"Next match: Li Haoran of the Dao Seeking Sect versus Long Xiang of the Five Elements Sect."
"Is Li Haoran a Fire Spiritual Root?" Qiu Jin'an asked suddenly.
"He is. What of it?"
"Interesting. Our sect's Long Xiang is a Water Spiritual Root. This time, it's Fire against Water."
On the Martial Arts Square, Li Haoran and Long Xiang cupped their fists toward each other.
"Please advise."
"You flatter me."
Both fell silent, saying no more.
The moment the match began, Long Xiang struck first. Like a dragon leaping into the sea, he surged forward with the momentum of raging waves. In his hands, he wielded a pair of ice sabers that gave off billowing waves of chill, causing the temperature across the entire Martial Arts Square to drop.
"Flying Dragon Strike!"
Long Xiang bellowed, only to be met by Li Haoran's bare fist.
Lu Yang frowned. Li Haoran was not a body cultivator, so why was he fighting bare-handed without any weapon? Even Man Gu knew enough to fight with a weapon.
Not knowing Li Haoran's background, Long Xiang sensed nothing amiss and slashed his sabers down at him.
Rings of fire erupted around Li Haoran. Pointing a finger at Long Xiang, he uttered, "Go," and the fiery rings flew out, encircling Long Xiang.
"Water Rise, Raging Waves!"
Long Xiang cast a spell. The illusory silhouette of an ocean surge condensed behind him, and the audience below the stage could faintly hear the crash of crashing waves.
The surge's illusion dispersed the rings of fire. Seeing this, Li Haoran strode forward, red fist impressions raining down on Long Xiang one after another.
Magma surged beneath Li Haoran's feet—the result of soaking in magma for an entire year.
Magma collided with the surging waves. Though the ocean waves were merely an illusion, colliding with the magma still sent plumes of steam billowing upward. The arena was soon cloaked in dense mist, obscuring their figures so that only the sounds of Li Haoran and Long Xiang clashing could be heard.
Li Haoran's fist techniques were astonishing, completely defying the usual impression he gave. Long Xiang was not skilled at close combat and struggled to cope, taking several hits across his body.
Fortunately, Li Haoran's attacks lacked sheer power, so the blows failed to inflict serious injuries.
Long Xiang raised his hand, condensing the dense mist on the stage into a pillar of water and hurling it at Li Haoran.
Unable to dodge, Li Haoran was struck dead-on by the water pillar, thoroughly drenched from head to toe.
Li Haoran engaged Long Xiang once more, but this time Long Xiang held the upper hand. For some reason, Li Haoran's movements had grown sluggish.
Li Haoran frowned, realizing what the problem was.
Long Xiang laughed heartily. "Brother Li, you're clever to notice my trap so quickly, but it's too late! You've been soaked by my water pillar, and I can control the weight of water. You're fighting encumbered now, so naturally you can't move as freely as before. You lose!"
To his surprise, a faint smile appeared on Li Haoran's lips. "Is that so? I don't think so."
Long Xiang tried to raise his hand to attack, only to discover he couldn't move at all.
"What did you do?!" Long Xiang's eyes widened. He had no idea what was happening.
Flames rose around Li Haoran, instantly vaporizing the moisture. He strolled leisurely up to Long Xiang and said, "I refined your clothes."
Only then did Long Xiang realize that the punches Li Haoran had landed on him were not meant to hurt him at all. Instead, they had been used to refine his garments, turning his clothes into an iron bucket. And he, Long Xiang, was the prey trapped inside, completely unable to escape.
*Why are everyone's fighting styles in the Dao Seeking Sect so bizarre?!*
*Is this something a normal person could even come up with?!*
Li Haoran explained further, "I once heard Senior Brother Lu Yang say that during battle, one could use a storage ring to strip away an opponent's clothes. Back then, I wondered: if you can strip an enemy's clothes, why couldn't you refine them instead? It seems my idea was spot on."
Qiu Jin'an looked at Lu Yang in astonishment. How could anyone dream up such a shameless method of fighting?
*Oh, right. This is the Dao Seeking Sect. That explains everything.*
Three battles, three victories. The Foundation Establishment division's overall triumph was already set in stone.
