Chapter 36 - Arctic Emperor Reigns Part 2

"Prepare yourself. You are not the only fourth-stage Spirit Shaman here," Liu Mang warned as he drew a long sword. "I will defeat you."

"Come and try," Lu Shu grinned, eager to test himself against someone who could give him a challenge.

Both fighters initiated a spirit movement technique, releasing a small gust of wind as their weapons clashed. Liu Mang used the element of light, while Lu Shu wielded darkness. The crowd watched as the sword clashed against the blade; the battle quickly became a contest of speed. Liu Mang yelled as a beam of light exploded from his left hand. Shu dodged it and sent five moon blades of water at Mang, the blades spreading out like a spider web trapping an insect. Mang hastily slashed his sword in all directions but was pushed back by the force. Water splashed all over the platform, and Shu grinned as lightning crackled over his blade. He yelled as he stabbed his blade into the ground, sending a wave of lightning that grew larger as it rapidly spread toward Mang.

Liu Mang didn't panic and surrounded himself with wind spirit energy. Concentrating on his feet, he levitated ten feet off the ground, avoiding the lightning. Shu anticipated this, knowing wind spirit energy users could levitate at the third stage, and used his Radiant Howl technique again, sending another set of five moon blades at him. Mang cried out as he was unable to block them all this time and crashed into the barrier behind him. By the time he looked up, he saw Shu appear with a burst of darkness spreading from his body, Arctic Emperor touching the boy's neck.

"I surrender!" Mang cried as Shu drew a drop of blood on the boy's neck.

"Emperor Lu Yi," an ambassador began as Liu Mang left the stage. "I request a pupil of mine to spar with Lu Shu. He had befriended the Hyperion who, I am embarrassed to admit, even fooled me into believing he was human. I'm afraid he is angered at the loss of his friend and wishes to fight Prince Lu Shu. However, he is a fifteen-year-old at the fifth stage. I wonder if Emperor Lu Yi will permit this request?"

"Ambassador from another nation, this will be hard to deny," Lu Xing thought as he stared at his father.

"So be it," Lu Yi nodded, shocking the crowd as they couldn't believe he actually permitted it.

"Dear, how could you permit this? He is of a higher cultivation stage," Lu Rong asked.

"Hmph. A single stage is nothing. If Lu Shu applies his knowledge and training, he is sure to win. This is also good training for him. He is too strong among people of his own level. I know my son, and I can tell that Liu Mang disappointed him. That boy was too predictable. He read that wind Practitioner like a book. Besides, I believe all his opponents were only Practitioners with weapon spirits. Hopefully, he fights someone who uses more than one element, like himself. The more elements an opponent uses, the more angles he can attack and defend with. Being too cautious will hurt his growth," the emperor waved and nodded at the ambassador once more.

"My thanks, Emperor Lu Yi. Truly, you are undeterred by sudden requests," the ambassador bowed. "Zack Howe, you're up."

"Yes, Prime Minister," a blonde boy grinned and walked onto the stage with a large axe in his hand, bowing at the emperor before looking at Lu Shu. "Hello, Prince Lu Shu. I am Zack of House Howe. I am a fifth-stage Spirit Shaman who uses the elements of earth and light. Let us exchange pointers."

"Light and earth," Lu Shu muttered as they began circling each other.

Zack appeared in a flash and hacked at Lu Shu from his left side. Shu was surprised at his speed and barely managed to block the attack. The boy appeared behind him and kicked Shu. Shu was knocked forward five feet before he managed to turn around, but the boy was gone. He jumped back as spikes of earth appeared from the ground and looked up as he landed. Zack was hovering in the air and sent a large wave of earth at Lu Shu as his axe slashed the ground. Shu covered his blade with lightning and slashed at the wave of dirt and rock, slicing it in half.

"Not bad, Prince Shu. Allow me to take it up a notch," Zack grinned as his axe began to release a celestial aura.

"Fuck," Shu cursed as wisps of shadows surrounded him as he blocked the axe from his blind spot.

