Chapter Sixty-Seven: Battle with the Five Elements

Outside Qinghe City, at the Water-Splash Hollow.

Ye Zihan and Song Tielin stood facing each other, neither uttering a word. The entire scene was utterly silent.

Though neither had made a move, the murderous aura between them was suffocating for the onlookers.

They stood barely a few feet apart, able to sense each other's breath, yet still they refrained from attacking.

The two simply gazed at one another, for a long time.

The crowd, waiting impatiently, grew restless—especially Mo You, who watched the pair, wanting to shout but not daring to speak, stifled and frustrated.

No one knew how much time had passed, but at last, both let out a wild roar. Instantly, with them at the center, a sweeping wave of killing intent surged forth!

Leaves scattered wildly from the surrounding trees. Amidst the swirling foliage, the two figures moved up and down, swift as lightning, too fast for the eye to follow. Song Tielin shouted, "First move!"

Boom!

An earth-shaking crash resounded as they clashed and immediately separated—a direct collision of strength.

Landing, Ye Zihan quickly halted his retreat, then both leaped up again, each summoning their weapons.

A dazzling light flared in Ye Zihan's hand as a sharp blade flew from his grasp, sweeping horizontally at Song Tielin!

Seeing the white light slicing toward him, Song Tielin remained calm. He suddenly dropped low, his hands drawing arcs, his body twisting nimbly. Dodging the white light, he soared into the air and shouted, "Second move—Crescent Slash!"

As he spoke, a crescent-shaped blade of energy swept down toward Ye Zihan!

Ye Zihan's eyes flashed with brilliance; he laughed boldly, "Well done!"

Both hands crossed before his chest, forming seals that changed rapidly as he silently recited a spell. The blade he had flung seemed pulled by an invisible force, its white light intensifying, arcing behind Song Tielin and slashing toward his back.

The crowd erupted in astonished cries, clearly shaken by the thrilling contest between Ye Zihan and Song Tielin.

Caught off guard, Song Tielin never expected the energy blade could be controlled at will, forming and dissolving freely, even manipulated from a distance!

Yet he was a formidable Five Elements cultivator. Seeing the white light about to catch him, Song Tielin sidestepped, pulling back his move, and dodged with a quick step.

While Song Tielin evaded, Ye Zihan had already avoided the other's attack, his gaze sharp and unwavering, not daring to relax for an instant.

As these two moves passed, outsiders saw Ye Zihan not only holding his own but even faintly gaining the upper hand. Only Ye Zihan himself knew the immense pressure of facing a Five Elements master!

At this moment, beads of sweat appeared on Ye Zihan's forehead. He watched Song Tielin's every movement carefully, fearing that the slightest carelessness would bring a storm of attacks from his opponent. He knew well that Song Tielin had yet to unleash his full strength.

"Brother Ye, be careful—this is the third move!"

Song Tielin laughed heartily, then suddenly pushed off the ground with his right leg, his body springing out like a coil, shooting straight at Ye Zihan with his massive hammer raised, smashing down ferociously!

This time, Song Tielin abandoned martial techniques, relying purely on brute force!

Ye Zihan's expression grew grim; in such a contest of raw strength, he was clearly no match for Song Tielin!

The giant hammer rushed toward him, its weight and pressure already palpable before it struck. Ye Zihan took a deep breath, his feet stamping rapidly as he retreated, barely avoiding Song Tielin's hammer.

Faced with such a fierce assault, the only strategy was to evade its sharp edge!

"Fourth move!"

As Ye Zihan retreated, Song Tielin pursued relentlessly, like a shadow, his twin hammers swirling like roaring tigers, enveloping Ye Zihan in a storm of hammer shadows.

Ye Zihan was alarmed—he had always prided himself on his speed, never expecting the seemingly clumsy Song Tielin to match him!

After a brief moment of astonishment, Ye Zihan quickly regained his composure, shifting his steps, weaving left and right amid the barrage of hammer shadows, even wielding his Red Lotus dagger to barely parry Song Tielin's relentless attacks.

"Fifth move!"

Amidst the whirlwind of hammer shadows, Song Tielin's deep voice rang out. In battle, one must give their all, regardless of the opponent's youth or cultivation. This was Song Tielin's respect for Ye Zihan.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Ye Zihan blocked with his dagger. Sparks flew as the Red Lotus dagger clashed with the giant hammers.

"Seventh move!"

"Eighth move!"

"Ninth move!"

Song Tielin's thunderous voice echoed, his twin hammers carrying the wrath of the heavens, their wind-breaking force awe-inspiring.

The crowd watched anxiously, especially Yan Chen and Mo You. Such fierce attacks, though purely weapon and strength, without martial techniques, still revealed the vast difference in level.

This was clear from Ye Zihan's gritted teeth, desperate defense, and hands already bleeding from the strain!

Bang!

Another resounding clash as Ye Zihan and Song Tielin both retreated. Yet everyone could see Ye Zihan was at a disadvantage—Song Tielin took only a few steps back before steadying himself, while Ye Zihan retreated dozens of steps, stabbing his dagger into the ground and leaving a long gouge before finally halting!

"One last move, Brother Ye—be careful!"

Song Tielin lowered his waist and bent his knees, bringing his hammers together before him. Through the gap between the hammers, his face flushed red. After a moment, as if he had gathered enough power, he roared, "Thousand Hammer Strike!"

As he finished, the two giant hammers flew from his hands, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle, shooting straight at Ye Zihan. One after another, the hammers formed overlapping shadows, and at a glance, it seemed a thousand hammers had merged into a single pillar of arrows!

Ye Zihan's pupils contracted as he watched the hammer pillar hurtling toward him, his heart cautious. In a split second, he made his decision, rapidly forming nearly ten intricate seals, then knelt on one knee, stabbed the Red Lotus dagger into the earth, and pressed both hands to the ground. "Red Lotus Shield!"

The martial technique activated, Ye Zihan channeled his Five Elements source energy, circulating his cultivation method, drawing in elemental energy from the surroundings!

Under Ye Zihan's deliberate control, his source energy flowed along his meridians, forming a vast, shimmering red shield before him. The ambient elemental energy was also drawn in, merging into the shield.

A resonant hum—two streams of energy converged, and the shield before Ye Zihan rippled with waves.

Meanwhile, Song Tielin's twin hammers shot toward Ye Zihan's shield, smashing into it with immense force!

Boom!

A deafening crash—the hammers collided head-on with the shield, unleashing powerful energy waves that swept the area. Unable to withstand it, the crowd was forced to retreat!

Smoke and dust filled the air, scattering throughout. Yan Chen brushed aside the haze, but could not see the situation between Ye Zihan and Song Tielin, his heart suspended in anxiety.

Song Tielin's previous strike was terrifying enough; now Ye Zihan had used a martial technique to defend directly—could he withstand it? Yan Chen had no answer.

Mo You's worry was obvious; he acted directly, spreading his wings to fly into the arena, searching for Ye Zihan's figure.

"Big brother!"

As the dust began to clear, Mo You's sharp eyes spotted Ye Zihan lying sprawled on the ground, his body covered in wounds, blood flowing freely!