Both sides moved almost at the same time.
"Earth Release · Rock Armor!"
With a loud shout, Zhao Wuji brought his palms together. Spiritual energy surged, and a layer of gray-brown stone crawled up from beneath his feet, rapidly covering his entire body. It formed a heavy suit of armor that encased his torso, shoulders, and arms, leaving gaps at the joints—making him look like a moving stone tower. He charged forward in great strides, each step thudding heavily against the stone platform.
Several water arrows struck him, splashing harmlessly against the armor. Zhao Wuji didn't even flinch—he didn't slow down in the slightest.
Seeing him close in, Lu Wei formed hand seals.
"Water Release · Water Prison!"
A massive sphere of water condensed in the air, trapping Zhao Wuji inside. His movements instantly slowed, as if sinking into mud—like an insect frozen in amber.
Lu Wei gestured, and the other four attacked at once.
"Earth Release · Falling Boulder!"
A massive rock formed in midair and crashed down.
"Water Mist Technique!""Water Arrow Technique!"
Fan Jian and Tang Zhiru struck simultaneously. Two water arrows spiraled into the sphere, attacking Zhao Wuji from both sides.
At the same time, thick mist spread in front of Lin Fei, obscuring their vision.
"Fire Release · Fireball!"
From the rear, Fang Zijing launched three fireballs in a triangular formation. They tore through the mist with hissing sounds, turning water vapor into white steam and opening gaps in the fog.
Lin Fei and Li Chen followed up.
Lin Fei formed hand seals, and a wooden humanoid burst from the ground, charging forward through the water with heavy splashes. Li Chen swept his hands, sending a flurry of green leaves slicing across the surface toward the enemy.
Suddenly, a red glow flashed within the mist.
A ring of fire exploded outward, dispersing the fog. Zhao Wuji emerged, holding the massive falling rock above his head. Veins bulged on his arms. His stone armor had mostly crumbled, turning into mud beneath his feet.
Lu Wei's eyes sharpened at the opening.
"Metal Release · Golden Needle Technique!"
Countless golden needles materialized, hovering in the air before shooting toward Zhao Wuji like a deadly storm.
"Nice move!"
Zhao Wuji roared, hurling the giant rock forward. The needles slammed into it with metallic clanging, rapidly breaking it apart into flying debris.
"Fire Release · Blazing Flame!"
He unleashed a wave of fire. Flames spread in a fan shape, meeting the incoming needles just as the rock shattered. Fire countered metal, and with their equal cultivation, the needles melted into golden droplets that hissed as they fell into the water.
"Water Release · Water Dragon Wall!"
A thick wall of water rose, blocking the flames. Steam erupted violently as fire met water—Pu Zhiliang's technique had cut off Zhao Wuji's attack.
Behind the wall, Lu Wei formed new seals and chanted softly:
"Water Release · Endless Drizzle."
Fine rain began to fall—not natural rain, but droplets condensed from spiritual energy. It blanketed the battlefield.
As the rain touched his body, Lin Fei felt his spiritual energy slow, as if suppressed. Its flow through his meridians became sluggish.
"This rain… it weakens spiritual energy?" Li Chen exclaimed.
"More than that," Liu Xiangru said gravely. "The water pooling on the ground strengthens their Water techniques."
He acted immediately.
"Wood Release · Wooden Prison!"
Thick roots burst from the ground, forming a rectangular cage around their group. It blocked the rain, giving them a moment to breathe—but the corrosive rain was slowly eroding the structure, forcing Liu Xiangru to sustain it.
"Senior Zhao! Get in here!" Liu Xiangru shouted. "Don't stay in the rain—it's draining your energy!"
Zhao Wuji glanced back—but didn't move.
"We can't let them continue!"
Rain streamed down his face as he slammed his palm onto the ground.
"Earth Release · Earthen Spike!"
Sharp spikes erupted from beneath the water like the fangs of a buried beast, surging forward. Chang Lei stepped up to block.
"Earth Release · Earth Wall!"
Multiple walls rose in succession. The spikes shattered wall after wall, sending debris flying and blasting Chang Lei backward—but finally stopped just short of the others.
Water continued to rise, now past their ankles.
"Water Release · Surging Tide!"
Pu Zhiliang seized the moment. The pooled water surged into a wave, sweeping toward Lin Fei's group.
Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth and summoned rock armor again, bracing against the wave. The armor eroded under the rushing water.
Liu Xiangru raised wooden pillars, lifting the prison above the tide. The wave crashed violently against them—the structure creaked but held.
"Water Release · Geyser!"
A jet of water burst upward, striking the base of the structure. The wooden prison lost balance and collapsed, throwing everyone back into the water.
Lin Fei hit the surface hard, soaked instantly. The water further slowed his spiritual flow.
"This won't work," Fang Zijing said through clenched teeth. "We'll run out of energy."
Zhao Wuji stood at the front, eyes blazing.
"Cover me!"
"Fire Release · Flame Burst!"
Fang Zijing unleashed a sweeping flame, evaporating part of the rain and filling the battlefield with steam.
"Wood Release · Binding Vines!""Wood Release · Thorn Entanglement!"
Lin Fei and Liu Xiangru sent vines shooting through the water toward Lu Wei and Pu Zhiliang, forcing them to dodge.
"Earth Release · Rolling Boulder!"
Li Chen launched a massive boulder forward, splitting the water apart as it rolled.
Zhao Wuji charged behind it—straight into the enemy formation.
Chang Lei, already injured, summoned his own boulder. The two collided with a deafening crash, sending water and debris flying.
When the dust settled—Zhao Wuji was already in the middle of their formation.
He was soaked, armor mostly gone, body covered in bruises—but his eyes burned like fire.
"Fire Release · Ring of Flame!"
A blazing ring exploded outward from him. Water evaporated instantly—steam surged like a rising sun.
Lu Wei leapt high, avoiding the blast. Chang Lei was struck and thrown into the water. Pu Zhiliang and the two first-years formed a water shield—but it shattered instantly. The younger two were blasted down, badly injured. Only Pu Zhiliang remained standing, pale-faced.
"Nice!" Fang Zijing cheered.
But Zhao Wuji had nothing left. He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, his energy nearly exhausted.
Lu Wei landed, scanning the field. Only Pu Zhiliang remained on his side—and barely.
But the other team still had four.
He had to end it quickly.
"Metal Release · Golden Needle Technique!"
A storm of golden needles shot forward like rain.
"Earth Release · Earth Wall!""Wood Release · Wooden Prison!"
Li Chen raised three walls. Behind them, Liu Xiangru formed another wooden barrier.
The needles tore through the walls in seconds, then hammered into the wooden structure.
As it began to collapse, Lin Fei acted.
"Wood Release · Thousand Vines!"
Countless vines surged out, reinforcing the structure. Though shredded repeatedly, they regenerated endlessly, finally slowing the attack.
A few needles broke through—but Lin Fei's wooden puppet stepped forward, taking the hits.
"Fire Release · Ignite!"
Fang Zijing set the entire structure ablaze. Flames weakened the remaining needles, melting them completely.
Lu Wei's expression shifted.
He looked at the four still standing behind the burning vines, then said calmly:
"Enough. It's a draw."
Zhao Wuji, lying on the ground, burst out laughing despite the pain.
"You sly fox—afraid you'd lose to numbers?"
Lu Wei smirked. "Do I look afraid of losing?"
They exchanged smiles.
Lu Wei helped him up when Zhao Wuji failed to stand on his own.
"You've gotten stronger," Zhao Wuji grinned.
"So have you," Lu Wei replied, glancing at Lin Fei and the others. "Especially your juniors. Good teamwork."
Soon, an elder arrived to treat their injuries, scolding them harshly for fighting without supervision.
Afterward, as the sun dipped low, Zhao Wuji slung an arm over Lu Wei's shoulder.
"Come on—drinks on me."
As the two walked off side by side, their long shadows stretched across the ground.
Watching them go, Lin Fei asked, "How did they meet?"
"They met at last year's Young Spiritualist Tournament," Fang Zijing explained.
"Who won?"
"Yunze Academy—but those two tied."
Lin Fei nodded, watching their figures fade into the distance.
"They'll meet again next time," Liu Xiangru said.
"When's that?"
"In two years," Li Chen replied, eyes gleaming. "We'll compete too."
Lin Fei smiled.
"Then let's train hard—and win it all."
"Deal!"
Li Chen shouted, his voice echoing across the lake, startling a flock of white herons.
Two years later—they were already looking forward to it.