Urban Romantic Divine Doctor Chapter 1697 - 1694: Stunning Counterattack

Before Zhang Nian could even fully process the situation, another disciple lunged from the side. The disciple wielded a soft whip that snaked through the air like a venomous viper, its metallic gleam a chilling omen, its target directly at Zhang Nian’s throat.

Her eyes, stunningly beautiful, widened in sheer terror. She narrowly dodged, her balance faltering, nearly collapsing onto the ground. In that precarious moment, her toes made a light, almost involuntary contact with the ground. An 'Ice Blade' erupted from beneath her feet, sharp as a drawn sword, but her instability caused it to miss its intended mark. It merely grazed the attacking disciple’s lower abdomen, startling him enough to retreat a few paces. However, fueled by anger, he immediately surged back, his face contorted.

Recognizing that a direct, individual confrontation wouldn't easily subdue this apparently fragile young woman, the disciples exchanged a knowing glance. Without further ado, they shifted their strategy to a coordinated assault.

Instantly.

Their spiritual powers intertwined, coalescing into a vortex in the air. It swirled with vibrant, yet deadly colors, a swirling tempest that seemed intent on devouring Zhang Nian whole.

A pallor spread across Zhang Nian’s face as she fixated on the formidable, seemingly world-ending vortex. Her breath hitched, growing shallow and rapid.

Despite the overwhelming odds, she refused to yield. Her trembling hands moved with astonishing speed, her fingers a blur, akin to willow branches tossed in a gale, yet imbued with an unyielding tenacity.

The innate power of her 'Chaos Cold Ice Body', seemingly roused by the dire peril of her situation, began to stir and surge within her.

As her spiritual power gathered momentum, an ethereal 'Ice Qilin' slowly materialized before her.

This magnificent 'Ice Qilin' emanated a deep, enigmatic blue glow. It appeared as though it were sculpted from the very essence of endless, frigid nights, shimmering with minuscule ice shards that sparkled like distant stars, exuding an aura of mystery and captivating beauty.

Its graceful form radiated an intense cold. Where its four hooves touched the ground, frost instantly bloomed, rapidly transforming the earth beneath into a sheet of crystal-clear ice.

Its head held high, a single horn, sharp as a freshly honed blade, pointed towards the heavens, seemingly capable of piercing the very sky. Its ice-blue eyes, like the depths of a frozen abyss, were filled with an unyielding determination, fixed intently on the formidable adversaries before it.

Its mane, distinctly defined, was composed of countless strands of dense, hardened ice. These strands rustled in the wind, sounding a silent herald for the impending battle.

With every expulsion of breath from its nostrils, plumes of frigid air, like white mist, billowed forth. This chilling exhalation instantly froze the surrounding atmosphere with an audible sizzle, causing the temperature to plummet drastically, as if transitioning from the warmth of midsummer directly into the heart of winter.

A mighty roar tore from its throat, echoing towards the heavens. The sound waves propagated, causing the ambient moisture in the air to rapidly condense. This condensation transformed into countless tiny ice crystals, cascading down like a gentle, shimmering ice rain, bestowing an added layer of majestic grandeur upon the scene.

The 'Ice Qilin' unleashed another defiant roar to the sky, radiating an aura of piercing coldness, and then charged with ferocious intensity directly into the heart of the spiritual vortex.

"BOOM!"

A deafening explosion ripped through the air, like the sky fracturing and the earth splitting asunder. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling outwards, forcing everyone present to stagger back. The ground beneath them was violently gouged, forming a massive pit, from which dust billowed upwards in thick clouds.

Zhang Nian herself was violently flung backward by the recoil, crashing to the ground. Blood trickled from her lips, her hair falling in disarray around her shoulders.

However, the light in her eyes burned with an intensified resolve.

Summoning her remaining strength, she pushed herself to her feet. Clasping her hands together, she then forcefully thrust them apart. A curtain of ice-blue light surged from her palms, swiftly extending to encompass everyone present.

Wherever the luminous barrier extended, the temperature plummeted drastically. This sudden drop in temperature rendered everyone’s movements sluggish, as if they were struggling through thick mud, significantly impeding their actions.

