67: Chapter 67 A Young Talent's First Appearance, Ice and Fire Shock the Heavens

Investigating the Zhao family secretly? High risk, might alert the enemy, and easily put himself in the center of a conspiracy vortex. Currently, there is too little intelligence, better to hold off for now.

Instead, the Sect Small Competition is the most "above-board" stage. As a "Medicine Boy," under the gaze of the masses, in a "reasonable" way, he can reveal the strength he possesses after preliminarily digesting the Flame Lord Legacy and combining ice and fire. It can test himself, win the Sect's attention and resources, and more importantly—establish his prestige!

Let those with ulterior motives see that he, Lin Ye, is not a soft persimmon that can be squeezed at will! If they want to move against him, they must weigh the consequences first!

Lin Ye no longer hesitated, rose, left the room, and headed to the Danxia Peak Affairs Hall to sign up for the "Lingyun Sword Sect Qi Refinement Stage Disciple Small Competition" to be held in a month.

The Sect Small Competition is an important event for the Lingyun Sword Sect to encourage low-level Disciples and select talent. It happens every three years. All Disciples in the Qi Refinement Stage can sign up, divided into Inner Sect, Outer Sect, and Utility Disciple (including Medicine Boy) categories. If one can enter the top ten in the Utility group, they can directly be promoted to an Outer Sect Disciple. If one can enter the top three, there is even a possibility of being favored by an Inner Sect Elder and accepted as a Disciple by exception.

For Lin Ye, the ranking is secondary; what he needs is this "platform" to showcase himself.

After signing up, Lin Ye's life became more structured. During the day, he finished work in the medicinal garden; at night, he prepared with all his might.

He put most of his energy into deducing and perfecting his own combat system.

Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 7 Peak, Ice-Fire Taiji phantom is stable, Spiritual Qi quality far exceeds that of the same level.

Body Refining: Mystic Jade Body 3rd Level, Physical Body is formidable, strength, defense, and recovery are greatly increased, and it implicitly carries a trace of golden flame characteristics, with extremely high resistance to fire attacks.

Cultivation Technique: Ice Soul Sword Art as the main, Great Sun Golden Flame Technique as the supplement, verifying each other, understanding of the ice and fire Dao deepens day by day.

Spell/Sword Art:

Ice type: Ice Needle, Ice Blade, Ice Wall, Ice Explosion Spell, and other basic Spells, control is fine and meticulous. Newly comprehended "Mystic Ice Shield," "Frost Domain" (weak), etc.

Fire type: Drawing from the Flame Lord Legacy, mastered "Crimson Flame Finger," "Fire Snake Spell," "Golden Crow Phantom" (simplified version, power controllable), etc. The core is trying to fuse a trace of "Great Sun Golden Flame" fire seed aura into the Spells, power increases drastically, but requires careful control to avoid exposure.

Sword Art: Based on the three remnant forms of the Starfall Ice Soul Sword (Starfall, Ice Seal, Return to Ruins), incorporating insights into the ice and fire Dao, deducing new sword moves. Currently, there is only one prototype form, named [Ice-Fire Calamity], which briefly fuses cold Sword Qi with red-gold fire energy to erupt, power is astonishing, but consumption is huge, and it is difficult to control, prone to backlash.

Divine Ability: "Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation" escape speed is extremely fast, but consumes a lot; "Fiery Golden Eyes" can see through illusions, perceive the flow of Spiritual Qi, and is very useful for combat prediction, Alchemy, and Artifact Refining; "Fire-Melting Spirit Refining Technique" continuously tempers the Divine Soul, Divine Sense strength is comparable to an ordinary Qi Refining Stage 9.

Magic Treasure: flame sovereign sword (dare not use lightly), yan jun token (control earth fire, trump card), ancient ring yuan sha (Evil Qi protection, nourishment), bone ring (sense water veins, xuan yin qi), Hundred Herbs Hall standard longsword (to cover eyes and ears).

