Chapter 357 - Fierce Battle

Chapter 357: Chapter 112: Fierce BattleShattering the iceberg, Lu Hong, with the enhancement of the Holy King’s support skill, had his strength, speed, and magic resistance greatly boosted. Originally, with the help of Body Refinement, Lu Hong had already achieved a high magic resistance of thirty percent. With the Holy King’s additional protection, his magic resistance shot up directly to fifty percent. The magic damage inflicted upon Lu Hong was only half of its actual power, a defensive capability that could be called extreme.

Lin Linhui furrowed his brows, not understanding why the countermeasures made by his teacher had failed. But now was not the time to think; he activated the Flowing Water Form again, dodging Lu Hong’s slash as a deep blue light emerged from the tips of his fingers.

"Flash Freeze!" Another powerful strike. Starting from Lin Linhui, a wave of cold air swept outwards, freezing even the air in its path, as if intending to imprison the entire arena within the protective barrier.

Lu Hong stepped back several paces to avoid the brunt of the attack, unfamiliar with this skill and therefore unsure of its power. As he retreated, he was also pondering countermeasures.

"What’s there to fear? Isn’t my assist skill strong enough? He’s only at the Second Transition, while damn it, I have a Third Transition skill, you’re scared of what?!" The Holy King protested loudly from within the bronze greatsword, invisible to Lu Hong, yet full of confidence in his own skill.

"Shut up!" Lu Hong snapped irritably before stirring up Pure Steel Battle Energy to create a ripple, but the moment they touched, the strange coldness attempted to seep through Lu Hong’s battle energy, trying to invade his core.

Lu Hong immediately disconnected from his battle energy and retreated further. Lin Linhui’s skill was truly eerie.

Flash Freeze..., Anna silently repeated the name from the sidelines. As a great Water Mage, this was the first time she’d heard of this skill. Could it be a hidden skill?

Only Zun Long, looking down on the arena and the spreading coldness, knew the skill’s origin was not simple. It was discovered in a chaotic ruin, a unique skill he barely acquired after a narrow escape from death. It wasn’t strictly a water-based skill; rather, it was a fusion of water and curse abilities. Thus its coldness had a special ability to cling to anything it touched.

Eventually, Lu Hong had no more room to retreat, as Lin Linhui directed the cold air to close in around him.

"Help me conceal the power of my vital energy," Lu Hong instructed, then switched to the Angry Blood Warrior class. With the help of the Holy King, a white vortex formed behind Lu Hong, spewing out endless vital energy. To counter high-quality magic skills, Lu Hong’s best tactic now was to overwhelm with quantity.

This vital energy surged endlessly, treated like a disposable trial product, Lu Hong’s way of dealing with the persistence of the cold. Although wasteful, it was indeed the best option available.

Quantity met quality with clear results.

As the vital energy counteracted the cold, the once thick frost thinned significantly within a few minutes. Lin Linhui was greatly surprised; although his magic power wasn’t as limited as initially suggested, it did have its limit, and he was reluctant to continue the energy-draining contest. Consequently, he withdrew the skill to avoid further wastage.

Seeing the cold air disappear, Lu Hong seized the opportunity to charge forward. Lin Linhui was prepared, erecting an Ice Shield in front of him.

With a loud crash, Lu Hong was pushed several steps back, while Lin Linhui was sent flying by the brute force, crashing heavily against the protective barrier.

"Puh!" Ultimately being a Mage, Lin Linhui’s physical condition was not particularly robust; the impact made him feel as if all his internal organs were burning, pain making him break out in cold sweat the size of soybeans.

Zun Long’s expression was indifferent, a flicker of dissatisfaction as he shook his head. It was unwise to meet an attack head-on with a shield when one had the Flowing Water Form skill.

Lin Linhui also admitted to underestimating his opponent. He had faith in the defensive capabilities of the Ice Shield, but was shocked when it shattered in an instant. Had he not used the shield’s explosive properties of frost to narrowly escape, he would have been doomed.

Burnt once, one learns. Lin Linhui vowed never to confront Lu Hong head-on again.

Taking advantage of the Flowing Water Form, Lin Linhui was quick to evade whenever Lu Hong’s sword pointed his way, simultaneously retaliating with frost magic. For a while, both sides engaged in an equal struggle, the spectators struggling to keep up with their speed, soon feeling their eyes weary and their heads dizzy.

White brilliance and deep blue magic power clashed on the platform, a fireworks display of grandeur and thrill.

Gradually, Piao Miao’s originally smug expression became solemn, and the smile on Anna’s lips grew more pronounced. Clearly, anyone could see Lu Hong had the advantage in endurance, while Lin Linhui was gradually falling behind. It wasn’t just his magic power; his physical and mental strength began to flag too.

