Guan Gongxiao was Ye Hui's personal disciple, and cultivated his master's most prized divine ability, South Chou Waters. However, it resembled Water Virtue more than Capital Guard. Standing upon the ashen waters beneath the descending heavenly light, he drew back his hand and formed a seal.
"Go."
He was clearly prepared. A bronze mirror shot out of his sleeve and swallowed the heavenly light in one breath, while his other hand released a sheet of runes.
The runes manifested drifting white shadows, accompanied by profound chanting. A gust of wind and sand shook loose from Guan Gongxiao's sleeve, mingling with the shadows as they swept forward. The sandstorm seemed unimpressive, yet it pierced the Bright Yang heavenly light with unstoppable momentum.
Li Zhouwei immediately recognized a natural counter to his family's Radiant Essence Dao lineage and swiftly formed a seal as he said, "Heaven's patterns intersect, Radiant Yang Punishment Fire!"
Five flames in ochre, pale yellow, gosling yellow, bright red, and vermilion surged downward in a sweeping cascade. Firelight surged into the sky, instantly suppressing the sandstorm as Li Zhouwei charged into the fray, sweeping his halberd in a wide arc.
The heavenly light shone upon Li Zhouwei's halberd, staining it with a dark shadow. He practiced the Armor Cycle Soul-Refining Halberd Art, a halberd technique forged through the annihilation of sects. He had destroyed the royal court of Mount Yue when he was still in the Embryonic Breathing Realm, thus earning entry into the technique.
But though Northern Mount Yue had a large population, it was merely a minor Qi Cultivation Realm force. It was only enough for initiation. Later, when he exterminated Hidden Cloud Cave, a Jiangbei faction with many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, the Armor Cycle Soul-Refining Halberd Art had advanced greatly.
Dark shadows leaped from the halberd, causing the sounds of slaughter to echo. The halberd sent the waters of the river surging even before it struck. Guan Gongxiao, a spell art cultivator with years of battle experience in the Eastern Sea, knew he could not allow Li Zhouwei to close the distance. He pressed two fingers to his lips and blew forcefully.
A solid sheet of white light billowed forth and gently deflected the halberd's sweeping strike. Guan Gongxiao had used this spell art against countless cultivators and paid it no mind until a chill crept up his back. He glanced behind him and saw a jet-black flame flickering in Li Zhouwei's hands.
Clang!
There was no time to ponder. Li Zhouwei's halberd technique was ferocious and swift; the second thrust was already aimed at his face. Guan Gongxiao had no choice but to block with another spell art. As he pushed back, another jet-black flame rose around Li Zhouwei, bringing the total to two. A sense of unease crept into Guan Gongxiao's heart.
As a direct disciple of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, Guan Gongxiao had witnessed countless spell arts. The sight of Li Zhouwei's black flames told him, with near certainty, that they were a technique that continuously empowered the wielder. He knew he could not allow his opponent to sustain it uninterrupted.
Guan Gongxiao immediately activated a dharma artifact, and a black bell manifested behind him with a ringing chime. It turned once, projecting a gray curtain that swept forward. Li Zhouwei channeled his mana, and Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light burst forth from the center of his brows to surge ahead.
Though the black bell appeared strange, it was a genuine Capital Guard dharma artifact. Unlike the previous cultivators Li Zhouwei had fought, who had crumbled after a single blow, this artifact let out a mournful cry as Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light struck it, yet it held firm.
Guan Gongxiao seized the moment to withdraw. After retreating just two steps, he activated his South Chou Waters Immortal Foundation, transforming his body into water imbued with mana and merging into the gray waters surging from his Daoist scripture. His figure reappeared on the other side.
Once distance had been established, Guan Gongxiao formed hand seals while stealing a glance at the black flames on Li Zhouwei's body. They had not faded, but continued to burn fiercely, causing his brows to furrow as he thought, I cannot tell what spell this is.
The unknown was always the most fearsome. As he stepped back, Li Zhouwei also freed his hands, forming seals and extending his fingers. A ray of solar light leaped from his palm, surging forth with Radiant Fire[1].
Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art![2]
The technique was adaptable, and had no fixed form. Li Zhouwei had simply used it this time Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art to restrain his opponent. Red and yellow flames danced beneath his feet as a small flag bearing the image of a crimson sparrow rose into the air and shot toward the gray waters.
It was the Yang Radiant Red Sparrow Banner[3]. Guan Gongxiao's storm of wind and sand was merely a spell, rootless as duckweed. Even though Radiant Fire and Radiant Essence had no direct relation of dominance or submission, the storm was quickly eroded and swept aside as the banner arrived.
Li Zhouwei seized the perfect moment, transforming into heavenly light and leaping in front of Guan Gongxiao. His halberd thrust forward, striking the gray curtain with a sharp, ringing sound.
Clang!
Guan Gongxiao's expression changed abruptly. Relying solely on the bell's feedback, he quickly realized the incredible strength behind the halberd blow. Earlier, he had dismissed it since he had the assistance of spells. But this one strike sent his mana plummeting, and dread crept into his heart, The halberd in his hand is likely an ancient dharma artifact...
His gaze swept quickly across the battlefield. His own side now held a full advantage. Among the Li Family and Profound Peak Gate faction, only Fu Yuezi, who wielded a golden axe, and a scholar-like figure could still fight. The rest were little more than chickens and dogs, collapsing at the first touch. Many were already wounded, and relief flooded his chest as he thought, I just need to stall him.
But in the span of that single thought, the gray curtain had already taken three halberd strikes, and its aura was starting to falter slightly. As a layer of black flame ignited on Li Zhouwei's body, Guan Gongxiao, unaware of the subtle transformation in his own mindset, formed another seal and cast another spell.
Li Zhouwei also took in the state of the battlefield. His gaze swept the area, and he redirected his halberd. To everyone's surprise, he ignored Guan Gongxiao before him and turned to thrust at Gongsun Baifan instead.
Although Gongsun Baifan's blade technique was exquisite, he was but a rogue cultivator. How could he match Cui Jueyin, the direct scion of Chongzhou Island? Cui Jueyin silently cast several spell arts that left Gongsun trapped, unable to advance or retreat. The Everbright Platform manifested and darted through the air, battering Gongsun until he was utterly disoriented.
Now, when Li Zhouwei suddenly lunged at him, the blade cultivator paled in fright. Mana backlash made him cough blood, but he still drew his blade and turned to meet the attack, only to find the radiant halberd adjusting its arc mid-swing. His hasty strike hit nothing but air, leaving him even more off balance, and Li Zhouwei closed in from the side.
"He intends to fight two at once!"
How could Guan Gongxiao not understand? Humiliated beyond measure, fury surged within him, and his spell arts grew faster and more vicious. Cui Jueyin, however, saw the situation clearly and withdrew to aid the Profound Peak Gate cultivators.
Gongsun Baifan had no profound Dao lineage. His long blade clashed with Li Zhouwei’s halberd over several exchanges. He too thought the surging black flames around Li Zhouwei to be strange, but Guan Gongxiao was too focused on his own spellcasting to warn him.
Guan Gongxiao could only force out, " Ha! "
A burst of crimson light shot from Guan Gongxiao's mouth. Li Zhouwei's expression grew solemn as he forcibly swung his halberd back and silently activated Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art, shaping it into a celestial screen before him.
The crimson light was extremely sharp. However, it hesitated briefly against the Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art before shattering it into pieces. As Li Zhouwei blocked with his halberd, he immediately sensed something was off.
This crimson light is a refined art of the Capital Guard Dao lineage, built up over time. My Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art was a reflexive response, yet it could still slow it slightly... The Supreme Yang Dao might have a subtle restraining effect on the Capital Guard Dao!
Li Zhouwei had used the Yang Radiant Red Sparrow Banner earlier, and the Capital Guard
Dao had showed no fear of Radiant Fire. That meant the key lay in the Supreme Yang Dao.
Delight stirred in Li Zhouwei's heart, This is quite a significant discovery!
1. Previously known as Li Fire. ☜
2. Previously known as Supreme Yang Resonance Li Art. ☜
3. Previously known as Yang Li Red Sparrow Banner. ☜