Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 670

Chapter 670

Chapter 670: Dazzling Ice Lotus

When she saw the Driver’s rugged, roguish appearance her scowl deepened . “Behave yourself . ”

He answered with a shrug . “How well I behave depends on the company . If I’m not getting any respect why should I sow you any?”

“You!”

A flash of light blinded Ling Ya’s eyes . All she saw was the Driver shoot a hand out, and suddenly the two mechas blocking their path were blasted away . They flew a full tend minutes before striking the metal floor and grinding to a halt .

For half a moment the other mechas were stunned and unmoving . Then the sound of laser weapons revving up filled the hangar, and barrels were pointed their way waiting for the colonel’s command .

“Hold your fire!” Ling Ya screeched . Part of her purpose here was to test the scouts’ grit but she didn’t want to start a real firefight . That would surely cause irrevocable consequences .

“Yeah, come to their rescue . ” The Driver had suddenly reappeared in front of Ling Ya . He fixed her with his hard eyes, bolts of purple lightning dancing in their depths .

She staggered back a step but quickly regained her composure . A pale white light surrounded her, and as she spoke her words were hard but the tone was cowardly . “How dare you cause trouble aboard this Bastion! We’ll have you court martialed!”

His eyebrows shot up . “Court martial? For your Northern army? Grand! Give me the invitation and I’d be happy to play around with your stuffed suits for a little while . Now I’m tired of your poor reception . Let us in, or don’t be surprised if I lose my temper . And if you can’t do that then call someone who can . ”

Soldier temperaments were rarely on an even keel . Ling Ya especially, as a twenty-something officer who earned her place on Tyrannosaurus . She lost her composure and in response the white aura around her flared . Instantly the temperature dropped . Her skin became as clear as ice, her black hair white as snow . Rising into the air she was surrounded by pulses of energy that were surprisingly strong .

But she wasn’t looking at the Driver . Her eyes were fixed on Lan Jue . “Commander, I know you walked away as Champion of the Grand Adept tournament . It’s a shame I couldn’t participate, being a member of the arm . Now we have a chance to see if I could have beaten you . If you can best me, your scouting team can proceed without verification . ”

“Just you?” Another voice answered her, and another figure stepped up to stand by Lan Jue’s side . When their helmet was revealed, Su Xiaosu’s face was revealed .

“Beat me, then you might have what it takes to challenge the boss . ” She didn’t mince words . Even before she was done talking the Morning Star rose into the air . A corona of golden light radiated out like the heavens were opening behind her . She flicked her wrist and a whip of crackling gold light lashed out at Ling Ya .

Her answer was to sniff dismissively . Her arms spread out, a spear having appeared in her hand . Ling Ya was born as genetic anomaly, her Discipline awakening at the moment of her birth . This was considered congenital Talent and meant her cultivation was far superior to a normal Adept’s . As a result she was a ninth level seventh rank Talent at such a young age, and what’s more was one of the few in Northern military service whose body was uncorrupted by technology .

Ling Ya had volunteered for this assignment . She was one of their crack fighters as well as a respected staff officer . Her rank was not indicative of her abilities nor her station here on Tyrannosaurus . She was a rising star in the North, to be certain .

When she’d heard that the scouting team was headed by commander Lan Jue – the same Lan Jue that had won the Great Adept Tournament – she was filled with a burning desire to test herself against him . She got her wish when the Admiral hinted for her to feel out their abilities . Ultimately this was the inspiration behind her tough and somewhat demeaning greeting .

Ling Ya extended her spear and all the chill that had filled the air vanished, gathered into a single point . In the instant her spear and the whip met, all of that icy power raced through Su Xiaosu’s weapon and toward her body .

Remember, Su Xiaosu was once the Moonfiend Empress – Morning Star to the Pontiff . Though she was meek in her dealings with Lan Jue, her persona was entirely different when confronting a foe . She flicked her wrist and the bullwhip separated into countless copies of itself . Meanwhile a sheath of blazing fire covered each leather crop . It burned away Ling Ya’s icy power without effort . Ling Ya barely had time to react before the whip was on her again .

Holy Fire!

Ling Ya retreated, brandishing her spear . It lashed out too quick to follow, blocking each strand of Su Xiaosu’s whip as they came . Their clash was loud and constant like the beat of a war drum .

The Driver stood beside Lan Jue, watching the exchange . “It’s hard to say, but this little one’s tough! Ninth level seventh rank, maybe . ”

Lan Jue concurred . “Seems about right . She was sent to test us . I didn’t think it was the North’s style, but if that’s what they want we’ll give them a show . ”

Ling Ya and Su Xiaosu were about even in Discipline, but when it came to combat experience the Moonfiend Empress had the upper hand . She was a product of the Pontiff’s Citadel, and later carved out a realm of her own in the Shattered Starfields . A veteran of at least one hundred battles, what enemy would be new to her? Ling Ya’s Ice Discipline was strong, but Xiaosu’s Holy Light was no less potent .

