Ethereal Song Of A Crystallised World

"Yuechan and Yueli, ascertain his combat prowess." Gong Yuxian decreed. "If he is simply bluffing, then he will lose... if not, then the rest of us will prepare a joint attack."

"Yes, Master." Chu Yuechan and Chu Yueli nodded before advancing towards Xiao Jiantian.

His figure was still as a statue until he raised his sword.

'Mighty Heavenly Sword God's Art (Water Branch, 1st Style): Tranquil Water Dance.'

Water emerged, twirling around his sword and flowing as his will demanded. Chu Yuechan struck first, though her sword strike was easily evaded as Xiao Jiantian stepped to the side. Then Xiao Jiantian countered with a sword swing of his own, which was dodged... but not completely.

The water from his sword surged forwards, forcefully grasping all four of her limbs and wetting her clothing.

'2nd Style... Chilling Ice Dance.'

Suddenly, the water froze and bound Chu Yuechan completely. Chu Yueli used Xiao Jiantian's focus on Chu Yuechan to perform the Frozen Heaven Coffin, the Frozen Cloud Art's strongest sealing technique.

Surrounded in ice, Xiao Jiantian was seemingly defeated.

"You see... this would work if I wasn't knowledgeable." Xiao Jiantain chuckled, turning the Frozen Heaven Coffin into his own profound energy. The remains of the Frozen Heaven Coffin now flowed around his sword.

Chu Yuechan then broke free from his ice with the assistance Gong Yuxian. Chu Yueli turned to her sister, who had been thoroughly soaked by Xiao Jiantian's Tranquil Water Dance. Then, she caught his eyes looking at Chu Yuechan's chest for a moment.

"You perverted, devilish, fiend."

"Hmph!" Xiao Jiantian shook his head, refuting her statement. "I'm just an honest, married and faithful man using his Profound Art..."

"How shameless!"

"It would seem that I underestimated your combat prowess." Gong Yuxian stated. "Finish him at once!"

'Mighty Heavenly Sword God Art (Water Branch, 3rd Style): Celestial Water Dance.'

Xiao Jiantian created another luminous sword, grasping it in his empty hand. While the sword on his left hand was as chilling as ice, the other was free-flowing like water. Together, they made a deadly combination.

As if they were a hive mind, all of them attacked him at once. Shockingly enough for the ice ladies, he held his own and even danced around them. It was a beautiful, elegant, sword dance as he blocked, dodged, deflected or outright parried all of their strikes. Whenever he had the opportunity, he froze the fairies one by one.

Despite it being a one on eight battle, he was controlling the entire field!

"Enough of your struggling!"

BOOM.

Gong Yuxian released more of her 4th level Throne strength, knocking him far into the sky.

'... She made me bleed this time.'

Getting wounded by one of Gong Yuxian's strikes made him take her more seriously... realistically speaking, it was Gong Yuxian who could truly defeat him. One could say that the Seven Fairies were in a lesser 'realm' of power compared to them.

'Fourth Style...'

Xiao Jiantian's azure eyes started to glow as water surged from both of his swords. He swung them in a flurry, releasing two tsunamis of water. Then, as they inevitable hit Gong Yuxian, the water scattered, expanded, and formed a sphere of sorts.

"There is no escape from this..."

All the water froze... imprisoning Yong Yuxian within a massive sphere of ice. Not sparing her a single breath to attempt an escape, thousands of sharp ice shards grew from within the prison and shot out in all directions.

'Fourth Style, Prison Of Eternal Frozen Shards!'

Gong Yuxian swiftly gathered her strength and sealed herself within her own barrier of ice. The shards eventually turned into swords, slowly piercing the barrier with each wave. However, by the time it ended, Gong Yuxian was blooded but not defeated.

Xiao Jiantian frowned. 'And this is why I prefer highly-condensed lightning...'

The entire prison of ice shattered, fading away as Xiao Jiantian's profound energy reserves drew closer to being fully depleted. Gong Yuxian used Xiao Jiantian's seemingly tired appearance to strike swiftly... and it worked. Even though his water immunity was supreme, the profound energy behind elemental attacks could still very well harm him.

BOOOOOOM.

Eventually, he was overwhelmed and suffered greatly for it. Gong Yuxian was going to be the victor, everyone was certain of it. Except for Xia Qingyue who knew Xiao Jiantian could win if he didn't restrain himself solely to the Water Branch.

"Your Profound Art is strong but it has certainly taken a toll... this battle has ended, admit it. You can't defeat me in your current state."

"I can't defeat you..." Xiao Jiantian laughed. "Who decided that? You? The only person that can put limits on this King... is this King and this King only!"

His profound energy started to gather outside of his body in waves, shaking the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace and its surrounding lands.

He raised his sword, aiming for the very sky.

Crack.

The strength of his profound energy exploded as if it were in a berserk state! Not only did its strength rise, but its amount was also released to the very limit. A near-endless amount of profound energy surged beneath Xiao Jiantian, creating a small 'galaxy' of primordial profound energy directly beneath his feet.

As the profound energy beneath his feat was channelled into the very sky, a thunderous chant boomed far and wide.

"I, HEAVENLY LORD XIAO JIANTIAN, CALL UPON THIS UNIVERSE'S COLDEST ICE; COME FORTH AND FREEZE THIS WORLD'S LAND, OCEAN AND SKY FOR ALL OF ETERNITY!"

'Mighty Heavenly Sword God's Art (Water Branch): Fifth and Final Style... Ethereal Song Of A Crystallised World!!'