He practiced and combined these methods repeatedly, striving to execute them seamlessly in battle without revealing flaws.

Occasionally, he would also spar with Chu Yun. Chu Yun is at the Qi Refining Stage 8, excellent in both sword art and Alchemy, a very good opponent. After a few spars, Chu Yun was surprised to find that Lin Ye's strength had improved rapidly, especially his exquisite control of Spiritual Qi and that ice-fire alternating Spell, which were impossible to guard against; he himself found it hard to win easily.

"Junior Brother Lin, I fear you will shock everyone at this Small Competition," Chu Yun sighed.

"Senior Brother is too kind, it still needs to be tested in actual combat," Lin Ye said modestly.

Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.

The Sect Small Competition officially opened at the "Sword Discussion Valley" under Lingyun Peak. Ten arenas were set up in the valley, voices were loud, thousands of Qi Refining Disciples gathered, exceptionally lively.

Lin Ye drew lots and was assigned to "Utility Group C." There were many familiar faces in the same group; Zhou Tong, Sun Yu, and even Liu Xiaoying had signed up. Zhao Wuji and that Chi Yang were in the Inner Sect group.

The competition adopted an elimination system, the winner advances.

Lin Ye's first-round opponent was a Qi Refining Stage 5 Utility Disciple from the Divine Weapon Peak, good at close combat, wielding a mountain-splitting axe.

On the arena, the opponent roared and rushed over, the axe wind was fierce.

Lin Ye remained calm, and not until the opponent rushed within a zhang, did he join his fingers like a sword, a condensed cold Sword Qi shot out first, accurately pointing at the weak spot on the axe face.

Crack! The fine iron axe face was actually dented by the Sword Qi, the opponent's tiger's mouth cracked, the axe was knocked out of his hand, and he was also knocked off the arena.

Clean and swift.

Some gasps sounded from under the stage. Using fingers as a sword, the Sword Qi being this condensed, this Medicine Boy is not simple.

The second round, the opponent was a Qi Refining Stage 6 Utility Disciple from Tianjian Peak, whose sword art was swift.

Lin Ye still used his fingers as a sword, executing the "Starfall" Sword Intent prototype from the Starfall Ice Soul Sword. The Sword Qi was heavy and swift, breaking the opponent's sword stance in three moves and forcing him off the arena.

Two wins in two battles, Lin Ye attracted more attention. Especially his pure cold Sword Qi and his effortless posture made people look sideways.

In the third round, he met a strong opponent—a Qi Refining Stage 7 Peak Utility Disciple from the main Peak, Lingyun Peak, named Wang Meng. This person was tall and strong, practiced Body Refining techniques, had immense strength, and extremely strong defense.

"Medicine Boy? Being able to reach here, count yourself lucky. Roll down yourself to avoid physical pain," Wang Meng grinned, his fan-like large hands grabbed directly, bringing up fierce wind.

Lin Ye's eyes turned cold, and he no longer held back.

The power of his Mystic Jade Body exploded under his feet, he did not dodge or evade, his right hand clenched into a fist, cold Spiritual Qi covered the fist surface, and he punched out!

Head-on!

Bang!

The fists met, and the air wave exploded!

The grin on Wang Meng's face froze instantly. He only felt an overwhelming, irresistible giant force coming, his fist bones pained severely, and his whole person staggered back seven or eight steps, almost falling off the arena. As for Lin Ye, his body only swayed slightly.

"Body Cultivator?! Good strength!" Wang Meng was both shocked and angry, roared, an earthy-yellow light appeared on his body surface, and he rushed up again, his fists like wind.

Lin Ye's figure swayed, executing the "Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation" simplified footwork, fast as a ghost, avoiding the front, while pointing his fingers consecutively, several cold Sword Qi like poisonous snakes, specifically attacking Wang Meng's joints, armpits, and other weak defense points.

Wang Meng had great strength but could not hit Lin Ye, instead being beaten by the Sword Qi until his blood and Qi surged, his protective Spiritual Light shaky.

