Chapter 442: The Sister-Protecting Maniac

"Reign of the Nine Heavens Novel"

‘Orcs will never be slaves’—the loud slogan seemed like just a few inconsequential garnishes tossed into the chaotic pot of the arena. Aside from a few scattered jeers, most chose to ignore it outright. Responding to such noise would undoubtedly be foolish, like an adult paying attention to the whispers of ants. They weren’t even the same kind of creature—why bother caring?

What truly concerned the people of Blade City or the Zenith crowd now was the score between the two teams. Aside from the false alarm of the first match ending in a draw, the score was already 2-0.

Rose, who had been unstoppable all this way, was suddenly pushed to the brink of elimination. The last shred of apprehension toward the dark horse in the hearts of the Zenith crowd had completely vanished once the match reached match point, making the atmosphere in the stands relaxed and cheerful.

This was match point. Rose had no way back, but what about Zenith Holy Sanctuary? They still had their two strongest players!

Huokun Amogan—ignore the ‘fire’ in his name. What is a ‘kun’? A sea creature even larger than the whale clan. He was a sea-dweller, one with a rare yet noble lineage. Of course, not pure—he also had half-mermaid heritage. But it was precisely this mixed heritage that made him a rare dual master of water and fire, a top-tier arcane wizard! Among the so-called ‘Iron Triangle’ of Hu Sha and the others, Amogan had always been the eldest and strongest.

As for Tianzhe Yifeng, there was no need to elaborate. The undefeated legend of the previous Holy Sanctuary era, his presence here was already an unfair advantage. Lose? Tianzhe Yifeng couldn’t lose—even Blade City toddlers knew that. The people of Blade City chatted and laughed, anticipating the next 3-0 sweep, speculating whether Tianzhe Yifeng would even take the stage.

Meanwhile, the Rose supporters had long fallen completely silent.

Frankly, the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Rose’s seven consecutive wins had raised expectations too high. It wasn’t that they had overestimated Rose’s strength, but underestimating the other Holy Sanctuaries was a mistake everyone had unknowingly made.

They had underestimated Zenith Holy Sanctuary too much, underestimated the depth of a top-ranked Holy Sanctuary. If they truly wanted to win, they could instantly build an insurmountable lead that left all other Holy Sanctuaries in the dust!

No one still believed Rose could win. After all, Tianzhe Yifeng’s reputation was far too terrifying, and the crowd's spirit had bottomed out.

Frustration, misery—they wanted to cheer, to shout, but Fanny, Mapeier, and Kela were all severely injured. Rose was facing an utterly hopeless situation, with not a glimmer of hope in sight. It made it impossible for their spirits to rise, their voices stuck in their throats.

"What a shame," Gule sighed, shaking his head. Watching Fanny and the others fight desperately for Rose had actually filled him with anticipation—anticipation for joining them soon. But…

Aside from Ye Dun’s unexpected match, both Fanny and Kela had had chances, only to fall short due to various reasons. If either of them had won just one match, Rose wouldn’t be in such a passive position now. "Perhaps Rose is truly doomed."

"You think so?" Xiao Bang beside him shook his head. He was probably the only one in the entire arena who genuinely supported Rose and still believed they could win.

"You think Rose still has a chance?"

"Of course. Watch, Gule. If they send Amogan, Rose will definitely field Winnie Lee. She has a chance—this is the most crucial win. If she can take this match…"

Xiao Bang smiled at Gule. "Then Rose wins."

Wins? How? Wang Feng defeating Tianzhe Yifeng?

Gule was stunned. Winnie Lee versus Amogan—that did seem like a plausible matchup. But given Xiao Bang’s status, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of Tianzhe Yifeng’s terror. Yet, the way he spoke made it sound like Tianzhe Yifeng was a freebie… And even if they did win two in a row, it’d still just be a tie. Was Xiao Bang delusional?

"Let’s just watch the match," Xiao Bang didn’t elaborate further, simply pointing to the arena. "Look, it’s Amogan stepping up after all."

