Qinghe's expression hardened, wings of light snapping shut in front of him.
"Second spirit skill: Phoenix Aegis!"
A swirling barrier of radiant phoenix feathers formed, glowing with holy sigils. The dark flames slammed into it, hissing and shrieking, but instead of breaking immediately, the barrier held, cracks spreading under the pressure.
For several tense heartbeats, darkness and holy light warred in the middle of the field — flames licking past feathers, holy rays piercing through shadows.
Then Qinghe gritted his teeth, roared, and pushed forward, golden light bursting outward, scattering Felicia's abyss flames just long enough for him to dash through, his palm glowing with sacred power as he aimed a strike at Felicia's chest.
But Felicia caught it with one clawed hand, the force driving her heels into the dirt. She grinned — fangs showing slightly — her eyes dancing with feral delight.
"Not bad… little prince," she purred, her voice like silk and embers. Then she leaned in, dark aura swelling."But you're still not enough to make me serious."
With a flick, she pushed him back several steps. The dark flames around her flared again, a promise of more savage assaults to come.
At the side, Luochen and the others watched with intense eyes.
"His holy light is adapting well against her annihilation," Renxue commented softly.
Luochen smirked. "And she's enjoying it. Good — both will grow faster this way."
Felicia's claws flexed, shadow flames twisting eagerly around her fingers as her black lion behind her paced with restless hunger. Her eyes sparkled with that intoxicating mix of bloodlust and excitement — a look that promised Qinghe no mercy.
"Again," she said simply.
Qinghe exhaled slowly, sweat trickling down his neck. The Holy Light Swan behind him glowed brighter, its wings spread wide. In that instant, something shifted — a deeper golden sheen entered his aura, his bloodline awakening just a bit more from the relentless clash.
"All right."His voice was steady, calm. He lowered into a stance, hands glowing.
Felicia lunged first, becoming a streak of shadow edged with purple flame. Her claws slammed down — but Qinghe spun aside, radiant feathers trailing him as he twisted behind her.
"Radiant Ward!" he called again, this time layering it more narrowly, the shield taking the shape of a glowing blade that sliced outward instead of just blocking.
The surprise counter-strike caught Felicia's shoulder, light cutting into her dark aura. She hissed in pleasure rather than pain, eyes wild.
"Oh, that's more like it!"
She retaliated instantly — her Abyssal Flame Rend flaring in a tight spiral. Black flames danced up the length of her arm and slammed into Qinghe's chest, shattering his shield and sending him skidding back across the grass, the Holy Light Swan crying out above him.
But Qinghe didn't fall. He coughed once, blood at the corner of his mouth, then wiped it with the back of his hand — his eyes fierce.
"Phoenix Aegis!"
The swirling barrier erupted again, but tighter, more focused, wrapping his body in a radiant glow. He charged forward directly into Felicia's claw strike, the flames colliding with his shield, cracks spreading but not breaking immediately. It bought him just enough time to thrust his glowing palm up beneath her guard.
A burst of golden light exploded point blank, sending Felicia flipping back through the air. She landed on all fours, claws tearing gouges in the earth, then slowly stood and rolled her shoulder with a smirk.
"Better. Much better."
She stepped toward him again, the lion roaring at her back — and Qinghe mirrored her with his Phoenix, light gathering around him like a dawn.
At the side, Zhu Zhuqing crossed her arms, her own shadow aura fluttering as she whispered, "It's really like watching two natural predators."
Renxue nodded faintly. "He's already so different from when he first arrived. At this pace… they might both break through another bottleneck soon."
Xiao Tian just whistled low, clutching a jade bottle of water. "I wouldn't want to be him right now, though."
"Then don't slack off," Luochen added lazily, without looking away from the match. "Because you'll be next when they're done."
Xiao Tian paled a bit, nodding quickly.
Finally, with a snarl that shook the ground, Felicia's black lion roared behind her — shadows and annihilation flames surging into her claw as she slashed forward.
Qinghe met her head-on, his Holy Imperial Phoenix flaring brilliantly behind him, radiant wings of crimson and gold outstretched as it let out a clarion cry. The protective aura it summoned, his Phoenix Aegis, shone brilliantly, trying to hold. For a heartbeat, the holy light resisted, blindingly bright against the seething dark.
Then Felicia's power punched through.
Her claw tore through the glowing barrier like thin glass. The protective light around Qinghe shattered with a sharp crack, and her strike slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard and rolled several times before finally skidding to a stop.
His phoenix let out a fading, regal screech, its wings folding close, flames dimming, clearly drained.
For a moment, Qinghe just lay there, breathing raggedly, eyes wide and unfocused. Then he groaned, pushing himself up on trembling arms, sweat and dirt streaking his face.
Felicia walked toward him slowly, dark flames curling lazily around her fingertips. Her grin was savage but approving.
"That was the best yet, little prince," she purred. "But you still have a long way to go before you can truly stand equal to us."
Qinghe managed a faint smile, even as he coughed and wiped more blood from his lips. "Understood… Senior."
The way he said it — not mocking, not resentful, just quietly determined — made Felicia's grin soften for the briefest instant.
She turned, her lion dissipating into shadows behind her. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow we start again. And next time… try not to break so quickly."
Qinghe nodded weakly. "Yes."
Off to the side, Luochen laughed softly, folding his arms. "Not bad at all. He's got enough spine to survive the next rounds."
Renxue tilted her head. "And more importantly — each of these fights is pushing his imperial bloodline awake. It won't be long before the real might of the Holy Phoenix shows."
*******
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