20: Chapter 20 Global Superpowered Individuals Conference (Part Two)

Global Esper Convention, Day Two.

The morning mist had yet to disperse, yet a massive crowd had already gathered around the arena. The thrilling duels from the previous day left everyone craving for more, and the atmosphere today was even more fervent. The reason? Today would see the appearance of even more powerful fighters, including the much-anticipated dark horse from the Huaxia Alliance—Lin Wu.

"Match seven of the first round: Lin Wu of the Huaxia Alliance versus Amon, the Desert King of the Great African Alliance!"

When the matchup was announced, a wave of murmurs swept through the entire stadium.

"Lin Wu? That martial artist who defeated a Grandmaster Realm expert with only Qi Refining Realm cultivation?"

"I heard he's only at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm, yet he dares to participate in the Global Esper Convention?"

"The Great African Alliance's Desert King Amon is a Peak Grandmaster Realm powerhouse! He's already grasped the embryonic form of a Domain and controls Sand-type abilities. His strength is utterly terrifying!"

"This battle will be interesting. Let's see which is stronger: martial arts or abilities!"

Lin Wu walked steadily onto the stage, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his gaze as calm as still water. He wore a simple black martial arts uniform without any ornate decorations, yet he exuded an unfathomable Aura.

Opposite him, the Desert King Amon also stepped onto the stage. He was a dark-skinned young man who appeared to be in his twenties, with a burly physique. A faint haze of sand and dust swirled around him. This dust seemed alive, flowing slowly around his body, forming a natural defensive barrier.

"A martial artist from Huaxia?" Amon's voice was low and raspy, carrying a hint of curiosity. "I've heard of you. Defeating a Grandmaster Realm expert while at the Qi Refining Realm. Interesting."

"You flatter me," Lin Wu replied calmly. "I seek your guidance."

"I won't go easy on you just because you're at the Qi Refining Realm," Amon stated. "On the battlefield, there is only life and death, not cultivation Realms."

"Exactly as I wish," Lin Wu nodded, a flash of Battle Intent flickering in his eyes.

"Begin the match!"

At the referee's command, Amon struck first!

"Sand Sea Surge!"

Amon threw his head back and let out a long roar, then abruptly raised his hands, fingers splayed wide as if summoning an ancient beast of sand. In that instant, the dust swirling around him awoke like a primordial monster, expanding and churning madly. Countless grains of sand erupted from his body, each one shimmering with an earthy yellow light, containing terrifying power capable of tearing through steel.

"Rumble——"

The entire stage was instantly engulfed in sand. The dust surged like towering waves, dozens of meters high, roaring and churning in the air with an earth-shaking rumble. The hundred thousand spectators saw a blur before their eyes; the once-clear stage had transformed into a world of swirling yellow sand. The air grew thick with the pungent smell of earth, and as far as the eye could see, there was only a sea of yellow sand.

"Such terrifying Sand-type abilities!" someone on the stands exclaimed, their voice trembling. "Is this the power of the Peak Grandmaster Realm?"

Lin Wu's pupils contracted sharply. He could feel the destructive power contained within that sand. Every grain was like a miniature bomb, carrying astonishing kinetic energy from its high-speed rotation. A single touch would unleash a force capable of tearing everything apart.

"Void Step!"

Lin Wu let out a low shout. His figure flashed, moving like a bolt of golden lightning through the sea of sand. His speed reached an extreme, leaving behind solid-looking afterimages that made it difficult to distinguish the real one. Though the sand was ferocious, roaring and chasing like countless yellow dragons, it could never quite touch his body.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Sand grains whistled past him with sharp, piercing sounds, like countless flying daggers cutting through the air. Lin Wu could even feel the stinging sensation on his skin as the grains whizzed by—the wind pressure generated by their incredible speed was like being sliced by blades. His robes were whipped and torn by the pressure, flapping loudly.

"Interesting!" A flash of surprise crossed Amon's eyes, quickly replaced by an excited grin. The Battle Intent in his gaze burned even brighter. "But this isn't enough! Let me show you what true Sand-type abilities are!"

"Sand Cage!"

Amon suddenly clasped his hands together, fingers interlocking as if manipulating invisible threads. His eyes glowed with an earthy yellow light, and the sand around him churned violently. In that moment, the wildly flying sand abruptly changed direction, converging towards Lin Wu from all sides at a terrifying speed.

"Not good!" Lin Wu's heart sank, his pupils constricting again.

