Ultimate Magus in Cultivation World

They had only just started.

Fatigue would soon matter as much as talent.

Han Yi sat down, wiping blood from his lip.

Lei Feng walked over with a weak smile. "You good?"

"I'll live," Han Yi muttered.

Mu Chen was seated in meditation, breath slow and cold.

Yue Shanshan stretched her arms, still annoyed she lost.

Ling Qingxue… simply stood near the edge, calm as stone.

Tian Lei lifted his hand again.

"Second round!

Match: Lei Feng versus Yue Shanshan!"

The atmosphere tightened instantly.

Yue Shanshan cracked her neck and stepped forward.

Her swords hummed.

Lei Feng sighed, sparks crawling over his skin.

"I just finished fighting a monster," he muttered. "Now another?"

Yue Shanshan smirked.

"Try not to die."

Lightning answered her with a roar.

Lei Feng walked into the ring, rolling his shoulders.

Electricity flicked around his arms, weaker than before—he hadn't fully recovered from fighting Han Yi.

Yue Shanshan twirled her swords once.

She was tired too, but her eyes were sharp and focused.

Tian Lei raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Yue Shanshan moved first—again.

She dashed forward, blades slicing through the air.

Lei Feng didn't dodge.

Lightning burst under his feet—

BOOM!

He shot sideways, barely avoiding the first strike.

Yue Shanshan followed instantly, cutting toward his legs.

Lei Feng jumped, flipping over the slash.

He fired a small bolt of lightning downward.

Yue Shanshan blocked it with one sword, sparks bouncing off the metal.

"You're slower this time," she said.

Lei Feng landed hard and gritted his teeth.

"Maybe. But I'm not the only one tired."

He exploded forward with lightning speed.

Yue Shanshan crossed her blades to stop him.

CLANG!

The impact made her arms shake.

Lei Feng didn't stop—he swung a lightning-charged fist.

She ducked.

Her second sword slashed upward, aiming at his ribs.

Lei Feng twisted away, but the blade still grazed his side.

He hissed. Electricity crackled in response.

Yue Shanshan didn't let up.

She stepped in close and unleashed a flurry of sword strikes.

Left.

Right.

Spin.

Slash.

Lei Feng blocked the first two with his arms, taking the hits on hardened lightning.

But the third slash forced him back.

And the fourth cut into his shoulder, leaving a thin line of blood.

Lei Feng jumped away, breathing hard.

She really was fast.

Yue Shanshan pointed one sword at him.

"You won't keep up if you stay on the ground."

Lei Feng smirked.

"Who said I planned to?"

Lightning Wolf appeared behind him, howling.

Lei Feng vanished.

CRACK!

He reappeared behind her, fist ready.

Yue Shanshan reacted—a perfect spin.

Both swords slashed behind her.

CLANG—BOOM!

His punch collided with her blades.

The shockwave pushed both backward.

Lei Feng skidded, sparks flickering weakly.

Yue Shanshan shook her arms—the impact numbed her hands.

Neither could go all out anymore.

They charged again.

Sword vs fist.

Wind vs lightning.

They clashed in the center—

A final, heavy hit.

BANG!

Lightning burst outward.

Wind scattered across the ring.

Both fighters were thrown back.

They slid.

Stopped.

Stumbled.

Yue Shanshan dropped to one knee, breathing hard.

Her arms trembled too much to lift her swords again.

Lei Feng stood… barely.

One arm hung uselessly.

Lightning flickered once, then went out.

But he stayed on his feet.

Tian Lei raised his hand.

"Winner: Lei Feng!"

The arena erupted in loud cheering.

Ley Feng exhaled in relief.

Yue Shanshan smirked tiredly.

"Fine… you win," she muttered.

Lei Feng gave her a weak grin.

"You hit harder than Han Yi."

She rolled her eyes.

"And you talk too much."

They walked off the stage as the crowd buzzed with excitement.

Tian Lei looked at the scoreboard.

Next match was ready.

Mu Chen vs Ling Qingxue.

Tian Lei stepped forward.

"Next match!

Mu Chen versus Ling Qingxue!"

The crowd quieted.

Everyone knew this one would be different.

Mu Chen opened his eyes slowly.

Cold mist escaped his breath.

He stood up, expression calm as always, and walked toward the ring.

Ling Qingxue didn't move at first.

Then she stepped forward with no sound at all, like a shadow sliding across the floor.

Her white mask caught the light.

Her presence made even the air feel still.

Han Yi muttered from the side, "Mu Chen… good luck."

Lei Feng winced. "He'll need it."

Yue Shanshan crossed her arms. "Ling Qingxue's fighting style is—strange."

Mu Chen and Ling Qingxue entered the ring.

They faced each other.

Mu Chen bowed politely.

Ling Qingxue lowered her head in a small nod.

Tian Lei raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Mu Chen acted first.

Frost spread instantly from his feet, freezing the floor in a widening circle.

Ling Qingxue stepped onto the ice—

and didn't slip.

Didn't slow.

Didn't react at all.

She walked forward calmly.

Mu Chen narrowed his eyes.

He lifted one hand.

Cold light shot toward her—fast.

Ling Qingxue tilted her head slightly.

The attack passed right beside her, missing by inches.

Not dodging.

Just… not being where the strike landed.

Mu Chen's brows lowered.

He sent another wave of frost.

Ling Qingxue stepped forward once.

She was suddenly right in front of him.

Mu Chen froze for a fraction of a second.

Her hand moved.

A palm strike.

Fast. Clean. Silent.

Mu Chen brought up an ice-coated arm to block—

BANG!

The impact shoved him back three steps.

Frost cracked around his feet from the force.

She didn't chase.

She just stood there, watching him through the mask.

Mu Chen steadied his breath.

So she wasn't fast like Yue Shanshan.

She wasn't explosive like Lei Feng.

She was… precise.

He summoned the Frost Heron.

Cold wings flared behind him.

Mu Chen raised both hands.

Frozen Domain.

Ice thickened over the ground.

The air grew so cold that some disciples in the audience shivered.

Ling Qingxue finally reacted.

She crouched slightly.

Her stance lowered.

Her center of gravity changed.

She was taking him seriously.

Mu Chen sent sharp pillars of ice erupting from the ground.

Ling Qingxue stepped between them with impossible timing.

Not rushing.

Not panicking.

Just flowing through the gaps.

She got close again.

Mu Chen pushed his palm forward.

Ice Burst Palm.

A blast of cold exploded from his hand.

Ling Qingxue crossed her arms to block.

BOOM!

She slid backward—

but she didn't fall.

Mu Chen targeted her again.

A wave of frost rushed across the ground.

Ling Qingxue side-stepped…

but this time, the frost caught her ankle.

She froze for half a second.

Mu Chen saw the opening.

He rushed forward and slammed his palm toward her shoulder.

BANG!

The hit landed.

Ling Qingxue staggered for the first time.

The crowd gasped.