Two massive powers collided. For the first time in recorded history, divine flame met divine frost on a mortal stage. The very air split as the two forces clashed, rumbling like an ancient sky collapsing under its own weight. Disciples watching from afar felt their souls quiver; even the elders stiffened as the arena trembled beneath their feet.
Bai Long's flame roared upward, scorching the sky itself. Leng Yue's frost descended like judgment, freezing sound and breath alike. Neither attack was ordinary—both carried the shadow of a power that belonged to beings the mortal world could not even name.
And yet, though Bai Long was the strongest possible dragon, Leng Yue stood as the strongest possible phoenix. At equal stages, their power was meant to match, yin and yang in perfect opposition.
But they were not equal today.
Leng Yue was already at Stage Three.
Bai Long felt it the moment their powers fully connected—his flame began to bend backward, shrinking, suppressed by a pressure he had never once encountered.
'I'm… being pushed back?'
His eyes widened. His grip tightened. A growl tore from his throat.
"How is this possible?"
There was no time to dwell. The frost was devouring his flame far too quickly.
"Formless Flame Sword—Ninth Technique: Double Flames!"
His aura surged explosively. The ground cracked beneath him as the ninth technique—an elemental boost rather than a sword strike—ignited within his meridians. Bai Long's flame doubled in intensity, tearing free of Leng Yue's pressure. His renewed attack sliced forward, nearly overwhelming her entirely.
Leng Yue's brows knit.
'Damn. I haven't reached the ninth technique yet.'
While Bai Long had forced himself to at least grasp enough to barely activate the ninth move, Leng Yue had only practiced up to the sixth. She focused on cultivating and thus only practised till the sixth form—more than enough to deter any outer disciple. She had never expected to face someone like him. Someone whose fire rivalled her frost.
'I can't lose.'
Her cold eyes narrowed, and for the first time, her voice carried genuine heat—anger born from pride.
"Human," she spat—still believing he was merely a mortal wielding what he should not—"though I do not know how you use this sword technique, it is a disgrace nonetheless. I will now show you what it means to be heaven's favourite."
In an instant, the temperature plummeted. The frost swirling around her sword darkened, condensed, then burst outward in a halo of shimmering silver.
Leng Yue's frost had turned into Heaven's Frost—the bloodline frost of a Ice phoenix.
Until now, she had only used her base elemental frost.
Her power multiplied, overwhelming Bai Long's flame and snuffing it out completely.
Even so, her frost dissolved too, consumed by the force of its own outburst.
Bai Long staggered back, stunned.
"This… isn't possible. How can you be a heaven's favourite?"
His voice trembled—not in fear, but disbelief.
Leng Yue gave him a cool, lethal smile.
"Oh? You know of this title? I thought only nobles of the upper realms carried such knowledge."Her eyes sharpened.
"The fact that you know of it—and the fact that you used a move no human should be able to touch—tells me everything," Bai Long said as he raised his blade, flames condensing thicker than before: "You're not human."
"Splendid. Job well done." She almost sounded pleased—until her expression hardened again, killing intent freezing the air. "Though I still have to kill you for using a technique you're not worthy of."
"That's fine," Bai Long answered, lifting his sword, "because I'm certain you're about to get the shock of your life."
Their auras surged.
"Formless Flame Sword—Sixth Move: Flame Emperor's Punishment!"
"Pointless," Leng Yue murmured. "Now die."
"Formless Ice Sword—Sixth Move: Ice Emperor's Punishment!"
The two emperors—flame and frost—surged forward. Bai Long's fire was still reinforced by the ninth technique, while Leng Yue's Heaven's Frost cut through the sky like a divine decree.
But the moment they met mid-air, it became painfully clear.
Leng Yue's frost overpowered Bai Long's flame.
His attack wavered. His arms trembled. He felt the frost chewing through the edges of his fire.
'I never thought I'd use this against someone of the same realm… but she is worthy.'
His eyes narrowed.
"Heaven's Flame."
Leng Yue froze. She knew that term.
"...What?"
Before their techniques fully collided, Bai Long's flames shimmered—then shifted. Red deepened to gold, gold blinding into pure silver.
Leng Yue's pupils contracted.
'A silver-blooded dragon's bloodline fire. There was only one man in history who could wield silver flames this proficiently.'
Now enhanced with heaven's flame, Bai Long's power soared past hers.
Boom!
The explosion shook the sect. The shockwave flattened the ground, cracked the stage, and sent winds spiralling like hurricanes around the arena.
Leng Yue shielded her eyes.
Bai Long frowned, lowering his arm.
'My flame should have burned straight through hers. Why…?'
As the dust slowly drifted away, the answer revealed itself.
Standing between them—calm, unmoving, robes untouched—was an old man.
Arms outstretched.
Completely unharmed.
"That is enough."