Chapter 2552: Mysterious Swordsman (2)

Chapter 2552: Mysterious Swordsman (2)



Xue Muyao's eyes widened, not in fear, but in surprise. Instead of retreating, she met the attack head-on. With a flick of her wrist, her ice sword, a blade of pure, solidified frost, rose to meet the descending sword. The two weapons collided, not with a clang, but with a sound like the shattering of a thousand glass bells.

BOOM!!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the force of it shaking the very foundations of the Frostfall Palace. The enchanted ice beneath their feet cracked, spiderweb patterns spreading outwards from the point of impact. The air shimmered, distorted by the sheer power unleashed.

The entire Endless Snow Kingdom felt the tremor, the ripple of energy that spread outwards from the epicenter of the clash. Mountains of ice shuddered, glaciers groaned, and the swirling snowstorms that blanketed the realm paused for a heartbeat, as if holding their breath.

Xue Muyao, despite the monumental force of the impact, remained calm. She hovered in the air with a cold breeze around her. Her eyes, however, betrayed a hint of strain, a flicker of exertion.

The sword cultivator, his face still obscured by his wide-brimmed hat, showed no outward sign of effort. He stood as still and silent as a statue, his sword locked against Xue Muyao's, the two blades forming a cross of shimmering light and shadow.

For a moment, they remained locked in this tense tableau, two figures of immense power, frozen in a silent struggle. Then, with a sudden, almost imperceptible movement, the sword cultivator pushed forward, his blade sliding against Xue Muyao's, seeking an opening.

Xue Muyao responded instantly, her ice sword dancing in her hand, deflecting the cultivator's blade with a series of swift, precise movements. Sparks, not of fire, but of pure, cold energy, flew from the point of contact, illuminating the hall with an ethereal, otherworldly light.

The two figures separated, circling each other like two celestial bodies caught in a gravitational dance. The air between them crackled with energy, the remnants of their clash lingering in the air like a silent promise of the battle to come.

Xue Muyao, her hair swirling around her like a halo of frost, studied her opponent intently. She had faced countless foes, vanquished powerful entities, but this sword cultivator was different. His movements were fluid yet precise, his attacks powerful yet controlled, his demeanor calm yet intense.

Bang!

A particularly swift and powerful strike from the cultivator forced Xue Muyao to stagger back, her defenses momentarily breached. The cultivator pressed his advantage, his sword moving like a silver serpent, darting towards her with deadly intent.

Xue Muyao, her eyes widening, quickly raised her hand, conjuring a shield of ice just as the cultivator's sword reached her. The blade struck the shield, the impact sending a tremor through the icy surface. Cracks appeared, spider-webbing outwards from the point of contact, threatening to shatter under the force of the blow.

BOOM!!

"Ugh!"

With a grunt of exertion, Xue Muyao pushed back, channeling more of her power into the shield. The ice held, but just barely. She could feel the cold seeping through, numbing her fingers, a stark reminder of her vulnerability.

The sword cultivator, his face still hidden beneath his hat, did not relent. He pressed his attack, his sword a relentless force against her defenses. Xue Muyao, her breath coming in ragged gasps, found herself being pushed back, step by step, towards the edge of the dais.

Then, with a sudden, unexpected twist of his wrist, the sword cultivator changed the angle of his attack. His blade slid past her ice shield, the edge of the sword grazing her arm, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake.

Xue Muyao hissed in pain, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and surprise. A thin line of blood appeared on her arm, stark against the pale skin and the white of her robes.

The sword cultivator paused, his blade hovering in the air, inches from her throat.

Xue Muyao, her heart pounding in her chest, stared up at him, her eyes locked with his, trying to discern his intentions.

"Give up," The sword cultivator said, his words echoing through the silent hall. "Pledge yourself to the Lord of Chaos. It is the only way."