A layer of pristine, delicate frost spiderwebbed out from the point of contact, covering his robes, his arms, his neck. It didn't penetrate his skin, didn't injure him. It just held him completely immobilized, a statue of a man caught mid-retreat. His eyes, the only part not covered, were wide with utter shock.
The match had lasted less than two minutes.
Xueya lowered her hand. The silver light in her eyes faded. She turned to the Void Whisper elder's platform and gave a slight, respectful nod. Then she walked calmly to the edge of the arena, her footsteps silent on the frost-patterned marble.
The silence that followed was thicker than the mountain ice. It was the sound of a continent revising its understanding.
Then the Azure Snow disciples erupted. The cheer wasn't just loud, it was a release of years of pent-up frustration and renewed pride. They hadn't just seen a victory, they'd witnessed a resurrection.