A terrifying yet beautiful 'humming' sound spread across the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace and even further beyond. Even to the opposite southern borders of the Blue Wind Empire, this noise could be faintly heard. Endless and colossal swords of ice started to form from the Heavens, preparing their mighty descent towards Gong Yuxian.

"I... withdraw!" Yong Yuxian's eyes widened as she realised how terrifying his profound technique truly was. Even at the 1st level of the Sky Profound Realm... he could very well kill her right there!

"Phew..." Xiao Jiantian withdrew his swords and recovered some of his profound energy. 'I... didn't expect my profound energy to explode like that. My ordinary Fifth Style could defeat her at my suppressed state but that... that was a half-step Tyrant Profound Realm attack!'

'Combined with the Nine Profound Exquisite Body... my primordial energy, both in strength and quantity is something else...'

As Xiao Jiantian descended, the disciples of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace couldn't resist seeing him as a deity. Temporarily, his hair had turned azure blue and his tranquil expression made him look like a statue of ice. As for his Profound Art... it was as if a True God had descended and unleashed his very strongest profound skill!

Then, the effects faded as the remains of his Song scattered. The Seven Fairies were freed as they looked upon Xiao Jiantian in a new light.

"You are the decisive victor of this duel, Xiao Jiantian." Gong Yuxian respectively bowed. "Not only is your profound strength heavenly, but it would also seem that your combat prowess is heaven-defying. I would dare say that you cheated... but your profound strength remained at the 1st level of the Sky Profound Realm throughout the battle."

"As for your reward..."

"As for MY reward..."

He smiled devilishly, replicating Xiao Kuangyun's lustful gaze as an act. He even licked his lips like an imp looking upon a few heavenly elves!

"All of you beauties belong to me now.... muahahaha!"

Xiao Jiantian laughed like a peak Monarch who had found a way to the Divine Origin Realm.

"I... uh." Turning to Xia Qingyue's cold gaze, he chuckled. "I was only joking, of course. There has never been a man as faithful as myself!"

"..."

Chu Yueli bowed before Xia Qingyue but she shook her head. "There's no need to apologise, I completely understand why you acted the way you did."

Xiao Jiantian observed the situation before making his decision. "If that is Qingyue's decision, then so be it. However... that means that I've gained nothing except for an opportunity to show off."

Gong Yuxian turned to face him. "Perhaps the Grand Palace Mistress could arrange something for you. The Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace would not have to worry about the prophecised calamity anymore... not with your protection, I'm certain of it."

"Then lead me to her, Palace Mistress. I believe that with her greater experience she is a little wiser than you."

"Hmph." Gong Yuxian turned around and lead the way. "Qingyue, you come as well."

~

"Disciple Gong Yuxian, greets Senior Master."

"Disciple Xia Qingyue, greets Grand Palace Mistress."

Xiao Jiantian did not speak. Instead, he waited for the Grand Palace Mistress to greet him.

"So you are the young man who has rumbled the Profound Sky Continent." Feng Qianhui, the Grand Palace Mistress greeted him. She certainly had an aged face with long hair that was half-white already. "Xiao Jiantian, it is an honour to greet you at last."

"Likewise, Grand Palace Mistress. I'd like to skip all of the formalities and get straight to the point. I have your Frozen Cloud Art because of Xia Qingyue and I'm an outsider... but that needn't be the case for long. Hmm, do you need someone to protect you from your thousand-year calamity? Well, I can swear on my sword that I'd protect the sect in the face of this calamity... on one condition."

"For someone so young, you are quite the diplomat. So... what is this condition?"

"That I become the owner of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace!" Xiao Jiantian stated. "Now, this isn't just for some selfish reason such as looting the sect... no, not at all. It is my intention to make the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace grow stronger, alongside the Xiao Clan."

"If this condition is met, then Xia Qingyue will be able to easily become a disciple of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace and represent your sect in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament."

"Despite having your great strength and backing of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, you don't force yourself upon the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. Instead, you gave me this kind offer." Feng Qianhui nodded. "I wouldn't dare reject."

"From this day forward, you, Xiao Jiantian, have even greater authority than I regarding the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. Anything you decide regarding this sect will be final... though, I sincerely hope you do not make any unreasonable changes."

Xiao Jiantian assured her. "Your Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace is in good hands."

~

The Brahma Monarch God Realm, present.

While deep in meditation, Qianye Ying'er's eyes suddenly opened as she sensed a great disturbance. Or rather, something that shouldn't exist anymore. 'This level of sword mastery...'

A level ten Divine Master Realm profound practitioner could sense things far and wide, across entire sections of the Primal Chaos Dimension if need be. While others couldn't sense the difference between Jiantian's sword skill and any ordinary mortal's from such a distance (nor would they bother), to Qianye Ying'er, it was like a beacon of shining light. Only people of Jun Wuming's realm of sword mastery and above could sense that difference...

'...'

It was so brief that she couldn't pinpoint exactly where she sensed the sword intent. Her entire body was on fire as the mellow and sweet 'hum' reached her ears... it was only the smallest trace of the remains of his Song but she could hear it. Her cold expression turned to one of supreme joy and hope. She hadn't remembered smiling this much in recent memory... not since his death, at least.

'I'll return someday... I swear it. But, until then, you'll have to stand strong for me...'

She recalled his last words and swiftly stood up. One could say that she cancelled all her plans as her figure vanished into the skies of the Brahma Monarch God Realm.

'Master... I'll find you first.'