Blood Rage Beneath Frozen Skies

"Wait..."

The cry broke through the roaring arena like a stone dropped into still water.

For a heartbeat, even the blizzard Selena had conjured seemed to hesitate.

All eyes turned.

Then another voice, trembling with disbelief:

"Look... her cultivation... has actually reached nine stars of the Astral Realm."

Silence.

A stunned, impossible silence.

Then the entire South Arena erupted.

"This... How is this possible? Didn’t she just enter the academy three months ago?"

Shock swept across the Seven Division like wildfire through dry grass.

Only now, in the finals, had Selena truly revealed the depth of her strength.

Only now did the truth surface.

Nine stars.

Astral Realm.

A realm many students spent years clawing toward.

Yet this silver-haired girl had reached it in three months.

"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable."

"How did Guardian Elder Leon of Amethyst Summit Division teach his student to reach nine stars Astral Realm in three months?"

"No matter how many heavenly treasures there are, it’s impossible, right?"

The disbelief wasn’t forced.

It was visceral.

Some stood from their seats.

Some forgot to breathe.

Even seasoned elders, whose hearts had weathered centuries, could not keep composure.

Mike slowly leaned forward, grey brows furrowed.

Beside him, Cultivator Tobias stared as though seeing a miracle unfold.

Even Rex Vine—pride of the Vine household—felt his chest tighten.

His fingers curled unconsciously.

He had cultivated bitterly for years.

Endured closed-door isolation.

Consumed resources ordinary students could never dream of.

And only with monstrous talent had he reached nine stars Astral Realm, barely stepping into GrandMaster Realm.

Yet Selena...

Three months.

His thoughts shook.

Impossible.

Even if I gathered the entire resources of my lineage... this speed should not exist.

But how could they imagine—

how much cultivation Leon had poured into her?

How much Mana Blessings.

How many unseen opportunities.

How many times his Grand Return System had quietly overturned reason.

High above, Shera’s expression darkened for a brief moment.

Only a moment.

Then his face smoothed.

And he sneered.

"Do you think you’re the only one with a backup plan?"

His black eyes gleamed coldly.

"Hmph... What a joke..."

Leon’s gaze flicked toward him.

Something unreadable passed in those purple eyes.

Then—

below in the arena—

Shan laughed.

A sharp, unsettling sound.

A blood-colored light suddenly erupted from his body.

Boom.

Scarlet Mana surged like boiling flame.

Veins bulged.

The sword in his hand trembled violently.

Gradually...

his aura began to soar.

Rise.

Rise again.

Breaking past limits.

Forcing itself upward.

He had pushed himself to nine stars Astral Realm by burning blood and vital essence.

No—

he was already infinitely close to GrandMaster Realm.

The pressure radiating from him distorted the air.

Blood mist spiraled around his body.

The arena stones cracked beneath his feet.

Selena’s blue eyes narrowed.

She felt it immediately.

This was different.

This was not ordinary cultivation.

It was violent.

Corruptive.

A power stolen through self-destruction.

Smack!

Maya struck the chair handle hard enough to split wood.

Her blue eyes flashed with anger.

"Blood Rage... isn’t this a forbidden technique?"

Her voice carried fury.

"Shera is truly unscrupulous in order to win."

Murmurs surged.

Forbidden art.

That single phrase made many elders frown.

Because everyone understood what Blood Rage meant.

A taboo.

A brutal Sacred Art long sealed except in desperate situations.

It was born from violently igniting the cultivator’s own blood essence.

Mana collided against the blood itself.

Compressed.

Forced into unstable resonance.

The blood cells shattered under Mana pressure, releasing life-force as explosive power.

That life-force fed the spiritual core.

The spiritual core then surged beyond natural capacity.

For a short time—

one could borrow strength beyond one’s stars.

But at a terrible price.

Meridians damaged.

Lifespan burned.

Foundations cracked.

In severe cases—cultivation crippled forever.

That was why it was forbidden.

Because victory purchased with self-destruction was poison disguised as brilliance.

Yet Shan...

used it.

And used it without hesitation.

Red light thickened around him.

His aura pressed down on the arena like a mountain.

He had reached a pseudo GrandMaster Realm.

Though he had not comprehended laws and could not truly break through—

for battling a nine star Astral Realm cultivator—

it was more than enough.

At least...

that was what everyone thought.

Some Amethyst Summit students paled.

Even those cheering Selena grew uneasy.

A second Secret Sword Summit student muttered under his breath,

"Now let’s see how she handles that."

Another sneered,

"She forced Senior Brother Shan this far. She should feel honored."

But Leon said nothing.

His face remained unreadable.

Though inwardly...

his thoughts sharpened.

Blood Rage...

So that’s your hidden card.

On the arena floor Shan raised his sword.

Scarlet streams wound around the blade.

His voice had grown hoarse.

"Fellow Sister... let me see if your Hell Blizzard Technique can withstand this."

Then he moved.

A burst.

Faster than before.

Much faster.

The stone beneath him exploded.

He appeared before Selena almost instantly.

Clang!

Sword met sword.

Frost and blood-red Mana collided.

Shockwaves tore through swirling snow.

Selena slid half a step back.

The impact numbed her wrist.

The crowd gasped.

Shan laughed wildly.

"This..." he said, bloodlight dancing in his eyes, "...is power."

Again he attacked.

Slash.

Slash.

Slash.

Each strike heavier.

Each infused with unstable burning force.

The False Sword, once subtle and concealed, had become savage under Blood Rage.

Like a hidden assassin turned berserk beast.

Selena met every strike.

Her robe fluttered through snow.

Silver hair flashing.

Blue eyes cold.

But pressure mounted.

Even she felt it.

So this is a forbidden art...

Her grip tightened.

No fear.

Only focus.

Above, Maya spoke through clenched teeth.

"Shera has gone too far."

Mike’s gaze remained grave.

"He allowed it because he trusts the backlash won’t kill the boy."

Tobias added quietly,

"Or because he fears losing more."

Shera only folded his arms.

Pride returned to his face.

He believed momentum had turned.

And perhaps it had.

For now.

Blood Rage continued escalating.

Crimson Mana poured through Shan’s meridians with terrifying violence.

His pulse thundered audibly.

Blood vessels darkened beneath skin.

Every attack consumed life.

Yet every attack sharpened his strength.

Forbidden techniques were monstrous precisely because they mocked ordinary cultivation laws.

They traded tomorrow for today.

And in battle—

that was terrifying.

Another clash.

Boom!

Selena’s frost field shook.

Ice fractured underfoot.

Some spectators thought they saw her pushed back.

Excited cries rose.

"Senior Brother Shan has the upper hand!"

But Leon’s eyes narrowed.

He noticed something others missed.

Selena was adapting.

Even under pressure.

Her sword intent was changing.

Hardening.

Refining.

Every collision deepened comprehension.

And suddenly...

Leon remembered.

There was indeed a forbidden technique in Celestis Academy.

This very art.

Blood Rage.

One could forcefully increase cultivation by burning blood and vital energy.

"Forbidden technique?"

Leon was momentarily stunned.

Then a faint smile touched his lips.

Dangerous.

Knowing.

Because if Shera believed a forbidden technique alone could decide this battle...

he had gravely miscalculated.

And as snow and scarlet Mana collided once more across the arena—

Leon suddenly remembered that there was indeed a forbidden technique in Celestis Academy, which was what Shan used. One could forcefully increase their cultivation by burning their blood and Mana.