Weapon seller in the world of magic

The audience collectively gasped at the sight. It was something they had seen a day ago, when Shang Jiao did it.

If it could freeze an elder like Lan Yuxuan, it wasn't just some freezing technique. They knew what it was because every single cultivator around either read or heard of the abilities of the Blizzard Pegasus.

Back in the stands, the elders stood once again.

One elder squinted. "That… is Absolute Freezing? But that's impossible."

"Not even a 2nd-stage Transcendent like Elder Yuxuan could break out instantly… Yes, it is absolutely freezing indeed."

"So, that story of Lan Zhen freezing her with his gaze isn't a rumor, after all. He inherited Blizzard Pegasus' powers."

"Only an inheritor of the Blizzard Pegasus can perform true Absolute Freezing."

"But, how is it possible? Isn't Shang Jiao the inheritor of Blizzard Pegasus? We literally saw her transformation and saw her unleash the absolute freezing."

"Then… Lan Zhen… is he also…?"

"A second inheritor of the Blizzard Pegasus?" one whispered.

Another shook his head slowly. "No, this must be some kind of trick he was using. There's no way that's possible. He is the inheritor of Immortal Phoenix. Why would the Blizzard Pegasus bless his enemy?"

Mark stood in the center of the arena once again, his hand still extended, palm smoldering with the residue of energy. His breath was steady. "Another billion of ether points were wiped out, but it is alright. I will gain it in 7 seconds. But, I still need a bit of time to waste…"

He glanced around. At the frozen Elder. At the crowd, now eerily quiet. At the sect leader, who still hadn't spoken.

Then he raised his voice. "Well then… Proctor Yuxuan is indisposed. Will someone else officially announce the match result?"

After a long moment of silence, murmurs once again spread all over the arena like wildfire.

Those who were screaming for Mark's death moments ago now sat in stunned silence, uncertain, conflicted, unsure what to believe.

They saw him clearly transform into Phoenix, and then he also unleashed Blizzard Pegasus' Absolute Freezing. How to make of this? They didn't understand.

The silence broke as the Sect Leader, Lan Yujin, finally spoke from his seat. "Enough," his voice boomed across the arena, calm yet impossible to disobey.

Everyone turned.

Yujin turned to his side, speaking to an elder clad in deep green and gold robes, his long silver hair flowing like threads of starlight. The man stood with the composure of someone who'd lived centuries and seen worlds rise and fall.

"Elder Qianxu," said the Sect Master. "Release Elder Yuxuan. And… capture Lan Zhen." After a brief pause, he added. "Don't harm him. Just restrain him. We must speak calmly."

The Grand Elder, Wang Qianxu, the third-stage Transcendent, a 14-circle powerhouse, nodded once. "Understood, Sect Master."

He rose and floated silently down into the arena like a falling leaf. No flashy aura. No blinding power display. But the air itself seemed to bow to his presence.

Mark narrowed his eyes as the elder descended. "Eyes of God, activate."

"They are sending a 14-circle, eh? What was his motive? Kill or capture me?" Mark wondered.

"Lan Zhen," Elder Qianxu said, his voice like still water. "An order from the Sect Leader. You are to be restrained. Don't resist anymore."

He extended his hand.

The ice encasing Yuxuan cracked. Not with brute force, but with subtle, intricate strands of Qi that gently disassembled the freezing from within, unraveling it thread by thread.

Within seconds, Yuxuan slumped out of the crystal cocoon, barely conscious but intact. Her breathing was faint while her Qi was still too sluggish, needed time to reach top condition again.

"Okay, I still need more time." Mark narrowed his eyes, staring at the user interface.

Meanwhile, Lan Yuxuan forced herself to stand properly and bowed, "Grand Elder, I deeply appreciate your kindness." She then turned to Mark who stood there in defiance. Her eyes widened. "Wait… that skill just now. That wasn't mimicry. That was the real thing. Is he also the inheritor of the Blizzard Pegasus?"

Her voice dropped even lower.

"But there can't be two… not in one generation…"

"We don't know yet." Grand Elder Qianxu shook his head, his eyes were on Mark. And his eyes could also see how fast Mark's ether energy/Qi was recovering.

She turned toward the Grand Elder, and confusion in her eyes was evident. "What are the Sect Leader's orders?"

Qianxu's expression didn't change. "Restrain him, but no harm."

Then, turning to Mark, he spoke calmly. "Lan Zhen, surrender. I give you my word. No one will kill you, nor imprison you without trial. You'll be escorted, and only that."

Mark looked up, his eyes flickering with faint amusement. "Well, I had enough ether points now."

Letting out a smile, he replied. "I don't mind a trial. But if you intend to drag me off without announcing the victory, then I would like to show something."

Qianxu raised an eyebrow slightly. "What do you mean?"

Mark didn't answer. He tapped on the holographic interface only he could see.

Skill Activated, Transformation: Blizzard Pegasus

The air twisted at once. Qianxu's frown deepened as Mark was enveloped by concentrated thick mist, and he floated in the sky. Qianxu waited in patience.

And then beautiful icy wings popped up, followed by the body.

Crowned with a silver mane that shimmered like moonlit frost, wings of pure crystalline ice, and hooves that stepped on air itself, the Blizzard Pegasus erupted out of its own cocoon.

"What the…"

The crowd gasped, but no murmur escaped their lips this time.

Mark's voice then rang out from the beast's form, "So… let me ask," he began. "When I transformed into the Phoenix, you called me a scourge. A cursed being. An enemy."

He flapped his wings once, releasing beautiful snowflakes, and asked. "But now that I've transformed into the sacred beast your entire sect worships. Should I be holy, now? Should I be worshipped instead?"

He paused as the crowd stirred in confusion.

"This… is why people need education," he said with a cold snort. "If all you know is how to swing a sword or pour Qi into your fist, you'll spend your lives fighting shadows and calling everything you don't understand a demon."

The Sect Elders stood halfway between their seats. The Sect Leader's gaze narrowed, thoughtful but unreadable.

"Oh, and by the way…" Mark's voice darkened.

"I'm willing to go to trial, yes. Because I accepted myself as a member of the Lan Clan, and as an Inner Disciple of the Sect."

He stepped forward, hooves freezing the very space he walked on.

"But don't expect me to kneel… or let myself be shackled because you're all too stupid to think."

Then, without warning…

"Absolute Freezing."

There was no scream. No flash. Or any warning.

A storm of white burst forth, not gradually, not even in a wave. It struck instantly, like rays of light itself.

Time seemed to pause for the spectators.

One heartbeat. Two. Three.

And both Elder Yuxuan and Grand Elder Qianxu were encased in pure ice, although slightly short of absolute zero.

Alongside Yuxuan, even the grand elder of 14-circle-realm, Wang Qianxu was also frozen, not being able to free even after ten seconds of silence.

In Blizzard Pegasus form, Mark then shifted his gaze to his great-grandfather and said. "I didn't come here to make enemies. I fought within the rules of competition. But if being different makes you a threat in this place… then maybe the sect should indeed go under heavy reorganization. Now, with that said, as I have said, you can put me on trial later. First, would you announce the victory or not?"

*Neigh…

A powerful neigh escaped his mouth, an unintended one, but that released an invisible wave of energy and struck the souls of the people around. The common disciples of the clan couldn't help but leave their seats and kneel at the same spots.