Chapter 101 - 76: The Key

In the previous rounds of battle, the appearance of the lotus signified Li Shuang’s impending victory. Under her current strongest ultimate move, none of the previous demon beasts had managed to survive.

This time, however, things were different. The moment the Ice Lotus bloomed, the Frost Dragon was briefly frozen into an ice sculpture, but in the very next instant, she simply broke free.

Li Shuang had not expected to win with a single strike. The moment the Frost Dragon broke free, the Black Abyss Sword was already right in front of her.

"Is this all you can do?" The Frost Dragon extended a claw and swatted the Black Abyss aside, her voice freezing cold. "Now, it’s my turn."

She soared into the sky, spewing Dragon Breath that froze everything in its path. A massive blizzard suddenly engulfed the world.

The blizzard intensified the chill on Li Shuang’s body with each passing moment. Yet, within it, the Frost Dragon was like a fish in water, her Mana greatly enhanced.

As the possessor of a Top-grade Ice Spirit Root, this was the first time Li Shuang had ever been suppressed by Ice Attribute Spiritual Power. Under the crushing might of the blizzard, even her Sword Domain was affected. Not only had its range shrunk, but she could no longer execute its various profound applications properly.

The moment Li Shuang was suppressed, the Frost Dragon’s tail lashed out mercilessly. Li Shuang managed to shift her body with great difficulty. Though she avoided a fatal blow, she was still a fraction of a second too slow. From that single strike, a fresh wound appeared on her body.

The Frost Dragon had no intention of holding back. Seeing Li Shuang injured, her attacks rained down one after another. In an instant, Li Shuang was reduced to merely dodging.

The Frost Dragon’s eyes remained tranquil. Having waited for so many years, it would be a lie to say she didn’t want to leave this place. But if, after all her choosing, she ultimately selected a weakling, it would be completely meaningless. This version of Li Shuang would never even make it to her true presence.

She had thought that since this human had absorbed the Nine-Grade Lotus Seed, she would possess some skill. Now, however, it seemed she was still lacking. A faint trace of disappointment flashed through the depths of the Frost Dragon’s eyes. It looked like she would have to continue waiting!

Despite the battle turning against her, Li Shuang’s gaze did not waver. So what if it was a dragon-shaped demon beast? She could win! She would definitely win! She just needed to find the right opportunity to achieve victory.

Li Shuang struggled to evade the onslaught, her gaze drifting toward the sky full of wind and snow. The blizzard... A Foundation Establishment Stage Frost Dragon did not yet possess any overwhelmingly powerful attack techniques. The reason she held the absolute upper hand was entirely due to this terrifying blizzard.

A faint realization dawned in Li Shuang’s mind. This blizzard seemed to be a kind of Domain application as well. Sword Cultivators had their Sword Domain, while other Cultivators had their own Domains.

After absorbing the Nine-Grade Lotus Seed, Li Shuang’s Sword Domain carried a delaying effect. However, that was the function of the Lotus Seed, not her own comprehension. But this blizzard was different. It seemed to contain some profoundly mysterious Realm within it.

Li Shuang slowly closed her eyes. A Realm? Faintly, a spark of inspiration seemed to flicker in her mind. As long as she could grasp that spark, she could defeat the Frost Dragon before her.

In the Jade Scroll Space, Su Mu revealed a look of anticipation. For Li Shuang to master a Sword Domain at her age was already a sign of peerless talent. However, her opponent was the Frost Dragon—a powerful demon beast that had already mastered a Realm.

Under equal Cultivation, only a Realm could resist another Realm. In the eyes of true experts, a Domain without an underlying Realm was like a human without a soul—utterly vulnerable. Only by comprehending her own Sword Intent could Li Shuang’s Sword Domain possess a true soul.

This was originally what he had planned to guide her toward next. Yet, under the Frost Dragon’s catalysis, it seemed Li Shuang was about to grasp Sword Intent ahead of schedule.

"Let it be. This is where it ends," the Frost Dragon’s sigh echoed through the air.

Subsequently, the sky-filling blizzard grew even denser. Li Shuang’s figure was completely buried within the wind and snow, and right at that moment, the Frost Dragon’s sharp claws viciously descended.

In that split second, Li Shuang suddenly opened her eyes. The raging blizzard seemed to stagnate for a brief moment.

The Frost Dragon let out a soft gasp of surprise.

In the next instant, Li Shuang’s previously compressed Sword Domain freely expanded. Lotus petals transformed into blades of ice, forcefully carving out a blank zone amidst the violent blizzard.

Su Mu smiled faintly. He withdrew his gaze and went back to fishing. This time, he really had to thank the Frost Dragon. The Realm that Li Shuang would have originally needed another year or two to master had actually been forced out of her early.

From now on, her Sword Domain could have its own name. Ice Lotus Sword Domain. How fitting.

Su Mu watched the fish swimming in the lake, his expression completely relaxed. There was no longer any suspense in this battle. He could peacefully continue his fishing.

The most beautiful lotus petals unleashed the sharpest of attacks. In the instant the sky-filling blizzard stagnated, Li Shuang executed the Ice Lotus for the final time.

All of her Spiritual Power was drained in a flash. The blizzard froze in midair, and the layers of ice blades froze along with it. The Frost Dragon was frozen in place, a look of horror in her eyes. In the end, all she saw was a dazzling flash of sword light.

"Congratulations to the challenger for a successful challenge! You have obtained one key to the Langya Palace." The moment the Frost Dragon completely vanished from the arena, a mechanical voice rang out.

The challenge... was successful?

A key materialized in front of Li Shuang. The moment she grabbed it, the key unexpectedly transformed into a mark and branded itself onto the palm of her hand. Then, the mark completely disappeared from her skin. If Li Shuang couldn’t still faintly sense the subtle connection between herself and the key, she would have thought this so-called key was nothing but an illusion.

With the challenge successfully completed, her tightly strung nerves finally relaxed. Li Shuang tried to take a step to leave, but she suddenly stumbled. Unable to stand steady, she collapsed directly onto the ice!

"Little Frost!" Liu Juncheng reacted immediately and rushed over.

Inside a peculiar palace, a Shui Jing was broadcasting the scene of Li Shuang’s collapse. A man with a pair of horns on his head looked toward a woman with a frigid expression.

"Boss. Your Foundation Establishment Stage beast body was defeated," the man chuckled, his expression carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

The woman shot him a cold glare. The man’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately shut his mouth.

"This is only the beginning," the woman said, her expression calm. "Among those challengers, her current strength... is probably the weakest."

"What’s there to fear? There are still a full thirteen years before the Langya Palace opens. Who knows, maybe she’ll catch up from behind?" a man with a few prominent canine teeth said with a laugh.

"Thirteen years from now... I am looking forward to it." As the woman’s frost-like voice faded, the world plunged back into silence.

Ten days later, inside a mountain cave.

Li Shuang slowly opened her eyes. The challenge at the Ice Lake had exhausted all her energy, causing her to fall straight into a deep slumber.

However, with the Supreme Forget Emotion Technique circulating, she would naturally be awakened if any danger arose. But this time, she had actually slept soundly for ten whole days, only waking up after returning to her peak condition.

Since when had the Langya Secret Realm become so safe?