The woman's expression turned fierce as she looked at Chen Tian. "Since a remnant soul of you still exists, I shall destroy you this time!"
"And this little fellow, the fated one, cannot be spared. Kill!"
"Xie Mei, you're as decisive as ever! That suits me fine. Let's fight!"
Chen Tian said calmly. At this moment, Chen Tian's body and consciousness were no longer his own. It was a remnant soul that was holding on, while Chen Tian's consciousness had fallen into a deep sleep, completely unaware of what was happening.
As Chen Tian's figure took a step, waves of icy blue energy rippled upwards. His aura surged, and the ice halberd in his hand glowed with white light.
He shot forward like a rocket. Xie Mei clenched his hands, and a folding fan instantly appeared. The black fan was adorned with fearsome black blades. Chen Tian's halberd was a trident, its shaft covered in countless snowflake patterns. At its tip, a snowflake imprint was embedded. The halberd's head formed by three snowflake imprints resembled a trident but was distinct.
Chen Tian's Ice Snow Cold Sky Halberd lunged directly at Xie Mei. As a mere remnant soul, he could not sustain a prolonged battle and needed to end it quickly. Xie Mei unfurled his folding fan with a swish. The surface of the black fan was covered in vast, dark patterns that coalesced into a shape resembling a phoenix.
As Chen Tian swung his ice halberd, its tip aimed for Xie Mei's body. Xie Mei opened his fan, using it to parry. The two collided, and Xie Mei flicked his wrist, flinging the ice halberd away. Chen Tian, with his left and right hands, maneuvered the translucent ice halberd like a dazzling flourish, performing various movements. Xie Mei, in turn, opened and closed his fan, constantly defending and attacking.
They transformed into two streaks of light, clashing in the sky. Chen Tian's halberd aimed for Xie Mei's waist, its fearsome sharpness radiating cold light, further intensified by the chilling aura entwined around it. Xie Mei's body twitched. He quickly opened his fan and placed it against his waist. The moment the halberd struck, the fan snapped shut, and Chen Tian's halberd shattered.
Seizing the opportunity, Xie Mei attacked, his fan blades converging into a small black knife that shot towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian remained unfazed. With a thought, the shattered ice halberd slowly reformed. The three snowflake imprints at the tip separated to the sides, and the halberd transformed into a scepter.
Chen Tian slowly pulled his right hand down. The snowflake imprint at the end shrunk, and the ice halberd's length expanded by tens of meters. He then swung the scepter, causing a white stream of light to emanate from it. Chen Tian swept his weapon horizontally, unleashing a blade of icy blue energy composed of snowflakes. Xie Mei, seeing this, recovered and opened his fan, stirring up a black gale that clashed with the energy blade. They stood their ground, gazing at each other.
Chen Tian held the scepter in one hand, resting it on his back. He stepped forward, appearing before Xie Mei in an instant. The scepter moved, its translucent ice radiating a chilling aura that seemed to freeze the heavens and earth.
Chen Tian's strike fell, but Xie Mei's figure gradually became ethereal. The scepter struck empty air, and the void exploded. Chen Tian's expression changed drastically. He gripped the scepter with both hands, front and back, then retracted it. The scepter instantly transformed back into a halberd. Chen Tian spun, thrusting the halberd behind him.
Fearsome energy waves erupted. At the other end of the halberd was a black longsword. Xie Mei said calmly, "Not bad. That move was blocked beautifully."
His figure then became ethereal again. Chen Tian looked around warily, aware of Xie Mei's ability to merge with the void and launch surprise attacks.
If not for Chen Tian's innate spiritual sense, he might not have detected Xie Mei. Although he was using Chen Tian's body, the divine spirit controlling it could naturally understand the body's condition.
Chen Tian slowly closed his eyes, his perception sharpening. An invisible wave of energy shot from his head. In his mind, a black dot was moving. Chen Tian then opened his eyes, gripping the halberd tightly. His right hand went to the snowflake imprint below, finding a ring at its center. He inserted his index finger and pulled down, causing the halberd to change.
The snowflake halberd tip gradually sprouted blades, and the three snowflake imprints converged. The halberd's length shortened, and a snowflake longsword appeared in Chen Tian's hand.
Chen Tian raised the snowflake longsword and unleashed a barrage of sword energy towards the void on the right. Xie Mei, seeing this, opened his fan wide, summoning black flames that shot out as fireballs.
Countless sword energies and scorching fireballs clashed. Neither of them stopped attacking.
With a bang, a large void appeared as their attacks were absorbed. They ended in a draw.
Chen Tian looked at Xie Mei, gripping the longsword and then pulling it back. The halberd reverted to its original form.
The remnant soul occupying Chen Tian's body had three weapon forms, which was why it could transform into a scepter and a longsword. These were the other two forms, though he still preferred the halberd.
"You are merely a remnant soul. It's a pity. If it were you in your prime, you wouldn't need these other weapon forms to kill me. You are too weak now."
Xie Mei sneered. If Chen Tian had been at full strength, he might not have been an opponent. But now, he was just a remnant soul.