"End it." Lin Ye saw the Opportunity, his figure flashed, closed in on Wang Meng, his right index and middle fingers joined, a red-gold light flashed and disappeared, gently pointing at the Danzhong acupoint on his chest.

"Crimson Flame Finger!"

Pfft!

Wang Meng's earthy-yellow Spiritual Light was instantly pierced through. He suffered a heavy blow, screamed, his chest was scorched black, and he fell backward off the arena, unconscious.

Ice and fire alternating, combining hardness and softness, defeating the enemy in one strike!

The crowd below was in an uproar!

"Dual Cultivation of Ice and Fire?!"

"What exquisite control! That last finger, the fire-attribute Spiritual Qi contained is so pure!"

"What is this Medicine Boy called? Lin Han? From Danxia Peak? Haven't heard of him before!"

Lin Ye's expression was calm as he walked off the arena. Three wins in three battles, successfully advancing to the top 16 of the Utility group.

Zhou Tong and Sun Yu had long been eliminated, and Liu Xiaoying also stopped at the top 32. The look in their eyes toward Lin Ye was now full of awe.

Chu Yun and Su Waner were also watching under the stage, nodding at each other.

On the high platform, some Elders and Deacons who were paying attention to the competition also began to notice this Medicine Boy named Lin Han. Elder Liu stroked his beard without speaking, his eyes thoughtful. Zhao Kun's face was gloomy, while Chi Yang beside him stared at Lin Ye, a flash of eager Battle Intent in his eyes.

In the round of 16 to 8, Lin Ye's opponent was a Qi Refining Stage 8 Early Stage Outer Sect Disciple from Tianzhen Peak (who hadn't entered the Inner Sect for some reason), skilled in Formations. As soon as he came up, he scattered several Formation Flags, set up a "Trapped Dragon Formation," trying to restrict Lin Ye's movement.

Lin Ye sneered, directly activating "Fiery Golden Eyes." The nodes of the Formation's Spiritual Qi flow and weak points were all clear in his eyes. He joined his fingers like a sword, several ice-fire intertwined Sword Qi shot out accurately, instantly defeating several key Formation Flags, and the Formation was broken without attack. Then he closed in, and with a "Mystic Ice Palm," slapped him off the arena.

Easily won.

In the quarter-finals, his opponent was an Inner Sect Disciple from Divine Weapon Peak at the Middle Stage of the Qi Refining Stage 8 (because he was over twenty, he did not enter the Inner Sect group), wielding a giant hammer with astonishing momentum.

Lin Ye held nothing back, taking out the standard longsword from the Hundred Herbs Hall and infusing it with the embryonic form of the "Ice Seal" Sword Intent from the Starfall Ice Soul Sword.

With one strike, the freezing Sword Qi surged like a tide, freezing the opponent, along with his hammer, into an ice sculpture; although it did not cause fundamental damage, the opponent had already lost his ability to fight.

Four to two, the semi-finals.

The opponent was none other than Chi Yang!

That Named Disciple newly accepted by Zhao Kun, who possessed the Fire Spirit Body and was at the Peak of the Qi Refining Stage 8!

When the news spread, the Sword Discussion Valley was in an uproar.

A medicine boy versus a Fire Spirit Body, a newly emerged dark horse versus someone with connections—the hype was immense.

On the arena, Chi Yang wore a crimson magic robe with an arrogant expression, looking at Lin Ye with disdain: "You are that medicine boy who defied Senior Martial Uncle Zhao? I heard you are skilled in the Ice-Fire arts? What a coincidence, I also play with fire. Today, I will let you know what true fire is!"

Before his voice faded, he clasped his hands together, and a fireball, crimson with a hint of pale gold, instantly condensed, emitting a scorching high temperature as it smashed towards Lin Ye!

Wherever the fireball passed, the air distorted.

Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.

This fireball had impressive power and carried a trace of special spirituality; it was indeed worthy of a Fire Spirit Body.

