99: Chapter 99 Pressure is Put on Zhang Wen

The morning sun of the final battle day had just climbed over the high walls of the arena.

...

At this moment, a crowd had already gathered in front of the second arena, Liu Qingyuan's stage.

Su Xue stood in the center of the stage holding the "Freezing Frost" sword, the morning light falling on the blade and reflecting a layer of fine ice crystals.

That was the proof of the harmony between her "Ice Queen" talent and her sword.

The name of the sword was "Freezing Frost," perfectly matching her state of unity between person and blade: with every swing, cold Qi would condense along the edge, frost flowers blooming at the tip and exploding with the force of her attack.

It both echoed her talent for controlling frost and gave this seemingly ordinary iron sword a chilling edge capable of freezing all things.

Opposite her, Liu Qingyuan raised her hand to lightly stroke a vine bracelet on her wrist. The vine shimmered with a deep green luster, and tiny leaves seemed to be wriggling faintly.

This was a "Living Vine" that only experts in the Penetration Realm could condense; ordinary blades simply couldn't cut through it.

"For a New Student to dare reach this step is already rare."

Liu Qingyuan's voice was gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable pressure. "If you admit defeat now, you can still retain some dignity."

Su Xue didn't speak, simply holding the "Freezing Frost" sword horizontally in front of her.

As her Qi circulated, a thin layer of frost suddenly condensed on the stage floor. Frost flowers spread along the blade, forming an ice crystal at the tip.

This was her talent, "Ice Queen," beginning to show its prowess. Although not fully Awakened, she could already draw upon the cold Qi of heaven and earth with her cultivation at the Peak of the Microscopic Realm.

"Stubborn and foolish."

The bracelet on Liu Qingyuan's wrist suddenly exploded. Countless vines shot out like spirit snakes, instantly weaving into an airtight green net that descended toward Su Xue, carrying a cloying, sweet scent of vegetation.

This move, "Thousand Threads Soul Lock," had forced many fellow third-year students to surrender.

At the very moment the vine net was about to close, Su Xue's figure suddenly turned into a white blur.

It wasn't extreme speed, but rather using the cold Qi to slide across the ground. Ice tracks formed where her feet landed, allowing her to perfectly dodge the vines' path.

Simultaneously, she flicked her wrist, and the "Freezing Frost" sword traced a circular arc. Sword Qi wrapped in frost actually froze a patch of white frost onto the vine net!

...

"Eh?"

Liu Qingyuan was slightly startled. Her vines were impervious to water and fire, but she hadn't expected them to be countered by cold Qi.

But she was a Penetration Realm expert after all. With rapid reaction, she immediately surged her internal energy.

The white frost on the vines melted instantly. Instead, even finer barbs grew out as they coiled toward Su Xue again.

The next half hour became a contest between ice and vines.

...

Su Xue's figure flickered unpredictably on the stage. Every rise and fall of the "Freezing Frost" sword accurately struck the nodes of the vines.

Wherever the cold Qi reached, it would always cause the vines' offensive to lag for a split second;

Meanwhile, Liu Qingyuan sat steadily in the center, controlling the vines as easily as her own limbs.

Sometimes they transformed into giant pythons to strike, and other times they wove into a prison to lock her down, pushing the energy advantage of the Penetration Realm to its limit.

...

Everyone in the stands held their breath.

No one expected that a New Student at the Peak of the Microscopic Realm could actually fight a Middle Stage Penetration Realm stage lord to such an extent.

When Su Xue used an ice wall to block Liu Qingyuan's killing move,

And her "Freezing Frost" sword left an ice mark on the opponent's sleeve with a backhand strike, the entire venue erupted in thunderous cheers.

"That sword is so fast! The cold Qi is so fierce!"

"Her 'Freezing Frost' can actually freeze Senior Sister Liu's vines! Incredible!"

But a battle of attrition was ultimately unfavorable for Su Xue.

When Liu Qingyuan pushed her energy to the Peak and countless vines transformed into spikes shooting from all directions, Su Xue's breathing finally grew erratic.

She exhausted her strength to make the "Freezing Frost" sword draw an icy arc, blocking most of the spikes, but her ankle was caught by a stray vine.

With a "thud," she fell to one knee on the stage.

She barely supported her body by leaning on the "Freezing Frost" sword against the ground.

A piercing numbness came from her ankle; that was the sign of the barbs on the vine invading her Meridians.

Liu Qingyuan retracted the vines and looked at the pale but stubborn girl before her, remaining silent for a moment. "You lost."

Su Xue nodded, supporting herself with the "Freezing Frost" sword to stand up.

She didn't make excuses, simply wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, bowed slightly to Liu Qingyuan, and then turned to walk off the stage.

The tassel of the "Freezing Frost" sword swayed gently, as if humming for this unfinished contest.

Though her steps were somewhat stumbling, her back remained ramrod straight.

It wasn't until her figure disappeared into the tunnel entrance that the cheers from the stands truly exploded.

...

"Well played! That 'Freezing Frost' sword was amazing!"

"Honorable in defeat! This is a true contest!"

Amidst the discussions, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the other side—the position where Zhang Wen was about to appear.

One Su Xue and one "Freezing Frost" had already created a miracle; though she lost, she allowed everyone to see the potential of the New Students.

So what about this Zhang Wen, who could beat Lin Shuang and was called a "monster"?

Could he cross the chasm of Realms and truly overturn the rule of the third-year stage lords?

On the high platform, Vice-Principal Zhou Wentao stroked his beard, his gaze falling in Zhang Wen's direction, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes.

Tai Yue stood at the entrance of the tenth arena's tunnel, also looking at Zhang Wen, his originally indifferent face showing a bit more seriousness.

Zhang Wen took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the first arena.

He could feel countless gazes focused on him—some doubtful, some expectant, some scrutinizing.

In the shadows of the tunnel entrance, Su Xue leaned against the wall, pressing a handkerchief against the wound on her ankle, the "Freezing Frost" sword leaning by her side.

Seeing Zhang Wen walk past, she raised her head and gave him a look—there was no dejection in that gaze, only a silent "it's up to you."

Zhang Wen replied with a nod and stepped onto the stage.

The sunlight fell perfectly on him, stretching his shadow very long.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for a miracle that might arrive.