Fourth match—Zenith yielded the stage.

Without hesitation, without even needing to discuss or negotiate, Amogan strode forward.

Truth be told, this order had been predetermined long ago. In Fu Changkong’s mind, Tianzhe Yifeng was merely the final safeguard, just like the slogan Zenith Holy Sanctuary once proclaimed during the Heroic Tournament: ‘We will never deploy Tianzhe Yifeng first.’

Not needing him to fight was ideal—it showcased Zenith’s overwhelming superiority while ensuring he didn’t steal Ye Dun’s spotlight.

As for Rose, there didn’t seem to be any discussion or deliberation either.

Winnie merely glanced at Wang Feng, who gave a faint nod.

Ever since Fanny’s match ended, Winnie had felt like Wang Feng was a different person—nothing like his usual playful self. It was a bit strange, but… his cool demeanor was actually kinda hot the more she looked at it.

"About damn time!" Winnie’s face betrayed neither excitement nor nerves, only smoldering rage and long-suppressed combat urge.

Fanny and Kela were family to her. Mapeier, though more distant, had shown herself to be disciplined and loyal to Rose over time—Winnie acknowledged that. But now, all three were down.

Damn it, is the Holy Sanctuary trying to start a revolution? Daring to mess with my people! You got a death wish? I've been itching to tear someone apart!

Nervous? That’s something Winnie Lee simply doesn’t have. What’s this Amogan, some bounty hunter who’s been through hell? Pah, as if she hasn’t been through life and death herself! This month on Darkmoon Island, Winnie Lee wasn't just sitting on her ass.

She was dressed in a frilly pleated skirt, her face painted in heavy gothic makeup. Now, fiercely rolling up her sleeves, paired with that murderous expression, she looked every bit the little demon she was.

"Shut your damn mouths, all of you!" She jumped onto the stage, pointing at the buzzing stands around her and roaring, "You on the other side—get ready to pick up your dead!"

Arrogance—unparalleled arrogance—oozed from her, yet no one criticized her.

The stands erupted in good-humored cheers, even encouragement. Frankly, the ordinary spectators of Blade City never rejected challengers to the Holy Sanctuary—why would they? It meant exciting matches to watch. They just despised Rose’s second-rate status.

But Winnie Lee was different. The famed little princess of the Lee family, a top-tier fire wizard who had evolved second-stage blue flames before even reaching ghost level, coupled with her innate talent as a Spirit Beastmaster and the Lee family’s relentless investment in her training—not to mention her eight fierce older brothers, her legendary father, and the family’s influence—this was a challenger worthy of the Holy Sanctuary’s prestige!

"Haha, go get 'em, kid!"

"We're rooting for you, little girl!"

"Amogan, you’re in trouble—you’ve pissed off a little tiger! Hahaha!"

Goddammit… Winnie’s face darkened instantly, and she felt the urge to murder someone.

If the crowd had mocked her, she had a thousand ways to throw it back. But this? Winnie’s head was about to explode.

"Oh no, oh no, little sis is about to lose it!" Li Fusu said worriedly. "She won’t attack the audience, right? With so many people packed together, the lawsuits would bankrupt us..."

"Relax, little sis knows her limits. I feel like she’s grown a lot since joining Rose," Li Xuanyuan said, unconcerned and even amused. "Hey, fourth brother, you’ve got sharper eyes—does little sis look taller to you?"

"She does seem a bit taller..." Li Fusu stroked his chin, his gaze suddenly hyper-focused. "And a little plumper too. Ah, little sis is finally growing up!"

"But look at her nails—they’re hideous," Li Xuanyuan frowned. "Why does she always go for this all-black look? Shouldn’t girls like shiny, colorful things?"

"Who knows? These days, what girls like changes every other minute."

"You’ve researched this?"

"Third brother, don’t joke around. When would I have time for that? Speaking of which, little sis’s birthday is coming up..." Li Fusu mused. "I heard there’s a place in Blade City called Orchid Pavilion, where noble ladies gather. Maybe I should scout it out, do some research? Then get her the trendiest nail polish as a gift?"

