120: Three Talents Battle Zhao Long

"Hmph!"

Zhao Long snorted coldly. Grip tightening on his Tyrant Blade, he shot forward with a violent Aura, using the back of the blade to deliver a heavy chop onto Mu Tian's Black Sword, sending a massive tremor through Mu Tian's entire body. With his other hand, he seized his Spear and, with an angry roar, flung both Spear and Ye Feiyu away.

At that moment, the Demon Tamer Beasts arrived. Mu Tian's Silver Elemental Three-Headed Snake clashed with Zhao Long's Three-Headed Chimera, while the other beasts each found their own opponents.

Zhao Long's thousand-jun blade strike nearly broke Mu Tian's bones. Gritting his teeth, Mu Tian used the momentum to spin, narrowly dodging the Tyrant Blade. His Black Sword circled around and thrust back at Zhao Long, who simply took a step back to evade it easily, also avoiding the Spear that came thrusting at him again.

"In Ancient Martial Arts, what difference do the two of you combined make?" Zhao Long's double pupils stared intently at the two before him, paying no heed to the battles between the beasts or the other fights around them.

"Then let's give it a try!" Ye Feiyu's Spear shot out like a Dragon, aiming straight for Zhao Long's neck. Mu Tian was not slow either, unleashing over a dozen sword beams that formed a net of light, cutting off Zhao Long's escape routes.

Zhao Long merely glanced at it, then raised his blade for two moves: a horizontal slash and a vertical chop. With sheer force to break all techniques, he shattered both the sword net and the Spear's radiance.

Ye Feiyu's swift Spear thrust missed once more. Gripping the shaft, he swept it fiercely, striking Zhao Long's waist, then retracted the Spear and brought it down in a sweeping crescent slash.

Zhao Long quickly jumped to the side, only to be entangled by Mu Tian. He avoided the Black Sword's attempt to slash his throat, surged forward half a step, and seized Mu Tian by the neck, slamming him to the ground.

Just before impact, Ye Feiyu kicked his Spear, sending the spearhead flying sideways like a dagger towards Zhao Long's neck, forcing him to release his grip and retreat. Seizing the opportunity, Mu Tian swept his Black Sword horizontally, blocking Zhao Long's retreat path and leaving a long, thin wound across his entire back.

"Not bad." Zhao Long touched his back, looked at the blood on his hand, and instead of getting angry, grew excited. He raised his large blade and charged at the two once more.

The two braced themselves with utmost focus and met his charge.

For a time, Spear shadows, sword glints, and blade radiance flew everywhere as the fierce battle raged. The people and beasts around them backed far away, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

As they fought, the three entered the Burial Area, battling fiercely amidst the swirling yellow sand.

At that moment, a burst of flame ignited within. A purplish-red longsword, trailing a fiery tail, shot towards Zhao Long, who batted it away with one hand. Unexpectedly, following the Fire Sword, a pair of large feet appeared, kicking Zhao Long squarely in the chest, sending him staggering back and nearly getting him crushed by a giant rock.

The figure who delivered the flying kick landed steadily on the ground, precisely in a position slightly ahead and between Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu.

"Hey! Missing one for a full set, I'll join in!" The newcomer grinned.

"It's you! I knew you'd come. Of course, with a Fire Shadow, how could you not come for a share?" Zhao Long narrowed his eyes upon seeing Xie Ning. Noticing Xie Ning's backpack wasn't bulging, he felt reassured and said slowly, "If calling that fatty to delay me was just to set up an ambush here, then you've succeeded. Let me see if the three of you can actually beat me."

He threw a punch, shattering a giant rock passing in front of him. With a 'bang,' the fragments shot towards the trio like dense shuriken.

Xie Ning and the other two exerted their strength in unison, deflecting the stone shards and charging at Zhao Long.

The two-on-one fight had become three-on-one.

Despite having only Bronze Elementary-level Ancient Martial Arts strength, Xie Ning, relying on the shared elements of Baiya, was not much weaker than Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu.

