Chapter 34: Li Luo's Water Mirror Art

"How is it possible that Li Luo actually blocked Song Song Yunfeng's full-powered strike?!"

Around the battle stage, the air was full of shocked uproar, every face covered in disbelief.

Those present were no strangers to the Water Mirror Art; some among them who possessed the water aspect had even cultivated this kind of aspect art, but if one were to say the Water Mirror Art could block Song Song Yunfeng's full-powered attack, that would simply be a fool's dream.

Yet this absurd, impossible thing had truly appeared right before their eyes.

That Ti Ti Faqing's beautiful eyes went wide, her small mouth opening before she could stop it.

"What the hell?!" That Bei Kun cursed, utterly dumbfounded.

Not far away, Lv Qing'er's slender willow brows lifted lightly at this moment, her apricot eyes fixed brightly on Li Luo — just as she had guessed, Li Luo really did have a means to counterbalance Song Song Yunfeng!

This impossible thing — he had actually managed to do it.

Amid the boiling uproar, Li Luo shook his aching arms, then stepped away from the edge of the battle stage. He stared at Song Song Yunfeng, whose face was dark and fierce, and flashed him a subtle smile.

In his heart, however, a wave of elation was spreading.

Because his experiment had truly succeeded.

The aspect art he had displayed earlier was, on the surface, a Water Mirror Art, but there was a hidden secret within: Li Luo had layered onto it a mid-grade light-aspect art called the Shadow-Folding Art, using his own light-aspect power.

The Water Mirror Art could rebound incoming force; the Shadow-Folding Art reflected the incoming enemy. These two special traits layered together formed an enhanced version of the Water Mirror Art, capable of rebounding even more power back.

Moreover, in Li Luo's estimation, if these two powers were pushed to their absolute limits in the future, they might even be able to directly imprint the attacking enemy.

Use the enemy's own attack against them.

And this improved, enhanced Water Mirror Art, Li Luo named the "Water-Light Magic Mirror."

"Putting on tricks — do you think you can change anything today?!"

While Li Luo was rejoicing inside, Song Song Yunfeng's face darkened. His figure suddenly shot out once more, his five fingers forming claws; faintly, sharp, unmatched crimson claw-shadows appeared, tearing through the long sky.

He did not hesitate in the slightest, continuing to pounce forward.

Seeing this, Li Luo deployed the improved, enhanced Water Mirror Art once more, a thin sheet of water forming like a mirror before him.

Bang!

Song Song Yunfeng's ferocious fist slammed in, but as the muffled sound rang out, he and Li Luo were sent flying back at the same time again.

This time Song Song Yunfeng was somewhat prepared and was not quite so wretched, but his expression instead grew even uglier, because he discovered that Li Luo's "Water Mirror Art" was far too bizarre — every time they made contact, it gave him the feeling he was fighting himself.

Is this even still a Water Mirror Art?!

Song Song Yunfeng's attack was blocked by Li Luo once again. Around the battle stage, everyone swallowed hard. Once might be luck, but twice clearly meant real ability.

Of course, not to mention them, even the old principal, Xu Xu Shanyue, Lin Feng and the others up on the high platform all showed some traces of astonishment on their faces.

"This Li Luo's Water Mirror Art seems to be a bit unusual," the old principal said in surprise.

The other instructors all nodded — an ordinary Water Mirror Art could not have made Song Song Yunfeng look so wretched.

"This kind of rebound strength actually resembles the General-grade aspect art 'Mystic Water Mirror,'" one instructor analyzed.

But this was quickly rebutted: "A General-grade aspect art — can a Six-Seal Realm like Li Luo even cast it?"

The previous instructor fell silent, unable to answer. The phase power required for a General-grade aspect art — even ten seals would not be enough, let alone six.

"Then it really is just a Water Mirror Art."

Xu Xu Shanyue stared for a long while, then said: "But it may have been improved by Li Luo."

The other instructors exchanged glances — improving an aspect art? Although they all knew Li Luo possessed extremely high comprehension and talent in aspect arts, improving an aspect art — wasn't that something someone of his level could do?

But beyond that, there seemed to be no other explanation.

"Worthy indeed of being the son of those two," in the end, they could only sigh so.

Meanwhile, Instructor Lin Feng beside them said nothing from start to finish, his face black as the bottom of a wok, because this situation was completely different from what he had imagined.

Around the battle stage, the clamor spread wave after wave like a tide.

And on the stage, Song Song Yunfeng's face was terrifyingly dark. He glared viciously at Li Luo, wanting to charge again, but at the thought of that bizarre "Water Mirror Art," he stopped once more.

"Li Luo, do you dare to attack?" Song Song Yunfeng said through gritted teeth.

