Shi Yue had been knocked flying unconscious by that one wok strike, the earthen wall light barrier dispersed, and the battle situation reversed in an instant. The shock and terror on Yan Feng's and Shui Wu Hen's faces had yet to fade before being replaced by deeper shame and killing intent. The four of them, these celestial talents, had actually been so thoroughly toyed with by an unknown nobody—and one of their own had been taken down. If this got out, how would they ever show their faces?
"Tang Xiaoqi! I want you dead!" Yan Feng's eyes were blood-red, nearly losing reason. Flames rose around him once more, even more violent than before, clearly preparing to use a secret technique that would damage his life essence. He was determined to kill Xiaoqi with his own palms. The Heaven-Devouring Sea of Fire condensed once more, but this time the flames' color had become deeper, faintly revealing an ominous dark red.
Shui Wu Hen's gaze was sinister as he also put away his previous playfulness. Runes lit up on his jade fan, and an even more bone-piercing cold water energy began to diffuse, forming a strange ice-and-fire duality with Yan Feng's raging flames. He knew that if Tang Xiaoqi wasn't completely eliminated today, there would be endless troubles later.
Even Liu Xu, who had been hiding nearby, after the initial terror, also had a ruthless glint flash in her eyes. Her figure became blurred once more, clearly preparing to cooperate with Yan Feng and Shui Wu Hen for a more lethal strike.
Xiaoqi held his wok, his gaze grave. Although he had used strategy and explosive power to instantly disable one enemy and break the encirclement, facing completely enraged Yan Feng and Shui Wu Hen who were ready to fight to the death, plus a Liu Xu waiting to strike, the pressure remained enormous. His spiritual energy consumption was significant, and while his Guardian Sword Heart was powerful, it couldn't sustain indefinitely. The Red Flame Sword trembled slightly, seemingly sensing its master's battle intent, ready to unsheathe and taste blood at any moment.
The atmosphere in the arena was tense as a drawn bowstring, killing intent as tangible as substance, so oppressive it made breathing difficult. Li Mo and Wang Zhong had retreated even further, their faces pale white. They felt the level of this battle had completely exceeded their imagination—one misstep and they would suffer collateral damage.
Just as Yan Feng's dark red sea of fire was about to fully erupt, Shui Wu Hen's Extreme Cold Water Arrows were charged and ready, and Liu Xu's killing intent had locked onto Xiaoqi's vital points—
"Enough."
A clear, cold, pleasant voice, yet carrying undeniable authority, rang out in the arena like ice-cold spring water dripping onto a jade plate.
Following this voice came a terrifying cold that seemed able to freeze souls!
"Crackle... crackle..."
Centered on the fighters, the ground, rocks, and vegetation within several dozen zhang were instantly covered with crystalline frost! The water vapor in the air and the remaining flames were instantly dispelled, replaced by a cold that brought ten thousand (all things into silent desolation).
An ice-blue ring of light silently appeared between Xiaoqi and Yan Feng, Shui Wu Hen. The ring appeared thin and fragile, yet emanated terrifying law fluctuations. When Yan Feng's dark red raging sea of fire collided with the ice ring, it was as if meeting its natural bane—the flames quickly dimmed, contracted, and let out sizzling groans of distress, unable to cross that half-step boundary! When Shui Wu Hen's charged Extreme Cold Water Arrows touched the cold aura radiating from the ice ring, they directly solidified in mid-air, then shattered into countless ice crystals with a "ping"!
Even Liu Xu, hidden in the wind and preparing to launch an attack, was forced to reveal herself by this sudden terrifying cold. Her face went white as she retreated repeatedly, her eyes filled with terror.
A moon-white figure appeared soundlessly atop a large rock covered with frost nearby. Graceful posture, aura cold and pure like a lotus on a snowy peak—it was precisely the Crimson Star Sacred Land's heir, Mu Xue.
Her gaze calmly swept across everyone in the arena, lingering briefly on Xiaoqi, then spoke in a cold tone: "In this secret realm, survival depends on collecting jade talismans. Such deadly combat benefits neither side; instead, it may result in mutual destruction and let others profit from our conflict."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying natural persuasiveness. The ice-blue ring of light slowly rotated around the arena, radiating powerful deterrence, clearly expressing her stance—the battle ends here.