"With your taste, she’d be lucky to like it... Besides, what proper lady uses nail polish these days? They all have personal manicurists!"

The two brothers chatted away, completely oblivious to their surroundings, leaving Gui Zhicai beside them utterly dumbfounded and torn between laughter and exasperation.

When he’d spoken with them before, they’d seemed insightful and articulate. But the moment their sister came up, they turned into complete idiots?

Despite his icy expression, Amogan was undeniably handsome—mixed-race heritage was almost always the pinnacle of beauty—prompting many women in the stands to scream his name.

Seeing his opponent, Amogan’s gaze turned complicated, his mood turned foul.

Hu Sha’s severe injuries had enraged him, and Amogan had been itching for a fight. He’d expected the next opponent to be the beastman Wu Di or their captain Wang Feng. But instead—Winnie Lee? As the strongest remaining member of their team, shouldn’t she be facing Tianzhe Yifeng? Coming to fight him instead—was Rose already throwing in the towel?

BOOM!

Winnie had no patience for drawn-out theatrics. None of that pre-battle mutual admiration or showboating nonsense. She couldn’t care less about the chatter from the stands. Her soul power erupted violently, surging blue flames—like hellfire—engulfing her body. The black ribbon tying her hair snapped, her locks flying wildly behind her. Paired with her thick gothic eyeliner, she looked like a demon of death, instantly silencing the Holy Sanctuary supporters who’d been teasing her as a "little cutie" or "little tiger."

Holy hell, is this a woman? No—a girl?!

Everyone knew she’d advanced to second-stage blue flames, but did she have to look this damn terrifying?

Yet in her brothers’ eyes, she was nothing but adorable. Still, just adorable!

"Little Winnie is so adorable! So cool! Go for it, you're the best! Your forever fan, Third Brother!"

"Don't push yourself too hard, kiddo. It's just a match—give it your best shot! Love you!" Li Xuanyuan and Li Fusu finally began waving and shouting wildly from the solemn VIP stands, drawing sidelong glances from those around them. Their voices were unrestrained, entering full-on 'overprotective big bro' mode—something well-known throughout the Alliance. They were overjoyed—the baby of the Li family had grown up so impressively!

To most, it just sounded like two doting brothers cheering for their sister. But to Amogan, it only worsened his mood.

Of all people, he had to face Winnie Lee!

...Over the past two years, the three Amogan siblings had taken up work as bounty hunters. The more they immersed themselves in various bounty missions, the more they learned about the Li family. And among bounty hunters, one rule was absolute: you could offend anyone—except the Li brothers. Over fifty percent of the intelligence in the entire Bounty Guild came from the Li family. A single piece of intel from them could mean life or death for a bounty hunter—precise intel means life; sloppy intel means death. Getting a hunter blacklisted from the guild? Just a word from the Li family. Not to mention, the eight Li brothers were infamous for their fanatical protectiveness over their sister. Dare to lay a finger on her? Even someone like Amogan, who lived by the blade, wouldn’t have the guts—the consequences would be a thousand times worse than death.

Going for the kill was out of the question, but that didn’t matter. If he wanted revenge for Huzi (likely a nickname meaning "Tiger Cub") and to settle scores with the rest of Rose, he didn’t have to do it on the battlefield. There’d be plenty of opportunities after the match.

As for Winnie Lee in front of him, the best approach was to make her back down.

Facing the raging blue flames, Amogan’s soul force rippled slightly before a faint, greenish energy ignited around him like a quiet fire.

His expression was calm. Unlike many Holy Sanctuary disciples who preferred explosive bursts of soul force to overwhelm opponents, he steadily expanded his soul pressure, gradually increasing it with absolute control.

On the field, the clash of blue and green energy fields intensified. Winnie’s burst was fast and fierce, but she soon hit her limit. Amogan’s soul pressure, however, seemed limitless—though initially suppressed, within mere seconds, his green soul flames had overtaken hers, stable and unshakable, a testament to his mastery.