He had also realized that Li Luo seemed only able to use this "Water Mirror Art" to counterbalance him, and as long as he did not take the initiative to attack with full force, Li Luo's Water Mirror Art was useless.

Li Luo heard this and laughed, shaking his head: "I don't dare. You come at me."

Song Song Yunfeng was so angry he trembled. He truly experienced what it meant to be frustrated and furious — clearly Li Luo's strength was far inferior to his, yet with that bizarre Water Mirror Art like a thorny tortoise shell, he was left here unable to act freely.

But Song Song Yunfeng was, after all, no fool. He gradually calmed his rage, thought for several breaths, and suddenly circulated his phase power again to shoot out.

But this time, he suppressed his own phase power.

"This Water Mirror Art is, after all, a high-grade aspect art, and casting it consumes a great deal of phase power. If I can force him to keep using it, then Li Luo will soon run out of phase power. When that happens, without the Water Mirror Art, Li Luo will be nothing but a hound without fangs or claws — nothing to fear."

Song Song Yunfeng attacked, but Li Luo also sensed the suppression of his power. With a single thought, he understood his plan.

"Clever enough."

"But with your phase power suppressed, why would I still fear you?"

Li Luo smiled. Song Song Yunfeng's strength lay in his own powerful phase power, but now that he had bound his own hands and feet, what was there for Li Luo to fear?

So this time, he instead took the initiative to meet him head-on. Two figures collided, fists and feet wrapped in phase power, raising the sound of breaking wind.

The two tangled together, fighting fiercely, but Song Song Yunfeng's face grew darker and darker, because he discovered that after suppressing his phase power, he actually could not suppress Li Luo.

The fury in Song Song Yunfeng's eyes burned hotter and hotter. The next instant, the phase power he had been suppressing within him erupted violently, a savage fist wrapped in crimson phase power slamming viciously toward Li Luo.

But just as his fist came crashing down, a sheet of water spread before Li Luo — the Water Mirror Art he had long prepared in secret was deployed.

Bang!

Song Song Yunfeng's fist slammed into the water sheet, and the tremendous force rebounded rapidly, shaking him until his chest felt stuffy and sending him stumbling back several steps.

Li Luo was likewise sent stumbling back. He rubbed his fist, watching Song Song Yunfeng with an ambiguous half-smile.

"Li Luo, let's see how many more times your Six-Seal Realm phase power can cast the Water Mirror Art!" Song Song Yunfeng's face was ashen. Crimson phase power surged as he attacked with full force directly.

He himself was at the Eight-Seal Realm, his phase power far more abundant than Li Luo's. Since Li Luo's only reliance was this Water Mirror Art, then he would use the most blunt method — force Li Luo to exhaust his phase power completely!

Song Song Yunfeng did not rest for a moment, circulated his phase power, and once again charged ferociously.

Seeing this, Li Luo continued to cast the "Water Mirror Art."

Bang!

The familiar scene reappeared, and both men were sent staggering back at the same time.

And during the following stretch of time, everyone numbly watched the two of them repeat this same action over and over.

Song Song Yunfeng charged forward like a wild ox, Li Luo cast the Water Mirror Art, a bang rang out, and both men retreated.

But no one found it boring, because they all knew that now it was a matter of how much longer Li Luo's phase force could hold out.

This repetitive operation continued until Li Luo cast the Water Mirror Art for the thirteenth time.

Then, the blue water-phase power rising from Li Luo's body gradually dimmed away entirely.

That was the sign that his phase force had been completely exhausted.

Around the battle platform, a few sounds of regret rose up.

And on Song Song Yunfeng's sullen face, a cold smile surfaced as he gritted his teeth and said: "Li Luo, what can you possibly do now?!"

Boom!

His figure pounced out, crimson phase power surging, his eyes turning completely red, like a vicious eagle swooping down on prey.

But facing Song Song Yunfeng's furious strike, Li Luo did not put up any further defense at all; he simply stood quietly in place, letting the fierce fist shadow rapidly enlarge in his pupils.

The scorching fist wind came rushing at his face, but just as Song Song Yunfeng's crimson fist was about to come within an inch of Li Luo's face, his fist seemed to freeze in place.

Because at that moment, a hand like an eagle's claw had firmly seized his wrist, making it impossible for him to advance even a fraction further.

Song Song Yunfeng glared over and saw that the referee had stepped to the side — it was his intervention that had blocked the attack.

"What are you doing?!" Song Song Yunfeng snarled.

The referee's face was expressionless. He pointed at a stone pillar at the edge of the battle platform; on it sat an hourglass, and no one had noticed that the sand inside the hourglass had already run out.

Li Luo rubbed his aching arm and gave a gentle smile toward the dumbfounded Song Song Yunfeng.

"Time's up, idiot. What, did you want to add extra rounds?"

(End of chapter)