Path of the Eternal

Chapter 12: Clash of Ice and Fire

The tournament grounds were filled with excited whispers as Xue Qing and Wu Yan stepped onto the elevated battle platform. This was the semi-final—only one of them would advance to fight Jin Wei in the championship match.

Jin Wei stood at the edge of the stage, arms crossed as he studied both fighters. Wu Yan's fire is explosive, but Xue Qing… her control over ice is terrifyingly precise. This should be interesting.

Wu Yan's reputation as a fire-based martial artist was well known. His Blazing Fist Arts had crushed most opponents so far, each battle ending in scorched earth and burnt robes. His fire was wild, untamed, like an erupting volcano.

Xue Qing, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Her movements were graceful yet ruthless, her techniques carrying an eerie coldness. Every opponent she had faced so far had ended up frozen solid, unable to move even after she had won.

Now, fire and ice were about to clash.

The referee raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Wu Yan wasted no time. With a stomp, his Qi ignited, and blazing flames erupted from his fists. The air around him distorted from the heat, and the stone beneath his feet cracked.

"Blazing Fist—Inferno Strike!"

A surge of fire shot toward Xue Qing like a tidal wave of flames, scorching everything in its path.

But she remained calm.

Without hesitation, she took a single step forward, and a thin layer of ice spread beneath her feet, covering the ground like a frozen lake.

"Frozen Lotus Step."

The moment Wu Yan's fire reached her, it dimmed. The flames struggled to stay alive as the cold aura around her sucked the heat from the air itself.

Jin Wei's eyes narrowed. She's suppressing his flames with pure cold Qi. That's not just an ice technique—it's a high-level domain suppression ability.

Wu Yan gritted his teeth and roared. He sent another barrage of flaming fists, each one hotter than the last. His flames burned blue, pushing past the cold, melting the frost beneath him.

But Xue Qing lifted her hand.

"Frozen Moon Palm."

A pulse of icy mist surged forward, colliding with the firestorm.

Sizzle—CRACK!

The fire was instantly extinguished, leaving only a thick layer of frost in its place.

The audience gasped.

"She negated his flames like it was nothing!"

"How can her ice be this powerful?"

Wu Yan's eyes widened. He stepped back, shaking the frost off his arms.

She's not just countering my flames… she's outright overpowering them.

Xue Qing remained still, her expression unreadable. Then, she took another step forward, her aura growing colder. "Is that all?"

Wu Yan growled. "Not even close!"

With a fierce Qi explosion, the ground beneath him turned red-hot. His entire body became wreathed in flames, and the stone beneath his feet began to melt into lava.

"Blazing Fist—Scorching Meteor!"

He launched himself into the air.

His entire body became a meteor of fire, plummeting toward Xue Qing at terrifying speed. The sheer heat warped the air, making it difficult to breathe.

Jin Wei's eyes flickered with interest. This is his strongest move. If that lands, she's in trouble.

But Xue Qing… didn't move.

Instead, she raised her palm, a faint blue light flashing within it.

"Glacial Mirror."

A translucent wall of solid ice materialized before her.

The moment Wu Yan's blazing fists collided with the ice, an explosion of steam erupted into the air. The shockwave rattled the entire stage.

CRACK!

The first layer of ice shattered—but revealed another layer beneath it!

Wu Yan's attack was completely negated.

Before he could react—Xue Qing countered.

She moved like a ghost, appearing in front of him in a single step.

Her finger tapped Wu Yan's chest lightly.

"Frozen Vein Seal."

A wave of icy Qi surged into Wu Yan's meridians.

His flames flickered—then vanished.

His body froze mid-motion, his Qi circulation coming to a complete halt.

Wu Yan stumbled back, shivering uncontrollably. "I… can't… move…"

The referee stepped forward. "Winner—Xue Qing!"

The arena erupted into cheers.

"That was incredible!"

"She countered everything perfectly!"

Jin Wei smirked. She really is strong.

Wu Yan groaned, rubbing his arms as he stumbled to his feet. He glanced at Xue Qing, a complicated expression on his face.

"I thought fire could melt ice," he muttered.

Xue Qing turned slightly. "It can."

Wu Yan blinked.

"But only," she continued, "if the fire is strong enough."

Wu Yan's eyes widened before he let out a breathless chuckle. He bowed slightly. "I'll remember that."

Xue Qing turned and walked toward the waiting area. As she passed Jin Wei, she paused, glancing at him.

"Looks like I'll be fighting you next," she said, her voice cool as ever. But for the first time, a glint of excitement flickered in her usually emotionless eyes.

Jin Wei chuckled, his Qi stirring unconsciously.

"Looking forward to it."

---

Meanwhile…

Deep within the tournament grounds, in a sealed chamber, a figure sat cross-legged in meditation.

The man's eyes snapped open.

A strange golden rune flashed in his pupils before vanishing.

"So… the finals have been decided?"

His voice was soft, yet carried a terrifying pressure.

A black-robed elder knelt before him. "Yes, young master. The final battle will be between Jin Wei and Xue Qing."

The man's lips curled into a smirk.

"Good."

He slowly rose to his feet. His Qi flared, revealing an aura that was far beyond Body Tempering Realm.

"I've waited long enough… It's time I tested them myself."