Amogan had been renowned for years. During his time at the Celestial Peak Holy Sanctuary, he had always ranked second, just below Tianzhe Yifeng. It was said he saw Tianzhe as both his greatest rival and friend. When the latter left the Holy Sanctuary, Amogan didn’t stay to claim the top spot—instead, he too departed, choosing the life of a bounty hunter, unwilling to be left behind forever.

Now, after two or three years in the trade, no one knew just how far he had progressed. But one thing was certain—he was stronger than ever.

Amogan regarded Winnie coolly. Her flamboyant, exaggerated appearance didn’t faze him in the slightest. No matter how she changed, she was still just a child—a Li brat.

He tucked his left hand behind his back and extended his right palm, crooking a 'come here' finger in a taunting gesture.

Being outmatched in soul pressure already had Winnie fuming. Seeing this provocation, her temper flared even hotter.

All this nonsense about mixed blood and arcane arts—just a bunch of fancy titles. At the end of the day, he was still just a wizard. Get close, and this mama's gonna end you!

BOOM!

The blazing blue flames erupted beneath her, propelling her forward like a fiery projectile straight at Amogan.

With a slight lift of two fingers, Amogan conjured an aqua barrier nearly two meters wide in front of him—a liquid rampart formed in an instant. A true combat veteran, his spellcasting speed far surpassed that of ordinary Holy Sanctuary disciples.

Tier-2 bluefire had long been proven impervious to ordinary water—against evolved soul fire, water acted more like gasoline, like throwing gasoline on fire. But Amogan’s aqua barrier was no ordinary defense. Its surface shimmered with deep, azure ripples, carrying an aura as vast as the depth of the sea itself.

CRACK!

The moment the blue flames made contact, a violent chemical reaction seemed to occur. The entire shield—along with the flames—froze solid in less than half a second, leaving what looked like a massive blue ice sphere embedded in an icy wall.

The temperature was terrifyingly low—even Winnie wouldn’t withstand such a frostbite-inducing chill. And to be frozen instantly at the very start… the gap in strength was… Wait!

Only then did the crowd realize—there was no sign of Winnie inside the frozen sphere.

Where was she?

The next second, a streak of blue light descended silently from above—a dark blue fire needle aimed straight for Amogan’s skull.

From the very beginning, the initial blue fireball had been a decoy. A simple trick—disguising herself within the soul projectile, using speed as cover. Of course, it also required assassin-like agility to silently close in from above.

Amogan seemed oblivious. The Celestial Peak Holy Sanctuary supporters gasped as the needle descended—but just as it was about to pierce his skull, Winnie’s eyes widened in alarm.

She released the needle mid-flight and flipped backward. The motionless Amogan froze solid the instant the blue needle touched him—just like the water shield.

A water doppelgänger trap! And at the same moment, a cold voice spoke behind Winnie as she flipped through the air.

——Kunlong·Blazing Inferno!

KA-BOOM!

Amogan's cheeks puffed up as he cupped his hands before his mouth, spewing the same eerie blue flames as Winnie’s in a frenzied torrent. In an instant, a full fifth of the arena was engulfed in a sea of fire.

Winnie's figure was swallowed by the flames. Just as a thunder mage can be stunned by lightning, a fire mage can still be burned by fire—elemental energy doesn’t play favorites, caring not whom it consumes.

Yet, the next moment—

SHING!

A figure leaped high from the fiery waves. Winnie's dress was ablaze, which she slapped at wildly. Her face was slightly blackened by soot, though her gothic makeup, already smoky in style, hid the worst of it. With a fierce glare, she roared, "Playing with fire? I invented this shit!"

Boom!

Her soul force erupted, igniting a surge of blue flames across her body, even actively drawing energy from the raging inferno below. Yet, Amogan’s lips twitched into a smirk.

*Snap.*

With a casual flick of his fingers, the flames engulfing the arena morphed in a flash—rising like towering waves.

