Chapter 237: Ice Phoenix Qionghua Ribbon

“I must have her… I must get her!” Xiao Kuangyu and Xiao Kuanglei’s chests heaved, identical thoughts reverberating in their minds. As sons of the萧宗宗主 (Sect Master of the Xiao Sect) and future figures destined to dominate the world, women had always been mere accessories in their eyes. They had never imagined, nor believed, that any woman could make them lose their composure. But now, this woman had appeared. They even felt deeply that obtaining her would truly make their lives worthwhile, a true pinnacle of existence! Compared to this, the status of the future Xiao Sect Master seemed utterly unappealing.

This was also the sentiment of almost every man present who possessed sufficient status. Those without sufficient status could only feel self-abasement after their initial astonishment, left with only fantasies echoing in their hearts, like fleeting cloud shadows across the sky.

“…She’s even more beautiful now, and she’s only seventeen. What will she be like in a few more years?” Yun Che whispered softly. Looking at the reactions of those around him, it was impossible for him not to feel a hint of vanity, because this stunning girl, who had captivated the entire audience, was his lawfully wedded wife. However, he was certain that if this fact were revealed, he would undoubtedly be pierced into a hornet's nest by countless envious and resentful gazes.

Xia Qingyue had always been aware of her beauty, but she didn’t consider it a significant gift. Often, she even wished her appearance could be more ordinary. Her master had explicitly ordered her to conceal her face for this ranking tournament, and she had no objections. Chu Yueli had also instructed her not to let her facial ice veil fall off. However, Ling Yun’s miraculous, streak-like sword strike caused this unwelcome accident to occur.

Ling Yun was, after all, Ling Yun.

Nevertheless, this did not significantly affect Xia Qingyue’s state of mind. From the moment the ice veil fell until her face was covered again, she merely let out a soft sigh. However, Ling Yun, standing before her, was different. Ling Yun, whose sword intent usually guarded his heart and whose mind was pristine, was now breathing erratically, and his eyes, typically calm and stern, shimmered with an unceasing turmoil.

For Ling Yun, this was a first in his life – the first time his composure was shattered in front of an opponent during combat.

It was just like Ling Yuefeng when he saw Chu Yuechan’s true face years ago.

Ling Yun’s strength was undeniable. If his previous sword strike hadn’t held back, merely tearing her clothes and veil, but instead targeted her throat, she might have lost her life. Though she possessed unparalleled talent, she had one fatal flaw: her limited combat experience. This was something even the highest talent struggled to compensate for. In this regard, she was leagues behind Yun Che.

However, this also served as a warning to Xia Qingyue. Facing the formidable Ling Yun, she could no longer hold anything back. She recalled her ice crystal longsword, then with a light sweep of her right arm, a ring of white light suddenly floated around her, transforming into a dancing white silk ribbon. The ribbon was about half a foot wide and two zhang long, gleaming like jade, smooth as satin, and reflective as a mirror. It shimmered in harmony with the light filtering from above, exuding a hazy glow, with ethereal, mysterious ice spirits drifting around it.

The long ribbon seemed to possess a spirit of its own, encircling Xia Qingyue’s body like a white spiritual snake, its scattered ice spirits intertwining with the ice aura around her, creating a breathtaking sight.

“What is that…”

“It’s the Heavenly Profound Artifact of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace… the Ice Phoenix Jade Silk! After Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin were eliminated, it was indeed given to Xia Qingyue.”

“But I heard the Ice Phoenix Jade Silk is extremely difficult to control. To unleash even a fraction of its power, one needs at least Earth Profound Realm profound energy and the Ice Cloud Arts at the fifth level or higher… Her opponent is Ling Yun, and Ling Yun’s mastery of the Heaven-Lovers Sword has reached its peak. Even if she uses the Ice Phoenix Jade Silk, there’s no way for her to turn the tide. At most, she’ll just struggle a bit more.”

The appearance of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace’s only Heavenly Profound Artifact naturally drew everyone’s attention. At this moment, Xia Qingyue made a peculiar gesture. She extended her fair, jade-like hand and grasped the seemingly ordinary white jade pendant around her neck, gently pulling it off.

The moment the white jade pendant left her body, Xia Qingyue’s profound energy aura suddenly surged. In just a single breath, it leaped from Spirit Profound Realm Level 8 to Spirit Profound Realm Level 9, then to Spirit Profound Realm Level 10… then directly broke through the confines of the Spirit Profound Realm, reaching Earth Profound Realm Level 1… Earth Profound Realm Level 2…

Finally, it settled at Earth Profound Realm Level 3, her profound energy intensity directly on par with Ling Yun’s!

Young profound practitioners with insufficient profound energy levels naturally couldn’t perceive this change accurately, but those powerful elders whose strength was above the Earth Profound Realm were all greatly startled, rising from their seats in extreme shock.

“Wh… what?! This is impossible… How is this possible?!”

Ling Yuefeng had experienced multiple shocks and surprises in this ranking tournament, but all of them combined did not equal the awe of this moment. Not only he, but everyone who sensed Xia Qingyue’s profound energy change – except for those from Ice Cloud Immortal Palace – including Xiao Juetian, Fen Moli, Xiao Boyun, Qin Wuyou… all displayed expressions of shock as if they had witnessed a palace in the heavens.

“Qin Prefect, what’s wrong?” The drastic change in Qin Wushang’s expression, as he suddenly stood up, prompted Yun Che and Cang Yue to quickly ask.

