Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Frost Dragon

On one end of the arena, a huge Rift Tiger opened its bloody jaws. Its fiery red body gave off waves of heat.

It was also a Supergrade Demonic Beast, yet the pressure it gave off was far stronger than the last three. If those three were low tier within Supergrade, then this Rift Tiger was Mid Tier Supergrade. By aura alone, it was almost on par with that Goldenwing Eagle from before.

Before breaking into the Foundation Establishment Stage, Li Shuang had almost no chance against the Goldenwing Eagle. But now, she had already reached Foundation Establishment, and she had used the Heaven and Earth treasure called the Ninth-Grade Lotus Seed. [Perfect time to see what I can do now.]

Li Shuang leaped forward, and the instant she fully spread her Sword Domain, the whole world seemed to pause.

Her eyes flashed. With the boost from the Ninth-Grade Lotus Seed, her Sword Domain carried a trace of frost, and it slowed her enemy a little.

Her realm was still low, so the slow was not strong. But in a duel on the stage, even the tiniest slow could flip the battle.

The Rift Tiger lagged for a heartbeat. Black Abyss Sword was already at its throat. Sword light flashed, and the Rift Tiger had no time to react; it was killed in an instant. The huge beast’s body slowly faded from the arena.

Li Shuang’s gaze shone. By feel alone, even though she was only Early Foundation Establishment, she was stronger than when she had been Late Foundation Establishment. She even felt that, against a Golden Core Stage opponent, she might be able to fight. [So this is the scary boost from the Ninth-Grade Lotus Seed working with the Supreme Emotionless Art.]

A Mid Tier Supergrade Demonic Beast, finished in a blink. She did use surprise and an element edge, but the result was still dazzling.

Before this, she could only be called a top genius on the Nanlan Continent. Now, Li Shuang had the confidence to stand against the Heaven’s Chosen from other continents.

As the Rift Tiger vanished, Li Shuang sat down cross-legged at once to recover her power.

After six hours passed, the fifth round began.

This time, her old acquaintance appeared: the wine-loving Bull-Headed Demon.

The mechanical voice declared: “Fifth-round challenge: begin!”

Li Shuang faced the Ironhide Bull. The huge bull shook his massive head and still looked a bit drunk as he rumbled with pride: “I did not expect you to reach the final trial, but with me here, your challenge ends now!”

Li Shuang grew alert and spread her Sword Domain at once. The Ironhide Bull’s speed slowed a little, but to this Demonic Beast, that effect was almost useless.

The reason was simple: he just stood still and did not move at all. Li Shuang sent out a probing strike.

A red glow flashed over the Ironhide Bull’s hide. Her attack left not even a scratch. Instead, her inner organs shook, and she suffered some damage.

Li Shuang understood at once. This Ironhide Bull did not need to attack. He relied on his iron defense. Her strikes might not hurt him, yet part of the damage would bounce back to her.

If it went on like this, the Ironhide Bull did not need to do anything. He just had to wait until the rebounds wore her down and make her admit defeat.

The Ironhide Bull bared a smug smile toward Li Shuang as he taunted: “Human, do not waste time. You will not pass me.”

Li Shuang’s face stayed calm as she answered: “Senior, your defense is solid as iron, but every defense has a limit.”

To deal with him, she could not chip away. She had to finish it in one blow. Otherwise the small rebounds would stack up and trap her. [Then let me try the Emotionless Sword Dao now that I have the Ninth-Grade Lotus Seed.]

Li Shuang raised her hand without hesitation. Black Abyss traced a subtle, mysterious arc through the air.

The Ironhide Bull smiled as he started to boast: “Useless. My defense is not something you—”

His grin froze in place. A crushing threat pressed down on him. Before he could react, a lotus rose from the ground, and his whole body turned into an ice statue.

He forced his eyes open and saw clear lotus petals shimmering before him.

With a crack, the statue shattered, and the Ironhide Bull vanished from the arena.

Li Shuang’s power, though, was drained by more than half from that one move.

She raced the clock, drawing in breath after breath to restore her strength.

Before she could reach her best, the next Demonic Beast stepped onto the stage.

This one was built for speed, but that trait was tightly countered by her Sword Domain. After a fierce clash, Li Shuang brought down the fifth beast.

Then came the sixth and the seventh. By the seventh, Li Shuang was forced to use Lotus in Ice again.

After fight upon fight, fatigue and injuries piled up. Her state was very bad.

Now only the last Demonic Beast remained.

Li Shuang’s face was pale. She had no time to think. All she could do was restore as much power as she could.

The mechanical voice announced: “Final challenge: begin!”

She had not returned to her peak, but the prompt had already sounded, so Li Shuang opened her eyes.

The instant she saw the beast across from her, she paused.

Facing her was a true dragon, a beast in the shape of a dragon.

In the Demon Clan, the Dragon Clan was extremely rare. Yet every one of them stood for power. Any dragon-shaped Demonic Beast was at least High Tier Supergrade.

This dragon-shaped beast’s whole body was like clear crystal. With each breath in and out, it gave off cold mist. Even Li Shuang, with her Peerless-grade Ice Spiritual Root, felt a painful chill for a moment.

Li Shuang recognized it and murmured: “Frost Dragon.”

The Frost Dragon’s eyes were icy as she watched Li Shuang. The Langya Secret Realm had appeared for many years. She had met many a Challenger, but very few could pass her trial.

Could this human pass her test? Only skill would tell.

Li Shuang also looked at the Frost Dragon with some curiosity. A dragon-shaped Demonic Beast could not be compared to the others.

She did not hesitate. Before the Frost Dragon reacted, she unleashed the first form of the Emotionless Sword Dao: Lotus in Ice. With the Ninth-Grade Lotus Seed’s blessing, Lotus in Ice grew much stronger. The whole ice lake’s temperature dropped to freezing in an instant. That stunning lotus bloomed on the stage once more.