"Sufficient to kill you!"
"Ice Sky Cold Frost!"
"Black Phoenix Soaring Heaven!"
The eyes of both flared with extreme cold as they unleashed their skills simultaneously.
Behind Chen Tian, a fearsome cold aura surged. Countless wisps of cold air emanated from the halberd in his hand, and the snowflake imprints detached from the weapon, surrounding him.
As the snowflake imprints swirled, the cold aura became even more intense and tangible. Cold, usually invisible, now formed terrifying currents that rushed towards Xie Mei.
Xie Mei fanned his hand, and black flames engulfed the fan. A phantom slowly emerged from the fan, and a black fire phoenix appeared above Xie Mei's head.
The fearsome cold currents and the fire phoenix clashed. The fire phoenix weakened in the icy flow, and drops of water began to fall from the currents.
Their attacks collided, creating black mist. They looked at each other. Chen Tian said calmly, "So your strength hasn't recovered either!"
"Hmph! Yours either. If I hadn't been suppressed for so long, I would have killed you by now."
"Evil Spirit race, none shall be spared!"
"Cold Shadow Armor!"
Chen Tian stomped his foot, and his entire body was enveloped in cold energy. The previously intangible cold had solidified into armor, as if it were real. This was a divine skill he had created himself, the Cold Shadow Armor.
Clad in a translucent, crystalline blue armor, his aura surged. Xie Mei knew Chen Tian was now going all out. He emitted a faint evil aura that gathered within his body. A black dot appeared on his chest.
Chen Tian slowly pulled his halberd, transforming it into a scepter. Four snowflake imprints converged at the center of the scepter, forming a massive ball of light that grew upon the scepter.
Chen Tian pointed the scepter at Xie Mei. The ball of light seemed to absorb endless power, growing larger. The Cold Shadow Armor flowed into it as streams of energy.
The ball of light shot out. Xie Mei brought his hands together at his chest, then pulled them apart, unleashing a massive, pillar-like black beam of light.
The collision of the pure white ball of light and the black beam was evenly matched, with neither side yielding. However, a stronger energy reaction suddenly emanated from Xie Mei's chest, and the ball of light was pierced by the black beam.
Seeing this, Chen Tian swung his scepter, transforming it back into a halberd, which he spun at high speed.
The fearsome halberd spun into a white shield. The black beam struck the shield, pushing Chen Tian back as the white shield shattered.
Chen Tian flickered, appearing elsewhere. He clutched his right arm, where a large hole had appeared. A faint purplish-blue light emanated from him, instantly freezing the evil energy in the wound. It then melted away with the ice.
Chen Tian looked at Xie Mei with a dejected expression. "It seems your strength has recovered a bit. I am no match for you."
"So what? Have you accepted your fate? A mere remnant soul dares to challenge me. You are courting death!"
Xie Mei said haughtily. She had been suppressed and her strength had not fully recovered. Otherwise, she could have killed him with a single blow and wouldn't have needed to fight for so long.
"Alas! But I can't do anything about it. This body has a way. I am willing to sacrifice myself to awaken your existence!"
With that, Chen Tian's body was enveloped in pure white light, which then entered the left side of his heart.
Simultaneously, Chen Tian's eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of gray-white eyes. His hair became curly and gray-white. He wore a gray-white imperial robe. Chen Tian's eyes calmly looked at Xie Mei and he said, "Xie Mei? It has been a long time. You actually broke the seal. Well done, you came out earlier than expected?"
"Lord of Destiny!"
Xie Mei looked at Chen Tian. It could not be called Lord of Destiny. They harbored a deep, unresolvable hatred. She had been suppressed here for a full five thousand years. Their hatred could no longer be erased. Five thousand years spent imprisoned underground, unable to do anything. She had sworn to reclaim that vengeance herself.
"Alas! Awakened once again. This means only one last chance to awaken remains. I hope you can grow quickly!"
Chen Tian looked at his own body with a troubled expression. He was speaking to Chen Tian himself. He had only one last chance to awaken. Everything depended on Chen Tian growing stronger. The contract time was also nearing its end. He only hoped the main body could become powerful quickly so that he could save both worlds.
Chen Tian's hands slowly clenched, and a long spear appeared. His original weapon had shattered and scattered when fighting Xie Mie. This weapon was the most powerful and comfortable for him to use.
"You have just awakened. How much strength from thousands of years ago can you possess? This time, I will definitely tear you to shreds!"
Xie Mei's face contorted. Chen Tian shook his head and said calmly, "The third princess of the Evil Spirit race, and such a shrew. Alas!"
"You are seeking death!"
Xie Mei exploded like a powder keg, and Chen Tian was like a flint, igniting the spark.
Chen Tian saw Xie Mei unleash her terrifying power. He had no choice but to fight.
He had already fought Xie Mie, and now he was facing the third princess of the Evil Spirit race. This was frustrating. Was his life destined to be intertwined with the Evil Spirit race? Could he not be allowed to slumber peacefully until the true moment arrived?