Chapter 183: Black Water Domain? Try Ice Abyss Domain!
Cold surged from the Mystic Ice Spear, while flickers of black flame flared from time to time, radiating an unnaturally intense heat. The spear bent into a dramatic arc under Xiao Yuan's monstrous strength, whistling through the air like a rampaging beast, sending a chill down Yao Sheng's spine as he attempted to close in.
The prickling of his pores warned Yao Sheng of the terrifying force behind Xiao Yuan's sweeping strike.
Caught off guard by Xiao Yuan creating such space at close range, Yao Sheng sneered coldly, tapping his toes against the ground to propel himself upward. From midair, he thrust his dual daggers like lightning at the sweeping spear below.
Clang!
The twin daggers struck the Mystic Ice Spear as it swept by, throwing sparks and releasing a blast of force. Thanks to his superior Dou Qi, Yao Sheng actually managed to suppress the spear's momentum and push it downward.
Although daggers weren't ideal for direct clashes, Yao Sheng's advantage in Dou Qi meant that his swift, agile blades could suppress even Xiao Yuan's powerful strikes. This was the benefit of a higher rank and refined strength.
Using the momentum, Yao Sheng bent his arms and flipped midair. With a forceful kick downward, he launched at Xiao Yuan's head like a hawk diving for its prey, his sharp daggers slicing the air with a menacing whistle.
Faced with the sudden and brutal assault, Xiao Yuan didn't flinch. Recalling his spear mid-swing, he twisted his waist and swung the spear upward in an arc wreathed in black frost.
As the icy arc slashed upward, the moist air—made damp by Yao Sheng's water-type Dou Qi—froze into black crystals that shattered upon impact and scattered to the ground.
Yao Sheng's attack failed. Surprised, he twisted midair like a fish in water, narrowly avoiding the spear's edge.
Xiao Yuan pivoted, retreating sideways while reeling back his spear. Just as he thrust forward again, Yao Sheng landed and crossed his daggers, parrying the attack at the exact intersection of their blades. He used the momentum to slide backward.
Though brief, the exchange was deadly. A single mistake could have left either combatant severely wounded by spear or dagger.
Most spectators couldn't follow the intricacies of the fight—they just saw the flashes of movement and rapid weapon clashes.
But Bai Cheng, watching intently, grew more solemn. With his strength, he could tell that Xiao Yuan's spear technique was extraordinary. During their earlier battle, Bai Cheng had let his emotions cloud his judgment. Now, watching calmly, he saw how refined Xiao Yuan's technique truly was. For a two-star Dou Ling to match Yao Sheng was remarkable.
This wasn't to say Yao Sheng was weaker—it was more about elemental countering.
Ice-type Dou Qi and Heavenly Flames greatly suppressed water-type Dou Qi. Yao Sheng's attacks simply couldn't reach their full potential. Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan's own attacks were amplified. This disparity worked in his favor.
In the center of the battlefield, Yao Sheng twirled his daggers and eyed Xiao Yuan with newfound seriousness. In their earlier clash, he hadn't gained the upper hand once.
"He blocked everything…"
Yao Sheng's thoughts raced. "His reactions and combat experience are on par with mine. My only edge is in raw rank. Fine—then I'll crush him with that!"
His body trembled slightly. A foul-smelling black Dou Qi surged from within him, swirling around his form. The sticky black energy pulsed, dripping faint black water onto the ground.
An oppressive pressure swept across half the field. Those with lower strength would find their speed and recovery dampened. This was a common tactic used by higher-ranked fighters to suppress the weak.
But such oppressive pressure had no effect on Xiao Yuan. His mutated Dou Qi, forged through absorbing Heavenly Flame, could neutralize it completely.
Black Dou Qi seeped from Xiao Yuan's body as well, generating a comparable pressure that claimed a small part of the battlefield, though the rest remained under Yao Sheng's control.
From the outside, it seemed Xiao Yuan was being completely suppressed—this was the result of a difference in actual level. Battle power didn't mean much in this kind of aura-based confrontation.
"No matter how skilled you are, this is the difference in rank," Yao Sheng sneered, reveling in Xiao Yuan's apparent disadvantage.
Suppression through aura? Two can play that game.
Xiao Yuan gave Yao Sheng a cool glance and formed a seal with both hands. In his heart, he shouted:
"Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Change: Yin-Yang Change!"
With that cry, black and white flames exploded from his body, turning him into a being of fire. Then, in a flash, the flames receded back into his body—and with them, his Dou Qi surged explosively. His long black hair danced in the air, and his oppressive presence expanded, now evenly matching Yao Sheng's.
