That streak of cold smoke swept across the ground, turning slabs of bluestone into ice, which instantly shot toward Ding Wanyan.

"Hah!"

Ding Wanyan’s complexion was somewhat pale, as if utterly drained, yet she regarded the pillar of white mist as if it were nothing. With a sharp cry, she forcefully brought her arms together inward. The dense Yin Sha energy condensed around her instantly surged in an extreme rush, transforming in a flash into a hurricane composed entirely of Yin Sha energy. The hurricane spun rapidly, first consuming and dissolving the icy white mist, and then sweeping the Profound Ice Phoenix into its vortex. The frozen bluestones, subjected to the churning and slicing of the malevolent wind, shattered into countless fragments, which were violently hurled upward and spun along with the flow of Yin Sha energy.

However, the Profound Ice Phoenix, itself a highly potent magical manifestation, possessed extraordinary power. It emitted an astonishingly lifelike clear cry and scream, resisting the Sha energy hurricane, desperately flapping its wings, showing clear signs of breaking free.

"Thousand Blade Cyclone."

A malevolent light surged in Ding Wanyan's eyes as she traced a circle with her arms in an incredibly arcane gesture: "Shatter for me."

The moment the word "Shatter" left her lips, the very air trembled in response. The Yin Sha hurricane spun even more furiously, and the original flow of Sha energy condensed into streaks of semi-transparent, pale-green, razor-sharp blades of malevolence. Although, given Ding Wanyan's cultivation, she could not fully execute the true Thousand Blade Cyclone, the several dozen Yin Sha blades whirling and slicing violently within the hurricane were enough to instill a terrifying sense of danger.

The Thousand Blade Cyclone acted like a grinder, seemingly capable of cutting and pulverizing everything. Even the Profound Ice Phoenix, under the relentless rotational slicing of the Yin Sha blades, cried out mournfully and instantly dissolved into countless wisps of mist, dissipating into the air.

But Ding Wanyan was, after all, only at the peak of the twelfth layer of Qi Refining. No matter how well she cultivated her Yin Sha technique, her cultivation level had its limits. The Thousand Blade Cyclone only persisted long enough to tear apart the Profound Ice Phoenix before gradually weakening, vanishing without a trace a few breaths later, leaving behind a mess on the ground.

The two women appeared utterly exhausted, their true energy severely depleted. They stood facing each other at a distance, panting heavily.

The young boys and girls, previously affected by the bloody and cruel nature of the earlier bouts, widened their eyes, taking in this incredible scene. The ice-snow beautiful phoenix, and the commanding, all-consuming Thousand Blade Cyclone—was this cultivation? Was this sorcery? One by one, looks of adoration for the two women in the arena surfaced in their eyes.

Even Lei Dong, watching from below, felt his blood boil. The duel between Dongfang Fu and Senior Sister Ding was simply too magnificent. Perhaps driven by pride, they had entirely eschewed the competition of magical artifacts, instead trading blows using their innate cultivation to unleash a series of powerful and dazzling magical techniques. It seemed neither wished to suppress the other with external objects, but rather to defeat the opponent completely through sheer cultivation and strength, winning their sincere submission.

The Ancestors seated on the platform were also somewhat dumbfounded. Although, in their view, the cultivation of these two young novices was low, and their spellcasting still immature and clumsy, they had to admit that at their age and level of cultivation, they themselves felt inferior. Mastering the initial stages of the Yin Sha technique to a small success at the peak of the twelfth layer of Qi Refining was already difficult. Yet these two could conjure the Profound Ice Phoenix on one side and unleash the Thousand Blade Cyclone on the other, showing that their dedication to the purity of true energy far surpassed their peers, and their grasp of fundamental spellcasting had reached the point of perfection.

Geniuses. This must be what a true genius looked like. In a sect, finding such a talent once in a hundred years was rare enough. Now, a pair had emerged at once. The Yin Sha Twin Heroes—they truly deserved the title. Some Elders with strong ties to the sect’s identity became visibly excited. They could imagine that with careful nurturing, in time, the Twin Heroes would surely become the sect’s twin pillars, a new generation of stars destined to shake the world.

Dongfang Fu gazed deeply at Ding Wanyan, revealing an expression of admiration and appreciation. Her cherry lips parted slightly: "Wanyan, your strength surpasses my imagination. It seems you are not one of those shallow individuals who only focus on raising cultivation levels."