However, the more he fought, the more alarmed Xie Ning became.

Zhao Long truly lived up to being the top of Lingnan City's younger generation. With the same Family backing and resources, he firmly suppressed Geniuses like Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu. Now, even facing three opponents at once, he still didn't fall behind.

As both sides fought, they moved from the shallow parts of the Burial Area to the depths, then back out again. The shockwaves from the battle frightened everyone else into stopping their fights and hiding at the edges.

"Holy cow, how did Xie Ning get so strong? It's only been a few days!" Fei Shanqiu watched, dumbfounded, unable to believe the person wielding the Fire Sword before him was the same Xie Ning he had fought in the challenge match days ago.

"Another Prodigy..." Mu Xiaolong glanced at Xie Ning, then at Mu Tian, and sighed, "Big brother bet right."

"Bet on what? Betting money? What were the odds?"

"Nothing."

The others were even more boisterous, especially the Mu Family members. Seeing Xie Ning appear and witnessing such an intense scene, their eyes burned with fervor as they discussed excitedly.

At that moment, during a critical juncture in the battle, Xie Ning ignited flames and thrust his sword. Like a rainbow piercing the sun or a Dragon charging with its horn, it pierced Zhao Long's armor and struck his abdomen. However, Zhao Long tensed his muscles, and the full-force thrust failed to penetrate, only leaving a small cut.

Zhao Long roared in anger, not allowing the sword to be withdrawn. He raised his large blade high as a ball of golden lightning flew from afar and merged with the blade's edge before he brought it down with tremendous force.

If this strike landed, Xie Ning would undoubtedly die.

"Watch out!"

"Dodge it!"

Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu cried out in alarm, rushing forward to block, but were sent flying by a swing of Zhao Long's arm.

Just as the blade was about to strike, flames erupted from Xie Ning's body. The Tyrant Blade only sliced through a flash of fire, and the next second, Xie Ning appeared over ten meters away, at the location of a flickering flame.

Xie Ning gasped heavily, his face pale with lingering shock and anger. The sweat on his body evaporated instantly, while a thirty-centimeter-long wound on his back dripped blood diagonally.

For a moment just then, the shadow of death had loomed over his heart, refusing to dissipate.

"Hmph! So that's the use of the Fire Shadow." Zhao Long turned his head to look at Xie Ning.

Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu took up positions corresponding to Xie Ning, forming a triangular formation that surrounded Zhao Long.

"You're strong, but I advise you to give up. With the three of us, you have no chance of getting the holy yuan fruit." Xie Ning said coldly.

Zhao Long replied, "Whether I get the holy yuan fruit or not will be decided by our skills. I'm more curious, how's your search for the Earth-Splitting Beast's inner elixir going?"

"What do you mean?" Xie Ning frowned.

Zhao Long said, "My brother, Zhao Hu, formed a team and chased after you towards the Earth-Splitting Beast Canyon. Since you're here now, who's hunting the Earth-Splitting Beast? Those three girls?"

"You'll be disappointed then. Your useless little brother was just chased away by me, it seems." Ye Feiyu answered.

"What about the others?" Zhao Long glanced at Ye Feiyu. "Not seeing you, Ye Feiyu, outside the ruins made me suspect the plan for the Earth-Splitting Beast Canyon had changed. Calculating the time, the Flower Sect and Lingbei Academy should already be pursuing the people inside the canyon."

"What?!"

Ye Feiyu's face instantly turned pale, and Mu Tian also looked grim.

Contrary to Zhao Long's expectations, Xie Ning, whom he thought would be the most surprised and anxious, appeared somewhat indifferent. Zhao Long couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you worried? They should be your fairly close friends."

"Worried? A little, perhaps. But I believe in their strength. Besides," Xie Ning raised both hands. With a 'boom,' flames erupted violently, casting his face in flickering light and shadow as he grinned, "you sent so many people over there, and I just happened to have called a guy to be there too. Of course, not on your grand scale—just one person. But with him there, it's enough."