Without a moment's hesitation, Yan Jin drew his bow and lunged toward Nie Li. Nie Li's lion, Jinze, let out a deafening roar, attempting to lift some of the suffocating pressure that emanated from Yan Jin's cold flames.
The initial shock of Yan Jin's power faded, and with a grimace, Nie Li unleashed his bloodline and with a surge of fiery energy surrounding him, he ran forward to meet Yan Jin with his spear.
In one fluid motion, Yan Jin released a single arrow from his bow, but as it flew, it multiplied—first into six, and then into twelve arrows. Nie Li thrust his spear forward, releasing a fireball from its tip. The two attacks collided midair, exploding into a blinding burst of energy.
Yet neither warrior stopped; they both pressed through the explosion, closing the distance until their weapons met in a violent clash, bow against spear.
For a brief moment, they were locked in a standoff, their eyes blazing with mutual hatred. But Yan Jin's left hand was already moving, fingers forming complex seals faster than the eye could follow. Glowing runes appeared in the air, and in an instant, several ice shards materialized and hurtled toward Nie Li with deadly precision.
Nie Li, distracted for just a split second, lost his focus. It was all Yan Jin needed to break the deadlock. With ruthless efficiency, Yan Jin smashed his forehead into Nie Li's, the force of the headbutt stunning him. In the same motion, Yan Jin grappled Nie Li and flipped him over his shoulder, sending him hurtling toward the oncoming ice shards.
Reacting quickly, Nie Li enveloped himself in a protective layer of flame, his fire-attribute energy shielding him from the worst of the impact as he crashed into the icy spikes.
His lion, Jinze, roared again, its fiery mane blazing brighter as it spat a concentrated beam of fire at Yan Jin, hoping to prevent him from following up with another attack.
Yan Jin, unbothered, deflected the beam with a casual swing of his hand. The projectile exploded against the ice cage, sending shards of ice and fire scattering across the arena.
In the same moment, Jinze, the lion, launched itself toward Yan Jin, its massive wings flapping as it shot fireballs with each movement.
Yan Jin responded with uncanny agility, gliding across the ice-covered stage like a figure skater, dodging the fireballs with elegant precision. His hand moved even faster than before, releasing ice arrows in rapid succession, each one aimed at the charging lion. Upon contact, the arrows exploded, covering the beast's skin in a thick layer of expanding ice.
The next instant Nie Li's spear began to tremble, and a palpable shift in the atmosphere gripped the arena. The harmonizing resonance between him and his weapon sent ripples of power through the air, and for the first time, Yan Jin witnessed a true blood resonance in action.
The transformation was immediate—the spear's blade morphed into the gaping jaws of a lion, its teeth gleaming with deadly intent, while the shaft radiated with a golden brilliance, exuding raw, untamed energy.
Six glowing halos appeared behind Nie Li, illuminating the stage like a divine presence. The crowd, who had been watching in tense silence, erupted into cheers, their excitement surging at the appearance of such a high-level display of power. Blood resonance was a rare and revered sight, and seeing it live in battle was a spectacle most had only dreamed of.
"He's resonating!" someone in the crowd exclaimed, their voice trembling with awe.
"I can't believe it! A blood resonance fighter is in action!" another shouted, their faces flushed with excitement.
For many spectators, this was their first time witnessing the incredible synchronization between a warrior and their weapon at this level. Fighters who had reached the stage of blood resonance were a rare breed, and their battles often reshaped the landscape of combat in the tower.
The arena, typically used to skirmishes and power plays, was now seeing something exceptional—a clash between formidable titans.
"Do you see that? Six halos!" a spectator pointed out; his voice barely able to contain his excitement. "Nie Li's reached the resonance stage— as a Purified king. he's on a whole other level!"
"This is insane," another added, their eyes locked on the stage. "It's been years since we've seen something like this. This fight just became legendary!"
Even the elites in the VIP section couldn't help but lean forward, their expressions shifting from mild interest to deep concentration. For Yan Jin to face Nie Li in such a state was no longer a simple battle—it was a test of whether he could stand against the very best.
Nie Li, emboldened by the roaring approval of the crowd, raised his spear high, the lion's maw glowing with intensified energy. He pointed it directly at Yan Jin, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I will show you the difference between blood resonance and a lowly being like you," he declared, his aura swelling with newfound power.