’Such power!’
Ji Li was stunned. If he hadn’t reacted so quickly, using his Primordial Magnetic Spiritual Power to deflect most of the force, that single strike might have injured him. ’How could a first-year’s Palm Force be so tyrannical?’
But of course, this was far from the full extent of his strength.
Getting knocked back only served to awaken Ji Li’s ferocity. He charged forward again. Just as Chu Bai’s momentum from the previous attack faded, Ji Li made a grasping motion with one hand, unleashing a bizarre suction force.
WHOOSH!
The Gold Acceptance Seal was ripped from Chu Bai’s grasp, flying straight into Ji Li’s palm.
"It’s mine now!" Ji Li sneered.
To Ji Li’s surprise, however, Chu Bai showed no panic at losing the Dharma Seal. On the contrary, he seemed to heave a sigh of relief, even taking half a step back before shouting to the furiously approaching Lü Qing and Wu Jianfei:
"Senior Brothers! He has it! Go get him!"
That single shout instantly painted a target on Ji Li’s back.
Wu Jianfei and Lü Qing knew perfectly well that in this arena, their enemy wasn’t any one person. Whoever held the Golden Seal was the public enemy!
"Ji Li! Drop the Seal!"
"Take this!"
Almost instinctively, the two incredibly fierce Magic Techniques changed direction. Originally aimed at Chu Bai, they now blasted in unison toward Ji Li.
"You..."
Ji Li’s face darkened. ’This kid is a natural at siccing others on his enemies!’
Facing their pincer attack, Ji Li had no choice but to divide his attention and defend.
And just then, Chu Bai, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, bared his fangs once more.
"Go!"
Another Spirit Water Needle infused with Geng Metal Qi shot out, aimed with wicked precision at a blind spot in Ji Li’s defense.
With wolves at the front, a tiger at the back, and an assassin taking cheap shots from the side.
Ji Li fought desperately to defend himself, looking frazzled for the first time.
The four were once again locked in a chaotic melee, only this time, Chu Bai had become the agent of chaos.
And that hot potato of a Golden Seal once again became the focal point of the struggle.
The battle was brutal.
The free-for-all between the four top experts threw the area’s Spiritual Qi into utter turmoil.
Wu Jianfei was the first to fall.
Though this fierce Fire Element user’s attacks were ferocious, his defense was his greatest weakness. Battered by Ji Li’s crushing Power of Primordial Magnetism, Lü Qing’s heavy fists, and Chu Bai’s opportunistic strikes, he was already covered in wounds.
"Damn it! What rotten luck!"
Another Primordial Magnetic Seal slammed into his chest, and Wu Jianfei coughed up a mouthful of blood. Seeing his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted, he cursed bitterly and decisively withdrew from the battle.
’If I keep this up, I’ll damage my foundation. Then I’ll have no chance in the next two rounds.’
With Wu Jianfei’s withdrawal, the situation became a three-way standoff.
But as the fight wore on, Chu Bai keenly sensed something was amiss.
Ji Li was still as domineering as ever, but his bizarre Power of Primordial Magnetism seemed to be directed more and more at Lü Qing, whether intentionally or not.
Ji Li would even hold back slightly, not interfering whenever Chu Bai attacked Lü Qing.
’So he’s treating me as the "weakling" he can deal with last?’
Chu Bai chuckled to himself.
Apparently, in Ji Li’s eyes, Lü Qing—with his astonishing defense and Upper Grade Treasure Armor—was the greatest threat.
As long as he could get this tough nut out of the picture first, the remaining first-year student, no matter how good his Body Technique, would be nothing more than a fish on the chopping block.
’Works for me!’
Chu Bai didn’t expose the tactic, instead playing along. His Spirit Water Needles and Cloud Hand attacks targeted Lü Qing’s blind spots with even greater frequency.
With two masters working in tacit cooperation, even Lü Qing in his Profound Gold Armor finally couldn’t withstand the assault.
CLANG!
Another head-on collision. A palm strike from Ji Li sent Lü Qing flying back several yards. His Protective Spiritual Light scattered, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Well played! A classic case of Borrowing Force to Strike!"
Lü Qing was no fool. Glancing at the two who were working in perfect concert, he gave a bitter laugh and retracted his Magic Technique. "Your skills are sublime. I, Lü, concede. I won’t contest the Gold Acceptance Seal any longer. Let’s settle the score in the next round."
With that, he retreated cleanly to the side and began his Breath Regulation, adopting the posture of a spectator.
And so, only two remained.
"Now that the pests are gone."
Ji Li turned around. He looked at Chu Bai, whose breathing was a little unsteady but whose eyes remained bright, and a profound smile touched his lips.
"Now, it’s just you and me."
His once-spotless white robes were now stained with dust and his Spiritual Power was severely depleted, yet the fighting spirit in his eyes only burned brighter.
"Then I’ll be the one to stop you!"
"I’ve been waiting."
Chu Bai returned a smile of his own, his Five Elements Spiritual Power circulating as his fighting spirit blazed.
BOOM!
Before the words had even faded, they moved almost simultaneously.
This time, with no third party to interfere, it was a true clash of titans.
Ji Li unleashed the full force of his Power of Primordial Magnetism. His Body Technique was as ethereal as a ghost’s, each palm strike carrying a suffocating pressure. Chu Bai, meanwhile, tread upon a Fire Ring, his Cloud Hand ever-changing, his offense and defense watertight.
They slammed into each other, and Spiritual Light exploded on impact.
But they didn’t get bogged down in an endless brawl. The target of every strike was the Gold Acceptance Seal, hovering precariously in mid-air.
Ten exchanges passed with no clear winner.
Chu Bai’s Cloud Hand had just grabbed a corner of the Golden Seal when it was blasted away by Ji Li’s Power of Primordial Magnetism.
Twenty exchanges, and still neither held the advantage.
Just as Ji Li tried to seize it, his technique was interrupted by Chu Bai’s Spirit Water Needle.
Fifty exchanges... one hundred!
Their figures crisscrossed and collided across the wasteland, devolving from an initial bombardment of Magic Techniques to close-quarters brawling, and finally to a desperate struggle as their Spiritual Power ran dry.
Blood trickled from the corner of Ji Li’s mouth and his hair was in disarray; he had clearly suffered internal injuries.
Chu Bai was in no better shape. His clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in injuries from the Power of Primordial Magnetism. If the Rejuvenation Seal hadn’t been keeping him going, he would have collapsed long ago.
*Huff... huff...*
Their breathing grew heavy, and their movements slowed to a crawl.
But their desire for victory, like oil poured on a raging fire, only burned hotter.
"It’s mine!"
"Don’t even think it!"
They both roared, using the last of their strength to lunge for the Golden Seal.
THWACK! THWACK!
Two hands slapped onto the Gold Acceptance Seal at almost the exact same instant.
This time, Ji Li didn’t opt to expend his precious Spiritual Power to repel his opponent, because he knew he too had reached the End of the Crossbow.
Chu Bai had the same idea.
Their gazes locked at point-blank range, and sparks seemed to fly between them.
In the next instant, they both made a move that was as perfectly synchronized as it was insane.
No more fighting, no more struggling for control.
Two completely different types of Spiritual Power—one tyrannical with the Power of Primordial Magnetism, the other brimming with the Endless Life of the Five Elements Circulation—surged from their palms and poured madly into the Golden Seal!
"Then we’ll see who refines it first!"
A race to refine it!

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