Qin Wushang took a deep, gasping breath, and with an extremely parched voice, stammered, “It’s actually… it’s… Earth Profound Realm… Level 3!”

“Ah!?!” Cang Yue and Xia Yuanba both gasped, mouths agape in shock. Yun Che’s expression also stiffened, a deep astonishment flickering in the depths of his eyes.

During the profound energy test before the ranking tournament, Ling Yun had displayed Earth Profound Realm Level 3 profound energy, shocking the entire audience. Although people were surprised, they didn’t find it too unbelievable. After all, Ling Yun was already at Spirit Profound Realm Level 9 at seventeen, and with his astounding talent, breaking through to Earth Profound Realm Level 3 at twenty was not too exaggerated.

But Xia Qingyue was only seventeen this year… What did Earth Profound Realm Level 3 at seventeen mean?

This was a talent that utterly crushed Ling Yun, the universally acknowledged “number one young expert in the Azure Wind Empire”! It was completely on a different level! In the entire history of the Azure Wind Empire, such a feat had never occurred!

She was, without a doubt or discount, the greatest talent of all time!

“Hmph, she did hide her profound energy after all. I never realized it was because of that necklace!” Jasmine scoffed.

Yun Che: “…”

The necklace Xia Qingyue removed from her neck was called the “Ice Mist Pearl.” It could perfectly suppress the wearer’s profound energy to any degree! Yes, suppress, not merely conceal in a way that could be easily detected. Unless one intentionally focused profound energy on this unassuming necklace, even a Monarch would find it extremely difficult to notice. Back in Flowing Cloud City, Xia Qingyue’s true profound energy had also been hidden beneath this Ice Mist Pearl.

Hiding her profound energy in this ranking tournament was, of course, Xia Qingyue’s inevitable choice. Otherwise, if she had directly revealed her true profound energy, one could imagine the uproar and commotion it would cause.

Earth Profound Realm at seventeen was unprecedented, and Earth Profound Realm Level 3 at seventeen—such innate talent left those present utterly speechless. Even powerful forces like the Xiao Sect, Burning Heaven Clan, and even Heavenly Sword Villa would not believe they had the ability to cultivate such a disciple.

Her peerless beauty stunned the entire audience, followed by such astonishing talent revealed to all… The shocked powerhouses couldn't help but wonder if this seventeen-year-old girl was not a mortal at all, but a princess sent down to the mortal realm by the Jade Emperor from the Heavenly Palace, which was why she received such unreserved favor from the heavens.

This duel was originally considered a one-sided domination by Ling Yun in the eyes of the spectators, but now, the situation had dramatically shifted. Three years ago, Ling Yun, at Spirit Profound Realm Level 9, easily defeated Mu Lingxue, who was at Spirit Profound Realm Level 10. He undoubtedly possessed strong capabilities for cross-level challenges. Therefore, from this perspective, Ling Yun should still have the advantage, but it would no longer be a crushing victory.

As for talent, he was utterly defeated in front of Xia Qingyue! They were simply not on the same level… It was impossible to find anyone in the entire Azure Wind Empire who could even be compared to her.

Ling Yun, closest to Xia Qingyue, perceived her profound energy change most vividly, his heart surging like turbulent waves, unable to calm. In his sight, Xia Qingyue slowly extended her arm. With her small movement, the trajectory of the Ice Phoenix Jade Silk also changed, becoming more ethereal and graceful, like a playful spirit frolicking around an exquisite fairy. Half of her severed sleeve silently drooped, revealing a portion of her jade-like arm. Her fair skin was almost transparent, as if meticulously carved from the most perfect, flawless white jade in the world, exquisitely beautiful.

“Young Master Ling, thank you for showing mercy with that sword strike just now. Otherwise, Qingyue would have already lost. From now on, Qingyue will give her all.”

A voice as beautiful as a celestial melody drifted from her petal-like lips, lingering in Ling Yun’s ears, leaving his gaze dazed and unresponsive for a long time.

At this moment, Ling Yuefeng’s cold reprimand suddenly echoed in his mind: “Yun’er, focus!”

Ling Yuefeng’s soul transmission was like a bucket of cold water poured over Ling Yun’s head, instantly snapping him awake. He quickly cast aside distractions, gathered his thoughts, and returned his sword intent to his heart. He did not speak, but answered with his sword stance.

The Heaven-Lovers Sword pointed forward, and at its tip, space dramatically warped. An unparalleled sword aura was unleashed, sweeping across the entire Sword Discourse Arena like an invisible wave. For a moment, he seemed to become the center of the world. Even the distant spectators clearly felt a pressing aura, a sensation like being pointed at the brow with a blade’s tip, sending chills through their bodies! It was nearly ten times more powerful than Ling Jie’s sword aura when he wielded his twin swords!

With a thrust of his sword, Heaven-Lovers hummed!

In an instant, Ling Yun vanished. All people’s eyes could catch was a line of cyan sword light and a clear spatial ripple… Yes! It was a real, tangible spatial ripple caused by tearing through space, not the slight spatial distortion caused by Ling Jie’s sword prestige. The two were simply incomparable!

With her profound energy fully unleashed, Xia Qingyue’s senses naturally heightened significantly. This sword strike was no longer untraceable in her eyes. Her upper body moved slightly, and the Ice Phoenix Jade Silk instantly danced. As white light drifted, it precisely touched the rapidly approaching Heaven-Lovers Sword. The next instant, the Ice Phoenix Jade Silk suddenly awakened like a spiritual snake, lightning-fast, it wrapped around the sword. Simultaneously, a cold energy capable of freezing space abruptly erupted…