Chapter Thirty-Four: The Might of a Single Sword!

As that pale blue spiritual energy gathered, the originally silver, gleaming blade of "Moonshadow Frost" gradually took on a faint blue hue. At the same moment, a piercingly cold chill burst forth from Yang Yan at the center, spreading outward with sudden intensity.

On the stone platform, the air, once damp and warm from Xu Shaoguang's rampant fire-element spiritual power, instantly condensed into moisture. Glimmering pale blue ice crystals drifted down, transforming the scene: the youth stood sword in hand, as if amidst a flurry of blue snow, the atmosphere cold and deadly.

Xu Shaoguang tightened his grip on the Demon Hammer, a shiver of cold rising within him. The slender youth before him wore no expression, his gaze indifferent, devoid of emotion—a look that regarded all things with disdain, making Xu Shaoguang feel as if plunged into an icy abyss. He involuntarily shuddered.

Was such a gaze truly something a human could possess?

On the viewing platform, Zhang Tai frowned slightly at the sight. Honestly, the shock Yang Yan had given him in the past two days was overwhelming. From someone unable to cultivate, Yang Yan had suddenly become a peak practitioner of the second realm of the Spirit Sense stage, possessing a rare "ice attribute" spiritual body—a once-in-a-century occurrence. The succession of surprises had left Zhang Tai dizzy, causing him to overlook how Yang Yan had acquired such power. If it were merely fate or coincidence, that explanation lacked persuasion.

Now, in Zhang Tai's eyes, Yang Yan seemed utterly transformed—cold, aloof, his entire being as devoid of warmth as the sword he wielded.

The cold wind swept through, clearing Xu Shaoguang's mind. Shame and anger surged within him. How could he, a waste, be suppressed by mere presence, even feeling a hint of fear?

Roaring like a wild beast, Xu Shaoguang banished his hesitation. Red fire-element spiritual energy erupted around him, and he charged at Yang Yan, brandishing the searing "Meteor Demon Hammer" with both arms.

A sharp, grating sound rang out as the hammer tore through the air. The crowd watched in horror as, in the instant the Meteor Demon Hammer descended, its head flashed red. A concentrated stream of fire-element spiritual energy shot forth, aimed directly at the cold-faced Yang Yan!

The audience was astir. With Xu Shaoguang now at the third realm of Spirit Sense, both his attack speed and strength had greatly increased, and the depth of his spiritual energy had undergone a qualitative transformation. With such a wide-ranging offensive, even if Yang Yan could dodge the hammer with agile footwork, he would still be within the range of the external fire-element spiritual attack!

Thus, Yang Yan had only one choice: to face Xu Shaoguang's attack head-on.

Indeed, Yang Yan seemed to understand his predicament. His face remained emotionless as he placed his sword-bearing right hand at his left hip. The blade shimmered with pale blue light, radiating a chilling energy. In the next instant, Yang Yan's right arm lifted sharply; "Moonshadow Frost" swept upward, the sword ringing, and a thin blue arc shot from its tip!

With a sharp whistle, the blue arc flashed forth, moving so swiftly it was nearly invisible, colliding with the red fire spiritual energy. The blue arc seemed insignificant, as if a moth attacking a tree.

Yet at the moment Yang Yan attacked, several Spirit Communion experts on the viewing platform—including Zhang Tai, Xu Tianlong, the middle-aged woman of the Sun family, Elder Li, and Fang Kun—leaned forward in their seats, eyes fixed on the seemingly fragile blue light, astonished.

Yang Yan's attack could not be easily withstood, even by a true third-realm Spirit Sense practitioner!

That slender blue arc, though threadlike, contained a terrifyingly cold energy. Only by compressing and condensing one's spiritual energy to a certain degree could such an attack be unleashed! For these Spirit Communion experts, it was not difficult, but for a youth at the second realm of Spirit Sense, it was simply unimaginable.

In contrast, Xu Shaoguang's fire-element attack, though imposing and fierce, was scattered and unfocused, whereas Yang Yan's attack was concentrated and compressed—a clear difference in quality.

As expected, the two mismatched red and blue arcs collided in midair, forming a cross. With a thunderous boom, the sturdy red spiritual chain shattered instantly upon contact with the blue attack, offering no resistance. The blue thread, though slightly dimmed, pressed on, flying straight toward the stunned Xu Shaoguang!

"Impossible!"

Xu Shaoguang was utterly shocked. He had not expected that his full-strength attack, having reached the third realm of Spirit Sense, could not withstand that inconspicuous blue arc!

As the blue arc approached like the scythe of death, icy dread surged within him. His hair stood on end, and he hastily swung the Meteor Demon Hammer toward the blue arc.

A metallic clang echoed throughout the arena as if a blade struck stone. Xu Shaoguang felt a tremendous force impact him, his arms trembling violently, his hands almost torn apart by the shock. Unable to bear the pain, he lost his grip—the Meteor Demon Hammer was sent flying from his hands!

A collective gasp arose from the viewing platform. Losing one's weapon in a duel was truly disastrous! It seemed Zhang's family had won this match.

Indeed, after knocking away Xu Shaoguang's Meteor Demon Hammer, Yang Yan remained expressionless. He tapped the ground with his toes, sword in hand, leapt into the air, and pointed the tip directly at Xu Shaoguang!

Xu Shaoguang's face changed dramatically. Steeling himself, his right hand darted to his chest, producing three cone-shaped throwing weapons glinting with cold light. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled them at the airborne Yang Yan!

With sharp whistles, the throwing cones sped toward Yang Yan at close range. Suspended in midair, Yang Yan had no chance to dodge or draw his sword to defend. In desperation, he summoned water-element spiritual energy, forming a shield before him.

The cones struck the shield, slowed as if sinking into a swamp, but, propelled by remaining force, still slammed into Yang Yan!

Instead of the bloody scene the audience expected, a clear metallic sound rang out as the cones struck Yang Yan's body and bounced off, as though hitting metal.

That was, of course, thanks to Yang Yan's "Blue Scale Armor."

"A defensive treasure!"

Xu Shaoguang cursed inwardly—things had taken a turn for the worse.