Zhang Nian was not exempt from this effect. The sustained effort of maintaining the light curtain began to rapidly deplete her spiritual power. Her legs trembled with increasing severity.

Amidst their desperate struggles, Zhang Nian’s gaze hardened. Her hands moved with lightning speed, forming intricate hand seals as she began to chant incantations.

Suddenly.

Countless spikes of ice erupted from both the ground and the air, converging from every conceivable direction towards her opponents. Their speed was so immense that evasion seemed impossible.

Yet, the potency of these ice spikes was noticeably diminished compared to what Zhang Nian could typically muster. Many were easily deflected by the disciples' own spiritual power.

"AH!"

A series of agonized screams echoed in succession. Several disciples found themselves impaled in various parts of their bodies by the ice spikes. Blood gushed forth, staining their formerly pristine robes a dark crimson.

Terror flashed across their faces. They yearned to flee, but discovered their legs were now frozen immovably to the ground, rendering them completely helpless.

By this point, Zhang Nian had also expended the vast majority of her spiritual power. Her figure swayed precariously, managing to remain upright only through sheer force of will.

Standing a short distance away, Xu Wendong watched, his brow furrowed slightly. A flicker of concern crossed his eyes.

However.

He made no move to assist Zhang Nian.

He understood that this grueling trial was a necessary crucible for Zhang Nian's growth.

After enduring a brief moment of reprieve, the disciples of Master Wudao, their faces flushed with fury and a deep sense of shame, regrouped their waning strength despite their injuries. They prepared to launch an even more ferocious assault.

Facing this renewed onslaught, Zhang Nian gritted her teeth, mustering every last iota of residual 'Cold Ice Energy' within her being.

On the precipice of life and death, a subtle miracle began to unfold.

While struggling with all her might, the Chaos Cold Ice Body within her seemed to adapt to the high-intensity battle, beginning to autonomously absorb the surrounding spiritual power to replenish itself.

She also gained significant combat experience from this fierce engagement, her battle prowess gradually enriching.

Her gaze grew clearer, her execution of Ice Magic becoming increasingly fluid, with Ice Blades, Ice Shields, and ice spikes demonstrating amplified power.

Following another round of intense confrontation, Zhang Nian not only skillfully intercepted the opponent’s attacks but also identified opportune moments to launch counterattacks.

Her movements were agile like a phantom as she weaved through the enemy formation, executing Ice Magic with ease and catching everyone completely off guard.

Finally, Zhang Nian raised both hands high, concentrating all her spiritual power to manifest a towering Ice Qilin, which glowed with intricate runes, exuding a terrifyingly cold energy that chilled the soul.

"Go!"

Zhang Nian pointed with a graceful hand, and the Ice Qilin, seemingly imbued with sentience, roared as it charged toward the battered enemies.

The disciples, their eyes wide with terror, appeared rooted to the spot, wishing to evade but finding it already too late.

With a muffled "puff," the Ice Qilin struck their formation, the immense impact sending them hurtling away like tattered kites, crashing heavily onto the ground, their ultimate fate uncertain.

For a moment, a deathly silence descended upon the scene, so profound one could hear a pin drop.

Apart from Zhang Nian's slight panting, no other sound could be heard.

All gazes were fixed upon Zhang Nian, wide with shock and disbelief, as if they were witnessing a Demon God emerge from the depths of the Nine Nether Hell.

If one had not witnessed it firsthand, who could possibly believe that such a formidable group of Golden Core Stage Peak cultivators could be rendered utterly helpless by a girl at the Golden Core Stage Initial?

Xu Wendong’s previously tense expression slowly relaxed, a faint smile touching his lips, his eyes filled with palpable relief.

He had initially presumed that Zhang Nian, with her limited combat experience and skills, would surely be overwhelmed.

However, the reality had unfolded as a spectacular reversal of his expectations.

Zhang Nian’s performance amidst this perilous situation had far surpassed his prior estimations.

The potent force inherent in the Chaos Cold Ice Body was undeniably remarkable, but what astonished Xu Wendong the most was Zhang Nian’s prodigious growth during these intense clashes, evolving rapidly like a Phoenix undergoing rebirth and maturation.

At this critical juncture.

Master Wudao let out a sigh of helplessness: "It appears I must intervene after all!"