The woman easily forced Mo Xi back, her gaze filled with playful amusement as she stared at the falling figure.
She chuckled.
"Not bad, dear one. By the way, where was I? Ah, I remember now—you probably don't know me yet, do you?"
Despite her disheveled state, Mo Xi stubbornly refused to give up.
"I don't need to, and I don't care!"
She flew backward, her body spinning rapidly like a top. Her blade was instantly enveloped in frost, and then, a slash cut through the air—
A streak of azure blade light, carrying a force capable of crushing everything in its path, tore through the air and hurtled forward.
Before the Blue-Clothed Woman could finish her sentence, her pupils suddenly trembled, and a flash of astonishment crossed her eyes—she clearly hadn't expected her opponent to launch such a sharp counterattack while in such a wretched state.
Was this really a girl under twenty?
The sword light was like lightning, tearing through the air as it sped toward her.
She had no time to dodge and could only grit her teeth, raising her sword to barely parry the fatal blow.
Clang!
The sharp collision of blades sounded like shattering icicles, instantly exploding in the air.
The vibration from the blade traveled straight to her palm. The fairy was caught off guard, her body pushed back several steps by a massive force.
The rebounding sword beam, carrying a blinding cold light, violently sliced off a corner of a nearby building, causing rubble to tumble down.
Risking two frontal confrontations just to mislead my judgment and hide her lethal long-range technique...
Before the vibration in the hilt had even subsided, the Blue-Clothed Woman's pupils shrank, and a trace of shock welled up in her heart.
While the Blue-Clothed Woman was still marveling, Mo Xi, who had crashed to the ground, had already leapt up like a leopard, her ice sword flashing again as it pointed straight at a vital spot!
Clang!
Amidst the loud crash of the blades, the Blue-Clothed Woman's movement faltered slightly. Unable to adjust in time, she felt a wave of numbness in her palm.
Then, under Mo Xi's storm-like pressure, the two figures fell from the sky like kites with broken strings.
Rumble!!!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dust billowed like dark clouds and erupted, completely swallowing their figures.
Outside the smoke screen, ghostly blue glimmers drifted like will-o'-the-wisps. The sparks from the colliding blades continued to pop, their crisp sounds echoing in the smoke for a long time, like silver bells or shattering jade.
Countless flashes of blade light shot out from the dust, leaving crisscrossing sword marks on the street's buildings and trees.
As the two fought fiercely, the Blue-Clothed Woman suddenly raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with admiration.
"Not bad, dear one. Big sister really underestimated you!"
However, Mo Xi did not respond.
She only gritted her teeth and swung her sharp sword frantically, like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.
Every strike carried a desperate ruthlessness, attempting to tear open a sliver of hope in this hopeless situation.
However, under the prolonged battle, Mo Xi's sword techniques gradually showed signs of weakening, and her movements could no longer hide her exhaustion.
In contrast, the Fairy in Blue remained as steady as ever. Her long sword moved with ease, showing not a hint of hesitation as the blade flowed.
The fluttering blue sword shadows, combined with her elegant and graceful movements, were like a magnificent sword dance, making anyone who watched feel refreshed and entranced.
Mo Xi noticed this as well.
Her originally calm composure, like still water, was being gradually consumed by a flame of anxiety.
The Blue-Clothed Woman gave a light hum, neutralizing the violent sword moves with a flick of her wrist. She didn't forget to shake her head in critique.
"Oh? Little one, are you getting impatient? It seems your state of mind is still lacking, dear one!"
This made Mo Xi's already suppressed state of mind even worse, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
Yet the fairy remained calm and composed, even tilting her head slightly as if admiring Mo Xi's dishevelment, before continuing her unfinished words.
"Well, don't lose heart, dear one! Even though I've been 'retired' for many years, it's actually quite normal that you can't beat me."
Clang!
Before she finished speaking, the Blue-Clothed Woman found the perfect angle and delivered a horizontal slash!
Mo Xi hurriedly raised her sword to block, but her arms felt as heavy as lead, and her expression instantly turned grim.
Seeing this, the Blue-Clothed Woman's lips curled up slightly. She exerted force with one hand, and the blade immediately pressed down heavily, like Mount Tai crushing down.
Mo Xi gritted her teeth, but no matter how much strength she used, she couldn't lift her sword even a fraction.
An ethereal voice, like misty celestial music, clearly pierced her eardrums.
"Remember this well, dear one!"
When she subconsciously looked toward the sound, she became as dazed as if she had been immobilized by a freezing spell.
An exquisite face appeared right before her eyes—it felt as if she could see her own wretched reflection in those sapphire-like eyes.
Accompanied by the Fairy in Blue's confident smile, she spoke.
"By the title you Ability Users use—'Sword Immortal.'"
"'Frost Sword Fairy.'"
"I was once honored as the strongest person in the Dragon Kingdom."
The Fairy in Blue raised her high-heeled shoe and delivered a powerful side kick.
The sharp pain in her waist instantly tore through her nerves. Mo Xi's face turned pale as she was thrown by a massive force, slamming heavily into a wall, causing bricks and stones to crumble.
The Fairy in Blue said,
"～(∠・ω＜ )⌒☆ Use your own body to remember big sister's strength well!"
...
Just then, a strand of blue-gradient hair slowly drifted down, then dissipated into fine ice crystals.
The Fairy in Blue's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and she immediately looked toward the figure slowly walking out.
Mo Xi was in a wretched state, her clothes tattered and her body covered in blood.
Every step she took was as unsteady as a candle flickering in the wind.
After taking just two steps, she felt a sweetness in her throat and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the gray dust.
"Cough, cough..."
Her trembling body almost collapsed, but she barely managed to support herself, her every breath filled with despair.
The Blue-Clothed Woman paused elegantly, gazing at the scene with "interest."
She was in no hurry to press her advantage, as if she were admiring a carefully choreographed tragedy.
Ding...
A crisp sound rang out, particularly piercing in the empty space.
Mo Xi lowered her eyes tiredly and saw that a clear crack had appeared on the blade of the Ice Soul Sword she had temporarily "carved."
Her eyes were dark and unreadable.
"The strongest in the Dragon Kingdom..."
She didn't complain about her bad luck, nor did she care if the other party was lying.
At this moment, she had only one thought:
She was strong, despairingly strong.
It was a towering height, unattainable and deeply felt by both her body and mind.
Mo Xi knew deep down that if she just improvised moves, there was no way she could defeat the person before her.
This sword was her masterpiece, forged in a "life-or-death" crisis by pouring in all her spiritual power and energy.
Yet, the opponent could still toy with her at will, as if playing with a child.
What made Mo Xi even more despairing was her vague estimation that even if she broke through to the next realm again, she would still be unable to shake the opponent even slightly.
The strongest Ability User in the Dragon Kingdom lightly twirled her sword. As the blade flowed, its cold light poured out like moonlight.
She seemed to see through Mo Xi's thoughts, and a faint smile played on her lips.
"Feel it well... the 'height' of the world, dear one."