As their contest continued Xiaosu slowly began to get the upper hand . The crack of her golden whip knocked away Ling Ya’s spear again and again . No matter how the colonel struck, on which direction she attacked from, breaking the Morning’s Star’s defenses seemed fruitless .

Just then Ling Ya stopped . With a grunt she thrust the head of her spear into the ground in front of her . As the icy weapon buried itself in the ground her body became illusory . All of a sudden the hangar was filled with a vacuum force that pulled everything toward that spear, like it was the center of a black hole . Cold power coalesced around it, creating beautiful petals of glittering ice .

Dazzling Ice Lotus!

Once Ling Ya realized her victory would not come easy, she began to reveal her real power!

The temperature dropped by a hundred degrees in an instant . Hoarfrost grew along the metal frames of the mechas as they looked on in silent vigil . Su Xiaosu found herself unable to shake the traction, and each second brought her inexorably closer to the deadly sharp lotus petals .

Xiaosu reacted quickly . The hand holding the whip lifted and the motion brought her whole body up into the air . Her arm whipped around to make the whip coil in subsonic circles around her body . Her body continued to release a flood of brazen holy light that filled every corner of the hangar .

All of a sudden six resplendent wings extended from her spine . Hovering majesty above the crowd the whip she bore became a blade that glowed with divine power .

A column of light that seemed cast from heaven itself was cast down onto the Dazzling Ice Lotus . In response the cutting petals folded inward as though to meet the holy light .

Two powerful manifestations of energy met, and their collision caused the ground to shake . Even though the Bastion was constructed of the strongest alloys, it still could only just bear the load of two ninth-level Talents .

“Hold!” A booming voice rang through the area, bringing with it a flood of invisible power . Where it swept by reality warped . To witness it was marvelous, and the power it bore was impressive . As the waves of distortion swept by, both the Dazzling Ice Lotus and the column of divine light vanished – dissolved into nothing .

Surprise glimmered in Lan Jue’s eye . This was surely a unique Discipline, and strong if it could overwhelm two ninth level Adepts . Attaining such potency even before reaching protogenic levels spoke volumes to its strength .

Su Xiaosu performed a backflip in midair, tumbling back to earth at Lan Jue’s side . Ling Ya reappeared as well . A cloud of ice particles coiled around her .

He was a man in his forties, the one who’d interrupted them . Twinkling insignias on his shoulder board revealed him to be a Major General . Short-cut blond hair sharply contrasted with his ruddy, bronzed skin . A gleaming intelligence was clear in his eyes .

“Ling ya, apologize to commander Lan Jue . He and his party are guests on the Tyrannosaurus and you let your pride get out of hand . Later you’ll be choosing your own punishment!” His voice was harsh, but a look at his face showed them to be insincere .

The hard look on her face melted away . She turned to Lan Jue . “I apologize, commander . I was too aggressive . Please forgive me . ”

The middle-aged newcomer gave him no chance to respond, stepping up to face him . He snapped a salute . “Welcome aboard, commander Lan Jue . I am under-secretary in charge of combat operations here on Tyrannosaurus, Wu Qiu . I’d like to apologize for the actions of my colleagues . ”

Lan Jue replied with a smile . He was well aware this was a test, and once their abilities were confirmed the charade was abandoned . Classic good-cop, bad-cop .

“It’s no problem, a misunderstanding I’m sure . I assume you’re happy with our qualifications?”

Wu Qiu was impressed . Lan Jue looked young – no more than thirty, perhaps – and yet was not only a champion Adept, but cool-headed as well . He was even-tempered in praise and humiliation . A rare quality in a person!

“Please, commander!” He stepped to the side and swept his hand out, opening the way .

Lan Jue nodded, signaled his companions, and headed for the verti-car .

Wu Qiu shot Ling Ya a hard, brief look then followed . Ling Ya had accomplished her mission, but she was not intended to use the full strength of her ninth level Talent . This was a Bastion ship! Who knew what damage they could cause?

Ling Ya was not the least bit frightened of the secretary . She stuck her tongue out at him and feigned a pitiful look .  1

Wu Qiu scowled helplessly but didn’t stop her when she got into the car . Thankfully Northern verti-cars were spacious, with room enough to fit up to twenty passengers .

The doors closed and they gently lifted into the air . They maneuvered through a portal that granted them entry further into the ship, then picked up speed .

“Commander Lan . ” Wu Qiu smiled as he turned slightly in his seat to face him . “I really would like to apologize for all that . On behalf of the Tyrannosaurus . ”

“Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up there’s no more reason to speak on it,” he assured . “Colonel Ling Ya displayed considerable skill . ”

 

There was a TV show my wife used to watch with her parents when we’d visit on Sundays . I don’t remember the name, but it was about a soldier woman during the Cultural Revolution . She was basically portrayed as a housewife in uniform, and demure and ‘cutesie’ as a teenager . It was pretty ridiculous .  Please download our sponsor's game to support us!