The semifinals.
Only four remained.
Mu Xue.
Lin Kai.
And two other inner disciples battling for the second bracket.
But the crowd only cared about one thing.
"Ice Fairy versus the Dark Horse."
The referee's voice rang across the arena:
"Semifinal match — Lin Kai versus Mu Xue!"
Silence fell.
Then thunderous cheers.
Mu Xue stepped onto the stage first.
Her presence alone lowered the temperature around the arena.
Frost formed faintly on the stone beneath her feet.
Lin Kai walked up moments later.
Calm.
Composed.
Stage 7 peak.
The vortex inside him spun steadily.
But slower than before.
Watching.
Waiting.
Their eyes met.
No mockery.
No hostility.
Only understanding.
The referee dropped his hand.
"Begin!"
For a full second—
Neither moved.
Then—
Mu Xue vanished.
A streak of pale blue light flashed forward.
Lin Kai barely reacted in time.
Clang!
Her sword met his forearm, coated in condensed Qi.
The impact sent a shockwave across the platform.
Cold seeped instantly into his meridians.
Sharp.
Piercing.
She didn't pause.
Her blade flowed like winter wind—
Elegant.
Relentless.
Each strike precise.
Each movement efficient.
Lin Kai retreated under the barrage.
He could feel it clearly—
Her control was absolute.
No wasted Qi.
No leakage.
Nothing easy to absorb.
The vortex stirred impatiently.
Devour.
He ignored it.
Instead, he focused.
Observed.
Mu Xue stepped forward and slashed downward.
"Ice Severing Moon!"
A crescent of frozen Qi shot toward him.
Lin Kai crossed his arms and braced.
The impact exploded outward.
Ice spread across his sleeves, freezing fabric and skin.
He slid back several meters.
The crowd roared.
"She's overwhelming him!"
Mu Xue advanced calmly.
"You're holding back."
Her voice was steady.
Lin Kai exhaled slowly.
"So are you."
For a brief moment—
Their auras expanded simultaneously.
Stage 9.
Stage 7 peak.
The gap was obvious.
But—
Lin Kai stepped forward instead of retreating.
He extended his palm.
The vortex condensed sharply into a single rotating point.
Mu Xue's next strike came like a streak of starlight.
Their attacks collided—
Ice met abyss.
For a heartbeat—
Time seemed frozen.
Then—
Lin Kai shifted slightly.
He did not try to swallow her technique.
He targeted only the outer layer.
A thin spiral of frost energy peeled away from her blade and vanished into his palm.
Mu Xue's eyes flickered.
"You refined it."
Her temperature dropped further.
Frost spread across the arena floor.
"Ice Domain."
The air crystallized.
Lin Kai's movements slowed instantly.
Cold invaded his lungs.
His blood felt heavy.
The vortex reacted violently to the sudden suppression.
Hungry.
Threatened.
It began spinning faster—
Too fast.
The black ring around his pupils darkened.
Mu Xue saw it.
"…You're losing control."
Her next strike aimed not to kill—
But to suppress.
If she knocked him out now—
The match would end.
The sect would remain unaware.
The vortex roared inside him.
The domain pressed down harder.
His meridians trembled.
For a split second—
He nearly let go.
Nearly released everything.
Nearly devoured the entire Ice Domain.
But—
He remembered Spirit Cliff.
Remembered the insects turning to dust.
Remembered her sword at his throat.
With a deep breath—
He did something unexpected.
He stopped resisting.
Instead of fighting the Ice Domain—
He let it surround him.
Cold wrapped his body completely.
The vortex slowed.
Forced to adapt.
The abyss inside him grew denser.
More compact.
Condensing under pressure.
Mu Xue's eyes widened slightly.
"You're using my domain to temper yourself…"
Lin Kai opened his eyes.
Clear.
Focused.
Stage 7 peak—
Cracked.
Stage 8.
His aura surged.
The Ice Domain fractured from within.
Lin Kai stepped forward through the frozen air.
Their palms met mid-stage.
Ice shattered outward in a brilliant explosion.
When the frost cleared—
Both stood motionless.
Lin Kai's fist hovered inches from her shoulder.
Her blade rested at his throat.
Silence.
The referee looked frozen.
The entire arena held its breath.
Mu Xue studied his eyes carefully.
The darkness had receded.
Control remained.
After a long moment—
She withdrew her blade.
"I concede."
The arena erupted into chaos.
"What?!"
"She lost?!"
"He broke through mid-fight!"
The referee finally shouted—
"Winner — Lin Kai!"
Lin Kai lowered his fist slowly.
Their eyes met one last time.
She spoke quietly so only he could hear:
"Don't lose yourself."
He nodded once.
"I won't."
As she stepped down from the arena—
The robed elder in the shadows finally straightened.
Stage 8.
Controlled devouring.
Growth under suppression.
A faint chuckle echoed beneath his hood.
"Yes…"
"You're ready."
Tomorrow—
The finals.
And something far more dangerous than a tournament.