Chapter 386

Chapter 386: Lou Yun’s Ice Statue

Lou Yun’s frenzied offensive, disregarding the energy consumption of the heavens and the earth, was naturally not a suicide attempt. Instead, he aimed to prevent Ye Piaoling’s cold energy from coalescing into ice within a short span of time. This strategy was designed to buy him the precious moments he needed to execute the freshly improved version of his technique, the Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder!

To unleash the refined Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder required circulating the energy of the heavens and the earth through his body in a specific sequence. Moreover, when this energy surged forth from his blade, it had to perfectly align with the flow of the heavens and the earth energy within the large area encompassing their current environment. Any deviation during this entire process was strictly forbidden.

Ye Piaoling possessed the ability to both expend and absorb cold energy simultaneously. However, during his absorption phase, the flow of the surrounding heavens and the earth energy became distorted and unpredictable. This disruption made it impossible for Lou Yun to grasp the flow pattern, consequently preventing him from executing the Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder. Therefore, Lou Yun’s relentless assault served a tactical purpose: it forcefully infused his own heavens and the earth energy, mingled with the power of his Three Fires, directly into the surrounding environment.

In simpler terms, through his earlier seemingly frantic offensive, Lou Yun successfully created a near-vacuum zone within the immediate vicinity surrounding his body. This zone was utterly devoid of cold energy, containing only the heavens and the earth energy now imbued with his Three Fires’ power. It was only within this protected bubble that he could finally bring forth the Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder.

As the Dream Emperor Sword materialized in his hand, Lou Yun’s aura rapidly soared to a peak. During the deliberate, slow lifting of the blade, thunderous sounds resonated through the air—for upon the Dream Emperor Sword, three distinct Heavenly Fires blazed. Among them, the Thunderstorm Fire was specifically entrusted by Lou Yun with the primary role.

Seeing this spectacle, the relaxed expression on Ye Piaoling’s face was finally replaced by intense seriousness. In his hand materialized his own magical weapon, though it remained completely enveloped within a layer of cold energy so dense it seemed almost solid!

The appearance of his magical weapon instantly reversed the situation. The chill energy that Lou Yun had previously scattered was now gathering again with incredible speed, rapidly condensing into an atmosphere of biting cold far more intense than anything felt before.

Simultaneously, Ye Piaoling’s magical weapon whipped into a frenzy, spinning around Lou Yun’s body like a sphere of white light. Each rotation unleashed a wave of purest cold that slammed relentlessly against Lou Yun. Ye Piaoling himself accelerated dramatically, becoming a near-blur, making his precise location impossible to pinpoint.

Under the continuous assault of these powerful waves of cold, the movement of Lou Yun’s sword became agonizingly slow, as though the Dream Emperor Sword had suddenly gained the weight of a mountain. From the fight’s onset until now, his body had remained untouched by the cold; yet now, a thin layer of white frost began to creep across his skin.

The onlookers felt as if they were witnessing waves upon waves of snow blanketing the sky and the earth, seemingly intent on transforming Lou Yun into a snowman!

Their hearts leaped into their throats. It was clear to everyone that both combatants had finally unleashed their ultimate power; this battle was nearing its climax, and a victor would be decided imminently!

Within Lou Yun’s mind, however, tempestuous thoughts raged. He realized he had grievously underestimated Ye Piaoling’s strength. With his magical weapon drawn, Ye Piaoling could unleash more than double the cold energy he had used previously. Lou Yun, meanwhile, was completely focused on channeling his power into the Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder; his body could spare no reserve of Three Fires energy to combat the encroaching frostbite.

Nevertheless, Ye Piaoling’s overwhelming cold was on the verge of freezing him solid. Even the flow of his internal heavens and the earth energy was becoming sluggish, blocked by the cold invading his very core!

An equally unexpected surprise was Ye Piaoling’s blinding speed. It seemed comparable to Lou Yun’s own swiftness, which explained how he could subject Lou Yun to such an intense, rapid freeze in so short a time.

Though Lou Yun had appeared to lift his sword with agonizing slowness externally, the internal surge of heavens and the earth energy culminating in the point of attack should have been completed in less than a second. Yet, Ye Piaoling accomplished extraordinary feats within that minuscule timespan: manifesting his magical weapon and launching a counterattack potent enough to near-instantly entomb Lou Yun in ice. Such speed was truly astonishing!

A wave of helpless laughter echoed internally. Lou Yun accepted he was defeated in this contest. Yet, his defeat tasted bitter. For they stood upon the Great Snowfield—Ye Piaoling’s exclusive training ground for fifty years, a place where he held every advantage of timing and terrain, endowed with an environment that constantly replenished his expended cold energy.

Had their duel taken place elsewhere, Lou Yun was certain the power of his three Heavenly Fires could have effortlessly defeated the man before him.

Yet, at this critical juncture, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Lou Yun’s mind like a spark of insight. Stiff and frozen as he was, a faint trace of a smile actually appeared on his nearly rigid face.

Immediately afterward, even while maintaining his sword-lifting stance, Lou Yun performed a subtle internal shift. He deliberately dissipated the flow of heavens and the earth energy that was nearly complete within his pathways, channeling it instead within his dantian, compressing it tightly.

Previously, this circulating energy had at least shielded his body, resisting the invasive cold. But now, Lou Yun halted its flow and contained all of it within his dantian. This deliberate act was akin to a homeowner meticulously locking doors to guard against thieves, only to suddenly shatter every lock, fling the doors wide open, and invite the intruders in!

