Chapter 536 - 536: Water and Fire Are Incompatible

The Martial Soul Power of the Ice-Horned Python was a cold Qi, similar to a Martial Soul Fire.

The staff he had condensed was merely a product of airborne moisture freezing and mixing with his frigid Martial Soul Power.

Aside from being sturdy enough, it didn't possess much power. It might not even have been as strong as a Tier Three Artifact Martial Soul.

But with the explosive power of Dong Lichen's Level Seven Martial Spirit cultivation, if this staff landed a solid hit, it was probably enough to shatter both of Chu Qingyun's legs on the spot!

A feverish look appeared on Dong Lichen's face.

It was as if he could see a massive amount of Blood Crystals and over ninety thousand Saint Extreme Points beckoning to him.

Many of the new disciples in the crowd looked on with disappointment, unable to bear the sight.

They had thought a genius had appeared who could stand up for them, the new disciples, but they never imagined he would fall to one of Dong Lichen's Soul Techniques in a single move.

A Level Six Martial Spirit trapped by a Level Seven's Tier Four Soul Technique... this move alone would likely be enough to prevent Chu Qingyun from getting away!

However, facing this seemingly hopeless situation, Chu Qingyun's expression showed not the slightest hint of panic.

'Iron Wire Ten-Star Vine!'

'Flame Martial Soul!'

Chu Qingyun roared in his mind, instantly unleashing his Martial Souls.

And this time, he unleashed two Martial Souls at once.

Behind him, the Iron Wire Ten-Star Vine Martial Soul, wreathed in flames, instantly materialized.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time Chu Qingyun had ever used this "Mutated Martial Soul" against an enemy!

'Go!'

With a mental command, ten vines wreathed in fire shot out from the Martial Soul Illusion behind him, rushing toward Dong Lichen with a WHOOSH of roaring flames.

"Hm? What kind of Martial Soul is that?"

The bizarre Martial Soul left Dong Lichen baffled.

However, he was a powerful fighter. Coordinating his Ice Long Staff with his fists and feet, he unleashed a flurry of strikes—BAM! BAM! BAM!—and knocked all ten vines aside.

The flames of the Tier Four Flame Martial Soul were indeed very powerful.

But as Dong Lichen attacked, he also mobilized his Ice-Horned Python's Martial Soul Power to resist the encroaching flames, so he didn't suffer any harm.

"Hmph, your Martial Soul is somewhat interesting, but you're too weak. That's all it amounts to."

Dong Lichen snorted in disdain. His figure flickered as he once again tried to charge at Chu Qingyun.

But Chu Qingyun just gave a cold smile. "It's only just begun, and you're already spouting such nonsense..."

As he spoke, he channeled his Flame Martial Soul, pouring even more Martial Soul Power into the ten vines.

The ten vines had originally been coated in only a thin layer of fire, but now, the flames suddenly swelled, becoming thick torrents that blazed furiously around them.

The ten vines transformed into ten giant flame pythons, twisting and soaring through the air.

An incredibly pure, scorching aura caused the surrounding temperature to rise noticeably.

At this moment, Chu Qingyun got serious.

Under his control, the ten flame pythons weaved and danced around Dong Lichen in a dazzling display. They intertwined, gradually forming an enormous net that completely trapped him inside!

From the outside, one could only catch glimpses of Dong Lichen through the small gaps in the fiery mesh.

At first, Dong Lichen didn't notice.

He assumed Chu Qingyun, knowing defeat was certain, was just panicking and flailing the Flame Vines about in a random attack.

But he soon discovered, to his astonishment...

...that the trajectory of every Flame Vine around him seemed to have been pre-calculated. Together, they gradually sealed off all his room to evade, trapping him within a tiny space!

"Damn it, how can this be!?"

"How can anyone possibly divide their focus to control ten vines at once!"

Sweat began to bead on Dong Lichen's forehead.

It was hard to say if it was due to the rising temperature from the scorching flames or the gradual realization that no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break through the Flame Vines' blockade.

If it were just the Iron Wire Ten-Star Vine Martial Soul, he might have been able to use Brute Force to break through.

However, the powerful flames—a manifestation of Flame Martial Soul Power—that rose from the vines created a massive obstacle to his every escape attempt.

Under the searing heat, his Primordial Power and Martial Soul Power both showed signs of collapsing!

As for the onlookers, they were all completely dumbfounded.

A moment ago, they thought Chu Qingyun had fallen into a disadvantage and was about to be miserably defeated.

But in what felt like an instant after he unleashed his Martial Soul, Chu Qingyun had completely turned the tables, forcing Dong Lichen into a desperate corner instead!

"What is that Martial Soul? It's incredible!"

"It's not just that the Martial Soul is powerful. His control over it is even more amazing, right? Just what you'd expect from the champion of the Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference. To think he can control ten Flame Vines at once!"

"Alchemists need to divide their focus, but only to control small amounts of Martial Soul Fire. Controlling a mighty Tier Four Martial Soul like this... even most Alchemists couldn't do that!"

"Haha, Dong Lichen is on his last legs! Chu Qingyun is incredible!"

The many new disciples in the crowd began to discuss excitedly among themselves.

At this point, Chu Qingyun felt it was about time to end it.

Dong Lichen was completely sealed within the ten Flame Vines, with no chance of escape.

From the very beginning of the fight, Dong Lichen had been far too careless, all because he thought he had Chu Qingyun under control!

'Contract!'

Chu Qingyun gave a mental command, and the ten Flame Vines—the net trapping his opponent—cinched shut like a drawstring bag, instantly converging on Dong Lichen!

"No!"

"Hold it back!"

Dong Lichen, trapped within the Flame Vines, roared in defiance.

He pushed the Martial Soul Power of his Ice Python Martial Soul to its absolute limit, using its frigid Qi to forcibly condense an ice shield around his body!

Water and fire are incompatible.

The moment the Martial Soul Fire touched the ice shield, it triggered a violent reaction.

A massive cloud of steam billowed up, shrouding half the courtyard and completely obscuring the situation within.

The ice shield Dong Lichen had created was formed on the same principle as his Ice Long Staff—forcibly condensed using the frigid Qi of his Martial Soul Power.

Such a shield was no match for the fire of a pure Flame Martial Soul. It held for only a moment before shattering with a loud CRACK, instantly vaporizing.

And under the combined force of the Martial Soul Fire and the vines, Dong Lichen's Martial Soul Power and Primordial Power didn't last long before collapsing completely.