Chapter 383: Matched in Strength

The rapidly flying ice arrow spun once, then slammed with tremendous force onto He Pingsheng's black shield.

A powerful ice-element energy surged outward as a tidal wave of snow and ice, exploding radially from the point of impact.

The shockwave sliced through empty space.

Yet after this surge, something astonishing happened.

He Pingsheng's tiny thirty-zhang shield had not shattered.

It still stood firm in the void.

Under the reinforcement of He Pingsheng's magic power, the shield grew even brighter and thicker.

He Pingsheng smiled.

He knew his shield was strong, but not this strong.

The power unleashed by the Five Elements' fusion was far more than fivefold.

This was the fusion of Daoist principles!

This was the reversal of the Five Elements.

"Good, good, good…" Ruokai's face flushed with shame, his tone turning harsh: "Just now, I truly underestimated you…"

"But it doesn't matter!"

"If one strike won't kill you, the second one will leave you no chance!"

"Let me see just how strong this so-called Golden Core Channeler really is!"

As he spoke, his spiritual sense immediately triggered the eruption of ice-element spiritual energy within him, instantly forming another ice arrow in the void.

This time, Ruokai used his full strength.

High above, in the ten-thousand-zhang void, a thirty-zhang ice arrow coalesced into form.

"Go…"

Ruokai roared, and the massive arrowhead streaked through the void like a falling star, striking again at He Pingsheng's head.

He Pingsheng still did not flee.

His spiritual sense surged open, constantly sensing the power of the opponent's attack.

He Pingsheng felt he could withstand this full-force Nascent Soul strike.

"Open…"

After activating the Golden Shield technique, He Pingsheng waved his hand and pulled out an ancient, plain black cauldron.

The small cauldron spun rapidly, expanding under magic power from palm-sized to three zhang tall, covering his head.

Boom…

At that moment, the ice arrow struck the Golden Shield technique.

The Golden Shield was strong.

But it could not possibly withstand a full Nascent Soul strike.

The Golden Shield finally shattered after blocking for two breaths.

Yet the arrowhead still retained fifty percent of its power, continuing its descent toward He Pingsheng's head.

Ding…

This time, the ancient Xuan Cauldron above absorbed all the remaining energy.

Boom…

The cauldron's defensive aura was pierced.

Yet the ice arrow's attack power vanished entirely.

Three layers of energy collided twice; two successive waves of energy surged outward, reversing the wind high above.

Fortunately, this battle took place in the void—if it had occurred on the ground, who knew what state Ruokai Mountain would be in now!

After two exchanges, He Pingsheng grew more confident with each strike.

He had rarely fought in his life, and even fewer battles.

Especially after reaching Golden Core, he had had no true sense of his combat strength—only now, after fighting Ruokai Ancestor, did he realize his own power.

So far, the opponent had used his full strength in the ice arrows, yet He Pingsheng hadn't even activated the defense of his Seven-Link Ruijin Armor!

Nor had he used any evasive techniques or magic treasures, such as the Three Thousand Thundering Law or his footwear treasure.

The fourth-rank talisman, Heavenly Fire Condensed Armor, likely wouldn't even be needed.

Perfect—no need to waste talismans!

"What element are you?"

Ruokai Ancestor's shock had reached its peak.

He was Nascent Soul fourth layer, while his opponent was merely Golden Core fifth layer.

Nearly a full realm apart.

Yet, back and forth, they had fought to a draw.

The last technique was Ruokai Ancestor's full-power strike.

And yet, it had merely breached the opponent's defense—not even scratched him.

Ruokai's astonishment was unimaginable.

He also noticed He Pingsheng's magic power was unusual.

It did not belong to any of the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, or earth.

"Hehehe…" He Pingsheng chuckled: "Ruokai Ancestor, I've just taken two of your attacks…"

"Now, let you see my skills!"

"Fall!" He Pingsheng said, pointing a finger into the void.

Instantly, a massive ice arrow—about twenty zhang long—coalesced into form.

Nearly identical to the one Ruokai Ancestor had fired.

The difference: Ruokai's arrow was pure white, faintly tinged blue.

He Pingsheng's arrow was black.

Though smaller, its terrifying power seemed even greater.

"Go…"

The black arrowhead became a streak of light, roaring toward Ruokai's head.

Seizing the moment, He Pingsheng pulled out a drop of 【Ice Plain Divine Dew】 and swallowed it.

He had no choice—though his offensive power was immense, his consumption was equally vast; even with five Golden Cores, their combined magic power couldn't match a Nascent Soul's depth.

The final black divine arrow had drained all his magic power.

He could only refill when he had the chance.

The Ice Plain Divine Dew only replenished ice-element magic power—but it didn't matter.

He Pingsheng's 【Five Elements Fusion Heavenly Scripture】 rotated, converting all ice-element magic power into Five Elements Fusion energy, instantly filling his five Golden Cores and dantian.

The speed was swift.

At this moment, the black arrowhead had just reached Ruokai Ancestor's head.

He Pingsheng's strike could have been dodged by Ruokai Ancestor.

For instance, a single teleport would have easily avoided it.

But he did not.

Because He Pingsheng had not dodged—he had blocked Ruokai's techniques with pure defense. If Ruokai now dodged, wouldn't he be laughed at by all?

Facing a junior, a worthless brat, and I still have to dodge?

Why dodge?

"Open…"

Ruokai Ancestor waved his hand, activating another defensive technique.

It was an ice mountain.

The ice mountain, roughly ten zhang wide, hovered above Ruokai.

Boom…

The black arrowhead collided with the white ice mountain.

Even fiercer energy ripples exploded in the void.

He Pingsheng's attack vanished, yet Ruokai Ancestor's defense was also completely shattered.

A vast energy ripple surged outward again, sweeping across the heavens.

Part of the energy sliced downward, crashing onto Ruokai Mountain and carving a multi-zhang trench through the mountain range.

Rocks shattered, cliffs collapsed.

Dust swirled everywhere; a forest burst into roaring flames.

Ruokai's face turned as black as a soot-covered pot.

He struck!

He didn't win!

Or rather—the two had fought to a draw.

At this moment, his gaze sharpened further: He cannot be allowed to escape!

Today, this man must die.

Otherwise, when he grows stronger in the future, Ruokai Mountain will face annihilation.