"Likewise, Dongfang, your reputation is certainly not undeserved."

Ding Wanyan also held her in the highest regard. She had thought that despite her own diligent training—spending three full years in the deepest part of the Minor Yin Sha Cave to temper her Yin Sha technique—she could only manage a draw against her opponent.

Perhaps others assumed that Ding Wanyan possessed outstanding natural talent, her cultivation soaring and strength booming with casual practice. Yet, only Ding Wanyan knew that no matter how good the talent, without paying a massive price and putting forth immense effort, it was all for naught. Ding Wanyan believed that for Dongfang Fu to reach this point, displaying the Profound Ice Phoenix at the peak of the twelfth layer, and achieving such mastery over the Profound Yin technique, could not be summed up merely by the phrase 'outstanding spiritual roots.'

Indeed, while outsiders might see Dongfang Fu as radiant, famous, and high above her peers like a celestial being, the immense effort and dedication she invested behind the scenes was known to no one, nor did anyone care to know.

"However, Wanyan," Dongfang Fu’s gaze grew distant and hazy, her voice becoming unusually cold, "if this is all you can achieve today..."

"You will undoubtedly lose."

A shroud of pitch-black, sinister demonic energy enveloped Dongfang Fu. As the demonic energy clashed with the surrounding air, a chain of explosive sounds erupted. Her hazy eyes seemed to transform in the blink of an eye into silver, flashing with a heart-chilling glare. Simultaneously, her form became indistinct and uncanny. In an instant, the demonic energy surged outward.

"Heavenly Demon Art!" Wan Gui’s expression changed drastically, and he stood up in disbelief. "How is this possible? How could she have cultivated two techniques simultaneously? Yang Mu, what is going on?"

"Haha, my junior sister is not only exceptionally talented but also possesses the exceedingly rare Heavenly Demon Physique." The stout, black-robed man sitting at the head seat roared with laughter: "What's so strange about cultivating the Heavenly Demon Art?"

"Heavenly Demon Physique!" Now, not only Wan Gui’s face darkened, but everyone else was also filled with shock. "No wonder your Master values this girl so highly, considering her the successor of his mantle. With such innate talent, combined with the Heavenly Demon Physique, she is truly a blessing to our Yin Sha Sect."

But after saying this, their faces all turned grim again. Those possessing the Heavenly Demon Physique cultivated the Heavenly Demon Palace's Heavenly Demon Art with double the result for half the effort, multiplying its power. Did this not mean that Ding Wanyan was destined to lose? And many of them had placed significant bets on Ding Wanyan. Only Yan Mo could not stop smiling; if Ding Wanyan lost, she stood to gain a fortune.

Wan Gui’s face was as dark as water, and he snorted repeatedly: "Is the Heavenly Demon Physique so remarkable? Do you people know why my Wanyan chose to cultivate the Yin Sha technique instead of the Netherworld technique with me?"

The others were startled again, looking at Wan Gui with confusion, including the Core Formation Elders.

Wan Gui then displayed a hint of smug satisfaction: "The reason is very simple: because my Wanyan is a born Yin Sha Physique." Both the Yin Sha Physique and the Heavenly Demon Physique are virtually undetectable before cultivation begins. Only when cultivation reaches a certain level do signs gradually emerge.

"What?" A clamor erupted as faces changed drastically, a mixture of shock, envy, and jealousy. Especially the Ghost Fiend Ancestor of the Ghost Fiend Manor, whose face turned green with anger: "Wan Gui, you ghost-playing old relic, on what grounds did you accept a disciple with the Yin Sha Physique? I am the grandmaster of cultivating the Yin Sha technique! Why didn't you mention it sooner?"

"Mention it sooner?" Wan Gui chuckled triumphantly: "Mention it so you people could come and fight me for my direct disciple?"

"Wan Gui, you are utterly despicable."

"Wan Gui, no wonder you were so confident in your own disciple and bet so heavily on her winning."

"It’s hard to say; the Heavenly Demon Physique wielding the Heavenly Demon Art is very powerful."

"And is the Yin Sha Physique not strong when wielding the Yin Sha Art?"

Meanwhile, Dongfang Fu’s figure flickered rapidly, every movement saturated with dominance and killing intent. It was as if she were forming hand seals or perhaps engaged in a dance. Dense demonic energy formed streams of airflow, circulating ceaselessly.

...U