He wanted to dodge, but the sand was too fast, moving with a life of its own to surround him from every angle. In the blink of an eye, a massive sand sphere, dozens of meters in diameter, trapped him firmly inside. The sphere's surface flowed continuously like a living monster, exuding a suffocating pressure. Inside, countless sand grains spun at high speed, producing a 'rustling' sound like millions of insects gnawing.

"Crack, crack, crack——"

The sand sphere began to contract, emitting a sickening, grinding sound of immense pressure, like a giant beast chewing on bones. Lin Wu could feel terrifying force pressing in from all sides, as if countless mountains were simultaneously crushing his body. His bones groaned under the strain, his skin stung from the friction of the sand grains as if being sanded. Breathing became difficult as oxygen was rapidly sucked from the air.

"Damn it!" Lin Wu gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks. He could feel the pressure from the sphere increasing. If he didn't break out soon, he would be crushed alive.

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, First Move—Void Breaking!"

Lin Wu clenched his right fist. Golden True Essence gathered madly upon it, forming a layer of dazzling radiance like a miniature sun. He threw a punch with all his might. The fist force shot out like a golden lightning bolt, tearing through the air with a deafening sonic boom. This punch concentrated his entire strength, carrying the determination of one burning their bridges.

"Boom!"

The golden fist force struck the inner wall of the sand sphere. The entire sphere trembled violently, its surface cracking like a spiderweb. But new sand quickly filled the cracks, and the sphere remained as solid as ever, seemingly possessing endless vitality.

"Break for me!" Lin Wu roared, an unyielding flame burning in his eyes as he threw another punch. This one was even fiercer than the last, the golden light more dazzling.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three consecutive punches, each containing terrifying power, each leaving deep fist imprints on the sand sphere. The cracks on the surface multiplied and widened, finally reaching their limit.

"Bang——"

With a tremendous explosion, the sand sphere could no longer hold and burst apart. Countless grains of sand scattered like yellow fireworks blooming in the air. Lin Wu shot out like a golden meteor, his figure swift as lightning, leaving a golden trail as he charged towards Amon.

"Well done!" Amon was not alarmed but delighted. He crossed his arms before his chest, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He loved this kind of direct, head-on clash. This was true battle!

"Sand Shield!"

A sand shield several meters thick instantly condensed before him. Composed of countless tightly-packed sand grains, its surface flowed continuously like liquid metal, capable of dispersing most of the impact force. The shield shimmered with an earthy yellow glow, exuding a heavy, solid Aura.

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Second Move—Stone Split!"

The golden light on Lin Wu's right fist grew even more brilliant. The fist force solidified into a tangible mass, resembling a golden meteorite. As he threw the punch, the air compressed, forming a visible shockwave that shrieked sharply.

"BOOM!!!"

The fist force slammed into the sand shield, producing a deep, resonant impact sound like a giant hammer striking a massive drum. The shield trembled violently, its surface cracking wildly like a spiderweb. But, once again, new sand grains quickly filled the cracks, and the shield remained unbroken, as if possessing endless vitality.

"Your strength is decent, but it's not enough to break my defense," Amon sneered, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes, his tone carrying a note of mockery. "Wait until I unleash my Desert Domain. Then you'll know what true despair is! Within my Domain, you'll be like an insect trapped in amber, helpless and at my mercy!"

"Sand Pythons!"

Amon swung his arms out to the sides. Sand-type ability energy surged from within him like a bursting dam. In that instant, the sand on the ground seemed to gain life, madly gathering, twisting, and transforming with a 'rustling' sound.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss——"

Three enormous sand pythons rose from the ground, each dozens of meters long and as thick as a barrel. Their bodies were formed from countless sand grains, surfaces constantly flowing, emitting an earthy yellow glow. Their eyes were composed of two large sand grains, gleaming with a vicious light. Within their gaping maws, rows of sharp sand fangs, each half a meter long, gleamed with a cold, deadly light.

"Go!" Amon commanded, his eyes flashing with cold ruthlessness.

The three sand pythons attacked simultaneously, lunging at Lin Wu from three different directions. Their speed was incredible, leaving three yellow trails in the air as they whipped up howling gales, like three yellow bolts of lightning.

"Damn it!" Lin Wu's figure flickered continuously as he dodged with difficulty under the combined assault of the three pythons.

"Whoosh!" One python attacked from his left, maw gaping wide, its sharp sand fangs gleaming coldly, aiming to swallow him whole.

