171: Chapter 171 The Embryonic Form of Qi! The Torn Ring of Fire! The Mage's Nightmare!

This statement, so plain it was practically a statement of fact, cut through the billowing white mist and clearly reached the ears of everyone on the arena.

The words were spoken softly, yet they struck like an invisible sledgehammer, slamming squarely into Han Qianchi's face and shattering the last shred of pride he held as a Divine-Grade Genius.

An insult.

This was a naked, undisguised insult!

It was ten thousand times more painful than being slapped directly in the face!

Who was he, Han Qianchi?

The Chief of the Elemental Tower! The federation's top master of Ice Law! A being destined to become the God of Frost in the future!

His talent, his Law, were his everything! They were his capital to look down upon all living beings!

Yet now, a Blank Slate who didn't even have a profession, a bumpkin who was no different from a stray dog in his eyes, dared to evaluate his ice as "not cold enough" in front of the billions of viewers across the entire federation?

Humiliation, rage, and absurdity mingled together, rushing to Han Qianchi's head with a boom, causing his handsome face, which had been pale from shock, to instantly flush crimson.

"You are courting death!"

Han Qianchi's voice grew sharp, completely devoid of the composure he had possessed earlier while controlling the situation.

He was completely enraged.

His reason snapped with a click.

Since the Ice Law couldn't suppress you, then I'll switch to another!

A mage's power has never relied on just one element!

He slammed his staff down in front of him, abandoning the maintenance of the Eternal Frozen Prison, and a completely different, violent surge of magic poured out from within him.

"Do you think this is the end! Do you think I only know how to play with ice!"

Han Qianchi roared crazily, and the ice-blue gem at the top of his staff was actually replaced by a crimson light.

"Repulsion Fire Ring!"

Boom!

With a loud explosion, a scorching circular shockwave of fire erupted and expanded from Han Qianchi as the center!

This Repulsion Fire Ring was a trump card life-saving skill for all mages, with only one purpose: to use the most brutal method to violently knock away any enemy attempting to get close.

It was especially effective against those melee professions that were simple-minded and physically developed.

The scorching fire ring and the ice on the arena instantly created a scene of ice and fire duality.

The flames licked the icy surface, emitting a harsh, sizzling sound, and thick water vapor rose up, almost completely engulfing the entire arena.

The audience stands erupted again!

"Fire element! He actually knows fire-type Spells too!"

"Nonsense! As the Chief of the Elemental Tower, how could he only know one element! That kid is going to be in trouble now!"

"I've seen this Repulsion Fire Ring before. Our school's Chief Martial Artist was blasted right off the arena by this very move! It's impossible to block!"

"It's over, it's over. Brother Qi finally managed to get close, and now he's going to be pushed back again!" Zhang Wei's heart, which had just settled, jumped back into his throat, and he stomped his feet in anxiety.

In the VIP room, Li Pojun, who had just lost his composure, felt a glimmer of hope reignite in his eyes.

Yes! That's it!

A mage's methods are endless; no matter how strong your body is, can you really withstand the impact of fire?

As long as you are pushed away and the distance is opened, what awaits you is still death!

Facing the incoming shockwave of fire, which was powerful enough to flip an armored vehicle, Lin Qi's footsteps did not pause in the slightest.

He just kept walking.

There wasn't even a hint of extra expression on his face.

He completely ignored this world-destroying Spell.

He didn't even have any intention of dodging.

Under the incredulous gaze of the entire audience, Lin Qi slowly raised his right hand.

His five fingers came together, his palm tensed straight, transforming into a hand blade.

Then, he struck straight toward the raging fire ring!

"Is he crazy?"

"Using his hand to hack at a Spell? Who does he think he is?"

"At this rate, his entire arm is going to be burned to charcoal!"

Countless exclamations rang out.

Even Instructor Su Qing and Elder Mo couldn't understand Lin Qi's maneuver.

Using one's physical body to tank elemental damage? This had already exceeded their understanding of ancient martial arts.

However, at the very moment Lin Qi's palm was about to make contact with the fire ring.

A sudden change occurred!

A layer of pale golden Qi film, without any warning, suddenly appeared on the surface of his palm.

This layer of Qi film was very thin, so thin it was almost transparent, and under the stadium lights, it shimmered with a faint, glazed luster.

Yet, this very layer of Qi film exuded an invincible, extremely sharp, and terrifying aura!

That was a product barely born from the True Qi liquefied within Lin Qi's body, compressed and condensed by the terrifying power of blood and Qi under the extreme activation of the Blood Moving Technique.

It was a higher level of power that transcended internal strength.

Ancient martial arts, the embryonic Protective Aura!

This Protective Aura had infinite wondrous uses; it was impervious to water and fire, and difficult for all Spells to break.

It was the strongest shield for a Martial Artist to break through all sorts of flashy elemental control and Spell attacks, and it was also the strongest spear!

The hand blade, covered in pale golden Protective Aura, did not hesitate, nor did it have any flashy light effects; it just sliced straight into the raging Repulsion Fire Ring.

Time seemed to slow down at this moment.

The violent explosion that everyone had anticipated did not occur.

The intense stalemate that everyone had guessed would happen did not appear either.

That seemingly incredibly violent shockwave of fire, capable of melting steel, was cut open without any resistance the instant it made contact with that thin layer of Lin Qi's Protective Aura.

Sshh—!

A tearing sound, so faint it was almost inaudible, rang out.

That circular shockwave of fire was effortlessly torn open from the middle by Lin Qi's hand blade, creating a huge gap!

The flames separated toward both sides, flying past Lin Qi's body without even managing to ignite a corner of his clothing.

Lin Qi's figure passed through the torn fire ring just like that, with ease.

Unharmed.

He appeared less than three meters away from Han Qianchi.

At this distance, one could even see the slightly curled magic threads on the opponent's robe.

The entire arena was deathly silent.

Everyone, whether it was the audience at the scene or the billions of netizens in front of their screens, had their mouths wide open, yet they couldn't make a sound.

Their brains were completely unable to process the absurd scene before them.

In the air, the grin and madness on Han Qianchi's face froze completely before they had time to fade.

He stared blankly at the huge gap in the fire that had been torn open.

And then looked at Lin Qi, who was already within arm's reach, looking at him with the gaze one would use for a dead man.

Reflected in his pupils was that palm covered in a faint golden glow.

The Spell he was so proud of, the barrier he relied on for survival, had been easily torn apart.

Torn apart by a single hand.

This scene, which exceeded the limits of his cognition, caused his worldview to collapse in this instant.

"No... impossible..."

Han Qianchi's lips trembled, his handsome face filled with unprecedented terror and disbelief.

"How could you... tear open a Spell with your bare hands!"