However, he could feel that the quality of the flames within was far inferior to the wisp of Great Sun Golden Flame he possessed within his body.

He dared not be careless and swung his longsword, slashing out a condensed ice-blue Sword Qi that collided with the fireball in mid-air.

Boom!

Ice and fire intertwined, and mist steamed up.

The Sword Qi and the fireball annihilated each other simultaneously.

"You have some skills, no wonder you could make it this far." Chi Yang sneered, waving his hands repeatedly.

In an instant, seven or eight crimson-gold fireballs shot towards Lin Ye like a barrage of cannonballs, sealing off all room for evasion.

Lin Ye's figure flickered as he utilized the "Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation," passing through the gaps between the fireballs in the nick of time.

At the same time, he backhanded his sword, sending dozens of ice needles shooting towards Chi Yang like a rainstorm.

Chi Yang did not dodge or avoid, a shield of crimson-gold flames rising on the surface of his body.

When the ice needles touched it, they hissed and vaporized completely.

"Petty tricks!" Chi Yang shouted sharply, forming hand seals with both hands as a blurry phantom of a flame giant appeared behind him.

The giant threw a punch, carrying the momentum to burn mountains and boil seas!

"A Fire Spirit manifestation? Interesting." Lin Ye's gaze tightened, knowing he could not take it head-on.

He stuck his longsword into the ground, formed seals with his hands, and the Ice-Fire Taiji within his body spun rapidly.

"Ice-Fire Calamity, rise!"

Boom!

With him as the center, an ice-blue cold wave and crimson-gold flames erupted simultaneously.

They did not clash but formed a rapidly rotating ice-fire tornado that surged upwards, colliding fiercely with that giant flame fist!

Rumbling—!!!

The deafening sound of the explosion echoed throughout the Sword Discussion Valley!

Ice chips and sparks splattered everywhere, and the violent energy storm caused the arena's Restriction to shake violently!

When the light faded, Lin Ye's face was slightly pale, and he had taken three steps back, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Chi Yang was in an even worse state; the phantom of his flame manifestation had dissipated, his protective spiritual light was shattered, his clothes were charred black, and he stumbled back more than ten steps, barely managing to steady himself, his eyes filled with shock.

He had actually fallen into a disadvantage?!

"How is this possible?! What kind of Spell is this?!" Chi Yang asked hoarsely.

He could not understand why, as the other party did not possess a Fire Spirit Body, he could unleash such a sophisticated and powerful Ice-Fire Fusion technique?

"The Spell to defeat you." Lin Ye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes cold.

He had used almost all his strength in that previous strike, and the backlash from the conflict between ice and fire had also caused him some internal injuries.

But this Chi Yang was indeed troublesome.

"I don't believe it!" A flash of madness crossed Chi Yang's eyes as he slammed his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence that merged into the flames in his hands.

The flames instantly surged, turning into a dark gold color, and the aura became even more violent and terrifying.

"Heaven-Burning Palm!" He roared, pushing out his palms.

A massive dark golden flame palm print, carrying an aura of destruction, came crushing down towards Lin Ye!

This was his trump card; by consuming his blood essence, its power was comparable to a strike from the 9th level of the Qi Refining Stage!

There were gasps from the crowd below.

Chu Yun and Su Waner looked worried.

Elder Liu frowned deeply.

Zhao Kun, on the other hand, curled his lips into a cold sneer.

Facing this terrifying strike, Lin Ye's eyes were calm.

He slowly raised his right hand and extended his index finger.

At his fingertip, a faint, yet purely golden flame that radiated a supreme aura, as if it could burn down the heavens and all worlds, quietly appeared.

A wisp of the Great Sun Golden Flame aura!

Although it was only a wisp, and he had tried his best to restrain it and disguise it as some kind of "mutated true fire," that intrinsic supreme majesty still made the dark golden flame palm print tremble slightly, causing its power to drop by thirty percent!

"Break."

