At most, he could use the lake water to condense into a water curtain to slow Shang Siguo’s offensive.
But Jiang Shu, far from avoiding it, met it head-on!
"If you want a fight, then a fight you shall have!"
Jiang Shu stomped fiercely, and countless water droplets rose from beneath his feet. In midair, they instantly condensed into myriad ice crystals. The entire world suddenly turned frigid.
Snow began to fall. A blade flashed into existence! With a great cry, the world turned stark white! Four Seasons Blade Technique—Winter Snow!
Beneath the vast expanse of ice and snow, everything seemed to slow. Jiang Shu’s saber strike, under the moonlight and amidst the snowflakes, suddenly erupted. An endless chill, contained within the blade’s light, surged toward the dragon-like spear.
"After three million battles with the Jade Dragon, shattered scales and broken armor littered the sky!"
Under the blade’s chill, the waterspout unexpectedly froze and shattered. Shards of ice crystals rained down, melting into the lake’s surface. The war blade then clashed directly with the spear. The very air seemed to detonate with a violent boom, roiling turbulently. The blade’s edge vibrated, and the spear’s tip trembled.
A tremendous shockwave spread outward from the center of West Lake. The cold wind, carrying the impact of blade and spear, scattered in all directions! The large trees on the shores of West Lake swayed violently in the frigid wind. Countless branches snapped and fell to the ground.
"Condensing water into snow! Is this Martial Arts???"
"What kind of technique is this?!"
Jiang Shu’s attack had completely surpassed the understanding of all the Hua Jing Masters. Even Zhuang Xiuqi, once ranked second on the Grandmaster List, showed a subtle change in expression.
The lake water, under the influence of Hua Jing, could become a water curtain, water waves, or even hard water beads. This was within their comprehension; after all, they could do it too. They just couldn’t do it as effortlessly as Jiang Shu and Shang Siguo, with such ease and readily available power. But now, Jiang Shu was demonstrating the ability to turn lake water into ice and snow!
All the Grandmasters’ pupils widened in shock. The Dark Force Martial Artists behind them were rendered speechless. It seemed they were not witnessing a battle between Grandmasters, but a battle between Immortals!
Feeling the surrounding ice crystals, Jiang Shu found himself immersed in the sensation. It was as if he’d had an epiphany.
Shang Siguo, however, was utterly indifferent. The snowflakes might shock others, but they couldn’t affect him in the slightest. He was fixated on his spear, falling into a similar state of deep concentration. Each thrust of his spear was exceedingly fierce. The internal energy in his body surged beyond his control. He erupted with all his strength, his fighting spirit blazing! All for that single moment of transcendence!
As long as he reached the Dan Internal Realm, what did turning water into snow matter? Nothing could compare to his spear!
Shang Siguo’s spear strikes grew more ferocious, thrust after thrust, like a relentless, surging tide! The entirety of West Lake was battered by the energy of each thrust, carving deep trenches into its bed! From the lake’s depths, countless tons of sediment were blasted upward by the spear’s force. Even the Hua Jing Masters closest to the lake’s surface were forced to retreat several steps.
The stone railings of the bridges lining West Lake shattered completely. Rows of neatly arranged trees exploded under the ravaging force of blade and spear energies. West Lake, once poetically described as beautiful whether lightly or heavily adorned, now resembled a landscape devastated by intense shelling, all within a mere quarter of an hour. It was a complete, heart-wrenching mess.
Yet, at this moment, no one spared a thought for the once-beautiful scenery. All eyes were fixed on Jiang Shu, riveted on Shang Siguo!
"Jiang Shu is going to lose," Zhuang Xiuqi couldn’t help but sigh. "No matter how strong Jiang Shu is, he is still at the Hua Jing level. He doesn’t understand what the Dan Internal Realm entails. His essence, energy, and spirit are not yet consolidated. Elder Shang, however, is using this battle to prepare for the Dan Internal Realm. His spear techniques are ferocious, and he’s already on the sixteenth form. Once all eighteen forms are unleashed, his essence, energy, and spirit will condense. With his vital energy and blood erupting, he might just break through to the Dan Internal Realm in one fell swoop."
The surrounding Grandmasters were all convinced. After all, aside from the two combatants on the lake, Zhuang Xiuqi was considered the closest to the Dan Internal Realm.
"So, are you saying Grandmaster Jiang has no chance of turning the tables?" one of the Grandmasters couldn’t help but ask.
"There is a chance, but it’s slim," Zhuang Xiuqi shook his head. "In terms of Hua Jing, he has already reached its peak. His only opportunity to turn things around is to disrupt Elder Shang’s momentum build-up. Only then might he have a chance. But is that possible? You can all see that Jiang Shu is already at a disadvantage."
His words were, naturally, true. In a few more minutes, Shang Siguo would complete his momentum build-up. Jiang Shu didn’t have much time left. In these few short minutes, who could possibly manage to enhance their strength?
Nevertheless, it was incredibly formidable for Jiang Shu to have reached this stage. And he would still be number one on the Grandmaster List. After all, Shang Siguo was set to successfully advance to the Dan Internal Realm.
This battle will be a remarkable tale, enough to circulate throughout the entire Martial Arts world. Zhuang Xiuqi thought to himself. However, he didn’t know that Jiang Shu was not just a Hua Jing Master. He was also a peak Martial Artist of the Refining Internal Realm! Compared to other Martial Artists from Xia Country, any breakthrough—be it in his Cultivation Technique or Middle Grade Martial Arts—could allow him to temporarily wield power exceeding the Refining Internal Realm!
The Xuanwu True Force within his body circulated wildly. Jiang Shu’s blade technique grew increasingly proficient. He understood his current predicament better than anyone.
Perhaps, if he stepped back a little, made way... he could let Shang Siguo succeed and earn the gratitude of a Dan Internal Realm Great Grandmaster. But did he need such a favor? Martial Arts was about illuminating the heart and verifying one’s path!