97: Chapter 97 Shocks the Entire Audience

As the sound of the war drums faded, two figures landed in the center of the stage like meteors.

When Zhang Wen looked up, he met Lin Shuang's eyes, which were coated with a thin layer of ice.

This Senior Brother, who had entered the sect three years earlier than him, wore a pristine green robe. A faint white mist hovered around him, and standing there, it was as if the entire arena had become his icy domain.

This was the might of the SS-rank talent, Cold Meridian Origin Tracing, which was said to be able to stir the latent extreme cold Qi of heaven and earth, freezing all energy circulation.

"Junior Brother!"

Lin Shuang's voice had the texture of ice particles, "Although your Thunder Power is intense, it may not be able to break through my Cold Meridian. Today, I will let you witness what true, extreme cold is."

Before his voice had even faded, Lin Shuang raised his palms slightly.

In an instant, ice crystals in the shape of spiderwebs condensed on the arena floor with him at the center, and the cold air spread along the patterns.

It even built a half-foot-high ice wall at the edge of the stage, turning the entire arena into a closed ice and snow cage.

The crowd in the stands only felt a wave of cold air rushing toward them, and even their breath turned into white steam.

Zhang Wen spread his feet slightly, and faint lightning flickered around his body.

He knew that facing a talent like Cold Meridian Origin Tracing, which could freeze energy, any delay would be fatal.

"Senior Brother, take my punch, Startling Thunder Arises!"

Amidst a fierce shout, Zhang Wen's figure suddenly rushed forward.

The stone slabs under his feet crackled with "pitter-patter" sounds; they were not frozen like Lin Shuang's, but rather sparked with fine electric flashes.

This was Tremor Step Treading Thunder Marks. Every step contained Thunder Power; the speed was as fast as rushing thunder, but the trajectory was unpredictable.

Lin Shuang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he waved his left hand lightly.

A ribbon of ice-blue cold air appeared out of thin air, blocking Zhang Wen's path like a long blade.

Wherever the cold air passed, the air condensed into frost flowers.

Just as the cold air reached his body, a layer of dense lightning arcs suddenly rose from Zhang Wen's skin!

The lightning arcs wove into a net, isolating the cold air outside, and not even a trace of white frost touched his hair.

This was Indestructible Thunder Body, using Thunder Power to form an indestructible barrier, specifically designed to counter energy attacks.

"Break!"

Zhang Wen clenched his right fist, and the Lightning Radiance on his fist surged violently.

The first form of Rushing Thunder Delusion Breaking Fist, "Startling Thunder Arises," was unleashed in response. There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a streak of purple lightning, condensed to the extreme.

It pierced through the ribbon of cold air like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, heading straight for Lin Shuang's face!

Lin Shuang remained calm and tapped his right index finger lightly.

The air in front of him suddenly condensed into a three-foot-square ice mirror. The mirror surface was as smooth as glass, and it forcibly refracted the lightning streak to the left!

Cold Meridian Origin Tracing could channel the cold of all things and could also redirect the power of all things.

Zhang Wen had anticipated this. He used the momentum to spin, unleashed Tremor Step Treading Thunder Marks again, and his figure moved like a ghost to Lin Shuang's right side.

He clenched his left fist. The Lightning Radiance on his fist no longer radiated outward but condensed into a dense electric net—the second form of Rushing Thunder Delusion Breaking Fist, Thunder Net Locking Truth!

Countless purple electric threads surged from his fist, weaving into a giant net in the air, covering Lin Shuang with a "zizzing" crackle.

This move was not meant for lethality, but for containment. Wherever the electric net passed, even the falling ice chips were instantly electrolyzed.

Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow, showing a grave expression for the first time.

He pressed his palms together, and the Cold Meridian power around him surged crazily. The ice layer on the arena floor thickened suddenly, condensing into an ice-sculpted fortress around him!

The surface of the ice fortress was as smooth as jade, and it continued to seep out cold air, attempting to freeze the electric net.

"Crack!"

The electric net collided with the ice fortress, emitting dense explosions.

Purple electric snakes slithered wildly on the ice surface. The ice layer constantly shattered and rapidly re-condensed, falling into a stalemate for a moment.

The crowd in the stands watched breathlessly: "Lin Shuang's ice fortress cannot even be broken by the senior students in their third year!"

"Zhang Wen's electric net is also powerful; he can actually force the Cold Meridian Origin Tracing to constantly replenish the ice!"

Zhang Wen, however, knew that a stalemate was disadvantageous to him.

Lin Shuang's Cold Meridian Origin Tracing could continuously draw on the cold Qi of heaven and earth, while his own Thunder Power, though intense, depleted faster.

He took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly becoming as sharp as knives.

Just then, Lin Shuang's voice came from behind the ice fortress, with a hint of cold arrogance: "Junior Brother, your Thunder Power is about to run out, right? Surrender now, so we don't have to ruin our relationship."

A cold smile curled on the corner of Zhang Wen's mouth.

He suddenly retracted his fist, and the Lightning Radiance around his body suddenly converged inward; even his presence seemed to go silent.

Lin Shuang felt a slight warning in his heart and was about to strengthen his defense, but he saw Zhang Wen's figure suddenly blur in place.

Tremor Step Treading Thunder Marks was pushed to the extreme. He transformed into a pale purple lightning bolt, passing through the gaps between the electric net and ice chips at a speed invisible to the naked eye, instantly closing in on the ice fortress!

"Now!"

A low shout that seemed to come from the depths of thunder escaped Zhang Wen's throat. There was no longer any Lightning Radiance on his right fist.

Replacing it was an extreme condensation—that was the terrifying finishing move that compressed all Thunder Power into a single point!

"Thunder Wrath: Instant Prison Kill!"

The cultivation of the Late Stage of Micro-Perception erupted with full force!

When this punch was thrown, there was no earth-shattering momentum, only a barely perceptible purple gleam, like the fingertip of the Grim Reaper, lightly touching the surface of the ice fortress.

The next second, a bizarre scene occurred—the indestructible ice fortress did not shatter, but instead, countless fine "crack" sounds came from within.

Those condensed ice layers seemed to have been pulverized by an invisible force, disintegrating into powder from the inside!

Lin Shuang's pupils constricted sharply. He felt an irresistible Thunder Power pierce through the ice layer and instantly strike his Qi Sea.

That power was not a violent impact, but like billions of fine needles, racing crazily along his Meridians, instantly defeating the Cold Meridian power he was channeling.

He let out a muffled groan, his body uncontrollably flying backward, only stopping when he hit the ice wall, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Zhang Wen retracted his fist and stood, the lightning around his body slowly dissipating. Although his breathing was a bit disordered, his eyes remained bright.

He looked at Lin Shuang, who was slowly standing up straight, and bowed slightly: "Senior Brother, thank you for the match."

Lin Shuang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes complex as he looked at Zhang Wen, which eventually turned into a long sigh.

"I have lost. Your Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder is indeed powerful. No wonder Teacher talks about it every day."

There was a moment of dead silence under the arena, and then a roar of cheers erupted like a tsunami.

No one expected that the strongest student in the second year would actually be defeated by a first-year New Student.

Sunlight shone through the clouds onto the arena. Zhang Wen raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and looked toward the direction of the third-year students in the distance.

There, would be the final showdown of this arena battle.