Chapter 268: Mountain Water Ink Painting

Niu Long stepped down from the stage, turned his head and glanced at Yan Buji: "Junior Brother Huang, I wish you victory."

Thank you, Senior Brother.

Yan Buji returned the salute with a smile and slowly stepped down.

The surrounding disciples, Zhang Dazui, stared blankly at Yan Buji.

You were just pretending all along, huh?

That's amazing—just a wave of your hand summons several Qi Refining Ninth‑level Earth Demon Statues, and you're only at Qi Refining Eighth Layer?

Then why did he struggle so much before… was he really trying?

Even Niu Long isn't his match—this is incredible.

Hearing the astonishment around him, Yan Buji also understood that most people only look at the surface and won't dig deeper into the actual situation.

Moreover, many who secretly hoped Yan Buji wouldn't win were feeling uneasy.

This old man hides so deep; my hundred spiritual stones won't go to waste, will they?

Don't say that—whoever makes the top eight isn't a simpleton, and we haven't even reached the finals yet!

Zhao Guoping walked over, looked at Yan Buji, and said: "You're indeed impressive; your earth‑ and fire‑attribute techniques are so skilled—let's exchange pointers when we have time."

Senior Brother Zhao, I recall your opponent is that Liu Ruhua, right?

Zhao Guoping's expression remained calm: "I'll find a way to force out her true strength; even if I can't win, it'll give you a chance to understand her."

"Don't say that, Senior Brother Zhao—I believe you can win," Yan Buji said with a smile.

Thanks.

Having said that, Zhao Guoping jumped onto the stage and looked at Liu Ruhua above.

Second match: Law Enforcement Hall's Zhao Guoping versus Technique Hall's Liu Ruhua—begin!

Zhao Guoping drew a First‑Tier Accumulation Device longsword, an offensive‑type weapon; most cultivators' choice is similar to mundane weapons, and exotic weapons are rarely seen.

Or rather, many Qi Refining disciples also know some sword or spear techniques they've learned, which feel natural to use.

Liu Ruhua gave Zhao Guoping a strange look and asked: "Senior Brother Zhao, we have no grudge past or present—why are you targeting me?"

"Targeting? Humph, Junior Sister Liu is too sensitive—I'm just curious how you got so strong, delighted to see a worthy opponent!" Having said that, Zhao Guoping stepped forward with his sword, and a mouthful of clear water burst out, transforming into a torrential water curtain that completely divided the battlefield.

Seeing herself trapped in the water curtain, Liu Ruhua immediately activated her magic, her body flashing with yellow‑earth light; in an instant, dust rose and surged into the water curtain.

The water curtain turned muddy from the dust and fell to the ground; Zhao Guoping, unfazed, stepped in the mud and, in the blink of an eye, closed the distance with a few quick steps to stand before her.

Clang!

Yan Buji frowned: "Something's wrong—why has Zhao Guoping's magical fluctuation completely vanished?"

But Liu Ruhua seemed to notice; she instantly produced a folding fan to block Zhao Guoping's longsword, yet the sound of metal clashing like a tide kept swelling, and the ground beneath her feet cracked, her shoes sinking three inches into the floor.

Suddenly, Zhao Guoping changed his sword's trajectory, swiftly retracting the blade while delivering a horizontal slash; the edge lunged straight at Liu Ruhua's delicate neck.

Oh!

What a powerful sword technique!

Senior Brother Zhao, why do you suddenly feel murderous?

Liu Ruhua's expression changed; it seemed she activated some secret art, and the sword sliced through her image as if cutting through mist—her whole body vanished in an instant.

Yan Buji turned his head and saw Liu Ruhua appear elsewhere—exactly where Zhao Guoping had just stood.

"Mist Transformation Technique?!" Yan Buji's face filled with surprise.

Such a technique is uncommon and extremely hard to master; those who don't specialize in wind, rain, or similar special arts find it difficult to grasp its essence.

Although Yan Buji has never obtained such a life‑saving technique, he believes that if he ever encounters someone like this, he could rely on the Breath Tight Secret Technique to restrict their abilities.

The strength of the Breath Tight Secret Technique lies in compressing the air within a designated space to create a vacuum; because the external environment and the vacuum produced by the technique are unequal, any object that rushes into it experiences a brief stagnation effect.

Yan Buji has studied this point: his Breath Tight Secret Technique does not create a true vacuum, since it merely compresses air, which still contains air; the internal and external pressures are not equal, producing this effect.

Once inside his Breath Tight Secret Technique, unless he can instantly burst forth with greater speed and ferocity than before, he cannot break through that stagnation at all.

"Moreover, this Breath Tight Secret Technique can also work on myself…" Yan Buji chuckled.

After learning that Liu Ruhua possesses the Mist Transformation Technique, Yan Buji had to consider how to deal with her.

Zhao Guoping reacted, turned around, and saw Liu Ruhua behind him holding a folding fan.

Liu Ruhua opened the fan, and a mountain‑water ink painting appeared before her eyes; she said in a pitiful tone: "Senior Brother, are you really feeling murderous?"

"What are you saying, Junior Sister? In a duel on the same stage, I also don't want to lose to a woman!"

Seeing Zhao Guoping charge again with killing intent, Liu Ruhua couldn't sense his magical fluctuations—it was indeed troublesome, and she had no idea what move he would use.

Had she not reacted just in time earlier, she would have already been beheaded.

Liu Ruhua snorted coldly: "Since Senior Brother specifically came to ask for advice, I won't hide my clumsiness either."

"Mountain Water Ink Painting, activate!"

Only saw Liu Ruhua hurl the folding fan high into the air, a vast surge of magical power sweeping in all directions!

In the blink of an eye, the entire stage vanished vanished!

Ah? Where are the people?!

Are they all inside?!

Inside the fan, the fan? What kind of treasure is this fan? Can it even suck people in?!

Yan Buji froze for a moment, doubtfully glancing at that fan.

The fan might be an incredible Accumulation Device, but it lacks the ability to draw people in.

A crimson‑gold light flashed in Yan Buji's left eye; he saw that the vanished stage was actually still in place, only completely stained black, where Liu Ruhua sat beside a pavilion, intrigued, watching her black‑colored self fight Zhao Guoping.

The scene on the fan also changes in real time according to their battle, making it look as if they were sucked inside.

"This is… Illusion Art?! No, no, no—I've never seen such a method." Yan Buji was somewhat shocked.

Such a thing that confuses the participants and even obscures the onlookers' view truly exceeds Yan Buji's imagination.

Even if Zhao Guoping were in the midst of it, he wouldn't have noticed; if it weren't for Yan Buji having mastered the Ten-Flower Pupil Secret Technique, he probably wouldn't have been able to see clearly at all.

In the pavilion, Liu Ruhua furrowed their brow, turned their head, and looked down at Yan Buji below.

Yan Buji and she exchanged a glance, and both smiled.

"This old thing has some ability; unexpectedly can see through?"

"What tricks does this little girl have; unexpectedly so miraculous?"