Zack appeared as if teleporting, hacking at Lu Shu from different angles around him. Arctic Emperor began to emit a baleful aura as Shu released his spirit force with a shout, a White Ocean Tiger spirit roaring behind him for five seconds. Zack was knocked back by the spirit force and was shocked. As far as the boy knew, no one at the fourth stage should have such power. Shu deflected a blow and cut Zack's leg, drawing spirit energy from the boy.

"What? He can absorb spirit energy?" the ambassador gasped, standing up in shock, clearly not expecting Lu Shu to be able to match Zack.

"HAHAHA! That kid. He really is a demon," Lu Yi laughed in his thoughts.

"My spirit energy is draining. I need to end this fast," Zack muttered as he began to store earth spirit energy into his axe.

"If the prince can take this blow, I will gladly surrender," Zack cried, hoping to end the match sooner.

"Then I will return the favor," Lu Shu agreed as a black cloud appeared next to him.

The crowd stared in wonder as the black cloud began to replicate, lightning crackling from each cloud. Soon they connected and began to spread, quickly surrounding Zack and blocking the audience from view. Zack shouted as he used his most powerful technique, slamming his axe onto the ground. The ground shook as it exploded all around Zack. Everyone involuntarily stumbled from their seats as they saw such power. Most of the clouds were destroyed in the blast, allowing them to see the plaza full of dust from the explosion. As it cleared, everyone wondered where Lu Shu went as he had disappeared.

"What? He escaped?" Zack cried, shocked as he saw Lu Shu with several cuts on his legs as the black clouds condensed into one and revealed him.

"Sorry. My technique allows me to travel between each of the clouds. I literally become lightning. Thank you for being merciful," Shu bowed as his legs itched from the cuts.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" the emperor laughed. "Wonderful! Just wonderful. That's my boy. Another great victory. As there are no more challengers, I will—"

"Excuse me, Your Imperial Majesty. I would like my son to fight him," a voice said, shocking everyone as someone dared to interrupt the emperor.

"Who the hell are you?" Lu Ce roared angrily. Even though he did not like his brother, he was loyal to the throne and would sacrifice anything for the clan.

"I am a delegate from the Nara Empire," the ambassador in golden armor bowed. "I am Yoshida Tsugumo, brother of Emperor Shingen Tsugumo."

"The Nara Empire? Ah. My apologies, Esteemed Guest," Lu Ce stuttered loudly.

"My son, Yoshi, is of the fifth stage as well. As your son seems strong, I would like my son to exchange pointers with him. He has attained a true Archon body and is to be betrothed to one of the ancient clans. May I ask that they exchange pointers?" Yoshida asked, a grin on his face that he failed to hide as he did not bow low enough.

"This, I... will allow. However, if he dies, I will kill you and destroy the Nara Empire. You think I fear the ancient clans? I, Lu Yi, fear no one! You saw my ancestor, Lu Feng. He slaughtered one of the clans and can do so again!" Lu Yi said darkly as Yoshida clearly waited until he saw enough of Shu's strength. "I will not let my son die a meaningless death."

Shu felt something break in his mind, and a scene from his memories appeared. He swayed to the ground as his body burst with spirit force, blowing away the fragments of dirt and rock around him. Everyone stared at Shu, unsure of what was happening. Suddenly, the living water technique appeared a few inches above his body, wrapping him like a cocoon. Its head roared above him, and its insect-like body seemed to wrap limbs around him that looked like cerulean veins glowing with pulsing wisps.

"Lu Shu?" Lu Xing cried, concerned for his brother.

"Don't cry. Don't cry," Lu Mei whispered to the tiger cub as she stared at her brother.

The White Ocean Tiger spirit and the mask spirit appeared above him. Everyone was shocked to see dual spirits, except for Lu Yi, who already knew from Meng Ce's report a few years ago. The pupils in Shu's eyes narrowed like a tiger's, and the mask spirit actually materialized on his face. Crimson wings sprouted from his body as baleful aura emitted from Arctic Emperor. The temperature seemed to drop, and the people with lower cultivations could see their own breath. Shu became immersed in the memory, oblivious to the real world.

"They're here! The government is here! They brought guns!" one of the scientists cried.