Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty-Two: Clash of Fire and Ice
The two excitedly walked out of the city gates as their own intent had already told the other what they wanted, 'A fierce battle of swordsmanship and the arts.' They wanted to see how well the other had developed their skills and to clash against them to hone their own.
The best way to improve after all, was to spar against an equal if not a stronger opponent.
As they began to walk towards a desolate location, "Follow me, there's a more suitable location for this." Daoist Che spoke. His fanatical smile not leaving his face, just like Yanqing.
They soon arrived at a place different from the usual accommodation that was provided for the Xin family members. It was a forest surrounded by formations, with all five elements thriving in the air. From just looking around, a formation master could see that each and every part of this location was strategic.
Even though one could not see the stars from here, one could tell that a person well versed in the elements would be able to dominate one that could not here.
Sword marks lied around this area as well, with each beaming an intent of their own. The intent wanted to destroy the world around it, rejecting everything, including the concept of self.
Without any further speech or talking, the other two prepared to back off, leaving a distance of around 50 meters between the two. The two swords were drawn as the elements in the air began to change endlessly.
Yanqing took the first move as he used [Aurora] to create a sword beam using the wind and moisture around him. After sending the beam, Yanqing flashed towards his opponent in an attempt to pinch them as there were now two attacks at the same time.
Daoist Che, No, Xin Che, responded in kind as he swung his sword downwards, creating momentum from the earth as spikes shot to the sky before falling forward alongside him like a wave.
Yanqing's posture had focused on creating a clean and forceful cut to create an opening for himself. While Xin Che's was to obliterate the opponent in its entirety, leaving no other option than to accept defeat.
Noticing his movements, Yanqing swiftly rotated before using the force generated from his lower and upper body to shoot into the air. Using his [Ice Control], he began to create formless crystals like liquid around himself as he braced himself.
The two clashed against one another mid air, with neither stopping. Different uppercuts, slashes, and stabs were made, and yet there was a clear winner in this clash. Xin Che's slash was much stronger as he built up his own momentum and energy by using his sword.
Using their own cultivation the two were able to stay in the air, but since they were it would normally be more difficult to create stronger slashes as there was no support.
The two had already foresaw this and their elements swirled into play, the formless crystals freezing the surrounding energy, changing other types of energy into itself. The earth that came from beneath Xin Che stood sturdy and without change, it was meant to withstand all that came its way. A defiance to all those around him.
While the two were clashing using their blades, they were also using their elemental manipulation to try and gain an upper hand. But due to their equal understanding and manipulation of it, the two focused more on their clash of swords.
Due to the resulting force from the clashes the two were sent back onto the ground. Yanqing shifted his sword stance from a defensive middle to a hanging left. Seeing this, Xin Che smiled as he dashed forward, building up momentum once more.
[Annihilating Heavens]
As fire combusted from Xin Che's sword, wrapping itself around it and distorting the air with its sheer temperature. It began to boil the water from the surrounding area, releasing moisture and air into the surroundings.
Using the air and his own energy as fuel, Xin Che spun in the air before sending down a massive sword wave in the form of a phoenix.
Seeing the build up, Yanqing smiled as he began rotating his [Frozen Azure Sword Essence Art] to the maximum and used [Ice Control] to create as many swords as possible.
Each one of these swords slowly lost its own shape before turning into a crystal-like form before losing its shape and turning into ice-like liquid. It took its final change before it forcibly spread out and turned into a tree-like structure.
The tree scattered its petals as it became a swirling fortress of frosty petals and snow. Upon contact with the air, each petal scattered and became smaller and smaller, reducing the temperature in the air.
[Glacial Defiance]
As the petals made contact with the flame-like creature, each one stuck onto it like a parasite, blooming and turning into an ice flower. With each and every petal that stuck to it, the energy that resulted from the phoenix decreased, but the momentum was still there.
Having the stage set, Yanqing sent a slash towards a nearby pond before using spiritual energy to send the water towards the petals.
Using a mixture of wood and water, Yanqing used the heat generated by the fire to further condense his ice. Whenever ice was melted and refrozen it became sturdier and harder. Using the water as a way to connect the two moves, Yanqing used it to equalize the temperature between the two forces.