Lin Wu dropped low, almost skimming the ground. The python roared past overhead, the gale it raised whipping his hair and tearing several gashes in his robes. He could even smell the decay decay emanating from its maw, nauseating.

"Thud!" Another python slammed in from the right, fast as lightning. Lin Wu hurriedly twisted to dodge, but was a fraction too slow. The python grazed his body as it passed. The hard sand grains scraped his arm like a grinding wheel, leaving a bloody gash. Blood instantly seeped out.

"Hiss——" The third python lunged from the front with extreme speed, creating a piercing shriek through the air.

Lin Wu's pupils contracted sharply. He could see the fierce light vicious glint in that python's eyes—the look of a predator eyeing its prey. He wanted to dodge, but his body couldn't react in time. The pincer attack from the other two pythons left him no escape.

"Boom!"

The python's head smashed heavily into Lin Wu's crossed forearms. The tremendous impact felt like being hit by a high-speed truck. Lin Wu felt excruciating pain shoot through his arms, as if his bones were about to shatter. His entire body was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, tumbling several times in the air before he managed to stabilize himself.

"Pfft——" Lin Wu spat out a mouthful of blood, which arced through the air. Intense pain radiated from his arms; the skin was scraped raw and bleeding profusely. He could feel cracks forming in the bones of his forearms, every movement sending stabbing pain through him.

"Lin Wu!" On the stands, Su Qingxue cried out in alarm, her hands unconsciously clenching, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

"A bit troublesome..." Lin Wu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression growing more solemn. He could sense the three sand pythons circling in the air, hissing, ready to launch the next round of attacks. Amon stood in the distance, arms crossed over his chest, a confident, victorious smile on his face as if already seeing the dawn of triumph.

"It seems I must reveal my true capabilities," Lin Wu took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes. He slowly straightened his posture, clenched his fists, and began circulating the True Essence within his body madly. Golden light surged through his Meridians like golden dragons.

"True Essence Burst!"

Lin Wu let out a low shout. The True Essence within him erupted instantly. Golden light surged from his body, shooting skyward like a volcanic eruption. His Aura instantly multiplied several times over. His hair whipped about in the turbulent energy, his robes billowed, and a golden radiance enveloped him, making him resemble a golden war god. This was a technique imparted to him by Gu Cangwu, allowing a temporary, massive boost in combat power at the cost of rapid True Essence consumption.

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Fifth Move—Mountain Sever!"

Lin Wu clenched his right fist. Golden True Essence condensed into a tangible mass upon it, resembling a golden mountain. He threw a punch. The fist force was as heavy as a mountain Peak, carrying world-destroying might as it blasted towards one of the sand pythons.

"BOOM!!!"

The sand python was struck by the fist force. Its massive body instantly disintegrated into a cloud of Sky sand dust, falling like yellow snowflakes.

"What?" Amon's expression changed, a flicker of shock in his eyes. "How did your power suddenly increase so much?"

"It's not over yet!" Lin Wu's figure flashed like lightning through the sand. "Heavenly Collapse Fist, Sixth Move—Heavenly Collapse!"

A golden fist force shot into the sky like a golden pillar of light, blasting the second sand python into fragments as well. Sand dust sprayed everywhere, filling the air with the heavy scent of earth.

Immediately after, Lin Wu's figure flashed again, appearing before the third python as if teleporting. He raised his right fist high. "Heavenly Collapse Fist, Seventh Move—Heaven Breaking!"

The fist force pierced through the python. In an instant, all three sand pythons disintegrated, dissolving into Sky sand dust that scattered away.

"Well done!" A flash of appreciation crossed Amon's eyes, his Battle Intent blazing even hotter. "You are worthy of my serious attention! It seems I must bring out my true strength!"

"Desert Domain!"

Amon threw his head back and let out a long roar like thunder. Sand-type ability energy surged from within him like a bursting dam. The ground of the entire stage began to tremble violently. Countless grains of sand erupted from beneath, like yellow geysers, transforming the entire stage into a desert. Sand swirled in the air, forming yellow whirlwinds that blotted out the sky.

Within this Domain, Amon's power was greatly enhanced, while his opponent would be suppressed. He could sense the presence of every grain of sand in the desert. He was the dominate Dominator of this sandy Realm.