Lin Ye uttered the word softly, and the wisp of pure gold flame at his fingertip transformed into a golden thread as thin as a hair.

It shot out silently, piercing through the weakened dark golden palm print and accurately striking Chi Yang in the chest.

Pfft!

Chi Yang was struck as if by lightning, the flames on his body instantly extinguished, and a charred hole appeared in his chest, deep enough to see bone.

His eyes widened, his face full of disbelief, and he fell backward stiffly, unconscious.

The whole arena was dead silent.

A moment later, deafening gasps and discussions erupted!

"What kind of flame is that?! It could actually suppress the innate true fire of a Fire Spirit Body?!"

"One finger! He defeated Chi Yang with just one finger!"

"Who on earth is this Lin Han?!"

On the high platform, Zhao Kun stood up abruptly, his face livid, his eyes full of murderous intent.

Elder Liu let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes shining with brilliance.

The other Elders were also moved.

Lin Ye withdrew his finger, suppressed the churning blood in his body and the weakness caused by using the fire seed, and turned to walk off the arena.

He had already advanced to the finals of the Utility Disciple group (the other semi-final had not yet begun).

But after this battle, the name "Lin Han" would surely resound throughout the entire lower-level Disciple stratum of the Lingyun Sword Sect!

Cultivating both ice and fire, suppressing a strong enemy, defeating a Fire Spirit with one finger!

Everyone realized that Danxia Peak had produced an extraordinary medicine boy!

Lin Ye returned to the Danxia Peak rest area and took a Medicinal Pill to regulate his breathing.

Countless gazes of awe, curiosity, and jealousy were cast his way.

Chu Yun and Su Waner walked over quickly.

"Junior Brother Lin, you..." Chu Yun stopped mid-sentence, eventually turning it into a bitter smile.

"You really are hiding your true depth. That last finger..."

"A small Opportunity, not worth mentioning." Lin Ye interrupted, not wanting to discuss it further.

"The way Zhao Kun is looking at you is very wrong." Su Waner whispered.

"You defeated Chi Yang in public, making him lose face, I'm afraid..."

Lin Ye nodded; he had expected this.

Showing his strength today certainly established his prestige, but it also completely intensified the conflict and pushed it into the open.

Zhao Kun would likely no longer have any reservations.

Indeed, that afternoon, before the finals had even begun, a Disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall came to deliver a message:

"Medicine boy Lin Han, the Law Enforcement Elder has ordered you to go to the Law Enforcement Hall immediately to be questioned about the origin of the 'strange flame' used in today's competition, and whether it is related to the 'Yinkui Sect Evil Fire' that the Sect has been investigating recently?"

Yinkui Sect Evil Fire?!

What a huge scapegoat!

This was clearly Zhao Kun's revenge, intending to use the Sect's righteousness and the power of the Law Enforcement Hall to cast him into a place of no return!

Chu Yun and Su Waner's expressions changed drastically.

The surrounding Disciples were in an uproar, and the looks they cast at Lin Ye became suspicious and uncertain.

Lin Ye sneered in his heart, but his face remained calm: "The flame used by this Disciple was refined by my own Cultivation Technique and has nothing to do with the Yinkui Sect. Since the Elder has ordered it, this Disciple will naturally go and explain it clearly."

He knew that once he went, it might not be so easy to come back.

Zhao Kun was trying to make a mountain out of a molehill to put him to death.

However, he, Lin Ye, was not a soft persimmon to be kneaded by others.

He wanted to see if this Law Enforcement Hall was surnamed Zhao or surnamed "Law"!

"Lead the way." Lin Ye said to the Law Enforcement Disciple, his eyes calm but carrying a majestic, inviolable dignity.

The Law Enforcement Disciple was awed by his gaze and couldn't help but lower his head: "Please... please follow me."

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Lin Ye followed the Law Enforcement Disciple and walked slowly towards the black palace that symbolized the Sect's laws and was awe-inspiring—the Law Enforcement Hall.