Yan Feng stared at his flames that had been so easily suppressed, both shocked and furious. He looked up at Mu Xue and gritted his teeth: "Immortal Mu Xue! This matter doesn't concern you! This boy has insulted me too deeply. Today I must kill him!"
Shui Wu Hen's expression also turned ugly as he said heavily: "Immortal Mu Xue, are you interfering in our private grudge?"
Mu Xue's expression remained unchanged, her tone still placid: "Private grudge? Four of you joining forces to attack one person—is that a private grudge? Now that one has already fallen, you still want to fight to the death. Have you forgotten this place is the 'Small Cave Heaven,' not a arena for life and death?" Her gaze turned to Yan Feng. "Yan Feng, as the young lord of the Scorching Sun Sect, if you exhaust yourself fighting a Foundation Establishment cultivator here, even ending up injured on both sides or dying—is it worth it? Don't forget, outside this realm, there's still the final tournament."
Her words were like a basin of ice water poured over Yan Feng's head. Right, he had entered to make a name for himself, to compete for better rankings and resources. If he fought Tang Xiaoqi to the death here, even if he won, it would certainly be a (pyrrhic victory), so how could he face the tournament battles afterward? And if he lost... he didn't dare imagine that consequence.
Shui Wu Hen also calculated quickly. Mu Xue's strength was profound and unfathomable. She was clearly on Tang Xiaoqi's side, or at least unwilling to see a deadly fight occur. With her present, there was absolutely no way they could kill Tang Xiaoqi today. Forcing the issue might even cause them to fall here.
Liu Xu had long since lost all will to fight. She quietly retreated several more steps, wishing she could disappear immediately.
Xiaoqi looked at Mu Xue's back, his heart slightly relieved, yet he didn't completely lower his guard. He put away his wok and slightly cupped his hands toward Mu Xue's direction: "Many thanks to Immortal Mu Xue." Regardless of Mu Xue's purpose, her appearance now had indeed resolved a dangerous battle.
Mu Xue slightly nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze turning to Yan Feng and Shui Wu Hen again: "Since you've collected enough jade talismans, why add unnecessary bloodshed? Let's call it off here and each go our separate ways. What do you say?"
Yan Feng's expression shifted uncertainly, his chest heaving violently, clearly extremely unwilling. But seeing Mu Xue's calm yet firm gaze, and that ice ring radiating terrifying cold, he finally stamped his foot hard, withdrew his surrounding flames, and glared at Xiaoqi as if to carve his appearance into his memory: "Tang Xiaoqi! You're lucky this time! On the tournament stage, I will definitely defeat you!"
With that, he didn't look back as he turned and walked to where the unconscious Shi Yue lay. He roughly grabbed him, then gave Shui Wu Hen and Liu Xu a meaningful look. The three quickly vanished into the dense forest.
In the arena remained only Xiaoqi, Mu Xue, and the distant, still shaken Li Mo and Wang Zhong.
The cold gradually faded, the frost melted.
Mu Xue turned, looking at Xiaoqi. In those clear, cold eyes, there seemed to be a hint of curiosity: "Are you unharmed?"
Xiaoqi shook his head: "Nothing serious. Why did the Immortal..."
Mu Xue interrupted him, her tone still placid: "Passed by coincidentally. Your strength is considerable; you shouldn't fall here in such meaningless combat." She paused, adding, "Be careful of Yan Feng. He bears grudges for the smallest slight. On the tournament stage, he will definitely seek you out again."
Saying this, she didn't speak further. Her moon-white figure flickered and vanished on the spot, as if snow melting, as if she had never appeared.
Xiaoqi gazed at the direction where she disappeared, lost in thought. This Immortal from the Crimson Star Sacred Land didn't seem as cold and unapproachable as she appeared.
Only then did Li Mo and Wang Zhong dare to approach, their hearts still unsettled: "Daoist Tang, that was truly dangerous just now! Thanks to Immortal Mu Xue!"
Xiaoqi nodded, collected his thoughts. The crisis was temporarily resolved, but Mu Xue's words reminded him. Yan Feng would never let this go easily. And in this secret realm, the true challenges were perhaps just beginning. He needed to reunite with Zhao Tiezhu and the others as soon as possible, and accumulate sufficient strength to face whatever might happen.