"Within my Desert Domain, no one can defeat me!" Amon's voice echoed from all directions. His figure had already merged with the sand, making him difficult to pinpoint. "You are like an insect trapped in the desert. You will eventually exhaust your strength and become my prey!"

Lin Wu stood at the center of the desert, feeling the pressure closing in from all sides. Every grain of sand in the Desert Domain was draining his power. His True Essence was depleting rapidly, and the effects of the True Essence Burst were about to fade. If he couldn't end the battle quickly, he would fall into a passive state, becoming prey at the mercy of the hunter.

"If I can't find you, then I'll make the entire desert disappear!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Wu's eyes—the determination of one burning their bridges.

"Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent, First Move—Sword Qi Traversing!"

Lin Wu pointed two fingers together like a sword. Dozens of golden Sword Qi shot from his fingertips like golden lightning bolts, slashing out in all directions. The Sword Qi was incredibly sharp. Wherever it passed, sand was sliced in half with a 'sizzling' sound.

"Useless!" Amon's voice came from deep within the desert, tinged with smugness. "Within my Domain, the sand is endless! For every bit you cut, I will regenerate more!"

"Is that so?" The corner of Lin Wu's mouth lifted slightly into a cold smile. "Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent, Second Move—Sword Qi Transforming into Rainbow!"

The golden Sword Qi condensed, transforming into streaks of golden rainbows crisscrossing through the desert. This Sword Qi not only severed the sand but also cut the connection between Amon and the sand, stripping away his link to the Domain strand by strand.

"This..." Amon's figure was forced to materialize, his face showing a mix of shock and disbelief. "You can actually sever my connection to the Domain? How is that possible!"

"Martial arts can break all techniques!" Lin Wu stated calmly, his voice filled with absolute confidence. "Heavenly Collapse Fist, Seventh Move—Heaven Breaking!"

This was the most powerful fist technique Lin Wu could currently execute, its Incomparable power power peerless. A golden fist force shot into the sky like a golden pillar of light, blasting towards Amon. Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart with an ear-piercing shriek, as if space itself might be shattered by this punch.

"Sand's Ultimate Defense!"

Amon mustered all his strength, gathering all the sand before him to form a massive sand wall several meters thick. Composed of countless tightly-packed sand grains, it was as hard as steel, its surface flowing continuously, emitting an earthy yellow glow.

"BOOM!!!"

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

The fist force slammed into the sand wall, erupting with a deafening roar like a clap of heavenly thunder. The sand wall trembled violently, and countless cracks spread across its surface like a spiderweb. However, those cracks were quickly filled by new sand and dust, and the sand wall remained standing.

"It was blocked?" Lin Wu's brow furrowed slightly, and his heart sank. The effect of the True Essence Burst was about to vanish; he could feel the True Essence within his body rapidly receding like an ebbing tide, and his strength began to wane.

"Haha!" Amon laughed loudly, his voice tinged with madness. "Your strength is starting to fail, isn't it? Within my Desert Domain, my power is infinite, while you will eventually be exhausted! Surrender, you no longer have a chance!"

"Is that so?" Lin Wu took a deep breath, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes—the resolve of one who finds life in the face of death. "Then let me show you the true power of the Martial Dao!"

"Martial Dao True Intent — Break!"

Lin Wu closed his eyes, immersing his entire mind into the Martial Dao. He no longer relied on the True Essence Burst, instead letting the True Essence in his body circulate frantically according to the path of the Martial Dao Origin Scripture. At this moment, he seemed to merge with heaven and earth, sensing the true essence of the Martial Dao—it lay not in the strength of power, but in the comprehension of Laws.

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Unified Form — True Interpretation of Martial Arts!"

Lin Wu's eyes snapped open, and golden light erupted from them. This was a Move he had created himself after mastering the first seven forms of the Heavenly Collapse Fist, fusing his entire understanding of the Martial Dao. Although it lacked the eighth and ninth forms, the Fusion of the first seven was enough to manifest the Martial Dao True Intent.

Golden fist force surged from his fist; it was no longer mere destructive power but contained a mysterious rhythm, as if it were an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao. Wherever the fist force passed, space distorted, creating visible ripples.

"Boom!"

This punch was simple and unadorned, yet it contained the ultimate principles of the Heavenly Dao. The fist force struck the sand wall like a hot knife through butter; the sand wall's seemingly indestructible defense was like paper before this punch, easily torn apart. The fist force, carrying the Martial Dao True Intent, advanced irresistibly, piercing through the sand wall and striking Amon with undiminished momentum.

