Chương 84: Battle of the Sects, Reversing Heaven and Earth Alone (2)

"The Yin-Fiend Arrow! Daoist Tianji, you truly have a lavish hand, bestowing such a treasure upon a mere junior," Qingxiaozi remarked, his face clouding with a cold, sharp edge as he spoke. Tiandaozi remained impassive, his voice as flat as a stagnant pond.

"Daoist Qingxiaozi, the Earth Spirit Talisman you gifted your disciple is hardly a trifle either, is it?" The two leaders locked eyes, a brief spark of hostility igniting between them before they both snorted in unison and looked away, dropping the subject. On the stage, Li Fang poured his spiritual essence into the Yin-Fiend Arrow. It erupted in a ghastly shroud of pale bone-fire. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he launched it.

"Go!" The artifact blurred through the air, a streak of deathly light that struck the amber barrier in the blink of an eye. Crack! Shatter! The shield, which had withstood dozens of blade-auras without a scratch, proved as fragile as thin ice before the arrow. It disintegrated instantly. The bone-fire clinging to the arrow seized the opening, surging toward Zi Quanxin like a hungry predator.

"Agh!" The fire was merciless. Zi Quanxin's personal spiritual shield lasted only a heartbeat before collapsing. As the flames licked his flesh, a harrowing scream tore from his throat.

"In this round, the Xuanxiao Sect concedes!" Qingxiaozi shouted, his expression grim. He flicked his finger, sending a wisp of energy to extinguish the bone-fire. Several disciples rushed onto the stage to carry the scorched Zi Quanxin away for treatment.

"Heh, then my Qingyan Sect shall accept this victory with due modesty," Tiandaozi said, his eyes devoid of any real emotion as he cupped his hands in a shallow gesture of courtesy.

"The Xuanxiao Sect actually lost? It seems the Qingyan Sect came prepared. Their strength is not to be dismissed."

"The two juniors were evenly matched in cultivation, but the Qingyan Sect's artifact was simply superior."

"Indeed. This first round was a mere probe. The true storm is yet to come."

"Senior Brother," Dan Chenzi whispered via Divine Sense, his brow furrowed.

"The Qingyan Sect clearly knows us too well. That boy's strike was ruthless and calculated, showing no intent to test the waters. He knew exactly where Zi Quanxin's technique was vulnerable. What is our next move?" Qingxiaozi's eyes were shadowed. He had reached the same conclusion.

"Hmph. We must strike from an unexpected angle. Your third disciple, Hei Shi, has an extraordinary talent for fire manipulation. Let him take the stage; he should be more than enough to handle this brat." Dan Chenzi hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Hei Shi, you shall fight the second round. Do your best, but do not overextend yourself." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Yes, Master!" Hei Shi's eyes flashed with a keen light. He vaulted onto the platform, his gaze locking onto Li Fang.

"Will you step down, or shall we continue?" Li Fang wavered. He had already secured a significant merit for his sect. However, the allure of a second victory—and the lavish rewards it would bring—was too great. Though the Yin-Fiend Arrow was spent, he believed his remaining treasures were sufficient. His face hardened.

"We continue!" Cautious by nature, Li Fang searched his memory for any record of this Xuanxiao disciple but found nothing. He acted first, summoning an oval White Bone Shield crafted from the remains of a powerful demon beast. It radiated a chilling, morbid aura.

"Flame Punch Technique!" Li Fang roared. Spiritual energy surged through his veins, coating his fists in a crimson glow. He swung, launching two massive spheres of condensed flame directly at Hei Shi's head. The Flame Punch was a basic technique of the Qingyan Sect, a staple for most Qi Condensation disciples. Its power was mediocre, barely qualifying as a Yellow-grade Mid-tier technique.

In the current cultivation world, all techniques and scriptures are categorized into four great ranks: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each rank is further subdivided into High, Mid, and Low tiers. By using the Flame Punch, Li Fang was clearly testing Hei Shi's depth, holding his more lethal cards in reserve. Hei Shi watched the incoming fireballs with a sharp, focused gaze. To the crowd's shock, he didn't dodge or even raise a spiritual shield. He simply strode forward to meet the attack head-on.

"Arrogant fool! You seek death!" Li Fang's heart leaped with joy. Though the Flame Punch was basic, a direct hit on an unshielded body would still inflict severe damage. As the flames neared Hei Shi's chest, Li Fang allowed himself a smirk, surprised at how easily this victory was coming. But just as the fireballs were about to impact, the world shifted. Hei Shi's hands swept out in a blurring arc. In the center of each palm, a small, dancing orb of pale white flame flickered into existence. BOOM!

Fed by his internal essence, the white flames swelled violently, expanding into a massive conflagration. The fire twisted and coiled, manifesting into the spectral image of a Fire Toad. The beast opened its maw and swallowed both of Li Fang's fireballs whole.

"Return!" Hei Shi's fingers danced through a series of mudras. The Fire Toad's mouth snapped open, and two pillars of roaring flame erupted forth. At the core of the blast, the faint silhouettes of the original fists could still be seen, now imbued with terrifying intensity as they hurtled back at Li Fang.

"What?!" The reversal happened in the space of two breaths. From Hei Shi's sudden strike to the empowered counterattack, it was a flash of lightning. Li Fang cried out in terror. The twin flames moved with an eerie intelligence, curving around his White Bone Shield and slamming directly into his chest. Snap! His spiritual shield shattered like glass. Though the flames had lost some potency, the impact was enough to send Li Fang flying.

He coughed up a spray of blood and collapsed onto the Ascension Terrace, unconscious. The Qingyan Sect disciples fell silent, their faces pale. Two of them rushed up to carry their fallen comrade away. In contrast, the Xuanxiao Sect erupted in a deafening cheer. Many female disciples looked at Hei Shi with newfound admiration, their eyes sparkling.

"Senior Brother Hei Shi's control over fire is exquisite! To manifest flames into a demon beast form with such power... even some Foundation Establishment fire-cultivators might struggle with that."

"As expected of Dan Chenzi's disciple. Not only a master of alchemy but a formidable combatant as well!"

"Go, Senior Brother! Beat them down! Show these Qingyan Sect brats who's boss!"

"Hei Shi is invincible!"

"Hmph. A mere firefly's glow daring to compete with the bright moon. How pathetic." Behind Tiandaozi, the youth who had been sitting with closed eyes finally spoke. He looked up, a murderous aura swirling in his gaze.

"Sect Master Ancestor, allow me to go down. I alone am enough to sweep aside this entire rabble of Xuanxiao disciples."