
"According to the reports, your students reached Soul Sovereign at twelve years old. That is… remarkable," Mengshenji said warmly as servants brought tea and snacks.
Flender's chest swelled slightly, though his voice remained modest. "Talent belongs to the children themselves. We teachers simply guided the way."
Zhilin leaned forward, curiosity clear. "One of your students is said to be an outstanding control-type spirit master, a true genius, unlike any we've recorded before. Tell me… who is it?"
The three elders of the Academic Affairs Council exchanged glances, scanning the youths assembled before them. Yet, for all their searching eyes, not one had yet realized exactly who this so-called genius was…
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