"Crack—"

It was the sound of bones breaking.

"Pfft!"

Amon spat out a mouthful of blood, which sprayed an arc through the air. His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena. The Desert Domain collapsed instantly, and the arena returned to its original state, leaving only scattered sand and a shocking trail of blood.

"I... lost..." Amon struggled to lift his head, looking at Lin Wu with a hint of admiration and deep resentment. "Is this the power of the Martial Dao? Indeed... it lives up to its reputation..."

He tried to stand up but found that the bones throughout his body seemed shattered, rendering him unable to Move. Intense pain surged like a tide, nearly causing him to faint. Yet he persisted, using his last ounce of strength to raise his head, wanting to look at Lin Wu a few more times to engrave his opponent's appearance into his mind.

"Huaxia Alliance's Lin Wu wins!"

The referee announced the result of the match.

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue. It was a magnificent battle; Lin Wu, with his cultivation at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm, had defeated Amon, the King of the Desert, who was at the Peak of the Grandmaster Realm and had comprehended a prototype of a Domain, once again proving the power of the Martial Dao.

"Lin Wu! Lin Wu! Lin Wu!"

The audience chanted Lin Wu's name, their voices rising wave after wave.

Lin Wu walked off the arena, his face somewhat pale. The previous battle had consumed a large amount of his True Essence, especially that final Move, "True Interpretation of Martial Arts," which had nearly exhausted all his strength.

Su Qingxue came forward and handed him a recovery potion. "Your performance was incredible."

"Thanks." Lin Wu took the potion and drank it in one gulp. The warm medicinal power spread through his body, helping him recover his True Essence.

"What was that last Move of yours?" Chu Tianjiao also walked over, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "I've never seen such a fist technique."

"True Interpretation of Martial Arts," Lin Wu said. "It's a Move I created myself after mastering the first seven forms of the Heavenly Collapse Fist; it's not yet perfect. Once I Breakthrough to the True Essence Condensation Realm and can perform the eighth and ninth forms, the power of this Move will reach a higher level."

"A self-created Move?" A flash of surprise appeared in Chu Tianjiao's eyes. "You really can't be underestimated."

"Likewise." Lin Wu smiled. "Your Eye of Heavenly Punishment also opened my eyes."

The two looked at each other, both seeing the Battle Intent in the other's eyes. They both looked forward to a direct confrontation, which would be a true clash between a dragon and a tiger.

"Alright, you two stop flattering each other here," Su Qingxue said helplessly. "Today's matches aren't over yet; it's my turn next."

"The next match is yours?" Lin Wu asked. "Who is the opponent?"

"Eileen the Windwalker from the Double Americas Alliance," Su Qingxue said. "Supposedly an extremely fast Wind-type Ability User, very difficult to deal with."

"Watch out for her speed," Chu Tianjiao reminded. "Wind-type Ability Users are best at guerrilla warfare; don't let her lead you by the nose."

"I know." Su Qingxue nodded, a hint of confidence flashing in her eyes. "I'll let her know that before an Absolute Ice Domain, speed is meaningless."

...

"Second round, third match: Huaxia Alliance's Su Qingxue versus Double Americas Alliance's Eileen the Windwalker!"

As soon as the referee's voice fell, the audience's gaze shifted in unison to the arena. After the earth-shaking duel between Lin Wu and Amon, everyone's enthusiasm had been ignited, and they looked forward to the next exciting match.

Su Qingxue walked slowly onto the arena, each step like treading on ice, carrying a unique rhythm. Ice-type Ability flowed around her like ice-blue ribbons fluttering in the air; wherever she passed, tiny ice crystals condensed in the air, sparkling with a crystalline light under the lamps. Wisps of cold air spread outward from her as the center, causing the audience at the edge of the arena to shiver involuntarily.

Her gaze was calm and firm, like a glacier that hadn't melted for ten thousand years—deep and cold. She exuded the powerful Aura of a high-level Grandmaster Realm, which was like an iceberg—seemingly calm, yet containing a heart-palpitating pressure.

Opposite her, Eileen the Windwalker also stepped onto the arena. She was a slender blonde woman, her emerald-blue eyes flashing with a lively and cunning light. She was surrounded by a faint pale-green wind current that seemed alive, circling and leaping around her, making her figure appear somewhat blurred, as if she could dissipate with the wind and merge into the air at any moment.