A loud cloud of steam and mist rose up in the air. Yanqing began utilizing his [Ice Control] to freeze everything, but Xin Che was nowhere to be found. That was until he felt a surging force from within the ground. His eyes widened before attempting to create glacial spikes from under himself to provide space to dodge the incoming attack.
Earth and Fire splurged from the ground in the form of lava changing the surroundings once more as the ice was being forcibly changed due to the change in temperature.
The very air became suffocating as it became too dense for one to breath in causing one to be unable to utilize their full body strength. Seeing his opponent's suffering, Xin Che continued with his plan.
The ground beneath exploded once more as he slammed his sword into the ground, creating a combustion and extending it everywhere. Yet when he did this, he felt a change in the elements once more as he turned around to see hundreds of ice blades flying in all directions.
From achieving Foundational Establishment, the second ability of the [Frozen Azure Sword Essence Art] was unlocked. [Counter Sword]. A protective barrier would appear around the user, and after it hit the shield it would generate a sword streak to counter attack its enemy.
Using the immense temperature, Yanqing had deployed [Counter Sword] in a last minute gamble to determine what counted as an attack. As his own element was ice, his shield was also ice. That meant any changes in temperature could qualify as an attack.
Seeing that there was no way out, Xin Che changed his tactics as there were no other options. He promptly grabbed his blade before sending out his own spiritual energy in an attempt to slow the blades before he switched into a tall guard.
His foot stomped the ground as the earth created a shield around himself. This shield was soon broken, not by Yanqing but Xin Che himself. An enormous build up of energy, separated from the cold moisture and change in the air, allowed him to create his counterattack.
[Blazing Heavens]
Using the energy generated from another [Annihilating Heavens]'s phoenix, he used [Fire Escape] to change himself into a flame as well. The two began to mix as the energy levels of Xin Che skyrocketed.
A massive outburst of energy came as flames surrounded the entire area, annihilating anything that came in its way. It was similar to a nuke in a sense as it was a massive explosion of energy.
If Yanqing had been on the ground, it would have ended, but as a Sword Cultivator, why would he not ride on his sword? [Aurora] zipped through the air as it brought its wielder into the sky.
By allowing [Aurora] to control the speed and direction of his flight, he was able to focus on creating several more ice blades, each one of these swords merged into one another. The result was a much bigger sword, bigger than Yanqing himself.
Twisting himself in midair and using [Aurora] as a launch pad, Yanqing's ice began to turn light blue pink as [Aurora] landed in his other hand. Energy surged as he began his next attack.
A dance of two swords and a human emerging in the glistening light with a brilliant finish as the smaller blade was used to create a crescent slash reminiscent of the moon.
Ice and frost fell from the sky in the form of a crescent, with each slash building on top of the previous one. Even though it was still during the day, one could see an image of the moon in the sky.
[Cascading Laceration]
Unable to gather any more energy due to the fact that he dispersed them, caused Xin Che to look disgruntled. Yet this feeling did not kill the excitement within himself.
If his opponent was the Moon, then he would be the Sun that outshined all else!
His heart was his mirror, and he was as clear as it could be!
Xin Che dispersed the energy from within himself as flames began tunneling deep within the earth before it erupted once more–!
Seeing Yanqing's beautiful movement an inspiration appeared, he began swinging his own sword, creating miniature fire slashes before they became one with the erupting earth wrapped in flames!
However, this was not enough!
With the final bits of energy, Xin Che used his energy to force around him to burst upwards. Forming a volcano-like shape with himself at the epicenter. The erupting lava and flames permeated the air as it clashed against the countless ice and snow in the air.
[Erupting Heavens]
The two clashed endlessly in the air, with one overpowering the other before another slash evened it out. This happened endlessly as an image of fire and ice began forming in the air.
An icy blue moon fought against an earthly red sun.
The two ended in their last clash as a blinding light came from both sides as the surroundings were completely destroyed.
A massive crescent destroyed the earth as it pierced it with its ice.
While a massive pillar of flames shot past the clouds and into the heavens themselves.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Reader_Noti
Reader_Noti The fight was quite difficult to do as I had to match it with Yanqing's own move set and ideals to clash against Xin Che's. I'm sorry if there's a visible lack of actual sword play. I've been researching and trying to learn how to describe a proper fight with it.
If Xin Che copying Yanqing's move was a bad, please remember that Yanqing copied his own move from Jingliu.
If there's any mistakes please let me know!
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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