The moment Chu Feng stepped into the Sword Cliff, the air changed.The sword intent here wasn't the faint hum he sensed earlier.It pressed directly against the bones, sharp and heavy, like an ancient presence watching every step he took.
He walked forward—
Step by step, he walked deeper.
And then—
He stopped.
Two cloaked figures sat in the centre of the cliff, their bodies perfectly aligned with the sword aura around them.
The one on the left radiated heat. Subtle waves shimmered in the air, making the stone beneath her glow faintly, as though a flame lotus bloomed within her very presence.
The one on the right breathed cold. A mist of frost coiled around her, crystallising the stones beneath her cloak into pale diamond-like ice.
Chu Feng narrowed his eyes.
Before Chu Feng could even react—
The flame-cloaked one's eyes snapped open.
"Leave." Her voice burned hotter than fire itself.
The frost-cloaked one opened her eyes as well—calm, serene, but chilling enough to freeze marrow.
"You are disturbing our cultivation."
Chu Feng opened his mouth to speak.
But the flame-cloaked figure's patience shattered instantly.
"I said—leave."
Her foot tapped the ground.
BOOM—!!
A ring of fiery lotus petals erupted outward, scorching the stone and exploding sparks across the cliff.
Chu Feng frowned slightly. Their sword intents… were actually strong.
The frost figure rose, her bare hand brushing the air. Ice spiralled around her fingers, condensing into a slim blade of frozen lotus light.
She drew her sword.
So did the flame-cloaked one—a fiery blade now drawn, its edge shimmering like molten steel.
Two swords out.
Two auras locked onto him.
Before he could offer a single explanation—
The flame twin lunged.
"Since you insist on staying, then stay forever."
Her blade flared, lotus petals of fire blooming behind her as she slashed.
"Flame Lotus Sword—Solar Petal Pierce!"
A fiery lotus erupted, spinning violently, petals swirling like a miniature sun, tearing across the cliff.
Heat roared forward, melting the very air.
Chu Feng's eyes hardened.
Feeling the overwhelming sword intent.
His fingers flashed into rune seals.
Black and white qi spiralled, forming a thin Taiji-patterned barrier before him.
The flame lotus collided.
BOOM!!
Light tore across the cliff, shaking the ground and sending embers flying skyward.
Chu Feng stepped back, arm tingling from the force.
Before he barely regained his footing—
The frost-cloaked one attacked.
Her footstep was silent as winter rain. Her sword glimmered with crystalline purity.
"Frozen Silhouette—Lotus of Still Winter."
A crescent of frost, wrapped in razor-sharp sword intent, sliced through the dust cloud.
Chu Feng pivoted sideways, body flowing with grace. He raised his hand, and as he grabbed his sword, he slashed.
A streak of sword qi shot out—clean, and well controlled.
Steel clashed with ice.
—CRACK!!—
Shards of frost exploded, coating the cliff in glittering fragments.
The flame one clicked her tongue sharply.
"You dodged that, too? Tch… you're more interesting than I thought."
She stomped the ground.
A lotus array ignited beneath her feet—flames spiralling upward like a blazing vortex.
"We watched your fight with Qin Hao," she said, eyes burning. "And we want to know your limit."
Her sword vibrated.
"Let's see you block this!"
Lotus petals spun upward—
"Lotus Burst—Ninefold Flame Bloom!!"
Nine massive fire petals erupted outward, curving around the cliff like hunting spirits before arrowing toward Chu Feng in a synchronised spiral.
At the same time—
The frost twin also moved.
Her steps were ethereal, weightless. A lotus of absolute cold blossomed beneath her.
Ice surged upward around her sword, turning it into a purifying blade of winter.
Her voice floated across the cliff like drifting snow.
"Winter Lotus—Frozen Petal Severing."
Frost blades exploded outward behind her, forming a deadly arc aimed at Chu Feng's back.
Fire in front.
Frost behind.
Sword intent from both sides.
If he blocked one, the other would tear through him.
Instead—
Chu Feng inhaled deeply.
His heartbeat slowed. His mind steadied.
Black and white qi spiralled around him—forming a Taiji vortex at his feet.
Sword intent surged—
A faint smile flickered across his lips.
Temptation tugged at him.
Why not… respond in kind?
He moved.
Not backwards.
He stepped between flame and frost—into the narrow blind spot that existed only for a single breath.
His sword spirit flared.
His fingers drew a flowing arc—
The Taiji expanded.
And he slashed.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The cliff exploded in a wave of fire, frost, and spiralling sword qi.
Dust filled the air.
When it cleared—
Chu Feng stood across the cliff edge…
robe fluttering, hair flowing, not a scratch on him.
The twins staggered from the smoke, eyes wide.
Their swords—gone.
Deflected clean from their hands, both blades now lay embedded in the stone wall behind Chu Feng.
The fiery one gasped, while the frost one looked stunned.
In that instant, they knew they had already lost.
"You… you…"Yu Lianxue whispered, her fist clenching tight.
The words caught in her throat.
Chu Feng lowered his hand slightly, putting his sword away
Then he beckoned to them with a casual come gesture—
as if to say that ending the fight here would be far too shallow.
They exchanged a glance.
Without hesitation,
Both surged forward—one blazing like a rising sun, the other cold as winter's breath.
Their fists, palms, elbows—each carried sword intent, even without blades.
Left strike. Right strike.Low sweep.
Four rounds. Five. Six.
Chu Feng flowed like water—soft meeting hard, gentle deflecting heavy.
Frustration flared in their eyes.
Finally—
They landed beside each other.
Their qi intertwined as they clasped hands
Flame and frost spiralled around them—
meeting, clashing, balancing.
A strange equilibrium formed between their bodies.
Chu Feng's eyes widened.
This technique—
"Lianxue," the flame one whispered.
"Lianyan," the frost one replied.
Together—
They thrust their palms forward.
"Twin Lotus—Harmony Bloom!!"
A single lotus erupted, shooting forth with blinding force.
It was beautiful—the most beautiful thing Chu Feng had ever seen.
Half-burning flame. Half glowing frost.
Both revolve around a perfectly balanced core.
It spun slowly—yet moved with impossible speed.
Before Chu Feng could react—
The lotus was already before him.