Mu Chen stepped in to follow up.
But Ling Qingxue recovered instantly.
Her hand shot forward.
THUD.
A palm strike hit Mu Chen in the stomach.
The force pushed him back, boots scraping across the frozen ground.
He gritted his teeth, cold mist leaking from his mouth.
He formed a wall of ice between them.
Ling Qingxue didn't slow down.
She punched straight through it.
CRACK.
Shards flew everywhere.
Mu Chen raised his arms to block, coating them in thicker ice.
Her next palm hit—
CRACK—THUD.
His ice armor split.
Mu Chen slid back again.
He tried to widen the distance, sending a spray of frost across the ring.
The ground froze over instantly.
Ling Qingxue stepped on it like it was normal floor.
No slip. No hesitation.
She closed the gap again.
Mu Chen formed multiple ice spikes around himself, pointing outward.
Anyone stepping close would be pierced.
Ling Qingxue stopped just outside their reach.