Zun Long sighed and leaned over to the observing Duke Xin Lei, "Duke, young Lin is going to lose."

"If he loses, so be it." Even a Duke with significant influence could not interfere with the competition on stage. With her interest waning, she rose and departed.

With Zun Long declaring the outcome, the match inevitably drew towards its conclusion. As Lin Linzun’s magic power ran out, he reluctantly had to concede defeat.

Lu Hong retracted his power and adjusted his breathing slightly. The chase battle had not consumed much of his stamina; it was akin to running a few hundred laps—a piece of cake for him.

Lin Linhui looked at Lu Hong and said solemnly, "I admit you are strong, but if this had been a fight to the death, you would have lost for sure."

"Oh?" Lu Hong was amused, "And why are you so sure about that?"

"Hmph!" Lin Linhui said discontentedly, "In a fight to the death, I still have a trump card skill that, though it would put me to sleep, would definitely kill you!"

Lu Hong curled his lip. If it really had been a fight to the death, just the Magic immunity granted by the Heavenly God Descending alone would have made Lin Linhui’s attacks utterly ineffective. Kill him? Not likely.

Not wishing to explain further, Lu Hong leaped down from the arena amidst loud cheers from the audience and embraced Anna. Anna, having once again been through a roller coaster of emotions, responded with a passionate kiss. The scene of a beauty and a hero won the overwhelming approval of most of the audience, though certainly not including Piao Miao, nor those of the four Dukes, and definitely not the principal of the Holy Court.

"Lu Hong! You wait! Sooner or later, I will kill you myself!" Piao Miao dropped a venomous line before turning to leave.

Lu Hong couldn’t be bothered to pay any attention.

On the other side of the arena, the principal of the Holy Court asked the woman beside him in a grave voice, "Are you confident you can defeat him?"

"Yes!" The woman, her fighting spirit blazing as she watched Lu Hong’s retreating figure, responded.

That fighting spirit crossed the arena and reached Lu Hong, who sensed it and looked back. Their eyes met across the distance, and without guessing, he knew she was the Holy Court’s top female warrior. They were bound to clash eventually, vying for the top spot.

"Good," the principal nodded and continued, "In that case, I will arrange for you to encounter him in the final duel. If you can defeat him, you’ll be the youngest champion ever of the Eagle Alliance."

The principal of the Holy Court was also worried the two would clash in the first battle of the top four. Considering the Earl of Xina had previously owed him a favor, the principal, in a spirit of not wasting opportunities and not waiting for expiration, decided to force the four Dukes to avoid any apparent rigging of the contest.

"Your student understands!" The woman responded solemnly, then stepped back, "I shall go and train in advance at the beginning of the month."

"Go then," the principal nodded and disappeared among the audience.

"What’s wrong?" Anna asked Lu Hong when she noticed something odd.

"Nothing," Lu Hong withdrew his gaze, smiled, and took Anna’s hand, exiting the arena.

Jin Fu had been waiting outside and invited them into the carriage.

"How have you been lately?" Lu Hong asked with a smile, "Jenaxi hasn’t given you a hard time, has he?"

"Thanks to your majesty’s blessings, things have been alright these days. It’s just..." Jin Fu’s voice took on a serious tone, "but there have been problems within the Holy Court."

"What problems?" A bad feeling arose within Lu Hong.

Jin Fu sighed, "According to reports from my believers, the four Dukes have not stopped their efforts to decipher the Great Light Realm, and they have intensified their endeavors. This is clearly related to Jenaxi’s secret intentions. If the old demon within the Great Light Realm is released, the Eagle Alliance will face a massacre. Please, your majesty, think of a way to help."

Jin Fu was desperately seeking help, and to be honest, he wasn’t sure what Lu Hong could do. He had come to deliver the message, as that was the priority. The plea for help was just an offhand remark, with no real expectation of a solution.

After hearing this, Lu Hong could only shake his head, "I can’t help. If the Holy Court’s high ranks and the four Dukes are determined to unlock the Great Light Realm, they are sealing their own fates. Who else in the entire Eagle Alliance could possibly stop their will?"

Jin Fu also sighed and gazed out at the beautiful scenery and the many living beings, "Let’s hope that day comes later rather than sooner."

"Or, perhaps we should leave this place first, fleeing to the borders of the Alliance. Even if the old demon is powerful, it will take substantial time to annihilate the Alliance. In such times, the empire’s interior is a good place to seek refuge," Lu Hong suggested. The words carried an implicit desire for Jin Fu to take Anna away.

Jin Fu didn’t grasp the full implication of Lu Hong’s words, or maybe he just didn’t want to leave, "The Alliance is my home. If I lose my home, what’s the point of going anywhere else? It would be nothing but a struggle for survival."