Chapter 20: One Against Three

The impact and shock brought by the blue phase force rising from Li Luo's body in the arena far exceeded the defeat of Lu Tai. Everyone stared at this scene in shock, the great waves churning in their hearts giving them a momentary feeling of trembling.

"He—how did he suddenly have a water phase?" Ti Ti Faqing murmured.

She gazed at the youth in the arena holding an iron staff, his figure tall and slender, his face extraordinarily handsome, and for a moment felt a little dazed, because she recalled the year Li Luo first entered South Wind Academy. Back then, he had directly become an unrivaled figure of renown within the academy, his momentum even rivaling the legendary Jiang Qing'e.

It was only later, with the revelation of his phase nature, that Li Luo's glory plummeted, and in the end he was even relegated to the Second Courtyard.

Yet now, the youth before them, with blue phase force rising all over his body, seemed once again, just like back then, to be gradually becoming resplendent.

Song Song Yunfeng's expression changed most dramatically. His gaze was nailed to Li Luo like a nail, as if wanting to see through him inside and out.

If there were anyone who least wished to see this scene, it was probably Song Song Yunfeng, first and foremost.

Because he had seen just how dazzlingly brilliant Li Luo was back in those days, and precisely because of that, he did not want to see Li Luo climb back up again.

Song Song Yunfeng turned his head and looked at Lu Qing'er's profile. At this moment, her bright eyes seemed to be faintly shining as she gazed at the youth in the arena. This caused the fists within his sleeves to slowly clench tightly, the depths of his eyes filled with gloom.

While Ti Ti Faqing and Song Song Yunfeng churned with different emotions, Lu Qing'er beside them was the calmest. Her clear, water-like eyes lingered on Li Luo.

"As expected."

"This South Wind Academy will become quite interesting from now on."

"Li Luo, can you walk back again?"

"What's going on? How did Li Luo suddenly have a water phase?" On the high platform, Lin Feng was extremely shocked. After a moment, he could not help but speak up.

"Did he use some kind of forbidden technique that violates the rules?"

Xu Xu Shanyue was likewise in a state of shock, but when he heard Lin Feng's words, he immediately said discontentedly: "What nonsense are you spouting? Li Luo used to be an empty phase—does that mean he has to stay that way forever?"

Lin Feng faltered, frowning: "That's not what I meant, but we all know that an empty phase is innate. For one to be acquired after birth—how could that be possible?"

Xu Xu Shanyue snorted coldly: "We find it inconceivable only because our own experience is insufficient."

Before Lin Feng could argue further, the old dean ahead spoke up: "Although an acquired phase is rare, it is indeed not impossible. It is said that some extremely rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures possess such miraculous effects."

"Li Luo's parents may have left him this kind of heavenly material and earthly treasure, which allowed him to possess a water phase."

"Let's not rush to discuss this. Wait until the matches are over, then ask Li Luo. We are an academy—we only teach students. As for other matters, the academy has no right to inquire."

Hearing the old dean say this, Lin Feng had nothing more to say. His gaze fixed on Li Luo in the arena, his eyes flickering, no one knew what he was thinking.

Amid the gazes of shock from all around, Bei Kun, whose expression was somewhat unsightly, stepped into the arena with his long spear in hand.

"Li Luo, I didn't expect you to have hidden so deeply. You want to use these three matches today to prove yourself, don't you? But I won't let you have your way." Bei Kun said coldly.

Li Luo smiled and said: "Those lines are too stupid. Are you performing?"

Bei Kun's face flushed red, then he grew somewhat annoyed: "Let's see how long you can keep smiling!"

He took a single step forward, phase force rising from within his body. Faintly, the sound of a tiger's roar emerged, and a vague sense of oppressive might began to emanate along with it.

That was Bei Kun's Mountain-Splitting Violent Tiger phase, ranked sixth grade. This phase was renowned for its fierce, savage strength. If the phase force was abundant, it possessed the power to split mountains.

Li Luo sensed the faint baleful aura rushing toward him, and his gaze also condensed slightly. This Bei Kun's own phase force was a notch stronger than Liu Yang's and Lu Tai's from before, and most importantly, with the amplification of the sixth-grade Mountain-Splitting Violent Tiger phase, his overall strength was at the top tier of the Sixth Seal.

Looking at Li Luo himself, he was now at the Fifth Seal phase force level, and his own "Water-Light Phase" was only fifth grade. From the surface, it seemed he was overall inferior to his opponent.

But sometimes, victory or defeat was not entirely determined by this.

Boom!

Bei Kun activated his own phase nature. Without the slightest hesitation, his figure shot out like a fierce tiger descending the mountain. The iron spear in his hand, wrapped in extremely fierce and powerful force, smashed directly and viciously toward Li Luo.

On Li Luo's iron staff, blue phase force surged like azure waves flowing, and he directly clashed head-on with Bei Kun's iron spear.

Clang!

The metallic ring of metal resounded, the shockwave spread, and Li Luo's figure trembled, shooting backward. However, his steps were nimble as a fish, swiftly deflecting all the violent force that came rushing in.

"Hmph, merely Fifth Seal phase force!"