"A Huaxia Ice-type Ability User?" Eileen's voice was crisp and light, as pleasant as wind chimes, carrying a bit of curiosity and eagerness. "I heard your Ice-type Ability can freeze space; I'd love to see it. Is ice colder, or is my wind faster?"

"You'll see," Su Qingxue said coldly, her voice like cracking ice, devoid of any emotion. A glint of Battle Intent flashed in her eyes—the excitement of a strong person facing a challenge.

The two stood dozens of meters apart, the air thick with tension. The Auras of the Ice-type Ability and the Wind-type Ability collided in the air, forming visible ripples.

"Match start!"

With the referee's command, Eileen struck first!

"Whoosh—"

Her figure vanished instantly from the spot, her speed so fast it was hard to discern with the naked eye, leaving only a faint pale-green afterimage. A sharp sound of breaking air came from the atmosphere, the whistle of the wind caused by her high-speed movement.

The next moment, she appeared like a ghost on Su Qingxue's left, a crescent-shaped Wind Blade condensing in her hand as she slashed toward Su Qingxue's waist. That Wind Blade was incredibly sharp, its edges flashing with a pale-green cold light, enough to slice steel in two.

"So fast!" Su Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly, and her heart skipped a beat, but she did not panic.

"Ice Shield!"

She gave a low shout and raised her left hand slightly. In an instant, an Ice Shield over an inch thick condensed at her side. The Ice Shield was crystal clear, its surface flowing with ice-blue light and emitting a bone-chilling cold.

"Clang!"

The Wind Blade struck the Ice Shield, producing a crisp clashing sound. A shallow scratch appeared on the surface of the Ice Shield, but it did not break. The Wind Blade was deflected, dissipating into the air as countless tiny wind currents.

But Eileen's attacks did not stop; her figure was like a pale-green lightning bolt, constantly flashing across the arena. Every time she appeared, she would bring a sharp Wind Blade, launching attacks toward Su Qingxue from various directions.

"Wind Blade Dance!"

Eileen gave a light shout, her body spinning rapidly in the air. Countless Wind Blades shot out from around her, slashing toward Su Qingxue from all directions like a rainstorm. Each Wind Blade was incredibly sharp, flashing with a pale-green cold light, enough to tear steel apart. Wherever the Wind Blades passed, the air was sliced, producing ear-piercing shrieks.

Su Qingxue was enveloped in a siege of Wind Blades, with lethal attacks coming from all directions. The audience held their breath, fearing for Su Qingxue.

"Ice Domain!"

Su Qingxue suddenly threw her hands out to her sides, and Ice-type Ability flooded out from her body, sweeping in all directions like a bursting dam. With her as the center, a hundred-meter-diameter Ice Domain expanded instantly, its speed so fast it was astonishing.

"Crack— Crack—"

The cold air spread like a tide, and wherever it passed, the ground instantly froze over with a thick layer of ice crystals. The ice crystals spread at a visible speed, covering the entire arena surface in an instant. A bone-chilling cold filled the air, the temperature plummeting to a hundred degrees below zero; even the air was frozen into tiny ice crystals, sparkling with points of cold light under the lamps.

Within this Domain, Su Qingxue was the absolute Dominator. Her Aura merged with the Domain, and she seemed to have transformed into a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg, exuding a heart-palpitating pressure.

Eileen's speed was immediately affected. Those originally agile wind currents became sluggish under the extreme cold, as if they had fallen into a quagmire. Her figure was no longer as flexible as before, and every movement required more strength. The wind currents from her high-speed movement met the extremely cold air and quickly condensed into ice crystals, leaving a faint white trail behind her like a winding ice path.

"Interesting!" A flash of surprise appeared in Eileen's eyes, but she did not retreat. She gritted her teeth, her beautiful eyes burning with unyielding Battle Intent. "Wind Speed!"

The Wind-type Ability within her body circulated frantically, and the pale-green wind currents around her became even denser. Her speed increased again, leaving a trail of clear footprints on the ice-covered ground. Every step was accompanied by the sound of ice cracking, "crack-crack," as ice crystals splattered.

But this time, her speed was noticeably much slower. The suppressing force of the Ice Domain was too powerful; even for a Wind-type Ability User, it was difficult to completely break free.

"Ice Dragons Roar!"

Su Qingxue formed seals with her hands in front of her chest, and Ice-type Ability gathered frantically around her. The temperature in the air plummeted once more, and even breathing produced white mist. In an instant, a massive ice dragon condensed above her head.