Five-star Dou Ling?!
Yao Sheng's face shifted. Though Xiao Yuan had used a second secret technique to boost his power, he still sneered. "Mere tricks."
"Is that so?"
Xiao Yuan replied with a cold smirk. With the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Change activated, any of his five Qi Palaces could produce Dou Qi on par with Yao Sheng's. Now the one exerting pressure—was him!
Whish!
He flicked his spear, and the piercing gusts sounded again. Though just a "fake" five-star Dou Ling, his aura was now on par with the real seven-star veteran.
Spectators began whispering praise. No matter how you did it, power was power. In the Dou Qi Continent, strength earned respect. That was the eternal truth.
But Xiao Yuan's rising momentum made Yao Sheng feel sidelined. His expression darkened, and he tapped his toes—black light flickered beneath him—and shot toward Xiao Yuan like a shadow.
Swish, swish!
Within range, Yao Sheng didn't hesitate. His arms twitched as his twin daggers became venomous serpents, launching a barrage of phantom strikes at Xiao Yuan's entire body.
Cling! Cling! Cling!
Xiao Yuan calmly danced backward in tight footwork. His spear met every strike head-on with surgical precision, each clash ringing out like a rhythmic melody.
His hand gripped the spear tightly. Veins bulged along his forearm as he spun the weapon like a coiling black dragon, keeping all attacks at bay.
This was where spear length shined. Within three meters, Xiao Yuan's spear always reached just in time. Even with Yao Sheng's full strength, he couldn't break through.
Such rapid, dense attacks were exhausting. After five minutes, the flurry finally slowed. The phantom blades vanished, and the pressure on Xiao Yuan's spear evaporated.
But Xiao Yuan wouldn't miss this opening.
He thrust forward—aiming straight for Yao Sheng's throat.
A cold chill brushed his neck. Yao Sheng's scalp prickled. He flung himself backward, skidding like he was on a board. At the same time, he sheathed his daggers, formed a seal, and dark Dou Qi surged from within.
It wrapped around his body like a dense shell, pulsing as though something were brewing inside.
Seeing this strange preparation, Xiao Yuan immediately took aim. His spear condensed a black ice storm at its tip and fired it straight at Yao Sheng's Dou Qi shell.
"Black Water Domain!"
A low shout boomed from within the dark mass. Suddenly, the Dou Qi shell began rotating violently, producing a deafening howl.
Dark water sprayed from it in all directions, flooding nearly the entire battlefield.
Unfazed, Xiao Yuan released his own energy. Icy Dou Qi burst from him, instantly freezing all the dark water into black ice!
In a flash, the ice spread from Xiao Yuan's feet. With a change in hand seals, the ice expanded even faster—reversing the domain and encasing Yao Sheng entirely.
The crowd stared, dumbfounded.
Was this the Black Water Domain?
No… This was the Ice Abyss Domain!
Inside the black Dou Qi shell, Yao Sheng's face twisted. Even his Dou Qi was slowing down.
He hadn't expected Xiao Yuan to turn his ultimate move against him.
What's worse—Xiao Yuan's flames had purified his Dou Qi, turning it into water vapor, then frozen it into crystal. The rest was burned into nothing.
It was practically scientific distillation—on a magical battlefield.
Also, the ice was black because of Xiao Yuan's own ice-type Dou Qi—not Yao Sheng's black water.
Crack!
The ice encasing Yao Sheng began to fracture. He was pushing back hard—likely using a hidden trump card.
But Xiao Yuan wasn't surprised. A seven-star Dou Ling wasn't that easy to freeze completely.
Still…
He'd already won.
His spear exploded into black mist. As Xiao Yuan formed new seals, the ice fog swirled, then took form.
A massive figure emerged from the cloud—
Mystic Ice Dragon Soar!
A dragon's roar echoed like thunder. The icy beast shot from the mist toward the cracking ice prison.
At that exact moment, Yao Sheng broke free.
But the black ice dragon arrived first.
Boom!
Before Yao Sheng could react, the dragon slammed into him. The sheer force and freezing power surged through his body.
Pffft!
A sharp pain erupted in his chest. His pale face flushed crimson as he spat blood and was flung backward like a meteor, crashing into the ground with a quake that split the plaza.
As he slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing he saw was Xiao Yuan's calm gaze.
Then came the voice—quiet, but heavier than any blow:
"You lost."
(END CHAPTER)
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on March 2, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1