However, this tournament was an exchange contest, so even though the outcome was decided, the remaining two matches still had to be fought.
The fourth match was Tao Yao's. The Feathering Immortal Physique was even rarer than a single spiritual root and possessed frightening power; in single combat, she was half a step stronger than Li Haoran.
Yet to everyone's surprise, Tao Yao actually lost.
The one who defeated Tao Yao was a white-robed youth at the middle Foundation Establishment stage, a year older than Tao Yao.
Tao Yao was still at early Foundation Establishment. Her magic power fell slightly short compared to the white-robed youth, and her combat experience was also inferior to his.
"Next," the white-robed youth said coldly. He did not step down, choosing to fight consecutive matches.
Seeing how formidable the white-robed youth was and knowing he was always like this, the fifth disciple Qiu Jin'an had selected said nothing and voluntarily gave up his spot.
Tao Yao was somewhat unwilling to accept it. From childhood to now, she had always been number one and had never lost. The opponent's spells were extraordinarily refined, and she had lost before she could even bring the advantages of her Feathering Immortal Physique to bear.
From behind, someone patted Tao Yao on the shoulder.
When Tao Yao saw who it was, tears welled in her eyes. "Senior Brother, I lost."
The person wiped away Tao Yao's tears and comforted her, "Your cultivation isn't high enough yet, you lack experience, and you're a year younger than him. Besides, Eldest Senior Sister told me that the Feathering Immortal Physique doesn't offer much advantage in the early stages.
"Since you call me Senior Brother, I'll make sure to beat him for you."
...
Seeing that his side had finally won a match, Qiu Jin'an smiled and introduced him, "This is my youngest disciple, Bai Ming, and also my proudest pupil. He has mastered three of the Five Elements spells, and his fire spells have nearly produced True Fire. In our sect's grand competition, he swept through the Foundation Establishment stage and took first place."
Practicing Five Elements spells was exceptionally difficult, and different elemental spells could conflict with one another; a single misstep could ruin one's entire cultivation. For Bai Ming to master three elemental spells while still in the Foundation Establishment stage was extraordinarily rare.
Bai Ming's performance restored Qiu Jin'an's confidence. "Not to boast, but no matter who you send out, the result will be the same."
Although they had lost three rounds, Bai Ming's overwhelming victory had Qiu Jin'an grinning from ear to ear.
"I wonder whom your esteemed sect will send for the next match?"
"Me."
The Immortal Fairy spoke on Lu Yang's behalf.
On the Martial Arts Square, a figure walked over slowly with steady, unhurried steps. It was none other than Lu Yang.
However, this Lu Yang had a bare, shiny bald head and a benevolent expression, starkly different from the impression Lu Yang usually gave.
The cold indifference on Bai Ming's face cracked, replaced by utter disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
He naturally recognized Lu Yang, the acting Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, who was currently sitting in the spectator stands. Then who was this person standing right in front of him?!
"A clone!" With Qiu Jin'an's sharp vision, he saw through the origin of the Lu Yang standing on the Martial Arts Square in an instant.
Yet that was even more impossible. Lu Yang was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage—how could he possess a clone?
In his understanding, no cultivation method or spell in existence could accomplish such a feat!
"To be precise, it's a clone from a Bodhi tree," the Immortal Fairy added.
Lu Yang had used the Tree Planting Art to plant himself, and the Bodhi tree had grown two people: his true self and a bald clone.
"A clone from the Seventy-Two Great Divine Abilities?!" Qiu Jin'an was appalled. Aside from Yun Zhi, how could any Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly learn such a technique?
"No, wait—it's a Wood-attribute clone!" Shock churned like tempestuous waves in Qiu Jin'an's heart. No such spell had ever existed before. A brand-new spell had been created!
Who was it?!
Was it Yun Zhi, or was it...?
Qiu Jin'an shifted his gaze to Lu Yang, the corner of his eye twitching slightly. Previously, when he heard members of the Dao Seeking Sect claim that Lu Yang could challenge opponents above his cultivation level, he had assumed some underhanded trick was involved.
If this person truly was the one who created the spell, then those claims of fighting above his level might not be exaggerated in the slightest!
Chapter 168