Chen Wentian turned away from the arrogant alchemist. He was never one to waste too many words on useless people. Instead, he focused solely on his disciple and her tenacious opponent.
Wei Shuangshuang was quickly adjusting to the changes from her power boost pill as well as the three new immortal items that were brought out. He understood why she had done it. If she had not used such a potent power boost pill that raised her cultivation two lesser realms, her mortal body would not have been able to withstand the pressure of five immortal items.
Even though these immortal items were not spirit treasures, they still carried tremendous immortal auras. Two items would have been the normal limit while three was possible in an emergency. Any more and her body would have been crushed by the weight of those immortal auras. It was akin to holding up a mountain. Even if she didn't die, she would collapse from exhaustion.
His own immortal items had no such drawbacks. As long as it was his soul, he could perfectly control his spiritual energy. His disciples would never be harmed and therefore, they could carry him with them day and night.
"Fei'er," Chen Wentian spoke through the earrings Long Yifei wore, "It's up to you. I can maintain the spiritual energy output of the Flawless Snowfrost Earrings for another five minutes. That Wei girl can withstand the pressure of five immortal items for at most ten minutes."
He left some words unsaid but Long Yifei understood him. The rest of the duel was now up to her. Her master had reached the limit of what he could do. He had already done so much and she couldn't ask for anymore.
Now, it was her decision. She had to decide what she wanted.
Long Yifei gathered all the icy energy around her, readying herself for the decisive clash.
The question remained. What did she want? What was her purpose for trying so hard in these duels when so many people wanted to see her fail?
She could have simply thrown a match early on and saved herself and her master the trouble. She wasn't seeking recognition from random people she didn't know. Her master also placed little importance on what others thought of him.
So, why didn't she want to lose?
Long Yifei's expression turned into ice as she contemplated her path until now and her path ahead. She wanted to get stronger. She did not want to be a flower in a greenhouse like these sacred daughters. She wanted to be able to live for herself. She wanted to be so strong that she could make decisions for herself without bothering with a bunch of old virgins or horny old men.
She didn't have to win this duel but she didn't want to lose either. That was her decision.
"How to win without losing?" She asked herself.
How can she be satisfied with herself and be sure that she did not let her master down even if she lost?
In front of her, Wei Shuangshuang let out a sharp cry as the auras of her immortal items rushed out explosively. Her movements became so fast that Long Yifei could hardly follow them. Wei Shuangshuang turned into a blur of light, zig-zagging across the arena before slamming into the icy cloud around Long Yifei.
Kacha!
Cha!
The ice was split apart in an instant like a meat cleaver through tofu. There was no resistance at all. Wei Shuangshuang's current state was far too powerful and too dangerous to face head-on.
Long Yifei kicked her feet, sliding away on a path of ice. The Shangyang Sky Slippers glowed blue, propelling her forward. She moved like the wind, dodging the next starry attack and then another. Her moves were instant, her steps were light as snowflakes, the immortal slippers on her feet living up to their fame. All the while, ice and snow surged from her earrings, forming a swirling storm that sought to sweep everything away.
Wei Shuangshuang's sword was her most dangerous weapon. It combined her attacking moves with peerless sharpness and blinding speed. The sword made of starlight seemed to have a life of its own as it chased after its target. Several times, the blade passed close enough to Long Yifei to singe her hair and burn holes in her white robes.
Still, Long Yifei did not panic. She was fully focused on her movements, her dancing steps. All of her practice of Winter's Snow Dance combined with everything she had learned throughout the year. It came to her instinctively. She already knew every step, even the finest adjustments. There was no time to think, only to act.
She was a snow fairy, dancing on the edge of defeat.
Spiritual energy surged through her veins. Ice, yin, a coldness so absolute that no heat could exist… without realizing it, she had already entered the tenth and ultimate stage of Winter's Snow Dance, Eternal Winter.
Wei Shuangshuang's teeth chattered as she continued to fight. It was so unbelievably cold. She couldn't understand it. Even clad in the aura of five immortal items, she felt the tips of her fingers turning numb. She also couldn't understand how her detestable opponent was still able to evade her. Long Yifei was still so fast, still able to dodge every attack.
"Long Yifei!" She shouted, brandishing her glowing blade with both hands.
She was going to go all out. It didn't matter if an accident happened or if her opponent died. She was going to win no matter what!
Long Yifei sensed the change. She instantly knew that even Eternal Winter was no longer enough. Therefore, she delved deep into her mind, into conscious thoughts and unconscious feelings, searching for a way.
She fell upon the Cascading Ice Steps, the fundamental movement technique taught by Winter's Snow Dance. It was so simple and yet there was a profoundness in its simplicity. Similar steps were embedded in many other dances, some of which she had practiced for days on end in the past year. Even now, she was using the Cascading Ice Steps without even thinking about it.
What was more, she now sensed a faint connection between her steps and the Shangyang Sky Slippers on her feet. A feeling of closeness, familiarity, and confidence; it was as if something was trying to tell her something. She didn't know it then but she had touched upon a mysterious truth.
Immortal treasures were not easy to craft. Those that used feathers of a divine shangyang were even more special. These feathers weren't just simple materials, inanimate and unmoving. They had been bathed in the shangyang's divine aura since the beginning. It was impossible for them not to carry a bit of the divine beast's will.
In this sense, each pair of the Shangyang Sky Slippers could be barely considered spirit treasures. Although the spiritual will contained within was so negligible that there was no actual use, it was still there. All it needed was someone to listen to its voice, however faint it was.
And for some reason, Long Yifei could hear it.
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