From this direct exchange, Bei Kun immediately sensed Li Luo's phase force level, and his heart immediately relaxed. He sneered: "I thought you were really going to turn things around. So that's all there is to it."

Amid his cold laughter, he pounced like a fierce tiger. The iron spear in his hand carried fierce force, the spear tip pierced the air, transforming into streaks of spear shadows stabbing toward the vital points all over Li Luo's body.

Clearly, he intended to press his advantage and defeat Li Luo in the most ferocious manner.

Facing Bei Kun's pursuit, Li Luo did not retreat either. His expression was calm as he met the attack once again. In an instant, spear and staff clashed repeatedly, emitting loud metallic sounds.

The two became locked in a fierce struggle. For a time, phase force churned, and the fight appeared quite intense.

But as time went on, Bei Kun's expression began to turn somewhat unsightly, because he discovered that the force surging on the iron staff in Li Luo's hands before him was gradually becoming more powerful.

And on the viewing platform of the First Courtyard, some of the more outstanding students also noticed something was off.

"Li Luo actually blocked Bei Kun's explosive force. Strange—he's clearly only at the Fifth Seal phase force level—"

"And Li Luo's power seems to be growing stronger and stronger. How can this be?"

"It's a high-grade phase technique, Nine-Layered Azure Wave. This technique is extremely compatible with the water phase, excelling at counterattacking after the opponent strikes. Its force is like ocean waves, gradually stacking and accumulating. Combined with the continuous, abundant power of the water phase, the longer the battle drags on, the stronger its force becomes—unless one shatters it with absolute, brute force."

"If Bei Kun doesn't break the deadlock soon, he's going to lose."

Those outstanding students of the First Courtyard all had solemn expressions at this moment. This Nine-Layered Azure Wave technique was a high-grade phase technique, and even within the First Courtyard, the number of students who could master it could be counted on one hand. Yet now, Li Luo displayed it with considerable proficiency.

"Li Luo truly deserves to be called the number one in phase technique comprehension in our South Wind Academy." They could not help but sigh. In the past, when Li Luo had no phase force, this feeling was not so deep. But now that Li Luo had also been born with a phase nature and possessed phase force, they finally understood just how troublesome the combination of the two was.

Roar!

Just as they were speaking, Bei Kun suddenly let out a furious roar. Clearly, he too had sensed something was wrong. The Li Luo before him clearly did not seem to possess overly strong phase force, yet he was like a vortex, entangling him bit by bit.

Additionally, for some unknown reason, Li Luo's phase force always gave him a peculiar sense of purity.

But no matter what, Bei Kun knew he could not let this continue.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Both palms suddenly tightened on the iron spear, and faintly, his palms transformed into the illusory image of tiger claws as violent phase force surged forth explosively.

"High-grade phase technique, Fang Spike!"

Bei Kun took a step forward, the iron spear in his hand piercing out like a ferocious tiger, directly tearing through layer upon layer of continuous water phase force, aiming straight at Li Luo behind it.

Li Luo gazed at the incoming spear light that whistled toward him like fangs and sharp teeth. On the iron staff in his hand, the layer upon layer of accumulated water phase force also erupted explosively, like a great wave crashing down.

Spear and staff did not actually collide, but instead crossed past each other, each aiming straight at the other.

"You're seeking death!"

Bei Kun's face twisted savagely, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, his iron spear thrust downward—but in that instant, he saw blue phase force flickering atop the iron rod, and faintly, as if a blinding light, causing his eyes to narrow slightly.

The next moment, Bei Kun's pupils suddenly contracted, because he discovered that the spear tip he had thrust toward Li Luo had missed, appearing instead a mere inch above Li Luo's shoulder.

"It's over."

Bei Kun's heart went cold. He couldn't understand how he could have made such a blunder—his spear clearly should have struck Li Luo's shoulder socket.

But by now, there was no time for any reaction, because Li Luo's gravity-laden iron rod had already whistled in and slammed directly into his face.

Puchi!

A mouthful of fresh blood mixed with teeth sprayed out, a scream rang out, and Bei Kun's figure instantly flew backward, crashing heavily outside the arena.

Bei Kun's scream echoed across the field.

Li Luo, meanwhile, slowly withdrew his iron rod, let out a long breath of white air, and the blue phase force rising from his body also dissipated bit by bit at this moment.

Silence reigned all around; only Bei Kun's continuous screams could be heard.

But this silence did not last long before it was suddenly shattered by piercing shrieks and roars of excitement. Apart from the First Courtyard, students from the other courtyards were all frantically cheering.

They could not believe what they had witnessed today.

They saw that once-renowned figure of Southwind Academy blaze with dazzling brilliance once more.

They saw that youth known as the Empty Phase, under the banner of the Second Courtyard, accomplish the feat of sweeping three opponents from the First Courtyard!

Zhao Kuo was so thrilled his face flushed red, then he made a contemptuous gesture toward the First Courtyard, and a wild, arrogant roar rang out.

"Did you see that!"

"That man is back!!"

(Telling you a terrifying piece of news—my saved drafts are almost gone, so whatever votes you have, hurry and cast them now, because later on, you won't want to give them.)

(End of chapter)