Deprived of the defending flow of heavens and the earth energy, the fierce cold expelled by Ye Piaoling encountered zero resistance. It surged triumphantly and unimpeded deep into Lou Yun’s body.

This dramatic shift utterly shocked all who witnessed it. The formidable aura radiating from Lou Yun vanished instantly. His body was instantly sheathed in a thick layer of white rime, transforming him completely into a motionless statue carved from ice and snow.

The contrast was jarring and difficult to accept. Lou Yun, who mere moments ago had been a whirlwind of vibrant fury, stood frozen within seconds as an icy monument. Xia Zhilan, especially, clenched her jaw tightly, fists balled, trembling slightly, her gaze locked on the ice-sheathed Lou Yun.

The most perplexed, however, was Ye Piaoling himself, still actively engaged in the fight. He had relentlessly pressed his advantage, pouring out cold energy without reserve, spurred by his earlier premonition. He had sensed Lou Yun’s aura gathering to its peak for one final, decisive blow, and known he had to stop it.

Yet now, instead of delivering that final strike, Lou Yun seemed to either deplete his spiritual energy entirely in an instant or simply abandon resistance, allowing Ye Piaoling’s cold energy to invade him unopposed. This… resistance was far too effortless!

Despite Lou Yun being visibly frozen, a deep-seated caution prevented Ye Piaoling from letting his guard down completely. He continued his attacks, though their speed noticeably slackened.

Only when the mantle of ice covering Lou Yun reached nearly three inches thick did Ye Piaoling finally cease his assault.

To all who witnessed it, although both Ye Piaoling and Lou Yun still stood physically upright, the victor was starkly apparent. Ye Piaoling had clearly won this contest!

At this point, Xia Zhilan could no longer contain her profound anxiety and sorrow. “Brother Lou!” she screamed, her voice breaking.

She immediately lunged forward, desperate to run towards the ice statue. Fortunately, Wen Zhi Lao Ren reacted swiftly at her side, his hand clamping firmly onto her arm.

It was no time for rash action. This Ye Piaoling was a known eccentric, capricious and unpredictable. Even Lou Yun had fallen to him. If Xia Zhilan rushed over now, Ye Piaoling might merely flick his sleeve in displeasure—easily enough to transform her into a beautiful ice maiden.

Wen Zhi Lao Ren dared not let her take such a risk!

Given her strength, Xia Zhilan struggled pointlessly against the old man’s grip for a few moments before collapsing into helpless sobs.

Her heart-wrenching cries made Ye Piaoling’s brows knot together for an instant. Unexpectedly, he turned his head towards Xia Zhilan and declared, “Little girl, weep not. This was but a test of skills. I have no intention of slaying him. He is not dead, merely frozen stiff by my cold energy—for the moment.”

That Ye Piaoling bothered to offer comfort stunned the onlookers once more. Yet only Ye Piaoling knew his own feelings. Engaging Lou Yun in battle had filled him with deep admiration for his formidable opponent. Out of this respect extended towards Lou Yun, he felt moved to alleviate the distress of Lou Yun’s female companion.

Despite Ye Piaoling’s personal reassurance, Xia Zhilan remained deeply unconvinced. Lou Yun stood completely still, completely devoid of any discernible aura of life—how could that possibly resemble a living person?

“Miss Xia, be assured. Brother Lou is surely still alive!” Wen Zhi Lao Ren chimed in, echoing the assurance.

Hearing an esteemed figure like Wen Zhi Lao Ren confirm this, Xia Zhilan had no grounds to protest further. Slowly, her tears subsided, though the look she cast towards Lou Yun remained etched with profound anguish and sorrow.

Ye Piaoling, having spoken his piece, now turned his attention back to Lou Yun’s frozen figure. “Friend, you lost—” he began.

Before he could utter the final syllable of his pronouncement, a voice penetrated the thick covering of ice that encased Lou Yun: “Apologies, Senior Ye Piaoling, but I have not yet lost!”

Caught completely off guard, Ye Piaoling and the onlookers alike had no time to understand what was happening. Simultaneous with his words, the ice-sheathed Lou Yun abruptly extended an arm. It pierced the heavy layer of frost like tissue paper and landed a light, open-palmed tap against Ye Piaoling’s chest.

Ye Piaoling reeled under the impact—a force immensely powerful yet shockingly gentle. It shattered his balance, forcing him to stumble backward two full steps!

KRA-KOOM!

A simultaneous, sharp crack detonated like thunder. The thick layer of ice encapsulating Lou Yun exploded outwards instantly! Shards of ice flew everywhere, and dense mist billowed upwards.

Stunned stares. Gaping mouths. And there, amidst the settling frost-mist, stood Lou Yun. He shook his head, rotated his neck, and stretched his limbs, moving freely—as easily as if he’d only woken from a peaceful nap. A faint smile touched his lips, the very picture of vitality restored.

Lou Yun’s gaze sought Xia Zhilan first. He offered her a look brimming with reassurance and silent apology. Though encased in ice, consciousness hadn’t deserted him; he’d been acutely aware of the outside world. The image of Xia Zhilan, disregarding all danger in her rush to rescue him, seared itself into his heart. That depth of care demanded immediate proof. He stood before her now, unharmed, repaying her fear with palpable relief.

Then, Lou Yun pivoted gracefully toward Ye Piaoling, who still stood momentarily stunned by the sudden turnaround. Lou Yun offered a slight, respectful bow. "Senior Ye Piaoling," he said, his voice clear and unhurried, a smile touching his lips, "Your cold energy proved truly formidable. Thank you for your leniency."