The sun reached high noon, casting a pale gold glow across the sect's largest arena. Thousands of disciples gathered, their excited chatter mixing into a vibrating hum that travelled through the air. In the centre of the stage, two figures stood facing each other—silent, unmoving, and utterly unmatched.
Bai Long and Leng Yue.
The strongest outer disciples of their decade.
Even the elders sitting in the high boxes leaned forward, unable to conceal the anticipation glittering in their eyes. Beneath the arena, the stone trembled faintly, reacting to the sheer concentration of spiritual pressure gathering between the two.
"We will now commence with the finals." The officiating elder announced, his voice barely masking the awe he felt. "Li Yun versus Leng Yue. The strongest outer disciples of this decade."
That phrase was ceremonial, traditionally given to whoever reached the finals, but this time it truly meant something.
These two weren't merely strong.
They were monsters wearing human skin.
"Begin!"
Bai Long drew his sword in a smooth arc. A metallic note rang out, sharp and clear like the cry of a phoenix. Leng Yue mirrored the motion, her icy-blue blade leaving a cold mist trailing behind it.
Bai Long inhaled.
"Let's test the water first."
He stepped forward.
"Gold Flame Sword Art — Eighth Form: Meteor's Fall."
The world responded instantly.
Heat swelled—oppressive, violent, rising like a tidal wave crashing against the heavens. Above the arena, a sphere of fire began forming, gathering spiritual energy at such speed that the sky literally bent inward. Within a breath, it grew larger, brighter—until the audience felt as though the sun itself was descending upon them.
By the time it reached the size of the entire stage, people were already screaming.
"Elder! Elder, intervene!"
"Someone stop him—this is insane—!!"
The officiating elder's hand twitched. He was seconds away from leaping forward to save the arena from complete destruction.
"Don't you move."
Leng Yue's calm, frost-laced voice froze him in place far more effectively than any technique.
She stepped forward.
As she unsheathed her blade fully, a wave of arctic wind swept out, coating the arena floor in a thin layer of frost. Every breath became visible. The sky dimmed. Even the blazing meteor overhead flickered, as though frightened.
"Formless Ice Sword — Second Move: Ice Imprisonment."
Her sword swept upward.
The meteor froze mid descent.
Not slowed.
Not weakened.
Frozen.
A firestorm capable of turning mountains into molten lakes was locked in ice as easily as if she were closing a door.
Then—
Shatter.
The meteor exploded into countless crystalline shards, sparkling like falling stars. Not a single fragment reached the ground. The pieces dissolved into motes of spiritual energy before touching the frost-covered stage.
Gasps erupted from all sides.
Even Bai Long's smile vanished, replaced by a slow-burning fury.
"How do you know that move?"
Leng Yue lifted her brows slightly, clearly confused by the intensity of his reaction. "…What are you talking about?"
But Bai Long's rage only deepened.
There were three reasons that made that technique impossible to wield for any human:
First, It belonged exclusively to divine beasts.
Second, It existed in their blood, their souls—not in any manual.
Third, mortals were fundamentally unworthy of touching the Formless Sword Arts.
For a human to wield it—
That was blasphemy.
That was theft.
That was an insult to the Bai Long's bloodline itself.
"Mortals…" Bai Long said slowly, voice dropping into a deadly calm, "aren't allowed to use our techniques."
Leng Yue froze.
'Our?'
Before she could question him, Bai Long vanished.
The air where he stood warped from sudden heat.
"Formless Flame Sword — First Form: Flame's Path."
His sword sliced horizontally.
A blazing arc erupted, faster than sight. Faster than thought. Faster than any Nascent Soul or Spirit Severing expert should logically be able to perceive.
Leng Yue's pupils contracted.
She barely brought her sword up in time.
BOOM—!!
The impact sent shockwaves across the arena. Dust erupted from beneath her feet as she was blasted backward, sliding ten meters before regaining her balance. Her arms trembled faintly despite her expression staying cold and controlled.
"You shouldn't know that technique," she hissed. "Human."
Bai Long smirked.
"Oh? And what are you?"
"Something beyond your comprehension."
She thrust her sword forward.
"Formless Ice Sword — Third Move: Ice Serpent!"
A swirling serpent of condensed frost emerged from her blade, teeth bared, coiling through the air as it lunged at Bai Long with terrifying speed.
Bai Long responded immediately.
"Formless Flame Sword — First Move: Flame's Path."
Another flame arc launched forward, chasing the serpent like a predator claiming its prey.
Leng Yue's serpent twisted away—dodging.
Gasps erupted again.
The Flame's Path was famed for one thing though: it never missed.
The flame arc curved mid-air, performing an unnatural, almost intelligent manoeuvre before slamming directly into the serpent's flank.
BOOOOM!
Fire and ice collided, creating a violent shockwave of steam that burst outward. The serpent shattered—but the remnants of its energy continued onward, slamming into Bai Long and forcing him back several meters.
Bai Long skidded backward, boots digging into the frost.
A faint streak of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away with his thumb and smiled.
"Impressive."
Leng Yue didn't smile back. Her gaze sharpened, something wary and calculating now behind her icy expression.
"This is becoming troublesome," Bai Long murmured. "Though I know I shouldn't… you leave me no choice but to stop holding back."
He lifted his sword with both hands.
The temperature soared.
The frost around him evaporated instantly.
The air distorted.
A faint dragon roar echoed—so soft that only Leng Yue heard it.
But she didn't flinch.
Instead, she smiled.
So cold. So calm. So sharp it could freeze a man's soul.
"Good," she said. "I didn't want to hold back either."
"Formless Flame Sword — Sixth Move: Flame Emperor's Punishment!"
"Formless Ice Sword — Sixth Move: Ice Emperor's Punishment!"
The world split into two realms.
On Bai Long's side, golden flames surged into the heavens, igniting clouds, painting the sky molten red.
On Leng Yue's side, frost crystallized the ground, sky, air—everything—into a domain of absolute zero.
Two emperors.
Two divine bloodlines.
Two forbidden techniques that should never have appeared at the same time.
The crowd couldn't breathe.
The elders stood up simultaneously.
Even the Sect Master leaned forward, eyes narrowed.