The ice dragon was fifteen meters long and lifelike, its dragon scales clearly visible, each one sparkling with an ice-blue cold light. Cold flames burned in the dragon's eyes, and bone-chilling cold air spewed from its mouth. The dragon's roar echoed throughout the arena, carrying endless pressure, as if a true ancient ice dragon had been resurrected to freeze the entire world.

"Go!"

At Su Qingxue's command, the ice dragon roared and charged at Eileen. Wherever it passed, the air froze, forming a white trail of frost. The ice dragon was extremely fast, bringing a howling cold wind as if it would swallow everything.

"Wind Barrier!"

Eileen's expression was grave as she quickly formed seals with her hands. A wind wall several feet thick condensed in front of her, the pale-green wind currents spinning frantically to form a solid defense.

But the ice dragon's power was too great!

"Crack—"

The moment the wind wall came into contact with the ice dragon, it was frozen by the extreme cold, and a thick layer of frost formed on its surface. Immediately after, the ice dragon smashed through the wind wall and continued toward Eileen with undiminished momentum.

"Not good!" Eileen's face changed drastically, a hint of terror flashing in her eyes. She wanted to dodge, but the ice dragon came too fast; under the suppression of the Ice Domain, her speed was greatly reduced, and her body ultimately could not keep up with her thoughts.

"Boom!"

The ice dragon brushed past her body, its tail like a massive ice whip, slamming heavily into her arm.

"Ah!"

Eileen let out a cry of pain. The dragon's tail left a deep frostbite on her arm; the flesh at the wound was instantly frozen, appearing a terrifying blue-purple. The extremely cold Aura spread from the wound, and half of her body was frozen until it lost sensation, as if it no longer belonged to her.

"Hiss—"

Eileen gasped, her face as pale as paper, fine beads of cold sweat appearing on her forehead. She gritted her teeth, the Wind-type Ability in her body circulating frantically as she tried to dispel the cold air that had invaded her body. But that cold air was like a maggot on a bone, having already penetrated deep into her marrow, making it difficult to clear.

"Your speed is meaningless within my Domain." Su Qingxue walked closer slowly, each step causing new layers of ice to form on the ground with a "crack-crack" sound. Her voice was as cold as frost. "Ice Domain, Absolute Zero Abyss!"

She suddenly pressed her hands down, and the Domain's temperature plummeted once more, reaching an extreme cold state close to Absolute Zero. Moisture in the air instantly condensed into ice crystals, falling like snowflakes. Eileen's movements became extremely slow, as if moving in glue, with every action requiring immense effort. The pale-green wind currents on her body were also frozen, turning into countless ice crystals that fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

"I... Admit defeat..."

Eileen struggled to squeeze out a few words, her voice trembling and filled with deep resentment. Her body had been frozen stiff, and she could no longer sustain the battle. If she persisted, she would only be forever frozen within this ice prison. She looked at Su Qingxue; this Huaxia Ice-type Ability User was indeed powerfully despair-inducing.

"Huaxia Alliance's Su Qingxue wins!"

The referee announced the result of the match.

Warm applause erupted throughout the venue. Su Qingxue had defeated Eileen the Windwalker with an overwhelming advantage, demonstrating her powerful strength as a high-level Grandmaster who had comprehended a prototype of a Domain.

...

The second day of matches ended, and the Huaxia Alliance had once again achieved excellent results.

Lin Wu had defeated Amon, the King of the Desert, and Su Qingxue had defeated Eileen the Windwalker; both had advanced. Although Chu Tianjiao and Bai Wuchen had no matches today, their strength had already been recognized by everyone.

"Today's performances were all good." Gu Cangwu looked at everyone and nodded with satisfaction. "But the upcoming opponents will only get stronger, so you must be prepared."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over everyone present, finally resting on Lin Wu. "Furthermore, although the rumors of Outworlder descendants might be hype, you cannot let your guard down. This era has too many variables, and no one knows if something unexpected will happen. It never hurts to stay vigilant."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Lin Wu sat cross-legged and began to meditate to recover. Today's battle had given him a deeper understanding of the Martial Dao. The Martial Dao was not just a competition of strength, but also a comprehension of the Laws of heaven and earth. Only by merging the Martial Dao into heaven and earth can one truly unleash its power.

"The source of true essence..." Lin Wu murmured to himself. "I will definitely obtain it."