Chapter 81: Attack and Counterattack

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Given Luo Ji’s current strength, killing ordinary third-stage cultivators would typically take only two or three spells. Yet, he had already cast countless spells in his exchange with Lu Ye.

What surprised him even more was that this mountain tiger could fight using spirit patterns!

Studying spirit patterns is several times harder than mastering spells because constructing a spirit pattern is a very delicate process; a slight error can lead to failure, let alone activating one in combat.

Generally, only highly experienced spirit pattern masters possess such capability.

But how old was Lu Ye?

Through observation, he confirmed that Lu Ye had mastered a defensive spirit pattern, one that could block his ice cone attacks and be activated at will.

This discovery made Luo Ji put aside his disdain. What his senior brothers had said before he left home was indeed true: one must not be careless when traveling and never underestimate any enemy. Others might have fewer opened spirit apertures or less diverse methods, but that single spirit pattern technique was something most people couldn’t possess.

However, Luo Ji was not deterred; instead, his fighting spirit soared. His recent experiences in the outer circle had not offered him any truly challenging opponents. How could he miss such a rare opportunity to face a formidable adversary?

Just as his thoughts swirled, a brilliant flash of light suddenly appeared ahead. With a crack, a large block of ice shattered from within. From the opening, a figure darted out like a gale.

His Ice Prison spell was broken just like that? Luo Ji looked surprised. That wasn't ordinary ice; it was a spell, one he had constructed based on his Ice Prisms spell. Although it hadn't trapped Lu Ye, it shouldn't have been broken so easily.

This made him realize a problem: the long blade in Lu Ye’s hand was extraordinary. He absolutely could not withstand such a strike!

Spirit energy surged, and spells reignited, raining down on Lu Ye.

Lu Ye charged forward relentlessly. This time, he didn't use his blade to cut through the spells, nor did he dodge. Instead, he simply barreled through them, blocking every incoming spell with his Guardian Spirit Pattern.

In the dark passage, light continuously erupted, and their distance rapidly closed.

Luo Ji’s eyelids twitched, silently cursing Lu Ye as a truly reckless brute.

But undeniably, the brute's approach unnerved him.

In a confrontation between a blade master and a spell master, maintaining distance favors the spell master. But once close combat is engaged, spell masters usually fare poorly.

In just three breaths, Lu Ye had closed to within two yards of Luo Ji. The long blade in his hand flashed, and as he pressed closer, he unleashed a strike.

Luo Ji hastily retreated, but at that moment, Yi Yi reappeared behind him, her form quickly solidifying. She raised a hand and slapped Luo Ji’s shoulder.

Luo Ji was terrified, but he quickly realized the palm strike had little offensive power and was easily blocked by his protective spirit energy.

Suddenly, a brilliant spiritual light erupted from his back, sharp as piercing thorns. Yi Yi, who was about to deliver another palm strike, immediately cried out in pain and flashed away.

However, with her obstruction, Luo Ji was now unavoidable!

If it were attacks from other third-stage cultivators, Luo Ji would have been confident in blocking them with his protective spirit energy. But he had witnessed Lu Ye’s brutal power in breaking the Ice Prison spell and dared not be overconfident.

"Mist Shield!" he low-growled, spirit energy surging, instantly enveloping his body in a misty layer of spirit energy.

Lu Ye’s blade struck down. Even with the sharpness enchantment, it failed to pierce the Mist Shield. He felt as if he had chopped into rubber; the long blade sank in but became stuck.

While retreating, Luo Ji raised his hand and pointed at Lu Ye, gritting his teeth, "Golden Arc!"

Now it was Lu Ye who had no escape. The golden crescent-shaped slash struck Lu Ye’s chest, but before it hit, he had already activated a Guardian Spirit Pattern in front of him.

Lu Ye struck again, chopping down fiercely.

"Ice Prisms!"

"Wind Blade!"

"Thunder Halberd!"

In the passage, Luo Ji’s furious shouts echoed continuously. With each cry, spells of different attributes were unleashed, pounding against Lu Ye’s chest.

He appeared to have a powerful momentum, but he was actually retreating step by step, simply because Lu Ye’s relentless blade strikes were pressing him back. The Mist Shield around his body even began to show signs of dissipating.

"I don't believe you can maintain that spirit pattern forever!" Luo Ji roared as he fought Lu Ye. Although he was shocked that Lu Ye could fight with spirit patterns, activating spirit patterns consumed a lot of energy. As long as Lu Ye ran out of spirit energy, he would win!

The brute opposite him remained silent, like a mute, striking with increasing ferocity.

Moments later, Luo Ji's eyelids twitched and spasmed. He felt the situation was not going well.

Lu Ye consumed energy activating his spirit patterns, and he also consumed energy activating his spells. His spirit energy reserves were indeed greater than Lu Ye’s, but he cast more spells, and because he had to guard against Yi Yi, he constantly maintained his Mist Shield spell, which consumed even more.

If they continued clashing like this, it was truly uncertain who would give out first.

With his thoughts racing, Luo Ji roared, "Blazing!"

As he raised his hand, a spirit talisman appeared at his fingertips. He poured spirit energy into it…

Lu Ye felt like he was about to give out. His engagement with Luo Ji hadn’t lasted long, perhaps half a stick of incense, but in that short time, eight-tenths of his spirit energy was depleted.

This was the most intense battle he had encountered so far, and his opponent was only a second-stage cultivator.

So, when Luo Ji shouted "Blazing," he knew there was a trick. He leaped back abruptly and simultaneously reached for his storage bag, grabbing a spirit talisman with his fingertips.

Their eyes met, and they both paused, surprised. As spirit energy surged, two talismans simultaneously burst into light.

Water spears appeared suddenly; three water spears, arranged in a triangular formation, shot towards Lu Ye. A fiery snake surged, its body swaying as it lunged at Luo Ji.

With a tremendous boom, the passage shook violently, and rubble rained down.

The collision of water and fire instantly generated a large amount of hot gas in the passage. Spirit light flickered around Lu Ye and Luo Ji, both sent flying by the powerful impact.

They each silently cursed their opponent as a sneaky bastard, then stood up, covered in dust.

By the time Lu Ye caught up with his blade, Luo Ji had already fled the passage. He turned back and launched a spirit talisman at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye ducked his head. The talisman exploded into a dazzling golden light, cratering the surrounding ground.

Looking again, Luo Ji had run far away. Lu Ye picked up his pace in pursuit, and Amber also caught up from behind. Lu Ye jumped onto the tiger's back, and his speed surged.

Fleeing, Luo Ji glanced back, his nose twitching in frustration. Seeing he couldn't escape, he simply stopped running. He turned to face Lu Ye, holding a spirit talisman in each hand. He slapped one onto himself, immediately becoming enveloped in a solid golden light.

This was a Golden Body Talisman, and a good quality one at that. At the same time, he launched the other talisman at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye leaped from the tiger's back, striking the incoming attack with his blade, while instructing Amber, "Stay clear."

The massive impact sent him tumbling to the ground, his body aching. As soon as he stood up, he saw Luo Ji standing boldly, a challenging grin on his face as he beckoned, "Come!"

Lu Ye said nothing, retrieved a Golden Body Talisman from his storage bag, and slapped it onto himself.

Luo Ji couldn't help but sigh. The opponent’s financial resources... seemed to be on par with his own.