Winnie, already absorbing the fiery soul force, found herself unable to sever the connection in time, now trapped within the surging tide.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

The waves froze into ice, condensing into thick chains as blue as the flames. Eight chains, each as thick as a child's arm, materialized in an instant, whipping over Winnie’s head and encircling her from all directions.

Winnie barely had time to gasp—the ice chains moved too fast, caging her before she could blink.

—Kunlong Arcane Arts: Eightfold Icefire Chains!

A faint smile appeared on Amogan's face as he clenched the fingers of his outstretched right hand. "Seal!"

Whoosh!

The eight ice chains instantly snapped taut, like trapping a kitten, suspending Winnie midair, leaving her utterly immobilized. Yet before Amogan's smile could last even a second, a cold laugh rang out behind him: "A decoy? Been there, done that!"

At the same time—shink, shink, shink, shink!

Four fire needles shot toward the back of Amogan's neck.

Hell yeah, nailed him! Winnie's eyes gleamed with triumph.

But then came four metallic pings—ting! ting! ting! ting!—accompanied by a sweeping slash of phantom glow!

Swish—

Winnie jerked back violently, skidding across the arena for a full seven or eight meters before catching her balance.

Snap! Crash!

The massive crisscrossing ice chains in the air, now devoid of Amogan's arcane control, shattered into fragments, raining down like hailstones. On either side of the icy downpour, two figures stood facing each other.

Plop.

A drop of blood fell from her shoulder, but Winnie paid it no mind—just a scratch. Her eyes blazed with focus, unblinking as they pierced through the hail, locked onto Amogan ahead.

Amogan slowly turned around, a slender blue ice sword gripped in his hand. On the left shoulder of his robe, a shallow tear had split the fabric—though the skin beneath remained unharmed, the garment had indeed been grazed by the needles’ wake.

This little girl from the Lee family is quite interesting.

A faint smile curled at the corner of Amogan's lips, while Winnie Lee licked hers.

Geez, that was way too close just now. The transformation between ice and fire was freaky as hell—what kind of messed-up magic lets someone flip between ice and fire like that? And not only is this guy an arcane wizard, but he’s also a battle mage! The guy's got no damn weaknesses. I was planning to close in and finish him off quickly, but it looks like it won’t be that easy!

Their explosive exchanges were clearly even more thrilling than Mapeier’s match. After all, the clash of ice and fire, the entire arena’s flames transforming into icy chains in an instant—the spectacle was far more dramatic than Ye Dun and Mapeier’s precision swordplay.

Amogan’s seamless conversion between water and fire was as perfect as art, while Winnie’s speed and reflexes were undeniably absolute top-tier.

The crowd had gone completely silent. Though the Zenith supporters clearly treated Winnie differently from the other Rose members—mostly due to her status—truth be told, those who had watched Amogan’s many matches in this arena never thought a thirteen or fourteen-year-old Winnie Lee stood a chance against him. Wasn’t this just an adult beating up a kid?

But who would’ve thought it’d be such an even match?

The previously lifeless Rose stands now seemed to regain some vigor, while the Zenith supporters’ expressions gradually grew solemn. Could Winnie Lee really be a match for Amogan? Though Zenith’s Holy Sanctuary still had Tianzhe Yifeng as the final gatekeeper—meaning they couldn’t lose no matter the opponent—a 3-0 sweep and a 3-1 victory were still two very different outcomes. No one wanted this battle to drag on to a fifth round.

"The instantaneous conversion between ice and fire..." Lucky Heaven’s eyes held a trace of admiration. Wizards who could manipulate both ice and fire weren’t unheard of, but to instantly transform fully formed fire energy into ice energy—honestly, that's some next-level, almost unnatural shit, even defying the rules of Witchcraft. "This seems to defy common sense."

"It’s not actually fire turning into ice. There’s an extra, invisible 'step' in between," the Saint said with a faint smile.

(For your next reading convenience, you can bookmark this page (Chapter 442: Ice, Fire and Everything Wild) for easy access later!) If you like *King of the Nine Heavens*, please recommend it to your friends (via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.). Thank you for your support!!